A King's Ransom

by Shawn Bailey

  “Gents, this is Si-Jun, one of the best music arrangers in the business, and he’s excited to be working with the members of Dazed again.”

  “I love working with them,” Si-Jun said. “They are so professional, especially Ae-Jong. He’s not bitchy like most lead singers. He takes directions well, and he’s not afraid to tell me if he doesn’t like something. And they’re all gifted musicians, as well.”

  “How do you like the two new songs The Kerrys sent to you?” Tory asked.

  “I love them,” Si-Jun answered. “And I’m glad Dazed is transitioning from K-Pop to R&B.”

  “They’re changing genre?” Andy asked. He remembered Soo Park mentioning this.

  “Yes, they’re not little boys anymore. They’ll still do a few fast numbers, but those voices have mellowed. Have you guys heard the new song Ae-Jong has written?”

  Everyone shook their heads.

  Si-Jun pulled out the sheet music and began playing and singing. He had a nice, rich-sounding voice, like a crooner. The song was a ballad. Si-Jun performed it in Korean first and then English. All four of them clapped when he finished.

  “Of course, my voice does not have the range his does, and I don’t have those other two voices singing backup and harmony, but you get the idea,” Si-Jun said.

  “Does it have a title yet?” Luke asked.

  “Yes,” Si-Jun answered. “Listening to my Heart.”

  Andy gasped. It was a song about him and Ae-Jong.

  Si-Jun went straight into the song, “Pump it Up,” written by Frankie Kerry. This one was a dance number with a rocking beat. Andy imagined Ae-Jong singing and teasing the audience with his sexy body.

  Si-Jun went straight into another ballad penned by Jonas Kerry. “I like this one, too. It’s called “Choices.”

  It wasn’t a love song, but more of a social statement about making proper choices in life and having no regrets.

  “Which one is going to be the debut song?” Adam asked.

  “Frankie’s song,” Si-Jun answered. “It’s got that beat to send fans into a dancing frenzy.”

  “Dazed is going to have to dance in the video so they’ll be working closely with a choreographer,” Tory said to Andy.

  “When does filming start?” Andy asked.

  “Soon,” Tory answered. “We’ve got the choreographer, and we’re auditioning for backup dancers. In the meantime, Dazed will be on a strict diet.”

  Uh-oh, that means no more ice cream from Ae-Jong. “They’re vegetarians, so it shouldn’t be too hard for them to maintain their current weight,” Andy said.

  “Just don’t let them lose too much,” Adam warned. “Fans here believe thin is better. Some idols starve themselves so they can look waiflike.”

  “Does Frankie do this?” Andy asked.

  Adam shook his head. “I’m talking about K-Pop idols. Frankie is vegan, which is another animal. It comes with a different set of rules.”

  They left Si-Jun, and Ji-Hu took them back to the hotel. The next day Andy moved to his new place. A few days after that he got his first guest.

  * * * *

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Bringing you dinner,” Ae-Jong said. He was carrying a picnic basket.

  “How did you get here?”

  “I drove,” Ae-Jong answered. He entered.

  Andy closed and locked the door. “By yourself? Where is your security?”

  “They followed me here, and then I sent them away.” He handed Andy the basket and changed out of his shoes into a pair of slippers from the basket of slippers by the door. It did not surprise him that there was a pair in there that fit Ae-Jong since technically the place belonged to the young man’s father. It also didn’t surprise him that Ae-Jong knew his way to the kitchen. “Have you eaten yet?”

  “No,” Andy answered.

  “Good.” Ae-Jong began unpacking the basket. He took out several vegetable dishes, crusty bread, and wine. For dessert, he’d brought vanilla pudding. He hunted and found plates, glasses, chopsticks, and spoons. He placed the rice bowl, spoon and then the chopsticks to Andy’s left. Then he lit candles, doused the lights and poured the wine.

  “Nice. Now, are you even old enough to drink wine?”

  “Very funny. If I’m old enough to have sex I’m old enough to drink.”

  “Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. The age of consent here is…”

  “Yes, I know,” Ae-Jong said, stopping him from saying it. “I wasn’t thinking about sex at that age. The drinking age here is twenty. I’m twenty-four, so I’m old enough to do anything that I chose, and I chose to do it with you. So, you may get me drunk and have your way with me.”

  Andy smirked. “You have jokes.”

  “I have been known to be funny on occasions.” He blessed the food.

  Andy watched him eat, trying to mimic what he did so he could make sure he did it correctly. He used his metal spoon to eat his rice.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Watching you. I want to learn how to do everything correctly.”

  “I’ve watched you. You do okay,” Ae-Jong said.

  Andy sampled the food. “This is delicious. Did you cook it?”

  “If I told you yes would you believe me?” Ae-Jong asked.

  “I don’t know,” Andy said. “You have surprised me a few times, so you being a chef would add to your already wonderful qualities.”

  Ae-Jong chuckled. “You are so full of it.”

  Andy laughed. “Yeah, so are you. How did you learn that saying? Have you been watching American television?”

  Ae-Jong nodded. “And we also have the internet.”

  Ae-Jong kept him entertained throughout dinner. Afterward, he washed the dishes and Andy dried and put them away. They retired to the entertainment room with their pudding to watch the first episode of a K-Drama, another funny thing they had in common.

  The singer rested his head against Andy’s shoulder. “You’re sleepy?”

  “A bit,” Ae-Jong answered.

  “Do you want for me to call for your security?”

  “No, my father knows I’m here, and he doesn’t expect me home until in the morning.”

  “Let me guess, he helped you pack the picnic basket,” Andy said.

  “Yes. I don’t have a mother to teach me the rules of courtship, but my father tries hard to give me a normal life.”

  “So, he really knows about us?” Of course, Andy already knew the answer.

  “Yeah, and he approves. He has a gay son, and he understands that he can’t do the things a father does for a straight son. There will be no visiting the matchmaker or arranging group dates. We can’t publicize our relationship the way Edward and Noel did. He just wants me to be happy.”

  “So, did he give you any fatherly advice?”

  “Yes, he said use protection and let your heart guide you.”

  “Very good advice,” Andy said as he led Ae-Jong up to his room where they undressed, crawled into bed and went to sleep.

  * * * *

  Fuck, the more he had sex with Ae-Jong, the more he wanted to have sex with Ae-Jong. Like right now, they had both came at least once and they were still at it. Ae-Jong was on top of him riding him. He had those muscular thighs pressed against Andy’s sides like he was trying to keep him in place. Ae-Jong didn’t have to worry. He wasn’t going anywhere. He was enjoying this too much.

  “I still can’t figure this out. So, inside my ass is the same as inside a vagina?”

  “It’s just not as moist. That’s why we have to use a lot of lube. Lord. Ae-Jong, your ass is the bomb.”

  “Don’t you dare come, Andrew,” Ae-Jong warned.

  “I’m close, Ae-Jong. Some things are out of my control.” He flipped Ae-Jong out of the saddle, put him on his back, lifted his legs and then entered him again with a powerful thrust.

  Ae-Jong’s cock saluted, and a little pre-cum slipped out of the slit. Andy took over. He needed to get Ae-Jong all the awa
y aroused by stimulating that little gland in his ass. It didn’t take long. He just kept moving his dick in and out of Ae-Jong without stopping. He looked down. Ae-Jong appeared to be in a swoon. “You’re ready, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah,” Ae-Jong said. “Make me come, Andrew.”

  “Yes, my prince.” Andy parted Ae-Jong’s legs, moved in closer and then began thrusting hard and deep.

  Ae-Jong’s eyes rolled upward, his body arched and then he came. “Ah!”

  Andy looked up just in time to see it all. The sight made him come, too. His stomach clenched as he emptied his seed into the head of the condom. He sank down on Ae-Jong, trying not to crush him. They were both sweaty, and Ae-Jong was sticky with cum down below. Andy eased out of him as his cock shrunk down to pre-arousal size. “Don’t fall asleep. We need to shower.”

  “I don’t think I can move, Andrew. Let me rest.”

  Andy rolled off the bed. “No way, Your Highness.” He leaned over, pulled him off the bed and stood him up. “Go turn on the shower while I change the sheets.”

  Ae-Jong walked toward the bathroom.

  Andy checked out the butt. That young man would be the death of him. After making the bed, Andy joined Ae-Jong in the tub.

  “Is it true that my uncle invited Noel Charles to participate in his anniversary ceremony?” Ae-Jong asked.

  “Yes,” Andy answered. “That’s what I heard. Does that bother you?”

  “No,” Ae-Jong answered.

  Andy pressed his back against the tub. Why didn’t he believe him?

  Chapter Eight

  “I never saw that coming,” Tory said as he watched two of his singers battling to the death.

  “I did,” Edward, Adam, and Luke said.

  Andy hadn’t either. He’d just come outside of Albertson Entertainment for a breath of fresh air when the spotted the crowd. It looked like something out of an old Kung Fu episode or a Bruce Lee movie, except these two crazy guys were serious. He recognized both of them. One was the Japanese R&B singer, Tomahiko Akiyama, and the other was his new lover-in-the making, South Korean prince, Ae-Jong Kim.

  “Edward, do something to stop them,” Noel Charles, Edward’s fiancé said. “They are going to kill each other.”

  His cousin’s fiancé had arrived last night, along with Yukizumi. The five-foot-eight singer with the red hair and green eyes looked smashing in one of Giovanni Bassett’s outfits. Andy didn’t recall ever seeing Noel dressed casually. He had great tastes in fashion, and he had his cousin wrapped around his finger.

  “What do you supposed I do?”

  “Oh!” everyone there shouted at the same time as Tomahiko karate chopped Ae-Jong and sent him flying through the air.

  “Luke, get your idol,” Tory ordered. “If he’s harmed Ae-Jong’s voice I am going to sue both of you.”

  “Don’t threaten me, Tory,” Luke said. “You were the one who brought these two hellions together in one place. Tommy is only defending himself and letting off a little steam.”

  It was no secret to any of them there that Tomahiko was a bit hyperactive. He must be going crazy stuck in a strange hotel in a foreign country with nothing to do at the moment but look at four walls.

  Ae-Jong hopped to his feet, flew at Tomahiko, literally walked up to him and flipped him on his ass.

  The crowd reacted to the fight.

  Damn, he’s strong, Andy thought, remembering how much power the shorty wielded when they fought. The prince was rocking a black and gray jumpsuit with a short bolero jacket, reminding Andy of a matador. The material moved like a second skin.

  “Tory, if Ae-Jong has bruised Tommy’s ass, I will sue you for everything you got.”

  Tomahiko hopped to his feet, and the fight continued. He ducked just as several ninja stars got hurled at him.

  Andy couldn’t believe it. Where the fuck had Ae-Jong gotten those?

  “Not the face,” both Luke and Edward screamed. Tomahiko blocked them, caught one and sent it back at Ae-Jong.

  Ae-Jong ducked just in time, too. “You crazy yakuza bastard, you could have hit me with that.”

  Rumor had it that Tomahiko was the nephew of the notorious Japanese mafia boss Mukuni Akiyama.

  “That’s the plan, girly-man,” Tomahiko shouted. He flipped through the air and headed toward Ae-Jong, and the martial arts started again.

  Ra, Chika, and Hanako came running toward them. “Ae-Jong, are you okay?” Ra asked. He gazed toward the managers. “What’s going on? Why aren’t you guys stopping them?”

  “Ae-Jong has weapons?” Edward answered.

  Andy looked appalled. “You’re built like a mountain, Eddie. Don’t tell me you’re afraid to break up a fight between these two.”

  “Then you do it,” Edward said to him.

  Andy marched toward the field where the two angry singers were still battling it out. They both stopped when they saw him.

  “Who the hell are you?” Tomahiko asked him.

  “So, you’re not only a slut, but you’re an uncultured one, too,” Ae-Jong said. “Don’t you know who he is? He’s Andrew Green, a famous model and Edward’s cousin.”

  “I know who he is. Go home pretty man,” Tomahiko said to Andy. “This does not concern you.”

  Tomahiko was a gorgeous nearly six-foot-tall Japanese male, with shoulder-length black hair, a killer body, and definitely a diva. “I’m afraid it does, Tomahiko. I’m Ae-Jong’s new manager. You guys should give this up. It doesn’t make sense anymore since Edward has broken it off with both of you. He’s the ass you should be kicking.”

  Ae-Jong and Tomahiko looked at each other and then at Edward. The two of them marched away from him and ran toward his cousin.

  Noel Charles stepped in front of them, stopping both fighters in their tracks. “You have to go through me to get to him.”

  Tomahiko threw his hands up in the air. “I have no beef with you, Red. We straight.” He walked toward his husband.

  Ae-Jong stood his ground.

  “You need to go away, too,” Noel said to him.

  “Don’t fucking talk down to me, Noel Charles,” Ae-Jong said in perfect English. “I am not afraid of you. I’ll hit you one time, and an usher will have to wheel you down the aisle on your wedding day.”

  Ooh, Andy thought. He’d never heard that kind of profanity from Ae-Jong before.

  “Don’t threaten him, Ae-Jong. He’s done nothing to you,” Edward said.

  “He started with me,” Ae-Jong said. “You were my man until you took your ass to America. Now I had to hear from complete strangers that you’re engaged to this uppity bastard. Well, he can have you. I don’t need you. There are plenty of other fish in the sea.” He strutted away from Edward with his head held high.

  Andy guessed Ae-Jong just needed to get that off of his chest.

  “We are going to finish this later, Tomahiko,” Ae-Jong said to the other fighter. “You better sleep with one eye open.”

  “Kiss my ass, Ae-Jong,” Tomahiko said. “You need to forget about Edward just like I have. He’s a lost cause. Find yourself a real man who will love you unconditionally.”

  Ae-Jong walked up to Andy took his hand. “Buy me a drink.”

  “Are you even old enough to drink in this country?”

  Ae-Jong laughed at their running joke. “I am a prince. I own this country.”

  Ra, Chika, and Hanako hurried to catch up with them.

  Two sodas later, Ae-Jong sat at the piano in the company’s auditorium singing Troye Sivan’s, “Fools.” Chika and Hanako were listening, and Ra was nursing a soda.

  “That’s not K-Pop,” Andy said.

  “We’re R&B singers now,” Chika said.

  Of course, Andy knew this, since Si-Jun had filled him in on the change. He just wanted to see what they were going to tell him. “Does Mr. Albertson know this?”

  “I think so,” Hanako said. “He is paying us a salary.”

  “Have you ever sung, K-Pop?”

  All three guys
frowned at him.

  “Let me guess, you haven’t checked them out on YouTube either,” Ra said.

  “Guilty,” Andy lied.

  Ra stood. “Come on, gents. Let’s go to the computer room and check out what you’ve gotten yourself into.”

  Ae-Jong joined them, and he and the other three followed Ra out the room. For the next two hours, Andy watched a young group training and their rise in popularity. Ae-Jong had long hair until he went off to serve in the military. Before that, Dazed was rocking it out to John Legend, Kendrick Lamar, and early Ed Sheeran. They sang very well in English and Korean. The videos ended. Ra Day turned off the computer. “So, what do you think?”

  “I think I owe you guys an apology. You are fantastic. You can sing and dance and you play instruments. So, who is your favorite group now?”

  “BTS,” all three of the singers said.

  “What is your favorite song?”

  “Mic Drop,” Hanako answered.

  “I Need You,” Chika replied.

  “Blood Sweat and Tears,” Ae-Jong said.

  The other agreed with him.

  “I like Fake Love,” Andy said.

  They looked at him.

  “You know BTS?” Ae-Jong asked.

  Who in the hell didn’t? That group had paved the way for other Korean performers all over the world. “I’ve listened to some of their music.”

  “We like their style of singing and dancing,” Chika said. He began imitating RM’s part in the song, “Danger.”

  “You know Yukizumi has crossed over to R&B, too,” Andy said.

  Chika stopped singing. “How good are they?”

  “Very,” Andy announced. “Their fans love their new sound.”

  “We have our own fandom,” Ae-Jong said. “They’re not as big as ARMY, but they are growing.”

  “What is your fandom called?” Andy asked.

  “Be Dazzled.”

  Andy liked that. “Do you guys have merchandise?”

  The guys in the room nodded.

  “You have a lot to learn, Andy Green,” Hanako said. “Have you ever been to a fan signing before?”

  Andy shook his head.

  “Our fans come to meet us. They bring gifts and buy our merchandise, and then we perform a mini-concert for those lucky enough to get a seat in the venue. And there is a question and answer period. It’s an all-day affair. You better get your rest.”