The Escort S2

Part 36: Regretful

Tae's POV

"Good morning, Jae. Thanks for meeting with me. This place is really nice," I say, looking around as I take my seat .

"Just wait until you taste their food," Jae says, handing me a menu.

"So, what would you recommend, Jae?"

"Oh, definitely their signature breakfast." He reaches over and points to a picture so realistically delicious my stomach growls. "The oven baked blueberry French toast with chicken spice sausage."

"Mmm, I'll have that," I say as the waiter approaches.

"We'll both have the baked blueberry French toast platter," Jae orders. The waiter nods and takes our meals before heading into the kitchen.

"Jae, I'm sure you want to know why I asked you to meet with me today."

"I can't say I'm not intrigued," Jae says reaching for a glass of icy water. "You really love him, don't you?" He says confirming.

"Yes, I really love him. How would you know that after a brief encounter with me?"

"Well, Tae, after our call, I really thought about why you would want to meet with me. I'm not a threat and you have nothing to gain, so the only thing left is love." I softly snicker.

"Jae, both Kookie and Jin told me you were really smart. No, Kookie said you were brilliant." Jae blushes to the compliment and softly smiles.

"So, Tae, what's this about?"

"It's about the fucking storm that's coming for you, your husband and Kookie. If it's coming for Kookie, it's coming for me and those I care about."

"What did Kookie tell you?"

"He told me that you're going to war with Triton. I also know you and Hobi are inexperienced with this type of warfare and are likely to underestimate them." Jae pulls his head back and nibbles on his lip through a vague smile.

"Wow, you don't play around, do you?" His smile grows and it annoys me because I don't understand it.

"I'm just direct and didn't intend to offend you," I share, and he snickers.

"No, Tae, I like that. I smile because I see why he loves you so much."

"So much?" I question.

"When his eyes found you as we walked out of his office the day we met, his whole being lit up. I'm a tech guy but mostly a scientist. I study things and Jungkook has been a puzzle. Also, I'm happy he has someone like you." I'm now the one blushing as I feel the heat rise, rolling from my neck into my face.

"As far as Triton, I have not underestimated them, I assure you. I've done my homework, but I appreciate your concern and—"

"They will uncover dark secrets and lay them out for the world to see, Jae." Jae lifts his glass and takes a long drink of his water.

"Thanks for the warning, but we run a clean company. Our accounts and business deals are all legitimate. I know because I oversee each one. So let them come." His hand that rests on the table squeezes into a tight fist.

"Jae, personal secrets... secrets that you don't want to surface will be exposed." He scoffs.

"So, he told you all of my history."

"If you're asking do I know about your self-harming incident attempt, yes. But I'm without judgment."

"Look, Jae, I have my own secrets. Maybe we'll talk about it at another time. I'm just here to say we need to come together to take down this threat. They have to be extinguished, hard and fast."

"Damn, Tae, you're a fuckin savage, aren't you?"

"Circumstance have made me that way. And no one comes for my man."

"I love that, Tae. I'm a fighter too, but I have really never had a backup. Hobi's a good man, he's fair and measured, but damn sometimes we have to get our hands dirty when someone or something so horrible is coming. He just doesn't have the stomach for it."

I lean in. "Do you, Jae?" He moves closer to the edge of his chair. "Do you have the stomach to do whatever it takes to save your company? It sounds like it's going to be brutal."

"Hell, yeah." He flattens his hand out wide and hits the white linen covered table with a muffled sound, yet intense. "I'm no one's fuckin victim!" He roars.

"Sounds like I'm not the only savage in the room."

"Tae, don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about hurting the innocent. But I hate bullies and that's what Triton is. How fucking dare they come into our house and just take our company and my software because they're bigger?" There's a blaze of fire in his eyes. I see why Kookie cared for him and tried with him, but I don't say.

"So, I'll get to the truth. The reason you choose Kookie to work with."

"Ah, you figured it out." He softly chuckles. "I really like you, Tae. Kookie's the best goddamn negotiator there is and he's who you want on your side in a street fight. Those two Jeon boys do good business and give us the backup we need. So, where do we go from here, Tae?" I look up and smile as I see the waiter approaching with two hot steamy blueberry platters.

"Nice," I say as the waiter lays out our breakfast. I quickly pour on the fresh blueberry topping, cut a slice, and toss it into my mouth as Jae watches. I close my eyes to the sweet, savory and buttery flavors of various textures. "Oh God, that's good," I moan as Jae looks on with a smile of satisfaction.

"It's the best." After a second addictive bite, I answer Jae's question as he cuts up his French toast.

"Jae, I like you too. I think we should work on the hardest thing first."

"What's that? How to deal with Triton?" A strategy to back them off?" Jae asks before taking his first bite.

"No Jae, Kookie and Namjoon will do that, but first... you, Hobi and Kookie have to repair your relationship." Jae's fork of French toast is dripping blueberries and suspended in midair. "This will not work unless that happens first. Jae, Kookie is consumed with guilt. He couldn't talk about the incident. Jin reluctantly told me the horrible details and how your families were broken." Slowly Jae lowers his fork to his plate.

"Jae, I'm sorry that happened to you. I can't imagine the pain you must have felt with Kookie's betrayal. Can I ask you how you feel today?" Jae pins me with a look I can't read. He settles back into his chair and sighs.

"I don't mind talking about it. I've definitely done a lot of work on it. I'm really sorry that Kookie is in so much pain. I feel resolved. Neither sad nor angry. I'm just regretful. I wish Kookie had chosen another way."

What? He's regretful? Not angry or sad. Damn, he's amazing.

"I know he did the best he could. He was isolated and didn't have support. Who could he talk to? He had no relationship with Namjoon, and Jin was my sister's best friend. He was alone and we were so young."

"Tae, I agree, this has to be fixed. I'd like to give Kookie some freedom and talk to him. I want him to know it's not his fault. My reaction and choices were my own. I too was isolated and placed everything I had in life on Kookie. How unfair is that? When he left, I had nothing else to live for, I thought." Jae slowly shakes his head.

"Tae, I used to think it was shitty what Kookie did to force a breakup. But, to tell you the truth, if he would have just told me he didn't want to be with me anymore and left, I can't say the results would have been different. We were still kids, sheltered and privileged. What did we know of life? Not shit. Sometimes kids do stupid things. I forgave him a long time ago." Jae's features are relaxed as he picks up his fork, spears a piece of spicy chicken sausage and places it in his mouth.

"Wow, Jae," I say, fanning my fingers and pressing my hand to my chest. "I'm in awe of you. I think we start by all getting together socially. You three need to get reacquainted. Can you get Hobi to come over for dinner on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.?"

"As long as I can bring dessert," Jae says with a comforting smile. I smile softly and nod, returning to my fabulous breakfast.