Eight Shots of Espresso | Na Jaemin

Chapter 25

Spending the semestral break back in your little town was indeed one of the happiest days of your life. However, you couldn't help but wonder why Jaemin had been quiet for the past three days. After his confession at the beach, nothing much had changed. He had always been keen on treating you like a Queen even before he confessed to you.

The only thing that changed was the meaning behind every action, knowing now what he truly felt towards you.

You could still vividly remember that night, the sweet caress and romantic words, and how he forbid you to say you like him back. It was weird that he didn't want you to say it, but you didn't push him further.

You couldn't help but feel worried that he hadn't contacted you in days. His last message was:

I'm going back to South Korea.

He didn't say when he'd be back in the city. You felt nervous because it seemed like there was a finality in his message.

While you were busy thinking about him, he was currently facing the beginning of his own destruction.

Jaemin was walking down the familiar corridor of the Na manor. The walls were still the same shade of beige, the marble floor still shiny and spotless, the only difference were the decorations on the wall. There used to be a collection of original paintings lined up the wall but now there were a few masterpieces missing. It could probably mean one thing.

Somebody was selling it for cash. The Na Enterprises was going downhill.

There were two armed men clad in black waiting by the door of his grandfather's office. The two men recognized Jaemin and opened the double doors for him.

The Chairman was sitting on his leather chair while smoking tobacco. There were a few pieces of gray hair left on his head and he seemed weaker and older tham the last time he saw him. His suit was slightly bigger than him. Jaemin felt a slight sympathy but it disappeared when his grandfather looked at him with so much venom.

He didn't understand his grandfather's ways. If he hated his own grandson so much, why was he adamant to keep him in his manor? Why couldn't he just kick him out and cut off all of their connections?

All for wealth.

He let out a huffed.

"Good evening, Chairman," Jaemin greeted his grandfather before bowing low. He never called him grandfather out loud. Always the title that his subordinates called him. Because he never felt like a family, he never treated him one, so he contented himself with it.

"I see you're back from fooling around in that school," the Chairman said in a barely audible voice. His addiction for tobacco had an irreversible effect. He was always catching his breath whenever he spoke and he was always in pain. Yet he never stopped.

Jaemin didn't answer.

"I assume you know what's the occasion for tomorrow night. I want you to be on your best behaviour and do not do anything rash or improper. Don't embarrass my name."

"As you wish, Chairman," Jaemin replied. He was a robot programmed to obey and give the answers the Chairman wanted to hear.

"You may go," the Chairman dismissed him.

He left the office and walked straight to the east wing where his room was. Unfortunately, he passed by the formal living room and saw the evil stepmother with her children talking in hushed voices. His cousins were also there and they were all surprised when they saw him.

"Jaemin is back." His only uncle, the eldest son of the stepmother, was the first one to react. He walked towards him and gave him a firm handshake.