Chapter 3: A Dangerous Game

Brian emerged from the hospital, feeling a sense of freedom. He was finally on a much-needed break, and the world looked brighter and more alive to Brian. The first thing he did was to have a good, peaceful meal—a simple joy in life that he missed so dearly.

Packing his bags, he let go of his lease on the small apartment. Checking into a hotel, he had a long hot shower and jumped into the clean, soft bed. He was out as soon as he hit the bed.

He woke up around the afternoon the next day after almost eighteen hours of sleep. The long sleep had made him more tired and drowsy, and it took two cups of coffee for him to wake up properly.

Now that he could think straight, he started reading about Victor Nero and Anna Miller. Their PR team had done a good job of keeping their personal lives private. While they were married, they kept their inherited businesses separate. As per the media, they were a happy couple and showed up together only at selective annual events. He soon gave up the internet search as there was nothing useful in the public information.

Based on what he had understood from Jim, the couple had separated for the last year or so. Anna lived alone in the Miller mansion with her support staff. Victor was openly hostile towards Anna in private and was looking for a way to get control of her business.

He opened the medical file, but before he could read it, he received a call from an unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Mr. Brian Moore. I am an associate of Mr. Victor Nero, and he wants to meet you. You will find a car waiting for you at the reception. I suggest you hurry, as Mr. Nero does not like to wait.” The caller disconnected the call.

Brian had a bad feeling about this whole thing, but he was already part of this mess and could not avoid it. He took a quick shower and boarded the car, waiting for him near the hotel gate. After about thirty minutes, he was standing in Victor’s office.

Victor was a tall, bulky man with handsome features. He appeared to be in his late thirties and in top physical shape. He had an arrogant smirk on his face as he pointed at Brian to take a seat.

“Brian, I will make this quick. I don’t want Anna to recover from whatever medical issues she has. The longer you can keep her away from public life, the better. I need her away from the business as long as possible while I slowly take over everything. I am aware of her offer to you, so I will keep my offer simple. Keep her sick and keep her away for six months, and I will pay you a million.” He said it in a smooth, rational tone, as if he was offering a business deal.

Brian chuckled at his speech. “And what’s the threat if I refuse to comply or even better, refuse to be Anna’s doctor?”

Victor gave a hearty laugh. “I thought you were smart, but at least now I know that my reports on you were spot on. You are not very experienced in dealing with people, are you?” He shook his head, laughing.

He then looked straight into Brian’s eyes as he delivered his threat, “I could kill you but there is no fun in that. How about crushing all the knuckles on your fingers one by one, oh, aspiring surgeon?” He said it with a devilish glint in his eyes.

Brian was sweating in his seat. He could tell Victor had done this before and he meant every word. He kept his face straight as he asked, “May I know why you want Anna sick and not dead?”

Victor sneered at his question. “Again, what’s the fun in that? While I hate her, I am also very fond of her. I want her alive and near me. The less you know, the better it is for your health. You will get your money credited at the end of the six months.”

He then came very close to Brian and spoke in a menacingly low voice, “I am a very possessive man, Brian. Don’t you dare to get too friendly with my wife; you got that? You can leave now.”

Brian saw a bodyguard walking up to him and he got up from his seat. Victor’s bodyguards dropped him back at the hotel.

He lit a cigarette as soon as he got out of the car as he tried to shake off the terror he had felt in the last hour. Victor had not given him any choice, and his conditions were crystal clear. He had walked into the dangerous game with no easy exit path.

His opinion of Anna was no better. Based on the information in her file, she lacked empathy from her early childhood. While Jim had not said it explicitly, he had understood the risk of refusing Anna. There was no way he could complete his residency in peace if he refused to help her.

He was stuck between a rock and a hard place. There was no point in cursing his luck anymore. Until yesterday, he needed a break and money. Now he had both, but he had a bigger concern about how to stay alive. There was still a chance though that he could help Anna recover and still keep her away from public life. He needed time and information to figure his way out of this mess.