Chapter 7
“You’re getting prettier every day, Sa-hee.”
Chairman Park was in his mid-40s back then. He had once worked as a mercenary, just like Bum-gyu.
But while Bum-gyu quit early to raise Sa-hee, Park kept working and made a fortune. With that money, he finally gained the U.S. citizenship he had dreamed of, and then started a business in Washington, D.C.
On the surface, his company supplied office goods to government agencies. But in reality, it was a “problem-solver” business—taking on dirty, dangerous jobs the government couldn’t handle openly.
The work was risky, but the pay was high. Park became wealthier and more polished every year. As his business grew, he needed more subcontractors. Bum-gyu’s team—including Sa-hee and Seung-cheol—was one of them.
Only three months earlier, they had finished a job for the U.S. Treasury Department. They wanted more rest time, so when Park showed up now, no one looked happy.
Sa-hee gave him a cold look and walked past. Instead, Seung-cheol stepped forward to block him.
“Still don’t know our rule? After each project, we rest for six months. Come back three months later.”
Bum-gyu, sitting back in his chair, added:
“If you’re not welcome here, stop coming. This office is small. There’s no seat for you anyway.”
Normally, a client like Park would hold the power. But in this underground world, things worked differently. Teams like Sa-hee’s—who always delivered perfectly—were rare. That gave them leverage.
“Oh, come on. I drove all the way here without rest, I’m thirsty. At least give me some water.”
Sa-hee silently handed him a bottle of water.
“Drink, and then leave.”
Park frowned.
“Even you’re treating me coldly now?”
She snorted and walked to the locker, pulling out her flight jacket and sling bag.
“You didn’t come here just to see them. You brought work, right? But I’m leaving for Santa Barbara soon, so your visit isn’t welcome.”
She smiled faintly as she slipped on her jacket.
“Santa… Santa Barbara?” Park stammered.
He quickly opened the bottle, gulped down water, then wiped his lips with the back of his hand before stepping closer.
“No, I didn’t come for your uncles. I came for you, Sa-hee.”
Smiling brightly, the once-handsome Park continued:
“It’s about work. And it’s something you’ll find hard to refuse.”
“Hard to refuse?”
That caught Seung-cheol’s attention. He slowly walked over.
“What kind of job?”
Sensing the opening, Park spoke quickly.
“There’s an anonymous request. They want your team to join.”
The small office went silent. Three pairs of eyes stared at him.
Then, like a chorus, three voices rang out together:
“Are you crazy?”
“Go away.”
“We’re not doing it.”
The reason was simple.
The job was anonymous.
Anonymous jobs meant huge risk. If a client couldn’t even reveal their name, it meant that if anything went wrong, the blame would all fall on the team.
“You won’t even hear the conditions? The upfront payment is 700,000 dollars, and the success bonus is 38 million dollars—about 6.3 billion won!”
The number was tempting. But everyone knew: anonymous jobs always paid high because they were dangerous.
“Each of you would get 1.5 million dollars. And it’s not even life-threatening.”
At that, Seung-cheol hesitated.
“What exactly is the job?”
“Stealing the sapphire necklace owned by Myung-sung Group. You’ve heard about it—it’s all over the news.”
All three nodded.
The story was famous.
Originally, the necklace had belonged to some French noble family. Decades ago, it appeared at an auction, and the founder of Myung-sung Group bought it. He gave it to his wife, and ever since, it was passed down to the heir of the family.
Recently, the French government filed a lawsuit, demanding the necklace’s return. They claimed it was a valuable part of France’s history.
The trial took place in the U.S., because the necklace was displayed at the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
After more than a year of legal battle, the New York court ruled in favor of Myung-sung Group. Historical value or not, it was private property.
To celebrate, Myung-sung extended the exhibition. People were lining up just to see the necklace.
And now… someone wanted it stolen.
The team grew quiet again.
Was the client France? Or the original noble family?
But no one asked. In this business, you never asked why. You only judged the job by the conditions.
One necklace. 1.5 million dollars each.
Sa-hee did quick mental math.
She had been saving since she was fifteen, working alongside Bum-gyu. By now, she had around 500,000 dollars. This one job could triple that—enough to buy a house in the center of Seoul.
It was hard not to be tempted.
“What exactly do you want us to do?” she asked.
“It’s not difficult. And you won’t be working alone.”
That meant other teams would also join. Park had even used the word join earlier.
“Actually, we don’t need Bum-gyu or Seung-cheol. We just need you, Sa-hee.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Only you can do this part.”
“Why me?”
“To seduce a man.”
Silence again.
Sa-hee blinked in shock. Bum-gyu froze.
Seung-cheol scowled first.
“Seduce a man? You mean lure the target?”
“That’s right.”
“You mean her?”
Park nodded.
Seung-cheol scoffed.
“She’s never seduced a man in her life. She’d sooner break his neck.”
Sa-hee thought the same.
She was only twenty-two. Since she was fifteen, she had worked as a fixer just to get Korean citizenship. The only thing she knew about men was which spots to hit to take them down.
Seduction? That was for women like Bella—the ones who reeked of perfume and sex appeal. Not her.
