I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 200

Natalie had just bought the apartment, and after the purchase, her savings amounted to a mere three million. Even if she sold her apartment and car, it wouldn't be enough to cover the debt.

But she had no way to prove her innocence or that Camila had orchestrated the whole thing. Ultimately, she had been careless and let her guard down. Now, burdened with an eighty-million-dollar debt, she had no choice but to accept it.

"I can't come up with that much right now, Mr. Ramirez. Would you be willing to accept payment in installments?" Natalie asked.

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "What kind of installment plan?"

"I'll sell my apartment and car. I should be able to make an initial payment of twenty million by the end of the month. For the remaining sixty million, I can pay ten million into your account annually. As for the interest, you can set the rate."

Based on her salary and annual bonus at Billy Firth, ten million a year was feasible. It was the only solution she could come up with.

Alexander scoffed. "Do you think I'm a loan shark? Waiting six years for eighty million just to earn your interest?"

Natalie wanted to argue that six years was actually quite fast and that it was the most sincere offer she could make.

"This is the absolute best I can do. If you're still not satisfied…" As she spoke, an idea occurred to her. "The settlement you gave me during the divorce—I don't want any of it. You can count that toward the debt. That should be more than enough."

The supplemental agreement had included real estate and shares in The Ramirez Group. Their total value was many times more than eighty million. The annual dividends from the shares alone would be in the tens of millions, if not more.

Alexander seemed to be getting tired of standing. He leaned a shoulder against the wall, a playful look in his eyes. "I forgot to mention, there was a shake-up on The Ramirez Group's board. You signed the documents, but Aaron hasn't had the chance to complete the rest of the paperwork. So…"

So, the assets were still legally his.

Natalie hadn't realized the transfer was incomplete. She had never cared about those assets and wouldn't have even brought them up if not for this massive debt.

Seeing her silence, Alexander asked, "Any other ideas?"

Natalie thought for a moment before shaking her head. "No."

Alexander looked down at her. "Well, I have an idea. One that I would find satisfactory."

Natalie's head snapped up. She saw a hint of gloating in his meaningful gaze, as if he had been waiting for her to run out of options.

"You don't have to sell your apartment or your car, and I won't charge any interest. You just have to pay ten million per year," Alexander said.

"You have one day."

Alexander didn't object. "It's getting late," he added, almost thoughtfully. "You should go inside and get some rest."

Rest? How could she possibly rest now?

After Alexander left, Natalie went inside and immediately called Arianna Mitchell, planning to ask how much money she could lend. She was desperate to avoid his terms. Selling her property and borrowing money might be enough.

When she heard Natalie needed to borrow money, Arianna didn't press for details. "I've saved up a bit over the years, about three million. You can have all of it."

Natalie was touched. For a white-collar professional like Arianna, that was a significant amount of savings, and she was offering it all. But it was still just a drop in the ocean.

"Let me see what else I can do first," Natalie said, not wanting to take it immediately. If she was only three million short in the end, she would ask again.

After hanging up, Natalie called Madelyn in England. Madelyn was willing to help, but as a stay-at-home mother with only her husband working, their savings were limited.