Chapter 79 Send the Money
Finn was busy replying to messages on his phone. However, a sudden vibration from inside his jacket pocket reminded him that he still had Elliot's phone. He reached into his pocket and pulled it out. His brow furrowed when he saw an unknown number appear on the screen.
Finn glanced over at Elliot, who was still sleeping. For a moment, he hesitated to answer the call. Whoever was calling could be important, or it could be something unwelcome.
After a few seconds of thought, Finn decided to let it go. He placed the phone on the nightstand beside the bed.
However, the call came again, making Finn even more suspicious this time.
"Who is this?" he murmured softly.
Just as he was about to answer, the call cut off by itself. Curiosity mixed with a bad feeling made Finn immediately pick up his own phone. He copied the number and quickly sent it to Marcus in a message.
Right after, the young man immediately called Marcus. "Marcus, there was a call from an unknown number to Elliot's phone. I just sent it to you. It seems suspicious. Can you look into it? And if possible, trace its location."
"Alright, Mr. Finn. I'll handle it right now," Marcus replied promptly.
"If you can, do it quickly. My gut feeling... isn't good about this."
"Yes, of course."
After the call with Marcus ended, Finn sat back in his chair with a long sigh. He rubbed the back of his neck slowly, trying to calm himself. The situation was really draining.
The young man then glanced at his brother lying in bed and clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Wake up, Elliot. Look at the mess you've made!"
Soon, Finn's phone vibrated with a notification of an incoming message from Marcus. Quickly, Finn opened the message.
\[The number is from the suburban area. I'm tracing the specific location now. Give me a few more minutes, Mr. Finn.\]
Finn's heart began to race. He hadn't expected everything to become this serious. His reason for refusing his father's suggestion to join the company was to avoid dealing with things like this. But for now, he had no choice but to help his brother handle the problem at hand. He quickly replied.
\[Update me ASAP. And also about Audrey.\]
Just as Finn finished sending the reply, Elliot's eyelids began to flutter, and slowly, they opened.
Seeing his brother conscious, Finn immediately moved closer. "You're finally awake," he said with a tone of relief. He promptly pressed the call button to summon a nurse.
Elliot blinked, his face still looking confused and weak. "What happened...?" he asked, his voice sounding hoarse. He tried to remember, but his memory stopped at the moment he was on the terrace with Catherine.
"Stay calm. Don't think too hard about it right now," Finn said, gently patting Elliot's arm, trying to soothe him. "The doctor will explain later."
Elliot just gave a small nod. His body still felt weak, and he chose not to say more.
Shortly after, a nurse entered, carrying equipment to check Elliot's condition. She approached with a polite smile. "Mr. Harrington, it's good to see you awake. I'll check your vitals for a moment," she said, starting to check Elliot's blood pressure and pulse.
At the same time, the phone in Finn's hand vibrated again. He glanced at the screen; it was another message from Marcus.
"Excuse me for a second," he said quickly before walking to a quieter corner of the room to read the message.
Silently, Elliot observed his brother, who looked noticeably agitated.
After finishing the check-up, the nurse smiled. "Your condition is much better, Sir. However, your body still needs rest. The doctor will be in shortly to explain further."
Elliot nodded slowly. "Thank you," he said, his voice still weak.
After the nurse left, Elliot leaned his head back against the pillow. He tried to analyze what had really happened. His head felt heavy, but he knew something wasn't right. He remembered Catherine, the drink, and then... nothing.
The harder he tried to remember, the more restless he felt.
Suddenly, the phone lying on the nightstand beside his bed began to vibrate. Elliot turned his head, seeing the screen display an unknown number. His brow furrowed, but without a second thought, he grabbed the phone and answered the call.
"Hello?" Elliot's voice was slightly hoarse but still firm.
On the other end, a man's voice spoke in a cold tone. "Elliot Harrington, you finally answered. We need to talk."
Elliot immediately sat up straighter, even though his head still felt heavy. The man's voice on the other end was unfamiliar, but his way of speaking clearly held a threat.
"Who is this?" Elliot asked with emphasis. His heart began to beat faster.
"You don't need to know who I am," the man replied flatly. "What you need to know is, someone important to you is in my possession."
Elliot's brow furrowed sharply. "What do you mean?"
"Audrey Clarke," the man said without preamble. "I'm sure that name isn't unfamiliar to you."
Elliot's eyes widened instantly. His heart felt like it stopped beating. "What have you done to her?!" he exclaimed, his emotions starting to flare.
"Easy there, Mr. Harrington." The man chuckled, sounding a bit mocking, as if taunting Elliot's panic. "She's still alive, for now. But that all depends on your attitude."
Elliot's hand gripped the edge of the bed so tightly his knuckles turned white. "What do you want?"
"Money, of course," the man answered simply, his tone as if it were the most obvious thing. "An old debt has made the girl collateral. But I'm sure you're a very generous man, aren't you?"
"Debt? Who owes you money?" Elliot asked, though his mind immediately went to Henry, the man who had been a threat in Audrey's life.
"No need to discuss that," the man brushed it off casually. "What's clear is I need ten thousand million. That money must be transferred to my account within the next twelve hours. If not..."
The man paused, making Elliot even more tense.
"If not, I can't guarantee the safety of your favorite employee here."
Elliot clenched his jaw, his breathing ragged. "How do I know you're not lying? I want proof she's still alive!"
The man laughed softly, the sound of his laughter like a sneer. "You are smart, Mr. Harrington. Fine, I'll give you proof."
A few seconds later, a message came through on Elliot's phone. With trembling hands, he opened the incoming message.
A photo appeared, showing Audrey sitting in a room, her hands tied behind the chair. Her face looked pale, but her eyes stared at the camera with what remained of her courage.
Elliot's heart lurched seeing Audrey's state; seeing the clothes she was wearing only made his anger surge instantly. His face flushed with emotion. He immediately brought the phone back to his ear, his fingers gripping the device tightly.
"You bastard! What have you done to her?!" Elliot could no longer restrain himself.