16 Chapter 16

Seoul, Korea

Diplomat Row

Once again, everything was moving in slow motion it seemed.

With a cocksure smile, Kita saw the shoe sailing towards his face and he effortlessly blocked it.

But since he had luggage in his hands, when he blocked the shoe the luggage swung from the momentum and hit him right between the legs.

Kita’s eyes were wide and he choked, nearly doubling over.

Rain gasped, her eyes widened and hands covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry,” she stammered then hurried over to him. Her hands fluttered over his body, around where her luggage just assault. “I am so, so sorry,” she stammered, patting his crotch area.

“Do not touch me!” Kita demanded, his voice two octaves higher than it should have been, angling his hips back. “What do you think you are doing?!”

Rain looked from her patting hands to his crotch and back again a few times before it registered with her what she was doing. She stood up in a rush, the back of her head connected to his face, knocking him back into his brother.

“Oh no!” Rain choked, tears flooding her eyes when she saw the blood running from Kita’s nose. “I’m so, so sorry.”

Lucien and Lula were strangely quiet and were either shocked or second-guessing taking the job now, Rain couldn’t be sure which.

Dae-Ho shook his head. “That’s impressive. He didn’t even drop the bags!” he said. “But you shouldn’t assault a man’s balls then try to massage the boo-boo afterward,” he scolded. “Especially in front of his siblings. Ew. Could you imagine what they’d say on the internet if they saw you?!”

That was it, Lucien lost it and laughed hysterically.

“I am so, so sorry,” Rain stammered, bowing over and over. “Please forgive me.”

Lula grabbed Rain’s shoulders to keep her from bowing. “Luci, stop laughing,” she scolded. “Kitty, get cleaned up. If Father hears that you got your ass handed to you by your tiny charge you will truly bring dishonor to the ancestors.”

“I can’t… I… Oh God,” Lucien stammered and lost it all over again, dropping the luggage he was carrying.

Kita wasn’t amused and glared at the crying young woman, ignoring the blood running from his nose and pushed past them, carrying Rain’s suitcases.

“He’s going to kill me, isn’t he?” Rain hiccupped, watching Kita’s retreating form.

“Not even if you paid him to,” Lula promised. “Though, you are kicking his butt in ways no one else ever has. Just refrain from whatever it is you keep doing to him and you should be fine.”

Dae-Ho laughed. “Oh trust me, Cousin can’t help but do that. It’s in her innocent, clumsy nature. If you could somehow teach her not to be like that, then you would qualify for sainthood. Cousin,” he said, taking Rain’s face between his hand and wiped away her tears with his thumbs. “You’re going to get killed by your own damn bodyguard if you keep abusing his balls like that. Okay? Just stop and think before you start randomly groping guys. It’ll be less awkward for everyone if you do.”

Rain’s eyes widened. “I didn’t… I don’t do it on purpose!” she reminded him. “It just happens!” she shrieked and started crying even more. “And that’s the first time I’ve groped a guy, meaning to or not. It was awkward,” she admitted, wiping her nose. “I don’t know what the appeal is or why he freaked out over it.”

He gave her a look. “You are so weird. Stop groping strange men.”

She nodded, giving him two enthusiastic thumbs up. “Okay!” she beamed with a smile that was completely fabricated, but it was all she could do to keep from throwing up.

Those watching didn’t know what to make of the young woman that was seemingly mentally unstable and switched moods faster than they could keep up.

They eventually made it to the elevators and without a sound the doors opened and they stepped into the car.

“Lucien!” Kita barked out, holding the doors open, purposely not looking at the sniveling young woman huddled in the back of the elevator car.

Eventually the laughing man joined them, and handed Rain her shoe.

“You dropped something,” he teased.

“Thank you,” she said, bowing.

The ride to the twenty-eighth floor was quiet.

Lucien was discreetly recording a video of his bleeding brother with his mobile phone to send to Mother.

Lula was standing a half-step in front of Rain for protection; not because her big brother would hurt the young woman, but she was the only emptyhanded one out of the three.

Dae-Ho had his mobile phone in hand and was scrolling through Rain’s upcoming schedule before he went over it with Lula once they were settled.

And Rain was trying to keep from doubling-over because this day could not get any worse if she tried.

When the elevator signaled, Kita ran his security access card through the button-less terminal again.

“What is this place?” Rain asked when the doors opened on the twenty-eighth floor. “Why are there no buttons for the other floors?”

Kita lead the way without a word.

“No buttons in the elevator and only a coded keycard that will only take you to the floors you are permitted on,” Lula explained. “They call this region of the city Diplomat Row because it is where diplomats and dignitaries, royalty even, government contractors, and such stay when in the city,” she explained as they walked down a well-lit hallway. “It is the most secure place in South Korea. Have you never wondered why the main road in a six block stretch cuts through the city instead of along the river? That is because it is a controlled area.”

Rain nodded; that answered a couple of questions she had but just created a million more.

Instead of doors lining the hallway as you’d expect with a hotel, there were only a few doors; six on each side of the hallway and halved in the middle from the elevator that brought them up from the garage. At the end of the hall on each end were bullet proof glass walls with manned guard stations behind them with an elevator.

“Each floor is different, this one has four suites; two on each side. There are pools, gyms, three spas, and a half dozen restaurants and cafés that have very expansive menus that covers the globe on the lower levels. There is also discreet in house medical for all and any needs, and a concierge. Last time I was here they had a karaoke bar that I am sure will prove to be entertaining.”

Dae-Ho squealed before jumping up and down with excitement; he loved karaoke.

“Perfect for date nights,” Lucien agreed.

“Are you asking?” Dae-Ho asked with a wink.

“Not when I am on the clock,” he said, causing Dae-Ho to pout.

Rain leaned into him. “That wasn’t a no,” she pointed out.

Dae-Ho slowly turned to look at her and a smile filled his face. “Thank you, Crazy Arsonist!” he beamed, jumping up and down with excitement. “Now to hook you up, Cousin!” he said.

Rain shook her head. “Shut up,” she grumbled under her breath, fighting the urge to punch her annoying cousin.