Mr. Spragg’s shady business dealings in Apex catapulted his career, but they also made him vulnerable to blackmail from people like Elmer, who know about his past. Elmer’s veiled threats against Mr. Spragg are personal, since Mr. Spragg was the one who broke up Elmer’s marriage with Undine and turned all of Apex against him. Ralph nearly witnesses this whole scene, but as usual, he remains too naïve to see what’s really going on.