This is the fourth story in the Undone series.
This is Jung Hoseok's time to shine.
He is taking control of a new project at Stellar Design, and he has decided it's time to take control of his love life as well. He is weary of being alone, and he...
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Hobi watched for Izzy to enter the room, eager to see her after what they had shared earlier.
He was disappointed but not surprised when she stepped into the conference room and slipped into a chair on the very last row.
That made him think of the lecture hall that first day he had officially met her. He wished he could head her way and stumble into the vacant seat beside her like he had that day. But he was in the front of the whole group, and he reminded himself he was supposed to be supporting this presentation.
It did not work. He stared at Izzy, willing her to look at him. If only she would glance at him he could…..
He shook his head. He could what? And whether he could answer that question or not really did not matter. Izzy resolutely ignored him. It was obvious in that she did not even turn her head his way.
He felt himself growing angry. He should not be surprised, he told himself. It had always been this way. Any time they grew close, shared some small intimacy that went a step beyond their friendship, she withdrew into her “ safe zone.”
It had been unbearable those last few months of school.
The anger he felt growing surprised him. Everyone who knew him would swear he had the most even temper of all of them. But this just pissed him off.
Had they not grown at all?
He blew out a hard sigh, causing Tae to turn and check on him. He ignored his friend, lost in his own thoughts. He was too old and tired to play these childish games. Izzy had made it clear once before that she did not want him. This was a good reminder of that.
He moved his chair and tuned his laser focus to the projections Dae was sharing. It worked so well that he did not notice when Izzy began stealing glances in his direction.
The next day passed in a flurry of last minute preparations. In between checking and re checking the final details, Izzy's team would take a break and chatter about their excitement for tonight’s party.
Izzy took advantage of one such discussion to share that company drivers would take them all to and from the party, freeing them to drink at the event. It was followed with a reminder that this was still a professional function and that they were to conduct themselves in that manner.
She did not miss the frown that creased Rege's face at that and was prepared when he approached her privately.
He stood just a bit too close as he moved her into a private corner, away from the others.
“ I am looking forward to spending a relaxing evening with you tonight. You have been working much too hard and you need to celebrate,” he said.
Then dropping his voice to a whisper he leaned closer. “ Tonight is a perfect opportunity to leave business behind and just be a beautiful woman enjoying the attention of a very interested man.”
For a moment she thought how wonderful that would be, to talk and laugh and flirt freely with a man who found her interesting, who might dance with her and kiss her in a dimly lit corner.
Then she looked at the man towering over her and felt a flush of guilt color her face. He was not the man she was imagining. His were not the lips she wanted to taste. His deep, cultured voice was not the one she longed to hear whispering her name. She had to address this now.
She moved toward the center of the room, creating space between them.
“ Rege, I hope you have a wonderful time this evening too. I will be traveling to the dinner with Dae,” she told him. She rushed on before he could interrupt her.
“There are several more friends and business associates she wants me to meet. I am sure I will be very busy. Please enjoy yourself and don’t worry about me.”
To put a final point on the conversation, she added “I am sure one of them will escort me back to the hotel. So, no need to be concerned about me. Please, relax and enjoy yourself.”
Rege frowned as he watched her face. She could have not been kinder- or clearer in her rejection of his offer. Was there someone in particular with whom she intended to spend the evening?
Then he paused, reminded of the first day and the reaction of the project manager, Jung Hoseok. Olivia had warned about him and that his prior “relationship” with them might complicate things.
Isabelle was not thinking straight if she was planning on getting cozy with this man. A call to Olivia should straighten this out.
He let none of those thoughts show as he stepped away from Izzy, giving her a slow, easy smile.
“Of course,” he said, “ We have worked hard. Let's celebrate.”
Izzy drew a deep breath of relief as he turned and joined the others. She did not want to hurt him.
She felt a twinge of guilt. In the past this would have been the perfect time for them to get tipsy and celebrate by falling into bed and enjoying the release of tension that built when a new project launched.
But now she recoiled at the thought of empty sex and the morning after hangover and the deep feeling of loneliness that always followed those nights. It was no longer enough for her.
Satisfied that the hard conversation was behind them, she turned her attention again to the details of the closing of the agreement.
By the time they arrived at the office suite that had become a familiar workspace, she had received and reviewed the written acceptance of their legal team back home. Everything else today was just formality. At the end of this morning's session, all she had to do was sign the paperwork.
Confident in that, she watched as the striking man in the pinstripe suit walked to the head of the table. He had introduced himself as Min Yoongi and within minutes it was obvious to her that he had done his research and worked closely with her own legal team.
As he began to speak, she allowed herself to scan the crowd. Her breath caught as she spotted Hobi. Today he stood in the back, the sleeves of his light blue dress shirt rolled tightly up, revealing muscled forearms with veins tracing down into his elegant hands.
She stared then, not at the wristwatch worth thousands or the ring he wore, but at his hands.
She shuddered, remembering the delicate touch of those long elegant fingers on her skin. It had been so long ago, but in that moment the goosebumps were rising as if it were happening right then.
She shook her head and forced her thoughts away. What in the world was wrong with her?
