Fiance For Hire - Mark Tuan vs. Jackson

34

"Mark. Your friend's here." 

Mark furrows his brows as he leans back on his chair behind the huge wooden desk in his office - the one he's been in for the past days. He doesn't have to ask John who, because based on Jackson's insistent calls on his phone, he already knows who it is.

"Should I let him in?"

Mark looks at his watch, he still has a dinner appointment with Mr. Liu in half an hour. He sighs and sits up straight. "Ok."

The two boys stare down at each other as soon as Jackson enters. The tension of the room gets thicker as the clock ticks and both stay silent, Mark looking up from where he's sitting and Jackson looking down from where he's standing at the door.

The clearing of throat takes their eyes away from each other and at the girl entering the office. 

"Sorry." Kimi is about to go back out.

"No." Mark sighs, finally regaining his composure. "Come in." He motions for the seats in front of him. "What is it?"

"What is it?!?" Jackson huffs, still on his feet. "What the fuck are you doing, Mark? What is this?"

"What?" The other boy looks up with a raised brow. He leans back and crosses his arms in front of him. 

"Fuck!" Jackson hits the table with both his palms. "We all know that you're behind this. Are you really helping Minhyuk now?"

Mark sneers at him then smirks. "I told you, right? Whatever it takes, Jackson. I just have to get her."

"Look!" Jackson tries to calm down, sitting on the chair. "I'm doing my best to find her, ok? I have people combing the places she could be."

"And have you found her?" Mark asks sarcastically. "No. You haven't." He chuckles a bit. 

"And have you?" Jackson gives the question back.

"Almost." Mark gets up and starts walking around the desk, putting his hands inside his trousers pockets. He stops behind Jackson and leans down a little so he could whisper in his ear. "Once I do, you're never ever gonna find her. I'll take her so far away from you so you won't cause her anymore harm."

"Mark." Jackson is trying so hard to eat his pride. He takes a deep breath and stops himself from standing up and beating the hell out of the boy smirking behind him. "We don't have to do this."

"Why?" Mark chuckles, "cause you're losing money you use to lure those girls of yours?" He shakes his head. "How does it feel now that the tables are turned? Huh, Jackson? Doesn't it suck being manipulated by someone?"

"Look at yourself, Mark. You're letting that ass manipulate you, too. Aren't you?" Jackson gets up to face the other boy. "What's happened to you? Can we not work together on this?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt," John comes in, "but, Mark, you'll be meeting with the Liu's in a few minutes."

"Right." Mark turns to face the man, then back at Jackson and Kimi. "I have to go. Good luck, Jackson."

"Mark. Wait." Jackson catches up with him. "You're meeting up with Sam? Can I ...."

"Good bye, Jackson." Mark waves him off. 

_____

"Mark?" Sam is surprised to see the boy come in the restaurant and sit across from her and her father. "What are you doing here?"

"You know each other?" Mr. Liu asks. "Oh, right. Your family moved to Korea. Am I correct?"

"Yes." Mark simply answers, eyeing Sam. Could she be into the scheme with Minhyuk? He asks himself.