Page 18 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 10

"Yeah, I know what they are," I said.

"Good. I recently made a parlay that included a number of events from the International Tournament of Athletes. My odds of winning are less than a percent of a percent. I don't like those odds much, do you?"

"No."

"Then maybe you can help me make them better."

"Sure. Just cut your losses and invest in something with better odds. I know a guy who does financial planning if you're interested."

Rodrigo laughed. "Ah, so you're a funnyman, are you? I should have known you'd be funny after that prank you pulled on Yao Kai."

I tried to maintain my poker face. "I don't know who's giving you your intel, but that wasn't me." How the hell did he know that was me?

"Good, deny it to the end. See, I knew you were the right man for the job."

"I'm sorry, but I'm really not. If you're trying to rig the games, you'll need to get a ton of the top athletes on your payroll. I couldn't possibly rig however many events you have in your parlay. It'll never work."

Rodrigo shook his head and turned to one of the strippers next to him. "I don't get it, Isadora. Why doesn't he want to work with us?"

"It is possible he wants a payment," said Isadora with a sexy accent.

"What kind of payment do you think he wants?"

"I could suck his cock." Isadora stood up and unhooked her bra.

It fell to the ground to reveal her oversized, tan tits.

On paper, she was attractive. Big tits, tiny waist, flat stomach, toned legs - every physical trait a man might describe he wants in a woman.

But none of it was real, especially her smile.

Sure, her lips formed a smile, but her eyes just weren't in it.

Seeing her just made me kind of sad, not horny.

I'd take a real woman over Isadora any day of the week.

Especially a real woman with a volleyball ass like Alina's.

"Not a bad idea. What do you say, Bryce? Is this what you were holding out for?"

"No, I just really don't think I can help." All I wanted to do tonight was get to know Alina better, not contract HIV from some Brazilian stripper.

Isadora made a pouty face. "You like Giovanna more, yes?"

The other stripper stood up and dropped her bra. Her tits looked exactly the same as Isadora's. They must have had the same surgeon.

"You're both very beautiful, but..."

"Maybe you want us together?" The girls started kissing and rubbing each other's tits.

"Come on, Bryce," said Rodrigo. "You can have both of them at the same time. You'd really pass that up?"

"I'm sorry, I just don't think I'm the right man for the job."

"What if they fuck you?"

"Right here?" asked Isadora. "In middle of club?" She glanced at Rodrigo. She must have gauged his reaction, because she quickly added, "Yes, this will be such fun."

I sighed. I clearly wasn't going to get out of here without agreeing to give Rodrigo what he wanted. It didn't mean I had to follow through. "As lovely as you ladies are, I think I'm going to have to pass."

Anger flashed across Rodrigo's face.

"But," I continued, "I will help you. I'll need a nice budget to work on, though. Rigging events isn't easy."

Rodrigo clapped his hands together as the girls sat back down next to him. "Now we're talking! I knew you'd come around."

"So how are we gonna do this?" I asked. "Do you have a list of events and your desired results?"

"Not exactly." Rodrigo pulled a smartphone out of his pocket and tossed it to me. "Check the drafts folder every morning. If I have any jobs for you, I'll put them in there. Delete the drafts immediately after you read them so that there's no trace of what we planned."

"Okay. Done."

"If you need money for supplies, I have ways of getting it to you."

"Good. And payment for my services?" I asked. If I was going to pretend to help him, I had to act legit. He'd know something was up if I didn't want money.

"Ten grand, once everything is finished."

"Twenty."

"Fifteen."

"Deal." I stood up and we shook hands. I was just glad this shit was over. I'd dump the cell phone as soon as I could and hopefully never hear from him again.

Just when I reached the door, Rodrigo said, "Hold on."

I spun around and looked at him.

"There's one more thing I wanted to show you. Isadora, can you grab my computer?"

Isadora walked past me into the hallway and returned a second later carrying a laptop. She opened it and put it on Rodrigo's lap. He typed a few things and then turned the laptop around so I could see it. It looked like some sort of crappy quality YouTube video.

"Does this look familiar?" asked Rodrigo.

"Not really."

"Let me switch to a better view." He hit a button and the screen changed to a video feed of Emily sitting at her desk in her dorm room typing on her computer.

I balled my fists. That mother fucker. While Emily was out, Rodrigo must have had someone sneak into her room and plant cameras.

I suddenly realized that I had slightly underestimated Rodrigo.

I originally thought he was some two-bit thug trying to intimidate me into helping him.

But that wasn't the case. He had probably been planning this for months, setting up an international network and thoroughly researching his marks.

There was no doubt in my mind that he knew my entire history and that I'd do anything to keep Em safe. He was three steps ahead of me.

"I hate to be unpleasant," said Rodrigo, "but it would be bad business to not have an insurance policy to keep my assets from skipping town in the middle of a job."

"I assume you've done your research about me," I said.

"I have."

"Did you happen to come across any information about my last foster parents? The ones who weren't very kind to my sister?"

"Yes. Horrible tragedy."

"Was it?" I said, raising an eyebrow. Maybe Rodrigo's research hadn't been that thorough after all.

"Now you're a tough guy, huh? Nice try, but I'm not buying it. Call the police, mess up a mission, or try to fuck me over in any way, and my friend Vitor is going to blow your sister's brains out." He pretended to put a gun to his head and pull the trigger. "Are we clear?"

Every word out of his disgusting mouth made my blood boil. I was going to kill him. "Are you sure that's how you want to play this?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Alright then." Big mistake, asshole. "I hope you're making the right choice."

"Enough with the tough guy shit. Just check your emails every morning and don't do anything stupid that's going to get your sister killed. Isadora can vouch for me; I'm not fucking around."

For the first time, I could see emotion in Isadora's eyes. She nodded her head slowly. I wondered what horrible thing Rodrigo had done to one of her family members, but whatever it was, it had been enough to scare her into being his sex slave.

"Don't worry, you'll win your bet," I said.

"Good. Then your sister will live and you'll be fifteen thousand dollars richer. Everyone walks away happy."

"We'll see."

He ignored my comment. "It's a pleasure doing business with you, Bryce. I hope you aren't as disappointing as my last operative. I'd hate for this to end the same way that it ended for him. Cristiano will drive you to wherever you need to go."