Free Prized, The Payment Series book 1 by Cassandra Carr

Chapter One
     
    Catrina Carter gazed up at the nondescript
building. A small sign read “Debt Management Associates”. Such an
innocuous name, considering what the company did.
    One night, over a glass of wine—or possibly
three glasses —she had been complaining about her money problems to
her friend Meghan, and Meghan had recommended she try out this
place. After another glass Meghan had admitted she’d been in the
program a few years before and since then her ability to control
her spending had been stellar. Catrina was instantly intrigued and
asked her friend more about it but all Meghan, her face bright red,
would say was, “Make an appointment. They’ll explain it there.”
    But Catrina hadn’t taken that for an answer
and finally, after plying her with a fifth glass of wine, Meghan,
in slurred speech, had admitted everything. Catrina had been
appalled. Surely her friend was making up tales after having had so
much to drink? But it didn’t seem that way, the more Meghan talked.
No way would Catrina go that route. It was disgusting and
degrading.
    Then, the very next day, she’d been served
with a shut-off notice for both her gas and electric, along with a
90-days late notice on one of her eight credit cards. When she’d
checked her bank balance online she’d verified what she’d feared.
Her account was overdrawn. She wasn’t slated to be paid until nine
days later, and then her rent and car payment were due.
    Even if she could’ve paid the gas and
electric with a credit card, none of them had much available space
on them. Her gut twisted as she realized she’d well and truly done
it. There was no way to get out of a mess like this unless she had
help. With her heart in her throat, Catrina had called the number
Meghan provided, given them Meghan’s name as a referral, and now
had an appointment to meet with Raoul, whose job title, strangely
enough, was “trainer”.
    She knocked on the door. It was opened after
a moment and, after verifying her identity, Catrina was hustled
inside by a tall, serious-looking man several years older than
herself. A moment later a stocky man, closer to her age, with olive
skin and dark hair appeared. Raoul, if her guess was right.
    I can’t believe I’m doing this. Catrina knew damn well she had little choice at this point, but it
didn’t make the bitter pill any easier to swallow.
    Raoul jerked his head toward the hallway
from which he’d appeared. “Come with me.”
    Dispensing with niceties, it would seem.
    He brought her to a small office with a desk
and a guest chair directly in front of it, along with a large
ottoman, side cabinet and a couch shoved into various corners of
the room. Raoul motioned her to the chair and she sat, smoothing
down the skirt she’d been ordered to wear. She supposed they wanted
to give off a professional vibe, though considering what they did
professional wasn’t the first word that sprang to Catrina’s mind.
Seating himself behind the desk, Raoul spared her a quick glance
before opening a file folder in front of him.
    “Catrina.” His voice was deep, and already
she was squirming. “You have a problem. A very big problem,
if your information is factual.”
    She stared at the floor, her face hot as she
fought tears. “Yes.”
    “And you’d like us to help you out with
it.”
    “Yes.” Catrina barely got the word out and
took a deep breath as soon as she’d managed to utter it.
    “What was that, girl?”
    Girl?
    “Yes, I’d like you to help me,” she
whispered.
    “Look at me when you speak.”
    Her gaze shot up. “What?”
    Raoul’s eyebrows rose. “Didn’t you hear
me?”
    “Of course I did. I looked up.”
    “Then why did you say ‘what?’ as if you
didn’t? And that tone’s not very respectful.”
    What does he want me to say?
    “Um, I’m not sure what you mean.”
    “You will call me sir.”
    “Oh. Okay, sir.”
    “Now then, let’s talk about your debt.
According to your paperwork, you currently owe