Collateral A Novels & Stories

A chuckle accompanied his words. “Collateral?” What exactly are you on about?” “Evidence of our transaction, you know…just in case you decide to go back on your words and it's not that I don't trust you, I really do, but just not at the moment. Elizabeth.” “What did you just call me?”

I breathed out as my back came in contact with the side of my car. "Look, you seem like a nice lady, but I need something, and you're the collateral that's going to get it for me." Collateral. How was I supposed to be collateral? "I can't help you. I'm nobody. Please just let me go." My begging was useless. Staring at the sinister grin upon his face, I knew there was no way in hell he was going to allow me to go. Whatever he needed me for, he was willing to have somebody else in this parking lot see him point a gun at me just to ensure that he could get it.

It sounded like grief. “I didn’t ask for this,” I said. My voice came out thin, brittle, like dry twigs snapping underfoot. “Your father’s debt doesn’t care what you asked for.” He set the glass down. The sound it made — click — was sharp enough to cut skin. “He stole from this pack. Ran. Left us holding the bill. And you — his only living blood — are the collateral.” Collateral. Not a person. Not Elara. Just something to be traded.

"I can get it. I just need—" "You can't get it," I interrupt. "We both know you can't. So here's option two." I look at Emilia. "You stay here as collateral until the debt is paid." The color drains from her face. "No," Carlos says. "No. Absolutely not. You can't—"

and he may not have the funds to spare. The Ethan I know would not part with his money without some form of collateral. If you have anything to offer as collateral, do let me know," Angela fabricated. Cynthia inhaled deeply and replied, "I do not possess any assets that could serve as collateral." Angela exhaled and stated, "That is the only feasible solution. Nonetheless, I can assist you with a sum of two hundred thousand pounds, and I would prefer not to be repaid."

"What's the limit, sir?" "The limit depends on the price of the collateral that Grandma has. If Grandma gives this house certificate as collateral, of course you will get a very large amount of money" explained the man trying to persuade. Because Mrs. Kadek told her to ask these grandmothers to provide a house certificate as collateral.

As if twenty million was just a clerical error, the way you forget a decimal point in an email. But no. Twenty. Million. Fucking. Dollars. It wasn’t gambling. It wasn’t a bad stock. This wasn’t carelessness. This was ruin—wrapped in crisp, legal font. And I was in it. All the way up to my signature. This has to be some type of mistake Wilbet was careless yes but surely he couldn't be this reckless right? My name was listed as collateral. I was a placeholder. A pawn. A possession. A token, lodged between a sports car and a country estate.

Stephen said. He allowed the message to process in their individual heads until Katie's eyes widened. “Wait, what the actual fuck do you mean by ’collateral’?” Stephen chuckled. “It means exactly what it means. I'm sure I didn't stutter. So here's the thing, the ‘Ideal’ way to get into Monaco is by trading your most valuable item at hand to the gatekeepers. They are shadows by the way. That means if it's rich, you let go of it by the gates and go in search of what you are finding. If you get someone you love with you, the person becomes your collateral and if you both write down each other's names as collateral separately and unknowingly, then both of you are

"Just, just tell me the truth. Please. Why did you stop the auction? Why did you take me? Why am I in your house, in your room, wearing your clothes?" He frowns deeply. His jaw clenches. I see it, he wants to say something. The words are right there, hovering on his tongue. But he stops himself. Swallows whatever truth was about to come out. "Like I said," his voice is carefully controlled now, "you're collateral." "I know that!" I'm shouting now, and I don't care. "You've never stopped reminding me! But collateral gets sold, Dante! Collateral goes to the highest bidder! So why, why did you choose me?"

"So what did you do? He definitely wouldn't bring someone here for no reason." "It's a long and shocking story. I'm still struggling to believe it happened, especially in this day and age." Elena sighed, shaking her head. "I'm being held as collateral for my ex-husband's debt." "Collateral?" "Shocking, right? Your brother is a heartless devil." "That's strange." Sara's brows drew together. "Lu doesn't take people as collateral anymore. He stopped that a long time ago." Elena froze. "What do you mean?"