Chapter 317 - The New Plan

Ash was getting restless. He was pacing back and forth in his apartment, thinking about his next move. The appearance of the President has rattled his plans. The man was now out in the open which made it more difficult for him to take over the Cartel like he had planned. Moreover, he had Nida in his captivity which meant that Ash could not use her to spy on their rivals.

Junhyung entered the house, carrying a briefcase. Ash strode over to him and before Junhyung to greet him, he found himself being slammed against the wall with his collar being grabbed by the former. A blazing anger was lit in Ash's eyes as he glared at Junhyung.

"What the hell are you doing?" Junhyung shouted.

"You slimy little f.u.c.ker!" Ash roared. "You dare to stab me in the back and plot against me with the President?"

Junhyung was choking. Ash's hold on his collar was tightening so much that he could not breathe. 

"You're...misunderstanding...me…" Junhyun wheezed, trying to breathe.

"Don't you f.u.c.k.i.n.g lie to me!" Ash threatened. "The President is planning something. What is it? Tell me!"

"I...will...if you...let me...go…"

Ash threw him aside. Junhyung panted and coughed as he tried to catch his breath. He straightened up and fixed his tie.

"The President is planning to kill KJ and his wife at next week's anniversary party," he revealed. 

"How?" Ash demanded.

"By luring them away," Junhyung said. "He is planning to kidnap Go Soo Bin from the hospital. We already know where he is. So it's only the matter of an opportunity. He already placed his spies within Abyss. They will inform us of the opening."

Ash was deep in worry. If the President kills KJ first, then Ash would never be able to take over the Cartel. 

"But why is he launching a direct attack after so many years?" Ash frowned. "This is unlike him. He would never get his hands dirty himself!"

"He's tired of the cat and mouse game," Junhyun shrugged. "The President had waited for many years and let others do his dirty work. Look what happened in the end. Oguri is dead, Ziko is dead and Teppei is useless. Madam Hong and Lim are also dead. The Cartel is in tatters thanks to Abyss. He's had enough. Kwon Jiwon is his target and this time, the President himself decided to strike."

"No," Ash said, shaking his head. "This can't be it. I know him very well. He's misguiding us. I'm sure he's planning something more."

"What else could he be planning?" Junhyung frowned.

Ash did not reply. He pondered over the question. What was he really planning? His gut instinct told him that something was wrong.

"Keep an eye on the President," he ordered Junhyung. "No matter what happens, we must get to Kwon Jiwon first."

"As you wish," Junhyung replied with a bow. Ash nodded and went towards his room, shutting the door behind him. Junhyung stood there for a while, glaring at Ash's direction.

"Everything will happen according to my plan, Park Ash," he smirked. It was time for him to rise.

….

Mirae was in her office the next day, typing away on her laptop when Somi burst in.

"We need to talk," she said urgently.

"What is it?" Mirae asked in surprise. Somi looked very tense. She bit her lip in nervousness.

"Hyun Jung is acting weird," she blurted out. "He's been so secretive! Are you giving him any extra missions?"

She was genuinely worried for her boyfriend. Hyun Jung was returning home later every night and left way too early in the morning. When she asked him what was the matter, he shrugged her off. The other day, she whiffed a faint scent of Jasmine from his shirt which only made her more suspicious.

"No," Mirae frowned. "I haven't given him any extra missions."

Somi was crestfallen. She slumped on the couch in dismay. Running a hand through her long hair, she said, "I think he's cheating on me."

Mirae blinked at her. It took her several seconds to digest what Somi had just said. Hyun Jung was cheating? It was an impossible notion!

"You must be mistaken," Mirae said. "He loves you! He wouldn't have waited this long if he didn't want to be with you for the rest of your lives."

"He's coming late every night!" Somi burst out. "He's hiding something. I even heard him talking in a hushed tone with someone late at night and when I asked, he didn't reply! Moreover, I smelt women's perfume on his shirt last night!"

It finally dawned on Mirae and she wanted to facepalm. Hyun Jung was busy with the engagement preparations and was also checking out the flowers for decoration. The man had taken up everything unto himself, scrutinizing each detail. He would not even let Mirae interfere with the preparations for the proposal ceremony.

Mirae wanted to tell Somi about this but the latter was busy in her own wild thoughts. Besides, she wanted to see the shocked expression on her best friend's face once Hyun Jung proposed to her. So with great difficulty, she kept her mouth shut.

"I must find out who that woman is!" Somi went on, talking to herself. "I'm sure it's one of his colleagues! Eli is out because she's with Dasom. Is it that witch Gu Sonhee? Or is it that wily Kang Jungmin? She always had a crush on him. I saw their pictures from the precinct picnic last year and the way she was clinging to him...ugh!"

She let out a frustrated sight. Her insides were twisted by jealousy as she pictured Hyun Jung with his hot colleagues.

"I need to find out!" she declared once again. "Mirae!"

Mirae jumped in surprise at her authoritative tone. She had never seen Somi so determined. 

"Help me," she ordered. "Set your spies after him. If you see any of those two white lotuses around my man, let me know. I'm gonna show them what I can do!"

Somi was burning so much with envy that even Mirae was scared. It was a comical situation and Mirae pitied the poor guy.

Hyun Jung is in for a lot of trouble, she sighed inwardly.