Harem System: Spending Money On Women For 100% Rebate!

Cleopatra pulled the trigger.

The gunshot was almost silent. Ella flinched, her eyes squeezing shut on instinct, body tensing for the impact that would end everything.

But nothing happened.

No pain. No darkness. No blood blooming across her chest.

The bullet had breezed past her head, so close Ella swore she could feel the heat of it cutting through the air beside her ear. It embedded itself in the concrete wall behind her with a sharp crack.

Ella opened her eyes slowly, her heart hammering so hard she could feel it in her throat. She was alive. Still breathing. Still here.

Cleopatra stood there, gun still raised, her expression completely unreadable. For a long moment, neither of them moved. Neither spoke. The silence stretched tight between them like a wire about to snap.

"I guess the gun malfunctioned," Ella said finally, her voice surprisingly steady despite the terror still coursing through her veins. She was trying to spare her sister's pride, give her an out. Let Cleopatra save face after failing to do what she'd brought Ella here to do.

Cleopatra lowered the gun slowly, a small smile playing at her lips. "I guess it did."

They both knew it was a lie. The gun had worked perfectly. Cleopatra had pulled the trigger. She just hadn't aimed to kill.

Cleopatra was a terrible woman. She'd done horrific things, built an empire on blood and manipulation and cruelty. But she had values. Barely. A thin line she wouldn't cross, even when everything logical said she should.

And apparently, killing her own sister was on the wrong side of that line. Ella was made to stay there for the night and the night passed, Cleopatra wanted to make sure she wouldn't have a change of heart.

Cleopatra turned and walked toward the warehouse exit without saying another word. Her heels clicked against the concrete floor, the sound echoing in the empty space. She reached the door, her hand on the handle, and paused.

"Be careful of your association with Kyle," she said, not looking back. "Or you'll become a target. People are watching him now. Dangerous people."

The truth was, Cleopatra was genuinely surprised that Kyle had told Ella anything about the kind of life he was actually living. Most men in his position would have kept their women completely in the dark, compartmentalized their lives into neat little boxes that never touched. But Kyle had been honest with Ella about the underworld connections.

That took more courage than most men had. Made him more of a man than Cleopatra had given him credit for.

The moment Cleopatra stepped out into the fading daylight, she pulled out her phone. The screen lit up with notifications. Multiple missed calls from Isabeau. Her phone had been on Do Not Disturb during the whole situation with Ella, silencing everything.

Cleopatra raised an eyebrow. This was the first time Isabeau had called her like this, repeatedly, urgently. Usually their communication was measured, controlled, scheduled. This screamed emergency.

Cleopatra wasn't particularly in a hurry to call back. After all, she had the resources to handle whatever trouble Isabeau had encountered. Problems were meant to be solved, and Cleopatra was very good at solving problems.

But then she remembered. Kyle had been in Isabeau's possession. The whole frame job, the meeting with the families, all of that.

"Hm, that's right. Kyle," Cleopatra murmured to herself, sliding into the back of her car where her driver waited. She hit the callback button.

Isabeau answered on the first ring.

[[Finally.]]

Isabeau said, her voice tight with controlled frustration.

[[I've been trying to reach you for hours.]]

"My phone was occupied," Cleopatra replied smoothly, settling into the leather seat. "What's the crisis?"

[[Your boy Kyle. That's the crisis.]]

Cleopatra's lips curved into a smile. "Oh? Did something happen? Is he dead?"

[[The exact opposite.]] Isabeau's tone was clipped, professional, but Cleopatra could hear the underlying tension. [[He walked into that meeting as a suspected traitor and walked out as Marcello's recognized equal.]]

Cleopatra blinked. "Excuse me?"

[[You heard me. Marcello cleared the room, had a private conversation with him, and then came out and announced Kyle was to be treated as an equal among the families. Full protection, full immunity, full authority.]]

Cleopatra sat forward slightly, genuinely interested now. "How the hell did he manage that?"

[[I don't know all the details]]

Isabeau said, and Cleopatra caught the slight lie in her voice. She knew more than she was saying.

[[But Viktor's investigation into Kyle's connections with Nakamura backfired spectacularly. Instead of exposing Kyle as a threat, it positioned him as valuable. He had information Marcello wanted. Information about something personal.]]

"Personal," Cleopatra repeated. "Marcello doesn't do personal."

[[Apparently he does. Whatever Kyle told him was significant enough to completely flip the situation.]]

Isabeau paused.

[[And Kyle knows about us.]]

That made Cleopatra pause. "He knows about our arrangement?"

[[Yes. He confronted me afterward. Made it very clear he could expose me to Marcello if he chose to. We came to an understanding, but Cleopatra, this man is more dangerous than you told me.]]

Cleopatra leaned back, processing this information. Then, unexpectedly, she started laughing.

It started as a low chuckle but built into genuine, full-throated laughter that filled the car. Her driver glanced in the rearview mirror with concern but said nothing.

[[What's so funny?]] Isabeau asked, clearly not amused.

"Everything," Cleopatra said, still laughing. "Kyle is the real deal. I had a feeling, but this confirms it. Do you know what this means?"

[[That we have a problem?]]

"No, Isabeau. It means I was right." Cleopatra's laughter faded into a satisfied smile. "I threw him into the lion's den to see if he'd survive. Something told me he'd be just fine, that he had whatever it takes to navigate this world. But this? This exceeds every expectation I had."

[[You're not concerned that he knows about us? That he could destroy everything we've worked toward?]]

"Not particularly." Cleopatra examined her nails, unconcerned. "Kyle knowing about us actually makes things more interesting. He's a variable now, not just a pawn. And variables can be useful if you know how to work with them."

[[You're insane]] Isabeau said flatly.

"Perhaps. But I'm also never wrong." Cleopatra's smile widened. "Keep your understanding with him. Let him think he has leverage. Meanwhile, we continue as planned. Kyle surviving Marcello's scrutiny doesn't change our endgame. If anything, it makes him a more valuable asset."

[[Asset? I just said he's dangerous.]]

"He is. And that's precisely what makes him valuable." Cleopatra gestured for her driver to start moving. "Dangerous tools cut deeper, Isabeau. You just need to be careful how you hold them."

[[And if he cuts us instead?]]

"Then we'll deal with it. But I don't think he will. Kyle has too much to lose now. Too many people depending on him, too many plates spinning. He'll play nice because he has to, not because he wants to." Cleopatra paused. "Did you at least keep him away from your family secrets?"

[[I kept certain things confidential, yes.]]

The way Isabeau said it made Cleopatra suspect there was more to that story, but she let it slide. "Good. Maintain your end of the arrangement. Keep me informed of any major moves. And Isabeau?"

[[Yes?]]

"Don't underestimate him again. Whatever he is, he's proven he's not just lucky. He's capable."

[[Understood.]]

Cleopatra ended the call and stared out the window at the city passing by.

Kyle had survived. More than survived. He'd thrived in the exact situation designed to crush him.

Cleopatra had thrown him to the wolves expecting him to maybe escape with his life.

Instead, he'd made the wolves respect him.

That changed everything and nothing all at once.

The game was still the game. The players were still the players.

But Kyle had just proven he wasn't playing.

He was competing and Cleopatra found that absolutely fascinating.