Stu’s car was still parked outside as I left but I couldn’t see him. The glare from the sun blocked out his windows, and butterflies flitted in my stomach at the idea of his unseen, watchful eyes.

I was antsy the entire way home, wondering about Stu, a million questions swirling around inside my head. Had I been too harsh? Or had I given him exactly what he deserved?

My fluster meant I was out of my car and almost to my front door before I saw him. The very same man from yesterday had coming knocking again, but this time he was facing me. I stood frozen to the spot as I dropped my keys in fright. They fell to the ground with a loud clatter.

The first thing I noticed were his black shark-like eyes. Seemed oddly fitting that he worked as a money collector.

“Andrea Anderson?” he asked, his voice hard. Yep, there definitely wasn’t going to be any messing around with this one.

“I, um . . .” I mumbled, unable to find my voice.

The man withdrew a leather-bound folder from under his arm, opening it up and flicking through some papers. I felt like using this opportunity to make a run for it, but then again, I doubted he’d have trouble catching up to me. When he found what he was looking for, his eyes scanned back and forth and I swallowed, my mouth dry as sandpaper. Inside my chest my heart beat like a rabbit on crack.

Why was this happening to me today of all days? When I just wanted to shut myself inside my room, eat chocolate, and have a good cry.

He let out a low whistle and lifted his gaze to mine. “You’re two months behind on your repayments. I need to collect £1375 by the end of tomorrow or we’ll be upping your interest by another two per cent.” At this he closed his folder with a definitive whump and shoved it back under his arm.

My mouth opened and shut several times as I tried to find words. “I don’t have it right now, b-but I’ll have it in a couple of weeks. I’ll have every penny I owe in just a couple of weeks,” I promised him. Stu hadn’t given us a time frame for the robbery, but it had to be happening soon, right?

“Forgive me if I find that hard to believe,” said Shark Eyes, his expression cynical.

“It’s the truth, I swear. I’m set to inherit some money from a relative,” I lied.

“Oh yeah? Me, too. I’ll be getting a big windfall once my uncle Rupert Murdock pops his clogs. Come on now, do you think I don’t hear this bullshit every fucking day? You come up with the cash before five p.m. tomorrow evening or your interest goes up, Miss Anderson. It’s that simple.”

“But please, it’s just not possible,” I said, my voice pleading.

He glanced over my shoulder to where my car was parked out on the street. “That your motor?”

I nodded before thinking it through.

“Bet you could get yourself a couple grand for it. See? Problem solved.”

“I can’t sell my car. I need it to get to work.” And really, I didn’t want to. I loved driving, loved the freedom it provided. It was one of my few pleasures in life and I wasn’t prepared to give it up. Not yet, anyway.

“Public transport is a wonder these days,” he said, taking a step toward me. His face was hard, not a shred of empathy in his expression. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so small.

“I won’t sell it. I told you. I’ll have the money very soon. I’m not lying.”

His stance grew threatening as he continued to advance on me, leaving barely an inch between us. My gut quivered, because he practically oozed intimidation. I guess that’s why this was his job.

Glaring down at me, he spat, “Sell the fucking car and have the money by tomorrow, babe, or your interest goes up. No compromises. I’m not gonna fall for that innocent doe-eyed bollocks you’re trying to peddle.” His words were cutting and I flinched away from him. He honestly sounded like he was two seconds away from roughing me up.

“You want to repeat that, mate? This time to someone your own fucking size,” came a familiar voice. When I turned and saw Stu standing behind me, his expression was furious. Quick as a flash he wrapped his arm around my middle, pulling me back and away from the loan collector. When he’d set me firmly behind him he stood face to face with Shark Eyes, staring him down. Though this guy had width on his side, Stu had height, plus what I’d always suspected to be the kind of athletic muscularity only prison could provide.

“This is between me and Miss Anderson,” said Shark Eyes. “So why don’t you piss off and stay out of it.”

“I’m not going anywhere, so why don’t you piss off, yeah? Go get your jollies threatening some other poor defenceless woman.”

Shark Eyes pointed at me. “If she doesn’t pay up, things are only going to get worse for her, whether she has a dumb-shit little guard dog on her side or not.”

“Leave,” Stu grunted, his entire body coiled tight. I could tell his patience was already wearing thin and watched as he repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists, ready for a fight. The fact that he was defending me when he didn’t have to gave me an odd swishy feeling in my stomach.

“I’ll leave when I’m good and ready.”

“You’d better be good and ready in three seconds because I’m about to give you some help.”

Shark Eyes grunted as he looked Stu up and down, deciding whether or not he was worth it. He must’ve decided he wasn’t because a second later he gave another grunt, shot me a final threatening look, and stalked away from my flat.

As soon as he was gone I let out a relieved sigh, slumping back against my front door as I willed my pulse to slow down. I’d never endured a confrontation like that before. Up until now, I’d only received threatening letters and phone calls from my bank. This was new territory, and I was completely unequipped to deal with it. I’d been brought up relatively privileged, had spent the majority of my life quite sheltered, really.

Perhaps that’s why Stu took facing off with Shark Eyes in his stride. He hadn’t been sheltered, had experienced real hardship. Threatening confrontations were probably a daily occurrence for him in prison.

He stood silently next to me and I could feel his eyes looking me over, searching for cracks. He probably thought I was going to break down any moment, and believe me, I wanted to. I wasn’t normally so weak, but everything had just been piling up lately and I’d been internalising so much of it. It was only natural that the floodgates would burst open sooner or later.