Chapter 2

Arriving at her workplace, she walked out of the elevator and smiled, greeting the other employees. Walking towards her office, she placed her coffee cup next to her notes. Now Kai was a hard cookie, a woman who never knew what she wanted. Her long, curly hair made her seem like a goddess whenever it bounced, and the way she stared at other people with her green eyes captivated them. But her problem was she never got a guy to stay with her.

Going through her workday, Chloe felt on edge since Kai asked them to go clubbing. Something just did not fit right. You could say it was a gut feeling she was having for the evening to come.

***

In the dimly lit study of his mansion, Jo sat alone, his gaze fixed upon the photograph in his hand. It was a portrait of a woman, her beauty ethereal yet tinged with an air of mystery. Her eyes, framed by long lashes, seemed to pierce through the photograph and into Jo’s soul, igniting a desire that burned deep within him.

“Who are you?” Jo whispered to the photograph, his voice barely audible in the silence of the room. His father, Man-Su, had handed him the photo earlier that day

Yet despite the uncertainty, one thing was clear: he wanted her. He needed her like he needed air to breathe. The thought of possessing her consumed him, driving him to the brink of obsession.

With a decisive nod, Jo set the photograph down on the desk and reached for his phone. He needed answers, and there was only one person who could provide them: his father.

“Father,” Jo spoke into the phone, his voice firm and commanding. “I need to meet with you at lunch, at the usual place.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Man-Su’s voice replied, “Of course, my son. I will see you then.”

***

Noon struck…

Korean restaurant served as the backdrop for the clandestine meeting between Jo and his father, it was they usual place, the air thick with the scent of spices and whispered secrets. Seated at a secluded table in the back, Jo’s father slid another photograph across the table, his expression unreadable in the shadows.

Right on time, Jo walked into the restaurant, heading towards his father, who was already seated with a glass of iced tea. As soon as Jo-Pok walked in, the workers deferential bow and raised their hands to direct him to his father, they knew he would only settle for a cappuccino at this time of day. Taking his seat opposite his father, he waved the waitress away when she set his cappuccino in front of him, nodding to give her a clear sign that he would not want to be disturbed while talking to his father.

“Father, I am pleased you agreed to meet me after leaving last night,” he said, giving a blow on his warm drink before taking a sip, locking eyes with his father.

He began, his voice low and gravelly. “Son, this is not something you can escape from. You can keep your whores on the sideline, but you will not change my mind or escape this arrangement,” the old man said, causing Jo’s back to stiffen on the leather seat behind him. Jo took another sip. “So, father, what is this debt that we are referring to? This photo says nothing about the woman or what the story is about her.”

“Son, she is collateral. She has been for years after we found her mother in her hiding spot. We stood aside to keep all eyes on them until her daughter was at the right age to be… how to say this in a good way… collected.”

Once the old man said that, he let out a laugh, an evil one since he knew his son was such a cruel man. This pure girl would go through hell like he had done when Chloe’s mother, Casandra, slipped out of his arms.

Jo-Pok sat there with a smirk, enjoying hearing this, but his question was not answered.

“Father, what must I do with her? How did this end up being my problem when the girl’s mother was linked to you?”

His father continued to laugh before coughing from the air he could not breathe in. Throwing his hand on the table, he looked up.

“She is unaware of your intentions,” his father continued, his tone brooking no argument. “But you will make her yours by whatever means necessary.”

As they spoke, a waitress approached, setting down plates of steaming Korean delicacies with a deferential bow. Jo barely spared her a glance, his attention wholly focused on the task at hand by receiving all the answers he needed.

“You will bring me an heir, Jo, and an heir I will only accept from this woman. I have set my man to date one of her friends. Tonight at your club, they will arrive. Go talk to her and see why I chose her for you, son,” he said, taking a sip from the iced tea to cool his throat. He was slowly getting annoyed at Jo, sitting there all cocky.

“Father, I… I will meet this woman only once you tell me who Casandra is to you and why there is such a debt.”

Jo felt like he would need a few shots of whiskey tonight after exchanging some words in this conversation. After all, this might just be a disaster to start off with. He knew better than not to listen to his father.

For years, his father had made him tough and have respect towards others, and mostly to gain respect. If no one would show respect, then you sure as hell make sure you force it from them.

To be in the yakuza ring, you need to be loyal and hard. Your heart is black and cold. This was the way to earn respect. He had to admit this woman was making him hard just by looking at her photo. How would he react if he saw her standing in front of him?