Episode 2
1198 Words
Jennifer ran as fast as her feet could carry her out of the building. She flags down a cab and gets in.
"Where to miss" the driver asks, looking at her through the mirror above him.
"Just drive" she said sounding impatient.
"But I need to know where you're headed miss" the driver asked confused, noticing her restlessness.
"Just drive" she barked at him.
Without further questions, he did as he was told. He drove off the premises.
"Quickly, we need to go after her. I'm sure she'll be going home to her family. We need to get there before she does" Luca says the moment they exit the building.
Luca hops into his car whilst his men moved ahead in a van.
Jennifer felt terrified at what had just happened. She kept looking backwards to see if they were being followed.
Luca on the other hand felt restless and confused as regards Jennifer's sudden presence at the office.
Was she aware of his meeting? Was he not discrete enough? Why did it have to be her who showed up at the office? He wondered
She kept watching her back to make sure no one was tailing them.
When she felt sure they weren't being followed, she relaxed into the backseat and brought out her cellphone to call her mother.
Her intent was to warn her of the impending danger but her phone battery had died off.
"Damn it!" She exclaimed.
"Are you alright miss?" The driver asked
"I noticed you were running earlier, like you were being chased. Are you in some sort of trouble?" He asked feeling concerned.
"Should I take you to the police station?" He pressed on
She ignored his questions, though wondering if going to the police station to report the incident was an option.
But then she had no proof, besides she was sure Mr Bianchi would buy his way out, he was that influencial.
"Can I please make use of your cellphone?" She asked the driver.
He extends the cellphone to her. She dials her mother's number but there was no response.
Fear gripped her again. What if he had gotten to her family?
She needed to hurry. "Please step on it. Hurry" she told the driver
The drive was less than thirty minutes but it seemed like forever to Jennifer.
She arrived home. And attempts to open the door with her spare key when she realized the door was already left ajar.
But the lights are out, she wondered. Scared, she enters the house and puts on the lights
Her heart sank when she saw Mr Bianchi her boss seated on the cushion with a gun in his hand.
She made to turn back but his aides stood behind her.
"Welcome Ms Howard, you kept us waiting" Luca says
"What a nice home you got" he adds.
Jennifer's home wasn't anything fancy, as she stays in a one bedroom apartment with her mom and four siblings.
The dining room was carved out of a small space from the living room.
"What are you doing here, you monster?" Jennifer asks, her voice shaking.
"Relax Ms Howard, now let's talk about what just happened back at the office" Luca says.
"Why? Are you scared I'd report you to the authorities? You're scared everyone would know the kind of monster you are?" Jennifer barked.
"Shhhh, We wouldn't want to wake up the others now would we?" Luca asks waving his gun in the air.
"What were you doing back at the office at such hour?" He asks
"What does it matter to you, you're going to have me killed anyways" she responds feeling terrified
"Oh dear, now why would you think such?" He asks
"I'm no murderer my dear" he says laughing synically
"Liar. You're able to do anything to anyone just to keep your little secret" she says.
"Now that's not why I'm here you see, I'm here to make a deal with you" Luca says getting up from his seat and moving towards her.
"A deal?" She scoffs
"I'd rather sell my soul to the devil than sign any deals with you" she said.
Luca gives a signal to David. David goes in and out the bedroom with Jennifer's little brother who is fast asleep.
Jennifer's eyes welled up with tears as she saw David with her brother, her heart sank, her feet were too weak to keep her standing, she fell to the floor.
Sobbing uncontrollably, she pleaded with Luca to let her brother go.
"He is only a child, what do you want with him? It's me you want right? So just take me instead.
You can do whatever you want with me, kill me if you want but please leave my brother out of this" Jennifer says wailing.
Luca's heart sank seeing her in such state. This isn't what he wanted, he couldn't stand seeing her in such state.
But his hands were tied. There was nothing he could do. If the situation wasn't handled by him, Ramon would go after her instead and then he wouldn't be able to protect her then.
He however managed to hold back the rush of emotions he was feeling and regained his composure.
"Well like I said, I'm here to make you an offer in exchange for your sake and that of your family. You see my men here do exactly as they're told."
"And if I give the go ahead, both you and your family will be finished off in a minute" he says forcing a grin.
"No please. Not my family. Leave them out of this. They have nothing to do with this" Jennifer pleads, fear in her voice.
"Just take me instead." She insists.
"Of course, you bet I would but only if you agree to my terms" Luca says, squatting in front of her as she maintains her position on the floor.
"Fine then tell me what you want" she retorts.
"Sign a contract with me" he says, standing up.
Jennifer wondered what scheme he was cooking up.
"And if I refuse to sign this contract of yours?" She asks
"Well I'd have you r***d and killed of course. Your family too" Luca says
"Well let's get this over with then, what does the contract state? She asks, giving him a resentful stare.
"Find out yourself. The terms are written in there" he says, handing her a file of the drafted contract.
She takes the file from him, wondering how he found the time to draft out one. It was almost as though he had anticipated being in a situation as this.
"Well I'm sure you're wondering how I got to draft all that out on such short notice." He said as though reading her thoughts.
"If you must know, I have my ways" he adds.
He recounts how he'd sent David ahead with details of the contract to be drafted.
Jennifer says nothing but reads through the content of the file she held.
"You must be crazy thinking I'd ever sign this" she retorted, shocked at its contents.
"Think carefully before deciding cause there'll be no second chances. It's either that or your family" he said
- Writer
