"Alright our delivery personnel would be contacting you soon." She said with a cheerful voice.
"Alright, thank you." Elliot said hanging up the call. He bit his nails, he was nervous. Jonah just had to accept and pay the money. He just had to. His phone ringing broke him out of his thoughts. He answered the call, a gruff voice greeted shocking Elliot. The man confirmed that the package was ready for delivery.
Meanwhile, back at Jonah's apartment, the architect was stressing over his drafting table, his brow furrowed in concentration. The blueprints for Victor's project were spread out before him, a myriad of lines and symbols that were beginning to take shape in his mind. He was trying to focus, but the weight of the blackmailer's demands pressed down on him. His mind kept traveling back to the blackmailers message.
He picked up his phone retracing to their chats. He had since sent other messages some angry, some threatening, some pleading but all he got in return was total silence. The doorbell rang, a sharp, insistent sound that startled him from his concentration. He glanced at the clock, it was just late afternoon. He was not expecting anyone. He rose, walking to the door and looking through the peephole.
A delivery person stood on the porch, holding a large, nondescript parcel. He opened the door, a flash of curiosity in his eyes. "Can I help you?" he asked. "I have with me here, a package for Mr. Jonah Hartfield," the delivery person said, holding out a clipboard.
Jonah signed for the package, his eyes scanning the label. It was addressed to him, but there was no return address. He took the parcel, licking his lips.
"Thank you," he said, closing the door. He carried the parcel into the living room, setting it down on the coffee table. He stared at it for a moment, a sense of disgust creeping over him. He was not expecting anything, and the lack of a return address was even more unsettling. He tore open the box, his eyes widening as he saw the stacks of cash inside. One hundred and fifty thousand dollars, neatly bundled and wrapped.
He stared at the money, his mind running. He knew who had sent it, and he knew why. Elliot. A wave of anger washed over him, followed by a crushing sense of disappointment. He had wanted Elliot to stand by him, to support his decision. Instead, he had sent him the money, a silent message that he was still trapped, still bound by his father's expectations.
Jonah felt a hot tear escape his eye, he quickly wiped it away. Picking up his phone he called, Elliot.
After three rings the call connected, "Elliot what is this?" Jonah said without even exchanging pleasantries first. "Wow, not even a hello, huh." Elliot said in a low voice.
"Screw that, what in heavens was delivered to me, Elliot?" Jonah asked brushing Elliot's earlier statements off.
"Jonah, please," Elliot's voice was strained, a desperate plea. "Let us not be rash and do what we have to do to protect us." Elliot begged.
"We can protect each other by telling the truth Elliot. We do not have to keep on lying." Jonah said exhausted, his eyes watering.
"You do not understand," Elliot said, his voice barely above a whisper. "My father, he is not someone you can just defy. He would destroy everything. He will destroy me"
"And what about me, Elliot? What about what's right? What about honesty?" Jonah demanded, his voice rising. "You are willing to sacrifice everything, including our relationship, to protect your privileged life?"
"It's not that simple, Jonah! You think I do not want to do the right thing? But I can't. I am in a cage, hands tied, I am trapped," Elliot cried out. "You are trapped too can't you see, your parents would be too heartbroken. Your father might lose his life if he hears this news." Elliot told him.
Jonah closed his eyes flinching at the thought. "We have too much to lose Jonah. Please." Elliot added.
"So do we just remain cowards?" Jonah spat the word, the bitterness thick in his voice. "You choose to hide behind your father's power and let him get away with it?" Jonah said disappointed
"Hey, don't call me that," Elliot's voice was laced with pain. "You do not know what I am going through. You do not know what it's like to have everything you love hanging by a thread."
"Then show me, Elliot! Show me you are not just some spoiled kid hiding behind his father's skirts. Stand up! Do something!" Jonah's voice was raw, the anger and disappointment caused a burning ache in his chest.
"I can't," Elliot repeated, his voice flat, defeated. "I just can't, at least not yet. Let us just use this to buy some time please." A heavy silence fell between them, the static of the phone and the distant noise of construction was all that could be heard. "Then I have nothing more to say to you," Jonah said, his voice cold and hard. He hung up, the click echoing in the empty house. He stared at the stacks of cash, his heart a leaden weight in his chest.
******
Elliot slowly lowered his phone, his hand shaking. He closed his eyes, the words echoing in his ears, "Then I have nothing more to say to you." He felt a wave of nausea wash over him, Jonah was just being irrational. He sighed.
He walked out of the room, his footsteps heavy. He found Lila standing in the hallway, her eyes wide. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice sharp, suspicious. Lila smiled sheepishly. "Oh, I, uh, I got lost," she stammered, gesturing vaguely down the hall.
"I was looking for the bathroom." Elliot eyed her suspiciously, his gaze lingering on her face. He did not believe her, but he did not have the energy to argue. Elliot walked off. Lila turned
With a well manicured finger to her lips. Lila exhaled, her brows raised. She had only caught snippets of the conversation, but she could sense there was a lot going on. She tried to piece together the fragments she heard, trying to understand what was happening. She knew something was very wrong.
Now was not the right time to carry out Victor's task but her deadline was drawing closer, she has to be creative. She thought before walking off, heading to the actual bathroom, the only completed one in the house.
******
The morning sun, hit harshly on Jonah's weary eyes. He had barely slept, the image of the cash and the echo of Elliot's defeated voice replaying in his mind. His nose clogged from all the crying he had done all night after the call ended. He dragged himself out of bed, the apartment feeling colder and emptier than ever. A scary feeling settled over him. He had to deal with the money, and he had to figure out what to do next.
He knew Elliot was right but he did not want to accept it. Why couldn't he belong in a world where he was free and he could act as rashly as he wants damning the consequences. He dressed slowly, reluctant to go through the motions of placing money in the post office again. He had no choice though. He put on his headphones playing some music to soothe him. He just needed, to do something, anything, to distract himself from the gnawing feeling of dread inside.
He entered his car, sighing deeply and staring into empty space as he braced his mind. He drove off after a while, arriving at the post office in record time. He took his normal parking spot, picking the box from the passenger seat before he headed towards the Post Office entrance.
He walked into the post office distracted with his thoughts. He caught the attention of the teenager, who looked somewhat happy to see him. "Hi you're slowly becoming a regular. It is almost like you have a crush on me." The teenager said teasing. Jonah took one glance at him, not having the energy for any conversation. He kept silent and stretched out his arm.