Chapter 4

Ring… Ring…

No answer.

Ring… Ring…

Jo answered in a husky voice, “What do you want, Min?”

“What time will you arrive? Your father notified us to be there with you,” Min questioned Jo.

“The meeting took longer than I anticipated. Give me a few to shower; I will come,” Jo replied, running his hands through his hair. He knew this was a terrible idea.

Min was his best mate, his right hand to the yakuza ring, the only man Jo trusted with his life. They were each covered in tattoos, with their sleek hair combed to the back. Jo always had a piece dangling in his face, which, for some reason, made his face more intimidating with his sharp jawline. Min was a little shorter with some weight on him. If you saw him without a shirt, you wouldn’t see if he had a six-pack, but he was fit. He could outrun you and jump fences without losing breath. They called him The Jumper in the yakuza ring.

Min had replied and approved; he was already at the club, keeping an eye on the lady and her friend he had to convince to like her to meet her. Only to please the orders of the higher-ups. That would be Jo-Pok’s father and uncles. Never disobey them if you want to continue to live.

The night was alive with the pulsating beat of the city as Jo’s sleek Lamborghini pulled up outside his exclusive mafia club. The low hum of the engine echoed through the empty streets, a testament to the power and prestige that Jo commanded.

As he stepped out of the car, Jo’s presence was like a magnet, drawing the attention of everyone around him. The bouncers at the door straightened up at the sight of him, their expressions a mix of reverence and fear as they nodded in greeting.

With a confident stride, shaking hands with Min, with a tap on his shoulder, he walked in before bumping into someone.

“Excuse me! Can you open your eyes to see where you are walking? This place does not belong to you,” she said, moving her shoulder strap bag towards the other side.

Staring up at this tall, dark man in front of her, the bouncer pulled her to the side out of the man’s way. She stared at him when he leaned forward, staring down at her.

He gave a smirk. Who knew that he would have met her the moment he stopped at his club? He leaned closer to her ear.

She was standing in front of him, a vision of beauty and defiance, her eyes flashing with fire.

Without hesitation, Jo shadowed over to her, his gaze never leaving hers as he closed the distance between them.

“A pretty little princess like you needs to watch her mouth when she is in hopeless situations,” he whispered, his breath warm against her ear.

She shivered and let out a small moan, hearing it, his voice smooth and confident as he leaned in close, the scent of her perfume intoxicating him.

Pretty little princess… Why did those words just make her shiver? She shoved him back, looking at him, annoyed by his presence.

The bouncer pulled her to the side again. She kept her gaze on him.

Her eyes narrowed at him shadowing over her demeanor one of defiance and challenge. “And you must be used to getting whatever you want,” she retorted, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she met his gaze head-on, licking her lips when she realized a moan escaped her lips.

Jo couldn’t help but be intrigued by her boldness, the fire in her eyes igniting something primal within him. He leaned in closer, his voice low and seductive as he whispered, “Maybe I am. But there’s something about you that tells me you’re different.”

Before she could respond, the sound of her best friend’s voice pierced through the air, a shrill cry of excitement as she rushed over to them. Jo watched as the girl’s expression softened at the sight of her friend, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips.

As the two friends embraced, Jo couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment at the interruption. But deep down, he knew that this was only the beginning of their story. And he was determined to make her his, no matter what it took.

***

Turning her head, Chloe met Kai’s view as she was being turned around in a man’s arms. That must be the date she was meeting tonight. Her heart was beating fast, knowing she was now safe. Why did she have to scream like that? She needed to be punched to understand they were in a place they had never been before.

She gazed at the man holding her bestie, tall and with tattoos. He seemed to look a lot like the man she bumped into earlier. She saw Kai kissing the man on his cheek and heading her way.

“Drinks on me tonight, baby girl! I will treat you for coming out with me. You can meet your Min after we’re done dancing, chika,” Kai grabbed her arms, pulling her to the bar.

Chloe couldn’t utter a word. She was too busy looking at the club. The dark red lights all around were sexy, giving a vibe of being like a vixen. She would for sure lose her innocence in a club like this if she drank too much.

Reaching the bar, Kai ordered them drinks.

“Sorry, sir! Sir, come here, please! Can you please make one a virgin cocktail?” Chloe said while hanging over the bar; her legs were dangling from the ground.

***

Jo kept his gaze on her; he so badly wanted to take her in his arms to cover her bare legs. No one needed to see what was his. This was when he decided he would have fun making her his only one.

He signaled to the bartender, requesting he come over to the table. “Give me a bottle of the finest whiskey, with an ice bucket and four glasses. I want to make their shots,” Jo placed his order.

“Yes, boss. Will that be all?”

“Yeah… No. What did that girl order that was hanging over the bar?” All cocky, he started to roll up his shirt sleeves, displaying his Rolex watch and the ring on his middle finger, his hands full of tattoos. He was just a masterpiece.

“Boss, they wanted cocktails. Just then, the one small girl changed the one to a virgin cocktail,” the bartender answered, giving a nod towards Jo, pleased to be able to answer the boss. He took a step back to walk back to the crowded bar.

“Make sure the bill is on me. You may leave,” Jo said, flicking him off with two fingers.

Min was talking Jo-Pok’s ear off, telling him how much he actually liked Kai; she was a wild woman. He loved her and wanted to bed her.

Around the table were six men sitting with Jo, all high-end Yakuza members. It was Jo’s club, after all.

The dance floor was getting crowded. Chloe and Kai had a few drinks already and were dancing together. The music was seductive, the ladies were shaking, and the song went from high energy to a sexy, slow style.

Chloe moved gracefully to the hypnotic beat, her body swaying like a seductive siren amidst the swirling haze. She was the embodiment of allure, a vision of temptation that beckoned even the most stoic of souls.

In the corner of the room, Jo watched with a predatory gaze, his eyes locked on Chloe’s every movement. His presence exuded power, his demeanor that of a man accustomed to getting what he desired.

Tonight, what he desired was clear – Chloe.

She turned her back to Kai, dancing in the same motion as Kai and grinding. Her hands were slowly moving up and down her body, up her head, taking some of her hair and letting it fall over her face. Her smile was captivating, and when she started to bite her lower lip, she looked like a goddess.

God only knew how long Jo could stand it.

The men were chattering away, a glass hit the table, and Jo-Pok stood up. As the music intensified, Jo couldn’t resist any longer. With calculated steps, he made his way through the crowd, his path unwavering as he approached Chloe’s mesmerizing figure. His heart pounded in anticipation, the thrill of the chase igniting a primal fire within him. Walking towards her.

The man that was now dancing behind her saw Jo come close, he moved back and headed out of the bar. This man was a rival and now dancing with his woman. How dare he! Jo was just full of rage.

Chloe was dancing to the music. Her eyes were closed. When she felt a hand around her waist, holding her stomach, she turned to see Jo—the man she had bumped into earlier, a shiver of awareness coursing through her veins. She knew the danger that lurked within Jo, but she couldn’t deny the exhilarating rush that came with his attention.

“Shhh… pretty princess, this is now my song to dance with you. I would appreciate it if you continued before my hands move lower from where they are.”

Chloe’s body shivered. She leaned her head back towards Jo’s face. “If I were you, I would take your hands off my body before I leave you here with shame in front of your friends.”