The CEO's Moon

Chapter Twenty-Two

Present, Saturday...

Picture not mine...not the actual description..just a presentation.

First Part

The line of ancient, towering pines blurred into a tunnel of green as Seokjin sped down the driveway, the crisp morning air whipping through the open windows of his car. He gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white, his heart a frantic drum against his ribs. The mansion loomed ahead, a behemoth of pale stone and glass, its imposing silhouette outlined against the azure sky. Each passing second felt like an eternity, the anticipation building with the roar of the engine.

The Kim Mansion was a monument to wealth and power, sprawling across almost half of the upscale district in Seoul. The manicured lawns stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with sculpted topiaries and vibrant flowerbeds. A team of gardeners, their faces etched with the wisdom of years spent tending to this opulent estate, were meticulously pruning the hedges, their movements as precise as a well-rehearsed dance. Beyond the manicured lawns, the mansion itself was a masterpiece of architectural grandeur. A sprawling complex of interconnected buildings, it boasted intricate carvings, soaring columns, and vast windows that offered glimpses of opulent interiors. The air hummed with the activity of servants, their movements efficient and silent, like well-oiled cogs in a grand machine.

Seokjin's hand tightened on the steering wheel as he remembered the encounter with Taehyung the week before. He was supposed to be enjoying a day off. A Saturday morning with Lisa, his co-worker, browsing the latest fashion trends at the department store. But Taehyung, his ex-husband, had burst into the kitchen that day and ordered Jin to come to the mansion and cook for Jaehyun and his friends after their soccer practice. Jin knew that Taehyung was again showing his jealousy. He had no choice but to act on the simple request that had set off a chain reaction of guilt, obligation, and a nagging sense of unease. He had promised Lisa, and he hated breaking promises. He knew he should have said no. But Taehyung's voice, laced with a hint of vulnerability, had disarmed him. He couldn't say no to Taehyung, not when it came to Jaehyun.

The car finally rolled to a stop in front of the mansion's imposing entrance. A guard, his face stoic and unreadable, approached the car and opened the door. "Mr. Kim," the guard said, his voice a low rumble. Seokjin stepped out, his legs feeling shaky. The air was thick with the scent of freshly cut grass and the faint aroma of expensive perfume. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves.

Two more guards stood at the top of the grand staircase, their faces mirroring the stoicism of their colleague. Seokjin felt a shiver run down his spine. He never knew this place, but he knew the weight of expectations that hung in the air, like a thick fog. He was here to cook, to fulfill a simple request. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something else was brewing, something that threatened to unravel the fragile peace he had painstakingly built for himself. He couldn't shake the feeling that this visit was just for the sake of his son and his friends and the promise of Taehyung that he would provide a bonus. Seokjin stood transfixed, his gaze sweeping across the imposing facade of the mansion. The intricate carvings, the soaring columns, the vast windows - each detail spoke of a life lived in opulence and privilege. He was lost in contemplation, his thoughts a jumbled mess of anxieties and memories, when a voice cut through his reverie.

"Seokjin?!" He turned, startled, to see Aunt Mina standing on the steps, a warm smile gracing her face. Time had been kind to her. Though in her mid-sixties, her features retained a youthful vibrancy, her eyes still sparkling with a mischievous glint. Her silver hair, styled in a neat bun, framed a face that held the wisdom of years spent navigating the complexities of life within the walls of this grand house. Aunt Mina had arrived in their lives ten years ago, when Taehyung and him were just newly-married and had known her since Jaehyun was born before Jin left. When Jin left, she lived with Tae and his son when they moved to the mansion.