𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐞 || 𝐉𝐉 & 𝐊𝐃 ||

Chapter 15: A Closer Look

TIMESTAMP: 15:35 (3:35 PM)

Location: Joo Ent.

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Inside Jaekyung's spacious office, Dan found himself twiddling his thumbs, still thinking about the strange messages and attacks he was receiving.

Kim Dan had faced a whole lot before in his life, but things were different now. Now he had to be more cautious considering who he worked for. Really, if it was Jaekyung behind this, then he could assume it was just another test, but if it wasn't and he was forced to reveal the truth, then that could spell utter disaster.

Just then, one of the doors to Jaekyung's office swung open, revealing the man himself, who possessed an uninterested expression.

"Kim Dan." Jaekyung started, barely glancing at the boy he had kept waiting for the past half hour or so, "Go ahead and update me. What have you done so far?" As he took a seat in his swivel chair, a look of intrigue in his eye.

"What's the point of me reporting to Yoon-gu if you're just going to ask me later on? That's a bit redundant if you ask me." Dan raised his brows, earning an estranged look from Jaekyung.

"Yoon-gu is there for proper confirmation and to see if you're doing something unauthorized," Jaekyung stated, looking towards his monitors. "Still, I'd like to hear it from your mouth. So start talking."

Dan watched as Jaekyung crossed his legs, resting his cheek on his hand while those sharp grey eyes of his were practically demanding Kim Dan to start talking.

"How intimidating." Dan murmured in his head, realizing Jaekyung wasn't going to stop staring at him like that, and he might as well just start talking, "I've already started the warehouse conversions. At the moment, to make things easier on us, I've got at least one whole warehouse lot on each continent."

"I've circled back to Asia, and I need a week, maybe less, to finish informing them on updated trade routes and shipping methods."

"A week, huh?" Jaekyung raised his eyebrows, a look of disbelief flashing in those beguiling eyes of his before they went blank. "You sure you aren't biting off more than you can chew by working so fast with such large scales? Don't throw off this operation trying to score fucking brownie points."

Dan shook his head, folding his own legs as well, "Like you said, you don't have time to screw around, and neither do I. Time is of the essence, Mr. Joo. You wanted these things to move along as smoothly and quickly as possible, and the faster I get done with Asia, the sooner I can hit the next hot spots for the B.L.A.C.K. project."

Jaekyung's eyebrows pinched as if he were trying to read Kim Dan, "You're right. I don't have time to screw around. But as I stated before, you work for me, so what other than this project has you so on edge to finish so quickly?"

Dan eyed Jaekyung carefully, his auburn eyes inspecting every minor twitch of Jaekyung's full lips and how his eyes narrowed before relaxing. It was getting increasingly difficult to tell if Jaekyung was testing him or not.

"Let me ask you a question instead," Dan hummed, adjusting his seated posture. "Why is it you requested me and not Heesung? And with that, in regards to our earlier phone call, you made it sound abundantly clear that I wasn't to work with anyone else, but you didn't seem to include Heesung. May I know why, before I answer your question?"

"That's two questions. I'm only obligated by your request to answer one of them," Jaekyung started, eyeing Dan, who held a look of uncertainty. "Like your earlier question about reporting to Yoon-gu, I've decided to keep my focus on you."

"It's too much of a fucking headache trying to figure out what the hell Heesung has going on, and it's a hell of a lot easier to keep my eye on you."

Dan let out a slight huff, rubbing his eyes once more. "I can only hope you like what you see." As he rose from his seat, ready to end this conversation, he said, "The more this conversation continues, the more it cuts into my work time. I should go."

Jaekyung continued to eye him, making no motions for Kim Dan to stay, but rather gesturing towards the door, "Leave then. But don't get confused; if something's up, I'll find out about it if I don't already know."

"I don't doubt you on that. Goodbye, Mr. Joo." Dan bowed his head, grabbed his stuff, and made his departure from the office.

Jaekyung observed Kim Dan's slender figure exit the office, with just a few moments passing before Yosep entered. His neutral expression brought a strange calmness to the Don's office.

"I take it that the meeting went well considering there wasn't any yelling." Yosep hummed positively, eyeing Jaekyung, who removed his cheek from the palm of his hand. "Or have I assumed wrong?"

"I can't tell if Kim Dan is trying too hard to remain on my good side or if there's something that has him on edge to make this project go faster." Jaekyung replied, "That gap in his timeline has bothered me, and the way he's acting isn't helping either."

"Sir?" Yosep raised his eyebrow, knowing that an order was likely going to be made. "What do you want done about this?"

"Check everything. I want to know who he's been in contact with and see if you can find out what has been shared." Jaekyung answered bluntly, "It's stupid to imagine, but if Kim Dan truly thinks he can double-cross me or, at the very least, hide something from me, then he's dead wrong."

Yosep scratched his chin, a few thoughts tumbling around in his mind. "On his way out, I noticed a slight look of exhaustion. His sleeping habits are none of my business, but dare I say whatever it is, it's taking a toll on him."

Jaekyung eyed the seat Kim Dan was once sitting in. "If he wants to work himself into a stupor, that's on him, but let me find out if it starts to affect my project, and that's it. Kim Dan is finished."