Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 62: The Red Dragon

The Red Dragon Taekwondo School was a storefront operation run by Angie Chen. Angie was a petite woman who looked like she might be old enough to drink in two to three years.

When she found out how many of us wanted to attend her adult beginners’ class, she reserved the entire dojang for us.

I originally thought it would be Bea, Stiff, and me, but when Ben found out, he opted in, which meant Min was on board. When King heard Stiff was going, he invited himself. I’m not sure how Rosie and Father DiMarco joined, but as the old saying goes, the more, the merrier.

For the first class, Angie lined us up to assess our experience. When she got to Jake and Min, her jaw dropped.

Angie said, "OMG, you guys are like legends. What are you doing in a beginner’s class? I should be taking lessons from you."

Jake said, "We’re here to support our friends."

"Okay, then how about you show your friends what taekwondo can do for them."

"Yes, ma’am." Min and Jake chimed as they bowed to Angie.

We sat on the edge of the mat and watched Min and Jake bow to each other and then take their positions. Their battle was as much dance as sparring as they turned, blocked, kicked, and struck in quick succession. The choreography was a beautiful testament as to why taekwondo was known as an art, granted it as a martial art meant to do harm, but there was still a beauty to what a well-disciplined body could do.

It excited me. The whole concept that one day I might be able to perform even half as well as these professional athletes brought tears to my eyes.

But I still wanted to bust down doors as well.

After a few minutes, Angie ended the bout. It was too soon for my liking, but from the amount of sweat pouring off Min and Jake, it was a hard workout for them.

Angie provided the men with water, towels, and a breather while lining the rest of us up.

Angie paced before us. "Before you learn taekwondo, it’s important that you understand the art form and the general rules of the dojang.

"Taekwondo is about more than learning fighting skills. It is a solid balance of mental and physical discipline based on traditional Korean martial arts skills that have been passed down over centuries.

"The word ’taekwondo’ is made up of ’tae’ meaning foot and ’kwon’ meaning fists or fight, and ’do’ meaning the way or the discipline. Altogether, it means taekwondo is about striking out with fists and feet in a disciplined fashion. You’ll learn the different types of strikes and kicks as well as the patterns, or forms, commonly used to teach combat skills. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"We’ll start off simple and build on the basics until you are ready to face an opponent and feel competent in your ability to hold your own in a fight."

Bea raised her hand, "And we’ll learn to break boards, right?"

Angie smiled. "And you’ll learn to focus your energy and break boards."

Bea and I shared a grin while the guys looked at us like we were impudent teenagers. And inside, we probably were.

Angie continued, "We operate on a system of respect and a hierarchy based on skill. The rules are posted on the wall. Take a minute to learn them. It is important not only because everyone deserves respect but to maintain a safe learning environment.

"Now, time to warm up, stretch, and build strong core muscles."

I was so over taekwondo before Angie called time for the first plank. Ben looked as over it as I was. Bea could have been reading a book for all the effort that showed on her face. King at least had the good grace to look like he was trying.

And then Angie had the audacity to insist we learn our first form, which I now understood was why Jake and Min appeared to be in a choreographed dance. They were using a series of forms as the backbone of their sparring.

At least the form was more memorization than muscle work, at least the way I was doing it. I’m sure that would change over time.

We ended with more stretching and cool-down exercises before Angie dismissed us to change in the locker room.

By the time I’d showered and changed into my street clothes, I’d recovered enough to realize I was starving and surprisingly more relaxed than I had been in days.

Apparently, everyone else felt the same because the guys were gathered around Angie, discussing where to eat.

Angie said, "My mom runs a restaurant next door. She makes the best eggrolls in the city, or there’s an excellent hot pot place two blocks down. Two blocks in the opposite direction is a deli with awesome hoagies."

Ben said, "I vote spring rolls. I’m starved."

It was a unanimous decision.

The Tiger’s Claw could seat maybe thirty people, so when our crew showed up, the Chen family scrambled to push tables together to accommodate us. When Angie’s teenage kids showed up with friends, Mother Chen flipped the open sign to closed and brought out a case of beer.

The case of beer must have had magical properties because every time it ran low on bottles, it was replenished. And Angie was right. Mother Chen made awesome, awesome food, particularly eggrolls.

Angie sent the teenagers home to do homework long before we finished drinking. How someone who looked like a teenager herself had teenagers was beyond me.

After the teenagers left, Mother Chen moved a bamboo and silk screen out of the way to reveal a karaoke machine, to Bea’s absolute delight.

Mother Chen started us off with "Black Velvet," and then Bea bullied Stiff and Ben into joining her in a really special drunken rendition of "Hooked on a Feeling." Rosie joined Bea for "Respect."

From there, Bea wasn’t letting go of the mic to anyone. Fortunately, drunken Bea singing was a million times better than me singing perfectly sober, and I was far from sober.

At some point, the magic beer case was more empty than full. I leaned onto Jake and said, "I can’t walk. Carry me home and to bed."

Jake’s smile lit up his face. "You sure, Tee?"

I nodded. Of all the people here, I trusted Jake the most to keep me safe. He’d saved me so many times already.

King said, "I’ll take her."

But that wasn’t what I wanted. My inebriated brain only trusted Jake.

"No, I want Jake." I wrapped my arms around Jake and straddled his lap. "Carry me."

Jake stood, his hands supporting my bottom. "I’ll take her to the car. Who else is ready to go?"

Father DiMarco nodded at the stage. "I’ll stay and make sure the songbirds get home safely."

Bea and Rosie had their arms around Stiff’s waist as they sang "You’ve Got a Friend."

I waved goodbye over Jake’s shoulder as he hauled my drunk ass out of there.

"Wait, wait. The bill."

Angie and Mother Chen had treated us so well. Even in my intoxicated state, I wanted to make sure they were rewarded properly for their hospitality.

King said, "I took care of the bill. Let’s get you home."

The good thing about traveling with an entourage is there is always someone sober to drive. I refused to let go of Jake, so he rode in the backseat with me and King. Min and Ben stayed with the karaoke crew, so it was just us and the driver.

I rested my head on Jake’s shoulder. "This was a good night. A really good night. I love taekwondo!"

Jake chuckled, "Let’s see how you feel tomorrow."

"Nope. Hungover or not, taekwondo is awesome."

"You’ll be sore tomorrow from the work out. And hungover."

"I love you, too, Jake. You’re the best."

I felt King stiffened beside me, but I didn’t care. I was relaxed and happy and nicely buzzed.

Jake carried me to the condo, but King balked at letting Jake put me to bed. I put up a half-hearted fight in my hazy fog.

Jake said, "Let me take her to her room, King. You can take over from there. Don’t end this on a sour note for her."

King said, "I’m not letting another man bed my wife in my own home."

Jake said, "It’s not like that between Teela and me. I’m married. She’s married. We just get each other. I’m her safe space. That’s it."

King nodded, but I didn’t give up so easily.

"Stay, Jake. Sleep next to me. I’m tired of being alone."

"You’re not alone, King is here."

"King treats me like furniture."

"He won’t tonight."

Jake unwrapped my arms from around his neck. "I’ll see you in the morning Teela. Sweet dreams."

I sat on the edge of the bed pouting. No one loved me. No one wanted to be with me. And King wouldn’t be any help. I was just a toy he didn’t want to share with anyone else. As soon as everyone forgot me, he would too.

King helped me take off my jacket and shoes. "I’ll be right back."