I came home early from lunch with old friends when Claire demanded €14,000 from me in front of everyone, as if my bank account already belonged to her. “Your husband earns a very good living, Sophie. Stop being so selfish.” I neither shouted nor refused: the next day, I presented her with a loan agreement and an IOU… But the comment she made when she saw the repayment date revealed that her supposed investment had never been the real issue.

He placed 3 of them in front of me.

— Look at the dates.

I understood immediately.

Each time Claire had claimed to have an emergency, it had taken her months to pay back the money.

Marc sat down opposite me.

— If her investment is as safe as she claims, offer her something simple.

– What ?

— A loan agreement.

An acknowledgment of debt.

Everything in writing.

I remained silent.

Then my phone vibrated.

Lucas.

I picked up the phone.

— Mom, I need to tell you something.

His voice had lost all its lightness.

— Claire asked me for €2,000 three weeks ago.

I froze.

— Pardon ?

— She told me that if she couldn’t pay me back, you would.

PART 2:

— She used my name?

– Yes.

I stood up so quickly that my chair scraped the floorboards.

— Why didn’t you tell me anything?

— Because she asked me to keep it between us.

— Did you give him the money?

— Non.

I closed my eyes.

– Fortunately.

Lucas hesitated.

— Mom… she never talked about household linen with me.

— What was she talking about?

— Of an urgent nature.

She said that people were calling her constantly.

Marc, who could hear the conversation, slowly raised his head.

“What people?” I asked.

– I don’t know.

She said, “Vultures.”

After the call, Marc said nothing for a few seconds.

Then :

— Do you still see it as an investment?

— Non.

All I could see was a 30-year-old friend who had just lied to my son and used my name as a moral guarantee.

The next day, I called Maître Delcourt, a lawyer I knew through my work.

I explained to him that I hadn’t lent anything yet.

“In that case, stick to the facts,” she advised me.

If you really want to consider the loan, formalize everything: identity, amount, payment schedule, repayment date, acknowledgment of debt.

An honest person might find that unpleasant.

But she needs to understand that you don’t lend €14,000 like you advance €20 for lunch.

She helped me prepare simple documents.

I still hadn’t decided whether I would give the money.

But I wanted to see Claire’s reaction.

I called him.

— I agree to help you.

A cry of joy came through the phone.

— I knew you would come to your senses!

— There is one condition.

Silence.

– Which ?

— We put everything in writing.

Another silence.

— Are you kidding?

— Non.

— After 30 years?

– Exactly.

This will avoid any misunderstanding.

She finally laughed.

– Alright.

Come at 6 p.m.

When I arrived at her apartment in Villeurbanne, Claire was wearing a silk shirt that I didn’t recognize from her.

A bottle of sparkling wine was open on the coffee table.

— I’ve even planned to celebrate it.

— Don’t celebrate anything for now.

I placed the cardboard folder in front of her.

His smile froze.

– It’s what ?

— The contract.

She flipped through the first page.

Then the second one.

— Amount: €14,000.

Reimbursement will be made no later than January 15th.

— That’s what you promised me.

— And this?

— An acknowledgment of debt.

She abruptly laid down the sheets.

— Do you think I’m a con artist?

— Non.

— Yes.

— I am only asking you to sign what you have already promised me verbally.

She stared at me.

— What if I’m a week late?

— On discusses.

— What if I can’t pay it back right away?

— Claire, you told me you would get almost €28,000 back.

She stood up.

— You’ve become cold.

– Maybe.

— Did Marc put ideas in your head?

— Marc has nothing to do with your promises.

She took her glass.

— You know what disgusts me?

You could make the transfer in 30 seconds.

— And you, you could sign in 30 seconds.

His expression changed.

For the first time, I no longer experience anger there.

I live in fear.

I pointed to a line.

– Here.

Claire reread the deadline.

Her lips moved slightly.

Then she blurted out:

— What if the credit institution blocks my account again before the 15th?

I stopped breathing.

— Which credit institution?

She turned white.

– What ?

— You just mentioned a credit institution.

— I just said it like that.

— Non.

— Sophie, you’re looking for problems where there aren’t any.

— Which organization?

She grabbed the documents.

– None.

I picked them up before she could crumple them.

— Show me the order form.

— Which purchase order?

— The one for the linen stock.

— I don’t have it here.

— A pro forma invoice?

— Non.