Chapter 3 - The Black Card Declines
At one in the afternoon, Daniel walked into an upscale steakhouse three blocks from his architectural firm. He had invited two senior partners, intending to impress them and solidify his bid for junior partner. He had been planning this lunch for three weeks, assuring everyone that the tab was on him.
""Order whatever you like, gentlemen,"" Daniel said, adjusting his silk tie with a tight, nervous grin. His stomach was still churning from our conversation, but his monstrous ego refused to let reality sink in. Nora was exaggerating, he told himself. She was just being vindictive. She had probably emptied a joint grocery account to spite him, but the master card—the one he pulled out to feel like a king—would never fail.
They ordered dry-aged ribeyes, imported vintage red wine, and expensive appetizers. Throughout the meal, Daniel checked his watch, half-expecting a frantic apology text from me saying I had paid the school and was begging to come home.
No text arrived.
When the waiter delivered the leather bill folder containing a check for eight hundred and forty dollars, Daniel casually tossed the sleek black card onto the silver tray.
""Take your time,"" Daniel said magnanimously to the waiter.
Five minutes later, the waiter returned, but he didn't hand back the receipt. He leaned down, speaking in a low, discreet murmur that nevertheless cut through the ambient noise of the restaurant. ""I'm sorry, Mr. Vance. The transaction was declined.""
Daniel blinked, a tight flush creeping up his neck. ""That's impossible. Run it again.""
""I did, sir. Twice. The terminal reads 'Account Terminated by Primary Holder.'""
The two senior partners paused their conversation, their eyes landing squarely on Daniel.
""Is there an issue, Daniel?"" the managing partner asked, his eyebrows slightly raised.
""No! No, of course not. Just a ridiculous administrative glitch. My bank is notoriously overzealous with fraud prevention,"" Daniel stammered, pulling out his personal debit card—the one linked to his personal checking account where his architectural firm salary was deposited. ""Here. Use this one.""
The waiter took it. A minute later, he returned again.
""Mr. Vance... this one shows insufficient funds.""
Daniel felt the blood drain completely from his face. His personal account was empty because he had spent his last two checks on custom tailored suits and bottle service during a weekend trip with his golf buddies, counting on the household master card to float his day-to-day existence until the end of the month.
""Daniel, don't worry about it,"" the senior partner said, his voice dripping with subtle disdain as he pulled out his corporate expense card. ""We can cover it. But I thought you said your personal investments were outperforming the market this quarter?""
The shame was an acid bath. Daniel sat there, paralyzed, his ears ringing as his bosses covered his meal.
The moment they stepped out of the restaurant, Daniel sprinted to his car, pulled out his phone, and dialed his mother.
Evelyn answered on the second ring, weeping loudly. ""Daniel! Oh, thank God you called! There is a man at my door from the management company! He handed me an eviction warning! He says the lease guarantee has expired and the rent hasn't been submitted! What is happening?! Where is that useless girl? Why hasn't Nora handled this?!""
""Mom, stop yelling!"" Daniel cried out, his voice cracking under the weight of sheer panic. ""Nora left! She took her name off the accounts!""
""What do you mean she took her name off?!"" Evelyn shrieked. ""She doesn't have any money! You give her an allowance!""
May you like
""Mom..."" Daniel gasped, leaning his forehead against the steering wheel of his car as cold sweat soaked his collar. ""I don't think it was my allowance. I think... I think it was hers.""
***
