Checkmate

Chaeyoung took a deep breath when she entered the elevator. She checked her watch for the fifth time that late afternoon, knowing very well that she was on time. But even if she had seen so much already in her life, nothing could prepare her for this moment.

Jeongyeon and Dahyun were standing beside her in the elevator, the only thing they could hear were their stable breathing and the low whirring of the elevator.

“They are going to be there, right?” Dahyun couldn’t help but ask, gripping her hands as they watched the number on the screen reach to the top floor.

Chaeyoung hummed, trying her best to stay calm. “They will be. I’m sure.”

Jeongyeon shifted on her spot and fixed her tie one last time. “Full circle, don’t you think?” She smirked at them.

Chaeyoung couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “Full circle,” she confirmed, then she took a moment to glance at the two of them. “At least I have you guys with me this time.”

The two lieutenants smiled but it quickly faded once they heard a ding and the elevator doors opened. They left the lift in silence and beelined their way towards the meeting room.

The new leader of The Golden Sungs really had changed things for their gang as well. The first son was able to pick the pieces up when the father died but he was tragically killed by unforeseen circumstances and now the second son was the one who was in charge.

Chaeyoung didn’t know much about him. Based on Jeongyeon’s reports, he was smarter than his father and brother. Probably too smart for his own good. In fact, he was tactful enough to get the gang to stay afloat despite the popularity and power of The Dong Sok. Enough for them to afford their own commercial building to have tenants rent in, which was the exact building that they were in at the moment.

The three members were aware that they were in enemy territory. But it seemed fair, Chaeyoung was the one who offered to meet and negotiate, and the new leader was kind enough to offer the venue without any charges.

Maybe he was similar to her, both thinking about money and profit. Though, it never went beyond that, she believed. Lee Yeongcheol was known to be more tactful and calmer than his late father and brother. But as they say, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. So Chaeyoung knew despite him being less reckless and violent, this person was probably as sick as them.

But she was prepared. She had a plan, she always did. And she was damn sure that this plan was going to work. Even if there was the lingering feeling of fear creeping up behind her, she had to trust herself and in her people. They didn’t come this far just to fuck it up. Not this time. Not like what her father did.

As the three arrived at the door, Jeongyeon took a step forward and lifted her hand to knock but stopped herself midway to look back at Chaeyoung.

“Ready?”

“Always.”

Then Jeongyeon knocked on the door three times, in seconds, it opened, and they were welcomed in.

Yeongcheol was sitting by the big swivel chair situated in the middle of the room, staring straight at them with a huge, sickening smile.

“Ah, Son Chaeyoung,” he greeted, standing up from his seat to bow at them. At least he had some decency to do so. “Please come in, make yourselves comfortable.”

The three of them bowed at him in return and then approached the table cautiously. Chaeyoung immediately counted the number of Golden Sung members that were inside the room; there were four, two beside their leader and two by the doorway. If anything, she, Jeongyeon and Dahyun could totally take them down if shit hit the fan.

“I’m thankful you’ve spared your time to see us, Yeongcheol,” she said sincerely as she took the seat by the end of the table. Dahyun and Jeongyeon didn’t sit but stood right next to her, facing the rival gang.

Yeongcheol chuckled. “Of course, this is as important to us as it is to you.” Then he took his seat and rested his back in it comfortably, fixing his glasses on the tip of his nose. “So, I know that things have been quite inconvenient on your part but if I’m being honest here, it is as well for us, and I hope that by the end of this meeting we can come to a mutual agreement.”

“Likewise,” Chaeyoung replied, eyes not moving from the man across from her. “You already know my part of the deal, you leave Miss Myoui alone and I can offer you any of the businesses I have under the protection of the Dong Sok.”

The leader hummed, running his hand through his neatly combed hair. “I see, I see. So, where do we begin?”

She cleared her throat and leaned a bit on the table. “I know you have been eyeing the markets and the local businesses around the Sujeong-Dong area all the way down south.”

“It would be convenient since they are located near us.” He said, trying to put up a smile. But Chaeyoung wasn’t fazed by this. There was something off with the way he was reacting. But he continued. “If I take the entirety of that area, that will mean you’d lose control over it?”

She wanted to scoff at his comment. He was probably trying to throw her off, but she was smarter than that. “That’s correct. Which won’t be a problem because I have others that I can fall back to.”

He nodded, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table. “And if we wish to take the red light district?”

Chaeyoung stayed quiet for a moment, she nodded her head slowly. “We can arrange that.”

She didn’t miss the way his expression changed and tried her best to keep a straight face.

“Perfect.”

Yeongcheol blinked wildly. When he realized he hadn't responded, he composed himself and cleared his throat, then suddenly he laughed. “So you’re willing to hand me your highest profitable clients, just so we can leave one girl alone?”

Chaeyoung’s brow twitched. Mina wasn’t just any girl. But she nodded again. “Yes.”

“Amusing.” He smiled widely at Chaeyoung and her two lieutenants. Then he leaned back on his seat with the shit eating grin plastered on his face.

Her brow twitched by instinct. She knew. It was so obvious. The way his nostrils were flaring, or how his eyes were darting from her to Jeongyeon and Dahyun. He was getting impatient, and she had a choice at this point if she should beat around the bush to toy with him or cut to the chase since time is of the essence.

“Tell me, Lee...” She chose the latter. Chaeyoung started to pick on the little debris on the table. “What do you really want from me?”

The older man raised his brows and then scoffed. “You know, for a little snot, you really are perceptive.”

“I am more than what you think of.” She countered. Jeongyeon tensed at her answer, and it silently reminded Chaeyoung that she needed to be calm.

He chuckled and from the chuckling it continued to low laughter and suddenly he couldn’t stop. If anything, he looked crazy. Then he finally calmed down, fixed his glasses again and looked at Chaeyoung. “You know, it feels liberating to be in this position.” He stood up from his seat and looked out of the window. “My father wanted to be the best. He wanted The Golden Sungs to reign over Busan, to instill fear in the hearts of the people. But that never happened.” He turned around and looked Chaeyoung dead in the eye. “All because of you and your father.”

Chaeyoung remained calm in her seat. But she watched Yeongcheol carefully, hoping there was some sort of signal for her to know when to make her next move.

Yeongcheol started laughing again. “It’s amusing, like I said.” Then he walked a little bit closer to Chaeyoung. “The Dong Sok has been a powerful group for as long as I can remember. And now here you are, practically giving me everything just for one girl. A girl that means nothing to your gang.”

Then he rushed back to his seat, sifted through the papers he had and then slammed his hands on the table, smiling widely. “Does that mean we have a deal? You’ll give me everything and I’ll leave that Myoui girl alone?” he asked frantically, it was obvious that he was losing his composure already.

Chaeyoung felt her blood boil when Mina’s name just came loosely out of his mouth. But she kept her cool and kept eye contact with him. “Yes, as long as you do your part of the bargain.” Then she smirked. “Quite frankly, I can easily take it all away from you if ever you don't.”

Yeongcheol’s expression changed, Chaeyoung knew that offended him. “And what does that supposed to mean?”

Chaeyoung relaxed on her chair and shrugged. “These businesses that I’m willing to give you have been under the Dong Sok’s protection for years now. They’re familiar with us and with our methods.” Then she softly glared at him. “It’s easy to give this to you, Lee. But it’s also pretty easy to take it back from you as well.”

“Is that a fucking challenge?” He spat out, his finely combed hair suddenly became a bit disheveled by his frantic movements. Then he took a deep breath and combed his hair back into place. “I love how confident you are with your abilities, Son. But I’m sure of all of that—“ He waved his hand mockingly at Chaeyoung. “All of this bravado you’re showing me is going to crumble and you’ll be on your knees begging me for mercy.”

She raised a brow. “Pray tell, how would that happen?”

He smiled. “I noticed that you’ve lessened the security with regards to Miss Myoui for the past month. And because of that, we decided to finally get our payback for the taxi.” He paced on his spot and tried to mock her by shrugging as well. “While we’re having this meaningful discussion, Miss Myoui is being taken away from her apartment.” Then he started laughing again, as if he couldn’t contain this excitement. “So all this time, you’ve been blindly giving me your power but in the end you’ll get nothing!”

Chaeyoung wanted to roll her eyes. How dramatic. But before she could, she felt a buzz in her pocket. She held a finger out to Yeongcheol. “One moment, please.”

“W-what!?” He guffawed. “I am speaking to you right now—“

“And I said wait.” Chaeyoung snapped back, then pulled out her phone from her pocket and unlocked it.