"Liao Ping, my darling... even if you burrow into the earth, I will dig you out." Kaisen adjusted his blazer, swearing the oath under his breath. His plans to return to Italy were officially scrapped. He and his men were going to scour every inch of China to find her and reclaim his money—and her.
Liao Ping was certainly not going to slip through his fingers. He was coming for the cash and the woman. He still remembered how sweet she smelled that night, a taste he hadn't yet been able to savor. If he couldn't find her, he didn't deserve to be called Kaisen, the 9th generation leader of the Kingsley clan.
Kaisen unleashed his men, ordering them to hunt through every alleyway and corner of China. Raymond worked tirelessly, glued to his computer, but finding her was like chasing a ghost. Liao Ping was an IT virtuoso; she didn't leave digital footprints, and as a professional grifter, she was meticulous. The search was so frustrating it nearly drove them mad. Kaisen eventually flew in reinforcements from Italy and hired elite hackers to track her location.
Raymond, Kaisen's loyal right hand, couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at the sight of his boss's thunderous expression. To see the great Kaisen Kingsley outsmarted by a tiny girl who made off with half a million dollars was a first. He had to hand it to Liao Ping—she was anything but ordinary.
Kaisen, usually arrogant and hot-tempered, was restless. He couldn't stop thinking about her jasmine scent, her petite frame, and that defiant curves—not to mention his missing money.
"You're going to pay a heavy price, Liao Ping," he muttered through gritted teeth, pushing his men to work faster.
While Kaisen's empire was turning China upside down, the woman in question was worlds away. Liao Ping was currently in Hawaii, lounging under the sun in a tiny bikini, sipping fruit juice and nonchalantly watching muscular men play beach volleyball. To her, the half-million dollars was a "grand prize" that deserved a vacation. She had fled China immediately after the heist, convinced she had covered her tracks well enough that he'd never find her.
She was wrong.
It took Kaisen two days, but his resources finally pinpointed her location. Finding out she was living it up in Hawaii while he was losing his mind in China only fueled his fire. He hopped on his private jet immediately.
He arrived at the beach in the afternoon. Leaving his men at a nearby beach bar to blend in, he decided to surprise the "clever girl" himself. Dressed down in a short-sleeved white shirt unbuttoned at the top, shorts, and flip-flops, he looked like just another tourist—albeit a much more intimidating one.
After a long search, he spotted her. She was dancing among a crowd, her hips swaying rhythmically, her porcelain skin glistening with a light sweat that only made her more alluring. Every time she moved, Kaisen found himself swallowing hard. Men were circling her like sharks, eyeing her as if she were a snack, which caused an unexpected surge of possessive rage in Kaisen's chest.
He walked straight up to her and stood with his arms crossed. Liao Ping, sensing a presence, looked up. Her eyes went wide.
"Total disaster, Liao Ping!" she screamed internally.
She had no idea how he'd found her, but her first instinct was to bolt. She didn't get far. Kaisen lunged forward and tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of grain.
"Where do you think you're going, little fox?" Kaisen asked, a predatory smirk on his face.
Liao Ping let out a nervous, high-pitched laugh, realizing she was caught red-handed.
"Mr. Kingsley! What brings you here? Did I... do something to upset you?" she asked innocently, batting her lashes like a trapped kitten.
"Playing dumb, are we? What should I do with you, Liao Ping? Did you enjoy spending my half a million dollars?"
Liao Ping gulped, trying to maintain her composure as he carried her to a waiting SUV and shoved her inside. Raymond and the other men appeared behind them as the doors shut.
"Money? What money? I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Enough with the acting," Kaisen laughed coldly, his hand sliding onto her thigh. Liao Ping panicked and tried to scramble out the other door, but Kaisen caught her ankle in a vice-like grip.
"Trying to run? Not a chance, sweetheart."
"Hehe... I wasn't running! I just... can I have a jacket? Please?" She flashed a desperate smile. Kaisen's gaze swept over her nearly naked body in the bikini. He cleared his throat, and Raymond quickly handed over his blazer.
"Drop the act. Where is my money? Give it back now if you don't want things to get ugly... or I might just have to resort to 'rougher' methods," Kaisen whispered into her ear.
For the first time, Liao Ping felt a genuine chill run down her spine. His smile didn't reach his eyes; there was a dangerous aura about him that told her he wasn't joking. Trembling, she pulled her phone from her small bag. She had only spent about $500 so far.
"Here! Here is your money! I was just... joking! I'll pay back the $500 later, okay?" she stammered.
Kaisen took the phone, looking at the accounts. Seeing the fake names and sophisticated routing, he realized she was a full-time pro.
"Too late for that. You're coming with us." Kaisen signaled to Raymond, and the car sped off.
"Where are you taking me? Stop! Don't tell me you're going to kill me! I gave the money back! It was only $500 short, why are you being so stingy? Waaaaah!" She burst into theatrical tears, realizing she was outnumbered and outmatched.
Kaisen burst out laughing, clutching his stomach until he practically had tears in his eyes. This girl was a riot.
"Waaaaah!" She kept wailing, terrified that her life was over before she could truly enjoy her youth. She was even mourning the clothes she'd left back at her hotel.
Thirty minutes later, the car pulled up to Kaisen's private jet. He hauled her out, and when she tried to wiggle free, he gave her backside a firm swat..
"Ouch! Why did you hit me? Huhu! If you're going to kill me, just don't hit my face! I want to die pretty! I spent hundreds on skincare!" Liao Ping sobbed, even as he sat her down in the plush jet cabin.
Watching her act like a drenched little fox, Kaisen didn't know whether to pity her or keep laughing.
"You think I'm that cruel? Your personality is certainly... interesting." He meant it. She was a fascinating mix of a genius, a flirt, and a brat.
"Wait... where are we going?" she asked, wiping her eyes.
"To Italy. I want to personally discipline a 'genius' like you. Don't worry, I won't kill you, little fox." Kaisen reached out and pinched her cheek hard enough to leave a mark. As the jet took off toward Europe, his eyes traveled to the opening of the blazer she wore, catching glimpses of the bikini underneath.
"We're just going to finish what we started that night. You know, the night you drugged me? I promise I won't kill you... I'll just make sure your legs are shaking for a week so you remember the consequence of robbing Kaisen Kingsley, the head of the Italian Mafia boss."
Liao Ping's face turned bright red. She bit her lip, her whole body trembling as the realization finally hit her.
"You... you're a... Mafia boss?"
"Indeed. And I'm the Mafia boss who is going to take you apart piece by piece the moment we land in Italy."
Liao Ping has really stepped into it now!