John, an experienced house renovator, thought he had seen it all. He had faced all types of clients and handled various house renovations, so he was always up for a challenge. Little did he know that his next contract would be unlike anything he had encountered before.
Usually, John would meet with homeowners to discuss the renovation plans and inspect the house together. However, when he received a particular phone call, he immediately sensed that this project would be different.
A Piece of CakeInstead of speaking with the homeowner, John found himself talking to someone managing the affairs on their behalf. It turned out that the homeowner would be away for a month and wanted the house refreshed during their absence, with some very specific requirements.
At first, this arrangement didn't raise any red flags for John. Perhaps the homeowner had an assistant, and the desire for anonymity seemed odd but not alarming. Furthermore, the tasks themselves seemed straightforward and easily manageable for the skilled contractor.
Finding the AddressIt wasn't until after accepting the project that John finally received the address of the property. It was located in an area of town with which he was not very familiar.
Curiosity led him to conduct a Google search, and when he saw the house, he was left speechless.
The Grandest House in TownIt was one of the largest houses he had ever laid eyes on! In fact, it might have been the grandest house in the entire town. While John had seen pictures before, he had never been close to it since it was situated in a secluded neighborhood. The question lingered: why would such a wealthy person hire a contractor like him, who had no experience with houses of this magnitude?
John started perspiring, contemplating the enormity of the project. It was now apparent that a single person alone couldn't complete all the work within a month. He also feared the consequences of accidentally damaging something valuable and being burdened with a lifetime of debt.
More Money, More PressureJohn informed the supposed assistant that he could not undertake the project. To his surprise, the assistant immediately responded by doubling his salary offer. John was taken aback and remained silent for a moment. But the assistant didn't stop there; they even offered to triple the price!
Money was clearly not an issue, and with such a substantial sum on the table, the contractor felt more confident. John cautiously proposed the idea of bringing in two additional workers to assist him, but he quickly learned that it was not an option.
Too Good to Turn DownThe reality was that John would have to tackle this project alone, without involving any third parties. Everything needed to be completed within a month, starting from that day. The compensation, however, was incredibly enticing. Despite sensing something fishy about the contract, the allure of the money was too hard to resist.
Besides, if there were any secrets to be kept, he could always claim ignorance when he first accepted the offer. Thus, John reluctantly agreed to undertake the job for triple his usual price. Little did he know, no amount of money could truly justify the challenges this renovation would bring.
The next day, John arrived early at the entrance of the gated community. He knew time was of the essence for this contract and intended to make the most of every available hour. He was granted access and, as he walked towards the house, he noticed two men waiting for him.
John assumed they were there to hand over the house key so he could begin working. However, he soon realized that he wouldn't be alone inside the house. The serious-looking men informed him that they would be accompanying him throughout a significant portion of the renovation project.
Never AloneJohn found this a bit strange but believed that the house was spacious enough for the three of them and that they wouldn't get in his way. However, the opposite proved to be true. The two individuals never took their eyes off John. They were always in the same room, observing his every move.
Throughout the first week of renovations, John was never alone in the house. There was always one of the men with him, even when he went to the bathroom or stepped outside for a smoke. And they never spoke. Not a word. Only occasional whispers between themselves.
A WeaponThat wasn't all. On the third day, John noticed that at least one of the men carried a weapon. It was a small firearm, easily concealed in their belt, but when one of them bent down to pick something up, John caught a glimpse of the unmistakable pistol. What had he gotten himself into?
John had never felt so uncomfortable during a contract. It was downright bizarre. Was the homeowner so afraid that he would steal or damage something that they felt the need to hire two bodyguards? But John wasn't allowed to bring in additional workers to help. None of it made sense to him.
The Mysterious HomeownerJohn couldn't help but speculate that something else was going on here. Something that neither he nor any outsider had the right to know. Surely, that's why these individuals wanted only one contractor, to minimize risks.
Although John was terrified of the situation he had found himself in, he was still curious about what these guys were protecting. He had spent several evenings searching the house, trying to uncover the homeowner's identity. But so far, no luck.
The FloorHowever, one day, John stumbled upon a clue. As he entered the next room, he noticed that the floor was partially renovated. Fixing the floor was not on his task list, but it seemed necessary, and he was willing to do it.
All he needed to do was remove the damaged plank and replace it with a new one. Given the layout of the floor, it would only take him about 10 minutes. But as he approached the plank to examine it, the two guards shouted at him.
Waiting for an OpportunityRepairing the floor was not on the list, and therefore, he shouldn't concern himself with it. John tried to explain that it was a simple repair, but the guards were unyielding. If he so much as touched the plank, he'd be immediately fired and not receive a single penny.
Reluctantly, John left the floor alone, but it stayed on his mind. There was clearly something beneath that floor that he wasn't supposed to see. Perhaps a hidden doorway to an underground space? He hoped to find a good opportunity to investigate further, but with the guards around, it would be challenging.
But this opportunity presented itself two days later. It was a relatively calm and normal day. Then suddenly, one of the guards received a phone call, and judging by his reaction, John could tell that something serious was happening.
After hanging up, the guard immediately told his colleague that they needed to leave now and that John had to go home. But before John could even gather his things, the guards had already left the house. He knew that this would likely be his only chance to dig around in the house.
Every Room Holds ValueJohn discovered that beneath the floor of each room in the house lay a layer of valuable items. In fact, most of them were quite valuable. It turned out that the homeowner was a major figure in organized crime, and this was his hidden fortune!
John called the police before the guards could return, and both of them were arrested upon their arrival. The search for the homeowner of the property continues to this day, and John is now more cautious about his contracts...