Desk Affair✓

26

Chapter 26: A Glimmer of Hope

It had been a long and gruelling week for Namjoon. Each day blurred into the next, filled with back-to-back meetings, conferences, and presentations. He’d travelled to different cities across Europe, from Paris to Berlin, Milan to Madrid, never staying in one place for more than a day or two. His mind should have been focused on the business at hand, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t escape the constant ache in his chest. The emptiness YN had left behind gnawed at him like a dull pain that never subsided.

Every city, every street corner, every crowd he passed felt like a potential place to find her. His eyes scanned every face, hoping for a glimpse of the woman he had loved and lost. But it was futile. There was no sign of her, not a single clue that she was anywhere near. The hope that had driven him for the past nine months was slowly slipping away, replaced by a cold, heavy despair.

Today was the last day of his trip. His flight back to Korea was scheduled for the evening, and though he was exhausted, physically and emotionally drained, he couldn’t shake the sinking feeling of failure that weighed on him. He was going back home without YN, without even the slightest hint of where she might be.

Namjoon sat in his hotel room that morning, staring out at the city skyline. The soft hum of the city below filtered through the open window, but it did little to soothe the storm raging in his heart. He ran a hand through his hair, sighing deeply. He had held on to hope for so long, but now... what was left? What would he return to? An empty office, a hollow apartment, and the constant reminder that YN wasn’t there.

His phone buzzed on the table, breaking the silence. It was a message from his assistant, confirming his schedule for the day. He had one final meeting before his departure, and then he would be driven straight to the airport. Namjoon read the message, his chest tightening. He had hoped, somehow, that fate would intervene that he would stumble upon her in one of the cities, in a café or on a quiet street. But now, the reality was sinking in. He would leave Europe without seeing her.

He stood up, pacing the room as he tried to gather his thoughts. The past few months had been unbearable without her. The sleepless nights, the overwhelming loneliness, the constant yearning for her touch, her voice, her presence. He had thought the pain would lessen with time, but it had only grown stronger. YN had become a part of him, and without her, he felt incomplete.

His mind wandered to the last time they had spoken the video call that had been cut short by a bad connection. He could still see her face in his mind, the way her eyes had softened when she looked at him, the way her lips had parted as if she was about to say something. But the call had ended abruptly, and they hadn’t spoken since. No calls, no texts, nothing. It was as if she had disappeared from his life entirely.

Namjoon glanced at the clock. He had to get ready for his meeting. With a heavy sigh, he dressed in his suit, buttoning up the jacket with mechanical precision. His movements were slow, almost robotic, as if he was going through the motions without feeling anything. He grabbed his briefcase and made his way to the lobby, where his driver was already waiting.

The ride to the meeting was quiet, the streets of the city passing by in a blur. Namjoon leaned his head against the window, watching the world go by. His heart ached with every passing moment, the thought of going back to Korea without YN gnawing at him.

He arrived at the meeting, went through the motions of the presentation, answered questions, shook hands, and smiled at all the right moments. But inside, he felt numb. Every word, every gesture felt hollow, like he was playing a part in a play he no longer cared about.

By the time the meeting ended, Namjoon was completely drained. He thanked his colleagues, made his goodbyes, and stepped outside into the fading afternoon light. His car was waiting at the curb, ready to take him to the airport.

He climbed into the back seat, sinking into the leather cushions as he stared out the window. The city streets were bustling with life, people going about their day, oblivious to the turmoil that raged inside him. As the car pulled away, Namjoon felt a wave of sadness wash over him. This was it. He was leaving, and he hadn’t found her.

As the car weaved through the narrow streets, something caught his eye. Namjoon’s heart skipped a beat. For a split second, he thought he saw someone—someone familiar. His gaze snapped to the figure, and his heart began to pound in his chest. He squinted, trying to make out the face, but the car was moving too quickly.

"No…" Namjoon whispered under his breath. "It can’t be…"

But his heart knew. He could feel it in his bones. He turned in his seat, craning his neck to get a better look. The figure was disappearing into the crowd, but something about the way they moved, the way they held themselves… it was her. It had to be.

"Stop the car!" Namjoon’s voice was urgent, almost frantic. The driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror, confused.

"Sir?"

"Stop the car!" Namjoon repeated, louder this time. His heart was racing, his hands trembling as he reached for the door handle.

The driver slammed on the brakes, and the car screeched to a halt in the middle of the street. Namjoon didn’t wait for the car to fully stop before he jumped out, his eyes scanning the crowd. His heart was pounding in his ears as he ran toward the spot where he had seen the figure.

"YN!" he called out, his voice desperate, filled with longing. He pushed through the crowd, his eyes darting from face to face, searching. He knew it was her. He could feel it. His heart wouldn’t beat like this for anyone else.

But as he reached the spot where he had seen her, she was gone. Namjoon stood there, breathless, his heart still racing. The crowd moved around him, oblivious to his anguish, but the person he was searching for was nowhere to be seen.

He swallowed hard, his chest tightening with disappointment. He had been so sure…

"YN…" he whispered, his voice breaking. He could feel tears prickling at the corners of his eyes, but he blinked them away, refusing to give in to the hopelessness.

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