Psychopath Billionaire | BBANGSAZ

xi

"How can I trust that you'll help me?" I asked.

I had been burned too many times to know that people wouldn't dig a deep well for me. And I had no reason to believe that this man, who was also Minji's best friend, would offer to help me out.

"I met Min's ex-girlfriends, and let's just say they weren't so lucky."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "What do you mean?"

"I'd like to leave it at that." Jake's dark eyes penetrated through me, and I knew that if I dug up old coffins, I would have to face the skeletons.

I glanced at Minji, who was now laughing at something Yunjin had said. I was stunned to see her smiling. No one would have suspected the monster she was, that sweet smile hid some really dark secrets. Those brown eyes that could intoxicate you had seen some horrors I didn't want to see.

"I don't think you can help me," I said to Jake. I mean, he was probably in league with Minji, and this was another of their sick games.

"Well, you don't have another choice," said Jake. "I'm not helping you...I'm helping myself sleep better at night. I don't think I could live with myself if something happened to you too."

To me too?

What happened to those other girls?

He continued, "I'm a magician, in case Min didn't tell you, and it's mandatory to perform an act for all my guests at the end of the party. It's during that time you'll have your chance." He moved me to the other side. "Take it or leave it, the choice is yours."

He spun me, and I fell directly into Minji's arms as Yunjin rejoined Jake. He kissed her; she laughed in his arms. They looked so happy. Minji tightened her grip on my waist as she placed my arms around her neck. She leaned in to kiss me, and I couldn't protest when her lips crashed against mine and gently bit my lower lip. I felt a sharp pain. "Minji, you're hurting me!" she pulled back and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The worst part was that I couldn't read her thoughts and expressions. She had mastered the art of indifference.

I had decided I wouldn't take the risk, it wasn't worth it. Jake could be a wolf in sheep's clothing, and naturally, he could be screwing me over.

"She took the bait," I would hear at the end when I got home with Minji.

Home?

Unknowingly, I called her house my home.

How fucked up! What am I becoming?

"Hanni, I'd like to talk to you in private," Minji said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I nodded.

Minji led me out of the ballroom, down a long hallway. Her confident steps told me she had been in this house a trillion times. Jake was her best friend; it was a fact that Minji was familiar with the place.

She stopped in front of a room. It was a spacious room with modern decor. Everything was vintage in the room. The shelves and trophies were lined from top to bottom with antique pieces that hadn't been touched and stood proudly in the corner.

I was so preoccupied with the room's beauty that I didn't realize Minji was throwing daggers at me. Her gaze turned hard as she closed the door. She towered over me with her 5'8" height, and I felt really small compared to her enormous frame.

That beautiful face analyzed me.

"What were you talking about with Jake?"

I couldn't think clearly. How was I supposed to respond to this?

"We weren't talking about anything." The next thing I knew, I collided with a tall pillar. It was Minji who used all her strength, swinging her palm against my cheek, my cheek stinging from the pain.

I stood up.

With the coldest, iciest voice, she repeated, "What were you talking about with Jake?"

I swallowed. "We were talking about the party. He asked me if I was enjoying the party, and that's what we were talking about." Another slap landed with such impact that I felt something warm drizzling down my nose. I touched it with my trembling hand and found blood on my fingers. Fortunately, it wasn't broken.

She dug her fingers into my jaw until it hurt. "I want to know the truth."

"I swear. Please believe me. That's what we were talking about."

There was a knock on the door, and I thanked the interruption. An elderly woman dressed as a maid entered. "I thought I heard some noise in here. Is everything all right?" She seemed concerned as her eyes looked at me and Minji, then her gaze flew to my nose. "Oh my God, are you all right, dear?" I tried to wipe my tears and the blood from my nose. "What happened?"

"She fell," said Minji. The woman looked at me, and anyone with an average IQ could tell that I hadn't just fallen.

"I fell," I repeated.

"Okay, I'll go get the first aid kit."

"Listen, Beth, you didn't see anything here. She just fell. It was an accident," said Minji. "Can you repeat that for me?"

"No...I didn't see anything." Beth nodded. "It was just an accident." Minji smiled, satisfied for some reason.

"Can you bring me the first aid kit, please?"

One thing was clear, Jake had been telling the truth. If Minji had no clue what conversation Jake and I had, it was safe to assume that Jake was really helping me regain my freedom.

A few minutes later, I was settled in a chair in the same room with Minji sitting next to me, the first aid kit between us. She applied some alcohol to my cheek with a cotton ball. I winced and glanced at her, and her expressions were soft. She was no longer angry. She took my hands in hers and kissed them. "You should be honest with me, honey. Don't do things that upset me."

"I won't." Lying was now natural for me.

It didn't matter.

This was the last time I saw Minji.

I was going to take another risk and go ahead with Jake's plan. It was probably my only ticket out of this mess.

"When we get home, I have a surprise for you," said Minji, giving me one of her genuine smiles. Minji's surprises never excited me, not one bit, they only scared me.

"I can't wait," I said. She handed me an ice bag.

"Here. Place this under your nose and keep it there. It will stop the bleeding." Minji removed the clip holding my hair back, and it cascaded over my shoulders. I guess it hid the red mark on my cheek. "Do you have any makeup?" she asked.

"Yes, I brought some."

"Lovely. Just make sure the mark isn't visible."