"What is this?" Clara asked. "So when I was out, I stumbled on this amazing jewelry store and I decided to get you your bridal jewelry." Lila explained.
"Awww, are you serious? Thank you Lila." Clara said pulling her into a hug. Lila stood limp before lightly tapping Clara's back and letting out a fake laugh.
"You are just going to give me an embrace? Are you not going to open it?" Lila asked. "Ohh." Clara said before pulling Lila to the bed. Clara sat on the bed, her silk pyjama shorts riding up slowly.
"Come on, sit Lila." She said. Lila reluctantly sat, Clara pulled out the box from the bag placing the box in between them. The box sat cutely on the bed, its navy blue velvet exterior exuding an air of luxury. The jewelry store's insignia, a delicate rose of silver and gold, was embossed on the lid. A slender, satin ribbon wrapped around the box, tied in a precise, delicate bow. Clara ran her hand over the velvet exterior.
"Wow Lila this seems expensive!" Clara exclaims. "Oh it really is nothing." Lila said trying to brush it off. "Wait till you see the inside." Lila added.
As Clara lifted the lid of the box, she gasped. The black obsidian, catching her eye as well as the glimmer of diamonds. "This is beautiful Lila, thank you so much." She says hugging her again. After the hug Lila stands up, placing the box and bag on her desk. "Enjoy Clara, I have got to go. I need some rest, I have had a long day." Lila says before leaving the room. She walks quickly to her own room, entering and shutting the door behind her. She lets out a huge sigh of relief. She places her tote on her desk unpacking her purse and other items but leaving the teddy in the tote.
*****
Jonah's phoned chimed with a notification, he rinses off the last plate and loads it carefully imto the dishwasher. He wipes his hand on a kitchen towel before picking up his phone. Opening it, he sees a number he has not seen in a few days. Instant dread fills him and his heart drops to the pit of his stomach.
Unknown number:
Hi, good job on prompt payment. We are running a very nice partnership here. Keep it up.
P.S. I will be needing a hundred and fifty thousand dollars in three days time.
Jonah;:
I thought you would be satisfied with the last payment and you were gone for good.
Unknown number:
Me? Gone? Why would I leave a well paying client ? I just went on a break, did not want to look so greedy."
Jonah:
I will act like I did not just see your demand for that amount of cash and move on.
Unknown number:
Well that is not a very smart move. I trust you though you always cough up the money. Your bluff or threats do not move me anymore.
Jonah:
Well I do not have that amount to release at this point in time. Plus the bank would question me. There have already began staring at me weirdly. To hell with you, you can do whatever you want.
Unknown number:
Three days time.....
Jonah:
I do not care you are not getting any more money from me
Three dots showed up on the screen indicating that the other party had been typing. But later disappeared, thee blackmailer had ignored him.
Jonah gripped his phone tightly fighting the urge, to smash it against the wall. Jonah's knuckles whitened around his phone, the screen reflecting his strained expression. He paced the kitchen, He felt trapped, like a puppet on strings.
"This is insane," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I can't keep living like this."
He stared at the phone, the number of the blackmailer burned into his memory. He considered calling, screaming, begging, doing anything to break the suffocating silence. But he knew it would all fall on deaf ears. This person whoever it was, thrived and fed on his desperation.
He glanced at the clock. Three days. One hundred and fifty thousand dollars. An impossible sum to take out without drawing attention. He felt a wave of nausea, the weight of his predicament pressed down on him. He could not handle this alone anymore. He needed to open up to someone. And the only person he could talk to was Elliot.
With shaky fingers, he dialed Elliot's number. "Elliot, we need to talk," he said, his voice firm. "It is very urgent."
"Jonah? What is wrong?" Elliot's voice was laced with concern.
"Can you come over? Or can I come to you?" Jonah asked, his voice cracking.
"I am at the office at the moment, but if it is that serious, I can leave now. I will be there in twenty minutes."
Twenty minutes felt like an eternity. Jonah paced the living room, replaying the past few weeks in his mind. The fear, the lies, the constant pressure, everything had to come to an end, it had to stop.
When Elliot arrived, Jonah led him to the living room, his face pale and drawn. "I have to tell you everything," he began, with an uneasy voice.
"Everything? What do you mean Jonah." Elliot asked.
"I am being blackmailed." Jonah admitted.
"What? How?" Elliot asked in shock. "It has been going on for a while now. Sorry I did not tell you earlier." Elliot said. "I have made about two hefty payments, but they have just asked for one in such a short period and the bank is already suspicious." Jonah continues narrating. "They are threatening to expose my sexuality to my parents, and I know they are serious because they have attempted it once in a close call." Jonah adds to the story.
Elliot listened, his expression growing increasingly deadass.
"Jonah, this is serious," he said, his voice low. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" He sighed his palms covering his face.
"I was scared," Jonah responded, his voice barely a whisper. "I thought I could handle it. But I can't. Not anymore. I thought that after the first payment, it would end there, but I was wrong. I knew this is how people that blackmail are, but.... We need to go to the authorities," Jonah said sharply. "This has gone too far."
"No," Elliot said, shaking his head.
"I am not going to give them any more money. I am going to the police."Jonah said continuing his rant.
"Jonah, you do not understand," Elliot said, his voice rising. "This could ruin everything. Our families, our reputations…"
"I do not give two shits about that anymore," Jonah said, his voice filled with a newfound confidence.
"This is at the expense of my peace, Elliot. I will try my best to protect your identity as much as possible." Jonah explained to Elliot trying to reassure him.
"I am not going to let them control my life. I am going to the police, and I am going to expose them."
Elliot stood up, his face a mask of frustration. "You are making a mistake, Jonah," he said, his voice cold. "This will destroy us."
"Maybe," Jonah said, his voice steady. "But I can't live like this anymore." Elliot stared at him for a moment, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and despair.
"Then do what you have to do," he said, his voice flat. He turned and walked out, leaving Jonah standing alone in the living room, his heart heavy but he was standing on business with his decision. He was done being afraid.