Chapter 237 - Masquerade (4): The Shadowy Presence

KJ led Mirae away from the crowd. He led her to a balcony and made her sit on a bench. 

"Are you alright?" he asked for the umpteenth time. No matter how many times Mirae assured him, he still could not feel relaxed. Ash had taken advantage of his momentary absence and came near Mirae. He could not help but beat himself up over it. 

"I'm fine," she snickered. KJ threw her a dirty look but she could not stop her laughter. He was being so cute with his constant worry. His usually cold face was replaced with a comical panic. 

"I led an entire rescue operation," she reminded him. "I think I can handle a psycho ex pretty well." 

KJ was still looking worried, so she lightly patted his cheek, "The Cartel can't hurt any of us. Even if they know our faces, they can't directly attack us anymore. We're out in front of the public eye. It's the only reason he could not attack you all these years." 

"Yeah, but I had nothing to lose that time," he said in frustration. "But now I have…" 

He stopped short of saying 'you'. But Mirae caught on to his unsaid words. 

"Nothing will happen to me Kwon Jiwon," she stated. "I have no intention of dying." 

She smiled at him. "Let's go back in," she said, putting on her silver mask. She took his hand and dragged him back inside. He was reluctant, but his wife was being so childish, that he had to indulge her. 

They sat on the dinner table. The other two couples were nowhere in sight. 

"Where are the others?" KJ wondered. 

"Maybe they're still dancing?" Mirae suggested. They were sitting a bit far from the dance floor, so they could not see the others clearly. 

"I'll go look," he said. "If you see Ash approaching, run off." 

"He won't dare anymore," she assured him. "Stop thinking about him." 

KJ smiled despite his misgivings. He held her hand and kissed it. 

"Be right back," he winked. Mirae snickered as he went off. 

"A drink, madame?" a server offered her a clear glass of white wine. 

"Thank you," she said, picking the glass. She took a few sips from it. 

Minutes passed by and KJ was nowhere in sight. She was debating whether to go and look for him, when she suddenly noticed him, running upstairs. 

Frowning, she followed him. Once upstairs, went in search of him. 

"KJ?" she called out. She felt a little tipsy from her drink earlier. Her alcohol tolerance was extremely low and the white wine was giving her a headache. 

A pair of feet slowly approached her. A shadow crept over her as she held onto the wall for support. Sensing a strange presence behind her, Mirae turned around. 

…. 

Junhyung was hiding in one of the rooms, a smile evident on his face. One of his men came in, carrying the unconscious girl. She was wearing a long, blue gown and a silver mask. 

"Sir, she is unconscious," the server stated. "Just like you had planned." 

"Take her to the other room," he commanded. "Let my guests have their fun." 

The server nodded and took her to the VIP room across the hall. 

Junhyun smirked in happiness. He checked his watch. One hour, he decided. I'll call Kwon Jiwon after one hour. That should be enough time for my guests to have their fun. 

…. 

KJ finally found Somi and Hyun Jung, dancing slowly in the center of the dance floor. Or rather Somi was trying to teach Hyun Jung to dance but failed miserably. 

"Put your left foot forward!" Somi whined in despair. 

"I'm just not cut out for dancing," Hyun Jung protested.

"If you'd just try-" 

"What are you two doing?" KJ asked crossly. "We're here to find Song Tamlin, not dance!" 

"That's rich coming from someone who was all over his wife just twenty minutes ago!" Somi snapped. "If there wasn't anyone around you'd be doing an e.r.o.t.i.c salsa with her. Perv!" 

"Why you-" 

"Stop it!" Hyun Jung cut across them. "You guys fight like children!" 

"Where are Dasom and Eli?" KJ asked. 

"Probably off to make out," Somi shrugged. 

"Eli?" Hyun Jung frowned. "She's here on my orders. She won't be romancing anyone. Besides, Dasom isn't her type." 

"My dear boyfriend," Somi spoke as if trying to explain to a five year old. "I have a knack to sense couples. Trust me, those two hooked up. Otherwise why would Dasom give her such an expensive dress?" 

"How do you know he gave it to her?" KJ questioned. 

"Isn't it obvious?" she said, rolling her eyes. "That dress costs double her yearly income! And if Dasom didn't like her, he wouldn't have bothered giving her anything. He'd have just left her to her own devices. Besides, didn't he go down into that bas.e.m.e.nt of horrors to rescue her? He's an idol. Why would he risk his life and go to help a cop? It's obvious! He likes her and if I'm not wrong, she likes him too."

KJ and Hyun Jung were looking at her in a new light. Clearly, she was not as oblivious as she portrayed herself to be. 

"It's a very important talent," she beamed with pride. "They're probably making out somewhere in a corner." 

"Let's just go find them," KJ said, feeling annoyed. 

Somi's prediction turned out to be true. After searching for them for half an hour, they finally spotted Dasom and Eli behind a curtain, kissing furiously. 

"What the-" 

KJ almost shouted out. Dasom, whose tongue was busy exploring Eli's mouth, quickly pulled back. Eli, too, was totally embarrassed at being caught. She was red as a beetroot, wanting to dig a grave and bury herself in it. 

"S-sunbae," she m.o.a.ned almost in tears as Hyun Jung gaped at her. Somi, on the other hand, was smug as her words were true. 

"I told you so," she told KJ and Hyun Jung in a singsong voice. 

"KJ, we are dating," Dasom announced unabashedly. Eli pinched his arm, threatening him to keep quiet but the cat was out of the bag. 

"Let's just go and have dinner," KJ said, shaking his head. Looks like he was not the only one who was lucky in love that night. 

"Where's Mirae?" Somi asked as KJ led them back to the dinner table. 

"She's at the table keeping seats for us," he replied. 

But once they reached the table, Mirae was nowhere to be seen. 

"Where is she?" Hyun Jung asked. 

"She was right here…" KJ said slowly. "Did she go to the washroom?" 

"I'll go and check the female washroom," Somi suggested. 

"I'll come too!" Eli said and they hurried off. They returned after a while with worried expressions. 

"She's not in there!" Somi informed them. "She's not at the bar either!" 

KJ was now panicked. Mirae had disappeared. Did Ash get a hold of her? 

"Find her!" he exclaimed. "I'm sure Ash got her! Find her now!" 

They scattered throughout the hall, looking for her. KJ pushed past the crowd, frantically asking around. 

"Have you seen my wife?" he asked a server but the latter shook his head. 

"Have you seen Mrs. Kwon?" he asked a group of celebrities but they shrugged. No one had seen her. 

The others had no luck finding her either. They looked for her for over an hour and still no sign of her. KJ tried calling her phone but it was switched off. 

"We should ask Song Tamlin," Eli suggested when they re-grouped. "He can help." 

KJ was about to agree when his phone rang up. 

"Hello? Mirae?" he asked in a panicked tone. 

A lazy voice answered from the other end. 

"Hello, my old friend," Junhyung greeted with a sneer. "Missing your wife?"