The Red Room (1)

Work came quickly. 

When Kyunghee left the apartment earlier, she had to make an excuse that she'd be out late for a friend's birthday party. It was strange when halmoni casually asked what time she was coming home for dinner. Having lived alone for so long, Kyunghee never had to make an excuse when she left the doors. She was used to the independent lifestyle, with nobody to report to. 

However, she would be having a late night at work and wouldn't make it to dinner with halmoni. At the same time, she didn't have the courage to tell halmoni the kind of work she was doing. She didn't have the heart to bear halmoni's judgements if the truth came out. So when halmoni dropped the question, she had been tongue-tied for a split second. Though it seemed she was a better liar than she thought, because the little white lie came out just as quickly as the fear of halmoni's judgement. 

She had only spent two nights at halmoni's place, but Kyunghee could feel herself getting used to it, which was something she didn't want. Kyunghee didn't want to become too reliant or familiar with halmoni's presence, knowing fairly well that she would have to leave as soon as the issue at her apartment was resolved. As much as she was reluctant to, this was a reminder that she needed to talk to Detective Hothead. The police were on it when the rich were involved, but for a plebeian like her—the bottom rung of society—they sure liked to take their sweet time. 

Kyunghee had just changed into her dancer disguise when she was called to Bongseok's office. On the way over, Kyunghee couldn't help wondering what kind of trouble she had gotten into this time. It was never a good thing to be called to Bongseok's office. Opening the door to his office, Kyunghee braced herself for an earful episode. Hopefully he wasn't too talkative tonight, she prayed under her breath. 

"Ah, finally you've arrived!" Bongseok exclaimed loudly as if Kyunghee was a life-saver. 

Arching a brow quizzically, Kyunghee was wary of Bongseok's much-too-friendly aura. Bongseok was never glad to see her, not unless he needed something done. "What's the matter, Boss?" 

"I have a special task for you tonight," he answered with an unsightly, wide grin—a smile that sent shivers down Kyunghee's spine in a bad way. 

"What kind of special task?" she asked reluctantly. 

"Well, Jiwon called in sick a couple of minutes ago." 

Kyunghee frowned, worried. "Is she ok?" 

"Sounds like a migraine. Nothing too serious, but anyway," Bongseok said dismissively with a callous wave of his hand. "Since Jiwon called in sick, I'm going to need you to step up and be a team player by taking over her VIP client for the night." 

"VIP client?" Kyunghee questioned as a thought came to mind, but she didn't dare to think about the possibility. "Which VIP client?" 

"The Red Room guest, of course!" Bongseok replied matter-of-factly. 

Kyunghee wasn't sure what to think of this sudden change of direction. 

Playlights had a total of five VIP rooms on the third floor of the establishment, with each of the rooms named after a specific color. The Red Room was the most private and luxurious VIP room. Not a lot of clients were privy to the use of this room. In fact, the number of clients that could reserve the Red Room was probably only one or two. Even if the customers were rich, it didn't guarantee access to the Red Room. At most, the wealthy and spoiled socialites would only be able to reserve the Indigo Room. In other words, the names of the rooms differentiated each client based on their power standing at the club. 

Without a doubt, the Red Room clients were all Jiwon's clients that she handled herself. In the time Kyunghee worked at Playlights, she had never encountered an incident where Bongseok had allowed a cover for Jiwon's Red Room clients. If, for whatever reason, Jiwon called in sick then the Red Room client would come back another time when she was working. No one was ever allowed to take care of this very special guest. So, to hear from Bongseok that she would be covering a Red Room client for Jiwon, Kyunghee had a hard time digesting the unforeseen privilege. 

"Are you sure it's the Red Room guest?" She had to make sure Bongseok wasn't tripping on whatever he was smoking tonight. 

"What other Red Rooms do we have, Kyunghee? Of course it is that guest."

"But that's Jiwon's VIP client. None of us have ever seen that client. We're not allowed…" Kyunghee trailed off, finding it hard to understand. 

"Others aren't allowed, but you are," Bongseok disagreed, his eyes firm on her. "Jiwon specifically gave me permission to let you handle the Red Room client tonight." 

Kyunghee narrowed her eyes at Bongseok and asked in a firm, but skeptical tone of voice, "Are you sure Jiwon is okay? Are you sure it's just a migraine?" If it was a migraine, why would Jiwon give her permission to handle the Red Room client? It didn't make sense to Kyunghee. Not to mention, Jiwon had been her advocate when it came to making a lifestyle change, including career change. She would be the most vocal about Kyunghee distancing herself from the power players in this criminal industry. 

"Yes, it's just a migraine. She'll be fine after she get some rest, but in the meantime, she believes you're more than capable of handling the Red Room client," he reassured with a hint of exasperation in having to explain so much more than he was used to barking orders. "If she says you can do it, then I believe her." 

"But I don't know anything about this mysterious client," she protested, feeling anxious at the thought of having to entertain some high-power, secretive, wealthy man. Most of all, what if she did a bad job, or the client didn't like her? This could potentially impact Jiwon. She didn't want to be the reason for anything bad happening to Jiwon. 

"You don't need to know anything about him. All you have to do is provide the services he wants." 

"And what kind of services is that?" 

Bongseok scratched the back of his neck and laughed nervously. "He's a very special and unique client, so it's hard to say. Most of the times, only Jiwon knows what he wants. She's the only one privy to serve by his side." 

Kyunghee pursed her lips in thought. She didn't like Bongseok's vague response. He sounded like a difficult client—her least favorite kind of clients. Instead of serving the Red Room client, Kyunghee would rather perform on the public stage or humor the rich, spoiled brats of the third-generation chaebols. Her gaze met Bongseok's anticipating ones as she plastered on a smile. 

"Based on experience, there are other staff who are more qualified than me, especially when it comes to taking care of VIP guests. For example, I think Hayoung would be more than delighted to replace Jiwon for tonight," Kyunghee gently reasoned, hoping to dissuade Bongseok from putting her in the Red Room. While others fought to service the VIP room guests, Kyunghee was an oddball. She didn't want anything to deal with VIP guests. There was a certain type of guests that should never be entangled with. 

Bongseok shook his head as he reaffirmed, "That won't do. If it were any other VIP guest rooms, then it's possible, but this is the Red Room client. Jiwon specifically named you to be her replacement. I can't let anyone else in." 

Kyunghee wanted to protest further, but Bongseok silenced her with an index finger to his mouth. 

"No more buts, Kyunghee." Walking up to her, he manually wheeled Kyunghee around and forced her towards the door. "If you do a good job tonight, the client will leave a big tip. Who knows? It might be big enough for two months' worth of rent. Besides, aren't you good friends with Jiwon? She's always helped you out when you need it, hasn't she? Well, she's not feeling well today. You should return the favor and help a friend out." 

Kyunghee clenched her jaw, swallowing back the dissent at the tip of her tongue. Despite knowing Bongseok was pulling a manipulation tactic, Kyunghee still couldn't say no. He had the target right on point. She owed Jiwon too much. Handling a powerful, difficult-to-please customer for one night was the least she could do to repay all the times Jiwon had helped her. 

She gave in and asked, "When is he coming?" Deep down, she was already praying the client would change his mind and reschedule to a time when Jiwon was healthy. 

Bongseok's face split into a huge smile as he turned up his shiny, expensive watch and informed, "He'll be here in thirty minutes. You don't have to be on any other services tonight. Just rest up in the lounge and I'll come get you once he's arrived, so be on stand-by until then." 

She sighed in resignation and said, "Alright." Then she walked out of Bongseok's office. 

Rather than resting at the staff lounge, Kyunghee grabbed her coat and decided to go out into the back alley for a breather. The club was just as busy as any other night, but it was particularly stuffy tonight. The club's back alley was small and dimly lit with streetlamps, but its eerie quietness gave her a strange sense of comfort. She leaned back against the wall and inhaled the crisp night air. The cold wind slashed against the skin of her exposed legs, making her numb but it was exactly how she wanted to feel now. 

To say Kyunghee wasn't curious about the identity of the Red Room customer would be a lie. Although it didn't take a lot for Bongseok to bend over backwards for the rich and affluent, it was a different story to get a glimpse of the type of people that was on Jiwon's Client List. They were the kind of people Bongseok didn't dare to insult, let alone a small fry like her. 

Mindlessly she reached into her coat's pocket for the phone, only to realize she didn't have it with her. Kyunghee's thought rounded back to the phone conversation she had with Jang Woosuk. It both annoyed and intrigued her, though she hated to admit it. What was it about him that kept invading her thoughts at random times? She couldn't put a finger on it. 

She took in a few deep breaths just as the club's back door opened, and Bongseok stuck his head out in relief.

"There you are! Break's over. The VIP guest is here."