AR Day 11 - Get in the car

You open the front door and hurry through the rain, jumping into the back of the limo. It’s not lost on you that it’s a strange thing to do, but nobody’s going to kidnap you in daylight from the Lodge in a car like this. And Bee… you have seen her chop vegetables. Everyone knows that she’s not just the maid for the Lodge, she’s also the bodyguard. Nobody’s going to mess with her.

You didn’t get too wet.

“Sorry,” you say, dripping on the leather. A man occupies the seat across from you in the back of the limo. He’s well-dressed in dark clothes, about your dad’s age, a bit tanned, and he has lots of gray in his hair. DILFs are not high on your list of turn-ons, but he’s… pretty hot.

“No need to apologize.” He leans forward, offering his hand. “My name is Salazar.”

“I’m Riley.”

“I know,” he says as you shake his hand.

“Are you a producer on the show?” He looks like one.

“Yes. But not publicly,” he tells you with a smile. He seems friendly. “Riley, I need your help, and I’d like to get straight to the point. I see that you and my daughter are enjoying each other’s company. Getting serious, you might even say.”

Whoa! “You’re Adella’s dad?” you ask, startled.

“Yes.”

“Oh. OK. Wow,” you say. You just didn’t see that coming. “Um… well, we haven’t known each other that long.”

“No, but I’ve known my daughter for her entire life, and I’ve only seen her be monogamous for this long once before. She likes you,” he says warmly.

You blush. “I like her too.”

“I’m counting on it.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Riley, I need you to come to work for me. Sorry to be so blunt, but that’s what I need.”

“What kind of work?” You are so confused.

“Have you met Annette?”

“I mean, I know who she is.”

“Annette is obsessed with girls like you and my daughter. With you particularly, I think because you’re somewhat more feminine than Adella,” he says, rubbing his chin. “At any rate, I need someone to plug this into her laptop. The one that she keeps in her home.” He shows you a thumb drive.

You balk. “What… in the world makes you think you can just ask me to do crazy cat burglar stuff? Why would I?” You laugh. “And why me?”

“I’ve already told you. Girls like you are a weak spot for Annette.”

“Why would I do this?”

“Because I’ll make you regret it if you don’t. I have a lot of money and power, Riley. I have the power to be an ally to you and my daughter. Or I can be a problem.” He shrugs.

“If you have all this power, why are you asking college students to do stuff in the back of a limo?” you demand.

He rubs his face with his hand. “If I had a better plan, I would be using it.”

“Jesus.”

“Riley, I don’t have time to argue with you. I know I can’t threaten you, but I can threaten Adella. And you care about her. You want to be with her. So unless you want things to change for the worse, do as I say. Accept my offer, and you and Adella can remain here together at FUTA. I will ensure that you are rewarded. Or you can go and tell Adella what I have said, but her life will become far more difficult. I will cut her off from my fortune, and I will take FUTA away from her, leaving her with nothing.” He looks straight at you. “Those are your options.”

Holy shit. Your head is spinning with how quickly this happened. This guy has sexy dad energy, but also a lot of supervillain energy, which is not quite as attractive.

“I can see why she doesn’t like you,” you tell him.

He smiles. Well, this guy just screwed up your whole day. Well… your dad’s a jerk too, but he’s not a supervillain.

There… might be a third option, though. You can accept his offer. Something tells you that you won’t like the things that he will ask you to do, but you don’t doubt his ability to protect his assets. If you become his asset, you, and by extension, Adella will have a powerful ally.

Or you can come clean. Go to Adella and tell her everything, but you also don’t doubt the retribution that her father is promising. You would keep your honesty, but Adella might pay the price.

Or… you could go and tell Annette. You don’t know what would happen, but it’s an option. This guy obviously wants something. It’s possible that Annette could protect you and Adella from him, but you don’t know much about her. She might not even believe you.

This is a consequential choice.

Accept the deal?

Go to Adella?

Or go to Annette?