Not Bad 13
“Hey, niece. Where did you learn that?”
Kwon Hee-jae’s voice was serious. Lee Da-in, who had instinctively drawn back to the edge of the bed, stared at him in secret and answered.
“I just… liked sports from a young age. So I picked it up naturally.”
“You’re in law school.”
“Don’t law students who study well have to exercise?”
“They do.”
Was the sudden recovery real? Kwon Hee-jae studied his own thigh with an expression of pure wonder.
“Still, don’t move too quickly. You must have been in pain. Lie down for at least half an hour.”
“Was it Lee Woo-hee?”
Da-in grabbed the discarded slipper and tried to bolt. She froze at the name. Something icy crawled up her spine. It felt as if she had walked straight into a trap.
Kwon Hee-jae propped himself on his arms behind her, back pressed to the mattress, and lifted his gaze. The snake tattoo that ran from his right wrist to his elbow traced the muscle fibers of his forearm, giving the ink three-dimensional depth.
“Why… me?”
“You know how to touch a body?”
“Yes?”
“I want to hire you as an assistant until I find someone to get me out of here.”
“What kind of assistant?”
Kwon Hee-jae answered by tapping his own leg.
“You mean to massage that side of the leg?”
“Not interested?”
No. Honestly? It sounded perfect. The problem was that the only person who could get her grandfather’s house back was Kwon Hee-jae himself.
If it had been anyone else, no lawyer—regardless of how eager—would have been so proactive about forging documents.
There had to be some backing behind him. Power. Money. Whatever kind of influence a man like Kwon Hee-jae possessed.
“I don’t have any certifications. I just picked it up naturally while exercising. It’s fine.”
Da-in raised her last shred of pride.
“Better than someone fumbling around blindly. Just until I get out of here. It’s better than you staying here, eating for free.”
Oh, damn it. He knew exactly how to hit the bruise. He knew how sensitive a Korean without a home could be.
“Then let’s set a schedule. I have plenty of things to do, too.”
“If I tell you to come, just come. I’ll give you extra pay.”
“Oh? You sound like someone who’s hired people before. Did you know?”
“You don’t look much like a law student.”
He wasn’t doubting her. Or maybe he was just insulted. The spoiled little girl he once looked down on had fixed his leg in one go. That might sting more than he cared to admit.
Da-in couldn’t think of a reply and told him to rest. She left his room.
She walked the hallway like nothing had happened, then ran to her own room like she was fleeing.
Was this good fortune or a failure of the operation? She couldn’t decide yet.
She was heading to the bathroom to file a report when she saw Ju Seung-eon carrying a sleepy Kwon Yeon-woo.
The boy, limp in his uncle’s arms, looked more peaceful than she had ever seen him. The image of the two of them walking hand-in-hand toward the villa was something Da-in had only imagined.
She stared at them for a moment longer, then turned away to avoid Ju Seung-eon’s piercing gaze.
***
“Lucky.”
The next day, Dan dropped the words while helping Da-in with Kwon Hee-jae’s recovery. That damned ghost tree. He really should have kept his mouth shut.
Surfers who had booked surfboards online kept showing up from dawn.
While Da-in handed out the boards, the blinding sun made her squint and open her laptop. Dan, leaning against the counter, dropped a USB onto the table.
It was the file on the man Kwon Hee-jae had been chasing the day he arrived in Hawaii.
Da-in handed one board to each of the three men who looked like brothers, then got a wink in return. Asian features must have made her look young. That was the usual treatment around here.
Dan watched her with narrowed eyes and gave a small nod as she opened the file. He picked up his own board and headed for the water.
‘Philippines, maybe.’
Da-in read the criminal’s profile aloud. Sami Santos, Filipino national. Seven drug and violence convictions, four months in prison for illegal weapons possession, released two months ago. Early twenties.
Anyone that age probably grew up in crime.
Then who had given him the orders? A high-output motorcycle and a suppressor. The fact that he was tracking Kwon Hee-jae’s schedule suggested he wasn’t acting alone.
Was it pure revenge? Gangsters and drug dealers often made examples of traitors.
They liked to show their own faces by taking extreme measures like execution, just to scare people.
But sending a nobody to provoke them all the way here…
“Test.”
The smell of seawater hit her as Dan’s breathing grew ragged. He must have surfed one wave already. He reached past the counter and took her tumbler.
“Huh? That’s mine.”
“Share it. I’m not dying.”
“Move. People keep staring at the boss.”
“I’m special, okay?”
Da-in pretended to look annoyed and flipped her middle finger.
That was pure jealousy.
Dan Sneyer’s shell was more than attractive. White. Blonde. Model body, tall frame, and the face of a young idol in his prime. A modern-day Adonis.
Even a Joseon-era nobleman would have approved of his looks. It was just not Da-in’s type.
“Still, the boss is right. Someone is testing us. Checking Kwon Hee-jae’s background, his specs, everything.”
“And Korean records are being scrubbed too.”
“Who?”
“Mister Kwon.”
It wasn’t just him. Searches showed that every trace of the Baekju Sect and Sihyang Group linked to Kwon Hee-jae had been wiped clean.
Of course. Kwon Hee-jae had faked his death. It made sense that records would disappear.
The NIS didn’t waste resources.
Once he boarded the flight to America, his existence in South Korea had already been erased.
The only worry was that as Kwon Hee-jae’s name faded, the spotlight would shift to the child.
His client—Kwon Yeon-woo—was now in danger.
“Here we go again.”
“They’ll know we’re with Kwon Hee-jae. They’ll come aggressive or defensive. Either way, it’s going to get noisy. Luckily I’m attached to a monster and I’m on vacation for now.”
“Monster is right. The relationship part doesn’t seem fake, though. He really cares about Yeon-woo.”
“Be careful. The person digging into your file is the same one we just met.”
Da-in sighed and handed the next board to a customer.
When the boards were returned, the manager came to re-wax them. Dan watched Da-in’s tense face for a moment, then handed over his sunglasses and sprinted toward the sea.
Waikiki Beach, unusually crowded with families. The sand was coarse, the waves rolling in from far away. Even without knowing much about surfing, Da-in could feel the vibe surfers loved.
***
“Going swimming?”
Late at night. Kwon Hee-jae had just stepped into the main pool when Ju Seung-eon’s voice stopped him.
He stretched his stiff neck and turned with a lazy smile.
“Yeah.”
His legs had been cramping more often lately. Probably because he had rushed around Yeon-woo. He didn’t want the boy to see weakness. Better to suffer in silence.
Kwon Hee-jae dove into the water with a splash. Ju Seung-eon poured the liquor into a glass and settled onto the deck chair.
“The work in Korea is finished. The entire Baekju Sect has been arrested. Song Na-bi too. Now the only thing left is for Team Leader Lee to catch KING.”
Kwon Hee-jae swam steadily, flipped into a smooth turn, and returned to his starting point. Outside it was risky, but underwater he felt free.
That was why, after his wounds healed, he came here whenever he could.
“Hah. So when are you leaving?”
“Soon. After I’ve played enough with Yeon-woo and seen Hawaii, I’ll disappear.”
“Real retirement?”
“Yes.”
“And me?”
Kwon Hee-jae rested his arms on the pool edge, slicking wet hair back. His handsome features stood out clearly even in the dark.
He accepted the drink Ju Seung-eon offered and took a slow sip.
“As Mr. Park said, a mercenary is coming. Since it’s Valentine Corporation, you don’t have to worry about skill.”
“I heard.”
“And Lee Woo-hee is not the original plan. She’s Mr. Park’s niece. We took her in because of her situation… keep an eye on her. Don’t look away.”
“Why? You didn’t tell me about that.”
Ju Seung-eon brushed the hair off his forehead as unfamiliar footsteps approached from behind.
“It’s not bad to be cautious against strangers.”
And she looked just like him.
Ju Seung-eon muttered it like a half-finished thought, stood, and walked toward the villa along the wooden path, waving.
Kwon Hee-jae watched him disappear, then turned at the sound of approaching steps. A woman had just returned from her shift. Her face showed exhaustion, but she was tall and moved with cat-like grace. Sun-kissed skin flushed her cheeks.
Her hair, pulled up in a high ponytail, revealed sharp, classic features that reminded him of old Hollywood beauties.
“Not sleeping?”
She spoke first.
Don’t look away.
Ju Seung-eon’s warning echoed in her ears. Kwon Hee-jae stared at her, then leaned back and snapped his fingers.
“You want to come in?”