Chapter 2. Smooth operator

“Oh my goodness, who the heck is doing this?” James gasped, stumbling back until he collapsed onto the couch. He buried his face in his hands, his voice shaking. “What the hell are we going to do now? Where the fuck are we supposed to get ten million from?”

   He shot to his feet again, pacing. “How did they even get a camera into that room? That’s supposed to be a premium suit!”

   Alex remained frozen, still trying to process the nightmare unfolding before him.

   James suddenly turned to him, eyes wide with realization. “Someone must’ve planted the camera before we checked in. Maybe after I made the booking. This is serious, Alex. We need to go to the police. Blackmail is a crime. We can’t sit on this.”

   He walked over and gripped Alex’s shoulders. “Please, my love, come with me. Let’s face this together. If that bastard wants to release our nude, let him. We’re two consenting adults. He’s the one invading our privacy, not the other way around.”

   But Alex didn’t move. He reached for James’s hand instead, gently pulling him back down onto the couch beside him. Their fingers intertwined, Alex's hand trembling slightly.

    James let out a shaky breath, then spoke again, voice softer but still laced with frustration. “Ten million? That’s insane. We have to report this. We need to inform the hotel security and check the surveillance footage. Someone will pay for this.” He rubbed his forehead. “But if this gets out… Alex, our families, your business…Oh dear, this is driving me crazy. I'm so…”

  Alex finally looked up, eyes burning with fear and something else. Resolve.

    Alex leaned in and kissed him, cutting his words short. “Shh, calm down, my love,” he whispered against his lips. “If this were just about us, I would tell that bastard to go to hell. But it’s not. What about our families? What about our reputation? I just opened my eatery. My staff respects and looks up to me. This… this would destroy everything I’ve built overnight.”

   James looked at him, anguish in his eyes. “But love, we have no choice. I mean, I’ve barely got seven hundred grand to my name. You said yourself…you poured everything you had into your new eatery. So where the heck do we get ten million from?”

   “I’ll talk to my dad,” Alex said without hesitation. “He might lend me the money. I’ll tell him it’s for an emergency investment or something. Don’t worry about the money, okay?”

   James blinked, stunned. “Oh, Alex…” His voice cracked as tears spilled down his cheeks. “This is so fucking unfair.” He maintained, smoothly.

   Alex pulled him into a tight hug as James’s body trembled. “We can’t let this guy get away with it,” James muttered. “I booked that room in the morning… It has to be someone on the inside. Maybe hotel staff, maybe more than one person.”

   Alex gently wiped his tears. “Listen to me. We’ll do what he wants…for now. He said he has covered his tracks. So let it go, okay.  We’ll pay him, we’ll move on, and then we’ll strike back when he least expects it.”

   James sniffed, holding on tightly. “We’ll get him, my love. We’ll make him pay.”

   Alex nodded, jaw tight. “But first, we protect each other, no matter what.”

   James pulled back slightly, gazing into Alex’s eyes. “Hey, if you keep being this sweet, I might actually break down crying,” he said with a shaky laugh.

    Alex smiled softly and pecked his forehead. “Then don’t cry…just trust me. Come on, let’s go figure out how to arrange the money,” he said, already rising to his feet.

   James didn’t move. Instead, he grabbed Alex’s wrist, his eyes clouded with concern. “Wait…love, I don’t feel good about this. Maybe you should talk to your dad first. What if he refuses? Or worse, what if he starts asking questions and suspects something’s off? What if he digs deeper?”

   Alex paused, his face turning serious. “I’ll handle it. My dad knows I’m trying to grow my business fast. If I frame it as a sudden opportunity I need to grab, he won’t question it too much. He trusts me.”

   James still looked unsure. “And  what if he wanted to see the proposal or…”

   “Hey, sweetheart, relax, okay,” he caressed James's stubble. “There is no proposal, so I’ll lie,” Alex said, his tone firm now. “I’ll say whatever I have to. I’d rather take the heat from my dad than see our lives torn apart by some sick blackmailer.”

   James exhaled, rubbing his forehead. “This is insane. All of this... It’s too much.”

   Alex took his hand and pulled him up. “I know. But we’re in it together now. Let’s go before I start panicking too.”

   They left the office together and drove straight to Benson Construction Company, where Alex’s father held his main office. As they pulled into the parking lot, Alex turned to James with a soft smile, lightly stroking his cheek.

   “Wait here. Let me talk to my Dad first,” he said gently.

   James nodded, all innocent eyes and boyish charm. “Alright, love.”

   The moment Alex stepped out and disappeared into the building, James’s expression flipped like a switch. His lips curled into a sly grin. He opened the door, stepped out of the car, and stretched dramatically.

   “Oh my jinkies, I'm a fucking smooth operator” he muttered with a low laugh. “So he has really fallen that hard for me? Damn… he’s such a sweet guy.”

   He chuckled again, shaking his head. “But ten million? That’s one hell of a jackpot. I’ve gotta keep the act tight. If his old man coughs up the cash, that’s it…Done deal.”

   He pulled out his phone, dialed quickly. A female voice answered, “Hello?”

   “Hey babe, I think it's gonna be a done deal. Call back in two hours for the collection point. No slip-ups.”

   He ended the call, deleted the number, slid his phone into his pocket, and eased back into the passenger seat…masking everything behind a calm, clueless smile.

   Fortunately, Alex managed to secure five million from his father after answering a barrage of questions. Without wasting time, they headed straight to the bank, withdrew the cash, and made the drop. Later that night, they collected the tapes…transaction completed.

   By the time they returned, both exhausted, tense, and emotionally drained, Alex suggested they lodge in a nearby hotel to rest.

   James hesitated, clearly uncomfortable, but agreed…he couldn’t risk raising suspicion yet.

   After a quiet, early dinner and quick showers, they settled into bed. James turned to him with a soft kiss.

   “Babe… Thank you for saving my dignity. You’re one in a million.”

   Alex pulled him close. “I’ll do anything for our peace and freedom because I love you with everything” he whispered as he cuddled him.

   Within minutes, they were asleep in each other’s arms. 

   But by morning, Alex woke up to an empty bed…no note, no text, and his calls went straight to voicemail. This time… he didn’t panic…Not yet.

   He began his day as usual, pushing aside the lingering feeling that something was off. He blamed it on the stress of the previous day and forced himself to stay busy at work. It helped…until lunchtime.

   Taking a short break, he realized James still hadn’t called and didn't even leave a message.

  Frowning, he dialed James’s number. No answer. He tried again. Still nothing but he left a message, trying to sound casual. But worry had already started creeping in.

   As the hours ticked by, his anxiety grew. What if something had happened? What if James had gone to the Kornelly Hotel to report the blackmail… and the blackmailer found out? Could it be that he kidnapped him? A chill swept over him.

   Without hesitation, he unlocked his phone and dialed the blackmailer’s number. To his shock, it rang and then connected.

   “Hello,” came the sharp, happy, all-too-familiar voice…James

   Alex froze, his heart slamming in his chest.