vermilion. || nct taeil [COMPLETE]

chapter 7.

MOON PUBLISHINGS – 8:23 PM.

"Sir?" Rin enters Taeil's office, a tray of chamomile tea in hand. Taeil was hanging around on his sofa, browsing through manuscripts that need to be corrected.

"Lee Chaerin, what brings you—ugh." Taeil immediately groans when he spots Rin placing down a cup of tea for him.

"I thought you needed a break," Rin smiles at him.

"It really isn't a break when you're drinking something you hate." Taeil huffs in protest.

Rin places the tray on the kitchen table before joining Taeil on the couch. "It's good for your health," she says as if that'll make Taeil like tea.

"Whatever. This is unfair. I'm drinking tea yet you still haven't told me your relationship with Wong Yukhei. I need the dirt, Lee Chaerin." Taeil demands like a toddler asking for his toy.

Rin purses her lips together. "I didn't know you were such a gossiper, sir," she jesters.

"That's what happens when you're friends with Ten," Taeil clicks his tongue. He groans and buries his face into his heads. "Oh god, maybe I'm turning into one. God, no."

"Relax, sir. You and Sir Ten are two different people," Rin reassures him. Her phone starts vibrating as she opens it to see who was calling. Her face falls when she sees it was her mother that was calling. She hangs up.

"You're not gonna answer that?" Taeil asks, picking up his tea despite his obvious hatred for it. He did believe tea was healthy for him; still hates it though.

"No. I'm working right now. It's just my mom," Rin answers quickly.

Taeil pauses and stares at her in amusement. "You know, you're not actually working right now," he points out.

Rin sucks in a deep breath, frowning guiltily. "I know that," she agrees.

Taeil snickers amusedly. "Hangs up on her own mother," he shakes his head. Rin squints, finding a small smile on Taeil's face. "Maybe you're turning into me, Lee Chaerin."

Rin was taken aback by that. "I don't plan on dying my hair red, sir," she clarifies.

Taeil chokes on his tea, and glares at Rin. "Stop it with my hair already!" he yells and simmers down. He pats the back of his hair consciously. "...Is it that bad?"

"No." Rin answers immediately. Her eyes trail of to Taeil's bright red hair. It hurts her eyes at first but the longer she stared at it, the more she started to think it suited Moon Taeil. "It's pretty on you sir. I like the color."

Taeil quiets at the compliment, his face turning red like his hair.

Rin meets Taeil's gaze. "You're the only person I know that can pull that color of, sir," she says sincerely.

Taeil feels his heart skip. What the fuck. "Then why did you insult it?" he huffs, trying to regain his composure.

"I—Maybe—I don't know. It's pretty distracting when working," Rin admits.

Her office was parallel to Taeil so she has a perfect view of Moon Taeil's bright red hair.

"I distract you at work?" Taeil raises an eyebrow.

"Your hair!" Rin corrects, blushing a bit. "It's your hair that's distracting not you! S-Sir."

"Oh?" Taeil kinda feels offended. But when it's Wong Yukhei... He remembers Rin and Lucas always having time talking to each other while at work. Taeil can't believe tall guys distract Rin. He was pretty tall compared to Rin but then Lucas...