The evening was calm, the city lights blinking softly through the windows as Max stepped into Sylvester’s apartment. He had come directly from the company to see Sylvester.
His shirt was slightly wrinkled from the long day's work. Even though his expression was neutral, there was an underlying curiosity in his eyes. He knew he was about to pay back Sylvester. He had told him earlier that he was under his order.
Sylvester opened the door for him, "You can come in."
Max stepped in and glanced briefly around the lavish space before taking the seat offered to him. He leaned back slightly and adjusted himself.
Sylvester sat opposite him and crossed his leg, then proceeded to ask, "How is work in the company?"
"Everything is going fine," Max replied.
"So, I called you for something important. You remember what I told you the day you got the job. I told you that you are working for me. You take orders from me. To put it in a simple way, I put you inside her company so I could gain access when needed. Now it's time for it." He said.
"I understand everything. What do you want me to do for you?" Max asked, and Sylvester exhaled and leaned forward slightly. "I'm expecting a huge amount of money from Anabel, but it seems like she is intentionally delaying. She promised to give me three million dollars, but it's like she has changed her mind."
"You want me to convince her to send the money?" Max asked.
"No, not that. I want to get more than the money with another means. I never planned this before, but she's making me."
Max nodded slowly, processing the information. "And what do you want me to do in this? You want me to get the money by other means? Like...illegally?"
Sylvester nodded immediately. "Exactly. I want you to move five million dollars."
Max stiffened and asked in disbelief. "Five million?"
"You look surprised. Is it too small?"
Max sat up, shaking his head. "That’s a lot of money. You want me to steal that much from her company?"
Sylvester shrugged. "I know, and that’s why I want it. My business is collapsing. I need this money to revive it."
"I understand, but Anabel is a nice lady," he muttered. "I can’t... I mean, we can't do this to her."
"I don’t care," he snapped. "You will do exactly what I want. I want the money by any means."
Max clenched his jaw slightly. "I understand, but I don't think this is the best way to—"
"I gave you this job, Max." Sylvester interrupted. "You don't have any opinion. You are bound to do what I ask."
"I’ll help you with any other thing, but I’m not taking five million from the company." Max said, and Sylvester’s eyes darkened. He was expecting Max to dance to every one of his tones without any objections. Now he is trying to ask like a nice person.
"Max, listen to me." He glared at Max, and he swallowed in fear.
"You have to do this," Sylvester continued. "Or you will lose your job. I gave you this job, and I can easily take it away." Sylvester threatened, and Max ran his hand through his hair, thinking. Sylvester watched him, waiting. And slowly, the tension in the room grew thicker.
Max could not afford to lose the job. His salary was very high. He won't get that type of work elsewhere.
"Look, Sylvester," Max began, rubbing his temple. "This is going to be very hard for me to do. I don’t want to hurt Anabel. And... what if I get caught?"
"Caught? I didn't expect to hear that from you. You are a hacker and programmer, Max. Find a way. Move the money away from the company. You don’t need me to teach you how to do it."
Max exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. "You know what you are asking for isn’t right," he muttered, hoping Sylvester would reconsider.
"That is none of your business. I don’t need a lecture. I need you to obey my orders. If you don’t want to do it, I will replace you with someone who will do what I need."