by Shawn Bailey
All four of the younger men shook their heads.
“They’ll just slow us down,” Ra said.
Bae chuckled this time. “I bet those two have no idea what goes on in a gym.”
True, both of them were slim and didn’t have to work hard to stay in shape, Ae-Jong thought.
“I need these three to concentrate on the workout. Those pretty boy princes will only mess them up,” Ra said.
Ae-Jong liked to use the treadmill. He had developed a routine that gave them a full-body workout. Chika and Hanako had it easy. All they had to do was keep up with him. Ae-Jong finished breakfast. He excused himself to go to his wing to change. “You guys have thirty minutes to change and meet me in the foyer, or I’m going without you.” Maybe he shouldn’t have threatened them. Now Ra would probably be the only one to show up.
* * * *
Andy thought it was a good idea to go to the gym when Eddie suggested it. Adam and Luke jumped at the chance to escape the hotel. Noel and the members of Yukizumi decided to have a spa day. Akira wasn’t the spa type. He decided to take advantage of the hotel pool. Tory had wanted to join them at the gym, but he had a meeting with Soo Park and some new clients.
Once at the gym, he and Eddie partnered up, and Luke and Adam. They had been going strong on the big weights for several hours when Luke went off to get them some bottles of water. He not only came back with it but also with Ra. Andy had sweat leaking from every pore.
“Look who I ran into,” Luke said. He passed out the water.
RA had on a smart-looking white and mint green athletic outfit.
The others waved at him.
“What are you doing here?” Eddie asked.
“Tending the sheep,” Ra answered. “We wore out our welcome next door at the dojo. Ae-Jong is in rare form for some reason. He is terrorizing a treadmill as we speak.”
“Treadmill work is good for them,” Edward said. “Ae-Jong has those big thighs and ass. He needs to tighten them up before he tours.”
“You should see them running in formation,” Luke said. “They’re wearing these cute little short sets and Ae-Jong has his bangs held back with a sweatband.”
Adam nearly dropped the weight on Andy’s chest. “How cute?” Adam seemed a bit off-kilter lately since he didn’t have Frankie around to warm his bed at night.
“Seriously,” Luke said. “They’re getting a lot of attention.”
“I better get back to them before Ae-Jong kills Hanako and Chika. He didn’t sleep well last night, too many sweets.”
“You want me to do a round with him at the dojo to wear him out?” Eddie asked.
“No thank you,” Ra said. “I can’t be responsible for how things might turn out.”
Andy knew what Ra was trying to do. He wasn’t falling for it.
“If this doesn’t wear him out, I’m sure some of the hosts at the Royale Host Club wouldn’t mind boogying with His Highness on the dance floor.” He left. Adam and Luke followed.
“Let’s get back to lifting,” Andy said to his cousin.
Adam and Luke came back a few minutes later. “Those are some nice legs and asses,” Luke said.
“Yeah, but I feel sorry for the other two. Ae-Jong hasn’t even broken a sweat,” Adam said. “Frankie is good on the treadmill, too, but not as good as those three.”
The four of them got back to exercising. Andy was just about to lift. He had Edward and Luke both spotting for him. Andy raised the heavy weight off the bar. He blew out a breath of air and then raised the weight to his shoulders and then over his head.
“We are on our way to the showers,” he heard Ra say.
Andy lowered the weight and Edward and Luke took it and put it back on the bar. All four members of Dazed were staring at him.
“Manager, you have a lot of muscles,” Hanako said.
“All of you do,” Chika corrected. “I wonder if I can grow some as big if I work out every day?”
Andy looked at Ae-Jong. The singer’s gaze was lowered and glued to Andy’s chest. He ran his tongue across his bottom lip.
“Are you all right?” Ra asked him.
“I better go shower,” Ae-Jong said suddenly. He hurried off. The other three followed.
“What’s wrong with him?” Edward asked.
“I don’t know,” Andy lied. He knew exactly what was wrong with the prince. The little monster was in heat and needed a hot body toddy. Unfortunately, Andy wasn’t going to help him out.
“Maybe it’s time for Prince Ae-Jong to find a partner,” Edward said. “As far as I know, he’s never dated anyone except me and I never laid a finger on him.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t hit that,” Luke said to Edward.
Adam looked at Andy. Andy didn’t feel like he owed anyone an explanation. He was sure Adam knew he’d slept with Ae-Jong. But Andy had not even told Edward.
“Maybe the Lord knew Noel was the one for me,” Edward said.
“What about those princes we met last night, Fai and Deming. The one named Deming talked to Ae-Jong all through dinner. I wonder if they’re lovers,” Luke said.
“Naw,” Edward said. “Fai and Deming are like brothers to those guys.” He laughed. “Deming proposed to Ae-Jong when Ae-Jong was five and Ae-Jong accepted. It’s like the family joke.”
Ae-Jong engaged? Andy grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from his face and chest. Why did that thought upset him? He was the one Ae-Jong had taken to the White Palace.
Ra and the others had showered and dressed the next time he saw them. All four bowed to the older men. Ae-Jong, Chika and Hanako followed Ra out of the weight room.
Andy stopped and got take-out food on the way home later. Andy spent the rest of the evening going over Dazed’s itinerary for the upcoming weeks and studying to get a green card, which he would need if he planned to stay in Seoul permanently. Right now, he had a working visa. He typed Ae-Jong’s name in the search line. Many pictures appeared of him as a child and as a young adult. Andy missed spending time with Ae-Jong, but he needed to learn a lesson. If the two of them were to have any future together, Ae-Jong had to learn that it wasn’t right for him to kiss another guy, no matter if they were good friends or not. He closed his eyes. He couldn’t wait for tomorrow to come so he could see Ae-Jong again.
Chapter Fourteen
The week went by pretty quickly. Andy didn’t get to see Ae-Jong as much as he thought. There was a lot of work to be done to put on the emperor’s celebration. While Adam made sure the singers and dancers got to and from the rehearsals, he had been volunteered by Tory to give Luke a hand with advertising and promotion. Also, another song had arrived from Jonas Kerry. It was a collaboration for Dazed and Yukizumi to record. So, in the midst of practicing songs for the celebration, Dazed was also recording their new CD. Next week they would be practicing dance steps with the choreographer so they could record the first video. During this time Andy and the others would be traveling back to the United States, leaving Ra to keep an eye on the idols. Andy was looking forward to seeing Giovanni again, and then he was going home to Boston to spend time with his family.
Andy’s suit for the celebration had arrived from Giovanni. Andy had taken a peek at it. Giovanni had gone beyond the call of duty to make him look good and to fit in. He would be sitting with the royal family tomorrow after the show ended. He and Ae-Jong had been like two ships passing each other in the night. He had a feeling the prince was as stubborn as he was.
“Rumor has it that you’ll be returning to America with us in a few days,” Noel Charles said to Andy as they watched Yukizumi rehearse.
“Yes,” Andy answered. “I have to pack up my Manhattan apartment so I can sublet it, and then I’m going to spend some time with the folks. Then I’m going to fly back here and work until you marry my big dumb cousin.”
Noel chuckled. “Your big dumb cousin has no clue you’re romancing his ex, does he?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Princ
e Badass. You’re doing him, aren’t you?”
“Was, until I caught him kissing his friend.”
“Which friend?” Noel asked.
“Some prince,” Andy said. “And no, Eddie doesn’t know. Things just happened between us so quickly, and then that kiss happened.”
“Andy, I’ve kissed a lot of frogs in my day, but that doesn’t mean I want to sleep with any of them. Maybe he just likes to kiss.”
“Since when have the two of you become friends?”
“Since I found out that Edward never fucked him.”
“So, when did you find out about us?”
“I’ve known for a while. I’ve been watching him watch you since you entered this place. I’ve never seen his little evil ass smile before until a few minutes ago.”
Andy smiled. “He’s not that bad.”
“He threatened to put me in a wheelchair for my wedding,” Noel said. “He threw ninja stars at Tommy, and Edward told me he nearly burned the palace down once when he was smoking.”
“I hadn’t heard that last one.”
“And I’m sure there’s more. But don’t let a little kiss stop you from loving the man of your dreams. He’s a prince, Andy, a sheltered young man who knows nothing about our world except that he loves you. Think about how much trouble you would have caused if you had to have security following you every step you take. Think about being gay in a country where it is not acceptable and trying to hide it from the public. I think I’d be a little crazy, too.”
“So, what am I supposed to do? He was sitting on the guy’s lap.”
“I’ve done worse,” Noel admitted.
“He has three African kings trying to buy him as a bride.”
Noel started laughing. It was so infectious that Andy laughed, too.
“Really?” Noel asked.
Andy nodded. “One has offered three diamond, two ruby, one sapphire mine, and ten Arabian horses for him. I think he’s also added a ruby and a sapphire mine, too.”
“I’d take a handsome Manhattan model over stupid horse any day,” Noel said. “Plus, you need a date for my wedding. In fact, I want you to get him and those other two little gorgeous assassins to perform at my reception.”
“You’re kidding, aren’t you?”
Noel shook his head. “It’s not out of some latent attempt at revenge. Dazed meant a lot to Edward, so I thought it would be nice if they sang for him at the reception as sort of a surprise. His royal badass does have a nice voice, and I’m sure he’d love a trip to America.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Andy said.
“You’re up next, Noel,” the stage manager said.
Noel stood. “I’ll see you later. I have to go show these kiddies how it’s done.” Noel left, and Edward came and sat next to him.
“What was so funny that had you and Noel laughing?” Edward asked.
“I told him a story.”
“What story?”
Was Eddie jealous of him spending time with Noel? “About three kings wanting to marry Ae-Jong. They are actually a bidding war for his hand.”
“They do know he’s a guy, don’t they?”
“Yeah.”
“I think he’d be better off with someone who won’t take crap from him just because he has a pretty face and a nice ass. Hey, you’re single now, aren’t you? Why don’t you ask Ae-Jong out?”
“And you’d be okay with that?” Andy asked.
“Sure. All the other managers date their idols. You should, too. I think the two of you would make a good pair.”
“I’ll think about it,” Andy said, trying not to smile.
* * * *
Ae-Jong watched Noel Charles as he walked away from Andrew smiling. He supposed he shouldn’t be jealous since all they had been doing was talking and laughing like they were old friends. Ae-Jong sighed. He missed Andrew’s smile, his scent, and definitely the feel of his skin beneath the sheets. Just the thought of him naked and lying next to him made Ae-Jong’s pulse race. He wondered if Andy had replaced him. Lordy, he hoped not, not before he had the chance to apologize and tell him that Fai was just a friend and that they had drunk too much that night and were just playing around. The excuse sounded flimsy even to him. Luckily Fai and Deming would be going back to China soon, and life at the palace would return to normal.
Noel finished his set and then some dancers were called to the stage to perform. Andy left with Noel and Edward and didn’t return later to see them rehearse.
“Dazed, you’re up next,” the stage manager said.
Ae-Jong stood first, and Chika and Hanako followed him. Hopefully, Andy would show up for tomorrow night’s performance.
* * * *
The Seoul Opera House was packed with invited guests who’d come to help celebrate Emperor Rin Kim’s fortieth anniversary. One by one, comedians, jugglers, dancers, and singers performed and wished Rin well. Andy was already tired, but the evening was just beginning. After the celebration, the party would continue in one of the grand ballrooms. There would be dinner and more entertainment from Dazed. They had performed earlier. They were like three brilliant diamonds shining brightly as they sang some of their older songs. The crowd loved them, and Andy had a feeling that Soo Park would be eating his words as Dazed and their fandom rose to the top of the charts again.
The party moved to the grand ballroom. The invited photographers were having a field day getting photos of the royal family. One photographer wanted just the princes to pose. He noticed three new faces join Bae, Doh, and Ae-Jong. Two of them he’d seen before. The third one sat next to Ae-Jong.
“That is Cheng Ang, the actor,” Ra said as he came up next to Andy. “Prince Deming is Cheng’s older brother. Ae-Jong and Cheng are best friends. Ae-Jong goes to Cheng for advice on everything including what to do with his hair to what stocks to purchase on the market. They have known each other since they were born. You will have to accept this if you plan to have a future with Ae-Jong.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Andy said angrily.
“Ah, but you do. You have not spoken to Jongie since that kiss. I must admit that he does some crazy things at times, but he and Fai are just friends. Fai kissed him, and Jongie slapped the shit out of him for doing so. But I won’t lie, Fai and Deming do wish to be Ae-Jong’s lover, but Ae-Jong only has feelings for you.”
“He has a terrible way of showing it,” Andy said.
“I’m not going to make excuses for him. Ae-Jong is very immature when it comes to relationships. I am sure he will or has already talked things out with Cheng. Remember, Ae-Jong flew all the way to Hong Kong just to talk to him when he found out that Edward would no longer be Dazed’s manager and when he thought his father and uncle were plotting to marry him off.”
“Plotting?”
“Just plotting. As I’m sure Jung-Woo has explained to you, it is part of our custom for a parent to arrange dates for their kids. Since Jongie is gay, they arrange the masked ball at the host club with hopes that he would meet a nice gentleman. He did.”
“He was quite radiant that night, even behind the mask,” Andy said. “It’s like he’s got his own personal spotlight.”
Chika came hurrying over. “Unc is looking for you two. He wants to introduce you to some of his friends.”
Andy knew refusing would be an insult. He and Ra followed Chika over to where the emperor and his guests were seated.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like you to meet Ra Day, Ae-Jong’s personal assistant. He’s been a part of our family since the day he was born.”
Ra bowed. “It is an honor to serve Ae-Jong and the royal family.”
“And this other fine gentleman is Andrew Green, Dazed’s new manager. Andrew used to be a model for French designer Giovanni Bassett,” Jung-Woo added.
Andy bowed. “It is a pleasure to meet all of you.”
“He speaks Korean very well,” an older man said.
“I’ve been studying it for a few years
,” Andy replied.
“Andrew this is my best friend Emperor Ga Ang of Hong Kong, and his lovely wife, Empress Nori. And these are their sons Deming and Cheng. Cheng is my godson.”
Everyone bowed. Cheng was every bit as tall as him.
“Beside them is my other good friend Emperor Guozhi Haung of Shanghai and his wife, Empress Jing Jing. And my other godson Prince Fai.”
More bowing.
“Mr. Green and I met briefly,” Fai said. “Ae-Jong has said nothing but wonderful things about him.”
He was the one Ae-Jong had been kissing. All three of the Chinese princes were handsome and tall, but Cheng stood out because, though younger, he was bigger than the other two.
“Didn’t your cousin used to be Ae-Jong’s manager?” Cheng asked.
He spoke perfect English.
“Yes, but he’s getting married soon and has moved back to the United States. Their boss, Tory Albertson offered me the job since I was retiring from modeling.”
“Did you accept it because our Jongie is a rich prince?” Deming asked.
“No, because I am looking for a challenge,” Andy answered.
“Then you’ve come to the right place,” Ga said. “Ae-Jong is a challenge. Do you know that he owns and pilots his own jet?”
“So, I’ve heard,” Andy said.
“He’s also a black belt martial artist,” Cheng said. “He trains with me.”
“Andrew is well aware of Ae-Jong’s skills,” Rin said. “Andrew beat him in the King’s Ransom competition.”
All three princes looked at him.
“You beat, Jongie?” Cheng asked.
“Yes,” Andy answered.
“He knocked him out,” Ra said.
“But no one has ever defeated Ae-Jong in the ring, except Cheng once when we were kids,” Fai said. “Ae-Jong must have been quite upset.”
“He slept like a baby for several hours after that,” Ra said.
“He surrendered his title without much fuss,” Rin added.
Ga looked shocked. “No fuss? My godson has never surrendered to anything without throwing a tantrum.”
