There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the line, then Arnold's voice came through again.
"The price has gone up now. One million. I want it in cash. Wait for my next call, I'll tell you where to make the exchange."
With that, there was a click as the call ended.
Dewey hung up the phone, his face darkening. He had never been threatened like this in his life. He'd dealt with so many gangsters, and they were the ones who begged him, not the other way around. He never imagined he would be pushed to this extent one day.
He picked up the speech again, trying to focus.
But he couldn't concentrate at all now.
He threw the speech violently to the floor.
"Damn it."
"Damn Global Times, damn journalist, damn political donations, damn the stupid Chinese." Dewey cursed loudly in his room.
Another two days passed.
Dewey had never felt time drag on like this.
