24K Magic for a Perfect Illusion

Ch 25: Players Only, Come On

A year ago, it was Ves second Christmas that he had to be away from Hestia as well as his family.

Ves. Stefani, and Peter were out in Vegas to get the fingerprint of a billionaire to unlock the vault in the bank that stores the latter’s money and gold bars.

It just so happened that during their operation, Lesley came to the casino with her friends who are also pampered by their rich husbands, Stefani was the first one to noticed Lesley before Ves.

Though Stefani mean well since she started to care about Ves affairs, the way she reprimanded Lesley from gambling didn’t go well with Lesley and Ves misunderstood the whole situation.

Ves thought that Stefani wanted to harm his mother when he saw Stefani’s hand about to slap Lesley’s face.

It was Peter who explained the whole scenario to Ves, that Lesley was the first who slapped Stefani when the latter told the former to stop gambling.

Lesley must’ve felt humiliated since Stefani told her so in front of Lesley’s so-called friends thus, she made the move first.

Stefani isn’t a pushover and she’ll retaliate when she got hit and Lesley is easily aggravated that she can resort to violence.

But Ves forgot about those facts and already said a lot of harsh words to Stefani before he analyzed the situation, since Lesley is his mother and Stefani is just part of the team that he was forced to be with, so obviously he’ll side with his mother.

Back to the present …

“I know I’ve been a jerk before but us three are partners in life and death for more than two years now. I appreciate your concern about my family, so please if you know something you have to tell me right away. Stefani, promise me.” Ves raised Stefani’s head to meet her eyes. “I’m still your baby brother, right?”

“Do you recognize me now as your big sister??” Stefani looked at Ves expectantly.

“Since the day that you took me under your protection.” Ves nodded. “Honestly, I admire how brave and cool you are that you’re stronger and wiser than most of the men in the circle.”

“That’s just my survival instinct, nothing special about that.”

“Now you’re boasting!” Peter rolled his eyes. “Ves, I need you to keep distance from my woman.” he gestured to Ves with his hand.

“Tch. I’m not your woman Peter. I only belong to myself.” Stefani retorted as she put her hands around Ves neck. “Gosh, you’re too tall to be my baby brother! I should be wearing 10-inches heels to be at the same height as you.”

“You’re torturing your feet whenever you do that.” Ves took Stefani hands off from his nape. “I’ll go talk to the boss; I need to make a solution to stop my mother from gambling.”

“You already have a plan on how to do it?” Stefani looked at Ves with admiration as she has a crush with Ves.

“Yes, but that’s my last resort and unfortunately I have to execute it as soon as possible. I have to stop my mother from ruining her life because of her addiction to gambling.”

In Mark’s office …

“Has Peter arrived? Call them and I’ll discuss your new assignment this week.” Mark said as soon as Ves came in to his office.

“Yes, but before that. Can I ask you to do a favor for me?” Ves mustered up his courage to strike a deal with Mark.

“Have I been too kind to you recently that you have the courage now to ask me for a favor?” Mark sneered at Ves.

“Then let me rephrase it. I want to make a deal with you.” Ves was pushing his luck at first since Mark isn’t a kind of boss who treats his subordinates as slaves, on the contrary, Mark treats everyone like his own family.

“Alright, let me hear it.” Mark leaned back on his chair as he prepared to listen whatever Ves wants to say.

“Ban my mother to all the casinos in California. She won’t go out of that state as she doesn’t like long travel so I’m certain that she’ll only stay nearby and the fact that she gambles to lavish place which means she also won’t play into places that doesn’t suit her lifestyle.” Ves said without a pause.

“That’s easy but what is it for me then?” Mark stares at Ves like a hawk as he anticipates his response.

“I’ll arrange a meeting for you and my father on the day I’ll serve the military in Korea and that would be next year … when I turn 28. That’s also the day of my liberation from this organization as you promised. We both know that you want to make connections with my father. I can make the introduction for you and you’re on your own after that.” Ves promised a thing that even himself isn’t sure of as his father is hard to meet even by his own family.

“Ha!” Mark laughed. “You’re tempting me with a bluff but I heard some rumors that Chairman Taz has been missing his family for years now. The reason Taz company doesn’t have new product after the two vehicles on ’77, which prototypes are currently in the garage of this villa.” he narrowed his eyes at Ves. “Your father is already in his early fifties, sooner or later he’ll be retiring and you’re the only successor he has unless he gives all his fortune away to people that aren’t related to him by blood.”

“Your point?” Ves already has a hint of what Mark wants.

“Why make a deal with the old man who’ll be retiring soon when the next king is standing right in front of me?” Mark pointed at Ves. “I’ll handle your problematic mother as long as I’m in-charge, in exchange once you take over your father’s business, we’ll be partners and you won’t refuse any transactions from us.”

“You think highly of me. It’s been over a decade since Mom and I left Dad, what if he also has another child aside from me.” Ves looked around as he also thought of the possibility that his father has another family after the divorce.

“We both know that your father only has time on his work and not even in his own family.” Mark snorted. “The man we’re talking about here is Han Taz, aside from your mother, he resists all women advances to him. Thus, he never falls to any sweet traps laid upon by his enemies.”

“Maybe he’s gay, we’ll never know unless he exposed it himself.”

“Well he’s always surrounded by men so there’s a chance.” Mark nodded. “But his s****l orientation has nothing to do with me. He owns a fortune that eventually will be yours, that’s what matters.”

“You’re eyeing onto something with uncertainty, boss. That’s not the Mark I know.” Ves said flatly. “My initial proposal is just less than a year and you might get the deal you want from the man with absolute power, yet you’re willing to wait longer.”

“It’s easier to deal with you than to deal with your father.” Mark shrugged. “So, will you take it or leave it?”

“It sounds insulting but I understand your concern though you could’ve put it that I’m harmless compared to my father.” Ves retorted. “If you want this kind of deal then I accept your counter offer, just keep my mother away from gambling.”

“Sure.” Mark nodded. “Now, call Peter and Stefani here.”

“Of course.” Ves walked off to call Peter and Stefani.

Mark gave them an assignment that could take for weeks or a month, which means Ves will break the promise to Hestia that he’ll be home for Christmas.

Being a thief doesn’t have any holidays!

In Tokyo, Japan …

“How did you learn speaking Japanese?” Peter questioned Ves after talking to one of the locals with fluent Japanese.

“By watching anime and reading manga.” Ves replied nonchalantly.

“I also watch cartoons and read comics but I never learn sh*t!”

“What will you learn if your only focus is s*x?” Stefani snorted.

“What can I say Japanese are really good producing those goods.”

“I almost thought that you were watching some sports anime and hero manga, but what you watch and read is just hentai.” Ves snorted. “I shouldn’t expect some decency from you.”

“I tried watching one of fantasy anime but it’s too boring for me. What’s wrong watching hentai? It’s not like I’m underage or what. Besides I like how those kawaii women moans while men thrusting hard inside …” Peter wanted to elaborate more but Stefani cut him off by covering his mouth with her hand.

“Stay focus, keep those lewd pictures in your head. We’re not asking for too information.” Stefani looked around. “I’ll be heading in first, you two be careful.”

The three arrived at the banquet arranged by the Ueno clan, to throw a party for the next successor of the clan.

They managed to get in after involving themselves with the host’s friends, that they worked to get intimate with for a week.

“Dong Geun!” a Japanese girl walked towards Ves. “I’ve been looking for you. Come, I’ll introduce you to my friends!”

Ves nodded. He doesn’t like to be intimate with any other girls but acting is part of his job while he’s undercover.

“Everyone, meet my boyfriend. Dong Geun Jang.” the Japanese girl introduced Ves to her friends. “We met at the park a few days ago and we both fall in love at first sight!”

“I thought you were just making it up Hanabi, when you said that your boyfriend is handsome but you proved us wrong, he’s indeed good-looking!” one of Hanabi’s friend said as she eyed at Ves.

“Alright, players only, come on!” Juri, the host announced.