Page 83 of Billionaire’s Cruelty

“Oh, right. That.” I nodded, feeling bad that he was missing work, or whatever he did, because of me and that one silly question. “I didn’t know about that part of the application process.”

“I figured there might be something like that—kind of like when you apply for an American visa.” He said, the words sliding of his tongue as he shrugged.

“What? I didn’t know they had that requirement.” I had never really thought about it from the other side, how easy or difficult was it for people to get a visa to the U.S.

“Yeah, but once you know the rules, it’s fine. Just play along, give them what they want. At the end of the day, they’re just doing their job. They want to keep their country safe.” Dannie shrugged again, as if none of it really mattered.

“I suppose.” I answered. He made sense. Dannie wasn’t an unreasonable person. Sometimes I forget what he does for a living. TV and movies always painted people like him—mafias, triads, gangsters, whatever you wanted to call them—as violent, lawless men who took whatever they wanted. Maybe those movies were wrong. Or maybe I was just lucky with Dannie.

“What’s your plan after this?” he asked.

“Get the first ticket to Shanghai.” I let out a nervous chuckle.

“Okay. Let me know if you need help.”

“I think I’ll be okay.”

We hadn’t said anything to suggest this was a farewell, yet it felt like goodbye.

“I know a few people in Shanghai,” Dannie continued. “Do you want me to arrange a place for you to stay?”

I hadn’t thought much about accommodation. I just assumed Wendy and I would stay with Kai. Worst case scenario, we could always book a hotel. That was part of travelling, after all—figuring things out as we went.

“No, really. I think we’ll be okay.”

“Of course. Mr. Li will look after you.” His voice carried a slight edge. Bitter.

I hesitated before asking, “By the way, why did you have the suite last night?”

I didn’t think he had booked it for me and Kai to use. If he had expected to spend the night with me, I needed to know. I needed to clarify where we stood so he wouldn’t get the wrong idea.

“It was reserved for me,” he said simply.

“Really?” He had mentioned that before, but it still didn’t make sense. “I can’t believe a hotel would keep a suite reserved for you year-round. It doesn’t seem very… economical.”

“So, you think I booked it for another reason?”

“Maybe.”

I took a sip of my latte for the first time. It was rich and bitter—real coffee. Not the weak, sugary kind I usually got from those green-logo chain stores.

Dannie leaned back in his chair. “You know I don’t allow anyone into my apartment.”

I did know that. He had told me before, but I hadn’t fully processed what it meant.

“And it’s necessary for me to keep the suite for…”

He trailed off.

He didn’t need to finish his sentence. I suddenly realized what he meant.

He had needs. We all did. But he couldn’t bring anyone back to his apartment. I understood that now.

I wasn’t his wife—not really—but somehow, the way I questioned him made me feel like I was. And I couldn’t help feeling a little embarrassed.

I was falling in love with Kai. As much as I hated to admit it, I knew it was true. But the thought of Dannie bringing women back to the suite still bothered me—like I had been given a toy, only to have it ripped from my hands forcibly, even though I had never owned it to begin with.

Fuck psychology.