Jacob glanced at his cheap replica Lerox watch, noting the time. It was already 1:14 PM, and his patience was wearing thin. The endless back-and-forth arguments between Henry and Sam showed no signs of stopping, and it was starting to frustrate him. Neither side was willing to back down, and Jacob was beginning to feel like a referee in a match with no end.
It had been about ten minutes since Jacob intervened. While the situation had thankfully calmed to the point where things weren't getting physical anymore, both parties remained as stubborn as ever. No one seemed ready to compromise, and Jacob was starting to question if they ever would.
"Anyway, if you don't repent and give us back the money, there's no way I'm going to forgive you or call it a day," Henry growled, slamming his hand on the table. The force of the impact caused the flower vase sitting on it to rattle, emitting a brief but sharp sound of collision.
"As I've already said, that's impossible now," Sam sighed, leaning back on the couch. His expression was one of helplessness, but there was a glint of determination in his eyes. "If you would just accept my proposal and work under my company, you'd earn far more than the 5 percent we were supposed to get back then."
"No," Henry sneered, clinging stubbornly to his loyalty to their former boss. "The boss would kill me if I did something like that."
"Boss?" Sam scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. "I've been living my life freely for years now. Did our so-called boss ever come after me? Did he send anyone to track me down? No. That guy's pockets are so deep he doesn't even care about what I took from him."
"That's a load of crap," Henry shot back, flipping him the middle finger. "The only reason he hasn't done anything is because you've been hiding out here in this tiny town like a coward—with your bitch!"
"What the hell did you just say about Emi!?" Sam snapped, his anger flaring as he shot to his feet, ready to charge at Henry.
Before the situation could escalate, Jacob cleared his throat loudly, drawing both of their attention. They paused and turned to look at him, their hostility momentarily subdued.
Jacob leaned back on the arm of the couch, propping his chin on his fist, his expression thoughtful. His mind raced as he tried to figure out the best way to resolve this mess. He needed to play his cards carefully.
Earlier, Jacob had suggested Emi leave the room to freshen up and manage the reception in the hall. This way, they could have a private and uninterrupted conversation without anyone getting suspicious about why the couple hadn't appeared at the party yet. At least now, there was one less person to worry about.
"You see," Jacob finally spoke, breaking the tense silence, "it seems this argument isn't going anywhere. We're just running in circles."
"And what exactly are you suggesting?" Henry asked, his tone sharp and guarded.
Sam, surprisingly, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, what's your plan?"
Jacob straightened slightly and gave them both a calm smile. "To settle this matter, I think we should take a break—cool off for a few days and regroup."
"Take a break?" Henry sneered, his voice dripping with skepticism. "Who knows what this scoundrel will do in a few days? He might just disappear like a bubble!"
Jacob nodded thoughtfully, acknowledging the point. It was a fair concern, after all. Sam had run off with the money once before, so there was always the risk he'd do it again. Jacob couldn't help but marvel at how Sam had managed to launder such a massive amount of cash and spend it freely without getting caught. But that mystery would have to wait for another day.
Refocusing on the matter at hand, Jacob turned his gaze to Henry and spoke in a measured tone. "I understand your concern, which is why I'll personally observe him over the next few days."
"You?" Henry frowned, suspicion evident in his voice. "But you're his old classmate, aren't you? His friend. For all I know, you might help him escape."
"If that happens," Jacob said, flashing a reassuring smile, "then you can report him to the police. I won't stop you. That way, he'll land himself in serious trouble. But honestly," Jacob turned to Sam with a pointed look, "I doubt he's stupid enough to throw away this comfortable, wealthy life he's built for himself. Isn't that right, Sam?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah," Sam stammered, clearly caught off guard. He nodded absentmindedly, not fully understanding what Jacob was implying but agreeing anyway.
"So," Jacob continued, his calm smile never wavering, "what do you think?"
Henry hesitated, his expression conflicted as he weighed his options. Sam and Jacob waited patiently, neither of them rushing him. After a long, tense pause, Henry finally spoke. "Fine then," he grumbled, pointing a finger at Sam. "But don't even think about running away again, or I'll make sure you end up rotting in jail!"
"Great! It's settled, then!" Jacob exclaimed, his grin widening as his eyes sparkled with satisfaction. "Let's reconvene five days from now, right here in this very room. By then, I expect both of you to come prepared—with your best arguments and solutions."
Henry still looked doubtful, clearly not fully convinced, but in the end, he nodded reluctantly. "Okay," he muttered under his breath, crossing his arms defensively.
After that, Henry left the villa alone, his silhouette gradually disappearing down the driveway. Jacob and Sam stood side by side in the floating corridor, watching him through the large window. The tension in the room had mostly dissipated, but a lingering unease remained, especially in Jacob's mind.
Sam broke the silence, glancing at Jacob with genuine gratitude in his eyes. "Honestly, I don't know how to thank you for your help. If you hadn't stepped in, things would've turned bloody for sure."
"Eh, no problem," Jacob replied with a casual chuckle, shrugging his shoulders like it was just another ordinary task. Deep down, though, he was relieved things hadn't escalated further.
"One thing though…" Sam's voice softened as his gaze flickered with hesitation. "Who are you?"
Jacob's expression didn't falter, and he laughed as if the question amused him. "I'm Jacob Fox, your old high school classmate. Who else?" he replied lightly. But inside, his thoughts spiraled in turmoil. Why's he asking this now? Does he suspect something?
Sam, however, shook his head firmly, his tone more serious. "No, that's not what I mean. I mean your background. Who are you really?"
Jacob's smile faltered ever so slightly as he averted his gaze, his eyes fixating on the sprawling garden below them. For a moment, he said nothing, letting the question linger in the air. Sensing the sudden shift in mood, Sam quickly backpedaled. "I'm sorry," he said hastily. "Forget I even asked."
"No, it's alright," Jacob replied with a chuckle, forcing himself to remain composed. "Long story short, my family got into some trouble, and… well, that happened. I ended up having to take over the business."
"Really?" Sam frowned in confusion. "But I heard from Mason that you still visit your parents' home once in a while."
Jacob's expression darkened imperceptibly at the mention of Mason. Damn it, Mason. You just can't keep your mouth shut, can you? he cursed inwardly. Though irritation flared in his chest, Jacob didn't let it show. Instead, he maintained his composure and quickly spun a plausible story.
"That's my biological parents," Jacob explained with a visibly strained smile. "But I ended up joining a… group, where everyone calls each other family. Over the years, I met a lot of brothers and sisters in that circle. Naturally, I feel responsible for carrying on their legacy."
Sam seemed to mull over Jacob's words, nodding slowly as if digesting the explanation. "I see. That makes sense. I'm just glad that, despite everything, you've stayed the same Jacob Fox I knew back in high school."
Jacob forced a laugh, though inwardly he cringed. The same Jacob Fox? Yeah, right. If only you knew… But, of course, there was no point in breaking character now. He couldn't risk jeopardizing his mission, not when failure meant punishment from the Infinite Aura System.
"Anyway, I know I've already said this, but I'm truly grateful for everything," Sam added sincerely.
"You should be," Jacob quipped with a joking smile, glancing at his cheap Lerox watch again. "Anyway, enjoy the rest of your party. I've got something to take care of."
"Is that so?" Sam asked, his tone tinged with disappointment. But he didn't press the matter. "Well then, take care, Mr. Fox."
Jacob gave him a playful salute. "You too, Mr. Sam Johnson."
As Jacob turned to leave, he signaled to his bodyguard, who promptly fell into step behind him. Sam stood there, watching them walk away, before finally heading back to the reception hall to rejoin his guests.
---
By the time Jacob checked his watch again, it was 2:00 PM, and he had finally returned to Sparrow City. The cab pulled up to the curb, and both Jacob and his bodyguard stepped out. After a brief moment of rummaging through his wallet, Jacob pulled out a crisp $50 bill and handed it to the towering man.
"Good work today," Jacob said with a nod.
"Okay," the bodyguard replied gruffly, pocketing the money without hesitation before walking off without another word.
Jacob chuckled to himself as he watched the man leave. Shaking his head, he couldn't help but think about the irony of it all. That hulking, bald bodyguard wasn't just some random hire; he was a local street thug known as Brother Rock. The name wasn't for nothing. He was infamous for being as immovable as a rock and just as hard-hitting. While he rarely made his presence known, when he did, it was as if you'd been struck in the head by a stone. A man of few words, Brother Rock was known for taking on odd jobs like the one today.
As Jacob strolled down the sidewalk, the sun beating down on him, his mind wandered back to the unresolved conflict between Sam and his boss. It was a delicate situation, and Jacob knew he couldn't leave it to chance. If he let things unfold on their own without intervening, there was a good chance he'd end up with a penalty from the system. Then again, maybe he wouldn't?
Better not risk it, he thought grimly. Failure wasn't an option, not with the threat of punishment hanging over him. He needed a new plan—something effective and actionable. He had only five days to sort this mess out. Just five days, he reminded himself, the weight of the deadline pressing down on his shoulders.