Chapter 64: Chapter 64

Anthony smiled as if tasting the final course of a long-planned meal.

His fingers tapped the armrest lazily; the cup in his other hand steamed like a prop in some grotesque theater.

Robert felt the words like a punch to the gut.

"Please," Robert said, and the single syllable came out raw.

"Take whatever you want. The project. The prototypes. I’ll sign anything...just don’t..." His throat closed. He could not say the rest; there were things a man could not bear to barter with.

Anthony’s smile widened. "That’s sensible. Drop the complaints. Walk away quietly. I’ll ensure your name is... forgotten."

He folded one long finger over the rim of his cup.

"In an hour, human resources will have the paperwork. In five hours, I expect a letter on my desk. Consider this a merciful negotiation."

"The ghost possessing Grace..." Robert began, but Anthony cut him off midway.

"I will keep my promise."

The next few hours were the most gruesome and daunting hours for Robert; by the end of the fourth hour, he had completed his resignation.

Anthony stared at the resignation letter handed over by Robert with a proud smile and heard his trembling voice.

"Now, please let my wife live!"

Anthony let out a laugh, somewhere between a snort and scoff.

"Sure, sure, what’s the rush? But I need to cover my ass, right? So here is the deal: You commit suicide, and I will let Grace off. Otherwise, Grace dies, and I will let you live."

Robert’s eyes widened, his breath catching as though the air had turned to glass in his lungs. "What... what did you just say?"

Anthony leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking softly under him.

"It’s a simple trade, Robert. One life for another. You end yours, and Grace gets to keep hers. You’ve already lost your dignity, your career, your reputation... this is just the natural conclusion, don’t you think?"

He said it casually, as if suggesting a business merger, not a death.

"Why..." Robert choked; he couldn’t understand why Anthony was being so cruel toward him.

"Oh, Robert, it’s a long story. I will tell you once we meet in the afterlife." Anthony smirked, clearly enjoying the inner turmoil. "To help you make a decision, I will give you one day’s time. Go and spend some time with your wife."

Robert’s knee almost buckled under pressure.

"I will ask the ghost to return to my side. Have a peaceful day with your wife. Spend it and make a decision. Don’t think about running away; I will ask the ghost to possess and kill your wife right away. And don’t think about cops or telling anyone else; I am keeping an eye on you!" Anthony’s voice distinguished all the hope Robert harbored in his heart.

"What guarantee... what guarantee can you give me that you won’t kill my wife after my death?" Robert asked in a trembling voice, having lost all his hope.

"Guarantee?" he echoed, savoring the word. "Robert, you really haven’t learned a thing, have you? There are no guarantees in this world. Only leverage."

The sound of the door being knocked attracted Anthony’s attention.

"Control your expression and leave." Anthony said in a calm voice and called in an even voice, "Come in." Check latest chapters at novelFirｅ.net

The door was pushed open by Nia, Nixon’s personal secretary.

Anthony stood up straight in shock and gave a polite smile. "Do you need anything, ma’am? Or is it about the recent project?"

"None. Robert has been called by our president. He wants to discuss something." Nia explained, her pale skin glistened under the light, while her cold aura kept others at bay.

"Robert?" Anthony stared at Robert suspiciously, and when he saw the same shock on Robert’s face, he heaved a sigh of relief.

’So this fucker hasn’t tried to betray me, huh?’

"Can I ask why?" Anthony asked in a polite voice, but Nia ignored him and looked at Robert respectfully.

"Please follow me, Mr. Robert."

"We still haven’t finished our talk." Anthony shouted, his eyes staring at Robert with warning, "Right, Robert?"

Robert didn’t dare resist and nodded.

"Alright then, I will wait outside for you." Nia stepped outside, and once the door was closed, Anthony said in a cold voice, "If you dare rat me out, I will kill your wife right away. Do you understand?"

"Yes." Robert trembled but still nodded under Anthony’s dark gaze.

"Good. Do you know why he might have called?" Anthony asked with his eyes narrowed like an eagle.

"No." Robert shook his head in honesty, and Anthony heaved a sigh of relief internally. He had known Robert since their college days and could say with certainty that Robert wasn’t lying.

He adjusted Robert’s suit, dialed Robert’s phone number with his own, and said, "Pick up the call, and keep it with you during the meeting. If I hear the sound of scribbling or you trying to rat me out, consider your wife dead."

Robert did as Anthony had asked him to.

"Good," Anthony purred. "You’re a good man, Robert. Keep that call on. I like to know you’re breathing."

Robert swallowed so hard it hurt. "I...yes."

Nia’s heels echoed down the hall as she guided him.

Soon they reached outside Nixon’s office room. Just as Robert was about to enter, Nia stopped him. "Sir, please hand over all the metallic items."

Robert obediently handed over his watch and ring and was about to enter again when Nia stopped him again, "Sir, your phone too."

"I... I need to make a call." Robert said and stepped aside.

He pretended to dial and placed the phone near his ear.

"What should I do now?" Robert asked Anthony with fear in his voice.

"Hand over the phone." Before Robert could heave a sigh of relief, he heard Anthony say, "You have 5 minutes; if within 5 minutes you don’t come out, forget about your wife."

"What if the president tries to stop me for more than 5 minutes?" Robert asked anxiously.