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“N-no,” I stammered, nervously transferring weight from one leg to another. “How much do you want back?”

“All of it,” he replied instantly, his eyes boring to mine. Anxiety took hold of my entire being. I didn’t have a penny. Returning him three thousand dollars was an impossible task. “Is it a problem?”

“I-I-I…” I mumbled, trying to come up with an excuse while avoiding eye contact with him. But my brain shut down from fear of what could happen if I owed money to Zyon.

“I earned it,” I stated eventually. My voice trembled, but I lifted my chin, standing my ground. “I won’t return anything.”

“Charming.” His lips curled into a sinister smile, sending chills down my spine. “Are you sure that’s the right answer?”

“Y-yes,” I said, inhaling sharply when he stood up and moved toward me. The last time he trapped me, it almost ended with me at the bottom of the ocean. I would gladly pass on the experience of him threatening me again.

“Why are you lying to me, Valeria?” He stopped before me, and I wanted to back away, but he grabbed my arms, rooting me to the ground. “Isn’t it easier to tell the truth?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I snapped, trying to free myself from his hold. He let me go, but his body caged me in the corner of my living room.

“Your husband lost fifty thousand on the slot machines, left, and returned with an envelope with three thousand in it.” Zyon narrowed his eyes at me, probably seeing dread written on every feature of my face. I was scared that he had discovered my lie but horrified by my husband’s actions.

“Malin recognized the envelope because it was custom-made. Anyway,” he stepped to the side, putting some space between us, “Chester won another twenty thousand and wanted to play poker. ”

I closed my eyes briefly, my chin quivering. I didn’t understand why Zyon was telling me this. Maybe he found pleasure in my humiliation, or it was revenge for my weak attempt to blackmail him.

“He lost everything against me,” he announced proudly. “Here is your money.” He fished a white envelope from the inner pocket of his tailored coat, slamming it on the coffee table. “Hide it better next time, okay?”

I stared at him, dumbstruck, unable to say a word. I suspected him of many things, but this never crossed my mind.

“Also, I have a proposition for you, Valeria,” he continued, glancing at my wedding photo with obvious disdain. “We need a new manager because Tasha will leave soon on maternity leave. My brothers and I have decided you should temporarily replace her.”

“What?” I peeped. My high-pitched voice sounded very immature, but I was shocked to the core. He’d threatened to make fish food of me the other day, and today, he wanted me to work for him. There was something entirely wrong with this guy.

“Of course, if you prove yourself, our cooperation will continue,” he proceeded like I didn’t say anything, looking at me expectantly.

“Are you making fun of me?” I asked, squinting my eyes to catch the slightest change in his demeanor. But there was none—just an amused glance.

“I don’t have time for jokes,” he replied, buttoning his coat. “You’ll get eighty thousand yearly on the paper and another hundred thousand off the books. It’s a solid offer.”

My head spun from all the numbers. I had never seen that kind of money. From Adam, I barely had fifty thousand per year with all the benefits. Yet I couldn’t pass the opportunity to tease Zyon a little and learn how serious he was about this.

“Why don’t you give me an outstanding offer?” I countered, lifting an eyebrow at him when he stopped in the middle of leaving. He turned on the threshold into the hall, grimacing.

“Because you lied to me, blackmailed me, and God knows what that pretty head will come up with next. ”

“Fair enough,” I admitted, biting my lower lip. I still didn’t believe I could be so lucky to get my money back and find a job in the most improbable place.

“You also get a new car. My manager won’t be driving that junk,” Zyon announced, taking his axe and opening the door.

“It’s a veteran,” I said, glaring at him. I loved my old car. It was the only thing that was mine. And Chester never thought to buy me a new one.

“Yeah, the veteran who returned from war blind, deaf, and without both legs,” Zyon deadpanned, earning a gasp from me. “I forbid you from driving it.”

“What if I refuse?” I asked stubbornly. He turned back to face me, towering over me like a mountain.

“In half an hour, my men will replace that garbage with a brand-new Aston Martin V8. Google it if you’re curious.

” He cast me a fake smile, and I gulped another teasing question.

I would be stupid to reject such a tempting offer.

Mostly because it could solve my trouble with Chester and give me the freedom I desperately sought.

“Thank you, Mr. Zhumagulov.” I smiled, stretching my hand for a shake. His doubtful look almost made me laugh, but he took my palm, squeezing it gently while his eyes didn’t leave my face.

“I will regret it, won’t I?” An annoyed grimace settled on his face when a wide grin appeared on my lips.

But I saw through his act and could see he was glad I accepted his proposition.

My heart skipped a beat in excitement when I realized he wanted me around and wasn’t angry about my past mistakes.

“Tasha will call you and schedule a meeting in the casino to show you around,” Zyon said, checking his phone.

With an axe and dressed in all black, he looked like a debt collector for the devil.

“And one more thing.” He raised his eyes from the cell, his brows furrowing. “Your husband is in hospital.”

“What?” I squealed, my heart rate increasing rapidly.

“Why? What happened?” I grabbed Zyon’s forearm, stopping him from leaving before explaining.

His dark eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I caught a glimpse of pain.

Like he was sad because I cared for Chester, yet I quickly discarded that idea.

Dreaming about him in the middle of the night was one thing, but assigning the hidden meaning to his expressions and small gestures was another lever of craziness. I didn’t need that in my life .

“Chester asked the wrong man for money.” Zyon shrugged nonchalantly, and a pinch of suspicion settled in my chest when I gazed into his stunning, devious eyes. “He got what he deserved.”

I let go of his coat, gaping at him when he winked at me and left me standing on the threshold. He threw the axe over his shoulder, whistling while he went down the stairs like he just successfully accomplished a mission.

I didn’t know what to think about his bipolar behavior, but I knew one thing: if his men beat the crap out of Chester because of me, I couldn’t be more grateful.