Chapter 06

"$1.4m," the bank manager said. He slid a paper across the desk toward me. "That's the highest we can offer for your property, Miss Ashworth."

I looked down at the number. *My two-million-dollar apartment, and they'll only give me one point four.*

"There's one more thing." He tapped the bottom of the page. "This is a short-term loan. You'll need to pay back one point eight million within seven days. If you don't, the bank will take the property."

"Seven days?" I asked.

"Seven days." He nodded. "Do you still want to go ahead?"

I picked up the pen and signed without even blinking.

*Time is short anyway. And I won't pay back a single cent.*

"Pleasure doing business with you," the manager said, shaking my hand.

As I walked out of the bank, I almost laughed.

*In seven days, the bank will come knocking on the apartment door. And who will they find living there? Dad, Lorraine, and Trent. Let them deal with it.*

---

That first loan opened the door.

For the rest of the day, I went from bank to bank and lender to lender. I took out personal loans, credit card advances, and every kind of fast cash I could get my hands on.

By sunset, I sat in my car and checked my bank account.

Three point four million dollars.

"Maple," I said, turning to her in the back seat, "it's time for the next round of shopping."

Maple barked happily.

---

The next morning, I pushed open the glass door of a big shop called Allegheny Power Equipment. Huge metal machines lined the floor in neat rows. Some were as small as a suitcase. Others were as big as a car.

A man in a blue work shirt hurried over with a wide smile. His name tag said Rick.

"Good morning, ma'am! What kind of power generator are you looking for? We have all kinds of models here."

"What do you have?" I asked. "Give me a quick introduction."

"Sure thing." Rick pointed around the room. "These here run from twenty-five up to seven hundred fifty kilowatts. Anything over a thousand kilowatts is much stronger, but it's also about twice the price."

"How much are they?"

"Small ones cost about eighteen thousand. Mid-size ones are around forty-five thousand. The big ones start at ninety-five thousand." He raised an eyebrow. "Ma'am, are you buying this for a restaurant?"

"Yes," I said smoothly. "For a restaurant."

I walked slowly past the rows of machines.

A regular generator would be enough to power the bunker. But the system's base-building rewards grow bigger with better upgrades. If I'm buying one, I should get the most expensive model.

I stopped and turned to Rick.

"Give me your top-of-the-line generator with the best setup you have. Money is no problem."

Rick's eyes went wide. Then his smile grew even wider. "Yes, ma'am! Right away!"

"And I'll also need soundproof padding, toolboxes, spare parts, and anything else that goes with it." I waved my hand at the shelves. "Pack it all for me."

"All of it?"

"All of it."

Rick practically ran to the back room to get the paperwork.

---

An hour later, everything was paid for and loaded onto a delivery truck heading to the farmhouse. Rick walked me to the door, still smiling from ear to ear.

"Thank you so much for supporting our business, ma'am." He reached behind the counter and pulled out a red plastic can. "I've got about three gallons of diesel left over. Take it, on the house."

"Oh, thank you." I took the can and smiled.

Then I paused, like I had just remembered something.

"Do you know any good places to get cheap fuel around here? Buying diesel at a gas station has too many rules. They only let you fill up so much at once."

Generator dealers always have their own private fuel suppliers. That's what I really came here for.

Rick looked over his shoulder, then pulled a business card from his pocket.

"If you need fuel, call this number." He lowered his voice. "Tell them Rick sent you, and they'll give you fifteen percent off."

I took the card. "Thanks."

Rick leaned against the doorframe and let out a heavy sigh. He looked out at the empty parking lot.

"This flu going around has everyone scared. People are staying home. Business is getting harder and harder every week."

I glanced out at the quiet street. A woman walked past wearing a face mask, coughing into her sleeve.

If only he knew. The flu is just the beginning.

"Yeah," I said softly.