Aunt Elsie smiled broadly, she was right about him. Only someone like him will be needed -he had managed to read her perfectly without getting close to her. She was impressed, and that will only make her want him more.
"I don't bargain, yeah..."She uttered, admitting to his words. "-but I'm ready to do so, if it'll please you."
"What do you mean by that?" he asked, his curiosity piqued. "Why would you change your usual tactics just to please me? What do you want from me?"
Aunt Elsie's smile widened, she was glad he didn't bite her head off this time
-instead, she loved the curiosity in his eyes; that was what she wanted from him anyway, not otherwise.
"I've found myself smitten with you, Gerald." She replied, her voice taking a different turn. "And I would do anything to get what I want from you -I'm not afraid of bargaining this time because I know what I want, and I want it badly."
Gerald was no in for her twist and turns, he wanted her to say whatever thing she's got for him and let him be. In as much as he's curious, he would prefer to return back to his hole ratherthan having a conversation as this with her.
"What exactly is it that you want from me, Aunt Elsie?" he asked, his tone a bit softer than it was earlier. "I might not be able to give it to you, you know?"
She smiled even more, this time, it reached her eyes. "That's for me to know and you to find out." She told him, her wide smile already left her face as quickly as it came. "You do what you are asked, I will withdraw whatever charges I've pressed against you!"
Gerald's jaw dropped as he stared at her. His eyes widened as he processed her words. She was offering to withdraw the charges against him, but only if he did as she asked. He was torn -on the one hand, he wanted to get out of here and get back to his life. On the other hand, he would rather not be at her mercy, doing whatever she asked of him.
"Why are you doing this?" he asked, his voice hoarse with emotion. Gerald paused his lips, realization hitting him hard. "Wait...this isn't about Ciara, is it?"
Aunt Elsie's lips curled up into a sly smile. "You always think a step ahead, don't you?" She asked, her voice flat but sharp. "I guess this must have been the reason she chose you for her dirty work."
Gerald managed to conceal his facial expression -trying not to be taken aback by her sudden sputter. "Dirty work, eh?" He repeated, a scoff followed his question. "What do you mean...？"
"Drop the pretence, Gerald! It doesn't suit you -and you know what I'm talking about." She countered, her voice stern and sharp. "It's no harm in doing the same for me too, you know?" "You want me to do something foryou..."Gerald's voice trailed off as he tried to piece everything together. "You want me to do something illegal -something that I'll be forced to keep secret because I'll be an accomplice to your crime."
"You're a smart man, Gerald." Aunt Elsie commended him in a low and menacing voice. "I'm glad Ciara sees this in you too, I guess it's why she trusts you so much."
"I don't want to do this." Gerald said, shaking his head firmly in disapproval. "I can't put my life on the line for someone as foxy as you are, old hag! You must be delusional, thinking you can bend me to your desire and make me do your bidding."
"Your decision will determine Ciara's fate, I thought you should know this." She uttered, her voice was far from friendly. "To think I don't know what you and Ciara have been trying to hide between you two for months, I know everything about it!"
"About what...because I have no slightest idea of what you are trying to insinuate here!" His blurted out, staring disapprovingly at her. "There is nothing hidden between us."
Aunt Elsie laughed, the sound chilling to the bone. "I have ears everywhere, Gerald, including this cell itself." She menacingly told him. "The fact that Ciara had to stand on watch to see you inflict pains on her uncles on her order -isn't that enough to blackmail you?"
"You're despicable." Gerald said through gritted teeth, rage building inside him. "How dare you blackmail me with something like that? I thought you said you loved Ciara, how could you threaten to use her against me like this?"
"Love? Me?" Aunt Elsie sneered, her eyes glinting with amusement. "You think I love her? No, no, no. I only love one person, and that is myself. Ciara is nothing more than a means to an end for me."
Gerald couldn't hide his revulsion but was able to put on a facade -he expected this but found it hard to digest. "You don't think I'll get scared by your threats and tremble at yourfeet, right?" He stated sharply, immediately regaining his composure. "I'm not the type to be smitten by words -and you know this."
"Yeah, right? That was why I prepared something foryou." Aunt Elsie vocalized as she went through her bag that has been resting on her lap.
Gerald watched her keenly in silence as she ransacked her bag. After a couple of seconds, she brought out a video player, settling it calmly on the table between them. Immediately he set his eyes on it, his eyes sparkled in recognition.
He recognized the video recorder without much thinking -the one Ciara sent to her uncle, Kent, as a gift on his sick bed. How did it end up with Aunt Elsie? For a moment, Gerald completely forgot she's his wife -there are possibilities that she might manage to get her hands on it because Kent did not hide it before his death.
Gerald's mind raced as he tried to piece together the puzzle of how the video recorder had ended up in aunt Elsie's possession. However, Gerald couldn't help but wonder what Aunt Elsie wanted with the video recorder.
Aunt Elsie stared at him for a few seconds before speaking. "You remember this, right?" She asked him and without bothering to wait for his reply, she replied herself. "Of course, why won't you? I'm sure you will know what its content is, too."
Gerald's stomach turned as he realized what she was implying. He had made a recording of Ciara's uncles, Brandon and Ferdinand, confessing to various crimes. Ciara had used the recording to pressure Kent, but it turns out not to be the result she aimed for -even if it helped her a lot. Now, it seemed that Aunt Elsie had found the recording and was using it to blackmail him.
Gerald felt a surge of anger, but he tried to keep his cool. "What do you want?" He asked, his voice low and threatening.
"You've asked the same question more than thrice already, Gerald." She reminded him, her voice hoarse. "-and my answer remains the same!"
Gerald's eyes blazed in fury as he banged his hands dangerously on the table, separating them from each other. "Get lost, woman!" He yelled in rage. "I rather remain in this hole than be at your mercy or listen to your petty orders!"
"Tsk, tsk!" Aunt Elsie twitched her nose in disappointment. "Then what would happen to Ciara? I told you; that your reaction and obedience will determine Ciara's fate...!"