Chapter Thirteen: Do You Take Bribes?

[Author’s Note: Please, note that this book is rated Mature and is not meant for a young audience (under 17). There will be strong language used and some explicit scenes that will be throughout the book; reader discretion is advised. At no point in time will I allow my work to be republished or translated on the same or different platform and/or site, under any circumstances. This book is licensed by Webnovel and its affiliated company, AnD Entertainment. Copyright All Rights Reserved Lynnifer Ice. If anyone finds my work(s) republished on another site or platform, please, let me know immediately.]

________________________

[ Webnovel ©Lynnifer Ice ]

_________________________

Did I hear her correctly?

“Unnie-nim, you aren’t serious, are you?” A growing fear was slowly creeping up on me, and I, in no way, wanted to face this reality. The last time I had a seizure was in the year 2015. Honestly, the last time I had taken medication for my epilepsy was two years ago. That was only because I had not had a seizure in three years; now, it has been five.

“Of course, I am serious. Now, when was the last time you took that medication?”

I let out a sigh of defeat as I awkwardly rubbed the back of my neck. I could not make eye contact with her as I told her the truth. “I have not taken any epilepsy medication in the last two years...”

Her tongue prodded the inside of her cheek again. “That is highly irresponsible of you, and I would have expected better from you, Dongsaeng.”

“...-but I’m fine now.” I quietly continued before she snapped at me again.

This is going to be a long night.

I thought to myself, trying not to roll my eyes at her bickering.

“You are NOT FINE! Honestly, any doctor should know better than to just quit a medication, cold turkey. If I had known you stopped taking it, I would have said something right then and there! How did you even manage to keep this from me so long?”

I shrugged, “I don’t know. Magic?”

My boss pinched the bridge of her nose as she exhaled in irritation. “Well, we are in a hospital surrounded by doctors. There has to be someone willing to write you a prescription for it. After we get this sorted out, you and I shall see about getting those men out of trouble. After that, you will be lucky if I don’t decide to write you up for the commotion you have caused. The entire agency is in an uproar. Do you know what will happen if the media catches wind of this? Their careers could be over in an instant,” she scolded me.

You may be wondering what my boss meant by “the agency.” Well, I am not just any psychologist; I work for the government. Yes, there is a government agency for mental well-being. It may seem odd for a government agency to get involved in the Korean music industry, but BHY is currently bringing the most revenue into the country, so we must protect our best assets naturally. I have been in this line of work for so long that very few things catch me off guard. However, the events that took place just a bit earlier had thrown me for a loop.

“I’ll fix this, Unnie-nim. Don’t worry about it,” I tried to convince her. Instead, she just folded her arms in response. “Look, I know I messed up, and I can clean up my mess by myself.”

“If you could handle this situation by yourself, then I wouldn’t be here, but here we are,” my boss mocked me as she threw in a sarcastic laugh for good measure.

I rolled my eyes.

Why does Unnie-nim have to act like a know-it-all sometimes?

Before I could say anything, she grabbed my wrist, pulling me out of the room.

“Come on. We have work to do,” my boss declared as she dragged me along.

~***~

It took several hours, but my boss was able to get me a new prescription. At first, I just grumbled about it, but when she threatened to suspend me for three months, I took the medication without another complaint. Currently, I am impatiently waiting in the hospital lobby, and I can see my boss shaking hands with one of the doctors, both wearing smiles.

Is that why she had me wait here?

I eyed her suspiciously as she made her way over to me, her heels clicking against the tile floor. Finally, her smile faded away, and her face went back to a neutral expression.

“What? Do I have something on my face?” She asked me with a slight tilt of her head.

I had to try hard not to laugh as I responded, “Nope, not since last night.~”

Her jaw dropped as she playfully hit my shoulder. “Dongsaeng! Get your damn mind out of the gutter! You’re supposed to be a lady; act like one!”

“Aww... Come on, Unnie-nim,” I whined in protest with a cheesy grin, “Live a little!” I burst into laughter after she attempted to scowl at me, thus, of which only made her laugh in return. “Besides,” I added, “I am just a woman, not a lady. Ladies have class.”

After she stopped laughing, she shoved me out through the hospital entrance. “Come on... As I told you earlier, we still have work to do.”

“So, what were you all smiles about with the doctor?” I asked, genuinely curious about her conversation.

“Oh, him?” She briefly looked at me before walking forward; I followed along as she continued to explain. “That was the head doctor. We agreed to ten billion won for the hospital to stay quiet about the members of BHY. Oh, and before you ask... Nobody is going to find out about Hojeong or Namki. Speaking of which, Namki’s emergency surgery for seven stitches in the back of his head was successful.”

“Ten billion!?” I shouted in disbelief.

Does the agency have that kind of money to just throw around?

She stopped short as she put two fingers against my lips in an attempt to shush me, “Shh!”

I tugged her hand away. “That’s a lot of money,” I whisper-shouted.

She shrugged, “That’s precisely the point of bribing.”

Tch... Of course, she bribed them. Money talks, as she would always tell me.

I rattled off in my mind. We continued walking in silence until I realized that I had no idea where we were going. “So, where exactly are we going?”

She stopped so suddenly that I almost bumped into her. She swiveled around with a smile.

Uh oh... I know what that smile means...

“We?” She inquired, “No, no. I will see to the media about keeping quiet, and you, my dear Melody-ah... You will go to the police station and convince the police chief to drop all charges against the members and act like nothing ever happened. Did you get all that?~”

I gulped with a nervous laugh, “Are you asking me to bribe the police...?”

“Bribe the police?” She tilted her head in amusement, her smile never leaving. “Now that would be illegal, wouldn’t it? You just need to encourage Chief Kim with whatever means necessary. After all, how could they say no to a government agency? Oh, by the way, it may be useful information that Chief Kim is dating Lieutenant Park.”

“Isn’t that blackmailing?” I asked my boss, at a complete loss for words.

She gently tapped my cheek, her eyes smiling now, “I have no idea what you mean, Dongsaeng!~” She chirped way too happily.

Has my boss gone mad? How does she expect me to pull this off?

I nervously laughed, breaking out in a sudden sweat, “M-Martha-Unnienim... How am I supposed to pull this off?”

“Well,” she began as she loosened a few buttons on my blouse, “I would say that showing a little cleavage never hurt anyone. You should put your good looks to use. You have to get through Captain Min before you get to the Chief, and the Captain’s weakness is... Well... You know.~” She casually rattled off with a suggestive wink at the end.

Oh no... She is actually serious about this... So, she wants me to act like some....some kind of....lady of the night? That is absurd to even think about!

I thought to myself, shuddering at the image in my mind. “Unnie-nim, I don’t even know how to flirt,” I tried to explain.

I watched as she arched her left eyebrow. “You don’t know how to flirt? Melody-ah,” she asked me perplexed, “Have you never seduced a man before?”

“No,” I simply replied, “No, I don’t, and I haven’t.”

“Weren’t you married before?”

“I was, but-“ I started before she cut me off.

“Well, I am sure you can figure it out then,” she exclaimed with a mischievous grin.

What is she planning...?

“Well, I will call you later to see how things went. Good luck!!!” She shouted before taking off toward her vehicle.

“Unnie-nim!!!” I called after her in vain. I hung my head in disappointment. I am so screwed, I thought to myself.

~***~

An hour later and I am standing in front of the police station.

I cannot believe that I got lost on my way here! I am never trusting my GPS instincts ever again!

I took in a deep breath, refastening the strap of my purse for the fifth time. I loosened my hair, shaking it a bit; now, it lazily laid on my shoulders.

At least finding a parking spot was easy.

I cupped my cheeks to pull myself out of my thoughts. Then I straightened out my skirt and made my way to the door.

This is going to be a challenge... I just know it.

Walking through the doors, I was greeted by what looked like a welcome desk. A young police officer looked up at me, but he did not smile. Instead, he kept a straight face.

“Hello? May I help you?” He asked me.

“Yes, actually,” I started with a smile as I walked closer to the desk. I leaned over the desk, resting my elbows on the edge, “I was wondering if you could help me find someone.” I had left my blouse exactly as my boss had left it. So, I watched as the officer visibly gulped, his eyes clearly homed in on my chest area.

I hate this so much, but it seems to be working... I’m going to need to thoroughly scrub my body after this. Nobody has even touched me, but I feel dirty.

Very slowly, his eyes came back up to meet mine.

“Of course. I think I can do that. Who do you need help finding?”

“Well,” I began as I batted my eyes, “I need help locating five young men in this building. You see, they are my clients, and it is imperative that I find them.”

He looked up from the computer he had started using. “Oh? Are you a lawyer?”

I chuckled softly, “No, sweetheart. I’m a Doctor.”

He stopped to think before telling me something that I did not want to hear. “If you aren’t their lawyer, then I can’t let you see them, but I might be able to make an exception just this once. What were their names again?” He continued before looking back at the computer screen.

“Kim Jin-hyuk, Kim Yunjun, Park Minhyun, Kim Taemin, and Min Jeongseok,” I listed off as clearly as possible.

He repeated each name back to me slowly as he typed on the keyboard; his eyes were glued to the screen. Then as if he had just had a brain blast, his eyes shot up toward me. “Aren’t those the names of the guys in that famous boyband?”

“Yes, and I need you to not say a word to anyone about it.~ So, where are my clients being held?” I smiled as gently as possible.

“It looks like they are in the interrogation rooms, but you will need the Captain’s permission to get in there and the Chief’s permission to get them released. I can send you off to the Captain, but that’s about it. If anyone asks, though, I didn’t tell you a thing.”

I felt a knot in my stomach.

Did he say rooms? Plural?

“Oh, is that so? Well, if you would be so kind as to send me the Captain’s way... I would be much obliged.”

“Certainly, I can take you to him personally. I should warn you, though... Captain Min has been in a sour mood all day.”

Great… Another sourpuss, just what I need.

I thought to myself, already wanting to abandon ship. “Wonderful!” I exclaimed while trying not to roll my eyes, “Lead on then.”

This is going to be more challenging than I initially thought.

He said something into the mic on his shoulder that I could not quite catch. He stood up, and the next thing I knew, another officer came into view. They exchanged glances with each other before the new female officer took his seat. Then the male officer smiled and beckoned me to follow him; I quickly did so. I wanted this to be over as soon as possible. I followed him through a door and then up two flights of stairs.

Why couldn’t we just take the elevator?

We continued through the halls, turning down different corridors quite often.

Was this place built like a maze?

Finally, we came to two heavy metal doors.

Are we finally here?

The officer swiped a card by the door before a low beep echoed off the walls; he opened it, stepping to the side.

“Ladies first,” He said almost robotically as he gestured toward the open door with his hand.

I faked a smile as I thanked him, passing through the doors. “Thank you.”

Instead of following me in, he simply stepped up to the door and pointed toward an office with closed blinds. “You can find Captain Min in that office over there, and he already knows you are here.”

He already knows? That might make things a little easier. At least, I can save the introductions.

Before I could ask how he knew, the officer was already walking back down the hall. He had not even warned me about the door closing because I soon felt it hitting the back of my heels.

Ugh! Seriously!?

I clicked my tongue, clearly annoyed. I scanned the room, seeing several desks filled with papers and files with old-school computers. Most of the desks were occupied, and several eyes were already on me. Instead of saying hello, I went straight toward the office. When I got to the door, I inhaled deeply before slowly exhaling. I cleared my throat and gently knocked on the door.

“Come in,” said a relatively low voice.

I slowly opened the door, and as I was stepping inside, he spoke again.

“Close the door behind you and take a seat...”

I avoided eye contact with him until I had closed the door and sat down in a chair in front of his desk. He was leaning back in his office chair with his legs crossed and his hands folded together on top of his knees. Once I settled in and placed my purse on the floor by my feet, he adjusted his position. My jaw nearly dropped when I saw his face.

This cannot be happening... Why didn’t I realize this sooner?! The Captain- He’s my ex-husband! When did he start working for the police?!

He came closer to his desk, leaning against it with his arms on top and his hands clasped together. “Melody-ah, it’s been a while,” he stated softly with a warm smile. His eyes roamed over me, and suddenly, I felt self-conscious. “So,” he continued, his eyes lifting up to meet mine, “What can I do for you?”

I swallowed the small lump in my throat, crossing my hands in my lap. “It has been a while, hasn’t it? Well, I was hoping you could get me into the interrogation rooms. I didn’t realize you were part of the police force; when did that happen?”

“A couple of years after the divorce. Why do you need to get into the interrogation rooms? That is kind of a big request. Are you a lawyer or public attorney?”

“No, I’m not. I’m a licensed doctor, though.”

“Oh? You finally got your license?” He asked, sounding amused.

“As a matter of fact, I did, exactly eight months after the divorce,” I replied, trying not to sound snippy.

“Well, a Doctorate degree is not going to get you into the interrogation rooms. Lawyers, Attorneys, the DA, and other Officers, are the only people allowed in there. So, no can do.”

My shoulders sunk. I was not yet ready to admit defeat yet, though. I leaned forward a little, just enough that he could see my cleavage.

This feels so weird to do, even if we do have a history...

However, as my Unnie had predicted, his eyes traveled right down to my bust.

Gross.

“Can’t you do just this one favor for me, please?” I asked nicely.

Without his eyes leaving my exposed area, he asked me a question, sounding quite curious. “I’ll ask again. Why do you need to get in there?”

Knowing there was no point in lying, I shrugged my shoulders just enough that it gave a little bounce to my chest. “I have clients that were detained, and I was sent to get them out at all costs.”

“Who would send a doctor instead of someone that studied law to get someone out of custody?” He asked as his eyes traveled back to mine. Then, he slowly stood up, keeping his eyes on me, “Humor me, Melody. Who sent you?”

Did this just turn into an interrogation?

“My boss.”

He chuckled lightly, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “You know I’m going to need more information than that. Who is your boss?”

“Officially, it would be the CEO of Music of Tomorrow Entertainment: Bin Soo-hyuk.”

He nodded, taking slow and small steps toward the front of his desk, “Mhm, and unofficially?”

“Unofficially?” the words nearly got stuck in my throat as my eyes widened ever so slightly.

Does the Captain know more than what I think he knows?

Keeping his hands in his pockets, he leaned back against the front of his desk. “That’s right. A name would be good.”

“The agency,” I spoke quietly.

He clicked his tongue, straightening himself. He walked past me, and it was not until I heard the clicking noise of a lock, I realized he had just locked me in his office.

What kind of fuckery is this?

“I’m not stupid, Melody,” he sternly stated behind me. I listened as his footsteps got louder, as he drew nearer. Then, I felt his hands grip the armrests of the chair. He leaned over the chair, just close enough to whisper in my ear, “We can do this all day if you want. I have nothing better to do. So, we can do this the easy way or the hard way, but you are going to give me a name before I let you leave my office.”

I shuddered, feeling his hot breath against my skin.

Well, I am pretty sure this plan just backfired...

“The name of what?” I squeaked out.

“Who exactly are you working for?”

“Why are you so interested in knowing that information?” I asked him, getting suspicious.

“There’s been some unexplainable odd occurrences over the last few years with idols. It’s like someone just erases the problem from existence with no trace. I found it to be worth looking into, but you know what? Each time I found a trail, it would suddenly disappear. Why do you think that is, hm? With you here, I might just get some answers that I’ve been looking for. You have close connections with several celebrities, don’t you?”

“I… I don’t know, Captain Min, and that’s confidential,” I tried to reply as the shaking in my voice betrayed me.

“You don’t need to address me as Captain in here; we’re alone. I know you haven’t forgotten my name, just as much as I know you haven’t forgotten our daughter’s.”

Does he seriously intend to use that shit to bait me? Of course, I have not forgotten your names.

I cleared my throat, finally turning my head around to look him in the eye with a slight scowl. “Of course, I haven’t, Namjeon. If you really need to know so badly, my boss’s name is Martha...”

“Does this Martha have a last name?”

“I don’t know Martha-Unnie’s last name. That information was never disclosed. The agency… it’s a government agency, as you can probably guess… It’s for mental well-being. There, I told you; now, can you let me into the interrogation rooms?”

He slyly snuck a light peck on my cheek before straightening himself and coming into my front view again. I bit my tongue to keep from calling him out on what he just did. He leaned back against the front of his desk, crossing his arms across his chest. He gave me a genuine smile before letting my hopes drown. “Thank you for being so cooperative, but I am afraid that I still can’t let you into the rooms. You are not authorized to do so. It also makes me happy to hear my name roll off your tongue; I’ve truly missed that.”

My jaw dropped in disbelief, “Are you kidding me? I could get in so much trouble for just sharing the little information that I did!”

Ooo! That’s playing dirty, Namjeon!

“Yes, and I could get in trouble for letting you in the rooms without proper authorization,” he flatly stated, his smile disappearing.

“Come on, Namjeon-ah… I really need to get in there. I’m even willing to cut you a deal without having to blackmail you as my boss so wants me to do.”

He arched his left eyebrow with interest, “Oh, is that so?” He let his arms drop to his sides before comfortably grabbing the desk behind him so that his arms were distanced a little away from his body, “-and what exactly is it that you’re offering? You’ve piqued my curiosity.”

“Well, are you currently seeing anyone?”

“Not a soul. I didn’t want anyone else but you in my life. I still do, but I know you don’t feel the same; not anymore, and that is okay with me. You were and will always be the only woman for me.”

I stayed quiet for a moment, taking in everything he just said. I still love him, but we argued too much, and I did not want Yoonji to grow up in that environment. So, we got a divorce. I only act indifferent to him because I do not want him to know that I still have feelings for him. “Well, it’s probably been a while since you’ve been intimate then, right?”

He nodded with a sad smile, “You were the last and only person I ever touched.”

“What if I-,” I paused, biting my cheek, knowing there was no going back if I said this, “-could offer my services to you? Maybe help you relax a bit, get rid of some stress? This position has to be tiring some days, am I right?”

His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as they grew so vast. I saw that he tried to swallow whatever lump he had in his throat but ended up choking on either the air around him or his saliva. I was not sure which one. “C-Come again?!” He coughed out.

I smiled as I folded my hands in my lap with the most innocent smile that I could muster, “You heard me.~”

This is either going to be a brilliant idea or an idiotic idea.

“Fuck…” He whispered underneath his breath, but I could still hear him. “You mean right here? Right now?” He asked in what seemed to be a half-panic, obviously understanding what I had just offered him.

I simply nodded my head in confirmation.

“I-,” he ran a hand through his hair with a long sigh, “I mean… Are you serious, like for real?”

“I am,” I said with determination.

Whatever it takes to get into those rooms, I will do it. That is what my Unnie told me; she said whatever it takes. So, I will do absolutely anything and everything that I need to do to obtain my goal.

I watched as he spun around in a hurry, quickly moving things aside and organizing his desk in a way that the front and middle were clear of any objects. Then, when he turned back toward me, I could clearly see the outline of my ex-husband’s package down south.

Did that seriously just turn him on, at just the very idea of it?

I wondered to myself in amusement.

He always was very endowed.

I softly chuckled to myself as I stood up from my chair.

He was already breathing a little heavier, most likely in anticipation, as I took a step closer. He lifted his hands up and out toward me, but he let them hover mid-air as if hesitating. Finally, he gulped before looking into my eyes, his hands retreating ever so slightly. “Melody-ah, can I… Would it be alright to… What I mean to say is-,” he kept drifting off as if too nervous to say it.

I smiled up at him. “Ask me properly, Namjeon; I know you have it in you.”

He inhaled deeply before slowly exhaling with a shaky breath, “May I touch you?” He softly asked me with a shy glimmer in his eye.

I gave a slight nod and smiled, “Yes, you may.”

In that next moment, the remaining space between us disappeared entirely.

I hope these walls are soundproof.

- End of Chapter Thirteen –

________________________

[ Webnovel ©Lynnifer Ice ]

_________________________