Mature Chapter: Language, Drug Use

Paul POV

"Hyung, are you sure you don't want to join me tonight?" I asked.

"How many times do I have to say this?" Johnny chuckled. "I love you, but I don't want to hang around a bunch of drunk college kids."

I sighed and looked out the window of my Uber as the driver made his way to Lux, one of the best nightclubs Boston apparently had to offer.

"Why are you so scared to take care of this alone?"

"It's not that I'm scared. I just can't imagine myself having much in common with these guys."

"Stop being so judgmental." Johnny scolded. "I can tell, being back in Korea for so long shifted your thoughts towards Western culture."

I fell silent, as he was completely spot on. I missed my brothers back in South Korea, the food, the crisp air and clean public transportation, and the societal norms of South Korea in general.

"You'll adjust soon." Johnny continued. "Plus, something tells me this is the night you finally make friends that can entertain you when I can't."

"Sheesh, are you that sick of me already?"

The two of us laughed as the driver turned down the main and lively street.

There were many clubs and bars on each side of the road, and hundreds of young adults were dressed in their best attire as they walked the sidewalks to pick their destination of choice for the evening.

"Not at all. I'm actually so damn proud of you." Johnny praised. "It took you five days to meet the four people your father asked you to befriend. You might not care for their personalities, but this is business and they are all very important people in American and International law. Do whatever you have to do, to make meaningful relationships with those guys."

"Understood." I replied, my tone making Johnny laugh even more.

"On a plus side, you and Sam reconnected!" He chimed. "Now that is an outing I am happy to join if you want me to this weekend."

"No thanks, hyung." I smirked. "I'm hosting her at my house, and I don't expect much professionalism to take place during that dinner."

He gasped. "Ho-seok, be for real! She's been engaged for five years."

I shrugged. "From what I can tell, it's strictly business between her and Kang Yu-Jun."

"You really think she'll hook up with you? It's too big a risk for her reputation."

"Only if people find out, which shouldn't happen as long as you keep your mouth shut."

"You know what, if this is what brings her into AHS Group I have no complaints."

"Wow, are you telling me to sell my body for the Group right now?"

He scoffed. "Can't sell something that's already been offered for free."

"Touché'." I replied as the driver slowed down in front of the popular club. "I just got to Lux."

"Alright, be safe tonight." Johnny cautioned. "I hear these boys party hard. Enjoy yourself, but stay alert. If you need anything, call me. I'll have my phone by me in case I need to pick you up or worst case scenario, bail you out of jail."

I chuckled. "Thanks, hyung. I'll talk to you later."

I ended the call and thanked the driver as I climbed out of the white Model Y Tesla.

There was a line full of eager and excited nightclubbers wrapped around the building, but fortunately for me that was not something I needed to stand in.

As Spencer instructed through a text I received an hour ago, I walked to the front of the line and approached the gigantic bouncer that was making sure the club did not exceed capacity.

"My name is Paul Ahn." I started, handing the Samoan man the invite Spencer gave me days ago. "I'm with The Elite."

He looked me up and down, sizing me up as he observed my attire.

I was certainly dressed the part though - wearing a black round neck button up that exposed my pecks, my Dolce and Gabbana distressed black skinny jeans, and black Chelsea boots.

"Devin." The bouncer said, another approaching at his beacon call. "Escort him to the room."

"Right this way." The gentleman directed.

I followed the so called Devin into the nightclub, and I only had to walk a yard in before I saw how impressive it was.

The music was booming, the colorful strobe and accent lighting was moving to the beat of the electronic dance music, dozens of people were raging on the packed dance floor, professionals were doing acrobatics on vertical poles while half dressed women and men danced in cages hanging from the high ceiling, and every table had been bought out this Friday evening.

"Wow." I breathed, and I couldn't help but smile finally seeing an upside to Boston social life.

Don't get me wrong, I had clubbed in popular American cities like Miami, Los Angeles, and New York, but I was not expecting this kind of nightlife in Boston.

"He's with The Elite." The bouncer said to yet another security guard who was standing in front of two gold posts connected with a red velvet rope.

"Enjoy." The tall black man said, just before he cleared the way for me to walk ahead.

I walked up the steep stairs that led to the most expensive reservation this place likely had to offer. The VIP lounge overlooked the club, and I could tell there was one way glass used on the windows that lined the wall to ensure those wealthy enough to rent the space had privacy, yet the luxury too also see everything going on outside room.

I took a deep breath and when I was ready, I pushed open the door to find the four men of The Elite sitting around a table full of booze while surrounded by six abnormally hot women.

"Paul, you made it!" Spencer chimed, standing up from the black leather couch so he could greet me. "Did you get in alright?"

"Yeah, it was easy." I replied as we shared a firm handshake. "Thanks for the guidance."

"Of course." He beamed, taking his place beside me before I felt his hand on my back. "You ready to meet boys?"

I nodded and let him guide me closer to the group of well dressed men that were looking to me from the couch.

"Guys, this is the one and only Paul Ahn - Successor of AHS Group!" Spencer enthused.

I placed a smile on my face, and my gaze followed the direction he pointed towards with each introduction.

"On the end is Harvard's All American Boy, Chase Mathews. If he doesn't turn pro for hockey, he'll be the best damn sports agent the industry has ever seen. Just like his dad."

"Nice to meet you." Chase smirked, a busty blonde seated on his lap.

"Beside him is Donnell Sterling." The handsome black male simply nodded at me, a Spanish women seated closely beside him while a light skin woman with long curly hair sat on his other side. "The lineage of lawyers and judges in his family is uncanny. His Grandfather is literally in with the White House should a vacancy appear in the Supreme Court."

I smiled, fully away of Donnell's impressive family.

"Last but certainly not least is our ever so charming Italian Prince." Spencer joked, looking to the handsome political figure who was enjoying a vape. "Antonio Marino."

"Italian Prince?" Antonio replied as he released smoke from his lips, his accent thick and admittedly quite sexy. "The monarchy was abolished decades ago."

"Well what else should I call the President's son?" Spencer asked.

Antonio placed a large smile on his face, and unlike the others he removed himself from the hold of two women before he stepped in front of me and offered me his hand to shake.

"It's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

"Hopefully all good things." I replied, accepting his greeting.

"You wouldn't be here if we heard otherwise."

"Facts." Spencer chuckled, patting my shoulder. "Come on, take a seat and get comfortable! Let's get to know you, a bit. Yeah?"

"Just how deep are we talking here?" I asked, a stunning Indian woman with large brown eyes and long silky straight hair taking her place beside me as soon as I sat down.

"That probably depends on the liquor of your choosing." Donnell smirked. "They say, what a man drinks tells you all you need to know about him."

"Is that so?" I asked, observing the options in front of me before I grabbed the unopened $800 bottle of Brandy.

"As expected." Spencer observed. "We're not going to learn more than you want us to anytime soon, huh?"

I laughed with the group, shrugging my shoulders as I poured myself a drink on the rocks.

"That depends on how drunk I get tonight." I replied, taking a sip of the delicious Brandy. "But you should know, no one drinks better than Koreans."

"Oh I'll take that bet!" Antonio said. "Do you know how young Italians start drinking?"

"Wine in comparison to soju is child's play."

He scoffed. "Maybe the cheap shit they drink in America and where you're from. Italian wine is the best and most authentic."

"Well we're not drinking either of that shit tonight." Chase interjected. "We're in America, and it's liquor all night baby! Let's put money down! Who's passing out first tonight?"

"Spencer." Donnell and Antonio responded.

"Damn, was such a callout really necessary?" He gasped, making the group laugh. "I'll have you know, my tolerance is the worst because I have zero body fat."

"Sure, little man." Chase teased, making Spencer roll his eyes as the girls poured us shots of our preferred poison for the evening.

"Alright guys, let's get the night started!" Spencer exclaimed, holding up his shot glass as he began the his toast. "Paul, welcome to The Elite! Here's to the first night of many more, and hopefully a long lasting brotherhood you choose to accept!"

"To Paul!" Chase cheered. "Welcome, brother!"

We clanked our glasses, before we tapped them on the table and took the first of many more shots to come.

I wasn't sure if it was the liquor, but to my surprise I had a lot to talk about with the group of men I couldn't even imagine bonding with just an hour ago.

Spencer was a fellow music lover, and he played the guitar and piano just like I did. We also had the same taste in music, and I introduced him to Korean singer/songwriters that I loved just as much as the American ones I listened to every day.

Chase on the other hand was an absolute jock who could go on for days about sports, but he ended up being way smarter than I was expecting. He was great with numbers and he knew more about the stock market than I ever cared to learn since my family hired people to manage investments for us. By the end of our discussion, he actually peaked my interest and got me to consider new ways I could grow my wealth even more.

Donnell was as humble and chill as I expected. I could tell he always kept his cool, and unlike the rest of the boys he monitored his drinking. It was obvious he was someone who needed to be in control and he was just like me - very observant and careful with every word he spoke.

Last was Antonio. He absolutely had that mysterious badboy charm so many girls at Harvard gushed about. He was handsome and quiet, but he spoke just enough, and it was impossible to know what was going through his mind. Even when he smiled and laughed, the look in his eyes never changed. He was strategic, and only did things that benefited him.

"Alright, we've pregamed enough!" Spencer slurred. "Let's get out there and dance!"

"Hell yeah!" Chased chimed. "Anyone else down to do a line before we go?"

I watched as Chase pulled a small plastic bag that held a white powder out of his blazer.

"Naw, I can't tonight." Spencer replied. "I have to go to some fucking brunch with my dad and a bunch of Harvard professors tomorrow."

"Boo!" Chase teased, Antonio taking a seat beside him. "A little won't hurt. It'll keep you up, but you'll survive!"

Spencer bit his bottom lip, and watched as Chase made a line for himself and Antonio.

"Fine." Spencer caved, taking his spot on the other side of Chase.

"Don't you get tested as a student athlete?" I asked Chase, and he scoffed.

"One of the perks about being in The Elite, is that we're untouchable." He winked. "You down to do a line?"

"No, I'm good tonight." I answered, and Chase looked to Donnell next.

"Next time." Donnell said. "I have to speak at a charity event my family is hosting tomorrow."

"Poster boy." Spencer teased, just before I watched the three men snort their lines.

I even watched a few of the women in the room indulge in the drug, which was a huge turnoff for me. I've never been opposed to popping the occasional pill, but for me snorting was as classless as it gets.

"Woo!" Chase enthused, clapping his hands as he stood up. "Let's fucking go!"

"Tesoro mio." Antonio flirted, offering his hand to the dark skin woman he had kept close since I stepped into the VIP room.

She accepted his help up from the couch, and as he led her out of the lounge the rest of us guys did the same with the remaining women that had been keeping us entertained.

Fortunately for me, the beautiful Indian girl named Anika was the one I had been interacting with the most and she was also one of the two who opted out of snorting this evening.

As soon as we joined the rowdy clubbers on the dance floor, she made her claim. I smirked as she circled me, her fingers leaving a trail across my shoulders and chests as we locked eyes.

Though it was obvious she had gotten work done, I was very attracted to her hourglass shape.

She was wearing a forest green two piece set - the knee length skirt was form fitting with a slit that went to the top of her right thigh and the top was a laced strapless corset that pushed up her perfectly shaped breasts.

When she took her place in front of me, she turned around and guided my hands to her hips. I happily acted as the foundation she needed to balance herself and she rested her back on my chests as she winded her ass against me to the rhythm of Lovin on Me by Jack Harlow.

"How you liking The Elite so far?" Spencer laughed, nudging my shoulder as he danced with a redhead named Emily.

I beamed, glancing at each of my new friends.

Chase was already making out with the tall blonde woman he'd been kissing since we met.

Donnell was a complete vibe, grooving between the two girls that stayed close to him throughout the evening.

Antonio and the beautiful black woman named Olivia were extremely erotic. The man could move his hips, just like his obvious choice this evening and the two were in their own world.

"The Elite." I softly said to myself, the alcohol catching up to me more and more as I loosened up and accepted just how thrilled I was with this lifestyle. "I fucking love it."

"What?" Anika asked, looking to me over her shoulder.

Instead of responding with words, I pressed my lips on her soft pair.

I felt a smile form on her face as she laced her fingers in the back of my hair, and my hands explored every curve on her body - her plump breasts, her perfectly wide hips, her thighs - specifically the warm skin between them.

Enticed by my touch, she broke the kiss and our noses grazed as we shifted to the slow pace of SZA's Saturn. She then turned around and wrapped her arms around my neck, my hands holding her waist while we swayed to the R&B single.

"Are you taking me home tonight?" She purred.

I smirked, looking up with the means to play hard to get. But to my surprise, I spotted a familiar face across the dance floor and when our eyes locked my heart sank.

"MK?" I uttered, squinting as I looked to a woman wearing a black bralette, a high waisted mini-skirt, and thigh high open toed boots.

However, before my eyes could even confirm what I was seeing in the dim lit club, I watched the woman turn around and walk through the crowd.

"Paul?" Anika called for me as I rushed to follow the woman who resembled the stranger I had been eager to find.

"Yo, Paul!" Donnell yelled, but I continued to do my best to push my way through the crowd.

"MK!" I called for her, and she was already heading towards the club's exit.

"Watch it!" A woman hissed as I stumbled over her foot.

I apologized, but continued rushing through the crowded club until I was standing outside of it.

"MK!" I yelled, my chests shifting up and down as I worked to catch my breath.

I looked to my right, and saw no sign of her. I then looked to my left, and she wasn't there either. I spun in a whole circle, and the mysterious woman was nowhere to be found again.

"Shit!" I sighed, pushing my fingers through my hair.

Despite how much had happened since this time last week, there wasn't a day that went by I didn't think about MK. 

It wasn't just the sex that made me want to find her. I had met a few good people throughout my first week here, even tonight. But somehow, MK was the person I had made the most natural connection with since I landed in Boston.

"Paul." Spencer said, his hand meeting my back. "Are you good man? What's wrong?"

"I thought I saw someone I knew." I replied, taking one last look around before the disappointment formed in my chests. "I must have been mistaken though."

"Who are you looking for? The Elite have connections across the country, we can help."

"It doesn't matter." I answered, wanting to keep this particular interest to myself. "Let's head back inside. It's cool."

I walked past Spencer and into the club before I felt him nudge my shoulder with his.

"It must be a girl." He yelled over the music. "Pick your head up though. You've got hundreds for the choosing man. Come on!"

I laughed as the rowdy blonde cheered and made his way back onto the dance floor, but as I was about to join him - I had this weird feeling someone was watching me.

I looked around, but all I could see were drunk people dancing, mingling, and making out.

"Pull it together, Ho-seok." I said to myself, rubbing my face.

"You should have done a line." Antonio chuckled, startling me as he stepped in front of me with a shot of tequila. "This will have to do though."

I accepted the alcohol, Antonio wrapping his arm around the back of my shoulders.

"You broke Anika's heart in seconds, man." Antonio joked.

"She'll be fine. I'll make it up to her later."

"Atta boy!" Antonio grinned. "Come on! The night's still young, and we need to make sure Spencer passes out so I win this bet."

I laughed with Antonio, allowing the Italian to guide me back on the dance floor as I took one more look around to find MK.

However, I knew I needed to move on from the random one night stand and appreciate all of the good things happening around me.

I reunited with my mentor and close friend with moving to Boston, in just two days I'd spend Sunday dinner with my first love, I was practically worshiped at Harvard by my professors, and tonight I became a part of a group that would do wonders for my career and likely be people I considered brothers down the road.

Life was good...

And it was bound to get even better now that I was a part of The Elite.

____

Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed the update! 

What are your thoughts on The Elite so far? Do you think you have a favorite already? 

I wrote the next chapter, and plan to publish it tomorrow! 

Please remember to vote and comment! Seeing your reactions keep me motivated and help me write a lot! 

Thanks for your support!

- Zelene