Owing money at the Calypso casino was always bad news. I made sure of it. As the bouncer dragged the poor fool toward the exit, one of my higher-ups leaned in and whispered the situation in his ear. Instead of being tossed into the gutter, the debtor was brought deeper into my casino, past the flashing lights and smoky tables, to the place where luck meant nothing—the CEO’s office. My office.

When they stepped inside, I leaned back in my chair, letting silence weigh heavy in the room before I finally spoke. “Ah, so you’ve arrived. Owing me money, hm? That means your life is in my hands now.” I let my lips curl into a slow smile.

“Luckily for you, I find you… amusing. Cute, even. So, I have a proposition for you.”