Chapter 3

I went to the door and tried looking through the peephole. It was blocked. I opened the door and came face to face with three men. They were impeccably dressed in sharp black suits with pristine white shirts and crisp black ties. Each man had an air of silent confidence and composure that was both intimidating and captivating. Their presence demanded respect and evoked a sense of control that could only come from the uppermost tiers of Japanese society or the most insidious depths of the Japanese underworld.

James: Who ... who are you?

They introduced themselves as Akito, Katsuhiro, and Katsuyuki.

Akito: Mr and Mrs James, we’ve come to discuss the terms of our agreement.

I was about to man up and ask them to leave, when he revealed the wakizashi - a short sword, easily concealed - he had under his jacket. I took an involuntary step back when I realised that all three men were similarly armed. They pushed their way into our home and shut the door. Yun held onto my hand and stood behind me, using my body as a shield - as if my weak body could be of any use.

Katsuhiro: You have an hour to finish packing, Yun-sama. James: Pack? For what? Akito: Our agreement. Our bosses are waiting. They are eager to meet you, Yun-sama. James: No no no, this is a misunderstanding! We will return you the money!

All the three men looked mean and menacing as they just stood there and waited. When Yun and I looked at each other in horrified confusion, the worst looking one of the lot, a bald man with a permanent scowl, took a step forward with a warning.

Katsuyuki: I suggest you start now, or we will do it for you ... Akito: You should listen to Katsuyuki-san, he is not a patient man. And your flight to Japan leaves in...

Akito checked his watch and then turned back to us.

Akito: Three and a half hours.

Yun and I exchanged a look. Nothing could describe the horror on her face. We had no choice but to obey, knowing that any resistance would lead to dire consequences. As the minutes ticked by, I frantically packed our suitcase, praying that we would come out of this nightmare unscathed. When it came to the toiletries, I hesitated when I picked up a box of condoms. I wanted to pack them, but then again, if they were paying my wife almost half a million dollars, they were probably not going to be using any. It felt like I was transported back to my army days and was given just minutes to pack up my belongings. Everything happened in a blur, and when I shut my suitcase, I realised my wife had yet to do anything.

James: What are you doing? Yun: I ... I...

She was still in shock. Aside from kneeling in front of her empty suitcase, she hadn’t packed a single item.

James: Dear ... are you okay? Yun: No ... no, I’m not okay! I ... I can’t do this ... I changed my mind. I cannot do this! It ... it was a mistake. I wasn’t thinking straight ... Dear, help me, you have to help me ... James: I...

The door to the bedroom burst open and all three men walked in. Katsuyuki, upon realising that Yun had not packed a single item, flew into a rage.

Katsuyuki: Do I look like I’m joking with you?

With a rough tug, he yanked Yun up by her arm, causing her to cry out in pain. Akito reminded his friend that Yun needed to be in good condition for the boss, and Katsuyuki threw my wife on the bed. I just stared in disbelief. I could not believe how much of a weakling I was. I could not protect my wife and I only gawked at the sight of her being manhandled. I hadn’t even digested the shock of her agreeing to take on the assignment. Seeing her being treated in that manner was like a punch to the gut.

Akito: I apologise for our friend’s enthusiasm, but we must make sure she is prepared. Your wife will be serving important men who discuss important matters for the future of Japan. It is not easy to be selected. You should consider this a great privilege.

Katsuhiro, a man with streaks of grey in his slick hair, seemed to be the most gentlemanly among the three of them. He came forward and helped Yun off the bed.

Katsuhiro: Yun-sama, you are such a great beauty and you are so lucky to be selected by our boss. I assure you, you will be safe as long as you follow our instructions. Refusing to fulfil the agreement now will only result in severe consequences.

Yun: I ... I ... Katsuhiro: Allow me to help you pack. First, the lingerie...

He opened a few drawers before finding the one that held my wife’s underwear. Katsuhiro opened the drawer fully, smiling as he carefully selected each piece of lingerie, holding it up to the light to admire the intricate lacework and delicate fabrics. He moved with a dancer’s grace, his skilled hands deftly choosing the perfect ensemble for my wife.

Katsuhiro: You have good taste, Yun-sama.

Katsuhiro selected bras and undies of different types and designs, from sexy lace lingerie to cute schoolgirl bras and cotton underwear. He laid them all out on the bed alongside pantyhose, G-strings, thongs, and he even laid out the sexy sleepwear I bought for Yun.

Katsuhiro: Now, let’s choose some clothing for you to wear. You’ll need a mix of formal and casual outfits as you will be expected to accompany our boss on both official and social occasions.

Katsuhiro picked out a few elegant dresses in different colours and styles, along with blouses, skirts and pants that could be mixed and matched for different occasions. He even chose a few accessories like scarves and jewellery to complete the look. Yun stood silently by the side, nervously playing with her fingers as she watched Katsuhiro work his magic. I could tell she was uncomfortable with the whole situation but didn’t know how to voice her discomfort. How would you even begin to raise such an objection? Here was a total stranger planning out such an intimate aspect of your life, and you had no choice but to comply. Katsuyuki, on the other hand, seemed impatient with all the planning.