Sophia's jaw dropped open in shock at the startling quantity as she gasped. The first of many revelations about her father's character caught her off guard as she glanced at Charles. Even though Alexander was aware that his friend was a shark below that cool demeanor, Gabriel stated calmly, "Let's be honest here. You barely have two bucks to your name and all of your credit cards are maxed out due to your gambling addiction. For a businessman like me, that presents a challenge, particularly given the fast-rising interest based on the principal you owe me."
Charles wiped a handkerchief across his perspiring forehead and began to breathe somewhat more forcefully. He answered angrily, "I've already signed away everything of value to you as collateral and a demonstration of good faith."
When Sophia realized what was at stake—her and her father's entire livelihood, not to mention every item of property they owned—she made a quiet, choked sound in the back of her throat. "Father, no," he said. Straight up, Gabriel said, "I want the money. Tonight. Now." Michael defended Charles by saying, "That's impossible, and you know it."
"No, don't say impossible." Alexander muttered, drawing the attention of three sets of eyes in his direction. Sophia's eyes were filled with an optimism he was going to dash as Michael's stare sharpened, Charles's glance shifted to one of caution. "Gab, I'll pay you in cash to settle the debt and interest." Charles's expression changed, as though he was beginning to understand the effects of that transfer. He cried, "No," with a loud voice. Alexander ignored the man's scream and the distress evident on Sophia's face as he picked up the briefcase that was lying on the floor next to his chair and stood. He placed the attaché on the desk, then opened the lid and turned the contents toward Gabriel as they had intended all along after using a combination to unlock the locks.
"How about signing over Charles's promissory note and all of his assets to me in exchange for three million dollars in cash?"
Michael shouted, "Jesus Christ,"
When it was implied that Charles was at Alexander's mercy, he leaped out of his seat and his face turned white as a sheet. He struggled for air, screaming wildly, "You can't do this! You can't just sell me off like some kind of animal to the highest bidder because I don't have three million dollars," Charles said.
"Did you not read the contract's fine print." Gabriel enquired in a carefree manner. "It specifies unequivocally that I am free to sell your loan to another lender at any time without your permission." He closed the briefcase and stood up.
He then extended a hand for Alexander to shake. "Mr. Gideon, you've got yourself a bargain. On Monday, I'll make sure to have the transfer prepared and the paperwork sent over to you for your review and signature to complete the transaction. The debt owed by Charles Eugene is now your problem to solve, not mine."
Alexander took the first step toward sweet vengeance as he saw Gabriel exit the room. Charles would eventually endure suffering until all that remained of him was a skeletal man. It was exactly what the idiot deserved. Charles placed his hand against his heaving chest against the front of his dress shirt. "Gideon, you'll never get away with this!"
Alexander grinned sarcastically at him. "I have already. You, Charles Eugene, are mine. And I'm going to deliberately wreck your life and you."
Knowing how imposing his height and stature made him appear at that precise moment, he stood up and spread his hands out on the surface of his desk. "This is the course of events. I'm going to start by foreclosing on your home and any other properties you possess. All of your posh vehicles, especially the vintage vehicles you adore, are mine. The true nature of you and Michael as men, as well as what you do on the side to augment your income, will be revealed to your business partners."
Hugely dejected, Charles' eyes were filled to the core. The bow tie around his neck, which had to be suffocating him, was being pulled by his fingers as he started to perspire excessively. Although Alexander didn't give a damn, the small gasp of surprise and dismay that he overheard from Sophia almost put a stop to everything he had been working on for the last five years. How was it possible for a lady he had just met to seduce him so quickly? He forced himself to ignore Sophia's distress as he finished driving the last nail into Charles's coffin. "Nobody will want anything to do with you by the time I'm done wrecking havoc on your life. I'm going to remove everything valuable and significant so you won't be able to rob people who are less fortunate any more. You will experience less luck."
A choked sound came from Charles' throat as he clenched his heart. Before Charles could revert, Michael took his arm and gently lowered him onto the chair as he glanced toward the elderly man with concern. Sophia hurried to her father's side and began hurriedly rummaging through his front pockets of his tuxedo jacket. She asked, obviously upset but also remarkably in charge of the situation, as if this wasn't the first time her father had experienced this type of attack in her company, "Father, where are your nitroglycerin pills?"
"Jacket....inside...pocket," Each time he wheezed, Sophia immediately located the prescription, took a tiny pill, and pushed it beneath her dad's tongue.
Michael exclaimed angrily, "Jesus Christ, Gideon. His heart is not in good shape. You're freaking giving him a heart attack!" Alexander's heart lacked any sign of sympathy. He simply crossed his arms over his chest and said nothing out of pure venom and disgust for the man.
Charles grumbled, the medication Sophia had given him appearing to be soothing his symptoms.
Sophia shook her head and turned to face Alexander, her gorgeous blue eyes sparkling with tears. She begged him, sweetly and kindly, "Alex, please," despite the fact that he had just declared his desire to defile her father. "Whatever my father did to deserve your anger, you can't treat him this way. He will never make it. He is ailing."
Despite the hint of apprehension he noticed in her glance, she stepped closer to his desk and did it with courage and tenacity. "Instead, take me." Alexander was startled, but as a guy who had spent years creating a mask of control, neither his look nor his body language revealed that he was feeling anything other than shock. He had never anticipated the unusual turn of events that this woman was willing to take in exchange for her father's freedom.
Her father screamed in terror, "Sophia, no. Sophia maintained a steady look despite her father's protests. "I'll do whatever it takes to pay off his debt, whatever you want but please leave my father alone.