Chaebol: Topaz (Book 1)

₮ 6 ₮ (AMBW)

I just want to say I am so sorry for the long wait. I really didn't want to give you guys just anything, so Chapter 6 and 7 have been rewritten multiple times. You deserve something spectacular after waiting this long. Please comment, comment, comment. Tell me your likes and dislikes. I take all suggestions and ideas because I want to know what you think.

("No Hanky Panky" Rule. Yeah, Ok?)

The exhibition was going well. Dallas proved to be a town full of cultured people who loved art. As Jin-jae smiled and greeted the masses, the vigor and love for the crowds had diminished. For some reason, he was not enjoying himself. Nothing would please him more than for the endless processions of people who were determined to meet the artist to be over. He could not understand why he no longer felt the level of excitement he experienced in the previous cities.

Jin-jae put on his best fake smile and continued to feign interest in what people were saying. He was highly irritated but unaware of the reason for his annoyance. It was an hour into the exhibition and Jin-jae was ready to leave. There was no way for him to duck out of his own show.

As he stood there thinking that he may be coming down with something, someone caught his eye. A blush and silver form-fitting dress on chestnut brown skin moved through the crowd. The dress was sleeveless and showed the outline of the owner's body. From her waist to heels, blush sequins became silver sequins. The dress gave the illusion that the wearer was a mermaid until you saw her gliding across the floor in blush stilettos to compliment the ensemble.

He wanted to go to her, but he was not about to make a fool of himself again. Jin-jae thought he saw Topaz a day after she dropped him off at his hotel. He could only see her back as the lady walked away from him. Before he had a chance to think it through, he ran to catch up to her and tried to stop her. Imagine his surprise to see that it was someone else.

"Do I know you," the stranger asked in surprise with a little bit of an attitude in her voice.

"No, I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else." Came his muttered reply.

He stood there looking at someone who appeared to be her, he didn't trust himself. Jin-jae just wasn't sure. Her hair was braided up in a wavy pattern from the nape of her neck to the crown of her head. From what he could see, curls and waves began where the braids ended as the curls rolled down to the front and right side. Just as he was about to walk away annoyed more than ever, she turned around. OH GOD!!! It was her. Topaz.

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Topaz originally planned to attend an art exhibition and take a pottery class lead by the artist, but she forgot to sign-up for it before the last registration date. Since that was out of the picture, she was at a loss for what else she could do before her vacation was over.

Topaz was contemplating what it would be like to be with Jin-jae. She could still see his beautiful face and body. It would be nice to enjoy the company of a certain sexy Korean. She looked at his business card. The temptation to call him plagued her mind. Only three days had passed since she woke-up to Jin-jae in her bed. She tried not to think about him.

How could they be together coming from different economic and social levels? She really didn't have time to try to meet the needs of someone out of her league. What if she caught feelings for him? That would be a ridiculous situation. As Topaz was lost in the thoughts of him, her phone rang.

"Hello," she asked

"Hiya Topaz, I'm so glad I caught you," She knew only one man who was famous for saying 'Hi ya'. The brittle voice of her boss was the last thing she wants to hear right now. For him to call, there was a significant problem.

"You know I would love to help you, but I told you I wasn't going to the office and I refuse to deal with any issues while I'm on my vacation," she reminded him before he could even ask her for a favor.

"Look. I will buy your outfit and I will pay for you to get whatever you need. Chelsea broke her leg and we've been working on a really important campaign. I just need you to smile and be pretty. I will do everything else," his statement came as a shocker.

All she would have to do was dress up nice and go to a gala event. As much as she wanted to say no, the benefits were too amazing to turn down his offer. Her boss better be glad she respected and adored him as well as the company, or he would've been S.O.L. (Shit Out of Luck).

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Franklin Montrose was a self-made millionaire. Making his way in the online retail world was no easy feat. He reached out to one of South Korea's hottest cultural artist when he first arrived in New York. He had a plan to meet with the artist at his Dallas event. If he could get him on-board, he hoped to secure the artist for the advertisement of their new "Mother Earth" Campaign. Franklin planned to take his marketing manager Chelsey Aubrey with him until he received a phone call that she broke her leg. There was no one else that he trusted to assist him other than Topaz.

Franklin knew he would go through hell and high water if he called Topaz, but he needed her assistance desperately.

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"Topaz, this is the artist I was telling you about," Franklin said as he guided her to meet the person he was trying to sign to an advertising deal with the company. Topaz finished what she was saying to a businesswoman she had worked with before. As she turned to look at Franklin and the artist he motioned, she felt her stomach turn several flips. It was Jin-jae!!! OK! Topaz was caught off guard and the only thing she could think was simply, OK.

There he stood before her. Cold black hair parted on the left side with deep waves flowing to the right and back. He was edged up with just a little sideburn curved in front of his ears and framing his cheekbones. He wore a body-hugging gray pin-striped suit with black pinstripes. Midnight black leather shoes and a timepiece that could only be the called the king of all timepieces completed his look. On his left wrist was a white gold and diamond Rolex with a black dial face.

Jin-jae was the most beguiling piece of art in the building. He could only be described as PRICELESS.

"Good evening Mr. Choi. It's my associates and my pleasure to meet you in person," Franklin fawned to get his attention. Jin-jae was quite the host. He spent just enough time addressing him and then he turned to face her.

"And who might you be?" He questioned with silvery coolness in his husky accented voice. She knew that he already held the answers in his mind.

"This is Topaz Lee. She is one of our most seasoned accounts managers. She has the ability to make anything happen flawlessly. I brought her along so that you might be able to meet a member of my team," her boss shared.

"Good evening Mr. Choi. It is my pleasure to meet you." Topaz gave no hints or clues that she already knew Jin-jae. Try as she may, she could not take her eyes off him as he followed her every movement. His stare made her feel like prey.

"Mr. Montrose, would you mind if I borrowed your associate for just one moment? I really need her opinion on something important." Before her boss or she had a chance to say anything, Jin-jae practically dragged Topaz to the restricted area of the building. Once he closed and locked the door, he could no longer restrain himself.

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