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Chapter_287
Yvette glanced at Howard with those dark, piercing eyes of hers. She leaned back casually in her seat, her long, straight legs crossed elegantly. In a calm, controlled voice, she responded, “Yeah.” Howard wasn’t surprised that she knew about the Black Gold Web. In fact, he had come to realize that Ms. Zeller, or rather Yvette, often had a way of being ahead of the curve, so to speak. She carried herself with such mystery that it made Howard feel like bowing down in awe. The first time he met her, it felt as if she had descended from the heavens herself—so enigmatic, so poised.
He stared at her for a moment, contemplating his words. Finally, he spoke up, his tone serious but laced with concern. “Ms. Zeller, why don’t we place an order through Black Gold Web and hire the top assassin, Zola, to be your bodyguard? Whatever the cost—just to keep you safe.” He paused, ensuring he wasn’t overstepping, but his protective instinct was strong. “I’ve heard that Zola only takes on jobs based on personal inclination, but once a contract is accepted, they never fail. They still hold the highest success rate on the entire site. There’s one thing, though: Zola’s personality is said to be… unpredictable. No one even knows their gender—they always appear masked and use a voice modulator. But if I had to guess, I’d say Zola might be a man. After all, this line of work is usually dominated by men, right?”
Of course, Howard wasn’t aware that two of the top three assassins on the Black Gold Web were actually women, but that detail didn’t stop him from pressing forward with his idea. The thought of Yvette, with her immense value and unshakable composure, being in harm’s way was intolerable. He had to do something. He was ready to pay any price if it meant protecting her.
Yvette, however, didn’t seem particularly concerned. She lifted her gaze slowly, her eyes locking with his. There was a hint of amusement in her expression, but it was brief. “No need, Howard. Zola won’t take the job,” she said, almost nonchalantly.
Howard’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. How could she be so confident? How could she know for certain that Zola wouldn’t accept the job? He furrowed his brow in confusion. “Ms. Zeller, let’s discuss this further later. After all, we still have six months before any real action is needed.”
But Yvette could tell by the look on his face that Howard hadn’t fully let go of his concerns. She sighed inwardly. To avoid him insisting on arranging protection, she decided to make her position clear. She leaned in slightly, her voice lowering to a calm, almost amused level. “Howard, do you think there’s a chance that I might actually be the number one assassin on Black Gold Web, Zola?”
Howard, caught off guard by her question, laughed without hesitation. “Ms. Zeller, you must be kidding. If you’re Zola, then I must be the Eagle King, ranked second. Hahaha…” He chuckled nervously, unsure of how to respond to her teasing.
But Yvette’s expression didn’t change. Her eyes remained steady, and she spoke again, this time more seriously. “Howard, I really am Zola.”
Howard’s laughter froze mid-sentence. He blinked, staring at her in disbelief. For a moment, he couldn’t process the words she had just spoken. His mind raced. Did she just say she’s Zola? His hands instinctively clenched, and he could feel his heart rate pick up. This was insane. Could it really be true? The top assassin in the world, the one who commanded millions of dollars per job, the one who was rumored to never fail, was actually sitting right in front of him—and it was Yvette? His mind couldn’t keep up with the realization.
The glass in his hand slipped from his fingers, hitting the floor with a loud crash. Water splashed across the floor, but neither of them seemed to notice. Howard sat there, frozen, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn’t believe it. His world, already full of complexities, had just turned upside down.
So, Ms. Zeller, the woman who had casually given him money, guided him back into the business world, and even led him to the first major investment that launched InnoCrest Technologies, is actually Zola? The most feared assassin on Black Gold Web? Howard couldn’t process it. His mind was spinning.
His first instinct was disbelief, but when he looked at her—her calm demeanor, the ice in her eyes—he realized it was true. There was no reason for her to lie. Yvette never lied. She didn’t need to. She didn’t have to pretend.
A wave of admiration and awe washed over him. He took a deep breath and managed a nervous smile, though it wasn’t fully sincere. “Ms. Zeller, you really scared me there. I had no idea. With your status, I don’t even know what to say. All I can say is… ‘Respect.’” His voice was shaky, but genuine. There were no words for how amazed he was. Yvette was untouchable, a true legend in her own right.
After a few moments of stunned silence, Howard cleared his throat and shifted slightly in his seat, trying to recover his composure. “Well, Ms. Zeller, I have to ask… how many more surprises do you have up your sleeve? Why don’t you just tell me everything at once? I think I can… handle it.” He said it with a strained smile, though his voice rose slightly, betraying the nervous excitement that still lingered. “Bring on the storm,” he added, almost too loudly.
From outside, Liam, who had been waiting in the car near the villa, heard Howard’s voice and instantly felt a shiver run down his spine. He knew all too well that whenever Howard met with Yvette, things never went as expected. He immediately took out his phone, ready to dial 911 at a moment’s notice. He was on high alert, debating whether he should rush inside to save Howard, but ultimately decided it wasn’t worth the risk—Howard would have to handle it himself.
Back inside, Yvette remained cool and collected, her eyes half-closed in thought. She sat with an air of defiance, her long fingers tapping lightly on the table as she studied Howard, who now looked even more bewildered than before. She spoke slowly, her voice calm yet laced with authority. “No, Howard. You can’t handle it. Take it slow.”
Howard, feeling a sense of frustration, chuckled awkwardly. He realized how right she was. It wasn’t just about handling things in business anymore. This was a different world—one filled with shadows and danger, where even someone like Yvette, with all her grace and composure, could send shivers down his spine. He could feel himself wanting to punch the table, but he held back, knowing that he had no place in this world of high-stakes games.
He let out a slow breath and decided to focus on one last thing. He couldn’t resist. “Ms. Zeller, do you think I have the potential to be a hitman?” he asked, half-joking but with a hint of genuine curiosity.
Yvette looked at him for a long moment, her lips curling slightly into a small smile, almost imperceptible. She took her time before replying. “No,” she said simply, her voice firm.
Howard blinked, a little surprised at the bluntness of her response. But after a brief pause, he decided to press further, unwilling to give up. “Is there any other job within the hitman business that I could do? Anything at all. I’m not picky. I won’t even ask for a salary.”
Yvette tilted her head slightly, considering his words. For a moment, she said nothing. Then, her gaze hardened a little, her voice quieter now. “You’ll have to prove you’re capable of more than you think. But this… this isn’t something you can just walk into.” She stood up slowly, her presence dominating the room. “If you want in, you’ll need to show me you’re willing to sacrifice more than just money.”
Howard nodded, feeling the weight of her words settle over him. For the first time in his life, he realized that some games weren’t played with money, connections, or business sense—they were played with everything you had, down to your very soul.
