Fifty shades of Kim

Chapter twenty-five

"Jimin."

"Oh my God! Jin!" Holy crap, it's Jungkook. He sounds desperate. "Where are you? I've been trying to contact you. I need to see you, to apologize for my behavior on Friday. Why haven't you returned my calls?"

"Look Jungkook, now's not a good time." I glance anxiously over at Taehyung who's watching me intently, his face impassive as he murmurs something to his mom. I turn my back to him.

"Where are you? Jimin is being so evasive," he whines.

"I'm in Seoul."

"What are you doing in Seoul? Are you with him?"

"Jungkook, I'll call you later. I can't talk to you now." I hang up.

I walk as nonchalantly back to Taehyung and his mother. Grace is in full flow.

".... and Namjoon called to say you were around I haven't seen you for two weeks, darling."

"Did he now?" Taehyung murmurs, gazing at me, his expression unreadable.

"I thought we might have lunch together, but I can see you have other plans, and I don't want to interrupt your day." She gathers up her long cream coat and turns to him, offering him her cheek. He kisses her briefly, sweetly. She doesn't touch him.

"I have to drive Seokjin back."

"Of course, darling. Seokjin, it's been such a pleasure. I do hope we meet again." She holds her hand out to me, her eyes glowing, and we shake.

Taylor appears from... where?

"Mrs. Kim?" he asks.

"Thank you, Taylor." He escorts her from the room and through the double doors to the foyer. Taylor was here the whole time? How long has he been here? Where has he been?

Taehyung glares at me. "So the photographer called?"

Crap.

"Yes."

"What did he want?"

"Just to apologize, you know for Friday."

Taehyung narrows his eyes.

"I see," he says simply.

Taylor reappears.

"Mr. Kim, there's an issue with the Darfur shipment."

Taehyung nods curtly at him.

"Charlie Tango back at airport?"

"Yes sir."

Taylor nods at me.

"Mr. Seokjin."

I smile tentatively back at him, and he turns and leaves. "Does he live here? Taylor?"

"Yes." His tone is clipped. What is his problem?

Taehyung heads over to the kitchen and picks up his BlackBerry, scrolling through some emails, I assume. His mouth presses in a hard line, and he makes a call.

"What's the issue?" he snaps. He listens, watching me, dark eyes speculative, as I stand in the middle of the huge room wondering what to do with myself, feeling extraordinarily self-conscious and out of place.

"I'm not having either crew put at risk. No, cancel... We'll air drop instead... Good."

He hangs up. The warmth in his eyes has disappeared. He looks forbidding, and with one quick glance at me, he heads into his study and returns a moment later.

"This is the contract. Read it, and we'll discuss it next weekend. May I suggest you do some research, so you know what's involved." He pauses. "That's if you agree, and I really hope you do." He adds, his tone softer, anxious.