The Family Business

The Ally

When I get back to my room, I practically rip the stupid dress off of me and slam the door to my room. Van knows better than to bother me, so I'm left alone. Seething, I scrub my face clean of makeup and stomp through the hotel room until I find the temporary training room Van must have set up. Grabbing a handful of throwing knives, I step onto the mat and fling all my anger against the board a few yards away from me. Frustration dulls my abilities, and most of the knives bounce off the wall inches away from the center target. I do get a few good hits in, but really, I could be throwing tennis balls at this point. Walking across the throw space I pick a heavy knife, wrap my fist around it and just start stabbing the target with heavy downward strokes. Thud. Thud. Thud. My chest heaves up in down and I'm truly in danger of tears when I feel someone's presence in the room.

I take a deep breath and turn around to find Mr. Jung silently watching me with raised eyebrows. My shoulders untense and although I'm surprised, I keep my face expressionless. I try to seem nonchalant, but embarrassment fills me as I pull the knife from the target. Great, this is exactly what I need. I roll back my shoulders and stand to face him, still holding the knife semi-defensively.

"I'm usually a better shot" I say cautiously, "just feeling a little reckless tonight"

"I can tell."

What a jerk. I'm so pissed I can't tell if he meant to insult me or not. Okay deep breaths. Focus. He's standing with his hands in his pockets and an open stance. Casual. Friendly, almost. Oh right, the stupid partners thing he keeps playing at. I clench my hand around the knife, bring the base to my chest and then swing hard, burying it up the hilt in the dead center of the target. I dust my hands together and walk back across the throw space to meet him. I try and wipe the scowl off my face and take another deep breath.

"Fine, let's sit down." I meant to sound cold and collected, but I really just end up sounding tired. Oh well, if he really wants to be partners, he better get used to it. I lead him out of the training room and into the large lounge in the center of the penthouse. The room was comped by the auction, which is why I'm living so luxurious. Not that my family couldn't afford it, but there's something nice about doing stuff without my family's blood money. I motion for him to sit across from me at the dining table.

"I'm sure you know why I'm here" Jacob begins. I try to relax but I feel a tingling feeling in my lower back, as if I'm reaching the peak of a rollercoaster. Or a plane crash. The details are still uncertain. Either way my reaction should be the same.

"And I'm sure, then, that you know my response." I'm tired of playing games. I'm tired. What I want most right now is to go to sleep. But no. I have to play stupid games with stupid Jung Jacob and his stupid mafia parents.

"I have only one question." Jacob stiffens and leans forward across the table, "How did you know Queenfish is my mother?"

The room goes silent as he stares at me expectantly. The look he's giving me is murderous, far different than the cool, friendly boy I danced with. My head is still fuzzy from the champagne and I can't concentrate.

What? What did he just say?

How did you know Queenfish was my mother?

Queenfish? His mother? I knew he was certainly a child of mafia parents... I mean it takes one to know one, right? I knew he was trying to impress someone, but... Queenfish? His biological mother? My thoughts are running a million miles a minute and I'm thankful for my dad's training because without it I'm sure my almost bored expression wouldn't be half as convincing as it needs to be. How did I know Queenfish was his mother? Honestly, I didn't. But I need to seem ten steps ahead of him since this makes me look significantly better than I am.