Chapter 21: The Devil's Bargain
The coffee shop Kai had chosen was upscale but not ostentatiously so the kind of place where power deals happened quietly. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city. The furniture was modern and minimalist. Everything about it whispered money and intelligence.
Kai Park sat at a corner table, already settled with a cappuccino, when Jaden and April arrived. He stood to greet them, shaking hands with a practiced charm that made April's skin crawl.
"Jaden, April. Thank you for meeting with me," Kai said, gesturing for them to sit. "Can I order you anything?"
"Just answers," April said flatly, not bothering with pleasantries.
Kai smiled, as if he'd expected nothing less. "Direct. I appreciate that. Let me be equally direct: I believe Jaden has professional-level potential. I've been scouting competitive gaming talent globally for five years, and I can count on one hand the players with his combination of speed, strategy, and mental resilience."
"And what do you want in return?" April asked.
"Three things," Kai said, holding up his fingers. "First, I want Jaden to compete in the Crimson Circuit tournament in three weeks. Second, if he places in the top three, I want him to sign with my organization for a one-year contract. Third, I want you both to understand that this is a legitimate business opportunity, not charity."
"What about the medical bills?" Jaden asked.
"Already handled," Kai said simply. "Half paid. The remaining half will be covered as soon as Jaden signs a preliminary agreement with me. Consider it an investment in his future and therefore in your family's stability, April."
April felt Jaden tense beside her. This was the trap the moment where they became indebted to Kai Park.
"And if Jaden doesn't place in the top three?" April asked.
"Then he goes back to being a high school student, and we part ways amicably," Kai said. "But I don't think that will happen. I think Jaden is better than that."
The words were flattering, but they were also calculated. They were designed to make Jaden feel like he had no choice but to succeed.
"Can we have time to think about it?" April asked.
"Of course," Kai said, sliding a document across the table. "This is the preliminary agreement. Look it over. Consult a lawyer if you'd like. But understand: I'm only offering this because I believe in Jaden's potential. Opportunities like this don't come around often."
They left the coffee shop with the agreement in hand, and neither of them spoke until they were several blocks away.
"He's good at this," April said finally. "Making it sound reasonable. Making it sound like we'd be crazy to say no."
"Because we would be crazy," Jaden said, frustration evident in his voice. "April, he's offering us exactly what we need. Yes, there's manipulation involved. But so what? We're manipulating him too, in a way. We're using his money to solve our problems."
"It's not the same," April said. "He has leverage over you. If you sign with him and fail at the tournament, he owns you anyway. If you succeed, you're contractually obligated to work for him. Either way, he wins."
They walked in silence for a while.
"What if I told you I actually want this?" Jaden asked quietly. "What if the gaming thing isn't just about escaping my father anymore? What if I actually want to compete at the professional level?"
April looked at him. "Then we do it on our terms, not his. But first, we need to understand what we're signing up for."
That night, Chloe called April. "Hey babe, random question: did you see Marcus taking photos of people at the PC cafe last night? I heard from someone who heard from someone that he was lurking around there. Which is weird because Marcus doesn't game."
April's blood ran cold. "When did you hear this?"
"Like an hour ago. Why? Do you know what he was doing there?"
April hung up after making an excuse and immediately called Jaden. "We have a problem. Marcus knows about the cafe."
There was a long silence on the other end of the line.
"Then we need to move faster," Jaden said finally. "We need to figure out what we're doing, and we need to do it before Marcus decides to weaponize what he knows."