Chapter 5 - The Gala TrapThe grand ballroom of the Seoul Hotel sparkled under an ocean of crystal chandeliers.
Three hundred of South Korea’s most elite business tycoons, politicians, and underworld bosses mingled under the soft glow of amber lighting, sipping champagne and exchanging hollow pleasantries.
I stood near the service entrance, wearing a sleek, tailored black uniform, holding a silver tray laden with flutes of vintage sparkling wine.
Across the room, Kang Joon-ho stood surrounded by a group of wealthy heirs, laughing loudly as he boasted about his upcoming promotion to executive vice president.
Nearby, Min-seo stood beside her father, Dae-sung, wearing an exquisite designer gown that cost more than a small apartment, greeting guests with a radiant, innocent smile that masked the cold predator underneath.
My phone buzzed secretly against my thigh.
A text message from an encrypted number—Chairman Kang:
“Everything is in place. Do not let them reach the main terminal.”
I adjusted my tray and began walking smoothly toward the VIP mezzanine overlooking the primary financial servers of the hotel.
That was where Dae-sung and Min-seo planned to initiate the final corporate override at midnight—transferring the syndicate’s entire legitimate fortune into their offshore accounts while pinning the digital footprint directly onto Joon-ho’s personal administrative terminal.
It was a brilliant, vicious trap. They were robbing the family and using Joon-ho as the scapegoat.
As I reached the staircase leading to the mezzanine, a heavy hand gripped my bare wrist.
I spun around.
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Kang Joon-ho stood there, his eyes bloodshot, smelling heavily of whiskey and expensive cologne. His mouth curled into an ugly, arrogant smirk.
“Well, look who it is,” Joon-ho slurred, tightening his grip on my wrist. “The rebellious American maid. My uncle says you’ve been wandering around sections of the house you don’t belong in. Time to teach you your place.”
