Chapter 287

Yvette glanced at him with her dark eyes. She leaned back without a care. Her long, straight legs were crossed. In a cool, clear voice, she said, “Yeah.”

Howard wasn’t surprised she knew about the website. Sometimes Ms. Zeller was so mysterious he felt like bowing down. When he met her, it was as if she had descended from the heavens...

Howard looked at Yvette very intently. He expressed his idea. “Ms. Zeller, why don’t we place an order on Black Gold Web and hire the top assassin, Zola, as your bodyguard? Whatever the cost, just to keep you safe.”

Howard, fearing Yvette might misunderstand, quickly elaborated. “I heard Zola takes on jobs on Black Gold Web based solely on personal inclination, but once they accept a job, they never fail. Still holding the top success rate on Black Gold Web. People say Zola has a peculiar and unpredictable personality. No one knows their gender; they’ve always appeared in a mask and use a voice modulator. However, I guess Zola might be a man–this line of work seems like a man’s domain, right?”

Of course, he didn’t know that two of the top three assassins on Black Gold Web were actually women. Howard decided that, regardless of the cost, he needed to ensure Yvette’s safety.

Yvette lifted her gaze and paused slightly. She cast a calm glance at the very earnest Howard. Her delicate eyebrows raised slightly. She thought, ‘How can I protect myself?‘ In a light and slow tone, she said, “No need, Howard. She won’t take the job.”

Howard was taken aback. He thought, ‘Did Ms. Zeller express that too confidently? How could she know for sure that the person wouldn’t take the job?‘

He said, “Ms. Zeller, let’s discuss this later. After all, we still have six months.”

Yvette could tell from Howard’s expression that he hadn’t given up yet. She sighed and thought, ‘Oh well, just to avoid being assigned to protect myself, I should make it clear.

She suddenly spoke up, “Howard, do you think there’s a chance that I’m actually the number one assassin, Zola, you’ve been talking about?”

Howard replied without a second thought, “Ms. Zeller, you must be kidding. If you’re Zola, then I must be the Eagle King, ranked second. Hahaha...”

Yvette hesitated for a moment, with her eyes lowered, noticing how Howard refused to believe it. She pinched her fingers slightly, and spoke with a hint of helplessness, looked him in the eye and repeated slowly, “Howard, I really am Zola.”

Howard thought Yvette was just trying to stop him from placing an order on the Black Gold website. He thought, ‘Ms. Zeller was really too much. How have I never noticed this imaginative side of she before?‘

He thought for a few seconds, ‘Should I go along with her joke? It’s so rare for her to be this funny. Would it be rude not to go along with her joke?‘

He took a deep breath. Then he looked at Yvette with genuine sincerity. “Ms. Zeller, I actually always forget to tell you, I’m the third–ranked assassin on Black Gold, Flying Fish. Do I look like one?”

Howard silently applauded himself. He thought he was playing along really well, almost flawlessly...

This time, Yvette was the one taken aback. Seeing him trying hard not to laugh, she felt a headache coming on. She picked the orange juice from the table and took a sip. Her delicate fingers lightly tapped the rim of the glass, her voice clear and cool. Her eyes were as deep as a cold pool and as clear as a crystal. “Howard, I’m actually Zola. When you went bankrupt, I was on a mission and happened to save you from jumping into the sea.”

Howard heard these words. His face, which was just trying not to laugh, suddenly froze. The glass he was holding slipped from his hand and hit the floor with a bang, with water splashed everywhere. Neither of them paid attention to it. Howard really couldn’t believe what he just heard. His heart felt like it was about to leap out of his chest.

He thought, ‘Ms. Zeller turns out to be the top–ranked hitman on the Black Gold Network? Surprised or what? Isn’t that thrilling?

It is so freaking surprising and exciting. What kind of legendary figure have I encountered? Back then, she just decided to give me money without a second thought. She even took me back to the business world to invest, securing the first start–up fund that led to today’s company. And now she is calmly sitting on the sofa, telling me she’s also a hitman? This world has gone completely mad. But it wasn’t Yvette who’s crazy it was Howard.

He believed what Yvette said–she really is the number one hitman, Zola. Yvette never lied and didn’t need to. He thought, ‘So it isn’t a joke? Is that true? The most feared and untouchable hitman on the Black Gold website, known as Zola, who never takes a contract for less than 66 million dollars, is actually Ms. Zeller?‘

When Howard thought about how he acted just now, he felt inexplicably guilty. He took a deep breath and gave a slight smile.

His expression was somewhat amusing. “Ms. Zeller, you really scared me to death! With your status, I don’t even know what to say. Just two words: ‘Respect.” He couldn’t find any other words. All he could summarize his feelings into were this one word.

Indeed, Yvette was someone to be idolized.

After a while, Howard finally regained a bit of his sanity. He looked at Yvette, who was calmly sipping orange juice on the couch.

He twitched his eye slightly and cleared his throat. “Well, Ms. Zeller, how many more surprises are you hiding that I should know about? Why don’t you just spill them all at once? I can... I can handle it.”

Howard reiterated once more. His voice unconsciously rose several octaves. “Bring on the storm!”

His voice was so loud that Liam, not far from the villa, could hear it. He shivered involuntarily and just knew that whenever Howard met Yvette, nothing good would happen. He quickly took out his phone, ready to dial 911 at any moment.

He was on high alert and wondered if Yvette did something that drove Howard crazy. Judging from the tone, his mental state wasn’t good. Liam debated whether he should rush into the villa and rescue Howard. After thinking it over, he decided against it for staying alive was more important...After all, Howard will have to take care of himself.

In the mansion Yvette’s eyes were half–closed. Her eyes were clear and focused. The stray hair on her forehead added a hint of defiance. Looking at the somewhat awkward Howard before her. She spoke calmly, “No, you can’t handle it. Take it slow.”

5000–what does it Howard felt a bit choked, as if the words made him want to punch Yvette. He thought, ‘But the imply about Ms.Zeller status?‘ Howard thought it was best not to think about it anymore. Yvette was right; better to “take it slow.” That’s good.

Otherwise, if it’s too intense, he might really not be able to handle it...

Howard had completely calmed down by now. Then he looked at Yvette with a “please pay attention to me” expression. Yvette lifted her eyelids and gave him a quick glance. Her expression was indifferent. “Howard, just say what you want to say.”

Howard sat up straight and adjusted his suit, looking the picture of propriety. He cleared his throat softly. “Ms. Zeller, do you think I have the potential to be a hitman?”

Yvette tapped her fingers on the table and paused. Her lips curled in a barely–there smile, “No.”

He thought, ‘Seriously, what man doesn’t dream of being a hero when he’s young? Hasn’t watched gangster movies.‘ He wanted to be a leader for many years. The guy’s getting old, but still felt the urge to rebel.

Unwilling to give up, Howard asked again, “Ms. Zeller, is there any other job in the hitman business I could do? Anything at all, I’m not picky, won’t ask for a salary.”