Taehyung swanned through the crowded room, and made a beeline for their bay. He was grateful to see that both of their previous beverages had already been replenished.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zLrhthK9d
Picking up his glass, he swilled the amber liquid whilst pondering his future. It wasn’t just finding a wife that was on his mind, it was more what his mother had said. He also knew that Jimin was tense, his giveaway being the way he chugged down his red wine and kept nibbling his bottom lip.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4leW9pIrpJ
He always managed to keep his sense of humor, though.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraZPmcWbgM
‘So,’ Jimin hit the table with an open hand, ‘we have two years to find a woman, marry her, and get her knocked up.’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50uuD4yBYp
Taehyung rested his hand over Jimin’s, joining him in making light of their situation. ‘Not just pregnant. She must produce a son.’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jNVYT9bA9
His friend propped his elbows on the table, his chin resting in his palm. ‘Do you really think it’s possible to find our own wives, or are we being delusional?’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGIlRMttKX
He thought about his question, his lips curling down as he looked for the right words. ‘It’s possible.’ Taehyung held his glass up, ‘But remember, nothing easy is worth having.’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGQkSoEgjS
Taehyung’s attention shifted when he noticed a familiar face meandering around the room. When their eyes met, he summoned him over with a shallow dip of his head that encouraged him in their direction.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5Hl8ipxaY
‘Would you like to browse the latest, Mr Kim?’ he asked in a professional manner.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fUkcXAcFH
It had been some time since he had perused the catalogue containing the latest selection of lambs, so with a flick of his wrist, he invited the agent to present the file.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsva7fmexo9
Jimin’s eyes darted between Taehyung and the stocky folder as he placed it on the table. ‘You usually find your own sacrifices. You hate paying these guys for lambs that are already half dead?
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7ZkJvx6Dr
Taehyung was already scanning the faces of the first page. ‘I’d prefer a little free time to focus on finding a wife. Wouldn’t you?’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxG0cPCL0q
Jimin’s eyes wandered as he digested his proposal. ‘Sure, I guess that makes sense.’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfNrvK1fmW
Even though the woman would ultimately be discarded, Taehyung preferred one that he was attracted to.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7omvcM2R4
After all, he did have to fuck her before killing her.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApTq0swAL7
‘What about that one?’ Jimin pointed to a twenty-something brunette number who had potential. It was the tear-soaked eyes, and the trail of slime beneath her nose that Taehyung found quite disgusting.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiEnTx09Cm
‘No.’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWsJbmqKtt
No wonder some of these women weren’t selected. They were dropping in standard. The portfolio was a thick binder filled with plastic wallets. In each was a headshot of the woman, her identity number, and where she was found. They would usually put their latest catches at the front, leaving the “unchosen” lost towards the back.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrtl73dTjC
Taehyung continued browsing the sea of distraught faces, sneering at each pathetic countenance staring back at him until he gave pause.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTJ6by1TV7
Shoulder-length locks with a golden-orange hue, loose curls falling out of her back to front baseball cap. The amber glow of her eyes matched her hair, and her skin; it wasn’t the usual light complexion. It had a radiant, sun-kissed glow.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyr5xamedv8
Studying each feature thoroughly, Taehyung found himself uncharacteristically enthralled. The slim, angular nose with freckles, the full lips that were too plump for her delicate face, a mouth that truly intrigued him, for it held a beautiful smile.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhH0fRHDndH
There was not an ounce of fear to be seen.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkeVa4s1WH
‘Um, earth to Taehyung,’ Jimin said, leaning over the table and sliding his head between Taehyung and the image that had him entranced.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNwsXQ8YfI
Taehyung snapped the file shut.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKCEjEVAtW
‘Let’s go,’ he said, shuffling out of the booth, tucking the file beneath his arm.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYw8Nyqg5VA
‘What are you doing, Tae?’ Jimin asked with a puzzled frown. ‘If you want one, let's just shout Mr Bak over.’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXal69M3WQ
‘I’ll bring it back,’ he said after necking his second drink, ‘you coming or what?’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24zwaqBHUw
*
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGi8Xlh2dzg
Throwing his blazer over the chaise longue, Taehyung slid his belt out of his waistband, unbuttoned the top half of his shirt, and then threw himself onto the bed. The folder was beside him, and he bit his bottom lip in anticipation of seeing the photo that sent a rush of excitement through his veins.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJazNKWClVC
He flipped to the third page, his eyes jumping straight to the headshot of the woman who’d earlier caught his attention.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqLNbZvJTe
Why he decided to leave with it, he had no idea. It had been a long time since something had piqued his interest.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnZL6ia8ZM
Taehyung pressed his lips together as he traced his finger over the number below the photo; he couldn’t imagine her being a screamer.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPWgBSBY6n
He was still studying her face, when a thought crossed his mind. A thought that didn’t sit well with him.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74ZVxfVwRj
What if she was already off the market?
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhijlpxccq
Reaching to the nightstand, Taehyung grabbed his phone, scrolled through his contacts until he found the man in charge of the operation, and placed the phone to his ear.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgaqCVxeeG
His call was promptly answered. ‘HB Security. Do you have a reference number?’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLM1cH9t0x
‘One, zero, nine, two, one, zero.’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1Id8yrida
‘Thank you, and your name?’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk75XUWFf4b
‘Mr Kim Taehyung.’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0xQhYQHmA
The gruff voice instantly softened and became courteous upon realising who he was speaking to. ‘Thank you, Mr Kim. Would you like to make a purchase today? She’s still available.’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pDBms8s3p
‘I’m enquiring for more information and an additional photo.’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9xVCMEzpb
‘No problem, sir. I can take her off the market for seven days until you confirm. Is two pm tomorrow a good time?’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevLUcXJItB
Taehyung simpered. ‘It is.’
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbW3Dzmdz0
The portfolio had been around since he could remember, and every week, new faces were added to the collection from all parts of the globe. The kingpin in charge of the trafficking was an ace at selecting easy targets. Most of them would not be missed.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa56PuW3vce
They came in handy for last minute sacrifices mainly, and had used the service here and there in the past.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhg7vgewci
With his father’s words running through his mind, it made Taehyung all the more determined not to have his wife selected for him. Afterall, his parents had found each other in a conventional way. They fell in love and lived a happy life.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISlhpWmRxr
He had asked his father many times over the years what made him certain he could trust her, and every time his reply was the same.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwH2hSIJqE
Our connection was instant. She was the one.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolbuAOAQpO
From the moment he saw that photo, Taehyung needed to know more.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcxweMfel7
Whether she survived would be an entirely different matter.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaakYEVxXDn
