The smell of old pizza filled the kitchen when the phone rang, cutting through the heavy silence of the small apartment.
Laura Bennett stood by the window, staring at the buildings outside, but her mind was far away. She held a mug of coffee, waiting for the microwave to beep. Then the phone rang again.
She dropped the mug and rushed to answer. Deep down, she already knew it wasn't good news.
"Miss Bennett?" The man's voice was cold, like he had said the same line a thousand times. "I'm calling from the central bank. The renegotiation time has ended. The property will be auctioned in thirty days."
The words hit her like stones. Laura opened her mouth, but no sound came out. The man kept talking, then hung up. The silence that followed was worse than the call itself.
She looked around. The table was full of papers—electric bills, gas bills, health insurance.
The small apartment, already tight and worn out, now felt like a cage closing in.
I can't lose this place. I can't let Ethan lose his home.
She pressed her fingers to her temples. Her father's laugh came back to her, echoing in the same walls before he died. It hurt to remember. He left too early, leaving nothing but debts and broken memories.
After a long moment, she pulled out an old box hidden in the closet. Inside were yellow papers, family photos, overdue receipts. And among them, a black card with golden letters:
Alexander Knight – Knight Enterprises.
Laura froze. Her heart skipped. She knew that name. Her father said it many times, always with hate. A rival. A man who turned every deal into war.
She had seen him once, years ago, before he and her father became enemies.
It was at a company event. He was tall, wearing a perfect suit. People stared at him, curious, because he didn't just look like a businessman. He looked like someone who calculated everything around him.
She also remembered the night her father came home, furious, after another fight with that man.
Alexander Knight was the last person she wanted to ask for help. But he was the only one who could save her.
Her fingers shook as she held the card, as if it was her last chance. She thought of her father and almost tore it apart.
She paced the room, searching for another way. Then she looked at her little brother, sleeping in the small bedroom, unaware that their world was falling apart.
Laura took a deep breath. Time was running out. She had no choice. She had to do this, not for herself, but for Ethan.
She dialed the number. Every ring echoed inside her, like steps leading her into the dark.
Finally, a firm voice answered:
"Knight Enterprises. Good evening."
Laura closed her eyes, forcing courage into her voice.
"I need to speak with Alexander Knight. It's urgent."
There was a pause. The kind of silence that makes you want to hang up, the kind that crushes you when you're desperate.
Then came the reply that made her whole body tremble:
"You're speaking to him."
Laura's heart raced. She had just called the man her father hated the most… hoping he could save her life.