“CEO. Bogota is correct.”
It was exactly nine hours.
Athens of the new world. A South American metropolis with an unfunny Western nickname. Once the hint was given, the next one was unstoppable like flowing water. From Shanghai to Macau, St. Petersburg, again via Ireland, Panama and Bogota. Footless information skipped the North Atlantic Ocean. Several anonymous accounts had been deleted at Virgin Islands and money moved from account to account.
Jang Young-hee’s large body stopped in front of Seo Seung-hyun.
At the same time, polygon candies shattered under Seo Seung-hyun’s fingers. The elongated eyes slanted sideways and seemed to stare at Jang Young-hee, then went straight back to the candy pile on the screen.
“Date and time.”
“It’s still undecided. But Bogota is certain. We confirmed that the cargo ship departed from Vancouver last week. After doing list laundry once in Manzanillo, Mexico, it went to Panama. A South American vendor and a few Hong Kong vendors joined.”
“Panama?”
“Yes. From there, it seemed to have been moved overland.”
“Anyway, are you sure about Bogota?”
“Yes.”
Seo Seung-hyun’s gaze returned to the screen of his cell phone at Young-hee’s firm answer. The colorful candies in the glittering liquid crystal gave a glossy shine.
“Bogota…”
Seo Seung-hyun quietly spoke to himself.
“Did CEO Yang go to Panama City with de Calais or Calais?”
“He’s probably in Caracas right now.”
“Are you still working?”
“I’ll find out.”
“Okay. Find out, and… For now, turn to Panama City and touch it gently. It’d be embarrassing if the prosecution or the National Tax Service sniffed at Bogota directly. People are already giving a damn about the paintings coming in from New York next month.”
Seo Seung-hyun drew the liquid crystal with the tip of his index finger, broke the last remaining candy bar, then lowered his foot from the glass table. His hard body rose from his seat. Jang Young-hee’s back wriggled with tension.
“What about New York?”
“Do as we planned.”
“Semtech CEO Park wants to sell one billion more. Would it be okay if he didn’t talk to you directly?”
“Send him back. Not only a billion, even I can’t sell a hundred won anymore. Just sell as much as we agreed to sell and clean up New York.”
“Yes. Then New York will proceed as usual, and I will go to Panama City first.”
“Move quietly, don’t even turn your head to Mexico. This time, about 10 large ones are going in from there to Yokohama.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“And why didn’t you cut off the head of that tomato?”
“Yes? Ah…”
Jang Young-hee’s thick lips twitched.
“CEO, I looked into it, but if Assistant Park is sent out now, there will be no one to take over the work that Assistant Park used to do.”
“What the hell does he do? Sitting in front of a computer and checking the weather? Reading webcomics?”
Said the alpha, who didn’t know how to print a sheet of paper with his own hands.
“In the first place, Young-hee. Even if that tomato head did his job properly, I’m the CEO so there’s no need to file. It’s just easter eggs and nabal. Right?”
“…for now, assistant manager Park is in charge of the security system here, so please keep him until he returns to Seoul and decide later.”
At Jang Young-hee’s quiet reply, Seo Seung-hyun’s straight eyebrows slightly tightened. The corner of his left eye creased slightly, and something he couldn’t tell whether it was a smile or an expression of displeasure came into mind, then quickly disappeared.
Standing up, he grabbed the hem of his vest with both hands and pulled it lightly to smooth out the wrinkles. The vest, which had been slightly rolled up, was pulled tight, revealing the tight waistline. Jang Young-hee, who was looking, asked again.
“What shall we do with the remaining two?”
“Is there anything else?”
Seo Seung-hyun turned to Jang Young-hee. One corner of his mouth slanted and his eyes narrowed.
“You’re right about whether it’s an easter egg or a nabal.”
Jang Young-hee, who knew about the transaction between Seo Seung-hyun and Lee Young-jin, asked.
“Then, shall I let them go?”
“I made a promise…”
“If we let them go like this, the prosecutor who sniffed it will catch them soon.”
“Should I care about that?”
At Seo Seung-hyun’s soft question, he immediately replied, “No.” A rigid answer.
“Release those two as promised. Go get ready now, and wait for me to call you.”
“Understood.”
“Have a nice trip to Panama City.”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to buy you a present.”
“Yes.”
“Should I buy a weird hat like last time?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, go.”
“Yes. Then I will go.”
Jang Young-hee bowed deeply in front of Seo Seung-hyun. Seo Seung-hyun, who was looking down on the top of his head, casually spat out a word.
“Right. Have a private plane stand by in Ningbo before you go.”
“Pardon?”
Jang Young-hee’s plateau-like spine jumped out. He carefully lifted his head. Seo Seung-hyun addressed that wary face and cursed in a cheerful tone.
“Fuck it now, don’t you know that the Shanghai and Incheon lines are all overturned to tie me up? If I wait for those bastards to step back, I’ll grow old and die.”
“But how are you going to get to Ningbo?”
“There’s a yacht owned by a paper company on the Okinawa side, you know. Turn it this way. Don’t forget to have the private plane waiting in Ningbo in advance. Say I’m going to Gimpo.”
“I will prepare it.”
The honest secretary, who never lingered on questions, bowed his head again. Seo Seung-hyun turned around in front of him and strode toward the door first.
“Oh right.”
Seo Seung-hyun, who grabbed the doorknob, turned his head again.
“Where did you put him?”
“I put him in a room at the end of the second floor.”
Jang Young-hee answered without hesitation, as usual.
Seo Seung-hyun opened the door first and went out. After that, Jang Young-hee came out and bowed his head deeply in front of the door to see Seo Seung-hyun off.
Unstoppable steps headed for the second floor.
He passed through the stinky hallway with surveillance cameras and stood in front of the last room.
Eight of the 18 rooms in the mansion had been transformed into fully-secured defense rooms through thorough renovation work, but the remaining 10 rooms retained their 19th century appearance. A brass doorknob that opened with a master key, and a door that could collapse when the hinges are removed were among them.
Seo Seung-hyun, who put his hand on the doorknob, uncharacteristically hesitated for a moment, then removed his hand again. A smile crept across his lips. He knocked softly on the door with his fist. Thump, thump. Two knocks. There was no reaction from inside. However, an extraordinary species’ sensitive five senses caught the sound of slow footsteps dragging across the floor through the thin door. The steps stopped in front of the door. Seo Seung-hyun listened to Lee Young-jin’s quiet breathing through the thin door that was no different from a sheet of paper.
The sound of breathing that lasted for a few seconds turned into a short whoosh.
There was the sound of a hand groping for the doorknob.
The metal doorknob rattled.
Seo Seung-hyun waited patiently.
Lee Young-jin was no longer a prisoner.
No matter what.
Aren’t they partners entangled in a fair trade relationship?
Finally, the door slowly opened. There was a thin gap between the door and the wall, the thickness of a sheet of paper, and then, like Lee Young-jin’s personality, he stopped hesitantly. The slender door gap widened slightly. After stopping several times in disbelief, the gap was barely widened.
Seo Seung-hyun put his hand through the crack in the door and pulled it.
The body of Lee Young-jin, who was grabbing the doorknob, came along with it. He staggered forward a couple of steps, and his shoulders bumped into Seo Seung-hyun’s chest. Seo Seung-hyun thought that he’d be startled and run away, but he didn’t. Instead, Lee Young-jin raised his chin just like that. Dark, wet eyes like those of a dark room revealed through a crack in the door stared up at Seo Seung-hyun.
The corners of Seo Seung-hyun’s lips went up.
He pressed Lee Young-jin’s shoulder and pushed him into the room. Lee Young-jin didn’t resist and walked back into the room. Seo Seung-hyun followed him and took a step forward. Behind the alpha’s back, the door closed soundlessly.
“First.”
Seo Seung-hyun opened his mouth.
“I should say thank you.”
He abruptly held out his hand toward Lee Young-jin. It was a handshake. A very normal movement but Lee Young-jin’s eyebrows narrowed. He looked down for a moment at Seo Seung-hyun’s hand that had been extended to him, then awkwardly held out his hand. Lee Young-jin’s hands were so pale and slippery that, frankly, they were more suited to touching his dick than shaking hands. Seo Seung-hyun held his hand tightly, shook it a couple of times, and then slowly let go.
It was only a handshake, but Lee Young-jin quickly hid his hand behind his back as if he had sucked his fingers.
“The information you gave was correct.”
At those words, Lee Young-jin raised his head, startled.
“Then…”
“Yes. Now it’s my turn to pay the balance.”
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