Page 52 of Billionaire’s Cruelty

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at him.

“On second floor is a branding and marketing company,” he continued. “We have a team of just under a hundred—everything from design to strategy experts.”

“So, you don’t own that beauty brand?” I gestured the elevator. “You know, the poster out there.”

“No, we designed the posters—along with everything else you see in Asia.”

Leena Beauty was one of the newest and biggest beauty brands in Asia, known for its bold marketing campaigns. I hadn’t even heard of them until I started travelling to Asia for business. Their posters were everywhere—covering every inch of available advertising space.

“Legit business, huh?”

“Do you approve?” Dannie couldn’t hide his smile as he added, “Wife.”

I just flatted my lips and glared at him.

He led me through more floors, each one occupied by one of his businesses. On the eighth floor was a Japanese street food and franchise. He had acquired the master rights and now ran over 500 stores across Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

Another floor held one of his proudest ventures, a karaoke chain. It had started with a single humble location and expanded into a massive success, with outlets in every major mall across Asia. He beamed as he showed me a bright red booth that resembled a classic London telephone box. Inside, a karaoke machine connected to a microphone and headphones stood in the soundproofed space.

“You can choose to sing for as little as ten minutes,” he explained, demonstrating how to work the screen. “Then, you just sing your heart out. No worries, no judgment.”

He showed me a few other floors, each more impressive than the last: a financial firm that handled investments, a fashion design studio specializing in modernized Chinese costumes, a property management company offering all-in-one services for Airbnb owners, a funeral home, and even a car dealership. These were just a handful of the businesses he chose to show me.

He leased the remaining floors out to friends he trusted.

Our tour ended on the 28th floor—his office. This was the headquarters of his management company, the center of everything he owned.

“Can you see now?” he asked quietly.

I nodded. “It’s very impressive.”

“I’ve gone legit.”

“I can see that.”

His voice softened, a rare vulnerability slipping through. “Would you still leave me?”

11

Kai

Five long hours later, we finally arrived at Hong Kong International airport. If we had taken my private jet, we would have made it in three. Sometimes, I enjoyed a good commercial flight—feeling what a normal person experiences when they travel humbled me greatly.

I had no idea what had happened to Jenny at the house. Did we kill her husband? Everything happened so quickly that it was a blur. All I could recall was his helpless face and lifeless body lying there in a pool of his own blood.

Trevon, Clare, and I stood in the exceptionally long queue at the taxi rank. My patience wore thin when one of the children in front of us fell on me during their tug-of-war. Clare, ever loyal, would have gladly done some serious damage if I had asked her to.

Did I hate children?

I tried my best to be nice to Jenny’s kids. I did. But they simply didn’t warm my heart the way dogs did.

“Couldn’t you just order a car from your phone?” I finally asked Trevon, the question burning me inside.

“Why didn’t you do it?” Trevon challenged.

“Do you want me to, Sir?” Clare volunteered, still remarkably polite. She would remain that way as long as I remained pissed at her.

“Well, I would, but you know I don’t have my phone on me.” I said to Trevon.