The blackmail

Strange Guests

Chapter 2

Elsa and her father walked outside the corridor curiously, waiting to see who would alight from the mysterious black, tinted Porsche ride.

While they were staring eagerly with so many questions running through their minds. The car door opened from both sides as two men in black suits stepped down.

Both of them wore matching black suits, wrist watches, and shoes. They looked like the actors from the movie " MEN-IN-BLACK.

Curiosity gripped Elsa and her Dad as they couldn't recognize the men who were now making their way toward them. The one at the back was holding a black briefcase.

"Greetings to both of you," the leading guy amongst the two strange men said to Elsa and her father in a cold and deep base voice.

They both had no expression on their faces.

Elsa was having a bad feeling. She assumed that those pesky shareholders couldn't wait anymore, so they must have sent these mean-looking lawyers to her father.

But Elsa couldn't get herself to believe that they are lawyers. They looked too polished for the profession yet, she couldn't come up with anything else.

Mr. Sam was also worried but he hid his curiosity perfectly to avoid looking vulnerable before the strangers.

"Welcome, Please. How may we help you?" Mr. Sam boldly queried the strangers.

Then the first man that started the conversation replied with the same poker-faced expression.

"If I am not mistaken, I believe the young lady beside you is Elsa. Right?"

Elsa immediately got alarmed when her name was called. She stepped forward.

"Yes, I am. Please, Who are you?" She asked.

When she got closer, she could feel the dominating presence of both men. Their physique and dress could easily pass them up as military personnel.

"Am Jeff. My boss sent me to you!"

Elsa's forehead furrowed as she was trying to figure out what was going on.

"Your boss? Who is he and why would he send you to me?"

"Mr. Dave Rodriguez. CEO and manager of the Rodri- firm. I believe you guys met not too long ago "

The minute Jeff said Dave's name, Elsa became anxious and worried at the same time as she wondered.

Why would Dave send his guards to me?

How were they able to track my house immediately?

Or does he want to terminate the contract?

Elsa began to sweat, hoping that Dave's reason for sending his men to her wasn't the latter. Her family needed that money by all means.

Jeff read the look of confusion on her face. He decided to break her the message.

"Well, I was ordered to give you these!" Jeff said, motioning to the other guy that was holding the briefcase. He stepped forward and handed the briefcase over to Elsa.

Elsa reluctantly collected the briefcase. She felt its weight as she wondered what could be inside.

Elsa passed it over to her father who also fumbled with it for a second. Elsa felt ashamed as Jeff just kept his gaze on her father while he fumbled with the briefcase.

Jeff quickly turned his attention to Elsa once more.

"That's an advance on the deal you signed up for. He said I should inform you that you would get the balance once the contract is over!" Jeff said, with a wry smile.

Elsa's heart skipped a beat. She wasn't expecting Dave to pay her an advance this fast.

"Alright. Tell him I got his message" Elsa say, as her mind was trying to figure out the amount of money that could be in the briefcase. It was quite heavy.

Jeff nodded repeatedly with his hands clasped tightly behind.

He turned to leave.

"Oh, lest I forget," Jeff says, turning back quickly. His smooth transition caught Elsa and her Dad off-guard.

"What could that be, Jeff?" Elsa inquired. Trying all she could to sound calm before Jeff's intimidating presence.

"My boss also said I should give you this envelope. He said it's highly confidential. Its content is important!" Jeff said, reaching into his pocket and extracting a brown envelope that has the seal of the "Rodri-Firms" company logo.

Elsa's heart pounded as she wondered what the envelope might contain.

Mr. Sam was speechless. He just held onto the briefcase. Its weight keeps getting heavier by every second. He wished Jeff and his accomplice would just vanish. He wanted to keep it down so badly.

Elsa accepted the envelope from Jeff.

"I suppose he wants me to go through it?"

"Yeah! He made it very clear." Jeff said.

Elsa just nodded as she held The neatly sealed envelope.

"Alright. I guess we're done here. See you soon, Elsa!" Jeff said dryly, as both men walked graciously back to the parked car.

Jeff's parting word resounded in her ear.

"They knew already?" Mr. Sam inquired Reading Elsa's mind.

"I thought as much," Elsa replied as she watched the car vanish out of sight.

Elsa was beginning to imagine how she would be able to deal with Jeff's intimidating presence when she moves in with Dave.

"Those guys looked mean," Mr. Sam says with a frown

Elsa took a deep breath before nodding. "Yeah! Let's see what they brought us"!

Elsa and her father went back inside.

Mr Sam wondered what could be in the briefcase, while Elsa's mind was bugging her about what Dave could have written down in the envelope.

"Dad. Open it up" Elsa says, pointing at the briefcase.

"Right now? How about when you return from the hospital?" Mr. Sam suggested, but curiosity has gotten a strong hold on Elsa.

"Nah. I want to see it right now. I just hope it's worth it" Elsa said as she imagined what mystery awaits her at Dave's mansion.

Mr. Sam clicked the briefcase open on the table.

The moment he opened it up, he jolted backward over what was in the briefcase.

His eyes were wide open and mouth agape in deep shock as he stared back at Elsa from the other end.

Elsa was surprised by his reaction.

"Why did you react like that? What's inside?" Elsa questions her father. But he stood there petrified. Almost frozen in time. Just staring back at Elsa blankly.

Elsa couldn't stand the suspense, so she walked up to her father to have a look. Then she saw it too.

"Jeez! That's a whole lot of money!" Elsa exclaimed.

"Absolutely! Is there something you're not telling me, Elsa?"

"What do you mean?"

"Elsa, just look at all this money! Why on earth would Dave pay you all this just to be in a contract marriage with him? Am getting scared already!"

Elsa was left speechless as she stood looking down at the stack of neatly arranged dollar bills in the briefcase. She became terrified and worried more as Dave's intentions for her were still unknown. Elsa knew her father was right to be scared.

"I completely have no idea. But all I know is that this money will solve our problems. There's no going back!" Elsa said with Vim.

"Did you go through the contract info before signing it?" Mr Sam asked.

"Yeah. Am not that dumb. Not like I had many options though " Elsa replied weakly.

"Then what's the envelope for?" Mr. Sam asked Elsa, pointing to the envelope in her hand.

That was when Elsa remembered about it.

"Oh. Well, let's see what it says "

Elsa's pulse raced as she wondered why Dave wanted her to go through it ASAP.

What else did he forget to tell me? She thought as she tried to open the envelope.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sam crossed his arms where he stood, fidgeting. There was tension in the air as Elsa ripped the seal off the envelope.

Elsa brings out the paper, and unfolds it. Her eyes moved rapidly with curiosity.

Then suddenly, she froze with her Eyes wide open.

She couldn't open her mouth to read out what she just saw.

Elsa slowly raised her head in shock as she locked eyes with her father.

"Holy s**t!.... Dad? You won't believe this!" Elsa exclaimed with her voice cracking.

Her reaction jolted Mr. Sam. He knew what Elsa's reaction meant. Something wasn't right.

"What…. what does it say" Mr. Sam stuttered in confusion.