Unique Friend

~12~

~12~

"Yes there is more champagne out back. You don't need to check in with me, just refill as needed, please."

"I need a table cleanup in the far corner, Jana, thank you."

"No, Marlie, I don't need anyone to get Taehyung and escort him here; as I've already explained, he specifically requested we start without him."

Karina certainly has been kept busy monitoring the staff at the art event showcasing Taehyung's photography, but she is pleased to see that things are running according to plan.

Including his late arrival.

Even she is getting a little worried that he is not here yet, and guests are starting to look a little restless. Spotting Namjoon, she begins making her way toward him when suddenly there are audible gasps and murmurings among the guests. Glancing around to see what is amiss, Karina spots Taehyung just inside the door to the event, and has to stifle her own gasp.

Taehyung is simply breathtaking. In a designer suit cut to perfection, with hair swept back in a tantalizing combination of sleek and tousled, he looks like he just stepped out of a fashion magazine.

As guests gather around to meet him, Karina notices an instant of slight panic in his expression, before he smiles politely and starts shaking hands and answering questions. Finally she remembers her duty as hostess and makes her way through the crowd to his side, excusing him from his admirers. Taehyung gives her a secret smile of gratitude before saying his goodbyes and heading to the podium under her direction. Just as she is turning to leave him to his speech, a slight touch of his hand to her wrist tells her he would like her to stay close to him, so she remains just a couple of steps back, to the side. She sees Namjoon making his way towards Taehyung, but when he notices Karina nearby, he pauses and gives her a small smile that makes her think he knows something she does not. Unable to ask him about its meaning, she merely gives a small nod before turning her attention back to Taehyung as he introduces himself.

Once his speech is finished, Taehyung is again swallowed up by the adoring crowd, full of positive reviews and sales requests for his works. Karina herself is busy overseeing everything, and she doesn't get a chance to speak to him for most of the night until much later when the jazz band is playing. Excusing himself from where Marlie has him cornered, he makes his way to where Karina is so focused on monitoring everything she doesn't see him approach, and gives a little start at the now-familiar touch to her wrist.

"Oh! Hey Taehyung. Congratulations on a successful show! Can I help you with something?" she smiles.

"Hmm. Yes, you can. Come here please," he replies, taking her by the hand and leading her to the small dance floor where a few couples are dancing.

"Ok....is there a problem with the music? This is the jazz band you selected..." She trails off as he stops and turns to her and pulls her closer.

"Yes, there is a problem. The problem is that you are not dancing or drinking or eating all night. Are you even having any fun?" he demands with a pout as he places a big, warm hand to the small of her back and starts them dancing.

Karina can't help but chuckle at the boyish charm coming from such a suave looking man. "Taehyung, I am working. I am not supposed to be having fun." She gives up trying to free herself from dancing, he is insistent and she doesn't want to cause a scene.

Her answer makes him pout harder. "But everything is going great with the event. Now it is time to relax and have fun." He abruptly steps back and twirls her, causing her to gasp in surprise, so she cannot answer right away.

Facing him again, Karina places a hand on his chest to steady herself, only to find that the close familiarity causes her head to spin and her heart to beat even faster. Glancing up, she gets lost in his deep dark eyes and everything else fades away for a moment, until a voice in her ear brings her back to her senses.

"Um, excuse me, Karina." the voice says in a peevish tone. She turns to find Marlie giving her a rather snide look, snapping Karina back to work mode instantly.

"Yes Marlie, what is it?" she says as she pulls away from Taehyung's warm body and heated gaze.

"I'm not sure, someone out back just asked me to find you. But I can take your place for you with Taehyung, so he's not left stranded on the dance floor" Marlie replies in an overly sweet tone that is obviously fake.

Taehyung's demeanor becomes guarded at this comment and he says politely but firmly, "No thank you Marlie. You should go with Karina and help, she is working much too hard this evening." He then turns to the band with a song request and Karina rushes to the back room to see what the problem is. She can hardly focus on work though, with her thoughts in confusion and her body cold with the absence of Taehyung's warm hands on her.