[M] THE TRAP (1/1)

Shinhye arrived at her parents’ mansion. She kissed her mother and bowed politely to her father before she went upstairs to prepare herself for the dinner. She wore a long sleeved lavender dress with ruffled V-neckline. It was one inch above the knees and a fit that showed her tiny waist to advantage. She paired it with three-inch cream-colored heels. She wore a violet headband to accentuate her hair.“You look beautiful, little angel”, Shinhye’s mother said as she watched her only daughter descend the grand staircase.“Yes, you look ethereal, my child”, Shinhye’s father added.“Thank you, mom and dad.” Shinhye smiled although it did not reach her eyes.“Let’s go now and get this over with”, Shinhye’s father said as they went out of the mansion and rode a black Jaguar to Cho Family’s mansion.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Mr. Cho was at the library, he was waiting smiling as he contemplated his plan for the evening. He already felt that his political ambition was coming to its peak.“After tonight, after tonight, I’ll be able to cement my way to winning this coming election”, Mr. Cho smiled contentedly as he nipped his brandy.After a while, he heard a knock on the door.“Enter”, Mr. Cho called.“Sir, Chairman Park and his family are already here”, the butler announced.Mr. Cho stood and went out of the library door. His wife and Kyuhyun descended the stairs accompanied him to welcome the Park Family.Shinhye surveyed the surroundings as the Jaguar entered the main gate of the mansion. They passed a manicured lawn…from the driveway her attention was caught by a fountain. The Jaguar passed at the fountain side and stopped in front of the mansion where she saw Mr. and Mrs. Cho with…with Kyuhyun. She and her parents went out of the Jaguar.“You’ll never hurt me again.” Shinhye told herself as she took a deep and released a deep breath as she followed her parents to ascend the stairs to the door of the mansion. Her eyes caught Kyuhyun’s who was intently looked at her.“We meet again, Shinhye”, Kyuhyun told himself as he eyed her. She was still beautiful and radiant the way he remembered her years ago.“Welcome, Chairman Park, Mrs. Park, Shinhye”, Mr. Cho happily said; his wife equally smiling as the Park Family reached them.“Thank you, Secretary Cho, Mrs. Cho, Kyuhyun”, Mr. Park stiffly greeted back. He and his wife did not return the smile given by Mr. Cho and his wife.“Well…let’s proceed inside and partake of the dinner”, Mr. Cho said. He motioned Kyuhyun to escort Shinhye who ignored Kyuhyun’s offered arm and walked ahead.They sat at the dining area. The servants came to serve the wine.“Chairman Park, I know that I should’ve told you about this earlier but I didn’t know that they would be coming to dine with us tonight”, Mr. Cho said trying to sound apologetic but to Shinhye’s ears he failed.“I thought that this will be a dinner party to discuss the terms of this arranged marriage?” Mr. Park’s voice was edged with steel.“Yes…yes…but I couldn’t help but give in to them. I’m sorry…I think they won’t stay that long; they just want to see to whom my only son is promised”, Mr. Cho pacified Shinhye’s father.“Sir, the President of South Korea, the Secretary of Trade and Industry, The Secretary of Defense, Senators Lee and Go to join you”, the butler announced.“You wouldn’t want to drive them out, Chairman Park, would you?” Mr. Cho remarked before he turned to his butler and said, “Please show them in.”“Huh…this manipulative old man…does he think this dinner as a bloody political meeting!” Shinhye told herself angrily. Her beautiful eyes were flashing fire and she shot dagger looks at Kyuhyun who was staring at her.“Good evening, everyone, I hope we’re not imposing on your hospitality”, the President greeted as he was followed by his companions. They bowed as the others stood from their chairs and bowed also in respect.“Please serve the foods”, Mr. Cho said and the servants carried the dishes at the table.“Chairman Park, let me congratulate you…you have a most beautiful daughter”, Senator Lee praised Shinhye who tried her best to remember her good manners.“Thank you so much, Senator Lee”, Mr. Park replied.“I believe that congratulations are in order. It’s a great triumph for Secretary Cho here to have allied himself with your family”, the President of South Korea remarked.“I believe it would be if Secretary Cho had already done so, Mr. President, but my husband and Secretary Cho hadn’t yet confirmed the marriage agreement. Actually, we’re just about to talk about it in this dinner”, Mrs. Park icily though politely said as she looked at Mr. Cho with contempt.“Pardon, Mrs. Park, because we’re given the impression that this dinner is to plan for the engagement party of your daughter with Mr. Cho’s son”, the President apologetically remarked.“But I hope you would agree on the marriage contract. It will be a good match for the both of your families. Secretary Cho already filed for candidacy last July and joined our political party. We started with the campaign already and if the marriage of your children happened before the election it would be the match of the year”, Senator Go tried to give favorable statement on the marriage agreement.“But we’re not yet ready to let our daughter marry this early. We’re thinking of setting the wedding a year or two years from now to allow them the chance to get to know each other”, Mr. Park replied. He did not like that Mr. Cho invited politicians to the dinner.“They were classmates for two years in Incheon and I guess they could get to know each other more after they are already wed”, the Secretary of Trade and Industry pleasantly bantered.“Gentlemen, why don’t we stop with this conversation for a while and concentrate with the dinner unless we ended up having indigestion”, Mr. Cho suggested as he eyed Mr. Park who was already fuming with anger at his seat.Kyuhyun at the midst of the conversation just looked at Shinhye who seemed to act calm except for her eyes which were blazing with fire. If looks could kill she would have skewered him dead by now.“Heavens…this is a trap!” Shinhye told herself and as she looked at her mother across her whose eyes revealed that her parents knew too that the dinner was a trap to get them to agree on the contract with lesser or without an argument at all.The dinner dragged with the politicians and Mr. Park conversing about economy, society and politics. Mrs. Cho tried to engage Shinhye and her mother in conversation but eventually she stopped when she saw how the two were not interested with what she was saying.“By the time we finish dinner, you’re going to suffer indigestion, Shinhye”, Kyuhyun told himself as he looked at Shinhye who looked ready to stand and toss the table in frustration.“How do you do, Shinhye?” Kyuhyun decided to test how civil Shinhye could be.“Still alive, Kyuhyun”, Shinhye replied smiling sarcastically at him.“So you’re reminding me of that incident years ago…hehehe…two can play this game of reminiscing the past”, Kyuhyun told himself as he too smiled sarcastically. “Really…have you identified the ones who beat you?”Kyuhyun bantered back.“Nope…I can’t remember their faces but I hope that wherever those people responsible with my beatings that time are, they already paid or worst dead”, Shinhye commented. “Including you”, her eyes told Kyuhyun. She was satisfied that the poison of her words made Kyuhyun paused in his initial trial to bully her in their conversation.“What a sumptuous meal. I commend your cook, Secretary Cho”, the President said contentedly. The other politicians also nodded their agreement.“Mr. President, I believe that we should already be taking our leave of them to discuss the wedding of their children”, Senator Go suggested throwing a meaningful glance at Mr. Cho’s direction.“Of course…they should. I hope we’re not being presumptuous but still our political party offers you congratulations in advance, Chairman Park, Secretary Cho”, the President said. The politicians bowed politely which was reciprocated by Mr. Park and Mr. Cho’s families.Hi everyone! I don't really know why this chapter is being rated as M. I didn't include anything unsual with this chapter but everytime I tried to upload it, the rated M sign just popped out. Friends, actually, i just re-uploaded this chapter because in the last few days I lost some of the chapters I uploaded. Thank you very much for your support and understanding. Thank you for reading, subscribing and commenting on my story. Thank you very much!