AU. Ri Jeong-hyeok is secretly investigating Chairman Yoon when he meets Yoon Se-ri at the family's summer home in Marbella, Spain. His powerful attraction to her is dangerous and complicated in this tale about love, family and loyalty.
*
Captain R...
You're untouchable burning brighter than the sun And when you're close I feel like coming undone
"I asked him what the tweezers were for," Ju-meok hit a dramatic pause and twisted in his seat to reenact the scene from a frat party over a decade ago. "He said, it's for the nose hair pulling competition, dude," he drawled in an exaggerated American accent that drew a few chuckles from the rapt group. "He held it up and turned to Seung-jun," he continued and turned towards their friend, holding imaginary tweezers between thumb and forefinger to demonstrate. He reached over and pinched his fingers close to Seung-jun's nose, and the other man swatted his hand away in annoyance. "And then he went for Seung-jun's nose hair."
"I lost immediately," Seung-jun admitted with an embarrassed laugh.
"How does someone lose the nose hair pulling competition?" Seo Dan was wiping tears of mirth from the corners of her eyes.
"He screamed like a little girl," Ju-meok explained, yelping to demonstrate. He'd always had a flair for the theatrical.
Ri Jeong-hyeok guffawed at the hilarity of that visual, a big belly laugh that felt physically good, and he had to admit: this was fun. He'd been approaching this reunion like a job – and it still was in every way that mattered – but he hadn't expected to enjoy it so much. He'd missed his friends and those carefree years in DC when the future had seemed limitless. Over the past few days, as they'd taken trips down memory lane, he'd started to feel young again, as if he could exist for a short while in a parallel universe where his brother hadn't been murdered and his life hadn't taken such a sharp turn. He would still be a lawyer. He hadn't allowed himself to think about that in years.
"Who won the competition?" Se-jun asked from two chairs over, crossing his legs at the ankles.
They were sitting by the pool, each of them stretched out on a cushioned sun lounger, soaking up the mid-afternoon Spanish sun. Everything was done impeccably at Casa de la Reina. The swimming pool was designed to mimic a mystical pond with fresh, glistening water pouring over smooth round stones into crystal blue water. It was surrounded by swathes of fresh cut grass, the blades outrageously green and almost bustling with life. The sound of trickling water was soothing, almost hypnotic.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The Georgetown five and Yoon Se-jun were lounging in their bathing suits by the pool, drinking imported German beers and talking about nothing and everything.
"I won," Ju-meok announced proudly, and then everyone's attention was drawn to the two women walking towards them from the direction of the house.
Jeong-hyeok turned in his seat, and the laughter died in his throat. Yoon Se-ri and Do Hye-ji were deep in conversation as they made their way to the pool. Intentional or not, the Yoon heiress definitely knew how to make an entrance. She looked stunning in a flowing white see-through kaftan that showed bits of her black bikini, which looked to be mere bits itself. His throat went dry. Her eyes were hidden behind large black sunglasses that looked plucked straight out of a fashion magazine.
