#aka:

The night was going well, aside from the general insanity - and although Anya was a little bored, she was not here for the recreation - and "Jae" was not the worst company. She was starting to get used to him, his conversation, and the slow dancing, even.

Her hand was in his, and they were dancing slowly to some song Anya didn't recognize. The lights were dim, which helped her to feel slightly more comfortable in what she knew was some glossy looking lion's den.

He still hadn't brought up his so called 'offer,' but Anya was doing her best to be patient.

“So,” Jae spoke softly, “How do you feel about tonight?"

"Honestly? I feel like I have whiplash. But that's to be expected."

"And what do you think about me?"

"Aside from the slapping and drugging?"

"Yeah, aside from that," he smirked. "Again, I'm sorry."

"Of course I like you," she said, flashing Jae a smile. It was, what she believed, her best feature. "Potentially rich, good looking, questionable and well-dressed men like you are just my type."

He laughed.

"Just curious," she said. "Is your boss here? Whoever runs your...company...?"

"Not yet, I don't think so," he said. "Uh...he sometimes doesn't come to these things so I guess we'll see if he makes it. He's not always around..."

Why am I not surprised, she thought. "You know, I'm still waiting on that offer by the way..."

He nodded and smiled.

"I won't keep you waiting any longer, so here it is. If choose to join the games, a van would pick you up next week, and you'll be taken to an undisclosed location."

"Kind of like today."

"A little more...restrictive and farther than today."

"Oh..."

"You'll play games against others for money. Like at the station…but way more money. I mean big, life-changing money."

She laughed. "Are you serious?"

"I'm serious."

"Okay..." she said. "How many players? What's the catch?"

"There's...look, that's all I can say about it right now," he sighed. "I know you need the money, but if you decide to do that, I can't protect you there. You wouldn't be safe. That's why, if you're interested, I can offer you something else. Something better. You'd be financially well taken care of and not in any danger."

Maybe "less dangerous," she thought. No danger at all sounded like a fantasy.

"And...What does that other thing involve?"

"You come with me to these boring events. You help me with work. it's an assistant job, that's all. Secretarial work."

"...Assistants go with their bosses to boring events?"

He laughed.

"Not typically, but when needed. We don't have a lot of assistants per se, but I can get you a role."

"I see…And…Is there anything else to it?..." she said, hoping he would understand what she was getting at. Not that she'd pass up the "job" either way. This was too good an opportunity.

"Technically, you just do what I say. If you're thinking about, anything else...You don't have to sleep with me yet."

There it was. "Yet."

"Whenever you're comfortable. We could just work on our relationship for now."

'Relationship?' She had just met him. He had just blindfolded her, drugged her, asked her to dress up and go to a work event with shady people and crappy champagne.

God, these recruiters are all crazy, she thought.

Admittedly, Anya was also surprised he had even asked her to come here. Given his looks and his seemingly (mostly) polite and soft-spoken nature, Jae didn't look like the type who needed help getting a woman's attention.

Maybe he was too sheltered in by this organization. Or maybe the women he tried to talk to picked up on the "crazy" and so dating or sleeping around was more difficult for this young man than she thought.

"So, this job...what if I wanted to move up eventually?" she asked, thinking about her main concern - Information and a potential murder of the big boss. "Would I be able to get to the higher ranks?"

"Why? You want to make even more money?" he laughed lightly.

More like, I want to retrieve evidence and maybe kill someone above your pay grade, she thought.

"Something like that," she smiled. "I'm ambitious."

"Stick with me, I'll get you there. So, what do you say? Would you want to take the job?"

"Well, I-" she hesitated.

And then, over his shoulder, she saw him. Suit guy. Sitting at one of the round tables, listening to the woman who she had met just a few minutes ago.

A chill crept up her spine, and her heartbeat like it did the first time she saw him. Although this time in anxiety, more than in excitement.

She tripped a little on Jae's shoes, and he caught her before she lost balance.

He locked eyes with her. "You okay?"

"I'm fine, let's just- "

Improvising, she tugged him by his suit jacket further into the dance floor so they wouldn't be seen. She was grateful to God, if there was one, that there were a few pairs slow dancing as well to help keep her hidden.

"What's wrong?"

"I just wanted us to have a little privacy," she smiled.

"Mai, I was thinking. I could introduce you to some of the others -"

"I would rather to spend more time here with you. This is a little intimidating you know," she chuckled.

"Oh. Yeah, I get it. No problem," he smiled.

After a few moments, she glanced over Jae's shoulder, happy to see 'the suit' still distracted.

Perfect time to slip away and think. The music was so loud, and ever since she saw him, she felt more anxious.

"I need to freshen up. Is there a restroom around here?" she asked.

Jae nodded.

"Down the hall to your right, last door on the right." he motioned. "Go ahead. Well talk more when you’re back. Think about what I told you."

Anya nodded and quickly made her way down the hall and out of view as fast as she could. She needed to come up with a plan.

Maybe I can sneak past these pink higashi looking guards and get evidence of something in one of these rooms. Find something and get out.

I could also sneak into the kitchen. Get a knife. Slit someone's throat - whoever ran this entire circus. Or just someone. They probably deserved it anyway. This was the perfect place to do it, a viper's nest. Just one person...I could isolate them, get them alone. And then, done. I would run away.

On foot. In heels. In the middle of the night. With no phone, when there's nothing but acres of grass and trees around.

It was, although enticing, an absurd and impossible thought.

Then again. It was absurd she had even come here.

She just needed to breathe. Just for a moment.

The doors she encountered when she did sneak past any guards were all locked unfortunately (thereby vetoing both her 'get evidence' and her absurd 'sneak into kitchen, get knife, and slit someone's throat' scenario) - but she did manage to find an exit that led to somewhere outside.

It was something like a greenhouse, but ten times bigger - A huge private garden, full of walls and fences with vines. Pretty golden lanterns. It was beautiful. Something out of a Versailles garden, she thought, though she had never been.

She walked around for some time, enjoying the cool air. She felt she could breathe better out here. At some point though she knew she should probably go back to find "Jae" before her time away ran long enough to be rendered suspicious.

She considered she might try to get him alone somewhere when she went back - no matter what that led to - to waste time and not be seen by suit guy - the other recruiter.

Maybe she could buy herself some time - that was all she needed to do right now. Yes, that was a good idea, she thought. She would just have to convince him to leave early and maybe distract him, she decided. A logical, level-headed plan.

Decided on her course of action, she made to turn a corner on one of the vined walls to go back inside to the main room.

She was stopped abruptly by the feeling of cold metal and the pressure of a gun between her shoulder blades. Instinctively it made her straighten up and tense. It was not the first time she had a gun pointed at her.

Fuck. He knew. He knew she was a fraud. It was all she could think of.

"Don't move."

It's not like she could move anyway if she wanted to. Fear - she hated the thing - that she had been found out held her down more than his gun ever could.

"Don't move unless you want to die."

Not Jae.

He stepped closer, and she almost felt the heat of him against her back.

"What do you want?" she said.

He leaned in over her shoulder. The scent of that cologne again. If she hadn't recognized his voice, she would have known him from that alone.

Her hands balled up in fists - hard. She was angry at her own fear, more than angry at the man holding the gun.

"Hands on the wall," he leaned in beside her. "Spread your legs."

"If you're going to shoot me just shoot me you little bi-"

She heard the pull of the trigger behind her and she couldn't escape the soft gasp that left her throat. Her shoulders tensed. The son of a bitch actually took the shot.

"Relax," he said. "Looks like that round was empty. Good for you. The next one though, you might not get so lucky."

She almost rolled her eyes, fear beginning to make way for agitation. She was glad for it.

"Hands on the wall, legs shoulder width apart. Stay still. I'm going to search you, because I really doubt you're here just for the party," he stated plainly. "I'll be quick if you behave. Understood?"

She swallowed down any remarks that might get her, well, shot - and did as he said, hoping to get this over with. Fortunately, he was quick about it, more efficient and professional at patting her down than even an airport agent would be.

"All done. Turn around."

She did so and his gun was aiming just under her neck at her chest now. There he was, just as tall, handsome, and strangely vacant in expression as she remembered him. He did look a little more tired, maybe. Regardless of the fact, he was unfortunately dashing in appearance, as most people at this event were.

"I wish I could say it's nice to see you again," he sneered. "What are you doing here? Besides playing the whore out there," he said, motioning backwards. "I taught that boy to play ddakji, you know."

"Congratulations,” she said. “I don’t know, Maybe I'm here to find the leader of this fucked up little circus and kill them. Or maybe I'm just here with a friend to drink expensive champagne."

“You don’t like that champagne.”

“Like I said, I’m here with a friend.”

"Mm...no," he asserted. "I think you've really developed a hero complex. Too little, too late, don't you think?"

In spite on the gun pointed at her chest, she was admittedly triggered by the fucker. And in reaction to his comment she went to slap him again, but he caught her wrist easily, without even flinching his other hand's hold on his gun.

"You're not doing that again. You still owe me a dress shirt, you know. The stain wouldn't go away," he tilted his head and seemed to almost pout a bit. "Kind of like you, now that I think about it..."

He leaned down to her and tugged her closer.

"I could get you in trouble just for this," he said. "We’re in a restricted area. Built by the owner for his wife. They might just kill you for being here."

"In which case you'd get in trouble by your superiors for being here too."

"Not at all," he said. "I was just following a rat outside."

She heard the cock of the gun.

She couldn't move - or even respond to that - fear holding her in place once again at the mechanical sound. She felt suffocated. Her nails dug into her palms further - she felt his grip on her wrist tighten at the same time. Unsurprisingly, he grappled with some unhinged violence.

"I'll tell them you're working with me then. Maybe they'd suspect you."

"No no no," he corrected, albeit calmly. "No one would believe that."

"You might be overestimating how much you're trusted. Loyalty is not usually rewarded, you know."

"Don't try to get in my head, that won't work with me," he said simply, raising his brows in amusement that she was even trying it. He released his hold on her wrist and straightened up his posture again.

"Now, let's make things a little more interesting," he said, smoothing over his suit as if preparing for his next move. "I want to ask you a question," he said. "The next round on this gun is empty. Do you believe me?"

She took a moment to think, though it was obvious.

"No. I don't believe you."

Faintly, she heard footsteps somewhere nearby, and she figured she really needed to get out of here now if he was serious about this being some sort of restricted area. She didn't need any more attention.

"Look, can we not do this?" she said, doing her best to negotiate. "It's not like I can do anything here anyway. You just saw I have nothing on me. I just came out here for the fresh air, and I’m here with a friend. I'll stay out of your way, and you stay out of mine. Deal?"

She found it difficult to breathe again, her chest feeling horribly constricted. She placed a hand on her stomach and took a deep breath. She made a move to step away from him, but of course, he blocked her path.

"You're assuming it's loaded then," he smiled, brimming with the joy of whatever game he was playing. He seemed to be relishing his current power, still aiming the revolver at her.

She looked over at the glass door behind him then back to the gun before her.

"Yes. Yes it's loaded."

"Well, I'll get to the point. You have three seconds to choose one of two options - The first one being: I shoot you again. If there's no bullet - you're free to go, if there is one, you're dead, obviously,” he said, voice brimming with a calm tonality that did not mirror his seeming excitement at the prospect.

"Or, option two: I don't shoot you and I tell my 'superiors' everything about you instead. It may and likely will be a worse way to go than a bullet."

"Christ. You're insane," she said, taking a breath and trying to calm her nerves. "I had no idea you were so much fun at parties."

"Three seconds to decide -"

"Wait -"

"Starting now."

In a frighteningly swift motion, he moved forward, forcing her to step back until she felt herself hit the vined wall behind her. The gun was pointed under her chin now, forcing her to tilt her head up at him.

Well, he certainly knew how to get someone's adrenaline running.

"One."

Excitement radiated off him like he was just itching to pull the trigger again and see a bullet come through this time. He appeared manic, energized. She was frozen, looking down although she couldn't see the gun. She could only feel the metal teasing death on her skin.

She heard the footsteps again. Getting closer. She could swear she heard someone talking. There was no way to run and hide. She was either going to get shot or worse out here. Unfortunately, one of two options looked like it was about to happen as she heard someone getting even closer. And talking amongst the guards, no doubt.

How could she even explain why she had gone out here? Or the fact that she was here under a fake name?

If he didn't kill her first anyway. She wasn’t sure she could reason with him.

"Two. I would hurry if I were you."

No. There had to be a way to get out of this without getting shot or found out.

She looked back from the glass door over his shoulder to his face. A brief smirk appeared over his lips. She wanted to tear it off him. What a smarmy fucker. Maybe he'd kill her, but - If she got caught out here, she would do her best to bring him down with her.

"Thr-"

Impulsively and in a quick movement, she leaned in and kissed him, her hand moving to the back of his neck to pull him in as she took his lips with hers. The sensation of the act was strangely pleasant - the warmth of him a sharp contrast from the coolness of his gun on her. She felt her heart racing, as she was still half waiting for the pull of the trigger.

He seemed surprised, notable by the fact he wasn't exactly reacting at all in any way at first (good, she thought - my brain is still intact). He didn't exactly push her away, or lean in - until he did, maybe instinctively.

Whoever was approaching would just catch them in the act, and that might just save her.

She kept kissing him, or him her, she wasn't sure what was the case right now. But she was grateful for it because she felt the gun removed from under her chin as he gripped her face, the metal of the gun brushing lightly against her cheek. Her heart fluttered at the fact that she was still very much alive and not currently at the end of a revolver's barrel.

Whatever insanity she had just delved into in the spur of the moment was then interrupted.

"Hey!" said a voice, and they both immediately stopped.

Anya pulled away from him and looked over his shoulder. One of the pink higashi guards.

"You two can't be here," the guard called out. "You need to come with me. Now -"

The recruiter turned to the guard.

"We'll go inside. Just a moment."

"Oh - sorry sir. I’ll wait inside. I didn't mean to interrupt you. Just orders."

"I heard you. We'll be right there. Go," he said with a nod. This seemed to appease the guard, who obeyed, and seemed to have some level of respect for him.

The recruiter sighed in annoyance and turned back to Anya, stark indifference on his face. Then he chuckled and ran a thumb under his bottom lip.

"I don't know what you think you're doing, but you really have some nerve," he said, raising his eyebrows.

"So do you," she said, and with renewed confidence, an idea occurred to her. "Listen, I am here for Jae and he is looking for me right now. If you say one word about me, I'll tell anyone who listens how you met me a year ago and let me live. And that it's your fault there's a rat running loose. I'm sure what happened just now won't help your case either. I'll bring you down with me, I swear..."

She really - really - hoped she was convincing enough to at least instill a small crack in his confidence.

"Are you so sure that you can? 'Bring me down with you'?"

"Yes," she said, although her eyes remained fixed on the gun he held at his side. She knew hurling threats at him might not be the brightest idea, but it was worth the try given he was adamant about threatening her anyway.

He smiled, and to her relief, he placed the gun away in his jacket. The recruiter licked his lips and fixed his nearly perfect hair, which she had only mildly put out of place.

"Sure. Fine. We'll do this your way. I won't tell anyone you're a fraud. For now."

"Really," she said.

"Really," he smiled, then took her face in his hand and leaned into her. "Only because I am going to enjoy holding this over you."

He kissed her, a quick peck, in what she registered as mocking her earlier use of the distraction and misdirection. Then he patted her twice lightly on the cheek.

He stepped aside and nodded towards the door.

"You go first."

Right.

She got the hell out of there and went back to the gala, surprised she had made it out of there alive.

..