The Broker and the Hostess
The meal was short, but the drinking dragged on. Baek Jin-ho rambled on about his university days, while Seol-a, the woman sitting beside him, and Suhyang, sitting beside me, listened with rapt attention. Truth be told, it wasn't exactly a fascinating story. It wasn't even interesting. Yet, both women chimed in with such earnest enthusiasm. Is that a skill of theirs? To react in a way that makes the speaker feel good, no matter what they’re saying? To laugh at the perfect moment, even during a dull anecdote?
Baek Jin-ho seemed to be in high spirits. I couldn't fathom why he was so giddy. Does he just love women that much? He shouldn't be that desperate. He used to be a team leader, but now he’s a division head. Head of the Future Business Division. A remarkably fast promotion for a third son. I suppose the reception for things like his smart farms and AI livestock facilities has been positive. And then there’s that mysterious power source he hasn't talked about yet. Regardless, that’s the kind of guy he is. A third son of a chaebol family. On top of that, a division head at Seonyang Group. He’s tall, handsome, and has a decent build. He’s quite the catch by any standard. If he told a woman to spread her legs, I’m sure plenty would oblige. Actually, it’d be harder to find one who wouldn't.
Why is a guy like that so obsessed with a place like this? That’s the real mystery. These women can’t possibly be worth that much. Anyway, Baek Jin-ho did most of the talking. I sat quietly, sipping my drink and picking at the food. Before I knew it, Baek Jin-ho’s hand had slid inside the woman’s clothing. It was a very natural touch. A scene so common it didn't feel the least bit out of place. Every so often, he’d glance at me while he spoke, as if to say, "You can do it too. It’s fine." I suppose he’s right. That’s probably the baseline here. They’d likely do far more than that. After all, the customer is king here.
But I didn't. I just didn't want to. I simply didn't feel like it. I didn't see any reason to. Baek Jin-ho didn't seem to mind, nor did he look at me like I was some naive amateur. So, I just kept eating. I didn't even put my arm around her shoulders.
"Jeong-hyeon," Baek Jin-ho said, his voice slightly slurred as the boring university talk finally died down, leaving the room in a brief silence.
"What?"
"Do you think these girls know what’s coming?"
I wondered what he meant by that. The slight buzz of alcohol I’d been feeling vanished instantly.
"What are you talking about?"
"They know, too. That the world is about to go to hell. So, when it happens, I’m taking them with me. All the women here."
I almost threw my drink at him—and I wasn't joking. For the first time, I genuinely thought Baek Jin-ho was a complete idiot.
"LK is building something similar to mine. Dongjin has probably finished theirs, too."
The next thing he said was even more absurd. LK and Dongjin are also major conglomerates. That meant this bastard had been leaking information about the impending collapse of the world all over the place.
"I hope the world ends soon. All the ordinary people will just crumble. People like us, who prepared, will be looking down from the top. Hahaha!"
He laughed like a moron. The women just kept smiling brightly. I poured myself another drink and downed it in one go. But I didn't feel any anger or disgust. Why bother? Getting angry at him here wouldn't gain me anything. It would just sour the relationship for no reason. That would be a loss.
"Jeong-hyeon, let me ask you one last time. Come join us. You’ll be a huge help to us. And we’ll be a huge help to you. Just come in. I’m begging you."
His expression was dead serious. A chill ran down my spine. For some reason, I felt like if I refused, I wouldn't make it home in one piece. I sincerely hoped it was just my imagination.
"I’m in the middle of some research," I said. He looked at me with curious eyes.
"Research?"
"It’s hard to do in places with a lot of people. Too many variables. Too many eyes. I can’t move my facilities right now. Once I’m done, I’ll join you. It’s not like I want to live alone and lonely, especially when you’re offering to bring girls like these."
As I said that, I draped my arm over Suhyang’s shoulder. My fingertips slid inside her bodice and gripped her breast. He saw it and the corners of his mouth curled up. He looked somewhat satisfied.
"Is that so? How long will it take?"
"Well. Five weeks if I’m fast. Six if it drags on. But if I don't get the results I want, I’ll have to start from scratch."
"What is it? Can’t you do it on our side?"
"Let’s see how this result turns out. If I fail this time, I’ll come over to your side. If I do, will you provide the facilities for the research?"
"Of course! Why are you making such a simple thing sound so difficult? Of course! Just come! I’ll prepare everything! I’ll even give you a whole team of people!"
I couldn't tell for sure if he was actually happy. I suspected it was all an act. I couldn't tell what was real.
"Five weeks?"
"If I’m fast. I’ll contact you when I have results. But what if the world ends before then?"
"Hey. You have what I gave you earlier, don't you?"
"Ah. Right. You’re a meticulous bastard."
"Hahaha. Exactly. Don't worry about it, okay? If you stick right by this brother’s side, we’ll all rise together. Isn't that right, Seol-a?"
"Of course," she replied, fawning over Baek Jin-ho. Not in a cheap way, but with plenty of practiced charm.
"Ha. This fucking bitch. I can't take it. I have to take you to bed. Hey, Jeong-hyeon. You should comfort her, too. She needs to play with a handsome guy, right? Don't you think?"
Suhyang just smiled bashfully without answering. I looked at Baek Jin-ho with an expression of disbelief.
"Hey! Why are you holding back? If you’re going to hold back, just hold back your cum. She’ll take care of it for you. I’ll have Driver Park take you. Just go. You don't have to do anything. She’ll handle it. Driver Park! You’re outside, right!?"
"Yes!"
Before I could stop him, Baek Jin-ho called the driver. Suhyang stood up calmly and said quietly, "I’ll go change."
Good grief. I’m speechless. Why are they so pushy? Looking at this, I could roughly estimate the situation. He sees me as someone beneath him, not an equal. I could have refused, but I felt like this was another one of his tests, so I decided to just go along with it. For now, I might need to keep playing the part of the obedient dog. Whether or not I cut ties with Baek Jin-ho is something to think about only after I’m out of his reach. Besides, to be honest, I was curious. Just how impressive could a woman from a place like this be?
When I followed Driver Park to the car, a woman walked toward us before we even reached it. Wavy hair, a black dress, black stockings, slightly high heels, and a clutch bag in her hand. It wasn't until she got close that I realized it was Suhyang.
"I didn't recognize you."
"Which look do you prefer?" Suhyang asked as if it were nothing. She was quite sociable. Well, that’s how she does her job, I suppose.
"I like this one better."
"Me too," she said, linking her arm through mine. So naturally. We got into the car, and it headed straight for a hotel. Once we arrived, Suhyang went to the desk and checked in with practiced ease. She must have done this more than once. Baek Jin-ho said he was taking all these women, so the relationship was becoming clear. A traditional, historic love hotel. A meeting place for members of several major conglomerates. It wasn't just the business world, either. Politics were definitely involved. Baek Jin-ho, that bastard. He’s stirred up quite a mess. Come to think of it, even his claim that he’d been frequenting that place for a while is suspicious. A guy like him, already having secured all the women in the place? I might be overthinking it, but she might have already received orders from Baek Jin-ho. Kidnapping was off the table since the timing had passed. A honey trap? That seemed more likely. There’s no method of persuasion as historic and traditional as a honey trap. So, for now, I’ll play along. I can't let my guard down yet. Ah, maybe it’s better to pretend I have?
"Let’s go." Suhyang linked her arm through mine again. We took the elevator up. The room was quite nice. It wasn't just a standard double room; he’d booked a suite. Good service. I guess a few hundred won is pocket change to him. Given the project he’s working on, this really is peanuts.
As we entered the room, Suhyang set down her clutch and looked at me. She looked completely different from when she was wearing the hanbok. She must have touched up her makeup, too. Before, she had a modest, pure look. Now, she was a woman overflowing with charm and decadence. Her outfit helped, too.
"What should I call you?"
"Just call me by my name."
"Can I call you Jeong-hyeon?"
"Whatever you like."
Suhyang flashed a charming smile and looked at me. "The division head told me to be good to you."
"Oh, how kind of him."
When I replied with a hint of indifference, Suhyang let out a soft laugh, as if she found it amusing. She walked toward me with light steps, pressing her chest against me until it touched. "But, separate from what the division head said, I actually like you, Jeong-hyeon. You’re my type."
"Wow. You have really strange taste. Is your vision failing you?"
"Hmm? You’re funny. You look very handsome to me."
Suhyang draped her arms around my neck. In a voice that sounded like it was melting, she whispered, "So, I’d like to do a little more than what I was told. Is that okay?"
"Hmm. Don't. I don't know what it is, but it sounds scary. Better not to."
Suhyang laughed again. She looked at me with deep, soulful eyes. "Can I kiss you?"
"You’re going to do it even if I tell you not to, aren't you?"
"You’re right."
With that, Suhyang pressed her lips to mine. Her tongue naturally forced its way between my lips.