Chapter 40 - The Party (6)----R 18

"W-what?" Madam Hong stammered. On closer inspection, she realized that the man on the bed was not Ash. He was wearing a blonde wig. 

KJ stood there, holding the camera. "Caught in the act, Madam Hong," he gave her a sly smile. 

"What is the meaning of this?" she asked, stumped as she looked from one man to another. The fake Ash was now putting on a bathrobe.

"A little payback," KJ replied, shutting the camera off. "For the lousy threat you sent to me."

He sat down majestically on a couch opposite the bed. Madam Hong's expression changed from confusion to anger.

"I WILL SUE YOU FOR THIS!" she shrieked. "Y-YOU HAD ME MOLESTED. AND EVEN RECORDED IT?"

"Ahh..." KJ's eyes narrowed. "Molestation, eh? Yeah, what I did could be labeled as that."

"What do you want?" she asked. "Money? I doubt that! You are one of the wealthiest men in this country. You don't need money!"

"No," KJ replied coolly. "I want information on Teppei. When is he coming back to the country and where will his next transaction take place?"

Madam Hong was stunned. 

"You want to walk into the Cartel's lair?" she sneered. "That's suicide! They are targeting you!"

"Nervetheless," KJ stepped forward. "Tell me otherwise I will send this video to your husband."

He held up the camcorder.

"As if he'd care," she snorted. "I can simply say that I was drugged and taken advantage of! I will sue you all and send you to jail!"

To her surprise, KJ was smiling.

"But in that case, you won't be spared from jail term either," he toyed with her. "Acutally, jail would be a safer place for you because your husband will torture you with his own hands."

"What do you mean?" she demanded. 

"Psycho," KJ ushered the man in the bathrobe.

"Yes, oppa?" he beamed up at the mention of his name.

"Turn on the video on that television," KJ ordered, pointing towards a LED TV set, fixed on the wall and handed Psycho an USB drive.

Psycho strode over to the TV and turned on the video. Upon seeing the images, Madam Hong's expression turned from anger to fear.

....... 

(WARNING: THIS PART DEALS WITH A SENSITIVE ISSUE LIKE RAPE SO PLEASE SKIP TO THE DOTTED LINES IF IT'S TOO UNCOMFORTABLE. THIS BOOK BY NO MEANS ROMANTICIZES RAPE NOR PROMOTES IT AND WILL PORTRAY IT AS A CRIME FOR ALL PLOT PURPOSES.) 

The video showed a young girl, barely eighteen and she looked as if she was drugged. A man's hand was caressing her body, as it slid up towards the area between her legs. Another man was ripping off her shirt and pants. Then came another man, this time an American, who was sucking on her breasts.

"Please let me go," the girl struggled weakly. She was too drugged and could not move her muscles as the men held her down. They were tasting her, biting into her flesh as she protested feebly.

"No...mom...help me...mom," she cried.

"This one is struggling too much, Madam Hong," the American said in English.

A slim woman came into the view. She headed over to the bed, stroked the girl's head.

"Don't worry, darling," she cooed at the girl. "Mom is right here. The uncles won't hurt you. They are trying to help us. You want to help your dad's business, right?"

The girl, upon the sound of her mother's voice, nodded as tears fell off her eyes.

"Then obey these uncles and everything will be alright," Madam Hong cajoled her. "Here, let me give you one more pill."

The girl vehemently shook her head but Madam Hong grabbed her chin and forced a pill down her throat. Squirming under the drug's effects, the girl could not fight anymore. Her limbs went rigid as one of the men inserted his fingers inside her.

"Is she a virgin?" he demanded.

"Yes," Madam Hong said in a cold tone. Her voice was devoid of any motherly love. "Do what you want with her, but make sure my husband gets the tender tomorrow."

"Don't worry," the American said. "He'll get it if your daughter can keep us happy tonight."

"I'll be off then," Madam Hong replied. "Drop her home tomorrow morning."

With that, she exited the room, ignoring the please of her daughter behind her. Soon, the room was full of sounds of lewd plops and a sobbing girl.

....… 

The video stopped. A silence dawned over them. 

"How did you get this?" Madam Hong whispered.

"Does it matter?" KJ smirked. "A woman who sold her own daughter to predators, tried to force another man into sleeping with her and pimped herself out for wealth. You really are despicable."

"How did you get this?" Madam Hong repeated, her voice full of fear.

Before KJ could open his mouth, two figures barged into the room. A masked person wearing men's clothing and...

"Ash?" Madam Hong was stunned. She ran towards him and threw her arms around his neck.

"A-ash," she sobbed. "These people tricked me! They sent in a fake person disguised as you and...and..."

She continued to wail, holding on to him. Ash took her hands and pushed her away from him. 

Madam Hong fell backwards on the floor, stupefied by his rejection.

"You're sick," he spat out. "Selling your own daughter for money. I've seen many disgusting people...but you're just the worst."

"Y-you..."

Realization dawned on her. Ash was also in with them!

"All of you tricked me?" she looked around. "Why?"

"Psycho, leave us," the masked person ordered him. Bowing deeply, he exited the room. The other three rounded on the spiteful woman on the floor.

"To make you reveal Teppei's location," the masked said. Madam Hong could not recognize the high pitched voice, which was probably autotuned by a hidden voice modifier.

That was impossible! If she revealed Teppei's location, the Cartel will come after her. They will not just kill her; they will annhilate her entire existence. 

"The Cartel will kill me if I reveal Teppei's location," Madam Hong said, her voice shivering. "I can't!"

"Then we will tell your husband what you did to your daughter," Ash threatened. 

"Our computer team already has the video," the masked figure said. 

"They are ready to hit the email button," KJ finished. "The Cartel won't even get to you coz your husband will destroy you first."

They were right. Her husband will kill her before the Cartel could.

"We will give you an easy option," the masked figure stooped in front of her. "Tell us where Teppei is and we will keep our lips sealed. You will leave this country quietly, never to return. You will stay away from your daughter and never contact anyone from your old life. No jail, no Cartel and no vengeful husband. No one will know that you gave us the information on Teppei."

Madam Hong was in a dilemma. She had everything here. Her riches, power and status was unmatched. If she leaves, she will lose everything. But if she stays, the Cartel will hunt her down and her husband will also not spare her. Moreover, if he divorces her, she will lose everything. She could not fathom anything.

She glanced at Ash. The object of her desires, betrayed her. The very thought of it was driving her insane.

"Teppei has gone abroad now," she finally said. "But he will return during mid July to send another consignment of women from Thailand. He will bring the shipment himself and dock at Seoul Sea Port."

"Mid July?" Ash frowned, as he turned to the other two. "That's three months from now."

"Then we'll wait," the masked figure said. "We can gather information on the deal he is about to strike and attack him at the right time."

The three of them nodded in understanding. They needed to plan the next move very carefully.

"I believe, our work here is done," KJ said as he stood up. He turned towards Madam Hong. "If you reveal anything about our meeting tonight, we will not hesitate to reveal your wrongdoings to your husband."

"Leave this country, and don't ever return," Ash said coldly. Madam Hong looked into his eyes. They held no love for her. Only hatred and disgust remained.

"Let's go," the masked person suggested. "Let her wallow in her madness."

They turned away, leaving the hysterical woman on the floor.

....

"So in three months we'll have to catch Teppei," Mirae pondered as they headed towards the parking. The party guests were gone, except for a few of them who were busy in the bedrooms of the private villa.

"Seems like it," KJ said.

"But what is the guarantee that Madam Hong will leave the country?" Ash pointed out. "She might betray us."

"Should we just send the video to her husband?" Mirae suggested. "He'll lock her up in jail and she'll be away for a long time."

KJ was about to speak when his phone rang up. It was Hyun Jung.

"You guys go ahead," KJ said. "I'm coming."

The other two shrugged as he turned away to receive the call. Ash and Mirae started to head towards their car. As KJ was talking to Hyun Jung, a disheveled figure caught his attention.

Ash too turned back to see an angry Madam Hong  standing there, pointing a gun at him. 

The gunshot tore through the silence of the night. Mirae's mind went blank as blood splattered on her face.

The last thing he remembered before collapsing, was Mirae's crying face.