Power & Sex, and... 25
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"Uncle, you're so happy."
"Our princess is feeling bliss from a cheap bottle of wine?"
"It's not the wine—it's this moment, this atmosphere. The fact that you prepared candles and wine just for me."
Suji's face was truly radiant with happiness. It was time to bring out the necklace, but I worried she might burst into tears. I wasn't great with women crying.
I slipped behind her quietly, pulled the necklace I'd prepared for her from my jacket pocket, and draped it around her neck from behind, holding her close.
"Suji. Wear it only as long as you're by my side. When you find someone you love later, take it off yourself anytime."
"……."
She didn't turn to look at me or respond—just stared out the window. I wrapped my arms around her from behind, pulling her gently against my chest. Then I felt a warm droplet splash onto the back of my hand with a soft plink.
I'd made her cry after all. Should've waited to give her the necklace. Now that I knew she was crying, I racked my brain for how to comfort her. Instead, I just held her tighter.
"Why the tears?"
"You moved me, Uncle. And I don't want to leave your side. I'll stay with you forever, looking only at you."
"Aigoo, such sweet words from a young thing. Don't be silly—find a good man, get married, have kids, raise a family."
"How could a girl like me ever get married?"
"What are you talking about? What's wrong with you?"
"You know how it is. Any innocent guy who doesn't know my world will dump me the second he finds out. And marrying into a chaebol family like my senior sisters, playing the trophy wife? I'd hate that even more."
"……."
Truth be told, she might be wiser about the world than I was. An idol star seen from afar is one thing, but once a real connection forms—especially marriage—the perspective shifts entirely. Sure, some guys claim to be "cool" about a woman's past, treating it as just that: the past. But how many Korean men could truly ignore the whispers from friends and family about their own wife?
Maybe that's why most celebrities give up on love, chasing wealth instead—opting to be tools for their husband's bragging rights rather than a true partner's wife.
Suji turned to me after her tears subsided, and I hugged her tight, murmuring the only words I could: "I love you, Suji. I love you."
What more could I say to a girl who'd already seen the ugliness of the world? All I could do was hold her close until the day she left my side.
"Feels refreshing after crying."
"Let it all out?"
"Yeah."
She flashed a bright smile. What a cute kid. When I first met her, I thought she was bold, maybe even too mature. But the more I got to know her, the more adorable and lovable she became. I hoped Suji's future would be filled with happiness.
"Uncle, you watched my videos, right?"
"Why bring that up? Just erase it from your memory."
"Didn't they make you think I'm a dirty girl?"
"Nonsense. It wasn't even your choice."
"Maybe it was. Like the other girls, I wanted to make it big too."
"Anyway, you did what you had to survive in that world. Desperate times call for desperate measures—it's instinct, not something dirty."
"Thanks for keeping it under wraps anyway. The other girls would think so too."
"Don't talk about it outside. Play dumb if friends ask."
"Got it."
"Alright, let's eat dinner."
I picked up a piece of sushi with chopsticks and brought it to her mouth. She cupped her hands demurely and took it with a soft parting of her lips.
"Delicious. Try some, Uncle."
Her face lit up like it was the best thing ever as she fed me a piece. I opened my mouth and accepted it.
"Good, right?"
"Yeah. Tastes even better when my princess feeds it to me."
"Sheesh~"
We kept feeding each other until the sushi tray was nearly empty, the wine still half-full from the first pour.
"I'm gonna turn into a pig thanks to you."
"If Suji's a pig, there'd be no non-pigs left in Korea."
"Phooey~ Girls in my line of work balloon up and get ugly if they eat like this."
"Still, seeing you eat well makes me happy."
"Fine. But don't hate me if I turn into a pig later. Promise?"
We sat side by side on the sofa, whispering sweet nothings as the night deepened. We clinked glasses with a soft ching, took a sip while gazing into each other's eyes, and our little party ended.
The red rose tattoo on her slender shoulder undulated in the morning sunlight. She looked so innocent, sleeping soundly in my arms all night like a baby. I reached for room service, ordered coffee and toast, then slipped my arm from under her head and threw on a robe.
The aroma of coffee soon filled the room. I set the cups on the table, approached her, and called softly.
"Time to wake up, princess."
"Aww~ Just a bit longer~"
She whined cutely like a child, wrapping her arms around my neck. When I brushed my lips against hers, she squeezed tighter, parting her lips to tangle her tongue fiercely with mine. After the long kiss, I helped her up, slipped a robe on her, and we sat on the sofa for coffee and toast as breakfast.
"Unnie will be mad if she finds out we spent the night together."
"Why worry?"
"I'm about to join her agency as a singer."
"Eun-mi won't get upset over something like this. Just work hard for yourself—that's how you save yourself and the company. Us meeting is private."
"Still feels like I'm betraying her trust. But Uncle, you sure you're okay not doing it before I go?"
"Worrying suits you. Holding you was more than enough for me."
"Really? Even if it's hard? I could use my mouth..."
Suji seemed guilty toward Eun-mi and burdened by the fact we'd only slept—no sex. Meeting me wasn't about that for me, but she'd lived feeling sex was an obligation whenever she met a man. Most of her encounters had probably been for "entertaining" clients anyway.
I pitied her life and pulled her gently into my arms, silently vowing, I'll help you as much as I can.
After leaving the hotel, I watched her drive off from the Yeongdeungpo parking lot where she'd left her car the night before, then headed to Yeouido.
My office in Room 307 of the Members' Office Building was buzzing with phone rings from morning. I greeted the staff and entered my room, where Kim Sil-jang followed me in.
"Assemblyman, word is the supreme committee members will all resign soon."
"Expected. In this situation, what else can they do?"
"So, when the party convention comes, will you run for supreme committee?"
"No, not at all. Even if a first-termer wins, it'd just mean running errands for the seniors."
"Then why this time?"
"Just trying to be the guy pulling strings from behind."
"That's why you asked me to screen Assemblyman Park Seong-hwan and Assemblyman Seo Jeong-ho?"
"Yes. As first-termers, there might be things I missed."
"In that case, better exclude Park Seong-hwan."
"Something on his background?"
"Assemblyman Moon Uiwon is behind him. Seems Park is cozying up to pull you into that faction."
So the first to reach out, Park Seong-hwan, was extending a hand on behalf of senior Moon Uiwon to expand his lineage. That left pushing Seo Jeong-ho as our National Assembly Reform Alliance rep—but how to naturally position him as a supreme committee candidate?
"Assemblyman, Park Maru here."
"Assemblyman Park calling someone like me?"
"If you're free, may I visit your office?"
"What politician turns away a visitor?"
Kim Seong-gap still sounded grumpy—lingering resentment from days ago—but he allowed my visit.
"Assemblyman, run in this party convention."
"Playing games, Park? First you threaten me to quit, now you want me to run? What gives?"
"Your resignation press conference showed your sincerity. Party members know you sacrificed for the party, not personal greed. Run for leader with Assemblyman Seo Jeong-ho as your running mate—the results won't be bad. I'll do everything to help you win."
"For real?"
"Yes. If you go for leader and Assemblyman Jeong Sang-won for supreme committee, it'll work out."
"And you won't run?"
"A first-termer would just get stoned later."
"No one from the National Assembly Reform Alliance?"
"Up to individuals, but we'd support anyone who steps up. Still, with you and one Reform Alliance candidate for supreme committee, votes won't split."
When I entered, Kim Seong-gap's face was scowling; now it bloomed into a grin as he gripped my hand. The party leader position—what power! Near-absolute in Korea, where even the president couldn't control everything. He'd endure any humiliation for it, so of course he'd welcome my offer.