scandalous; jaemryeong

03 • connection

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03 • connection

•••

That same morning in a crisp mansion on the peak of Guryeong Hills, a man with sleek black hair leaned forward in his dark swivel, twisting the ring around his finger.

In front of his sprawling desk stood a lean young man his age dressed in a dark gray suit, his head bowed and his hands clasped in front of him.

"That's what I've heard from him," he murmured, his eyes on the floor. "Unfortunately, there's another detective that's adamant on digging through the case."

The man behind the desk looked on coldly. "Then do your job. Eliminate the threat."

"I understand―"

"I hope you're not under the delusion that you're a valuable asset. If you haven't noticed already, I'm quick to get rid of people who don't do their jobs."

"But―" The young man shifted uneasily. "I know so much. You won't fire me."

"Fire you!" His lip curled. "When did I say I would fire you? I said I would get rid of you."

The man paled. Swallowed. Then he bowed his head. "I'll be sure the detective stays out of the problem." There was an unmistakable tremor in his voice. "Sir." Eyes averted, he hurried out of the room.

His fear and shame had engulfed him so much that, upon leaving the mansion, he failed to notice the hooded figure standing a short distance away.

Watching.

•••

"Get what information?"

Chaeryeong's mouth, which had opened in surprise, now went dry. Yoo Karina waited coolly, brow still raised.

Chaeryeong clutched the coffee tighter in her hands. "What?"

Karina laughed in disbelief. "Do you think I didn't hear you on the phone?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you're talking about." Chaeryeong stepped past her, heart racing. "Excuse me, but I have somewhere to be―"

Karina's hand gripped her wrist so abruptly Chaeryeong jolted back. One of the coffees tilted and spilled its steaming contents onto her hand. She hissed and bit her lip as it seared her skin, then looked up with a fresh wave of annoyance.

"These are for the head makeup artist and her assistants," Chaeryeong snapped, pulling away. "And they're about to murder me, so let go."

Karina's lip twisted. "I will when you tell me what a volunteer like you is doing outside my trailer."

Chaeryeong stilled. "Your―" She turned, slowly, to the trailer behind her. Sure enough, a label read in crisp black letters: YOO KARINA.

"What," said Karina, rolling her eyes away sourly, "are all the creepy photos and videos on the Internet not enough? Do you know how much shit my manager gives me for every little thing that gets put out there?"

She made a face. "Who said I―"

"Of course you don't," Karina went on bitterly. "People are too obsessed with living vicariously through others now, aren't they?"