CHAPTER 131: GREATEST BLOCK

“So, how was it? What did she say? When will our next meetup be?” I hastily asked with excitement the minute I entered Ivar’s office. One of his men fetched me, stating that his boss wishes to have a word with me. Michael was about to come along, but according to Ivar, he only wished first to speak to me. So here I am, anxiously thrilled about the second meetup, which I hope would occur the soonest. 

“It wasn’t Penelope whom I have spoken to, but a certain Doctor Lewis White. And according to him, he was Penelope’s fiance. He said he would be the one dealing with us from this day onwards.” 

“Why? Where’s Penelope?” 

“I guess something bad happened to her during the first meetup. Anyway, I’ve talked to Lewis White…” 

“And? What did he say?” 

“We have a problem, Pamela. A very huge one.” I stared at him dumbfoundedly, analyzing his words before answering. 

“What problem?” I could feel my heart thumping out loud, waiting for what he was about to say. 

“I was about to tell him about the second meetup, but he abruptly interrupted me, saying that we must deliver the child at their doorstep for us to have our ransom money.”

“What! Did you inform him that we could harm the child if they won’t cooperate?” 

“Yes! I told him that we could kill the child if he continued to be a smart-talker. Would you like to know what his answer was?” 

“What?” 

“He boldly said that if we kill the child, we will never have our money. Then he hastily ends the call. Just like that. What a jackass!” 

“Why did they suddenly change their minds? Weren’t they afraid that we might harm Michelle? Weren’t they thinking of that possibility? Are they foolish enough to risk the child’s life knowing that we hold in our hands the fate of Penelope’s daughter? They're crazy! Pathetically crazy!” My anger reached its boiling point that made me stand and started walking back and forth. I had been waiting for this moment and yet now everything seems to be blurry. This can’t be. 

“They aren’t crazy, Pamela. Actually, it’s the opposite.” 

My eyes instantly dropped at him with utmost disbelief. “What did you say? Not crazy? They are crazy as fuck, Ivar! Who would risk an innocent child’s life in exchange for money? No one would do that! Most people will choose the safety of their loved ones over money! If they aren’t that stupid enough, they would just be agreeing with the meetup!” 

“Something’s not right. I can sense that they are about to do something that will make us look crazy.” All the more that I watched him in total confusion. 

‘What is he talking about? We are in control here, of the situation, because we have with us the most precious thing that Penelope ever needed and most loved. So why the fuck would he say such a thing?’

“What are you talking about?” 

“They are cooking something under their sleeves, Pamela. They wouldn’t be bold enough to challenge us if they didn't have other plans in mind.” 

“What plans?” 

“I don’t have any clues yet, but I am most certain that something will happen, something that won’t favor our liking. They are up with something.” 

I eyed him incredulously, thinking of what he was talking about and at the same time, drilling inside my head what the fuck Penelope’s camp was up to. 

I am back in our designated room, but my mind is still in catastrophic chaos. What Ivar reveals continually purges my mind that all I could ever think of was that. I couldn’t figure out what Penelope’s next course of action would be and why did they suddenly have a change of heart. 

“What did Ivar say?” I continued staring at the ceiling, deliberately analyzing every possible step Penelope will administer next. “Pamela, what did Ivar say?” 

‘What could possibly be their plan? What were they thinking? This must be very crucial and highly tactical for someone like Ivar to worry about. He may not have voiced it out earlier, but I can see in his eyes how troubled he is. If something as hardcore as Ivar got deeply worried, then what I am feeling right now was just right and appropriate.’ 

My head automatically turned the moment I felt someone shake my shoulder. “Huh?” It was Michael. He was looking at me with curiosity and wondering. He must have been calling me several times, because his face shows impatience. 

“Haven’t you heard me, Pamela?”

“Did you say something?” I dumbly utter, which made his eyebrows creased. 

“I was asking about Ivar? What did he say to you? What are you thinking that you seem to be very stressed and preoccupied?” He murmured frantically before sitting beside me.

“Penelope’s camp suddenly changes their minds. They wouldn’t be meeting up with us anymore.” 

“Why?” 

“I don’t know why, Michael. That’s what occupies my thoughts. I am wondering why they suddenly have a change of heart and wouldn’t wish to cooperate with us.”  

“What did she say to Ivar?” He asked anxiously. 

“It wasn’t her whom Ivar had spoken to, but Lewis, her fiance.” 

“Why him? Where’s Penelope?” 

“Something must have happened to her during the meetup at All-Star Arena, because according to Ivar, it will be Lewis who would be dealing with him from this day onwards. He was the one who talked to Ivar a while ago.” 

“I see. So what now? What will be our next move?” 

“Ivar hasn't said anything yet, Lewis told him to deliver Michelle at their doorstep if we want to have our money.” 

“What! We can’t do that! You knew so well Pamela, that we will never do that! I will never hand over Michelle! She’s the reason why we are here in this fucked up situation in the first place! They have to go over my dead body before they can have my daughter!” 

I stared at him feeling even more depressed and down-hearted. I know he will say this. I am extremely certain that he will never agree with what Penelope’s camp wishes us to comply with now. He will never hand over Michelle, especially now that she is with him. There’s no way, as there is no way, that he will agree if ever Ivar demanded him to give back Michelle to her mother. So what now? What will happen now?  

With all honesty, I am also clueless of what the outcome will be. As much as I want to deny it, I know in my heart that Michael will be my greatest block now to acquire that enormous wealth. Now is the test that I have to face. This time I really need to choose, because he will never ever adhere to what they want. It will be Michael or the money. 

‘Can I really let go of Michael? Can I really let go of the years of love that I have for him? Am I ready to waste all those precious years just because of the hundreds of dollars I would be acquiring? Fuck! This is hard!’