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Wait, is that the territory I’m in right now. I know he’s rich and probably has never worked hard labor one day in his life. Surely that doesn’t mean he’s going to go all crazy on me and try to kill me just because I have this information? I mean, it’s not that serious is it?
“Yeah, it is.” Carrie speaks up.
“Frick, did I say that out loud?”
“No, but I know you. You’re trying to figure out if you really got yourself in that much trouble. You did. That man probably has more power in one raised eyebrow than anyone you know where you work. You started a battle with a multimillionaire. Maybe you should have thought about how you were going to fight it before you went screaming into the fray.” She wraps a hand around my shoulder and pulls me closer to her.
“Billionaire.” My head feels like it weighs a million tons.
“What?”
“I started a battle with a billionaire, as of last quarter his net worth is in the billions.”
“Sheesh.” She grips me tighter, “Don’t worry I’ll come, but I’m going to be on the other side of the garden. I’ll run for help if they try to kill you.”
“Wow, what a friend you are.” I roll my eyes before I shrug her off and reply to the email from my phone. Tonight is going to be a test of my abilities. To be a good journalist, I can’t be scared to go into dangerous places. A one on one meeting with Percival Snow is as dangerous as it’s ever gotten for me.
* * *
Keg Gardens is just as packed as usual. I realize that after I sent the email I never told Percy what I looked like or what my actual name is. Just more evidence that I’m not good at this blackmailing thing.
Of course, I don’t need him to tell me how to find him. I’ve spent all my waking hours today researching as much as I could about him and his family. I’m going tomorrow to the DMV and see if my contact there will be able to get me the name and last known address of the other man in the video. Both he and Percy got into the car with each other like they were acquainted. They seemed close.
Carrie had gone home about an hour before I was supposed to meet up with Percy to shower and change. By eight thirty I’m still in my room throwing clothing around. What does one wear to a blackmail date? Is it a dressy occasion or do I slip into my favorite comfy sweats?
Screw it.
I pull out my best jeans, the ones that make my ass look great and a graphic tee. I’m going to Keg Gardens, not the freaking MET. After I get dressed, tie my hair up into a messy bun and swipe a bit of gloss on my lips I head out. Thankfully I don’t look too worn out from all the drinking I did last night. My stomach is still a little queasy, but that could be from the nerves doing somersaults in my gut.
At five minutes to nine I call Carrie to see where she is. She better not be chickening out on me.
“Hey!” She screams into the phone.
“Hey? Where are you? What’s all that noise in the background?” There’s laughing and the sound of glasses knocking around.
“I’m here already. We can’t show up at the same time just in case Mr. Big Bucks has someone watching you when you come in. I’m in the garden towards the right. Hurry up. He’s here already.” The click tells me she’s gone.
Dread turns those nerves into stones that drop like weights in my gut. I’m scared.
“Alright, be there in five.” I whisper to myself.
Even though I’m afraid of the imaginary line I’m flirting with right now, I’m just going to suck it up and deal with it. It’s just a bluff. This will be fine. I’m sure of it.
I take one final look at myself in the mirror and step out, taking my first steps of getting the story of a lifetime.
* * *
Keg Gardens is packed. More so than usual. I completely forgot there’s a big boxing match tonight. Of course everyone is here to watch it on the large outdoor projector screen the Gardens has. It’s dark due to the lack of light but that’s not stopping anyone from having a good time. I turn towards the right and spot Carrie right away. She’s laughing it up with some guy I’ve never seen before. He has hair so red I can tell the color in the dim lighting. He’s sipping on a beer and seems like he’s completely invested in talking with my best friend. She turns her head in my direction and she raises her drink to let me know that she sees me. I subtly give her a thumbs up before pointing to the man she’s sitting with. He may be into her, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that she’s into him. She nods and smiles causing the red head to turn in my direction. I can’t get a good look at him, but I’m hoping this guy will be more than just a one night stand. Carrie deserves a little bit of happiness.
They both go back to talking and I refocus my attention on finding Percy. Carrie says she saw him which means he should be somewhere in her line of sight. I scan the crowd and see him. He’s sitting down at one of the smaller picnic tables, facing away from the fight being displayed on the far wall. There is a couple on the opposite side of the table leaving only one space for me to sit, right next to him.
I can do this! I can do this! I’m a tiger, hear me roar!
My roar is as loud as a mouse’s fart.
Those green eyes roam the area, never stopping on one person very long.
Something must have happened in the fight, because all at once everyone cheers for a second. I jump in surprise, looking up to see what’s going on.
