Although this was only their second time meeting, Jack was now absolutely certain—this Im Yoona, er, Park Min-young, was a total face-obsessed fangirl.
The luxurious BMW 8-Series didn't impress her in the slightest. From the moment she got in, she had been staring at Jack's side profile without blinking, as if trying to find some hidden masterpiece in his features.
"I already have a girlfriend," Jack coolly started the car, dropping that bombshell right off the bat.
Park Min-young's bright little face instantly drooped.
"And not just one. I'm not a good guy, so it's best if you don't get involved with me."
The moment those words left his mouth, Jack regretted them. Sure enough, the girl's eyes lit up with excitement instead, flames of 八卦 (gossip) dancing in her gaze.
"You have multiple girlfriends?! Can you tell me how many? Are they all American? Are they pretty? Is the prettiest one prettier than me? Do they know about each other? Do they fight over you?"
A rapid-fire series of questions flew at Jack like a Gatling gun unloading bullets, making his head throb. Now he understood why Kang Jin-tae had introduced his sister-in-law as a troublemaker.
Jack deliberately put on a stern face. "You should know that we Westerners value our privacy very much. Unless I choose to tell you, asking these kinds of questions is extremely impolite."
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Park Min-young was instantly flustered. "Really, I didn't mean to be rude!"
Jack secretly sighed in relief. He checked his phone—Zhou Xingzhe's location showed he had just arrived at a high-end bar with a Japanese name.
So, Ma Seok-do's side might be heading for a dead end? Jack wondered if Zhou Xingzhe was simply out drinking or if he was meeting someone. Either way, he turned the steering wheel and drove into a shopping district.
Park Min-young looked at the endless rows of women's fashion boutiques outside and let out a soft "Huh?"
"Wait… the guy you're after is here?"
Jack pulled out his NatWest Mastercard Black and handed it to her, pointing at a boutique named JIGOTTO.
"Get yourself an outfit. We'll need formal wear for where we're going."
Women usually had more leeway in dress codes for high-end places, but a cartoon T-shirt and ripped jeans weren't going to cut it.
Park Min-young's big, beautiful eyes widened in shock. She looked at the black card in her hand, then at the expensive-looking boutique, her mouth hanging open in disbelief.
"Be quick. Our guy just arrived. We need to get inside soon." Jack urged, opening the car door for her.
Although black cards varied in exclusivity, this NatWest Mastercard Black was easier to obtain compared to the famous Amex Centurion.
Jack had never cared much for such things, but both Hannah and Aubrey carried elite black credit cards, which proved incredibly useful during travel and accommodations. So, he had Chris secure one for him as well.
Most of the time, it sat unused. But when you needed access to the world of luxury and exclusivity, all it took was flashing the card.
—
"Hold still."
Upon arriving at their destination, Jack—ever the gentleman—opened the car door for Park Min-young.
As she stepped out, the matching wine-red heels touched the pavement, leading up to a pair of pale, slender legs. The elegant curves of her dress hugged her figure, the thigh-high slit extending up her smooth skin.
Though she was on the petite side up top, after spending so much time around well-endowed Western women, Jack found the delicate grace of East Asian beauty a refreshing contrast.
With her arm linked around his, Park Min-young stepped forward, the radiant smile on her face unchanged since leaving the boutique.
"Hold on."
Jack, his hand gently resting on her waist, suddenly stopped. With a flick of his fingers, a hidden price tag slipped from inside her dress.
"What the hell?" Jack plucked the tag off and tossed it into the nearest trash can.
"Nooo!" Park Min-young gasped in horror. "That dress cost 3 million won! I was planning to return it later!"
Jack smirked. $2,100 for that little bit of fabric? He was mildly annoyed by the ridiculous price, but this amount of money was practically nothing to him now.
"Consider it yours. Payment for pretending to be my girlfriend tonight."
As he spoke, the corners of his lips curled up. Damn, after writing so many cheesy CEO romance novels, I finally get to experience one myself.
Park Min-young clutched her rapidly beating heart and muttered sourly, "Now I really believe what you said."
"No need to doubt me. I do have multiple girlfriends." Jack maintained his rogue-like demeanor.
This girl was obviously "K-drama female lead" material, and Jack had zero interest in getting involved.
He wasn't some saint, and occasional casual encounters with Western women were one thing—no strings attached.
But an East Asian girl like her? If feelings got involved, things could get messy. The last thing he needed was an emotional breakdown or drama.
Kang Jin-tae's eagerness to push his sister-in-law into a relationship wasn't lost on Jack. No way was he walking into that trap, even if she was considered a national goddess in his previous life.
"No, I meant the other thing—you're definitely not a good person." Park Min-young huffed, feigning a scoff as she linked arms with him. "You're way too smooth with women."
—
"Apologies, sir, but this is a members-only establishment."
At the bar entrance, a poised female attendant in a fitted suit and skirt greeted them with a polite bow.
Her words were a rejection, but her attitude was beyond respectful.
People in this line of work had excellent eyes—no matter how casually someone dressed, if they belonged, they would be welcomed in. Of course, if they didn't belong, they'd be smilingly escorted straight out the back door.
This was precisely when Jack's NatWest Mastercard Black came in handy.
The moment the attendant saw the card, she respectfully accepted it with both hands. After making a quick verification call at the front desk, she returned, now beaming even more warmly.
"Right this way, sir. Enjoy your evening."
The bar's interior wasn't crowded. A handful of patrons sat in small groups, chatting over drinks.
Jack's sharp gaze swept the room—and immediately locked onto Zhou Xingzhe.
In a dimly lit corner, the corrupt narcotics captain sat with two of his subordinates, speaking in hushed tones.
______
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