Joy and Dread

Elle is frozen to her spot. The familiar voice is sending chills down her spine and she shudders in fear as the man’s cold laugh echoes through the phone.

“Missed me, s*ut?” the bald man sneers at her from the other end. “You’ve been quite busy, I see. Your loser of a boyfriend cheated on you, right? He must’ve come groveling back to you and gave you gifts, right?”

Elle is speechless. She grips the phone hard, unsure of what to do.

“What do you want?” she whispers. “Is it s*x? I’ll-”

“Nah, my dove,” the bald man says. “Thanks to your sister, I can’t do it anymore. She cut my balls, remember? But I still crave for you, my h*e. Your sweet scent, that young and luscious body which makes me want to plunge into it all day and night long.”

“What do you want?” She demands.

“I want fifty million dollars in cash,” he says outright. “By tomorrow.”

“What?” She exclaims. “That’s insane! I can’t give you that much! Hector will find out and-”

“Oh, you’re worried that your own cheating scandal wil