Tiger glanced at the rearview mirror and then at the front passenger seat on his side. He smirked when he saw the quick death glare coming from Jisoo. He didn't intend to invite Irene, but Jisoo's behavior hinted that something was going on between them.
Not that Tiger planned to play Cupid. Who knows? Jisoo might have a debt to her and thus, he was running away. Tiger would run away if he saw his debtor as well.
"Miss Bae, now that I think about it." Tiger cleared his throat as he glanced at the rear mirror once again. "It's a bit late for you to be in the company. CEO Manoban gets off work at seven. He won't be in the company at this hour."
Irene glanced at the driver's seat, seeing lights flash on Tiger as they entered the freeway. "I didn't come to see him," she said, her voice laced with aloofness. She peeled her eyes from him, setting them on the window beside her.
"I went to check Eric Manoban's office," she continued in the same manner, and her jaw tightened at the unpleasant memory that happened almost an hour ago. "It's amusing how generous Lisa can be to a scum like him. I wonder where Lisa Manoban left his brain, Mr. Kim?"
Jisoo frowned but didn't look back at the back seat. He kept his deadpan expression facing ahead, not showing any sign of responding to her.
"Why would you even meet him in this hour?" Unlike what his expression said, Jisoo replied with a question after several seconds. "Miss Bae, the Manoban family affairs are something you shouldn't involve yourself with. Regardless of your personal grudge against a family member, it's best to stay away."
"Hah," Irene let out a short chuckle, watching the flashing side lane as they sped through the freeway. "That's so sweet of you, Mr. Kim. I am truly touched by your concern."
"I'm just saying, stop." Jisoo let out a deep exhale, mustering his courage to look back at her. His eyes swirled with countless unspoken thoughts, but the ones that came out of his mouth were the least on his list. "Sticking your nose in the Manoban's affair will not benefit you."
Irene slowly set her eyes on the front passenger seat, holding his gaze firmly. "Is that really what you're going to say to me, Jisoo?"
"What were you expecting?" Jisoo sighed once more. "I've warned you before, but you never listen. You just do what you want to do and once things go bad, you expect others to console you."
"Is that really what you think of me?"
Jisoo pressed his lips together, reluctant to answer her last question. Irene didn't show other emotions aside from the plain look she carried at the moment. Her eyes, however, bore a slight disappointment and sadness.
"You... break my heart in ways no one could ever, Mr. Kim," she whispered, but with the quietness in the car, her voice sounded louder and clearer than it should have. "I think that's your talent."
"You're the only one who's stubborn," Jisoo murmured as he looked away from the back seat, settling in his seat properly.
As the silence settled in, Tiger's mouth was formed into an O-shape. He couldn't even close his gaping mouth as his pupils were fully dilated, surprised at the exchange he heard.
"Wait." After another full minute, Tiger cleared his throat and laughed ridiculously. "Can you guys enlighten me? Were you two exes --"
"Never."
Tiger nearly bit his tongue as Jisoo already answered, even before he could complete the question. He instinctively gazed at the rearview mirror to check Irene's reaction to Jisoo's blunt answer. Irene didn't seem she was hurt or affected, as if numbed by Jisoo's insensitivity to a lady's feelings.
"We will never be in that kind of relationship," Jisoo asserted as if his initial answer was not enough.
"Tsk." Tiger clicked his tongue and sighed, stepping on the pedal that made a piercing screech sound. Both Irene and Jisoo leaned forward due to the abrupt force. When they bounced back, Tiger had already pulled over to the side of the highway.
"Are you out of your mind?!" Jisoo harrumphed, casting Tiger a death glare. "How can you make an abrupt stop in the middle of the highway?!"
Irene also frowned, holding the handle on instinct. If she didn't hold it properly, she would've been thrown to the front as she didn't use the seatbelt.
"You're really ridiculous --"
"Get out."
Jisoo's breath hitched, almost biting his tongue upon hearing Tiger's cold voice. The latter's face was still facing the road ahead, turning his head in the passenger seat to show his emotionless look.
"What are you --"
"I said get out, Mr. Kim," Tiger repeated coldly, pressing a button to unlock the front passenger seat. "I changed my mind and I don't want to drop you off in your place."
"You can't just do that!"
"Yes, I can. Now go out or I will kick you out myself." Tiger leaned back leisurely, fluttering his eyelashes lazily. "Unless you want to pay the fare, then give me half a million."
"Half a — what?!"
"If you can't pay me upfront, then..." Tiger trailed off, completing his sentence with his action. He jerked his chin, pointing at the door beside Jisoo.
"You can't be serious." Jisoo shook his head, only to see Tiger shrug.
"Yes, I am. Get out."
Irene furrowed her brows, darting her eyes between the two. Tiger couldn't be serious, right? He wouldn't leave Jisoo in the middle of the highway all by himself. Moreover, Jisoo was still Tiger's boss. In the corporate hierarchy, Lisa was at the top of the chain. Below him was Kim Jisoo and then the board of directors. All the employees after that were under those people below Lisa.
Tiger should know that even if Jisoo was easy to get along with, there was a line he shouldn't cross. But alas, when Jisoo left the car and Tiger sped away without a second hesitation, proved Tiger did dare kick his boss out of this vehicle.
Irene pressed her lips into a thin line, sensing this awkward silence building up inside the vehicle.
"Don't worry, Miss Bae." After a while, Irene snapped her eyes to the driver's seat as Tiger spoke lazily. "I didn't ask him to leave so I can have a solo date with you. I'm not the type. It's just that I didn't appreciate his attitude toward the lady. Women are precious beings — they should be handled with care, like how we carry fragile things. They shouldn't be humiliated like that."
"..."
YOU ARE READING
My Precious Family 3 [Jenlisa]
RomanceREMINDER: STORY NOT MINE She was known as an underground empress, leading the mysterious and most notorious assassin organization called the Reapers. She was intelligent, cunning, and ambitious, living her life trying to reach a height where no one...