A Scorching Day Chapter 61

“Come on, it’s been a while since we’ve all gathered, so let’s have a pleasant drink. First, let’s clear out all those bastards in that district—for our Managing Director Ki Joon!”

With the playful toast of Chairman Seol, the head of the organization ‘Gangsan,’ the men shouted “Cheers!” and raised their glasses. Liquor priced at ten million won per bottle sloshed and spilled over the rims of the glasses.

About eight or nine executives from Gangsan and Cheonghyeon, along with the hostesses seated beside them, filled the VIP room. Most of the men were old enough to be his father; the only man around Ki Joon’s age was Managing Director Seol Inju, the son of Chairman Seol.

In his early thirties, he was publicly acknowledged as the next head of Gangsan, having entered the organization straight after university graduation to learn the ropes under his father, Chairman Seol.

‘What a prick.’

Ki Joon brought his glass to his lips with a relaxed air and glanced at Seol Inju. He never liked the look of him, no matter when he saw him. His face was fairly handsome, one might concede, but he was an insidious bastard with no telling what lurked in his gut. It was just a gut feeling.

Seol Inju, who had been all smiles and buttering up the old men, suddenly directed his gaze at Ki Joon. Their eyes met, but Ki Joon didn’t bother to look away.

For a moment, their gazes locked intently. Wavelengths of different textures pressed against each other without gap.

“…”

But that was all—Seol Inju soon smiled thinly and averted his gaze. What a disagreeable bastard every time they crossed paths. Just as Ki Joon, quickly losing interest, was about to pour himself another drink,

“Oh, come now, it’s no fun drinking alone.”

Chairman Seol, chuckling merrily, took the liquor bottle from Ki Joon’s hand.

“You always say you don’t like the girls, so this time I prepared something I thought Managing Director Ki would like. Ah, look, they’re coming in right now.”

Right on cue, the managing attendant who had knocked outside the door hurried in and bowed. Ki Joon frowned as he saw three or four men trailing in behind him like a string of sausages.

“Fits your taste, doesn’t it? Which one do you like? Pick freely and comfortably.”

“I don’t have this kind of taste.”

“Don’t be like that. You said the girls weren’t to your taste, didn’t you? Then this is all that’s left. Hey, what are you lot doing? Greet our very—handsome Managing Director properly.”

What the hell is this now… Ki Joon looked at the men lined up before him with an incredulous expression. A big, tall one, a medium-sized one, and one as slender and pretty as a woman… Ki Joon’s complicated gaze lingered briefly on the last one.

But only for a moment—soon Ki Joon let out a long, “Haah—” and shook his head.

“…Not needed. I’ll just drink alone.”

“Just keep up the atmosphere. Hey, you. Sit down and pour the drinks.”

“Yes, Mr. Chairman.”

In place of the uninterested Ki Joon, Chairman Seol pointed directly at someone. It was the very last man—the one on whom Ki Joon’s gaze had lingered, if only for a split second.

As he promptly sat down next to Ki Joon, Ki Joon looked at Chairman Seol as if dumbfounded. At the unmistakable defiance in his eyes, Chairman Seol burst out laughing.

“What’s the problem? Embarrassed? Even among our boys, there are one or two who go for men. What’s so strange about that in this day and age?”

There was no reasoning with him. Since joining the organization, Ki Joon had more or less assimilated into the world he belonged to. But this was the sole exception.

Why on earth did he have to drink with someone clinging to his side? Everyone would laugh if they knew his thoughts, but Ki Joon hated sharing warmth with a complete stranger more than anything—even if a knife were held to his throat. Especially now, when there was someone he was desperately searching for.

Until now, he had fended off the girls trying to sit beside him by saying they weren’t his type. But apparently, that repertoire no longer worked either.

Should I throw something stronger at them? Ki Joon tugged at his tie with an irritated gesture, loosening it around his neck, and declared in a flat tone.

“I can’t get it up.”

“…What?”

At this bombshell declaration, everyone in the room wore a stunned expression. Ki Joon added nonchalantly, as if annoyed.

“I said my dick won’t stand. Impotence.”

“…”

“…”

The silence that settled in the room was brief. Unexpectedly, it was Managing Director Seol Inju who burst out laughing first. He was guffawing and roaring with laughter, a rare sight.

‘What’s so damn funny that he’s cracking up like that.’

Ki Joon watched him with an indifferent face and thought to himself. Starting with Seol Inju, laughter spread through the room. Chairman Seol cackled as if thoroughly amused and looked at Ki Joon.

“Hah, my goodness. Managing Director Ki, you really are a funny young man. What? Impotence? Hahahaha!”

“These young people these days really do say the funniest things, don’t they?”

“That’s what I’m saying. In my day, they’d say things we couldn’t have even imagined, so bluntly.”

“Well, I suppose that’s Managing Director Ki’s charm.”

Ki Joon knocked back his drink with a blank expression. He knew full well that the words about being charming or straightforward carried an undertone of “cheeky little brat,” but it didn’t particularly bother him. As long as he was a useful hunting dog, they would never dare treat him carelessly.

After a good laugh, they soon got down to business talk. While discussing plans to open new export routes toward Russia or Hong Kong, their hands never stopped groping the hostesses beside them.

The nauseating scene turned his stomach every time. Just as he was about to roughly wipe his liquor-wet lips with the back of his hand, the escort sitting next to him whispered into Ki Joon’s ear.

“Hyung, that thing about not getting it up is a lie, right?”

Ki Joon didn’t answer and took a drag of the cigarette held between his fingers. The man, tilting his head and forcing eye contact, smiled.

“See, your dick’s this big even when it’s not hard.”

A hand slyly slid inside his thigh. Ki Joon frowned and set his glass down with a loud clack.

“Don’t touch.”

“It looks so big, I’m curious. Can’t I just touch it once?”

“Just sit still. Before I kick you out.”

Ki Joon lifted one eyebrow and blew a long stream of smoke into the man’s face. The man, unable to open his eyes properly and frowning, coughed and grumbled quietly. But soon his eyes sparkled as he subtly stroked Ki Joon’s forearm.

“Wow, look at those muscles. Fucking killer, really. But hyung, are you really the managing director of Cheonghyeon? I heard all Cheonghyeon managers have a blue flower tattoo on their backs. Do you have one too? A flower tattoo on that face… Ha, that’d be so fucking sexy. Can’t you show me just once?”

“…”

“Hyuuung. I’m good at my job, you know. I’m the ace here. So can’t you scout me into Cheonghyeon too?”

What a talkative bastard. Not even bothering to reply, Ki Joon turned his head away. But even when blatantly ignored, he kept clinging on, calling “hyung, hyung.”

The words “get lost” were right at the tip of his tongue. But if an escort is sent back after being chosen, a huge fine is placed on them. If unlucky, they might even get beaten. Knowing all too well how things worked in this scene, Ki Joon pushed him away sharply but didn’t kick him out.

The drinking session continued until the night grew deep. Ki Joon could finally extricate himself only when they started pairing off for second rounds and moving upstairs. The guy sitting next to him kept making persistent advances, saying he wanted to go too, but Ki Joon cut him off coldly and sent him away.

Ki Joon rubbed his tired eyes and smoked a cigarette in the hallway. He wanted to just go home, but he had to stop by Cheonghyeon as well. He called a designated driver and got in the car. Just as he was nearing the Cheonghyeon building, a call came in.

—Managing Director, we’ve caught Jooram.

It was the kid who had disappeared suddenly after working until the night before last. Ki Joon frowned slightly. Catching runaways who risked their lives to escape was the part of this job that disgusted him the most. A sigh, festered to the core, burst from within.

He got out of the car and entered the Cheonghyeon building. Crossing the hallway, he entered the workroom adjacent to the waiting room and looked inside—Ki Joon’s face twisted violently.

The harsh sound of beating echoed sharply through the room. Jooram, kneeling in the center, was surrounded by men and taking the hits without any resistance.

“Stop.”

Despite Ki Joon’s sharp command, the guard, not listening, raised his hand again. At that moment, rage surged up from inside.

Just as the man was about to strike Jooram’s cheek again, Ki Joon kicked him from behind. The man fell with a cry of “Ugh!” Unable to contain his anger, Ki Joon stomped on him a couple more times.

“I said stop. Does my order sound like fucking gibberish to you?”

“I’m sorry, Managing Director!”

“Why the hell are you beating a girl this badly? You fucking bastard. Take it easy. Alright? Easy, damn it.”

He was on edge. He knew he was venting his pent-up anger on an innocent party. Ki Joon pressed his temples with his eyes closed and gave the order.

“Everyone get out.”

“Yes, Managing Director.”