Chapter 32

Vernon mocked, "You've become the gold standard for sugar babies—being this obedient of a dog is truly admirable!" I ignored his comment and asked flatly, "Where to?" Instead of answering, Vernon stared at me intently and said, "Joshua, let's talk." I glanced at him with mild surprise. "Talk? What could we possibly have to discuss?" Vernon smiled knowingly as if he had me all figured out. He whispered, "Simple. How much will it take for you to stop making things difficult for me?" Without waiting for my response, he held out a card. I frowned at the offered card but did not take it. I was unsure what Vernon was trying to do, but his attitude suggested he had the wrong idea about something. I asked, "What's this supposed to mean?" "There's 200,000 in this card—take it as a down payment," he explained. "If you put in a good word for me with Gerald, there will be more where that came from. But if you refuse..." He grinned and continued, "I have a hundred different ways to make Ra