My Gorgeous Mobster (JenLisa)

Chapter 1 : Payback

Mr. Hae-Jin Kim is sweating profusely. He has no more chips; it’s all on the table now. His cards are weak. There are only two possible scenarios: either he wins three million dollars—which isn’t nearly enough to cover even a tenth of his debt—or he sinks deeper into debt, possibly ruining his family.

He tries to calm himself. His opponent, Mr. Hyuk Jang, must not see any tells that his cards are losing. But it looks like the man has already caught on, sneering at him.
“Looks like you’ve run out of money to bet, Mr. Kim.” Mr. Jang puts his cards face down on the table. “I’ll see your bet and raise you another million.”

His heart races, and he can feel his ears getting warm. He’s already buried deep in debt, but that’s gambling. What if the guy is just bluffing?

A part of his brain tells him to stop, while the other urges him to continue since he’s already in so deep. If he signs another promissory note to borrow more money, he could possibly win.

He nods. “I’ll see that million and raise you half a million.”

No trace of any expression can be seen on his face. The only indication of his distress is the continuous sweating. The private lounge of this “exclusive poker” game is fully air-conditioned, and since it’s fall, the warm feeling can’t be due to the weather.

Only big players are at the table: two tycoons, a senator, a celebrity, him, and Mr. Jang, a known businessman. All four other players have already folded; it’s just the two of them now.

The truth is, he isn’t afraid of Mr. Jang, but he is terrified of Mr. Seung-won Park. He’s the one paying Mr. Jang if he loses. His future depends on Mr. Park at this moment.

Mr. Kim knows he should have stopped this vice. He should have listened to his family—his wife, his father, and his eldest daughter, Jennie. How disappointed his beautiful Jen will be because of this! He should have accepted that there is something wrong with him: he is a compulsive gambler. Now he’s a gambling addict. But no matter how much he regrets it now, he can’t back down anymore. The pot is getting bigger, as are his chances of winning and at least paying off some of his debts.

Then the dealer tells them to show their cards. He lost.

Mr. Kim’s throat feels locked up. He realizes that by associating with the people in this gambling scene, he hasn’t just gambled his life, but also the future of his whole family.

~~~
“Grandpop!”
Lisa opened her arms wide to hug her grandfather. The elder Manoban embraced her, patting her head just like when she was a little kid. He had just returned from the U.S., where he spent years recuperating due to health issues.

Her grandfather had been free from prison for almost eight years. When he was released, he discovered that the business his father had left him had changed significantly. It was now a legitimate operation, which was a huge shift for him. This change had left her grandfather feeling depressed.

She and her dad suspected that her grandfather had lost control of the business. All his life, he had been a boss—a mobster boss—until he was sent to prison. The day he was arrested, they didn’t really believe he could be set free again. The charges against Maro Manoban were severe, with substantial evidence against him, including a couple of murders and various illegal activities. But her grandfather was respected in the underworld. His connections helped him immensely, and he ended up serving only seven years.

When he was found guilty, Lisa learned the truth about Maro Manoban. The media painted him as sinister and ruthless, a leader of a Thai-Korean mob. Yes, her father was a mobster, and apparently, only Lisa was unaware of this fact. Even her friends and classmates had heard from their parents, which is why only Jisoo and Seulgi remained her friends throughout high school.

Despite being a tough gang leader, her grandfather was a good boss and friend. He commanded respect and returned it to those loyal to him. He had done things the old-school way.

When he was released, the press descended upon him. Many groups protested his early release. He was always depressed, needing his old spark back. Matters worsened when he had an accident that damaged his knees, necessitating knee surgery in America. It took him years to walk again, but looking at him now, he appeared remarkably well—one wouldn’t think he had been away for so long.

“Wow, you look younger than me, Grandpop!” Lisa teased, earning a laugh as she wrapped her arms around him.

“I feel good, sweetpea. It’s great to be back,” her grandfather chuckled, visibly happy. “See? Good as new,” he added, slapping his knees.

They chatted happily in the back of the car on their way home. Lisa hoped her grandpop was truly okay now and that his depression was behind him. The old man used to be at the helm of a crime syndicate, involved in many crimes—except for illegal drugs. Carnapping, illegal gambling, extortion—many were connected to money laundering. The Manobans had legitimate businesses to cover it all up. When Maro got convicted, authorities monitored all his son’s activities, expecting Marco to continue the mob legacy. However, that position had been passed to Maro’s right-hand man, Mr. Park Cha.

Lisa’s father, Marco Manoban, was smart. He had always opposed the lifestyle his father and grandparents wanted for him and his daughter. He worked hard to ensure their businesses thrived legally, which they did. Now, Manoban Industries is a conglomerate of various products, earning more than ever before.

Of course, they still had connections with her grandfather’s old friends. According to him, those ties wouldn’t be severed; they were family. But no more business dealings were to be made between the Manobans and the Chas.

Despite their legitimate success, the stigma of being mobsters lingered. Lisa doubted it would fade anytime soon. She had learned not to be affected by it. Growing up as a Manoban had its advantages; when she came out, it wasn’t a big deal. Her father and grandpop were supportive. Her grandpop even joked that she should eventually marry—even if it were to another woman. She was stunned but happy, agreeing to the deal. Her grandpop was cool like that.

Openly lesbian since her teens, Lisa had never faced much discrimination regarding her sexual preference. After all, she was still Lalisa Manoban, granddaughter of the infamous Maro Manoban, who had dodged many bullets during his time. So, her being into girls was never gossip-worthy. Yet, her family's mobster reputation remained a constant source of chatter.

“When are you getting married, pokpak? You know it's legal now in Thailand to marry, right? Stop dating sluts,” her grandpop asked. She was taken aback by the question but laughed.

“Not in the near future, g’pops,” she chuckled. Finding a decent girlfriend, let alone a wife, was challenging. A good hook-up? That was easy. But someone who took her seriously? That was another story. The few women she was genuinely interested in often thought she was still tied to the underworld. Plenty would jump at the chance to date her, but those weren’t the society deemed as acceptable to marry.

Women from respectable families stayed away from her, and she didn’t want to date them either. She feared embarrassment or rejection. But those feelings were hers to keep.

“Lisa, you’re not getting any younger. You should give me a grandchild!” He gently patted her leg. “How’s your business? How are your friends?”

“It’s doing well! We’re trying to open another branch somewhere in Daegu,” Lisa beamed, excited to talk about her business with her two best friends, Kang Seulgi and Kim Jisoo. They owned an exclusive members-only luxury spa and hotel. Each had different roles: Jisoo managed daily operations, affectionately dubbed their “little big boss” due to her short stature. Seulgi handled promotions and public relations, currently abroad trying to land an A-list actress as their new brand ambassador. Lisa oversaw the finances, excelling with numbers and a knack for knowing what would appeal to the public.

“You could probably use some relaxation yourself, g’pops. Why not visit this weekend? Oh, before I forget, Mr. Hyuk Kim has been trying to reach you since last week. He called me twice. Is there a problem, Grandpop?” Lisa knew Mr. Hyuk Kim; he was an ex-military general. When he called her personally because he couldn’t reach her grandfather, she felt concerned but decided it was best to inform her grandpop in person.

“Why did he want to talk to me?”

“He didn’t say much; just that he needed to talk. Any ideas?”

Her grandfather smiled and patted her knees. “I guess it’s time to pay him back, Lisa. Payback time.”

~~~

Jennie felt wretched for her father.