Elisa got into the car, and the tightly closed windows prevented any airflow. It was autumn, and the temperature wasn’t low, but she broke out in a cold sweat.
The driver glanced at the rearview mirror and noticed the sweat on her forehead. He asked, “Are you feeling hot? Should I turn on the air conditioning?”
“I’m not hot,” Elisa shook her head, her fingers clenched tightly. “I’m cold.”
Feeling scared to the point of shivering, yes, how could she not be afraid? She knew Ivan well, but she never expected him to owe such a huge amount of ten million.
Ten million was just a tiny amount of money for Hamish, but for Elisa, it was the straw that could crush her.
Elisa looked out the window, and it seemed like a thin layer of ice covered her face, ready to shatter at any touch.
Glancing at the time, it was only two o’clock, and she had to be there by three.
She was too impatient. When she arrived at her destination, Elisa paid and got off the car. This was the famous underground gambling city of Bankshire, which she had passed by but never entered.
The people who came here could be mainly divided into two categories: the rich and the poor, two extremes.
Instead of going in immediately, Elisa found a coffee shop and sat down, starting to think about what she would do next. How would she negotiate with the people inside once she entered? And how did Ivan end up owing them money?
She had to come up with five million within a week, but even if she squeezed out every drop of blood and emptied her organs, it still wouldn’t be enough.
Elisa was accustomed to hiding her emotions on the outside. She sat calmly, or rather, it was as if she had lost her soul rather than pondering.
The scalding coffee was served, and without thinking, she grabbed it directly. It was as if she couldn’t feel the burning temperature of the cup until the waiter reminded her, but her hands had already turned red.
Facing the worried look of the waiter, she just waved her hand and said, “I’m fine.”
Elisa couldn’t stand bitterness. She used to drink coffee only when she couldn’t bear her work, but she would add a lot of sugar. The amount of sugar she added made others think it was too much, but she still felt that coffee was bitter no matter how much sugar she added.
After being diagnosed with stomach cancer, she had followed Micah’s advice and quit drinking coffee. Now, she was drinking it again, and it didn’t taste as bitter as before.
After finishing the coffee, Elisa glanced at the time again. It was already five o’clock, so she called Hamish.
After waiting for ten seconds, the call was finally hung up. Elisa remembered Tobias telling her in the morning that Hamish would have an important meeting in the afternoon.
Elisa pursed her lips and sent Hamish a text message, informing him that she had something to do and would be back later today.
After sending the message, Elisa paid the bill using a QR code.
Elisa looked at the private room number sent by the other party on her phone and walked towards the underground city. It was a large place with complex rooms. Worried about being late, she directly asked a waiter to escort her.
Elisa arrived half an hour earlier than the agreed time, and the waiter knocked on the door.
After waiting for a while, the door was opened from the inside, and a burst of singing mixed with the sounds of intimacy between a man and a woman came out.
The private room was large, filled with blue and purple lighting effects in every corner. Elisa quickly glanced inside before formally appraising the man who opened the door in front of her.
Elisa’s first impression was that the other person was very tall, wearing short sleeves, and his arms were as thick as her thighs, with prominent muscles and an intimidating aura.
Elisa steadied herself and calmly said, “Where’s Ivan?”
As soon as she mentioned Ivan, the other person knew who she was. The tall man turned his head and spoke in a deep voice, “Boss, Miss Powell is here.”
“Let her in,” came the voice from the phone.
The man stepped aside, making way. “Come in, then.”