23

Yuliya's eyes unconsciously started to water as she blinked back her tears. She felt a heaviness in her chest as she heard her history like this. There has been nothing hidden between her and her previous husband, however, listening to it anew from someone so high up like Kai Afuru was uncomfortable to say the least. Her voice stayed stead enough for her to respond. "Oh my, you do know a lot. Is it known in the whispers of people around me? I wondered why people were starting to avoid me."

"No, I asked Josefa. He's a retired FBI agent that we helped get through some post traumatic stress and get off a mob hit list. He's clean of his former lifestyle now that he's in our sphere of control. No one will touch him now. But I do know things. I know that when you were working at a receptionist at a strip club, it was visited by a prince in disguise and you saw an opportunity learning from the women around you. And you married him, eventually falling in love. But his family didn't approve of you because of your background so you were barred from his marriage and even though you were supposed to have much more in his will, the family quietly wrote you out of it and gave you some dirt which you gladly accepted as they said they would leave you alone as you remarried the dirt they found for you – Vasko."

Yuliya couldn't believe that he knew more about her life than she did. She sputtered as she tried to speak. "Josefa? How did you ever stop the mob from offing him if he is so good?"

"His obligation is to me as a butler."

"Yes, being a butler obviously neutralizes the threat." Yuliya rolled her eyes. "What does he do more than chauffeur you around, manage your belongings, and then do complete background checks on people you've decided you want to know? I suppose I should call you Batman next. But this is still all too bizarre. I'm nobody to you than the almost wife of someone whom is in your social circles. Why would you choose to warn me instead of the other way around? Making me disappear for the both of you should be easy if these are your resources."

"What is the fun in that? I am interested in you. I want to know if you have a soul or not. Are you hardened or soft still."

As she heard these words, she couldn't help feeling even more confused by what his intentions were. "Okay, have a good look then. I'm sure this little interaction should be more than enough to confirm that there really is nothing special to be seen here. I'm still just a bit of trash that someone got out and called vintage for a change to make it more appetizing to the right people."

Kai's lips were in a strange pursed position as he took a framing piece of hair and pushed it back behind her ear. "A really rare vintage wine that is hard to find."