BIRDCAGE

THIRTEEN

thirteen.

JOOYEON

"Welcome to Elite." the man stood in front of him with a smile on his face. Jooyeon didn't know how to react nor what to say. He just stared at him, unable to utter a single word. "You can call me Kai" he added as he extended his hands at him for him to shake.

Jooyeon hesitated at first but grabs Kai's hand and shook it. He noticed that he was in some kind of office, but there weren't any windows around. Hell, he wasn't even sure if he was still in Italy. "J-Jooyeon" He stammered which made Kai chuckle.

"Don't be afraid. I'm not your enemy. I'm someone who's going to be working together with you" He reassured him, sitting at his black cushioned swivel chair. He pulled himself closer to his desk and rested his elbows on top of it as he intertwined his fingers with his face touching his hands as he stared at Jooyeon.

His stare gave Jooyeon quite the fright. He knew that there was something about this guy that feels ominous that makes him feel the need to be very extra cautious in his presence.

Jooyeon cleared his throat as he averted his gaze elsewhere to avoid meeting his eyes. "So..." He trailed off, "What do you mean by us working together?" He asked.

Kai leaned back on his swivel chair, eyes not leaving Jooyeon's figure. "Luna told me a lot about you," Kai said.

Jooyeon, hearing the name Luna for the first time, fell into confusion and his face didn't bother to hide it. He didn't know anyone whose name is Luna. Hell, he doesn't even have acquaintances that are a woman besides Kiera.

Kai stopped, noticing his state of bewilderment. He cackles, as he remembered that Jooyeon knows Luna as Kiera. "My bad, I forgot that she's Kiera to you"

Jooyeon froze. Although he was already having speculations that Kiera - or rather, Luna was using a fake name but hearing now that it's the truth he didn't know what to say.

How much did she fake about herself? He questioned himself. A little bit disappointed to learn one of the truths about her and wondered if the times they spent together were all fake too.

"Anyways I-"

"Tell me the whole truth about Ki- I mean, Luna," Jooyeon said, finally looking directly at Kai. His eyes were pleading with him. Kai huffed, he's not giving information out that easily especially since it's a piece of information regarding Luna. Kai turned the swivel chair to the right and crossed his arms.

"I can't tell you. Telling you about her whole identity will only feel like invading her privacy." Kai coldly replied.

"Then I won't work together with you" Jooyeon confidently said, proudly lifting his chin as he squinted his eyes at Kai. Kai laughed as he turned his swivel chair to the front. Eyes sharp as he gazed at Jooyeon's eyes.

"Where do you think you are? You're at my place, my territory, my den." He smirked, eyes not showing any signs of weakness making Jooyeon gulp.

"Your life is in my hands now" he added, raising his hands as he opened it and faces it to Jooyeon.

Jooyeon couldn't speak back. His throat went dry. He avoided eye contact again which made Kai smile in victory.

"If you want to learn the real identity of Kiera, you should ask her yourself. Only she gets to decide whether to tell you or not. After all, it is her life and her choice. We, especially you, need to respect that." Kai wasn't playing, he was serious about what he said. He always goes serious when it has something to do with Luna.