Page 11 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 1-4 (The Residency Boys #6)

“Bak’s been…making me work overtime.” Her cheeks flushed. “He says I did poorly last quarter and I have to make up for it. And I’m trying, honest, but…I think he’s just mad. I think… I’ve never done poorly in a job before. Anyway, I went in yesterday…”

“Yesterday was a holiday, an official holiday,” Gigi sputtered.

Julie shrugged and went on. “I was working late on backlog things, paperwork, etcetera. Bak’s office has a lot of stuff that wasn’t filed properly.

It takes me forever to find things. Nothing’s where it’s supposed to be.

So, I stayed late, like really late, because I knew he was going to yell at me again, trying to find some contracts, and this alarm went off, and it scared me.

I crawled under a desk, just in case. And then Bak ran in yelling at some people.

” She paused, glancing around again and then back at Gigi.

“You can’t tell anyone. I’m really scared. ”

Gigi patted her hand.

Julie swallowed and went on. “I haven’t even told my family. Bak was really angry, shouting at people on the phone to find Jun. And then he called someone and said, “He ran. I pushed, and he ran.”

“And then….”

Julie straightened her shoulders. “Gigi, do you have your passport?”

Gigi frowned. “Of course, I do. I don’t let anyone keep it. That’s my ticket home.”

“Well, Bak told this man ‘Don’t worry. I got all his stuff, his ID, his passport, his bank cards, even his phone. The kid can’t get anywhere.”

Gigi went very still.

Damian waited. Neither woman seemed inclined to speak for a long time.

“Gigi,” Julie whispered, “I can’t get in trouble with the police. He said ‘if anyone’s helping him, we’ll charge them with kidnapping.”

Goose bumps ran up Damian’s back. “Being charged isn’t the same as being found guilty.”

“It might as well be.” Julie sucked in air and lifted her chin. “If you can’t fight the charges or if you’re a nobody.”

“You know that holding someone’s identification and money against their will so they can’t leave can be defined as imprisonment or extortion?”

Julie shook her head.

Gigi patted her hand again. “It sounds like Bak did something bad to Jun and Jun got away.”

Julie nodded. She looked around nervously again. “I should leave. Gigi, you should leave, too. They’ll think you’re helping him. And you’re not good at speaking Korean. You might need a lawyer.”

“She has one,” Damian broke in. “And so will you if you need it. My boss and I have a lot of contacts in Seoul, and we move a lot of money through this city.”

Julie blinked at him, uncertain.

“If you knew for certain that Jun was asking for his papers, could you find them and get them to him?” Gigi asked.

Julie tightened her grip on Gigi’s hand. Then she shook her head slowly. “I’m sorry, Gigi. But my father works in the police force. And Bak’s friend…” Her voice trailed off. “We’re a small family. We do okay, but I can’t risk them…”

Gigi sighed. “It’s okay. Can you at least tell me where Jun’s passport might be?”

Julie looked around. “5N’s paperwork isn’t kept in the office with the other talent. Sanada Yohei has his own passport, but the other four all leave their paperwork with Bak, like in his office.”

“Why is Sanada different?”

“He told Bak that he couldn’t have his passport because it’s too much hassle whenever he goes home to Japan for the weekend. And his parents insisted that he carry his own passport with him when he signed on as talent in his teens. They were particular about that. So, it’s in his contract.”

“But the other four are treated different from other talent as well?”

Julie hesitated. “I mean, I don’t know, maybe it’s because they are subcontracted with BBB3? Technically, they all work for SP4700Y. So maybe that’s why? Sanada works with the band via a lease to SP4700Y from BBB3.”

Gigi frowned. “I thought BBB3 put 5N together. All my contracts imply that I’m working with BBB3 groups.”

Julie shook her head. “BBB3 doesn’t own 5N. SP4700Y does. BBB3 is only contracted to run the group.”

Damian scratched the back of his head. “So, who put the group together?”

“Bak.” Julie blinked once, staring off into space. “I mean, I think so. That’s what he says and everyone else. But we have to run through paperwork and payments differently, and their passports and documentation go somewhere else.”

Damian forced himself not to lean forward. “Where?”

Julie shivered. “I don’t know. I just know if I need it I have to talk to Bak or his guy Choi. And then they hand them to me, and I give them back when I’m done. They’re usually in a drawer in his desk.”

Gigi sighed and sank back in her seat. “And this never seemed fishy to you?”

“Fishy?” Julie frowned. “There’s no fish there.”

“I mean, it never seemed off, like not quite right?”

Julie shivered a little and looked around again, checking the distance of other patrons.

“I mean, maybe a little? But…” She trailed off, playing with her drink.

“It made sense if they were a subcontract group that we’d handle their stuff separately, right?

And doesn’t your employer need your papers? ”

“No, you need your papers.” Gigi drove her finger against the top of the table, making the end of it pale with pressure.

“For companies, a person is just an asset; keeping papers like that is for convenience or to control an asset. But for the person, your papers mean you can do things, be a full citizen, access your rights, travel, get from place to place, open a bank account, get help. It’s important.

No one, not your parents, not your spouse–I don’t care if you’re married–should control your ID or bank cards.

It means you can’t be a functioning legal adult when you need to be. ”

“Oh.” Julie looked down, shoulders slumping. “We keep everyone’s papers but Sanada’s. To keep them safe and make sure we can file their visas and do other things for them. I thought that was normal.”

Damian shook his head. “In the US, it’s considered abuse. I’m pretty sure it’s illegal here, too, but I’d have to double-check. I mostly know Korean tax law and contract law.”

Julie seemed to collapse in on herself even more, her elbows tucked against her ribs. She played with the moisture on the outside of her drink. “I think… I think Bak keeps the passports himself. I mean, in his office. This isn’t a tax problem is it? You know where Jun is?”

“I don’t know where Jun is.” Gigi shrugged. “I am trying to help him.”

Damian inclined his head to Gigi. “It’s not a lie that we need to see his passport to fix paperwork. Jun seems to be tangled up in some serious business, but we’re not sure what it is.”

Julie pressed her lips together. “I want to help. I do. But my family… I can’t risk my dad’s job.

Fine, I’ll tell you this much. Bak had me rent a very expensive private retreat.

But not for himself. He made me put my name down.

And he was on the phone with his police friend when he told me which one.

I think his friend was planning to stay there.

He promised him a good time. The dates were for December twenty-seventh through January third.

And then he told me to clear Jun’s schedule until January fifth, that Jun would be taking some personal time.

I didn’t think it was related, but now…he also wanted Jun’s last medical check. ”

Heat, dark and vicious, burned through Damian.

Only years of experience of threats leveled at his face kept Damian still and outwardly calm in his seat.

If he had enjoyed supervising the filing against the ex of Collin’s office mate, the one who had spread the woman’s picture online without her consent, it paled in comparison to what he would feel taking Bak down.

Bak’s life as he knew it was over.

Damian leaned forward. “Do you know what sex trafficking is, Julie?”

She paled and nodded.

“This carries all the intent to sexually traffic a specific and known individual.” Damian pulled out his phone. “I can protect you, but you need to be prepared to testify.”

Julie paled. “I can’t. My life will be over. I can’t be involved…” She started to stand up.

Gigi grabbed her hand. “You’re already involved. All you can do now is choose how you want to be remembered.”

Tears rolled down Julie’s cheeks, and she trembled. “You don’t understand. You two can leave. You… This is the best job I’ve ever had. I’ll never work again. No one will want to marry me.”

Julie started gathering her things. “It’s dark out. I should leave.” She dabbed at her eyes. “Bye-bye, Gigi. Please don’t call me.”

* * *

Jun

Jun turned in place, arms out, for Mi Hi to observe her work.

She’d dressed him in thick purple-burgundy tights and a pleated black flannel skirt just above his mid-thigh with low-heeled gray boots.

For the top, she’d styled him in a chunky purple sweater with a big rolling collar and a heavy black cape instead of a full coat.

The face staring back at Jun from the mirror looked fem even to him.

He was used to makeup but usually in masculine lines.

Mi Hi had done him up but used the lines that a woman would favor, especially around his eyes.

Given that he barely ever had to shave, she’d had an easy base to work with, something she’d commented on several times.

With lash extensions and a deep, dark lip, his face had changed from young male to that of a woman in her youth.

“Shocking, isn’t it?” Mi Hi giggled.

“Uh, yeah.” Jun shivered. He couldn’t stop looking at himself and the stranger staring back. He blinked, and the stranger in the mirror blinked back, almost seductively. “No one is going to know me.”

Mi Hi chuckled. “That’s the point. I bet you didn’t think it would be this effective.”

“No.” Jun shook his head, at a loss.