Strip to the core of my heart

11

Minji

"Ms. Kim?" The man asked surprised as he stood up from the table he was sitting at, counting money. "I'm glad you know who I am, which means we'll skip all the introductions." I said as I gestured him to sit back down.

I sat down in front of him, just seeing how his eyes sparkled counting the money. Fucking idiot, it's going to be easy to get her out of this place. "So, what brings you around here?" He asked as he placed the stack of money down. I stared at it as I spoke.

"I have an offer for you." I said and he looked at me with full attention. "I want to buy one of them." I said and his ears perked up. "Buy? Ms. Kim, I don't sell my dancers or anyone in this club." He said and I shook my head at him.

"1 million at the spot for Hanni Pham." I said and his eyes went wide, but it was clear that Hanni was the main one he didn't want to let go. Her performances were the best compared to everyone else's. "Ms. Kim, I can give you any of the other girls. But Ms. Pham is out of the deal." He said and I knew what he was doing.

He wanted me to offer him more, even though I wanted to punch him, I had to stay calm and do this right so that Hanni doesn't have to keep coming to this shitty place. This place should've never been her home, I'm furious at her parents even though I don't know them. They failed Hanni completely.

"5 million." I said and his eyes went even wider. "Ms. Kim, if I may ask, why are you trying to buy Hanni off?" I let out a smirk as I stood up and leaned over the table. "That's my woman, sir. If you don't want this whole place to be taken down by me, you better accept my offer. Now that I'm still being kind about it." I said with a stern voice.

He gulped as he looked at one of his men and called him over. "Get me Ms. Pham's documents." He said and the man left to get them. "Good choice." I said with the fakest smile on my face.

I'm setting her free, that's all I care about.

-

I carried the documents in hand while I made my way to Hanni's office. I felt...happy. I know that what I'm doing for Hanni is good, I just hope she doesn't get mad at me for the way I set her free.

I don't want her to think she has to pay me back, or feel like an item. I don't want that, I tried to do everything civilly just so that Hanni could see that I can change and be better for the both of us.

I was at her office door that she never seems to close, only for me to see man trying to force himself on her. Hanni seemed to have noticed me and her eyes went wide as she shook her head at me when she realized I was making my way to the guy.

I grabbed him by the back of his collar, with the full intention of smashing his head against the wall but the look in Hanni's eyes stopped me. So instead I dragged him to the door and shoved him out. "You're fired! And I hope to never see you again because I won't hold back. This is my woman, and if I hear or see anyone doing something they shouldn't to her, they'll have to feel my anger!" I said slamming the door with a glare in my eyes.

I turned back around and I was still completely furious. My eyes landing in Hanni that looked so small as she had her arms crossed against her chest. I took a deep breath and tried to keep myself as calm as possible. It's not Hanni's fault, it will never be.

Men are the fucking problem.

Once I was calm enough I went to her and extended my arms. She quickly engulfed me in to a hug as she sobbed, and I felt myself breaking apart with her. Is that normal?

I wrapped my arms around her tightly as I kissed the top of her head and whispered words of what I hope were comfort against her ear. Hanni was so fragile, and I knew I had to protect her with my whole being. And it should've bothered me, but it didn't.

And I'm okay with that.

I want all of Hanni, even the broken part of her that I'd have to glue back together with my own hands. It may not be the same, but just stable enough for her to be okay and heal slowly, like a scar.

She pulled away from me slowly and cupped my cheeks, kissing my lips briefly. "That took a lot of self control." She said with a small smile on her face and I quickly leaned down to capture her lips. "I couldn't find myself to disappoint you, Hanni." I said and she let out a giggle in between her sobs.

"You're so sweet, you know that?" She said and I shook my head. I reached out to wipe away her tears. "How many of them treat you like that, baby?" I asked and Hanni let out a sigh. "Minji, it's fine.." I furrowed my eyebrows as I made her look at me. "No, it's not okay! How could you just be okay with letting them treat you like that?" I said and Hanni looked back down.

I knew exactly what she was thinking.

"Baby, no. Your job..it doesn't make you a whore. Don't think like that. You were forced in to doing all of that, and I hate that it was the way I met you, but I don't regret it. You're mine now, and they'll never see your face there again. Only I will be the one to see what's under." I said as I gestured to her dress.

"What do you mean?" She asked, and I brought up the envelope that was now kind of crumpled in my bold. "You don't work there anymore." I said and her eyes widened. "What? They said they'd never let me go. How did you do it?" She asked and I let out a sigh.

"You're not going to like it, and I just want to say that it doesn't define anything. Okay? I did it because I wanted to get you out of there without any problems." I said and she looked at me still confused.

"I gave him 5 million for you." I said and Hanni looked up at me with wide eyes. I couldn't tell what she was feeling and I hated it. I didn't want her to slap me across the face and leave me here saying that it was a mistake to ever give me a chance.

"I did it with good intentions!" I said and Hanni suddenly started to tear up again and I felt my heart breaking. I messed up already, and it hasn't even been two days. She's about to rush out of this office and yell that she never wants me near her ever again.

But to my surprise, Hanni jumped on me as she sobbed. Hugging me so tightly as she kept crying away. A part of me felt confused not knowing what was going on but I'm hoping it's good. I wrapped my arms around her and I could feel her smiling against my neck.

"Thank you."

-

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