The box was small. Brown and steel-like. Keeping it shut was a combination lock. Immediately, I scurried to my feet. The content of his letter was almost blurry to me now. In my grief, I had forgotten the letter dad had given me before he died.
I stood in the middle of my room, confused and irritated because I didn't know what to do or how to proceed. I thought I'd kept my father's letter in an obvious location that I could easily remember when the time came, but if it was so obvious, why couldn't I remember where I'd kept it?
Shit!
Growing up dad had nagged me about my carelessness. He said it would cost me one day. I guess today's that day.
Raising my bed, I pushed it over. It took me a while to get the bed out of the way and after I did, I had regrets because the letter wasn't there. I'd spent energy in vain. Within minutes of searching, my room looked like a pigsty, clothes and other stuff that I owned everywhere. Furnitures in the wrong place. But unfortunately, the letter was still nowhere to be seen. I crumbled to the ground, frustrated. My tears were just a few seconds away from falling. I didn't even try to hold them in.
For some reason, I thought of calling uncle Nathan. Maybe he knew where I'd been careless enough to drop the letter.
"Hey uncle Nath. How are you?"
"I'm fine, Sophie. How are you?"
"I'm good uncle Nath. Uhm… there's something I gotta ask you."
"Sure. Go ahead."
"Well… remember the letter you gave me, the one you said dad had left in your care, do you by any chance know where I kept it?"
"It's with me. Why?"
I didn't even know I was holding my breath until I breathed out in relief. "Really?"
"Yes. I kept it safe for you."
"Oh, thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
He chuckled cheerfully. "Do you want it?"
"Yes, please."
"Is there anything else you want? Do you still have food in the fridge? I could bring some over when I'm bringing the letter.
"No. I have enough food to last me a month. Thank you."
"Okay then."
"Uhm, uncle Nath, uh, how soon will you be coming?"
"In two hours time. I need to stop by the station."
"Okay. Thank you."
Sometimes I honestly just sit and think of what would have happened to me if dad didn't have a best friend. My life would have been so much harder that's for sure.
Like uncle Nath promised, he called me two hours later. I ran outside to meet him. He handed the letter and drove off.
I was so excited.
Though I could remember only bits of what dad had written, I knew there was a solution to my problem inside that steel box.
The paper rustled as I hurriedly opened it. As dad's handwriting hit me, nostalgia rested in my soul. I could feel my eyes stinging from tears that threatened to fall. But this was not the time to cry over dad. He was gone. And as hard it was to accept it, I'd walked through the five stages of grief a long time ago.
I wiped my eyes, unblurring it. Then I skimmed through the letter.
My eyes stopped at his instructions. I slowed down and took my time to absorb what he was telling me.
'There's a brown safe under my bed. The combination is our secret number. The one I made you memorize since you were seven.'
Yes. Of course. I remember the number. But it wasn't just a number, it was a song. Dad sang it to me and insisted I learn it.
"…uhm… once we were three… but now we're two… and maybe I'll be one and alone… but we'll always be three and complete. Right here in our hearts."
"Three, two, one, three… yes."
This had to be it, right…
I grabbed the safe and scrutinized the lock. Four numbers were needed to open it. I tried the combination from the song and to my relief and amazement, the box opened.
There was another letter at the top. It was quite old. Older than the one he'd given me last year. It was white, and thanks to dust, it was very dirty.
Impatience was my only companion at this point, but I slowed down when I almost ripped the paper from opening it too fast.
My father's handwriting greeted me again.
'There are four envelopes inside this box. For every envelope you open, a detailed description of a billionaire is inside, including something you can use against him….'
My brows knitted together. What did he mean 'use against him'.
"That is, blackmail him."
I gasped, closing my mouth with my left hand.
'Now don't be alarmed.' I continued to read. 'If you have any questions, I'll be here to give you answers. Don't panic.'
Don't panic? Don't panic? Isn't this like illegal or something? Wha—how, what is this? How… shit!
'Four envelopes. Four billionaires. Pick one envelope, only one, and follow the steps I've written down. Only then can you make him fall in love with you. Only then can you capture his heart and make him yours. But be careful. Don't 'wing it' like you do everything. Prepare. Plan. Follow the instructions. Follow the guidelines and you will be fine. Remember, do not open more than one envelope. These men aren't dangerous, but they could be. I know this may seem strange to you. But I promise, I did it all for you.'
The piece of paper fell from my hand as I read the last sentence.
My emotions were everywhere. I couldn't even think straight. My mind was blown.
I tried to gather my thoughts, but while i was asking one question in my head, another one came to my mind, and since there was no one to give me an answer, or an explanation to what I'd just read, a million and one unanswered questions threatened to drive me insane.
But beneath all of those thoughts and questions was a curiosity that found a way to raise its head up. It was slowly creeping to the top of my head.
I wanted to fight it. There was no way this was right. There was no way doing this didn't make me a psychopath or put me on the road that was leading there. But the more I thought about it, the more moved I was to pick up one envelope. It was only a matter of time before the only question in my mind became "which one?"
Which envelope do I choose? Just out of curiosity though. I should at the very least see what I'm running away from, right?
I picked all four bulgy envelopes that were sitting inside the box, laying them on my bed.
I noticed names had been written on the edge of all the envelopes.
"Lucas. Asher. Jacob. Snow." I read out loud.
The name Asher kept repeating in my head. It sounded so familiar. I could feel that I knew why, but it wasn't coming. I couldn't remem—
"Asher Colton." I yelled.
No. It couldn't be. It just couldn't be, right?
THE Asher Colton? The only son of the billionaire widower Christian Colton? No way.
I stretched my hand to pick up the envelope, there should be a picture in there, but stopped myself.
Every last fear and worry had been kicked aside by the excitement I was feeling. I still thought this was bizarre and absurd, but by god, I really wanted to see the men dad had picked. If Asher Colton was in there, then I could only imagine who the rest were.
I looked up, closing my eyes, I clasped my palms together. "Lord, please forgive. I just can't resist. You understand right."
I opened my already bulging eyes, with my right index finger sticking out, I pointed to the first envelope, took one long look at the envelopes and closed my eyes again. Then I said slowly, "Eenie…" I moved my finger to the next envelope, "Meenie…" "Miney…" I said, my finger now on the third envelope, moving as I sang the nursery rhyme, "Moe, Catch a mouse by the toe, If he squeals let him go, Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe." I opened my eyes.