The pawn shop's lights casted a soft glow on the watches laid out on the velvet counter. Mr. Gold, the owner, a man whose eyes were experienced, tapped a manicured finger on the face of a platinum chronograph.
"These are indeed exquisite," he said, his voice a low rumble. "But exquisite does not always equate to ten million, does it?"
"We have two million in cash," Clara countered, her voice sharp. "We need the rest. We are not dragging prices for trinkets, Mr. Gold. We are talking about a substantial sum, and we need it now."
Elliot watched, his jaw tight. His eyes wandered towards the clock, they had bare thirty minutes left, every second counted. Elliot let Clara handle the negotiations, as his mind drifted off into thoughts. This was the last time he was giving into the blackmailer, he could not do this again. His phone vibrated in his hands and this brought him out of his deep thoughts. Looking down he saw Jonah's name floating at the top of his screen.
Elliot sighed, refusing to answer the call. He knew why Jonah was calling. He did not have anything tangible to say to him. It was best to just ignore him. The phone stopped vibrating but soon it let out a notification sound, with Jonah's text message on the notification bar.
Jonah:
Where are you? It is almost night time. Were you able to raise the money? You are not answering my calls.
Elliot read the message. Sighing he quickly typed a short response. "Still at the pawn shop, call you later."
Elliot's phone vibrated with another message but he chose to ignore it totally this time. Jonah began calling him, his calls becoming more frequent. Clara looked at Elliot worried, "Aren't you going to answer that?" She asked referring to his vibrating phone.
Elliot shook his head, "It is Jonah I will just talk to him later, let us just focus on getting the money." He told her.
"Why the rush?" Mr. Gold asked, his eyes narrowing. "Such a large transaction, and you are in such a hurry. It makes one wonder." "That is none of your concern," Elliot said, his voice firm. "We need the money. Can you provide it, or not?"
"Patience, Mr. Sinclair," Mr. Gold said, a thin smile playing on his lips. "Patience is a virtue, especially in business. Now, tell me, why this sudden need for such a large amount? I am genuinely curious." "My father implemented a new policy, and I do not keep that much money in my personal bank account," Elliot said, his voice flat. "That's all you need to know."
"A new policy, eh?" Mr. Gold chuckled. "How convenient. And your father, the esteemed Mr. Sinclair, would not simply write a check?"
"It is complicated," Clara interjected, her voice laced with impatience. "Just name your price, Mr. Gold."
Jonah paced Elliot's living room anxiously, biting his nails. Elliot had stopped answering. His phone chimed, he looked down thinking it was Elliot but realized it was the last person he wanted to talk to at that point.
Unknown:
Hi Jonah dear, hope you are doing great. Sorry this is coming late, but silly of me to think that ten million dollars would fit in a measly P.O. box. Drop off location has changed. The bridge we met the first night. Expecting you in an hour, do not be late. Xoxo.
Jonah groaned in frustration, he could not reach out to Elliot and they only had an hour left. Jonah continued calling Elliot as he watched the clock. Thirty minutes left, "I do not get it. Why can't you pick up." Jonah screamed out loud. His phone vibrates, he calms down but his hearts pace increases again. It is the blackmailer.
Unknown
Time is running out, Jonah. Tick-tock.
Your little boyfriend is taking his sweet time, isn't he? I am getting impatient. Very impatient. And when I get impatient, things can get messy.
Jonah's fingers flew across the screen, trying to plead for some extra time. "Please, just give us more time," he typed, "We are trying. We will get the money."
Unknown:
I am quite shocked, billionaire boyfriend could not let go of ordinary ten million dollars. Are you sure he even loves you?
Jonah:
It is not like that, something came up. Bank issues.
Unknown:
If you say so, I only want to remind you that you have 10 minutes left.
Jonah became nauseous, his stomach churned, he had long given up on reaching out to Elliot. Twenty minutes passed, his phone chimed again.
Unknown:
Jonah boy, it seems like you are gaining confidence here. You are usually on time, what's happening?
"We are getting it," Jonah typed back, his eyes welling up with tears. "Just a little more time."
Unknown:
A little more time? You think I am running some sort charity? I want my money, and I want it in the next thirty minutes. Or else…
"Or else what?" Jonah typed. "What are you going to do?"
Unknown:
Oh dear Jonah, you have really grown confident. Well you know I do not issue empty threats and whatever plan or secret weapon you have that is making you confident will not work.
Jonah texted Elliot the new location and the time left. Adding it to the barrage of unreplied messages Jonah left him in the past two hours.
******
"Eight million," Mr. Gold said, his eyes fixed on Elliot. "That is my final offer."
"We need ten," Clara countered, her voice firm. "Not a penny less."
"Then I am afraid we have nothing more to discuss," Mr. Gold said, his voice dismissive.
Elliot's phone buzzed again, Jonah's name flashing across the screen. He ignored it, his eyes fixed on Mr. Gold. The deadline was ticking away, and they were running out of time. Desperate he turned to face Mr. Gold properly, "I will take the eight million." Elliot said. Clara turned to look at Elliot in shock, the look on her face disapproving Elliot's rash behavior.
"Elliot these watches cost way more than that and you know it." She told him.
"Yes I know but there is barely any time and Jonah's wellbeing is at stake." Elliot whispered making her see reason. She nodded and Mr.Gold was off to the back, he spent about twenty minutes before the door opened with young men. Probably his staff moving boxes of money out. He walked out behind them, watching them work as they moved the money. Once it was complete he stopped them.