POV: Kang Tae Oh
First: The Tower
Second: 10 of Swords
Third: 7 of Wands
He frowns. Not good…
The Tower card shows some people falling from a tower after lightning has struck. A catastrophe, a shocking change. Something terrible but permanent. While 10 of Swords shows a man lying with his face in the ground and 10 swords struck in his back. Betrayal, death, being at your lowest. 7 of wands is struggle, fighting, one man taking on 6 wands all alone.
The cards alone would not concern him much. But they look ominous side by side.
Is he going to get betrayed?
How and by whom?
For clarification, he shuffles the deck again and pulls three more cards. Flipping them perplexes him more than ever. With his head tilted and his frown deepening, he tries to make sense of it. The Tower, 10 of Swords and 7 of wands clarified by the Star, Empress and Ace of Cups.
He flips the deck and the under deck card is the Magician.
"What the hell–what are you trying to say?" he mutters.
Tae Oh isn't one of those intuitive readers who looks at the spread and immediately images and voices appear in his head and some psychic power assists in interpreting–no, he relies only on his knowledge of the cards to interpret.
Whatever. He just needs to be extra careful. Sometimes the cards only make sense later. Sometimes a sword is just a needle.
And the negative cards are followed by the positive ones. It means things will go terribly wrong but it will work out in the end.
He gathers up his cards, ties and replaces them in his coat pocket. It's time to go on rounds, check up on workers and clients and any bastard trying to create trouble.
He wears the vest, attaches the silver chain from the pocket to the vest's button below his chest and reaches for his rings on the glass table. Jadeite, black opal, alexandrite, ruby. All made in silver. Metal clangs when he flexes his fingers and pulls on his long leather coat. Its stiff black material blends with the dark yet shiny hallways as he steps out.
He's only gone down a few steps when Dohyun and Gunwoo come out of a Crown Room. The former has recently dyed his hair a platinum blonde shade and tattooed his jawline with a slithering snake. It helps his foolish boyish face look somewhat menacing.
Dohyun is startled upon his sight. His body is as stiff as Tae Oh's coat. He glances at Gunwoo, who ignores him, and comes to Tae Oh.
"Hyung'nim, Director Seo is here, asking about you," Gunwoo says.
"Just sell him the rice, why are you bothering me about it?" He snaps.
Dohyun quickly cuts in. "Of course Hyung'nim, be on your way." He points down the corridor. That act makes Tae Oh pause.
Before he can ask anything, the door behind Dohyun opens and Director Seo appears.
"Kang Tae Oh, wouldn't you join us today?" Director Seo is a middle aged man. Thrice divorced. A junkie who is always bringing in new clients for Tae Oh. His large face is framed by black glasses and has the hollow look of junkies.
Absolute disgusting trash.
"Have fun. I am not in the mood," Tae Oh replies simply.
"You are never in the mood. Not for parties, not for women." Director Seo complains. "But today is different. Today I have someone who can change your mind. Just see for yourself."
Dohyun covers his face as if this is exactly what he had been trying to prevent. The boy is always on the edge. It's a wonder how he has survived here.
Director Seo is an important client with some deep connections. His son is a judge and daughter is in RIS. That's why Tae Oh decides to go in just for a minute and then he will get out.
The Crown Room is on level 3 of the VIP rooms. It's as spacious as an apartment. In the center of the room, a huge tub is filled with ice, champagne and wine bottles. Food platters are lined against the wall in buffet style.
The walls are covered with blue velvet pads and a chandelier lights up the room. An LCD sits dark high on the wall. Three guards are inside.
So he has brought idols and actors.
The club's special women in bright lingeries with clinking tassels are sticking to the idol boys. He doesn't recognize anyone. Except for the woman in the long pink dress. It glitters as she uncrosses her legs and stands. She seems taken aback for some reason.
Song Yerin. The actress in almost every other drama and movie up until the bullying controversy some months ago.
Her cleavage dips low over her breasts and slit in her dress reveals a smooth, ivory leg. In an elegant and seductive movement, she brings her champagne glass to her lips, takes a sip without breaking eye contact. Then licks her smooth, pouty lips.
Entertaining.
But not enough.
"You don't look like how I expected you to," she says, coming closer. "You dress like a devil with the face of an angel."
"This is it?" Tae Oh drawls, mockingly. "I thought you brought me some exotic animal. Disappointed to see a human."
Her lips curve into a beautiful, charming smile. Her skin's smooth and it's obvious she isn't wearing much makeup. One of those women who take pride in being the natural beauty. She flips her long flowing hair back.
"You love novel things. But women don't want to try many exciting things with you, right?" She is moving dangerously closer.
Dangerous for her.
"Careful there Yerin'ah…" Director Seo laughs a little, strained and cautious. A premonition glints in his anxious eyes.
It's obvious he has muttered warnings to her and she plans to ignore all that. She wants good roles, good pay and money to not go bankrupt after paying off the penalties from that controversy. She probably heard about Tae Oh from Director Seo and thought he is some lustful horny fool she can seduce for a comeback.
Her smooth slender hand traces his abs over the vest. It slides upwards, bold and daring, to his neck. He clenches his jaw.
She misreads the gesture as desire.
Leaning in, she murmurs. "I am into a lot of novel things. The ones that scare away those women, I want to try them."
Maybe Director Seo has told her about the fate of women who have thrown themselves at him before, but she took that as a challenge. He doesn't understand why a lot of women have this foolish notion that they will be the exception.
He casts his gaze downwards, at her other hand trailing down his abs to his crotch. Fake pink gems glitter on her nails.
"Pretty nails," he says, his tone distant and thoughtful.
At this, Dohyun tries to jump in like a referee. "Yerin'sshi, Hyung'nim is angry. You crossed the limit, just apologise."
A single dark glare has him retreating from the scene. The stupid bitch doesn't get it.
"Right, let's try those things." Tae Oh whispers, acting like an awed, starstruck man. She stares at him from under her lashes, likely feeling a sense of pride. Her index finger has slid under his belt.
From the back of his trousers, he retrieves a small dagger.
Tiny enough to be worn on his finger through the ring attached to it. It clatters as he drops it on the glass table decorated with food plates and champagne glasses.
"Whoever can cut off her index finger with this dagger will get 300 million won from me,"