Chapter Text
In the bathroom Yoon Jeonghan examined himself in the mirror. He refixed the golden strand of hair that hung loose on his forehead. Of course fixing his hair wasn’t the real reason while he confined himself in this bathroom. It had to do with the person currently tapping on the door.
“What’s taking you so long?” A gruff husky voice called out from the other side. “One might think you’re hiding from me.” The voice chuckled.
“Maybe I am,” Jeonghan murmured. Sighing, he took one last look at his reflection before flinging open the door. Standing there in the doorway was a bald middle aged man with his white robe wide open revealing a pot bellied hairy stomach with wispy black chest hairs.
“Seokho,my darling,” Jeonghan said in a sickly sweet tone. “How many times have I told you that one musn’t rush the beauty process.”
“Now, now you know you’re naturally gorgeous.” Seokho playfully wiggled a finger. “Come I’ve a little gift I wanna give you to commemorate our third month anniversary.”
His beefy hand grabbed Jeonghan’s wrist as he led them to the purple velvet colored loveseat. Seokho searched inside of his robe pocket pulling out a small emerald box.
“Ahhh I hope you like it. Cost me half of a fortune but only the best for you, my pretty.” Seokho’s face stretched into a gold teeth smile.
Jeonghan lifted the top of the box. Inside was anything but a little gift; rested on the tiny bottle green pillow was a ring encrusted with tiny sapphire jewels. He slipped the ring on his slender finger examining how the jewels glittering in the ceiling light.
“Oh Seokhoie you shouldn’t have. This is so beautiful.” He battered his eyelashes at Seokho.
“Like I said before, only the best for you.” Seokho purred( actually it sounded like something died in his throat) “Ahh I think it’s time for us to, you know, celebrate this special occasion.” He gripped Jeonghan’s thigh leaning forward with his chapped lips plucked.
Jeonghan cringed ducked just in time as Seokho’s lips fell facedown on the throw pillow. “Eh, how about we have some champagne first.”
Seokho pushed himself off the pillow. “Hmmm you’re right, my pretty. Then afterwards.” His hot breath ghosted over Jeonghan's ear. “We get down to the real business.”
Jeonghan took a silent deep breath resisting the urge to punch this man squarely in his pudgy face. He quickly poured two glasses, handing one to Seokho.
“To us.” Jeonghan raised his glass.
“Yes to us,” Seokho being Seokho gulped down the glass in one swallow while Jeonghan’s lips barely parted on the tip of the glass keeping eyes fixated on the man.
“Hmmm shall we continue.” Seokho placed his glass down on the ornate table while he frowned slightly, putting a hand to his forehead.
“Whew maybe I should’ve drunk that a little slow,” he chuckled, “Feeling a little-“ Seokho trailed off with his eyes going unfocused.
“Feeling what,” Jeonghan titled his head in mock curiosity.
“A little…downsy.” The man swayed slightly on the couch before slumping over.
“Of course you are, idiot.” Jeonghan rolled his eyes. He jumped up from the couch slipping the ring off his finger and pocketed it. On cue there’s a knock on the door as Jeonghan lets them in.
Two males entered into the room; one was short built with messy jet black hair while the other was taller with neatly combed down black hair and blue rimmed glasses perched on the tip of his nose.
The shorter one wrinkled his nose at the unconscious Seokho. “If I had to listen to any more of that god awful vomit inducing conversation another second.” Seokhoie …really Jeonghan.” He shook his head in amusement.
“Hey, it got us what we needed. Do you guys have the stuff? ” Jeonghan asked them.
The taller male patted his jacket pocket. “Right here. The real question is do you have the ring?”
Jeonghan took the ring out again as the two males admired the piece of jewelry before the shorter male let out a whistle.
“Whew bet Seungcheol is gonna love that.”
“ He should consider I’m the one who had to put up with this for these past months. Anyway, we need to hurry up before he wakes up.” Jeonghan jerked his head at Seokho. “The tranquilizer I slipped into his champagne wasn’t strong. Wonwoo, come here and help me sit him up.”
The taller male- Wonwoo- came forward helping Jeonghan positioning Seokho in an uplift position on the couch.
“Jihoon, here.” Wonwoo tossed Jihoon - the shorter male- a brown paper bag. Jihoon shook the white powder content inside of the bag all over the ornate table and on the couch surrounded Seokho.
“If he knows better he’ll keep his mouth shut unless he wants the media finding about his alleged ‘cocaine’ addiction.” Jihoon took out his phone out snapping a couple of photos
“Or his family,” Wonwoo added.
Jeonghan leaning forward and lightly patting Seokho’s right cheek. “Sorry sweetie, wish I could stay….not.”
The three laughed as they exited the hotel room taking the elevator down to the underground parking garage. A sleek black sports convertible stood out among the rest of the cars in the garage.
Jeonghan raised his eyebrows at Wonwoo. “A gift from Hansol?”
Wonwoo shrugged, unlocking the car. “Well it’s not Iike I was going to say no.”
They clambered into the car with Wonwoo in the driver's seat, Jeonghan in the passenger side and Jihoon in the backseat. Wonwoo,known to be a cautious driver, always took the expressway which Jeonghan didn't mind as he rolled down the window letting Seoul’s cool breeze hit his face. Twenty minutes later, Wonwoo parked the car in front of a rundown apartment building.
Jeonghan, Wonwoo, and Jihoon made their way through the broken metal fence and filed through the strained steel grey door that read Do Not Enter. To an outsider it might have looked strange how anyone could live here. Little did people know that while the exterior of this building appeared neglected, it’s nothing compared to the interior. The interior was modern with topaz painted walls and the floors draped with arctic blue carpets.The building had three swimming pools, a pool hall, two kitchens with state of art appliances, gaming floors on each floor. It was Seungcheol’s idea to use this location because according to him it was crucial they keep a low profile.
They got into the elevator and Jihoon pressed the number for the fifth floor. The molten golden elevator doors clanked open into a massive living room where they greeted the rest of their friends. Lee Chan, Hansol Vernon Chwe engage in a game of pool while Wen Junhui watches; the chaotic trio of Lee Seokmin, Boo Seungkwan, and Kwon Soonyoung huddled on the couch watching a singing competition on the giant television. Meanwhile in the kitchen, Kim Mingyu was in the kitchen busy stirring something that smelled delicious inside of a huge pot.
Upon the trio’s entrance, everyone abandoned what they were doing crowding around them.
“Wow,” Seungkwan said, glazing at the ring with impressive eyes. “I honestly don’t know how you do it. The last con I was on I almost messed up thinking the old woman didn’t believe I was her long lost son.”
“That’s because you’ve the tendency of freaking out under pressure,” Soonyoung snickered. “Unlike me of course.”
Seungkwan rolled his eyes. “Oh please Mr. Almost Crapping Inside of his pants when that woman who you were supposed to con husband showed up threatening to beat you up.”
“Hey he was huge and you’ll be scared shitless too,” Soonyoung argued back.
“Yeah, right.”
The bickering that usually occurred between the two was interrupted by the sound of thundering footsteps as Choi Seungcheol came rushing down the spiral staircase.
“Where is it?” he asked immediately, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Jeonghan held the ring out which Seungcheol took, looking at it like it was his newborn child.
“This…”
“24 carat. Sapphire jewels straight from The Red Sea cut into perfection.Each jewel estimated to be around 50 million won,” Jeonghan stated.
“Speaking of jewels.” Seungcheol handed the ring back to Jeonghan. “I have a new con involving glass jeweled eggs.” The corners of his mouth curved into a faint smile.”But I was thinking of giving it to Mingyu.”
Jeonghan crossed his arms, eyes going cold. “Oh really I guess you forgot about that time Mingyu almost dropped that expensive egyptian vase.”
“It wasn’t intentional,” Mingyu stared down at his feet, face flushed with embarrassment. Besides him, Wonwoo wrapped an arm around his friend’s shoulder, throwing an annoyed look at Jeonghan.
“I dunno, this assignment might be too much for you to handle.” Seungcheol said coolly.
“And what do you mean by that?” Jeonghan narrowed his eyes. Among the small crowd a few exchanged nervous glances whenever the two most fiery members engage in a face off.
Seungcheol suddenly stretched his arms and stifled a fake yawn. “Wow it's getting kinda late maybe I should-”
“Choi Seungcheol, you’re not going anywhere until you tell me the truth.” Jeonghan put his hands on his hips; something he does when he's upset just like using Seungcheol’s government name. “Now.”
Seungcheol sighed. “Okay the target is an American tech mogul named Joshua Hong. I came across information that he recently acquired these rare antique Russian jeweled eggs from an auction. Each egg is probably worth more than the whole country of South Korea.”
“Oh so he’s American. If that’s the reason why don’t you send Hansol instead.”
“Because I want those eggs not hearing about the guy’s mansion being blown up by ‘a mysterious explosion’.”
“Hey that was one time and I wouldn’t have to if that German heir wasn’t being an asshole,” Hansol protested.
“Yeah and we all know that wasn’t the only time,” Seungcheol rolled his eyes. “Listen it really is getting kinda late so can we continue this conversation tomorrow morning.” Seungcheol silently tried to communicate his messages through eye movements that read ‘lets not do this in front of the kids’
Jeonghan sighed, understanding the message loud and clear. “Alright guess I’ll get going.” He bidded farewell to the group as he turned heading back to the elevator.
Jeonghan pressed the number eleven button. The building had eleven floors with each of them having a floor entirely to themselves. The elevator doors groaned open as he stepped into the snowy white painted living room with matching sofas and a diamond covered chandelier- gifted to him from the prince of Saudi Arabia- hanging above. Jeonghan slipped on his favorite fluffy lavender bunny eared slippers ambled over to the bay window. The reason why he chose this floor was because it gave him a breathtaking view of the towering skyscrapers that stood as a perfect background drop for the starry night sky. He gazed at the millions of stars twinkling down; he found star gazing to be interesting and almost therapeutic. However he wished he could share this with someone. Jeonghan loved his friends but they didn’t share the same hobbies as him.
Turning away, Jeonghan headed into his bedroom approaching the drawer pulling the handle. The drawer contained an assortment of elegant rings given to him by former lovers throughout the years. He placed the sapphire ring on the white cushion before closing the drawer. He then sank down into the king sized beige bed letting out a heavy sigh.
Sometimes he wished he could find someone who shared the same interests as him .
~~
The following morning Jeonghan got off on the sixth walk down the hallway stopping in front of a door. He raised a hand and knocked.
“Come in,” A professional brisk voice said from the other side.
Jeonghan resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he stepped inside of an office with mahogany furniture, a bookcase full of leather books and for reasons unknown by everyone there’s a globe in the far corner.
Seungcheol nodded his head as an indication for Jeonghan to sit down. Jeonghan lowered himself into the recliner.
“So what else do you need to tell me that you couldn’t say in front of the others yesterday?”
“This.” Seungcheol slid his phone across the desk. “That’s Joshua. He’s 25 like us and the one in the middle.”
Jeonghan picked up the phone staring at the photo. The photo showed a small group of men in business suits with fake smiles plastered on their faces and right in the center was a lanky young man with oily long black hair with sideswept bangs that looked like they came straight from a 2000s emo boy magazine. The makeup the guy had on was already wearing off revealing sweaty red pimples.
Jeonghan burst out laughing.
“Seriously, Choellie, this is the reason why you’re acting like a nervous wreck. I mean come on look at him. It won’t take me more than five seconds to get those eggs from him.”
Seungcheol arched a questioning eyebrow. “Am I detecting a challenge?”
Jeonghan stood up, extending his hand out with a smirk on his face. He’s wooed princes and princesses, kings, diplomats and literally every wealthy person in the seven continents. So he’s sure he won’t have a problem dealing with someone like Joshua Hong.
“Challenge accepted.”