Abyss - Kim Seokjin AU Fanfiction

Chapter 6 - Ela

The Barnes Gallery was a well-established modern art gallery, founded in 2012 by Amelia and James Barnes, a couple who lived in Washington in America. After successfully opening another location in London, they had decided to bring it to Asia. This was an expansive project because it was the first one to be built in the east. Ela knew that seeing this project through would be one of the defining moments in her career. She would not mess this up. 

She had been in the middle of creating an outline for her team when her secretary, Brandon, knocked on her door. 

"Miss Young, you have a call waiting for you in line 2." 

Ela poked her head out from behind her massive monitor. "I wasn't expecting any calls from anyone Brandon. Are they cleared?" 

"Yes El, it is your fiancé." He said. Brandon gave her a funny look. He had never heard of a Kim Seokjin before. Moreover, he could never imagine Elara being with someone. There had never been anyone who waited for her in the lobby downstairs. So why now? Brandon studied Ela's face, which was just as puzzled as to his. "Would you like me to take it?"

"No!" Ela quickly said, and then realized the sudden crack in her composure. "No, I'll answer him." 

Her secretary's eyebrows raised. "Alrighty then." He turned and left the office. 

Ela returned her eyes to the blinking light on the telephone. It was odd that he would call. Did he need something? She could not intellectually guess why he would call. There was only one way to find out. 

Ela pressed the red button and the phone beeped before Jin spoke. "Elara?" 

There he was. He had never called her by anything else. Elara. She was never used to hearing that since she always went by Ela. There was the occasional El or Ms. Young - only reserved for her superiors - but never her full name. 

"Elara, are you there?" 

"Yes! I am." She quickly said. "Sorry."

Jin let out a breath - and almost laugh or giggle. It made the corners of her lips curve up too. "I am sorry to have to call you through your company line. I realized I never really had your contact." 

"It's alright Jin. Why would you?" She mindlessly let out and then rectified it. "I mean, you know, it would be strange to have my number when-" Ela stopped. Jin on the other end of the line remained silent. "Is there anything you need from me?" 

Jin answered cooly, "Yes. There is actually. I was wondering if you were free to have dinner tonight?" 

Ela froze. Dinner, tonight? Her eyes flicked to her screen and checked what her schedule was for the day. There was nothing listed beyond five.

"Elara?"

"Yes, I'm still here." She said as she cleared her throat. Her gut feeling was telling her to say yes. This would be her chance to get to know him like she always wanted. To finally know the meaning of all those funny looks and whatever it was that went on in his mind. But what left her mouth was, "Jin, I am not sure if I still have meetings later. I can't give you a definitive answer. I'm sorry."

"Oh, alright. Should you find yourself free this evening, give me a call."

"Yes, of course."

Ela did not call him back that evening. When the clock hit six on her desktop, she packed up and got ready to go home. Why she declined his invitation puzzled her too. She had wanted time alone with him since they met. There had been little pockets of them, but never enough. So, why was she betraying herself now? Ela did not know either.