Femme Fatale: The King's Deadly Temptress

"I don't believe we have formally met," Matthew started as he turned to face Damien. "I'm Matthew Jeong, it's a pleasure to meet you, President Park." He extended his hand in which Damien received.

"The pleasure is all mine," Damien replied, shaking Matthew's hand.

For some reason, Katherine felt a weird vibe between these two — especially since Damien refused to let go of her even when he and Matthew started exchanging pleasantries. She laughed inwardly realizing that Damien was trying to mark his territory. 

A few tables away, the CEO of Young Corporation, Deborah Young, had her eyes glued at Katherine the entire time ever since she noticed her arrival with Damien Park. She had been studying her as she conversed with the old woman from Park family and when she saw Matthew Jeong walk up to Katherine and started talking to her, she began to get even more anxious.

In her memory, she remembered that her niece was very close to Matthew Jeong when they were young. Now that she saw the two standing next to each other, she felt that it was very eerie. She was sure that this young man Matthew probably also saw her niece in Katherine Miller — she can't be the only one… and she felt that it was rather jarring.

"Madam Young, thank you for accepting our invitation. It's an honor that you took the time to spend your Saturday evening with us." Chairman Frederick Park sat on a chair next to her.

"Oh, please, Chairman. This is the least I could do. I'm glad to be here." Madam Young smiled at Frederick Park and talked about a few matters regarding the politicians that were there that night. However, no matter what she did, she would find herself staring at Katherine again.

Noticing that Deborah got distracted, Frederick Park followed the direction of her stare and saw his nephew Damien with his secretary and a famous actor talking to each other. He shifted in his seat and asked her, "Why did you request a private investigation about that woman? Did she do something to you?"

Deborah Young snapped her head towards Frederick Park, suddenly feeling nervous. "No, she didn't. I met her that day when I had lunch with my daughter Caroline and your son William. She just reminded me of someone I thought I knew… it's nothing. She's a nobody." She took a sip from her white wine, and searched for any familiar faces nearby.

"Excuse me, Chairman Park, I just saw Betty Walker over there. Let me go and say hi." She got up from the chair and walked over to the other side of the room. Despite having suspicions about Katherine, she didn't want to jump into conclusions and share with anyone whatever her doubts were. It was best to keep everything to herself unless she has more solid proof to confirm her suspicion.

…

Matthew had excused himself after being called over by a coworker, leaving Damien alone with Katherine again.

"You can stop smiling now," Damien whispered low to her ear.

"I can't. I feel like my facial muscles are having a cramp and this ridiculous mask is stuck on my face."

Chuckling, Damien slid his hand on the open part of her back, his warm hand brushed against her skin, making her feel warm. "You know… I could kiss you right now to help you with that cramp. I heard it's very effective."

Katherine's hands flew up to her cheeks, pressing them rather harshly as though she was trying to force them to relax and glared at Damien. "You can't do that here. There's a lot of people. You want to be on the headlines tomorrow?"

"As a matter of fact, I do. As long as it's you, I would love to share the headlines with you." The corner of Damien's mouth curled, forming a crooked grin that made Katherine elbow him on the side.

"Aw!" He playfully rubbed his side but kept his smile on his face, "Such brutality…" He slightly leaned in to whisper so that only the two of them could hear, "I don't really mind you getting aggressive, honey… But not here. At least do that when we're in bed." His words, along with his low, sexy voice shot jolts of electricity straight to her abdomen. 

Katherine's eyes grew wide and she was about to talk back when two figures approached them from the front.

"Damien, it's nice to see you here, cousin." William had a wicked smile on his face as he walked up to them and he took a long glance at Katherine. "You look lovely as ever, Ms. Miller."

Katherine didn't meet his eyes but slightly bowed to him.

The woman next to William had an irritated expression on her face as she gave Katherine a once over. "You're wearing West," Lexi Jin stated. It wasn't even a question — she really knew fashion. And seeing Katherine wearing the rumored gown designed by West, she didn't even hide the scowl on her face, her jealousy just shot through the roof.

Ignoring her statement, Katherine refused to look at her, so she turned her head to watch the band playing on stage. The song was nice… it was so much better than looking at Lexi's face.

Noticing that Katherine was ignoring her, Lexi turned to Damien, "Your secretary isn't very polite, Damien. Are you sure you want that kind of attitude on your subordinates?"

Damien looked at Katherine whose attention was on the band and a smile formed on his face as he replied to Lexi while he kept his eyes on his woman, "She's not my secretary tonight. She's my date. And she can choose to ignore people she doen't like, she doesn't have to keep face for my sake."

His words stabbed Lexi in the heart and made William's grin grow wider. Katherine heard what he said and was thankful that he was on her side.

He snaked an arm around her waist and it made her feel safe. Wanting to let him know that she was okay, she placed a hand over his and patted it twice, in which he responded by stroking his thumb on her hand. The two didn't need words for them to know what the other was thinking.

"Excuse me, President Park, I'm sorry to interrupt..." One of the event organizers approached him. "I need to clarify some things with you regarding the auction. Do you have a minute?"

Damien nodded at the staff before he turned to Katherine and leaned in to whisper, "I'm sorry, this won't take long. You can sit over there and I'll come back real quick. Don't stay here." He kissed her temple and reluctantly released her hand before walking away with the staff.

This gesture made Lexi hate her more. Damien never liked public displays of affection.

Just in time, Caleb arrived at her side. "Katherine, let's go and join Nana at the table."

Nodding at him, she turned on her heel and walked with Caleb but before she could even take a few steps forward, Lexi grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks.

"I don't like disrespectful people," Lexi said. Katherine turned around slowly and shot Lexi a glare. 

"I thought we have already established that we don't like each other. I don't see a need for me to do that when you clearly don't respect me as well." Katherine retracted her arm from Lexi's grip.

Chuckling, Lexi crossed her arms. "You're really something. Just because Damien is showing favoritism to you, it doesn't mean that you're special. Don't forget, you are only a lowly secretary… and you have nothing but a pretty face. You don't belong in the high society," she sneered.

To Lexi's surprise, Katherine didn't appear to be insulted — the latter even softly chuckled.

"Lowly secretary… Pretty face? Don't you know other words, Ms. Jin? This is the second time that you called me those. I'm now really convinced that your vocabulary is limited. If I were you, I'd start carrying a dictionary. I wonder how you survived to this date with your poor communication skills."

Lexi's mouth hung open from Katherine's insult. Stepping forward, she glowered at Katherine, "How dare you–"

"You can think whatever you want if that is what helps you sleep at night. And while you're at it, do keep this inside that narrow mind of yours — You're right. You're someone of high social status and you've reached the peak of your career. You have wealth and unlimited resources and servants at your beck and call. You are absolutely at the top." 

Lexi raised her chin up as though she believed she deserved all the words Katherine told her she was.

With a sinister yet beautiful smile on her face, Katherine looked at Lexi in the eye and continued, "But you failed to understand one thing, Damien doesn't want and need a self-entitled supermodel who sleeps around. I may be just a lowly secretary or just a pretty face… but guess what? I am exactly what Damien desires."

There was a pool of water in Lexi's eyes as she stood frozen taking in all of Katherine's words.

Before Katherine walked away, she left Lexi with her final blow –"I hope you understood everything. I don't want to have to write them all down for you to get the picture."