Loving The JEON

CHAPTER 139:-

"No. Show me." He holds out his hand, and I know he's not to be argued with - his voice is cold and hard. Reluctantly I give him the e-mail.

"What's he done to you?" Rose asks, ignoring Jungkook. She looks so apprehensive. I flush as a myriad of erotic images flit quickly across my mind.

"That's none of your business, Rose." I can't keep the exasperation out of my voice.

"Where did you get this?" Jungkook asks, his head cocked to one side, his face expressionless, but his voice... so menacingly soft. Rose flushes.

"That's irrelevant." At his stony glare, she hastily continues. "It was in the pocket of a jacket - which I assume is yours - that I found on the back of Lisa's bedroom door." Faced with Jungkook's burning gray gaze, Rose's steeliness slips a little, but she seems to recover and scowls at him.

She's a beacon of hostility in a slinky, bright red dress. She looks magnificent. But what the hell is she going through my clothes for? It's usually the other way round.

"Have you told anyone?" Jungkook's voice is like a silk glove.

"No! Of course not," Rose snaps, affronted. Jungkook nods and appears to relax. He turns and heads toward the fireplace. Wordlessly Rose and I watch as he picks up a lighter from the mantelpiece, sets fire to the e-mail, and releases it, letting it float afire slowly into the grate until it is no more. The silence in the room is oppressive.

"Not even Jimin?" I ask, turning my attention back to Rose.

"No one," Rose says emphatically, and for the first time she looks puzzled and hurt. "I just want to know you're okay, Lisa," she whispers.

"I'm fine, Rose. More than fine. Please, Jungkook and I are good, really good - this is old news. Please ignore it."

"Ignore it?" she says. "How can I ignore that? What's he done to you?" And her green eyes are so full of heartfelt concern.

"He hasn't done anything to me, Rose. Honestly - I'm good."

She blinks at me.

"Really?" she asks.

Jungkook wraps an arm around me and draws me close, not taking his eyes off Rose.

"Lisa has consented to be my wife, Rosenna," he says quietly.

"Wife!" Rose squeaks, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"We're getting married. We're going to announce our engagement this evening," he says.

"Oh!" Rose gapes at me. She's stunned.

"I leave you alone for sixteen days, and this happens? It's very sudden. So yesterday, when I said - " She gazes at me, lost. "Where does that e-mail fit into all this?"

"It doesn't, Rose. Forget it - please. I love him and he loves me. Don't do this. Don't ruin his party and our night," I whisper. She blinks and unexpectedly her eyes are shining with tears.

"No. Of course I won't. You're okay?" She wants reassurance.

"I've never been happier," I whisper. She reaches forward and grabs my hand regardless of Jungkook's arm wrapped around me.

"You really are okay?" she asks hopefully.

"Yes." I grin at her, my joy returning. She's back onside. She smiles at me, my happi-ness reflecting back on her. I step out of Jungkook's hold, and she hugs me suddenly.

"Oh, Lisa - I was so worried when I read this. I didn't know what to think. Will you explain it to me?" she whispers.

"One day, not now."

"Good. I won't tell anyone. I love you so much, Lisa, like my own sister. I just thought... I didn't know what to think. I'm sorry. If you're happy, then I'm happy." She looks directly at Jungkook and repeats her apology. He nods at her, his eyes glacial, and his expression does not change. Oh shit, he's still mad.

"I really am sorry. You're right, it's none of my business," she whispers to me.

There's a knock on the door that startles Rose and I apart. Scarllet pokes her head around.

"Everything okay, darling?" she asks Jungkook.

"Everything's fine, Mrs. Jeon," Rose says immediately.

"Fine, Mom," Jungkook says.

"Good." Scarllet enters. "Then you won't mind if I give my son a birthday hug." She beams at both of us. He hugs her tightly and thaws immediately.

"Happy birthday, darling," she says softly, closing her eyes in his embrace. "I'm so glad you're still with us."

"Mom, I'm fine." Jungkook smiles down at her. She pulls back, looks at him closely, and grins.

"I'm so happy for you," she says and caresses his face.

He grins at her - his thousand megawatt smile.

She knows! When did he tell her?

"Well, kids, if you've all finished your tete-a-tete, there's a throng of people here to check that you really are in one piece, Jungkook, and to wish you a happy birthday."

"I'll be right there."

Scarllet glances anxiously at Rose and me and seems reassured by our smiles. She winks at me as she holds the door open for us. Jungkook holds out his hand to me and I take it.

"Jungkook, I really do apologize," Rose says humbly. Humble Rose is something to behold. Jungkook nods at her, and we follow her out.

In the hallway, I gaze anxiously up at Jungkook. "Does your mother know about us?"

"Yes."

"Oh." And to think our evening could have been derailed by the tenacious Miss Kavanagh. I shudder at the thought - the ramifications of Jungkook's lifestyle revealed to all.

Holy cow.

"Well, that was an interesting start to the evening." I smile sweetly at him. He glances down at me - and it's back, his amused look. Thank heavens.

"As ever, Miss Manobal, you have a gift for understatement." He raises my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles as we walk into the living room to a sudden, spontaneous, and deafening round of applause.

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