by Con Template
She laced “oppa” with as much venom as she could. She was positive her brother caught every bit of that venom. After three years apart, it still felt like yesterday that they had last spoken. It still felt like yesterday that she hated his guts.
He elicited a cool, mocking laugh that angered every nerve in her body. “I know enough,” he said simply. “I always knew it was only a matter of time before you regained your memories. I still kick myself when I think about the moment you kneeled before me during your amnesia, begging me to spare your life.” Soo Jin bit back a curse at the reminder of this, and Young Jae went on. “If only I had killed you, then you wouldn’t be such a thorn in my side now.”
Ah yes, Young Jae, despite his political correctness at times, was also a straight shooter. The Royals in the Underworld were truly people who hated beating around the bush.
“Ji Hoon is with you, isn’t he?” asked Tae Hyun. He, as well as Soo Jin, could sense other presences over the phone.
“And your wife?” added Soo Jin. The words were posed as a question, but they already knew the answer.
Young Jae laughed again, impressed with both Tae Hyun and Soo Jin.
“Yes, they’re both here with me,” he confirmed. “I was having a . . . business meeting with Ji Hoon before you called. This is great, actually. Since we’re all in our offices right now, we might as well have a videoconference, don’t you think?”
Tae Hyun smirked, eyeing Soo Jin as he had already anticipated that Young Jae would suggest this. “My computer is already on. Just do what you need to do, and we’ll be connected.”
“Very well.”
Click.
Shortly after they hung up, Tae Hyun turned on the videoconference program on his computer and instantly, the monitor changed to a bright, live video of Young Jae. He wore a gray suit and was sitting beside his wife Anna, who wore a flowing black dress. Both were seated behind a long conference desk. In the background stood Ji Hoon, who was wearing a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms and gray pants. He was leaning against the gargantuan window that looked out to the city life of Tokyo. It was obvious they were in a high-rise building of their own.
“It makes sense that you’d be with your new boyfriend,” Ji Hoon stated acidly, looking from Tae Hyun to Soo Jin. His eyes were rippling with rage.
“You worked with Young Jae and Ho Young, helped them kill my father, and betrayed me, you piece of shit. Stop playing the victim,” Soo Jin snapped, wishing she could reach into the monitor and kill the backstabbing fucker. “I should’ve killed you at Ju Won’s party when I had the chance.”
Soo Jin stood in the middle of the room, her face stern and her arms folded. She was glaring at the monitor like she was about to declare war upon them. In the back, Tae Hyun was seated calmly on the edge of his desk, his legs stretched out and his dress shirt revealing the three missing buttons that Soo Jin had unhooked. With the long sleeves of his shirt pulled up to his forearms, Tae Hyun exuded nothing short of cool elegance as he stared at the monitor.
Unlike Soo Jin, Anna, and Ji Hoon, all of whom were wearing their feelings on their sleeves, Tae Hyun, much like Young Jae, kept his emotions to himself.
Ji Hoon scoffed disbelievingly, looking at her like she had just rattled on and on about the most ridiculous of things.
“Three years of amnesia really fucked up your head, baby. First, you sleep with your biggest enemy, and now you’re accusing me of killing your father when it was clear that it was Kwon Ho Young and apparently Young Jae?” He grinned deceptively, glancing at Young Jae. Her brother was smirking without remorse. “Let me guess: Kwon Tae Hyun gave you the idea that I was working with them?”
Tae Hyun laughed with hilarity, not even entertaining Ji Hoon’s poor acting skills as merit for him to reply. Soo Jin would’ve also laughed if she weren’t so offended that this pathological liar was still trying to play mind games with her.
“You two are working together now?” Young Jae incited instead, his calm eyes on Tae Hyun. He did not bother to look at Soo Jin, and this had Soo Jin biting her lip in fury.
“No,” Soo Jin answered for Tae Hyun, offended that anyone would think that she would collude with Kwon Tae Hyun. Work with the guy she had to kill for her throne? Why would she partner up with him? “We have never worked together, and we will never work together. I don’t need to work with anyone to get anything done.” Her eyes cooled. “Unlike some people.”
“You know what?” Young Jae remarked airily, discounting her comment. He looked around the room and casually changed the subject. “I think this conversation would be more appropriate if all of us convened in one place and spoke—in person.”
Soo Jin smirked, amused with this sudden proposal. “You would like a live reunion, brother?”
Tae Hyun folded his arms in interest. His eyes became alight with intrigue. He liked the sound of that. “That actually sounds very fun.”
“They will kill you the moment they step foot in the same room as you,” Ji Hoon gritted to Young Jae from the back.
Despite her silence, even Anna looked disturbed by her husband’s proposal.
“Now, now, Ji Hoon,” Young Jae said lightly. “We may have been born humans, but we were raised to be Royals. Regardless of the feelings they harbor for us, I am confident that Soo Jin and Tae Hyun would agree to a momentary ceasefire if we all reunite in one place.” He looked directly into the camera lens. “Don’t you two think that would be nice? If all of us convened and continued this conversation appropriately?”
“I know just the place in Seoul,” said Tae Hyun, his voice not hiding his keenness for an in-person meeting.
Young Jae chuckled, leaning forward with his arms on his knees. “I think it would be more appropriate if the two of you came here.”
“You want to continue this meeting in Japan?” Soo Jin let out a disbelieving breath, displeased that this possible meeting would take place on enemy territory instead of her own. “What happened to agreeing to a ceasefire?”
“I’m diplomatic, but I’m not an idiot, Soo Jin. It would be a cold day in hell before I allow you and Tae Hyun to choose the place of our reunion. We’ll meet in Japan; we’ll meet on neutral grounds.”
“I’m sorry, aren’t you a shadow Underworld King in Japan?” Tae Hyun stated sarcastically, voicing what Soo Jin was thinking.
Japan was not a neutral ground; it would be a gravesite for Soo Jin and Tae Hyun if they weren’t careful.
Young Jae shrugged lackadaisically. “I am, but that doesn’t mean that this ground isn’t neutral. As the host, I promise you safe passage. As long as you do not break the ceasefire pact, then everything is golden.”
“Your promises mean shit,” Soo Jin stated spitefully.
“As do yours,” Young Jae said just as spitefully to her. A fleeting flicker of anger doused his normally cool visage before he reined his emotions in. He exhaled to regain his composure and added, “I’m giving you my word that as long as you keep your end of the agreement, then no harm will come to you in Japan. What you choose to believe is up to you.” He leaned back in his chair, gazing at them with indifferent eyes. “I mean, let’s face it, kids. This in-person meeting means more to you than it does to me. You have nothing but questions, and we have nothing but answers. Regardless of our current war, I do not see why we cannot come together to address everything. What fun is a war if you are not appropriately informed of all aspects of your enemies’ pasts?”
“Why do you want to see us in-person so badly?” Tae Hyun questioned.
Young Jae grinned coldly. “Regardless of my ill feelings towards both of you, even I have to admit that I am intrigued with the idea of the most powerful crime lords getting together in one venue. I was not able to bear witness to my sister’s return to the Underworld—Ju Won was the one who had that honor. Now, I want an honor that supersedes his—I want all four crime lords to come together. I want the King of Scorpions, the King of Skulls, the King of Serpents, and
the Queen of Siberian Tigers in the same room where we are simply . . . chatting.”
“Just chatting?” Tae Hyun questioned again, his voice skeptical.
“Just chatting,” Young Jae confirmed before showing them exactly why he was such a powerful King. He may have looked diplomatic, but he was truly a wolf in sheep’s clothing. “Our upcoming war will promise bloodshed soon enough. Before we become the Kings and Queens we were raised to be, let us be politicians and enjoy one another’s presence. Let’s have a reunion before the end comes.” He expelled another sigh, not giving them an opportunity to further question him. “I will send the location meeting to you, Tae Hyun. In a day’s time, whether you or my sister comes is up to you. It will be of no loss to me, but a bigger loss to you if you do not show up. I plan on bringing hell upon you in the coming weeks. Perhaps during this grace period before your deaths, you should endeavor to uncover all the secrets of your lives before I bury you six-feet under.” He cordially inclined his head at the screen, purposely disregarding the look of fury on Soo Jin’s face and the look of challenge on Tae Hyun’s face. “It’s been fun. Ji Hoon and I look forward to meeting you soon. Take care of yourselves.”
They then disconnected the call. The 60-inch screen went completely black, revealing only the meager reflection of Soo Jin and Tae Hyun staring at the now dark monitor. Tae Hyun was still sitting on the edge of the desk, and Soo Jin was still standing in the middle of the room; the expressions on their faces were rippling with deep contemplation.
After another stretch of silence, Tae Hyun suddenly said, “So should I pick you up at your place tonight and head out together?”
Soo Jin glowered at him, feeling her defenses rise up. “Excuse me? Who says I will be going with you?”
“I have my own jet,” Tae Hyun replied in a matter-of-fact tone. He wasn’t the least bit affected by her hostile attitude towards him.
“So do I,” quipped Soo Jin.
The beguiling smile on his face remained. With ease, he showed her exactly why he was deemed as one of the smartest Kings in Underworld history. “But Young Jae is sending the location to me.”
Soo Jin regarded him with disbelief. “You’re blackmailing me into traveling to Japan with you by withholding information on the meeting place?”
Tae Hyun shook his head charismatically, his smile making him appear more innocent than he was. “I’m simply making your life much easier by taking care of all the travel arrangements.” He chuckled, closing the distance between them. “Come on, Queen of Siberian Tigers. We’re just carpooling. There’s no harm in that.”
“I don’t want to ‘carpool’ with you.”
“That’s a shame. It would suck for you to go all the way to Japan and not know where the hell to go for the meeting.”
“You should be ashamed of yourself for being this childish.”
“I’m actually really proud of myself for being this clever.” His grin widened. “Perhaps I am the gorgeous genius you coined me to be after all.” He chuckled again, moving his lips close to her ear before marching out of the office. “I’ll pick you up at your place tonight. I look forward to some bonding time with you. Oh, and pack lightly. If things go according to plan, you won’t need much clothing for this trip.”
Soo Jin’s eyes bloomed as she felt heat infiltrate her cheeks. She whipped around, intent on beating the fuck out of him for eliciting this emotion from her. Luckily for Tae Hyun, he was already halfway across the office, winking at her before he made his exit from the room.
Soo Jin clenched her fists, staring at his disappearing back with heat still cloaked over her. Waging an epic war with him aside, it would be a miracle if they made it to Japan alive. Because, God help her, she was going to throw his ass off the plane if he so much as winked at her.
“You were born into this world . . .”
08: Flying Gods
“So, is this a date?” Jae Won asked softly, staring out into the Siberian Tigers’ driveway as they awaited Tae Hyun’s arrival.
Soo Jin shot him an annoyed glare. The brisk evening wind brushed past them, mirroring the arctic expression on her face. “I recently declared to the entire Underworld that I would be more than happy to kill him for the throne, and you think I’m going on a date with him?”
Jae Won shrugged, looking at Kang Min dubiously.
“I don’t know. He and Yoori were like this.” He hooked the joints of his two index fingers together to demonstrate his point. “They were really tight and were like best friends who loved each other. Isn’t it normal to ask if you and him are going on a date?”
“Well, we’re not,” Soo Jin dismissed scornfully, folding her arms and gazing ahead. “This is business. My brother wants to have a face-to-face meeting in Japan and the one he gave the meeting location to is Kwon Tae Hyun. Unfortunately that cunning Serpent made it clear that if I didn’t ‘carpool’ with him, he wasn’t going to tell me the location.”
“So, he essentially tricked you into being with him for the night, even though you openly told him that you despised him,” summarized Kang Min, his voice holding a tinge of admiration for Tae Hyun. He and Jae Won nodded in wonderment. “Very smart.”
“You mean sneaky,” Soo Jin amended.
“No, he’s really smart,” said Jae Won, oblivious that Soo Jin needed him to be on her side when it came to talking shit about Tae Hyun.
Soo Jin casted another glare at Jae Won before shaking her head and turning away.
She had updated the brothers that Young Jae had invited her to have a face-to-face meeting with him and Ji Hoon in Japan. Initially, Jae Won and Kang Min were insistent about keeping Soo Jin company in Japan so that she would be safe. However, when she added that Tae Hyun was going with her, they immediately backtracked, telling her that they should keep watch over the Siberian Tigers in her absence. Though it was obvious that they were very favorable of Tae Hyun being with her, as they knew there was no one better to travel with, she did not probe for explanations for their change of heart. Soo Jin was afraid she already knew why they did not find it unsettling that she was going to be alone with the King of Serpents.
In spite of her newly declared war with the King of Serpents, she recognized that the brothers still harbored a tremendous amount of love and respect for Tae Hyun. She knew why they approved of her traveling with Tae Hyun and why they insisted on keeping her company as they awaited his arrival. They not only trusted him, but they also missed him. Due to their complicated history, she did not expect them to abhor Tae Hyun. The time would come soon enough for them to aid her in bringing forth his demise, but for now, she did not plan to confront the brothers about their attachment to their former King. For the time being, they could continue to be in a “complicated relationship” with Tae Hyun for all she cared.
“He’s here. He’s here,” announced Kang Min, trying to retain his elation when the headlights shone through the imposing iron gates.
The brothers wore black leather jackets and dark pants. Although their dark appearance radiated a sign of menace and peril, their behavior mirrored that of children’s.
Beside him, Jae Won excitedly grabbed Soo Jin’s luggage and bounced down the stairs, watching the black Jaguar vehicle glide up to the circular driveway they were in.
Soo Jin fought every urge to roll her eyes. It was honestly awkward to watch the brothers behave like children separated from a parental figure after a divorce. Under normal circumstances, she would have dismissed them, as she did not want any witnesses for this embarrassing scene. She had already ordered the rest of the Siberian Tigers to vacate the premises for the time being. She was tempted to order the brothers to do the same. She showed leniency and allowed them to stay because she knew that they had missed hanging out with Tae Hyun. She just wished they wouldn’t make the situation so uncomfortable and cringe-worthy for her to watch.
The Jaguar came to a slow stop in front of the quiet estate. With the engine still humming, the driver’s door opened and out cam
e the man of the hour.
Tae Hyun wore a business casual attire that consisted of a white dress shirt and black pants. His hair was wet, indicating that he had just showered. His eyes roamed over the brothers and stopped on Soo Jin on the stairs. She was staring down at him with an impassive look on her face. Meeting her gaze, his sinful lips lifted into a breathtaking smile that caused her heart to skip a beat. He appeared refreshed, pumped, and damn well ready for a fun night ahead. To put it simply: he looked delectable, and it scared the shit out of her that she had to be alone with him for the rest of the night.
“Bos—err,” Kang Min halted midway, catching himself before he accidentally greeted Tae Hyun with the wrong title. He peered uneasily back at Soo Jin, who was glaring down at him with daggers in her eyes. While holding one of her luggage, trembling in anticipation and fear, he could not have looked more frightful.
Soo Jin exhaled patiently, shaking her head inwardly. Kang Min was normally composed, and it did not please her to see him slip up, especially with her enemy in close proximity.
“Good to see you, Kang Min,” Tae Hyun greeted warmly, nodding at Kang Min to alleviate the looming tension that was shrouding over them.
“Good to see you too,” Kang Min replied, depositing Soo Jin’s luggage in the opened trunk.
Jae Won moved beside Kang Min to place her other luggage into the trunk. While doing so, he immediately greeted Tae Hyun, doing his best to conceal his smile. “Hi.”
Tae Hyun laughed, patting them on the shoulders. The awkwardness in the air did not elude him, and he was intent on lightening the atmosphere. “Is she as tough on you guys as she is with me?”
Kang Min and Jae Won released a relieved chuckle. They were ready to embark on a lively conversation when Soo Jin decided to join in on the conversation.
“I am not tough on them,” she bit out, stomping down the stairs and heading straight towards an amused Tae Hyun. “And for the record, I know they have history with you, but I’m back now. I’m their boss, not you,” she clarified. “Don’t joke around with them and make this whole thing awkward. I’m only leaving with you tonight because you’re blackmailing me with the location of the meeting. Apart from that, we’re still enemies, so I’d appreciate it if you stop making things uncomfortable with my right-hand men.”
