It was closing time at Sweet Grace Bakery when two massive bikers walked in. Beards, leather vests, and faces that looked like trouble. My heart stopped.
“We need to talk about your debt,” the taller one said. The door clicked behind them. I was alone, and fear gripped me.
I’m Diane Foster, 53, a single mom, and the owner of Sweet Grace Bakery. I started this bakery in memory of my daughter, Grace, who passed away from leukemia at six. Her dream was simple: make cakes that could make sad people smile.
For years, I struggled to keep that dream alive. Then six months ago, disaster struck: my $12,000 industrial oven broke. Banks said no. Credit unions said no. My finances were in shambles.
Desperate, I borrowed $15,000 from a man named Marcus—a loan shark charging 40% interest. Within six months, my debt skyrocketed to $32,000. And now, here were these bikers, threatening me for money I barely had.
But then the shock came: “Marcus is a loan shark,” the shorter one said. “We’re shutting him down.”
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