"Heh!"

There it goes again. That silly grin that has been on his face all day since he left Eros. Nothing chased away his smile of pure happiness. It has been a while since he felt this emotion. Throughout his day, he felt unburdened and accepted. His shopping spree and a trip to the salon added to that factor and the random messaging with Eros hiked it up.

"My cheeks hurt."

Jaejin grumbled and massaged his cheek as he focused on his image in the mirror. He took note of the changes only he knew of. His eyes were no longer wary and dull. The anxiety that was visibly shown in his slumped shoulders was gone and he was back at a healthy weight. His skin was fairer and had a reasonably healthy glow. 

Happiness. 

He chuckled once more and got to work on his facial routine. His mother will skin him alive if he missed it. 
Thinking of her, he came to a decision to video call her. The information Eros gathered calmed his worries about his mother having support if she does agree to a divorce. From that quick investigative report, his partner's network can allocate those funds without the main party knowing. If they can break through security systems and find the trails of starter funds, that will be child's play.

"We can get her out of there. I know we can." He was ready to persuade his mother if she showed any sign of hesitation. According to the news, his father's reputation was crumbling in the US, the Korean image was shattered by one news report. Unless he pulled some trick or partners with a homeland bigshot, he will have nothing left to his name. Jaejin shuddered. In his mind, Eros was genuinely vicious. Planning and executing someone's downfall to such an extent was no small feat. It took brains and resources to do it without any slip-ups.
"To think such a guy wants forever with me. Lucky on my first try."

Leaving the bathroom, he got dressed and grabbed the new phone and called his mother. He was nervous. It's been a while since they saw each other opting for basic calls and texts. Now that they both have a secure line, their freedom was a sure thing.
After a few rings, the call was connected.

"My baby. You look so handsome. Your beautiful hair is gone but you still look wonderful." 

A flush took over Jaejin's face with his mother's praise. Eun-Kyung was a prime example of a doting and loving mother. She gave compliments freely, placed subtle advice when warranted, and supported him wholly. Though she had a welcoming aura, that didn't stop Jaejin's anxiety about breaching the topic of his sexuality with her; hence the letter he sent.

"You look different, also. Does this mean everything is well on your side?" 

Her question was accompanied by a knowing smile. 

"It is. It's beyond my expectations also."

Eun-Kyung gave a small nod and resumed her scrutiny of her son. Her little Jin is her light amidst her darkness. His innocent eyes and smile brought her out of many emotional setbacks over the years. She was practically a single mother in a new country and isolated from society. Having him in her arms and watching him grow was all within her scope of the world. Presently, she was able to see beyond the walls she built for herself and her child. Things were changing around her and she couldn't be left behind.

"You're looking similar to me. I haven't seen this style on you for a while." Jaejin was pertaining to Eun's glossy black hair now flowing down her back and the minimal makeup she applied. If one didn't know the relation between the two, she would be mistaken as his older sister.

"The situation here is more in my favor. He has no time to linger on my act of rebellion and the unofficial second wife is trying to be his pillar now. After the scandal in Korea, his standing in society plummeted. Not to mention the power of a woman's influence."

"Power of a woman's influence?" Jaejin repeated her words with a look of genuine confusion.

Eun-Kyung laughed softly at her son's actions. The slight tilt of his head and the little frown on his forehead made him look more like a confused toddler than a college kid.

"Yes. I discovered it after the letter from your benefactor and yours also. You were safe from Hanjool's machinations and Eros gave his word to protect you. Knowing you were in good hands and you were of sound mind, I decided to step over that line. I used my ignorance to create a strong support system through my friends and gained solid means to survive on my own. You know he won't think twice to eject me from the villa. I have to be ready at all times."

Jaejin's eyes widen with clarity and hope.

"Are you going to issue a divorce? Eros is waiting on your decision to ....."

"... leave? His question was hidden in the two sentences he wrote on the card that accompanied my new phone and official identification."

"And? What is your answer? Mother, Eros can truly help you leave that place. His influence is above that man's." Jaejin was on the brink of losing his composure. Just one word and his mother will be free of her jail.

Eun-Kyung giggled sweetly at her son's display of eagerness. Eyes full of mirth she asked him to calm down. It's been a while since she saw him like this.
"I do wish to leave but not on my own decision."

Another frown marred his delicate features. Before he can speak, his mother voiced her reason.

"Your friend's actions are the cause of Hanjool's predicament. If I boldly state I wish to divorce him in his time of need, my name and image will be stained alongside his. I have upheld my wedding vows for years, I've watched him grow into a tycoon in our homeland and here and I have helped fortify his image. If I turn the media's attention to my askance for a divorce, what do you think will be the public's outcry? 'Wife disloyal to husband's plight'; 'Wife's faith is no more'; 'Wife tarnishes wedding vows'. It may be insignificant to us but to the media and Hanjool, those are golden paths, it can distract the public from what surfaced in Korea. If I let him take the lead, I can be the scorned woman and live a life without any lingering attachment."

"Hmm, when you put it like that, you're right. I wonder if Eros thought of that angle," Jaejin murmured to himself. His mother heard his mutterings and simply shook her head.

"I believe he does. I may not be adept at manipulating things and seeing things for what they are but I know your friend does. I will send him my response and act accordingly to what he does."

"YES!"

Eun-Kyung listened to his excited shout and the plans he made for them both, plus his on-the-spot additional plans which included his benefactor. He didn't notice but she did, every plan he made for them included Eros Delacourde, and every time he utter the name, his smile grew wide and eyes shone like diamonds in a dark sky.

"Is he the reason for your question?"

Jaejin's last word fell. The topic he was trying to avoid was brought up by his mother. He knew she loved him dearly but can one break away from the teachings they were taught? His mother was born into a traditional home that instilled traditional values. The same can be said for his father. Being gay was taboo to those types of families and seventy-five percent of the public. His worry was valid.

"I like him."

His declaration was bold and steadfast. Head held high with a firm expression on his face, Eun-Kyung knew he spoke the truth.

"I see. By your tone I take it that you like him beyond friendly relations," she teased.

"Y-Yes?"

"Hmmm, you don't sound sure about your answer."

"Yes! Yes, I like him like that. We are official partners at present."

Silence reigned after his outburst. Jaejin's face was now red in embarrassment and Eun-Kyung was trying to hold back her laugh.

"Are you disappointed in me?" He mistook the twitch of her lips for bridled anger and not the amusement she was feeling at the moment. By his question, her shoulders fell and a soft look took over her ageless face.

"How can I? You're my son. You found a partner like any other person. It may not be of society's standard but you found someone to share your life with. Why should I be disappointed, my little Jin?"

"Because it's taboo."

Eun-Kyung clicked her tongue and a sneer formed on her lips. "I abandoned those teachings the moment my father sold me to the Min family.  You're my son, you're entitled to live the way you wish. The last name assigned to you is for decoration. Your first name is all that matters and the one you should live by."

Along with other cultures and parents who wish for their kids to be great adults, his name 'Jaejin' was chosen by his mother hoping that one day he represented it.
His name represented ambition, inspiration, power, and success. He believed he represented one at the moment but the others are hard to prove. He understood his mother's words clearly and felt a sense of relief and unbound acceptance from her. 

"And here I thought you named me after uncle Ji-hun," he teased.

It was his mother's turn to blush. 

"You little monster."

With Jaejin's reply laugh, mother and son spent the next few hours chatting into the night.

                                                                                         ~~~~~~~~

About last night...

A lot can happen during the night while we sleep. A few lucky ones witness bizarre things and some get to be part of a once-in-a-moment hilarious scene. 
Come on! You know those moments. 
The crackhead chased after a chunky boy because the dude had no change from his twenty-dollar bill.
Ummm, what about that weird animal you spotted on the side of the road? That back road no one likes to drive on.
Hmmmmm, maybe two drunk best friends giving the best Mariah Carey impersonation show?

Well, either way, someone spotted something while we slept. 

Last night, a specific staff of hotel workers got to experience the phrase - 'money flows like water'. 
The guests in the overly priced, lavishly furnished suites are said to be extravagant during their stay. Expensive meals are a given. Reserve the best tables is a must. Keeping the concierge busy with booking 'fun' outings can be considered normal. There are the entitled ones who select a maid to be their servant throughout their stay.
But.
Ordering full-course meals while in the rooftop club; having the concierge restock your condom stash and purchasing non-hotel liquor; reserving the entertainment areas of the hotel and not visiting them; requesting car washes for all three cars; having the hotel's salon staff tend to their female companions, disrupting their scheduled appointments; racking up a bar tab that totaled to a two-day profit; and disturbing the peace seem to be bordering the lines of crazy. On top of their lavish demands, the level of arrogance passed many of their VIP guests. The threats the staff heard for minor mistakes and service not being 'up to par' was past thirty. Throughout the night, the owner of the hotel and club received enough complaints from his staff and guests to shut his business down. Thankfully, with the backing of the Delacourde family, he was able to compensate both parties.
On the other side of things, that was what they expected from the spoiled insecure son of Min Hanjool. Everything he ordered to please his friends and to keep the women interested was all placed on his bill. In the minds who supervised each demand of the young man, they saw his expenditures as stupidly wasteful.
They knew the backgrounds of the two men accompanying him. Respectively they came from affluent families and had a secure future within their household which was superior to Neil Min. 
While the young master spent to please his friends, they were living leisurely at his expense.

As the night passed, the groups' revelry ended in the wee hours of the morning with their last order- a platter of shucked oysters and three bottles of the hotel's most expensive wines that cashed in at an average of seven thousand dollars.

Following the esteemed young master's orders, the front desk called the penthouse to employ his 11 am wake-up call.  After three rings on one call and two rings on two other calls, the receptionist made note of the 'no answer' status. 
Two hours later a peeved Neil Min made his way to the reception desk and requested to speak with the manager. One of his friend's accompanied him after great reluctance, leaning against the marble counter he sighed in annoyance and urged Neil to hurry with his affairs. He didn't care about a forgotten wake-up call, he was eager to see Neil embarrass his older brother. The too-perfect Jaejin always rubbed them the wrong way. He was too smart, too handsome in an angel-like sense, and fawned over most of the girls they came across. To get rid of that anger, Neil deals with him or the staff at their home. Their father was clueless about the animosity between the two brothers, well, one of the brothers. As Neil's friend he always had the first look at Neil's bullying. One will expect the victim to tattle to their father or fight back but Jaejin never did any of those. Neil can be screaming vulgar words or physically assaulting but Jaejin always held an indifferent look or a sympathetic one.
'The loser is probably selling his last jewelry to get by here', he thought to himself. While he was chuckling to himself, excited to see the pauper version of Jaejin, the manager approached them.

"Good day, Young master Neil. I am Chrissette, the hotel's manager, how may I help you?" A middle-aged woman with sharp black eyes greeted Neil in a stern yet polite tone.

"Apart from your staff being unable to carry out requests, I wish to have my check out handled professionally. That way I can say this place actually has a hint of professionalism," he sneered in response.

"Our greatest apologies, young master Neil. We fail to give you a suitable outcome amongst your many requests. Forgive us. I will personally go through the checkout procedure with you." Though her words were consolatory, if one had the talent to spot bullshit in easily spoken words, one can find a hint of mockery in the manager's apology.

"I will be extending my stay till tomorrow midday. Please may the necessary arrangements for my suite to be cleaned."

"That will not be a problem, sir. However before I proceed with your requests, I would like you to clear this present bill before I renew the reservation," Chrissette announced.

"Simply add it to my new bill, why go through all this nonsense." The condescending tone was big enough to drive someone up the wall. His words were akin to insulting someone for not knowing their job.

The manager smiled. So many things she wanted to tell this brat but her standing will be lowered amongst her staff. The kid was pushing her limits. "Policies and procedures are not only a business's foundation but a template to ensure our guests have an optimal stay. I know you won't feel at ease during your stay here knowing you have a bill to clear. This is our way of helping, young master."

Neil didn't like the smile he received from this woman. It reminded him too much of Jaejin's mother. That pitiful smile one gives an idiot. Not wanting to be played for a fool, he said the first thing that came to his mind. "It seems you're suggesting that my family doesn't have the means to pay one of two bills, Chrissette. I didn't know this place looked down on outsiders."

Neil's friend scoffed. He knew the guy had no say in his family's affairs but was he so clueless? HW Financial Group is currently a sinking ship. If they can get at least three lifeboats they can salvage their lost investors and image. Manager Chrissette had the same thoughts and chose not to correct the child's ignorance. Kids like him only receive their parent's profits without learning where the source originates, hence their large egos and blatant ignorance.

"We treat each guest the same. We also wish for the guests to respect our policies," Chrissette countered with another pitiful smile.

Gritting his teeth, he retrieved his credit card in jerky motions and threw it toward the woman. 'It seems like basic manners eluded this one,' the manager said inwardly. 
"Thank you, young master. Please review the accumulated bill and confirm the expenditures." She places two sheets of A4 paper carrying the hotel logo. From afar one can deduct the information on these documents as repetitive lines but on closer inspection, they were Neil Min's expenditures in full detail. The amount, the name, the order date and time, the cost by unit, and the cost in total were carefully printed on the two pages. 
Ignoring this information, Neil glanced at the total and waved at the manager to proceed. His friend got a look at the total, his eyebrows shot up with incredulity. 'That much for one night?' he yelled internally. Even he had a limit to spending his money for some fun.

"May I see your ID, sir?" Chrissette asked after a few seconds of silence.

"WHAT! What kind of stunt are you pulling? That card is mine," he shouted. His face was now red with embarrassment. No one has ever dared to ask him for his ID even when they had the so-called procedures in place.

"I know this, young master but there seems to be ..... an error."

"Error?" he parroted.

Chrissette took note of their surroundings. A few guests were checking in and out while staff members and security were carrying about their duties. The receptionists on either side of her were of the majority privy of the little tete-a-tete. The ones closest to her saw the message alert on the monitor beside them.

                                                           'CARD DECLINED - CODE 93'

"Yes, sir, an error. I suggest we take this conversation elsewhere," the manager said softly. She was strategically giving Neil the opportunity to avoid public humiliation.

"There's no need for a conversation. I have an appointment to get to. Finish your job and let me be on my way," he said through clenched teeth. Chrissette sighed and made a show of swiping the card at the no-touch merchant device only to be told the same thing. A third time was done. This try prompted another code popped up.

                              'CARD DECLINED - CODE 01'

"Young master Neil, please follow me. The faster we sort this problem out, the better we can move on with our day." Chrissette wanted to wrap this up as fast as she can but the kid in front of her was utterly brainless.

"What problem?"

"Sir, it's best..."

"ENOUGH! If you wish to show some sort of power play here, you're surely mistaken. Tell me your problem, NOW." Neil was highly annoyed by their actions and the averted gazes from the receptionists made him uneasy.
The manager sighed in annoyance, she no longer hold it back. Straightening her posture, she clasped her hands and positioned them horizontally as her arms rested against her waist. In one sentence she sent Neil's world into a tailspin.

"Sir, your card was declined."

A guest nearby heard and slowly averted her eyes and turned her head to her companion. "Wow!" she mouthed to her friend. The latter bent her head in secondhand embarrassment. They, along with nearby guests, heard the late half of the conversation between the male guest and the manager. Common sense will tell the person, by the manager's words, something was up with their card. 

"Impossible. Swipe it again. Do you know how much money is in my account? The value is higher than your measly wages at this god-forsaken place. If you can't do your job properly call someone who can." Neil was livid. The eyes around him were all filled with pity and amusement. They were all seeing him as a joke.

"Dude, let's talk with the manager elsewhere. With a quick call all of this will be rectified." Neil's friend wanted nothing more than to leave that open place. Simply standing beside that idiot anyone can associate him with the guy. 

"This is utter bullshit!"

His voice floated in the check-in area, bringing more attention to him. He reached over and snatched his card from the woman. To prove to her that she was doing a crappy job, he threw the card at another receptionist and demanded that she complete his transaction. The young lady glanced at her boss, who in return gave a subtle shake of her head. 
"I'm sorry, sir. This is beyond my capabilities," she responded with an apologetic smile.

"Swiping one card is above your duties!"

The commotion Neil was causing prompted the guards to act without the manager's call. The young man's action of leaning over the counter placed them on alert, his angry bellow and nearing-crazed state pushed them to act before time. 
"Sir, please follow us to the private lounge. We can figure things out there in a more serene manner, "one of the guards said courteously.

Two strapping men clad in black enclosed Neil on either side. One spoke while the other placed his hand on the young man's shoulder, subtly placing a bit of pressure on it. Neil watched both of them and attempted to shrug off the guard's hold. "Get your hand off me before I sue your crook of a boss."

The guards chuckled because unknowing to the staff of the hotel, their boss wasn't Macrey, the owner but the second young master in the Delacourde family. To be more precise, their boss was this kid's in-law. 

Poor thing.

"We will love to have a private chat. Please. Lead the way." Neil's friend sensed the change in the guard's outward demeanor. They may be laughing but their bodies were tense and ready to take action. If that idiot says something foolish, the guard's actions will be dubbed as public safety.

"Blu?! Why are you acting like a sniveling idiot towards these 9 to 5 playtime cops?"

Known as the lazy prince in New Mexico, Blu Soren is one of the two friends Neil deemed to keep close. As the sole heir of a conglomerate, the media follows his every move. With his connection to Neil Min known and the issue with HW Financial getting crazier, a lot of gossip rags are earning fat checks. Blu had enough pressure on his back from his father, he didn't need Neil causing a scandal with him in the middle of a state like Pasadena. On the surface, the state may look like the ideal tourist attraction with its history but it's one of the few major trade hubs on the West coast. His trip here was to do a preliminary check for his father not to slander their family name.

"I'm the one acting like an idiot? " Blu asked with a short laugh. The things he wished to say weren't suitable for the public. 

                                                                                     ~~~~~~~~~

Under the guidance of the guards followed by the manager, the two were led into the private elevators for staff members and arrived on the fifth floor in quick succession. Apart from the hotel rooms, there was an unauthorized area deemed especially for private meetings. The duo was led to this space and promptly occupied one of the lounges with its private balcony. The modern decor and its detail to bring in the freshness of the outdoors made the room feel more like a sanctuary than a business lounge. 
Chrissette offered the two a seat on one side of the room while she took the other. The guards stationed themselves by the door and the balcony respectively. After a moment of silence, Neil broke it, showing his impatience.

"Explain yourself. I have places to be," he snapped.

Chrissette sighed helplessly and Blu stayed in his laidback position on the sofa with a roll of his eyes. 

"Young master Neil, I suggest you contact your affiliated bank or your parents because upon swiping your card, two error codes popped up. Codes 93 and 01," the manager began.

"There should be no issue with my bank. I've been with them for years and my deposits are sent to me directly. This is a minor issue so there's no need for my parents." In truth, the only person he can rely on was his mother and even her authority isn't enough for this. That leaves his father, to be precise, Administrator Cho.

"Code 93 of a credit card error focuses on the account. My advice is to contact a reliable source to help with your debt or have a private meeting with the higher-ups. I will be in the office outside, please visit me when everything is clarified," Chrissette explained. With a smile on her face, she left the room.

"Unbelievable," Neil muttered. Retrieving his phone, he pulled up his mobile banking app to see the situation. Running his fingers through his hair harshly, it felt more like hours than seconds as he watched the app load the homepage.
His hand and expression froze when he saw those dark bold numbers under the words 'Account Balance'. His entire world spun and the sound of glass breaking echoed in his ears. How can this be? He never saw such a number associated with his bank account since he was privy to his family's wealth. 

How....?

What....?

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?"

His scream can be heard in the hall where one of the guards stood. The man knew his boss was dealing with the Min Family but was he planning to send the youngest one to the loony bin?

From the $ 2.17 million paid to his account to visit Pasadena, Neil Min's balance was now $2,500. 

He was now at the same level as the college kids he mocked and bullied.