Blackmail

"Wow…so you finally found a woman for yourself. I'm happy for you!" Eric exclaimed as he was thrilled with happiness.

"Stop please…I don't like her." Maxwell mused sadly.

"I don't get it…why will you end up in bed with someone that you don't like?" Eric asked Maxwell.

"I can't remember what happened." Maxwell replied.

"How can't you not remember? Do you mean she…forced herself on you? Like raped you?" Eric asked in disbelief.

"I don't know…I told you that I can't remember anything." Maxwell repeated himself, it was clear that he wasn't in the mood of being enlightened.

"Then simply tell her to do her worse. I mean, you are sure that you didn't sleep with her so she must have made up the story. Why are you acting all worried then?" Eric asked Maxwell, confused at why he acted worried.

"She had a video of it and same does the chairman….a sex video." Maxwell replied.

"That's insane. And you said you don't know anything? You can't remember it happening?" Eric asked again, with a serious face.

"Yes." Maxwell replied, glad that Eric now get him well.

"Then this can only point out to one thing. She must have conspired to do this and blackmail you." Eric replied confidently.

"How?" Maxwell asked innocently but worried.

"I don't know…maybe she drugged you with sedative…that can only make sense other than you denying it." Eric replied. Maxwell's face changed suddenly as he remembered when he Beatrice came that evening with a drink.

"If she did drug me, how can I prove that? Besides I don't have much time, she'll be bailed soon and a test will be conducted on her to find out if she's pregnant. If she is, I'll have to pay for her dowry and marry her…I mean…it's just so complicated." Maxwell explained his fears and worries.

"Don't you think that things are happening so fast?" Eric asked Maxwell suspiciously.

"Yes…that's why I'm confused." Maxwell replied.

"Well…I'm speechless but you need to find prove to show that you didn't do such thing intentionally." Eric replied.

"Where? How will I get it? Where will I evens start?" Maxwell asked Eric those questions.

"Can I see the video?" Eric asked Maxwell.

"What? No!" Maxwell replied, feeling irritated.

"Come on! I'm trying to help you. Do you have the video with you?" Eric asked him again.

"I don't have it. The chairman collected it back." Maxwell admitted.

"How's the video like? How did it begin and end?" Eric asked Maxwell.

"I don't know…she was under me…and things happen…I told her I loved her and all those rubbish…"Maxwell replied with disgust written on his face.

"It didn't show you show she got into your room and how she left?" Eric asked.

"No…it didn't." Maxwell replied sincerely.

"Hmm…"

"What?" 

"It seems like the video was cut. It's not complete perhaps."

"How sure are you?"

"If the camera was in your room, then it was supposed to have captured everything. I mean, if she was the one who put it there, then it supposed to have started filming while she got into your bed. Also, if it's someone else, she wouldn't have been so confident to be in bed with you. Question the chairman for the complete video otherwise, you won't accept to their demands." Eric concluded.

"I'll so do." Maxwell replied, feeling weak.

"How about that girl? Any news about her?" Eric asked his friend.

"I've forgotten about that. Please get my things ready." Maxwell instructed.

"Okay, I will but whatever you need to do, you have to act fast. She is getting married tomorrow." Eric reported.

"What? Are you serious?" Maxwell asked as he was shocked to hear such news.

"Yes. The husband to be forwarded it due to some unforeseen circumstances as I heard." Eric replied.

"You may leave now." Maxwell replied and they parted. 

Maxwell was restless and stressed out. He cancelled his meetings for the rest of the day and the next. He decides to act fast, two steps ahead of his enemies.

He went home early that day, earlier than his uncle. He took out everything he needed from the house inside a suitcase and drive off in his car. After work that night, his uncle came back home but didn't see him.

"Robbin! Robbin!" Henry called as he came out of his bedroom, half dressed.

"Yes sir!" Robbin replied as he came back running and half walking towards the stairs.

"Where is Max?" Henry asked Robbin.

"I don't know sir. He came home earlier and left with a suitcase." Robbin replied.

"Did he tell you where he was going to?" Henry asked again.

"No sir. He just left in his car." Robbin replied.

"He's not picking my calls and it's late. He always used to be home before this time." Henry replied, almost to himself.

"I have no idea sir. Why don't you try calling him again?" Robbin suggested.

"I will. You can leave now." Henry replied. He tried to dial Maxwell's number again but it wasn't going through. It was switched off.

"What is that boy up to?" Henry thought to himself as he went back to his room.

"Robbin!" Henry called again and he rushed into his room.

"Get me a glass of beer." He ordered.

"What is this boy up to? Where has he gone to?" Henry kept asking himself as he placed in his room, restless.

"Sir Maxwell is an adult, he knows how to take care of himself. I'm sure that he is fine wherever he is sir." Robbin replied, trying to let Henry be at rest. He was shocked to see him as he turned swiftly.

"What are you doing here? Are you dropping on me?" Henry asked.

"Oh no, no sir. I came here with your drink." Robbin replied. Henry remembered that he had asked him to get him a glass of beer.

"Drop it and go." Henry instructed and Robbin did as he was told. Henry took a sip from the glass, it was chilled, just as he liked it.