The Pursuit of Shin Ryujin || Ryeji ff

- 7

When the trio finally arrives at the club, Yeji waved to the bouncers. They grinned at her and move out of her way, causing the people in the cue to shout in protest. It was good to have connections, especially ones as prestigious as that.

Inside the club, the sound of smooth jazz hit Yeji like a sledgehammer. That, mixed with the smell of rum and whiskey, let Yeji know she was home.

Kai greeted them after he spotted them from the bar. He was especially excited to meet Giselle and Winter, Yeji's very attractive friends. Yeji knew about his playboy attitude and intended to keep him in line.

He looked the picture too: A three-piece suit with a white dress shirt, along with polished dress shoes. His hair, now slightly slicked back, gave him that wild and dangerous look.

"Who are your friends, Yeji?" Kai asked, his dark eyes sparkling with mischief. Yeji flashed him a glare, his first warning.

"This is Kim Minjeong, or Winter," Yeji said, pointing behind her at the smug blonde, "And this is Aeri Uchinaga, or Giselle."

Looking back, she found both girls swooning at the sight of Kai's charming smile. She rolled her eyes, having seen this scene play out thousands of times before.

He bent down to kiss the back's of their hands, saying, "Enchanted to meet you both."

Losing her temper, Yeji pushed him up by his chest and sent him a murderous look. With false curiosity, she asked, "How's that brunette you ve been sweet on?"

Winter and Giselle quickly stifled laughter and Yeji knew they gave up any romantic interest they had in him. Kai knew that too, which why he sent her an irritated look. Yeji was too busy flagging down Jisu.

Jisu was dressed in one of her usual numbers.
The dress hugged all of her curves and gave her the illusion of sultry and promiscuity. In reality, Jisu was one of the sweetest people Yeji knew and happily married to her husband of five years, Choi Soobin.

"Hey Yeji," Jisu said, reaching over and kissing her cheek. Yeji couldn't help the blush that painted her cheeks.

"Jisu, these are my friends," Yeji pointed to the two girls, "Do you mind showing them around?"

Jisu waved her off, saying, "Not all!"

As the girls walked off (Yeji could hear Jisu talking animatedly almost halfway across the club), Yeji turned to Kai to see him wearing a rather tired expression. He looked so much like his father that Kai had to do a double-take.

"What's with the grim face, Kai?" Yeji asked as she followed him to the bar. He plopped down onto the seat next to her and ordered two glasses of scotch. Yeji didn't realise how much she needed a drink until it touched her lips.

"It's the family business," He admitted, taking a sip of his drink, "Y"know how it is."

Yeji frowned, "I thought everything was going, alright? As far as I know, you own most of New York."

He laughed darkly, saying, "That's the problem. One of the four families thinks we control too much of New York. They want a piece of our fortune - they call it equal profit between us Italians!"

"Park or Han?" Yeji asked, taking another sip. The burn wasn't enough to distract her from tonight's dinner disaster, but Kai's concern was. The Lee's had never had problems with the other four families, mostly thanks to Uncle Junho's coercions.

"Jeong, if you can believe it."

"You're shitting me." Yeji said, eyes widening, "Jeong? What could they possibly do?"

He downed his glass before answering, "They've been starting shit with some of our associates. A few muggings, some robberies — no murders, cause, y'know, that's a declaration of war."