HARD TO PAY

Por Carlos Mario Zapata Jaramillo

“I think it’s very expensive,” Jack said to the sinister figure in front of him. “I’m not bargaining… it’s fair” she replied with a look of rage on her face. Jack was figuring out the reasons why the cost was so high. As a business man, he used to negotiate with people, but he felt overwhelmed with her. In his mid-forties, he never found someone like her. Her cold sight and pale skin gave her a Gothic appearance, reinforced by the dark color of her lips, eyebrows, and hair. However, he was very attracted to her beauty. “It’s difficult to negotiate when your passion is distracting you,” he thought, but he decided to raise the bet and reach a higher level in this strange negotiation. “I offer you all my assets,” he said energetically. “You know it’s not enough,” she replied quietly. Her face remained unchanged; no expression, no emotion, no passion could be detected on her. If they were playing poker, undoubtedly she would win easily. He started to tremble once and again, scared by the cold reaction of his negotiator. It seemed like he would never win, no matter what he tried to offer… nothing was enough. Both time and possibilities were reaching the end. He felt he had no other options. His hands started to sweat profusely while he pronounced the more difficult words of his life: “I agree on paying the cost you suggested. You win. All the gold in the world is not worth enough as my son. I will never let you take him instead of me.”