Page 91 of Scarred King
“Fine, just show me where you hid my file and I’ll take you.” He stands up and I turn pale. “Elena,” he quickly walks toward me and grabs my arm. “Where did you hide the fucking file?”
“Ahh… I burned it.” I answer and watch his pupils dilate in anger. “But don’t worry, I have backup.”
“How did you back it up? Did you photocopy it?” I swallow as he shakes me. “Elena, answer me before I lose my mind. That file is my entire business, I thought you knew that.”
“It’s all in here.” I point at my head and place my backpack on the floor as I realize in frustration that I won’t be getting to campus anytime soon.
“What do you mean?” He looks at me suspiciously but stops shaking me.
“It means that I need a computer, a printer and a few hours of quiet.”
“It’s all in your head?” he wrinkles his forehead. “You remember every page in the file?”
“Unfortunately, I do.” I shrug. “When I realized what was in the file, I was afraid that they might search the house and find it. So, I photocopied the pages in my head and burned it.” I sit down at his computer. “What’s this?” I ask when I see the black site on the screen. “This doesn’t look like a regular site.”
“Because it’s not.” He pulls the mouse to him and exits the site. “It’s called the Dark Web. Even communication in our world is different than in your old world.”
“I’ve heard about that…” I try to re-enter the site, but can’t find the link. “Show me,” I say with a naughty smile, but he shakes his head.
“The Duchess hasn’t finished her first degree yet. She can’t jump ahead to her second degree.” He laughs at my disappointed expression, and then taps on the table. “I need all the information, so get to work.”
“Everything?” I ask in dismay.
“Everything,” he replies dryly. “Type it, print it and then we’ll burn the computer so that nobody can find the data.”
I stare at him in shock. I can’t tell if he’s serious or just kidding with me. I open up an Excel file, close my eyes and open the secret drawer in my brain. My eyes open and my fingers start typing. Each page I finish typing is sent to the printer. I don’t stop to drink the coffee he’s put on the table for me, or answer my cellphone, which doesn’t stop ringing. I just type and print. Liam asks me a question from time to time, but I ignore him and keep going. Finally, I raise my head wearily. “I’m done,” I announce, and Liam puts the last paper into his new file. I turn off the computer. “Can I go to campus now?” I yawn and rub my neck.
“I don’t think there’s any point in going at this hour.” He closes the file and tucks it under his arm. “Come to the bar with me.”
I pick up my cellphone and see that it is already eight p.m. “Damn it!” I say in disappointment.
“You missed a lot of calls. Don’t you want to check who’s looking for you?”
“It’s just my mother.” I pour myself a glass of water.
“Call her back. I’ll wait for you.” He sits back down on the couch.
“She probably wants to pressure me into coming home.” I look for something to eat, but the refrigerator is empty. I see that he’s still sitting and waiting, and reluctantly I pick up the phone and dial.
“Where were you?” my mother yells and I hold the phone away from my ear.
“Mom, why are you yelling?” I rub the back of my neck again and roll my eyes.
“Because I need you here!” she’s still screaming. “I thought I fixed everything when the bank took our house and car, but it turns out that your cowardly father owes money to criminals as well. To criminals!”
She bursts into tears and I lean on the counter and put my hand over my heart.
“Where is he?” I mumble.
“The coward?” she is still upset. “The coward ran off and left me to deal with the threats on my own.”
“They threatened you?” I peek at Liam and see that he is straightening up. She doesn’t answer and keeps crying. “Mom, calm down and tell me what they want.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down,” she shouts. “You left me too. What do you think they want? Money. Lots of money.”
“How much money?” I ask fearfully.
“A hundred thousand dollars,” she replies, and I turn around so Liam won’t see the blood draining from my face.