Page 21 of Billionaire’s Heartbreak

This empire wasn’t built on meetings and mergers. It was built on fear, leverage…and things people didn’t report to the police.

I cleared my throat.

“How much is Dannie paying you? I can double it. Triple it.”

Every head turned toward me as if I’d said something outrageous.

But this was how I worked. Loyalty followed money. If someone worked for me, I wanted them on my payroll, their allegiance clear.

Still, as I looked at June—calm, unreadable, already carrying the burden of a company she never asked for—I couldn’t shake the thought: was this really about business? Or was Dannie setting the stage for June to take over everything…while he stepped away for good?

I didn’t understand why Dannie had to bring me into this.

Francis actually stepped back, as if my words had hit him in the chest.

“Sir,” he said carefully. “I respect you, and I appreciate the chance to work alongside you. But my loyalty is with Mr. Wu.”

Squirrel appeared beside him without a sound, broad shoulders filling the space, his presence heavy and deliberate.

Not a bodyguard. Not just staff.

Triad.

“Good to know.” I nodded. Part of me was disappointed. I could use a man like that. But deeper down, I was relieved. Dannie had people who wouldn’t bend.

I wanted to ask what they knew about his condition, about his plans, but there was no point. Men like them didn’t talk.

“Can we have the room?” I asked.

Squirrel looked at me, then at June, his arms folding behind his back. For a second, I wondered if he was imagining all the ways he could break me for even suggesting privacy with his boss’s wife.

“Leave us,” June said.

Francis moved quickly, pressing a button that frosted the glass walls.

“Do you really need me here?” I asked her quietly.

“I don’t think so,” she replied. “Dannie didn’t think I could handle things on my own.”

The words landed harder than they should have. A stupid part of me had wanted her to say yes. To admit she needed me.

And the truth was, I wasn't sure she could handle all of this alone either. Dannie had handed her an entire empire—businesses, people, responsibilities she probably hadn't even begun to understand. Deep down, I wanted to help.

That was exactly what scared me.

Because helping June meant being close to her again. And I knew myself well enough to know how dangerous that could be. One day working beside her could become a week. A week could become months. And somewhere along the way, I might forget all the reasons I'd forced myself to let her go.

I might fall for her all over again.

“I don’t mean to disrespect you,” I said. “But this isn’t a hospital. You don’t understand how this world works. It’s not fair for Dannie to dump this on you.”

“I’ve managed entire hospital departments,” she shot back. “Hospitals run like businesses, in case you didn’t know.”

“This is different. Dannie isn’t just any businessman. You saw Francis. On the surface, he’s management. In reality?” I nodded toward the frosted glass. “He’s triad.”

“So? He works for Dannie. He’s loyal to him.”

“Yes, but can you guarantee everyone here is?”