A King's Ransom

by Shawn Bailey

  “What are your colors?” Andy asked.

  “Purple and green,” Ra answered.

  “I can see a new light stick in your future with just a touch of gold added.”

  He got his group very excited. Now all he had to do was prove he could be a good manager.

  * * * *

  The ruckus had calmed down, and everyone was seated in the conference room at Albertson Entertainment later. Their boss Tory was busy fussing at Andy and Luke and that bastard Edward Green. Ae-Jong heard his name mentioned several times.

  “He is calmed down,” Andy said. “I took care of it.”

  Ae-Jong smirked. Yes, he had. He and Andy had ended up screwing atop his new desk in his new office after the altercation with Tomahiko. Luckily, the office came with a built-in shower.

  “Where the hell did he get ninja stars from?” Tory asked.

  Andy shrugged. “I haven’t known him long enough to know that much about him. It wasn’t until recently that I learned that he was a black belt martial artist. Thanks a lot, Eddie.”

  “Don’t blame me. I just gave him a few pointers. The rest he learned on his own.”

  “What do you have to say for yourself, Prince Kim?” Tory asked.

  “I plead the fifth,” Ae-Jong answered.

  Chika and Hanako chuckled.

  Tory threw them a very stern look to silence them. “Don’t encourage him and we’re not in America, so you can’t use that defense. I want you to apologize to Tomahiko. After all, he’s flown all the way here from America to perform at your uncle’s anniversary celebration.”

  Ae-Jong stood. “I’m sorry, Tommy, for fighting with you. And thank you for coming to Seoul to perform with Yukizumi for my uncle’s anniversary celebration.”

  “I accept your apology, even though I know you don’t mean a word, of it, shrimp.”

  Akira Maki and Daisuke Abe, the other two members of Yukizumi chuckled at the insult. The two of them hadn’t even been party to the altercation. Andy looked them over. They were good looking and tall, and from what he’d been told, deadly. They two had grown up in the mob.

  “You’re lucky I’m tired, or I’d show you who’s the shrimp,” Ae-Jong said. “And for the record, I was just having some fun with you. You know, sort of a welcome to South Korea present. You’ve been my only worthy opponent until recently,” he said looking at Andy.

  Andy’s frown softened.

  “You threw ninja stars at me,” Tomahiko argued.

  “I knew you would duck,” Ae-Jong said with an evil grin.

  “Okay, can we get back to business?” Tory asked. “Emperor Kim’s celebration is at the end of next week, so we only have a few days to rehearse. And you are not the only performers. We’re expecting other groups from the Top Three.”

  Andy had already learned that the Top Three was the term for the three biggest and highest grossing entertainment agencies in South Korea.

  “I’m not worried about them at the moment, just you guys,” Tory said. Do you think you six can get along and not fight until this is over?”

  “We’re straight,” Ae-Jong said.

  “Good,” Tory said. “Because your uncle has invited Yukizumi, Noel, and the rest of us to dinner tonight.”

  Ae-Jong kept his expression neutral.

  “Even me?” Edward asked.

  Tory nodded. “I’m afraid so. The emperor insisted.”

  Edward looked in his direction.

  “Don’t look at me. I had nothing to do with it,” Ae-Jong said. “He likes me. You, not so much.”

  Ra smiled sheepishly.

  “And he likes Andrew very much,” Ae-Jong threw in.

  “For those of you who don’t know, Andy is now Dazed’s new manager, and this is Ra Day. He’s Andy’s new assistant. Ra, I don’t know if you’ve had the honor of meeting Noel Charles.”

  “No, I haven’t.” Ra bowed. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  Ae-Jong frowned. Ra could lie with a serious expression. There was no way he was glad to meet the enemy.

  “Noel, you’ve already met Prince Kim, but these two are Hanako Tan and Chika Nah, the other two members of Dazed.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you,” Noel said.

  Hanako and Chika bowed.

  “You, too,” Hanako said.

  Ae-Jong smirked. This is going to be one interesting evening. He’d show Tory. He’d be on his best behavior.

  * * * *

  Andy dressed up for dinner with the Kims. His big lug of a cousin looked every part of the CIA agent in dark blue blazer and trousers. Noel looked smashing in a dark green suit. Luke and the members of Yukizumi wore black suits, and Adam and Tory were stylish in black tuxedoes, like him. They were all searched before entering the palace, and they had to remove their shoes and put on slippers before they could leave the genkan.

  Ra came to greet them. “Welcome to our home.”

  Yukizumi and Noel were pretty wide-eyed as they followed Ra past guards lining the halls. Andy had to admit it had been a lot for him to swallow at first, too. He loved the palace with the high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and shiny tiled floor. The rest of the palace was just as impressive. Ra took them directly to the dining room where the royal family sat, including one of the princesses.

  Ae-Jong was noticeably missing.

  “He just got home from the hospital,” Jung-Woo explained. Apparently, he was good at reading minds.

  “Hospital? Is he okay?” Andy asked.

  Jung-Woo nodded. “Oh, yes. He was just there visiting the children’s ward. He goes there once or twice a month to help out.”

  Andy raised an eyebrow. “Charity work?” Not even he was that naïve.

  “Yes, but Jongie does not see it as that. He sings to the kids, brings them toys and reads them stories. He loves doing it.”

  Andy sighed. There were still a few things he did not know about Ae-Jong.

  “We have to damn near drag him away from the nursery,” Chika said. “He wants a younger brother to mentor, but Prince Jung-Woo won’t make that happen.”

  Emperor Rin chuckled. “I offered to get him a puppy since my brother selfishly refuses to have another child.”

  “I’m not being selfish. That would mean I would have to remarry and I’m not ready to do that just yet,” Jung-Woo said.

  Ra cleared his throat and looked up at the ceiling. Of course, Andy had already figured out that Jung-Woo and Ra Day were lovers. It was the way the man looked at Ra whenever they were in the same room. Ra had a softer disposition when around the prince and kept a glow to his cheeks.

  The doors to the dining room opened, and Ae-Jong entered wearing a burgundy suit. Accompanying him was a young female about his age. “Princess Mee-Yon and Prince Ae-Jong Kim,” one of the servants announced.

  Both bowed when they came close to the table. They looked remarkably alike, except the princess’s hair was longer, and she wore a dress.

  “Everyone this is my youngest daughter, Mee-Yon,” the emperor announced.

  “Sorry, we’re late,” she said. “Jongie’s puppet show went a little longer than expected.”

  Andy raised an eyebrow. “Puppet show?” Ae-Jong was full of surprises.

  “I learned to control them as a child. Mee-Yon is also a puppeteer.”

  “Did you visit the nursery?” Andy asked.

  Ae-Jong’s cheeks turned rosy. “Who told you?”

  “Hanako. He says you want a brother.”

  “Yes, but my father is not being cooperative.”

  Andy smiled. “But you’re old enough to become a father.”

  That got a big blush out of him. “I don’t know if I’ll make a good one.”

  “I think you will,” Andy said, looking into those brown eyes.

  The servants began arriving with the food. They brought out the banchan first, steamed rice, kimchi and other steamed and pickled vegetables, followed by kongguksu, a cold noodle dish in a soybean broth and tangpyeongchae, a dish made with mung b
ean jelly and vegetables. There was even jeon, savory pancakes made from wheat flour and kimchi and then pan fried. Andy dipped his into a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and chili pepper powder.

  After dinner, Ra took the rest of the guests, including Dazed on the tour of the palace. Rin and his sons went off to smoke, leaving Andy alone with Jung-Woo to formally meet the women of the family.

  “This is my sister-in-law Empress Jae-Ha and her daughters, crowned princesses Choon-Hee and Mee-Yon, whom you met earlier.”

  “Ladies, this is Andrew Green, Dazed’s new manager,” Jung-Woo said to his sister-in-law and his nieces. “Both of them are married and here visiting their mother.”

  Andy spoke to them in Korean.

  “Aren’t you a model?” Choon-Hee asked.

  If memory served him correctly, she was the oldest of the two. “Yes, Princess. I’m retired, and now I’ve become a full-time manager of Dazed.”

  “Why? Is the pay of a model not to your liking?”

  “The pay is substantial, Princess. I just wanted to try something new.”

  “Is it true that you’re Ae-Jong’s new boyfriend?” the younger sister asked.

  The empress nearly choked on her tea. “Forgive her, Mr. Green.”

  “My niece is the girl version of Ae-Jong,” Jung-Woo teased.

  “Ae-Jong wishes he was as cool as I am,” Mee-Yon bragged. “I still beat him at every game we play.”

  She and Ae-Jong did resemble each other, from the jet-black hair to the raisin-colored eyes, and she was slender and had a small chest.

  The servant brought teacups for him and Jung-Woo and poured for them.

  “Thank you,” Andy said to the young woman. She went away. “As for answering your question, I don’t think it’s a proper topic to discuss with a young woman.”

  “You think none of us know he likes guys?” Mee-Yon asked. “Whose shoulder do you think he cried on when that beast Edward broke his heart?”

  Andy nearly spat tea.

  “Mr. Green and Ae-Jong are getting to know each other,” Prince Jung-Woo said.

  “Is it true you beat him in the ring?” Choon-Hee asked. She was pretty like her younger sister, but her hair was shorter and darker brown than black. She was also heavier in size.

  “Yes,” Andy answered.

  “Poor Ae-Jong never knew what hit him,” Prince Jung-Woo said.

  The empress chuckled. “At least he got some rest. Jongie was the hardest child in the world to get to sleep. He was always involved in everything and always talking about the stars and the planets. My husband gave him a telescope when Jongie turned three, and he used to fall asleep in the observatory just looking out into space.”

  “Mr. Green is also a stargazer,” Jung-Woo said.

  All three of the women looked at Andy as if Jung-Woo had said something bad.

  “You like looking at the stars, too?” Jae-Ha asked.

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” Andy said. “I am interested in other cultures and worlds. Sometimes I just like looking up and enjoying the beauty of it all.”

  Jae-Ha cleared her throat. “I do believe Jongie will be in good hands this time, Jung-Woo.”

  “I do, too,” Jung-Woo said to his sister-in-law.

  Andy’s heart all of a sudden started beating fast. Why did he have a feeling that what Jae-Ha and Jung-Woo were discussing had a double meaning? Had they just bestowed their blessing and approval?

  “Ae-Jong’s favorite color is yellow, and his favorite group is The Big Bang,” Mee-Yon said. “Mine, too, but he and I are digging on BTS at the moment.”

  Andy smiled. She was just too hip to be a princess. “Which one is your bias?”

  Mee-Yon looked up, surprised that he knew the term. “Suga. He’s so cute, and he’s a gifted songwriter like Ae-Jong.”

  “And who is Ae-Jong’s bias?” Andy asked.

  Mee-Yon was about to spill the beans when Dazed and Ra return. Tory and others must have gone back before them. The members of Dazed had changed out of their suits and were dressed in athletic gear. They also carried gym bags with them.

  “Girl, are you about to spill the biggest secret in the world?” Ae-Jong asked her.

  Mee-Yon nodded. “You and your manager shouldn’t have secrets.”

  “Don’t you have a husband to go home to?” Ae-Jong asked.

  “He is at a meeting. Where are you off to?”

  Ae-Jong bowed to his aunt and kissed her on the cheek. “Rehearsal for Unc’s celebration.”

  “I’m so looking forward to all of that,” Mee-Yon said. “It’s so cool having a cousin who is a K-Pop star.”

  Choon-Hee nodded and agreed with her sister. She put her attention on the other member of Dazed. “Where have you creeps been hiding out? I haven’t seen you for a while.”

  “And you wonder why?” Ra asked. “Just because you have that fancy doctor husband doesn’t mean you’re grown.”

  Choon-Hee nodded again. “Yes, it does, Ra. I have my own home, and I’m the queen of my castle.”

  “Your husbands must be saints to put up with you two demon girls,” Ra said.

  “You will have to excuse our kids,” the empress said. “It has always been a competitive thing between my daughters and these guys.”

  “They cheat,” Chika said. “They tickle and pull hair.”

  Andy tried to imagine all of them as kids. He bet the palace personnel were always on their toes. “Was Ae-Jong a bad child?”

  Choon-Hee shook her head. “He was the best.”

  “That’s because you used to dress him up like one of your dolls,” Ra said. “There is no reason he should know how to put on makeup or walk in heels better than you. He is a boy.”

  “Jealous,” Choon-Hee teased.

  “I think you better get these rascals out of here before we have to separate them,” Jung-Woo said.

  “We’re still better than them at fighting,” Mee-Yon said.

  “Hair pulling is not a martial art move, ninja girl,” Hanako said.

  “Thank you for dinner,” Andy said, rising. He bowed and followed his guy to the front door.

  “Heels?” Andy asked Ae-Jong when he caught up with him.

  “Don’t ask. Being the baby in the palace has corrupted me.”

  Andy called for Ji-Hu. The chauffeur arrived at the curb with the van. Dazed, Ra, and Andy climbed in and were driven back to work.

  * * * *

  Ae-Jong and the others got back to the job just in enough time to see Yukizumi rehearse. They had also changed out of their suits and looked like young men about to play some basketball. They were on the stage stretching. Si-Jun, the music arranger was already working with them. Noel sat near Edward and Luke Austin. Tory wasn’t there. Yukizumi’s band was in place and just waiting for instructions to begin. Ae-Jong sat next to Andrew with Hanako next to him and then Ra and Chika.

  Si-Jun spoke up. “Okay, you guys, let’s get this party started. Warm-up song first.”

  The three singers hopped to their feet and got in front of their mics. The band began playing a familiar tune…Ed Sheeran’s, “Shape of You.” Tomahiko started singing, and then Yukizumi began dancing and singing to the sexy song. Ae-Jong would rather die than admit how good the other group was, but Yukizumi did have some smoother moves now than when they were just starting out. And someone had taught them to use their bodies in such a way that it drew attention to them. Immediately after that, they broke out into one of their current songs. There was also a noted change to their professionalism. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that they were no longer kids, or they had been working with some new trainers and were more disciplined. A couple of songs later, Ae-Jong realized that Yukizumi had grown up and was going to be a force to reckon with in the coming years.

  Noel took the stage about an hour later. He wore slacks and a pullover shirt. As a crooner, he didn’t have to do too much dancing. He did begin with a rousing fast number and then sang two of his current R&B songs.
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  Tory entered the door clapping. He had with him some other folks. Ae-Jong knew them. “Wonderful, Noel,” Tory shouted.

  Noel bowed and returned to his seat by Edward.

  “Dazed, you’re up next,” Si-Jun said.

  Ae-Jong, Chika, and Hanako rose and moved to the stage. They did some stretches while their band changed places with the American one. Their warm-up song, old school Montell Jordan’s, “This is How We Do It,” followed by BTS’s, “Dope” to show off their dancing skills. They hadn’t broken into a sweat yet as they went directly into one of their older songs. They stopped for a break.

  Ra joined them on stage this time. Ae-Jong sat at the piano, Chika had a violin in hand, Hanako played the cello, and Ra played the flute. The newcomers seemed a bit surprised and were probably trying to figure out what was going on, including Andy. They played his uncle’s favorite classical tune, and then followed up with BTS’s, “Blood, Sweat and Tears,” along with the band. It was one of the last songs they learned before going off to do their military duty and still to this day one of Ae-Jong’s favorite. Hopefully, their upcoming video would be just as well-received.

  They also got a round of applause when the song ended. Frankie’s song, “Pump it Up,” was up next. It was a sexy dance number. The choreographer had taught them some intricate dance steps, but basically, they had to do a lot of hip shaking, especially him. He sang lead, and then at the end they got a round of applause from everyone in the room, including his guests Prince Fai Haung from Shanghai and Prince Deming Ang of Hong Kong. Deming blew Ae-Jong a kiss and Ae-Jong tried not to blush. They had come in early for his uncle’s celebration and was staying with them at the palace in the guest wing. They had arrived with Tory Albertson.

  Andy looked back behind him to see what was going on. He was frowning like a jealous lover.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Chika asked.

  Ae-Jong shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  Ra chuckled. “Liar.”

  Ae-Jong ignored him. Andy didn’t seem like the jealous kind. Ae-Jong relaxed in his seat. Maybe it would be best if he slept in his own bed tonight.