Who Wants to Marry A Billionaire?(46)

“Two hundred thousand dollars will go a long way to making it right, I’m sure.” Elsa took another bite of plantains, “Really Daniel, this food is delicious.”

Daniel was beyond exasperation. “Why do you keep ignoring how much Nina means to me? You know, Elsa, I’m beginning to think that you are simply not a very nice person—considering all of this was your idea in the first place. I was a fool for listening to your advice.”

Elsa put her fork down, and dabbed at the corner of her mouth with her napkin, trying to think what she should say. Her voice faltered, “I’m sorry Daniel. I never thought that you would ever fall for a common girl from Lowell.”

“What’s wrong with Lowell? It’s home to thousands of decent, hard working people. Why do you always make it sound like everyone in Lowell should be in quarantine? There is nothing wrong with Lowell or with Nina, and she certainly hasn’t done anything malicious.”

Daniel threw his napkin on the table, “You know, Elsa, I really don’t want to see you right now.”

As he stood up from the table he added with a glare, “Maybe you should think about booking the next available flight to Boston. I’m sure there is someone at the Foundation you can kick around.”

Elsa’s chest felt like a bony hand was clutching at her heart. ‘Daniel, please…” but her smartphone decided to play “Send in the Clowns” at that moment.

“Not very funny, Elsa.” Daniel stormed out of the restaurant.

Automatically, Elsa clicked on the incoming e-mail, despite it being from an address she’d never seen. She wasn’t sure how things could get much worse, but as she read the e-mail, she realized that indeed, they were spiraling downward and everything was going to come crashing down on her.

She reread the e-mail; it was clear that she’d overstepped with Ariadne. The little bitch wasn’t satisfied with her five grand. Now Ariadne was threatening that she would tell Daniel that Elsa had hired her to set him up if Elsa didn’t pony up more money. Elsa’s hands felt clammy; there was no way Daniel could know that she was responsible for breaking up his relationship with Nina—and blowing the deal. He was mad enough at her already. She didn’t know how to handle extortion, but there was someone in the DeVere world that did—and that person was Boris.

When she got back to her hotel room, she took a deep breath and dialed him.

“Boris…Hello, yes, it’s Elsa. I need your advice about something as a security expert.”

Boris could hear Elsa’s thinly veiled panic bouncing off the cell tower and seeping into his phone.

“Of course, Elsa. How might I help?”

“Speaking hypothetically—of course—what would you do if someone close to the DeVere’s was being extorted for confidential information regarding them? It’s a question that has come up as the Foundation is setting security policy. You know, we operate in some dangerous places.”

Pretending to be puzzled, Boris asked, “Wouldn’t you be more concerned about a staff member being kidnapped and held for ransom?”

“That—that policy is already in place,” Elsa stumbled, “It’s almost universal NGO policy to not negotiate with kidnappers as it sets a bad precedent.” She recovered, trying to sound more authoritative. “Extortion is a little trickier, since it puts more than the employee at risk.”

“I’m not sure I understand,” Boris strung her along, “I mean, what kind of sensitive information would a foundation employee be privy to, other than yourself?”

Elsa’s voice sharpened, “I don’t know Boris, this is all hypothetical! Something the DeVere’s wouldn’t want the public to know.”

“Something…personally compromising then, like…an illegitimate child?” There was complete silence on the other end of the phone.

“Really Boris…” Elsa floundered. “Can we…keep this is the realm of plausibility?”

“Can we Elsa? You’re the one that’s asking about extortion, not me.” It was the first time that Boris had ever seen Elsa rattled. “Is there anything you want to tell me? You know, of course, that whatever we discuss is totally confidential.”

“No!” Elsa said it a little too tersely. “Never mind Boris, I’m sorry I bothered you.”

Elsa clicked off her phone and broke into a sweat. She went to the mini-bar and pulled out a Scotch, pouring it into a glass. She nervously gulped at it as she paced the room. What was she going to do about Ariadne? Her resources were limited, and larger amounts of money would have to come from the Foundation, but even Elsa couldn’t imagine embezzling from the non-profit organization to which she had devoted her life.

“Send in the Clowns” started playing and Elsa desperately hoped that it was Daniel wanting to reconcile, but it was another message from Ariadne.

“I’m trying to decide how much and how often you should give me money. I think I’ll sleep on it, and why don’t you do the same? You can always make me an offer I can’t refuse,” it read.

Elsa slumped into the upholstered reading chair in the corner of the room. She sat there, under the harsh glare of a floor lamp, gulping Scotch like she was going to be interrogated at any moment. And then, Elsa began to cry.