“Haha! Thanks to these two, I finally had a winning streak at Kingzillion Casino!”A voice suddenly erupted from the crowd and interrupted Ivanka’s train of thought.A plump man was waving his chips in the air. However, within seconds, people around him pulled him back.“You must be crazy. Their luck could just as easily turn around. Sure, we’ve won some money thanks to them, but we should quit while we’re ahead. Do you really think they’ll be able to leave Kingzillion Casino with all that cash?”The words hit the man like a cold splash of water and snapped him out of his euphoria.Ivanka, who was standing nearby, heard their conversation clearly despite their attempts to whisper.Soon, the onlookers began to disperse.Soon, the area around the table was almost empty. Only Ivanka, Michael, Evan, and Kingzillion Casino’s men remained.Bert, still seething from the kick Michael had given him and the forced apology by Jackie, made no effort to hide his disdain for Ivanka. The murd
“Turn around.”It was a command.It immediately put Michael on high alert.The sudden demand made Michael instinctively step forward and position himself in front of Ivanka.He did not know what the casino boss had in mind, but there was no way he was going to let anything happen to Ivanka right under his nose.“How may I address you, sir?”Michael pursed his lips and questioned as he attempted to divert the conversation.Ivanka understood what he was trying to do, but she could not help finding it ironic.He was being protective. She had never experienced this from him before. Why the sudden concern? “Sir, I apologize for my earlier staring. I meant no offense. I was just surprised that the owner of Kingzillion Casino is simply a middle-aged man.”Ivanka met the man’s eyes and calmly explained herself.The middle-aged man listened to Ivanka’s words and could not help but take a closer look at her.There was a flash of surprise in his eyes.Ivanka’s expression and feature
The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes and snorted. The hint of mockery on his lips was rather obvious.It had been so many years since he founded Kingzillion Casino. It was the first time someone talked to him in that manner. Besides, Michael and Ivanka were basically little kids to him!“Not quite a threat. But since we came prepared, we’ll make sure we get to leave here unscathed,” Michael said somberly. He looked the man in the eye, undaunted.The casino did not allow them to take the money they won and refused to help them out either. Ivanka thought that the man before them was dangerous.“Then, what should we do to convince you to let us go? I think the money we won is worth a request: you have to promise to play fair during the auction. Don’t you think so?“Although it’s money we got from the casino, we still won it fair and square. We’ve come to discuss this matter with you in good faith. If this negotiation falls apart, your reputation will be impacted as well.”Ivanka pu
“Sure.”The middle-aged man accepted Ivanka’s invitation.“We’ll decide the time and place after the auction ends.”Ivanka smiled and replied, “Okay.”“We shall take our leave now.”Michael nodded to the man and left the casino with Ivanka.As soon as they left, Njord turned to his boss with confusion. “Boss, they crossed the line. Are we going to let them go just like that? Darko has been acting weird too. It usually barks at strangers. Why was it so quiet in front of those two?”If Njord had not brought this up, the man would never have noticed this detail.He could not help thinking about Ivanka and suddenly realized that dogs would never behave erratically around people they spent time with and regarded as their family.Was Ivanka related to the woman from his past?“Njord, run a background check on those two, especially the young lady. I want to know everything about her!”Hearing his boss’ abrupt order, Njord was very surprised. “Boss, what about her? I can tell you’re
“What makes you think they are delusional, rather than taking a gamble? Let’s not look down on Michael and Ivanka. They are no fools.” There was a hint of coldness on his smile as he refuted the woman.The woman immediately burst out laughing. “Gamble? Well, if they die, what else can they do with it?”As she spoke, a murderous look flashed in her eyes.She then revealed her plan. “Ivanka will die during the auction. Imagine how delighted she would be, when she thought she could get what she wanted. I want her to die just as painfully.”The woman was very determined about this.“You’d better forget it! Her death will not benefit you. Besides, what makes you assume you’ll succeed?” As soon as the man heard her plan, he frowned in disapproval.He believed that the auction must go off, or else they would not get the Ganoderma nebula. If so, he would not be able to hurt Michael and make him suffer.But the woman turned toward the window and did not listen to the man. She had her own
After hanging up on Chiara, Tanya went to the underground exit of the airport.Just as she hailed a cab, her phone started ringing again.She thought it was Chiara.Answering the call without checking the caller ID, she said, “Chiara, did you even hear what I said? That’s enough!”She disliked people who could not take no for an answer. The fact that this person was Chiara made Tanya loathe her even more.If Chiara was standing right in front of her, she would have had the urge to slap her silly.However, the voice from the speaker was not Chiara’s.It was Tanya’s friend, Cordelia Ulmer.“What Chiara? I’m your Coco Milkshake. Isn’t Chiara already dead?”Tanya froze. “I was mistaken. Didn’t I tell you I was going to Mirvania? What are you calling me for?”Hearing her best friend’s voice, the furrow between Tanya’s brows faded.But since Chiara had ruined her mood earlier on, she was a little glum.“Well, didn’t you complain to me a while ago? I know that you aren’t in a good
“I reserved this spot.”Tanya ignored the man’s advance.“Well, will you allow me to sit here for a while, gorgeous?”He was about to keep talking, but a woman’s voice rang out from the main hall downstairs. “May I have your attention, everyone? I’m a hostess at Starlet Bar, and today is its second anniversary. As a token of appreciation for our loyal customers, we’re organizing an event.” “What event? Free ladies? Everything we order will be free of charge?”“Free ladies? That’d be unfair to our female customers. If the men get pretty ladies, the women get the hotties too, right?”As soon as the hostess mentioned an event, the customers under the stage could not withhold their excitement and started asking questions.“The event is a series of simple games that encourages interaction between our male and female customers. You’ll get the chance to win first, second, or third prizes, as well as a special prize.”“Are you interested, gorgeous?”After the hostess was done, the ma
“Hot d*mn! Starlet Bar is really giving its all tonight. I heard that the gold key was given away when the boss of Kingzillion Casino first built the establishment. There are only three in total. Allegedly, whoever owns it can make a request to the boss, and he will fulfill any request!”“Really? Is Starlet Bar messing with us? Is this some kind of fake event? If the key is so precious, why are they giving it away?”“I know right? If we get the gold key and demand the owner of Kingzillion Casino to hand over his business, will he comply? He is no fool!”The customers downstairs did not believe what the hostess said and even made fun of her.The hostess, on the other hand, gave someone next to her a look. Soon enough, two hulking bodyguards carried a display rack to the center of the stage.There was a gold key in the glass cover on top of the rack.“It has been two years since Starlet Bar was founded. Some of our loyal customers must be here with us tonight. They can step up and