Taeyeon's P.O.V
"Did you have a good time with Tiffany?" Yuri asks.
"Yes we did." I reply flatly.
"Why are you so depressed?...Omo, don't tell me you and Tiffany broke up?!" Yuri runs over and jumps on the couch next to me.
"I wish that were the case." I sigh, and lay my head down on her lap.
"What are you saying Tae, you wish to break up?"
"It would have been better that way…but I was to much of a coward to do it." I close my eyes and rest my hand on my forehead.
"Tae, you did good okay." Yuri plays with my hair.
"I hope so…do you think I should have a chat with Tiffany's dad before we hand over the evidence to the chief? I want to give him a chance to turn himself in, it might lessen his sentence."
"Hmmm, seems like a good idea. But how are you supposed to go? He'll find out about your identity. Let me go instead."
"No Yul, I want to personally go. I'll test him first before I reveal myself, see if he's willing to turn himself in. This is the least I can do for Tippani. I'll go as Jung Woo, he'll think that I'm someone from the gang wanting to talk to him regarding our business deals…then I'll find a way to break the news to him…Can you get Jessica to book an appointment with him for me?"
"Sure."
I sit in the waiting room of the Hwang Co. building flicking through the pages of a magazine.
"Mr Hwang is ready to see you." One of the employees says and leads me to up to the top story. I pass by the secretary desk and give a subtle wave to Jessica. She smiles weakly at me, knowing all too well the things that will transpire between Tiffany's dad and I. I walk into the CEO room and see Tiffany's dad sitting on a chair behind his desk. I take slow steps towards him and he stands up smiling whilst extending his hand to me. So this is who Tiffany got her eye-smile from. I bow 90 degrees and shake his hand before sitting down.
"And who might you be?"
"I'm Han Jung Woo."
"Mr Han, what can I do for you today?"
"Jung Woo is fine sir. I'm…a friend of your daughter."
"Michelle?"
"No, Tiffany."
"Ah, my youngest." He smiles warmly as he says her name. "So Jung Woo, what is it you wanted?"
I needed to know whether he continued trading with us out of his own free will or if he was still forced into it. I place my arm on the table and pull up my sleeve revealing the tattoo. Mr Hwang's eyes grow wide and the colour drains from his face.
"Stay away from my daughter, she knows nothing of this! I've already agreed to continue this partnership despite it going against every one of my morals and beliefs. What more do you want from me?!" He stands up. Now that I was sure of his true intentions, it was time to reveal myself.
"Sir, calm down please. I can assure you that my intentions are the same as yours, I also don't want any harm to come to Tippani."
"You can't fool me, you scumbags have been keeping tabs on my family, threatening me with their safety. You've driven me to a dead end, pressured me to carry out these illegal dealings."
"Yes we have…but that can all stop now."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Mr Hwang what if I told you there was a way to stop all this, a way to ensure that your family stays safe?"
"What's the catch? I know your Boss would never let me off this easily."
"Turn yourself in to the police." I say and Mr Hwang eyes me speculatively.
"You're telling me to turn myself in? Who are you exactly? Are you really a member of the gang?"
"Yes you heard me correctly, and I am indeed a member of the Bloody Rose gang…but I am also a member of the Seoul Police Force."
"Seoul Police? But how?"
"I've been working undercover as a member of the gang. For the past 4 years I've left my real life behind and took on the role of Han Jung Woo working my way up the gang hierarchy. Now that I've reached the top, the time has come to completely eliminate the gang."
"How can I believe your words? Show me proof."
I rummage through my bag and pull out my police identification badge, that Yuri retrieved from the station earlier, and show it too him.
"Kim Taeyeon." He reads, "But this is a girl."
I take my wig off and shake my hair gently, allowing my auburn locks to fall below my shoulders.
"Mr Hwang, officer Kim Taeyeon at your service." I salute him.
"So this is true." Mr Hwang finally comes to terms with everything. "Finally the day has come where I can put my mind at ease without having to worry about the safety of my children. I had always thought of turning myself in and reporting the deeds of the gang to the police however they threatened me with my family's safety and so I was forced to continue this partnership. I'm prepared to give up everything to ensure their safety…even my life. I'm so sick of this…sick of hiding things from Tiffany…I was never the father figure she thought I was." He slumped down in his chair.
"I'm glad to see how much you care for your family. I'm very good friends with Tippani and she is always telling me how much she looks up to you. Raising three children on your own is not an easy feat. I'm not well acquainted with your other two children but what I do know is that Tippani turned out to be a very kind-hearted and well-mannered person. A person who easily makes everyone around her happy with her contagious smile and someone whom you would fall in love with at first sight."
"Yes, Tiffany does have an amazing ability to make people like her."
"So does she know that you're…well, a girl?"
"Yes, she knows everything about me even about my identity as a police officer." I say and Mr Hwang momentarily stops breathing.
"So she knows that I…"
"No, I haven't told her that yet…I can't bring myself to tell her. I thought that it would be best for you, as her father, to tell her yourself."
"I appreciate you keeping this from her, I wouldn't want her finding out through someone other than myself."
"Certainly sir…Tiffany aside, we have to talk business. As you would have known from the day this partnership started, it's inevitable that the law would catch up to you sooner or later."
"I knew that my time would come. I should turn myself in."
"No, now is not the time. I need to obtain evidence from the other party first, once I do I will come here and escort you myself. But before then there is something else I need to know."
"What is it?"
"I want to know whether or not you are only one who is involved in these illegal dealings? Was there anyone else in the company who was aware of this matter?"
"N-no, j-just me, no one else knows." He stutters and his hands are shaking. I knew straightaway that this was a lie.
"Mr Hwang, you have to be honest with me." I give him a moment to calm himself and he sighs, bringing his hands up to loosen his tie.
"My other two children. My oldest son, Leo and daughter, Michelle…They have high positions in the company and so they know. But they weren't directly involved in the business, they just knew of it and I made them keep this secret."
"I suspected as much, but you must know that keeping this secret from the police is also a crime."
"Yes." He looks down to the floor.
"But if they were to say that they knew nothing of the matter, then…they can't be charged. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
My Hwang looks at me. He reaches over and takes my hand in his.
"Thank you for leaving my children out of this. You don't know how grateful I am." He pats my hand.
"I'm doing this for Tippani." I say. "I don't want her losing all her family in one day."
"My daughter is lucky to have a friend such as yourself." He smiles weakly.
"I don't think it'll be that way for long. No one wants to be friends with the person responsible for placing their dad in jail."
"How'd it go?" Yuri asks over the phone as I enter the apartment.
"Well everything went according to plan…I don't know whether that is a good thing or not."
"So has he told Tiffany?"
"No, I told him to hold if off until I get evidence from our side first. I want to keep this from Tiffany for as long as possible. Right now the most important thing to obtain the evidence."
*KNOCK KNOCK*
"Hold on a sec." I reach for the doorknob but the person on the other side has already opened it.
"Taetae." Tiffany greets me with a peck my on the lips and her dazzling eye-smile.
"Well, I'll leave you two to it then. I have some business down at the station anyway." Yuri says.
"Bye Yul." I hang up.
"Taetae, where have been today?" Tiffany leads me over to the sofa.
"Just gang business." I bury my face into the crook of her neck and inhale her familiar scent. "I'm tired." I breathe into her neck and kiss it.
"Aww, my poor Taetae. Let me give you a massage." She pushes me so that I'm lying front down on the sofa and she then straddles my back. "Masseuse Fany, at your service. At Hwang Massage Clinic we guarantee to smooth out your knots and relieve all your stress, if you're not satisfied then it'll be completely free of charge." She starts squeezing and pressing at my shoulder muscles. "Oh my, Taetae your muscles are so tight, you've been overworking yourself."
"Mmmmm." I moan in contempt. Tiffany's hands continue to work wonders and soon I find my muscles relaxing at her touches. When all my muscles are no longer tense I roll around to face her, I stare up at her confused expression.
"I'm not finished." She pouts.
"Oh I think that's enough Masseuse Ppani, you deserve payment for such good service." I smile and place my hands on her hips. I sit upright and push her down under me, so that I'm now the one on top. I let my hands slide under her shirt and rub her abdomen in circles. "My my Miss Hwang…" I put my finger to my lip in thought. "Your abdominal muscles are way to tense. I think a trip to Kim Taeyeon's Love Clinic will straighten them out. We guarantee to please…if not then subsequent rounds will be provided free of charge." I wink and lean down to capture her lips…
~The next day~
Taeyeon's P.O.V
"Ah, Jung Woo, you're back so soon? I see you've recovered well." The Boss greets me at the door of his house.
"Yes Boss, I didn't want to take too much time off, the gang still needs me."
"I admire your work ethic." He chuckles. "This must be Romeo that I've heard so much about." He gestures to the dog sitting at my feet.
"The one and only." I pat him. "Romeo you wait for me outside okay?" I enter the house.
"Bring him in too, I quite like dogs myself." The Boss says and I beckon for Romeo to follow. The Boss attempts to pat Romeo but the dog backs away, growling and baring his teeth.
"Romeo, stop it." I say and he whimpers. I follow the Boss into the living room and we sit down in the leather couches, opposite each other.
"Anything to drink? Tea? Coffee? Wine?" He asks.
"I'm fine."
"Well, let's get down to business then." He leans back, crossing his legs and placing his arms on the arm rests on either side of him. "I'm leaving for China tomorrow. I'll be gone for a week, I'll be there to discuss the issue of setting up a partnership with the Chinese and for the remaining time there I'll be holidaying. I haven't had time for myself in years. While I'm gone I'm placing you in charge of everything back here in Korea. I'll be leaving my computer with records of all our business trades here so you can access them…however, they are not to leave my house. Contact me immediately if anything goes wrong. But I trust that you can handle everything while I'm away."
"I'll give my 101%."
"Good."
"Have a safe trip boss." I bow and leave his house.
Once I'm in the car I pull out my phone and call Yuri.
"Hello?"
"Yuri come over to my apartment tonight."
I am lying in the bed waiting for Yuri to come over. I hear the apartment door open and Romeo runs out to greet the guest.
"Tae?" Yuri calls out.
"In the bedroom!"
"What's up shortie?" Yuri jumps into bed beside me.
"I'm going to get the evidence tomorrow."
"I'm coming with."
"No you are not, that'll make it even more suspicious."
"How are you going to do it? The evidence is in the boss' computer right? And he doesn't let anyone access it."
"The boss will be going to China tomorrow and he's given me access to his files so that I can manage the business dealings while he is away."
"Wow, the boss must really trust you."
"Yes he does and this is the perfect opportunity to get the evidence. I don't even need to snoop around since I can legitimately access the records."
"Should I be reporting this to the chief?"
"Wait until I have obtained the evidence first. I just wanted to tell you that if something does go wrong and I'm found out then-"
"Nothing's going to happen to you Tae."
"I know but I'm saying if it does. If I'm not back by morning then…do not go after me Yuri. Report back to the chief that I wasn't able to succeed … and take care of my family and Tippani for me will you?"
"You don't even have to ask."
Narrator's P.O.V
Taeyeon drove up to the boss' house and waited for the metal gates to open before entering the grand estate. As she stepped out of the car the gang members who were guarding the house bowed to her. Taeyeon and Romeo stepped into the boss' house and went directly into his study room. She walked over to the desk and opened up the laptop, scrolling though the transaction records and the trading and meeting schedules for the week. She read the timetable. There was a meeting with a customer later on in the day, who had ordered 30 fake passports and citizenship certificates. Tomorrow she had to visit the gangs' newly opened brothel to see how that was going, check up if those refugee girls were still working there, or forced to work there. Taeyeon had remembered how one of the girls had gripped onto her leg begging her to not let her younger sister become a prostitute. What could she do? She was surrounded by her gang members and so she had kicked the girl away and walked out. Those poor girls had escaped from their poverty and war-stricken country to find a better life here but were scammed into working as prostitutes. Taeyeon sighed, there was so much felony and misdemeanour going on but how could she stop all of them without being suspected. She had to turn a blind eye to the insignificant ones and only interfere with the more substantial crimes. She stuck a USB into the laptop and began to copy all the files onto it. Romeo sat by the door, guarding it. Taeyeon willed the files to be transferred quicker, if one of the members came in and saw her copying the files she would be dead for sure. Once the copying was finally done Taeyeon ripped the USB out and placed it in her pocket. She closed the laptop and beckoned Romeo to follow her out. The gang members bowed as she left, driving off to the meeting place with her first client of the day.
On the other side of town, parked in a dark secluded alleyway, the leader of the Bloody Rose gang sat in his car with his fists clenched tightly. Unbeknownst to Taeyeon, once she had clicked the button to transfer the files onto her USB, the computer automatically generated a message that was sent directly to the gang leaders phone signalling that the files were being copied.
"Han Jung Woo, I trusted you." The Boss said through clenched teeth. He wound down the window and threw his phone against the wall with so much force that it shattered into a million pieces.