Chapter 288 - Wedding (5): Panic

By the time it was 5 PM, Mirae was getting extremely worried. No matter how many times she tried, none of her calls were being returned. She tried Somi and KJ numerous times but they ignored her. Hyun Jung had at least replied until a couple of hours ago but he, too, had stopped responding. Even Psycho was out of reach.

She buzzed Shelley.

"Shelley, did you get a hold of Somi?" she demanded.

"Not yet, Madam," Shelley replied, feeling guilty. She had tried to reach Ms. Somi many times but to no avail.

Mirae picked up her phone and dialed Riggs. He picked up instantly.

"Riggs, Somi and KJ are not responding to my calls!" she exclaimed. "Contact their security teams and let me know!"

"Madam…" he started but trailed off.

"What happened?" Mirae asked. Her body stiffened at his tone. He sounded grim as if there was some bad news.

"Madam, I'm afraid Mr. Kwon is missing," he finally said. "We've looked for him everywhere but there is no sign of him."

Mirae was panicking. KJ was missing?

"How did this happen?" she yelled. 

"He was at the intersection situated outside a church," Riggs explained. "Shooting for a variety show when the guards lost track of him. The shooting crew searched everywhere but couldn't find him-"

As he was saying this, Mirae's head was swirling with ominous thoughts. What if the Cartel got him? Was it the President? Was KJ safe? Or was he…

"Where was he last seen?" she asked.

"I'll send you the address," Riggs replied. "Detective Eli is already at your office. She'll pick you up."

"I'm on it!" Mirae exclaimed. She did not even bother to pick up her belongings but rushed outside towards the elevator. She punched the button but the elevator was too damn slow for her. Adrenaline rushed through her as she cursed out loud and hurried towards the stairs instead. The employees at the office were surprised to see their CEO running down the stairs like a mad woman. She ran all the way from the eighth floor to the parking lot, not stopping even for a second.

She was panting heavily by the time she reached the car park. Her heart was racing at a lightning speed but she did not care. Mirae glanced around to find Eli's car and spotted it parked a few meters away. She ran towards it.

"Eli!" she cried, knocking the driver's window. Eli unlocked the passenger door and motioned her to get in.

"Where...is...KJ?" Mirae panted as soon as she got in.

But Eli was not responding. Instead, she bit her lip thinking of what to say.

"Eli?"

"You'll find out when we get there," Eli said in a cryptic tone. She looked very guilty and sad. Mirae was shaking in fear. She dimly heard the revving of the engine and they were driving off towards the highway.

"I'll call my team," Mirae decided. "We'll raid every known hideout of the Cartel and fish out information from Teppei if needed. I'll storm Aroma Inc. if I have to."

She pulled out her cell phone but Eli held her hand. "You...you won't need to do that," she said, her voice quivering. She was not looking Mirae in the eye.

"What happened to KJ?" Mirae demanded. "Why won't anyone tell me? Did you guys find him?"

"We...we will tell you once you get there," Eli managed to whisper. Tears were swelling in her eyes but she was holding them back with great difficulty.

Mirae felt her heart go numb. It was exactly like the night her parents were killed. She still recalled that phone call. Secretary Lee was hesitating to tell her about what happened but only requested her to go to the hospital. The same feeling of dread was creeping up in her heart. 

Her hands were shaking with fear. She nervously bit her nails, trying not to let the negative thoughts cloud her mind. He is safe, she chanted. He is safe.

But the thoughts were creeping into her mind. What if something had happened to him? Did the President finally get to him? Was she about to lose the person she truly fell in love with? Wasn't this supposed to be a second chance for them? Then was fate so cruel that their time together will be cut short again?

Each minute was increasing her paranoia. Until she saw him in flesh, she would not be satisfied. She clasped her hands together to pray but the prayers she had learnt all those years ago would not come to her lips. Her mind was totally blank. She could not forgive herself if anything happened to KJ.

After what felt like an eternity, Eli stopped in front of a church.

"Is...is he in there?" Mirae asked. Her voice was hoarse and shaky.

"Follow me," Eli simply said. Mirae followed her into the church. 

It was very dark inside. Mirae could not see anything amidst the pitch black darkness but Eli held her hand and gently led her forward. She was taking Mirae to a corridor until they stopped in front of a door.

"Go in," Eli coaxed.

"Is he in there?" Mirae asked.

"You'll see," Eli said in a grim tone. "The light switch is on the left."

Mirae was trembling as she slowly opened the door. It was dark in there too but she could make out a silhouette in front of her. She reached towards the light switch and turned it on.

Suddenly, loud cries echoed from all around her causing her to shriek.

"Congratulations on your wedding!" 

"What the-"

Mirae looked around in shock. Hyun Jung, Somi, Riggs and Dasom were there, showering confetti on her. 

"What is going on?" she asked in confusion. They were all beaming at her.

"It's your wedding silly!" Somi announced, coming forward to hug her. "KJ planned it all for you. He kept us on our toes all day to prepare this ceremony for you."

"More like you whipped us into doing all this," Dasom muttered. Somi threw him a sharp gaze. 

Mirae was still shocked by the turn of events. Wedding ceremony? Her mind could not grasp so many things at once. She had a lot of questions but all she wanted to do was see KJ.

"You can't meet him before the wedding!" Somi said, reading her mind. "He needs to see his bride when she walks down the aisle. We have everything prepared. Now it's time for you to see the wedding gown!"

Without waiting for Mirae to ask anything more, she pushed her best friend forward. The silhouette Mirae had seen earlier was of a dress placed on a rack. It was covered. Somi unzipped it.

"Get ready for it!" she said gleefully as she pulled down the cover.