I Married My Ex's Billionaire Father
Chapter 59: Debt

Chapter 59: Debt

Jeff Chadwick, a man once accustomed to the finer things in life, now found himself in a situation that would test the limits of his endurance. He had been forcibly brought into an unfamiliar house and led to a dimly lit room, the air thick with tension.

Seated across from him was a man he was not familiar with. Jeff stood on shaky legs as he stared at the imposing man who looked at him as if he was little more than an object he could squash with his fingers.

"What do you want with me? Why did you bring me here?" Jeff said as he tried to assert himself but his shaky voice ruined the effect.

"My name is Bret Faulkner and you are going to be seeing me very often." The man said and Jeff looked blankly at him, he was not familiar with the name and he wondered why he would be seeing him often, the thought of it was certainly unpleasant.

Bret continued, " You see, very recently I took over the portfolio of a man you know, a named Jacob Pierre"

Jeff’s eyes widened in realization and Bret smiled.

"Mr. Chadwick," Bret continued, his voice a low rumble, "we have a little problem, don’t we?"

Jeff’s heart pounded loudly in his chest. He knew exactly what Bret was referring to. A significant debt, a debt that had been haunting him for years. He had tried to keep it hidden, to manage it discreetly, but it had grown beyond his control.

Jacob had been his friend and he had been patient with him so far but this man who looked like he did not have an ounce of mercy looked like he would be a different story.

"I-I can work something out, we can work something out." Jeff stammered, his voice barely audible. "I can make payments, or..."

Bret cut him off, his tone sharp. "How long have you owed this debt?"

Jeff gulped in shame then answered in a whisper, "six years."

"When the boss asks you a question answer properly or I might be forced to harvest some part of your body parts." A booming voice said, startling Jeff who turned around so quickly he almost tripped.

His focus had been solely on Bret that he had not noticed that someone else was in the room with them. And the man looked even less friendly than Bret did.

"Damien, be nice to our guest." Bret said softly and Jeff turned around, he was not fooled by Bret’s calm tone.

He cleared his throat, "Six years." He said louder.

"Tsk tsk tsk." Bret clucked his tongue in disappointment.

"I promise, I will start paying you immediately." Jeff quickly said.

"Payments won’t do, Mr. Chadwick. I want the debt paid in full, and I want it now." Bret said.

Jeff’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Now? That is impossible!"

Bret leaned forward, his eyes boring into Jeff’s. "I don’t care if it is impossible, Mr. Chadwick. You will find a way. And if you don’t, well, let’s just say there will be very serious consequences."

Jeff’s mind raced. He did not need to do research to know what Bret was capable of. He might look like a gentleman but that was just a thin veneer over what he truly was, which was a thug. He had to find a way out of this, a way to escape Bret’s clutches.

"Don’t go too far Mr Chadwick, I will be in touch." Bret said dismissively.

As Jeff was escorted out of the room, he could not shake the feeling that there was something more to Bret’s demands. There was a sinister undercurrent, a hidden motive. He had a hunch that Bret wasn’t just interested in the money.

Unknown to Jeff, Bret indeed had a much more sinister plan. He intended to use Jeff’s debt as leverage, a tool to control those around him. Specifically, he had his sights set on Lyse, Jeff’s daughter. Bret saw an opportunity to exploit Jeff’s desperation, to manipulate him into doing his bidding.

With Jeff under his control, Bret could influence Lyse’s life, could shape her destiny. He could use her as a pawn in his game. The possibilities were endless, the stakes were high.

As Jeff struggled to come to terms with his dire situation, Bret watched with a cold, calculating gaze. He knew that the game had just begun.

*

Jeff stumbled out of Bret’s house, his mind reeling. He had just been handed a death sentence, a financial one. The weight of the debt, the threat of violence, it all seemed too much to bear.

He pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling as he dialed Jacob Pierre’s number. Jacob was an old friend, a connection he hoped would be able to help him out of this mess.

"Jacob," Jeff began, his voice barely a whisper. "What the hell is going on?"

Jacob’s voice, sharp and unforgiving, cut through the line. "What do you mean, Jeff? You know exactly what is going on. You have been dodging this debt for six years, taking advantage of our friendship. Well, the party is over."

Jeff was stunned. He had not expected such a harsh response. "But, Jacob, you know I have been through a tough time. I was hoping we could work something out."

"Work something out?" Jacob scoffed. "You have been working things out for years. Now it’s time to pay the piper. Maybe you should consider living within your means like the rest of us."

Jeff felt a surge of anger. He had always considered Jacob a friend, a confidant. But now, it seemed that Jacob had suddenly become just as ruthless as Bret.

"Fine," Jeff said, his voice hardening. "Fine. You are going to regret this."

He hung up the phone, his mind racing. He had to find a way out of this, a way to protect himself and his family. But with every passing moment, the situation seemed to grow more dire.