THE INTRIGUING REQUEST
There was a tense, long silence. Henry and Ruth folded their arms as they looked at him. Suzanne stared at him boldly, hardly believing that this was Andrei Runt. She had never seen him because she was away to Paris for school, but being a billionaire, he was bound to always show up in the media. She'd seen his face so many times on screen that she knew she'd recognize him instantly if she saw him. However, he was looking way too different to be Andrei Runt.
He wasn't as broad as she knew him to be. He was slimmer this time, even though she could see the shape of his muscles through his T-shirt, which wasn't tight at all. He was handsome, almost too handsome for her liking. He watched them with a cold, bored expression on his face. Andrei frowned when they hadn't taken action.
"What are you waiting for?" He asked. "Isn't this what you came for?"
"What do you mean?" Henry asked.
"Revenge," Andrei said. "Isn't that what you're here for, to take revenge on me?"
They were startled. He spoke about it so calmly that it caught them off guard. Suzanne didn't know what to think. They hadn't been counting on him knowing that they had come for him. Was that why he seamlessly opened the gate and door for them?
"No," Henry struggled with his words. "That wasn't what we were here for." That was exactly what they were there for, but he couldn't just say it.
"No?" Andrei's eyes moved to Suzanne. He cocked his eyebrows at her appearance. "You don't look like her at all."
His statement was meant to incite her, Suzanne realized. He was pushing them to the limit so they could act on it. He had been expecting death, was waiting for it even, and was sort of pleased to see that they had come. She silently wondered how depressed he was to have expected that blunt brutality from them. When no one said anything, Ruth took over.
"We aren't here to act on revenge," she said. "We just need your help."
Suzanne and Henry slowly turned to look at her. That wasn't the plan—not that they had any specific plan since Henry changed it last minute, but needing his help was far from it… unless he was going to help them in bringing himself to justice.
"We need your help," Ruth rushed. "Our company, it's been brought down. It was attacked by…" she suddenly started to cry. "We don't even know who attacked it! The whole building was bombed!"
They were all shocked by her tears, including Andrei.
Suzanne was embarrassed. Henry looked about in shock, wondering if he should start crying too in order to keep up the act.
"Uh…" Andrei looked around, uncomfortable. "I didn't know about your company. Did you think I did it?"
"No!" Ruth hurried to say. "No, of course not. We know you're not the one, and that you won't do anything to us like that."
Andrei looked disappointed. It was like he almost wished they could blame it on him, so as to take whatever punishment that was melted out to him. Suzanne didn't know what his deal was, but she found it weird and suspicious. Besides, why was the house so damn empty? How long has he been expecting them? Did he know that they would act one of these days and decided to send all his staff away?
"Uh, well, if you don't think I did it, then you should probably get going." He turned in disappointment.
Ruth grabbed his hand, startling him. He immediately shook her off him like he'd been electrocuted. Suzanne was hurt by the action.
"Don't treat her like that!" She said to Andrei, then wrapped her arms around her mother.
Andrei looked at her slowly from head to toe. "I think you all should leave. This was not what I was expecting when you came."
"We need your help," Ruth cried. "Didn't you just hear me? How the company was brought down! It was destroyed."
Andrei sighed. He stopped trying to walk away and instead viewed them like a disturbance of his peace.
"What do you want?" He asked.
"200 million dollars," Henry blurted.
It was Ruth's turn to be surprised. It wasn't what she had expected. Were they trying to sell their dignity for money?
Andrei scoffed. "Two hundred million? My, Mr. Mackenzie, you've become so bold nowadays."
"So bold?" Henry scoffed and took one menacing step towards him. "I've become bold? Me, bold? Says the billionaire who killed my daughter and hides behind his wealth?"
A pained expression passed Andrei's features. It was so fleeting, so fleeting that if Suzanne hadn't been watching him carefully, she would have missed it.
"What do you want the money for?" Andrei said with gritted teeth.
"What do I need the money for? Hmm, let's see." Henry placed a hand on his jaw like he was pretending to think. "Let's see. I need it for the emotional trauma you have caused my family, and to grow my company."
Ruth bristled. Henry gave her an eye and signaled that she kept quiet. Suzanne didn't know what her father was playing at, but all she knew was that her loyalty would not so be easily bought with money.
"Two hundred million dollars cannot bring your company to the glory it's lost," Andrei pointed out. "I cannot help you. The door is open for you to leave."
Andrei turned and started to walk away, caring less if they remained or left. Henry's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"You will give me the money, Andrei Runt. You will give it to me because you owe me one, for my daughter."
The next words that came from Andrei's mouth were cold and piercing.
"I do not owe you anything, Mister. Diane's death was a tragedy that I cannot compromise."
"But you will help me, regardless." Henry said. "After she was gone, the company drastically changed. Whose fault is it that I lost so many deals and members to her death?"
The only loud breathing in the room was Ruth and Suzanne's. Andrei was so still, so still that when he turned, his eyes were black and cold. Those eyes landed on Suzanne, and a cruel smile came to his lips.
"Very well," Andre said. "I will help you, if you insist. All you have to do is give me your daughter."