Pay With Your Heart

Chapter 455: The Catalyst

Eun-sun didn’t think all Dan-Han wanted from her was to ride the elevator to the underground park of the hotel until they got there.

She didn’t want to believe this was all there was to it, but it appeared so as they stood on one of the parking aisles closest to the door exit.

She peeked a glance at him as she wondered exactly what they were doing there, but he had his gaze fixed ahead of him as if expecting something. Was there something they were supposed to see? Or someone they were supposed to meet?

She stared around in case there was something she was missing, but all around were fleets of cars parked in the enormous car park.

She turned back to him. “Dan-Han, are we meeting someone?” She asked, and he nodded.

“Yes.”

“Really? Who?”

.....

“The catalyst.” He replied.

“Huh?” Eun-sun arched a brow as she confusedly stared at him. The catalyst? What does that even mean?

Eun-sun was about to ask him what he meant when she caught sight of his lips curving into a lop-sided smile and his eyes trailing after a car headed towards them.

The car parked two cars away from them, and a middle-aged man stepped out of it, dressed in a navy blue checkered suit and had a briefcase in hand.

Eun-sun passively glanced at him, but her gaze turned intent and curious when she observed the man heading towards them with a smile on his face.

Her gaze darted to Dan-Han when he stepped forward and approached the man.

“Good morning, Mr.Philip.” He greeted with a smile which the man reciprocated with an even wider one.

“President Lee, good morning.” The man greeted back. They exchanged a handshake, and Eun-sun quickly stepped forward when Dan-Han stretched a hand toward her.

“Mr.Philip, this is my girlfriend, Eun-sun. Honey, Mr. Philip.” He introduced.

“Hello, young lady,” The man greeted with a warm and polite smile, and Eun-sun quickly greeted with a bow.

“Mr. Philip is uncle Ki-Jun’s attorney,” Dan-Han mentioned, and Eun-sun snapped her head towards him, but she composed herself and bowed to the man again, her lips managing whatever smile she could to mask the look of shock on her face.

“Nice meeting you, sir.” She said, and the man nodded. He seemed genuinely happy by the smile hanging on his face, and Eun-sun wondered why.

Uncle Ki-Jun...her supposed father’s attorney? What was he doing here? She wondered. Or maybe the question should be, what was Dan-Han up to?

Her attention moved to the man when he spoke to Dan-Han. “I must say I was surprised when I received your call this morning.”

“I’m sorry if I disturbed you.” Dan-Han apologized.

“Nonsense,” The man mockingly chided. “I’ve heard great tales of you from Chairman Kim and also from the news, which has piqued my interest to see the great young man of business. It is an honor to be at your service.” The man sincerely said, and Dan-Han only smiled.

“So what exactly was it you needed me for?” The man inquired, and Eun-sun peeked at Dan-Han again. He had that smile on his face when he was being mischievous and calculative.

“It isn’t that big, but you’ll be paid handsomely for it,” Dan-Han told him, and just as he said those words, Eun-sun caught sight of two familiar people walking toward them. She turned to Dan-Han, and she noticed he already had his gaze on them.

Mr. Philip also turned behind to see what had attracted their attention and when he saw Ki-Jun, he was stunned.

“Sir,” He quickly bowed to Ki-Jun, who shuffled his gaze between him and Dan-Han, before accepting the man’s hand for a handshake.

“What are you doing here?” Ki-Jun curiously inquired, and Mr.Philip explained he had received a call from Dan-Han requesting his services on a certain matter.

Ki-Jun raised a brow at Dan-Han, who only smiled and greeted him like he hadn’t seen the question in Ki-Jun’s eyes. He looked at Mi-Cha, who was paying Eun-sun an awkward look, and he guessed Ki-Jun had told her about it because her gaze on Eun-sun seemed to be of disbelief and mild surprise.

Eun-sun greeted Ki-Jun, who nodded responsively. “Why are you all standing in the car park?” Ki-Jun asked, wondering why he had met them there.

“We thought it wise to wait for you than have you go through the trouble of searching for the room,” Dan-Han said, but Eun-sun didn’t believe him.

Dan-Han could be evasive with questions, but he didn’t lie. But she was certain this right now was a lie.

She had a feeling there was more to Dan-Han inviting her father’s lawyer and choosing to meet him in the parking lot.

She couldn’t help but find it suspicious since she knew the man to be meticulous and secretive about things. It has been difficult trying to predict Dan-Han and the thoughts in his mind, but in this part, she knows the man would never meet everyone here, except it was all part of the workings in his head.

Her father, Mi-Cha, his attorney and her in one place...it was a bit odd, especially with the lawyer’s presence.

Wait, did he say they were waiting for the catalyst? Was he referring to the attorney?

Her eyes darted between Ki-Jun, Mi-Cha and the lawyer. It had to be one of them. Did he invite Mi-Cha too?

Wait, if Dan-Han had chosen to address one of them as a catalyst, that meant he was expecting some sort of reaction that would lead to a cascade of events.

Eun-sun’s eyes widened when she tried to put a few things together. This was a set-up. It had to be, she reasoned.

Dan-Han was outrightly trying to force the enemy’s hand by bringing his worst fears to his face – seeing all his plans brought to naught.

And according to Dan-Han, the enemy’s plan has always been to take the Kim family fortune. Her eyes traveled to the attorney. That explained his presence.

The man didn’t know why he was here, Ki-Jun had no idea why his lawyer was there, and neither did her evil uncle, but the collection of them all in one place would only stir up one thought in him, and that was, her father was already making a change on his will.

Did that mean someone was watching them? Was that why they were outside? Eun-sun found it even more suspicious when they made a detour to the lobby, and Dan-Han made a request to the front desk, something he could have done with the telephone in their room.

Eun-sun didn’t know if the others found it strange, but she did.

Her eyes darted to Dan-Han, and she stared at him with narrowed eyes. The man was calling for trouble, wasn’t he?

“Dan-Han, I know what you’re doing. Please don’t.” She whispered to him as they walked down the hallway to their room.

He looked at her and smiled. “And what does my baby think I’m doing?” He amusedly asked back, and Eun-sun felt the pressing urge to slap him on his back, but knowing the people trailing behind them, she refrained from doing so.

“This would be dangerous.” Someone was going to get hurt because she could already imagine what would happen if that evil uncle tried to keep his plan in place. Who was he going to hurt? She, her father, or the attorney.

Someone was going to get hurt, and she didn’t know who it would be. Dan-Han was looking for real trouble.

Of all men to be with, why did she fall for the one with a bent for trouble and danger?

Maybe because he’s the only one who could protect her and everyone else? She gazed up at him. There was confidence and fire in his eyes. She was sure he’d do his best to keep everyone safe, but there were so many uncertainties. He couldn’t be a hundred percent sure what would happen to everybody.

Dan-Han led them to the sitting room where they all sat, and before anyone could speak up, he started. 𝘧𝗿ee𝚠𝙚𝙗𝑛o𝚟𝐞l.𝐜૦𝗺

“We all have different reasons for being here, but I’d like you to keep those reasons aside and realign it to something more important, which is surviving today.” He said and paused to gauge the abrupt change in everyone’s countenance, most especially Uncle Ki-Jun, who had a confused and displeased look on his face.

“Dan-Han, what nonsense are you talking about?” He softly drawled while Dan-Han sighed.

“I’m sorry to this uncle, but you’ll be the major target for the day, so I’ll try my best to keep you safe.”

“Lee Dan-Han!” The man drawled, his eyes darkening with anger. “What nonsense is going on?!” He demanded, and Eun-sun gulped as she watched the man’s intent gaze on Dan-Han. He seemed angry and confused.