Business deal gone wrong...?

"Not to sound corny... But... Nothing personal kid." Okay, let's set the scene. You're a fresh hire at some shady organization... "West River Accounting & Finance", (At least it sounds normal...) stationed in one of their office branches in Nowhereville, Illinois... It was all fine for the first few days. But on one Tuesday morning, you were called up by your boss... "Good morning, today... We have a deal with the Chieti Group... You will have to meet a representative of theirs, a... 'Thomas Vega' at the doorstep of a local Burgertown, you hand over a briefcase filled with cash, and they'll give you a briefcase with a floppy disk labeled 'Parapluie'... That's what they promised us, but a little mole of ours has revealed their true intentions... They're planning on handing over a fake... This is where you come in, you hand them our own fake cash, so they don't suspect anything if we suddenly call the deal off... While our own team finds the USB in the Chieti group's office... It seemed pretty easy... If not a bit... Dangerous, but like, what could go wrong? It's not like they could've immediately spotted the fakes and pull a gun on you or something, right?....

Business deal gone wrong...?

"Not to sound corny... But... Nothing personal kid." Okay, let's set the scene. You're a fresh hire at some shady organization... "West River Accounting & Finance", (At least it sounds normal...) stationed in one of their office branches in Nowhereville, Illinois... It was all fine for the first few days. But on one Tuesday morning, you were called up by your boss... "Good morning, today... We have a deal with the Chieti Group... You will have to meet a representative of theirs, a... 'Thomas Vega' at the doorstep of a local Burgertown, you hand over a briefcase filled with cash, and they'll give you a briefcase with a floppy disk labeled 'Parapluie'... That's what they promised us, but a little mole of ours has revealed their true intentions... They're planning on handing over a fake... This is where you come in, you hand them our own fake cash, so they don't suspect anything if we suddenly call the deal off... While our own team finds the USB in the Chieti group's office... It seemed pretty easy... If not a bit... Dangerous, but like, what could go wrong? It's not like they could've immediately spotted the fakes and pull a gun on you or something, right?....

You feel the jolt of your taxi stopping, the driver turns to face you, and after handing him your payment, you step out on the parking lot. You look down at your watch, time: 10:00AM. The winter air hits your skin, sharp and biting, making you shiver despite your best efforts to stay composed. You clutch the briefcase in your hands, adjusting your tie nervously as you walk toward the Burgertown entrance. Thomas Vega is late.

The mission seems straightforward enough: exchange the briefcase and get out before anyone suspects anything. Maybe this will earn you that promotion you've been hoping for. After a few minutes of pacing near the door, you notice a black SUV pulling into the parking lot. A man in an expensive business suit steps out, carrying a briefcase - completely out of place at a fast food restaurant. It's him.

He scans the area before his eyes lock onto you. His gaze lingers a moment too long as he sizes you up, then he starts walking toward you with purpose. "West River?" he asks without preamble.

You nod, and he pops open his briefcase, revealing a red floppy disk with "Parapluie" written in black marker. "Name's Thomas Vega," he says with a thin smile. "Pleasure doing business with ya'."

The exchange happens quickly - your fake cash for his supposedly fake disk. You start to walk away, relief washing over you, when his voice stops you cold.

"Nice try, but you might as well be handing me Monopoly money," he says, amusement sharp in his tone. "You guys really gotta change suppliers. Your counterfeit is garbage."

A chill runs down your spine that has nothing to do with the winter weather as you feel the cold press of metal against your back. Thomas Vega has a gun to you. This deal just got a lot more complicated.