What's Wrong With Assistant Kang?

17. Distraction

Jumin's face blanched from intense shock and a tinge of fear. "Father..." He started, his lips moving by themselves. "How could you?"

He heard his father's breath hitch in the other side of the line; probably taken aback by his son's alienated words. He could tell Jumin felt betrayed from the sound of his voice.

But that didn't excuse the sense of disrespect it emitted. "Jumin. Do not speak to your own father that way," he stated firmly, closing his eyes while massaging his temples.

The raven-haired man forced his mouth shut, impeding himself from speaking ill of the chairman any further. "... My apologies."

"Listen," his father told him with a sigh, deciding to brush the past matters aside. "When it comes to tricky business like this, son, my advice is to never take it personally. You need to put your personal life and your work life in separate folders."

"What are you trying to say...?" Jumin glared at at the back of the car seat in front of him. "That I should marry Echo Girl, a completely impactful, personal decision, but somehow think of it as sealing a business deal?" he growled lowly, restraining his anger.

"That's not how it works-" Jumin abruptly stopped himself. A flashback took him back to just some weeks ago.

When he proposed to Jaehee.

That was the exact same sentence she said in response... So that's what she meant back then. Finally, he was able to understand her point of view.

"In this industry," his father reprimanded him as if he were a mere disobedient child, "It is. So Jumin, stop thinking only for yourself, and think for the company... please."

Jumin became unresponsive, glancing away with a lost gaze.

"That is what I'm doing," Mr. Chairman informed him grimly, the pain he was trying to hide seeping into his voice.

"I..." Jumin's distant glare through the window became even more intense and his words came out with just as much tenacity. "I refuse."

His father rolled on his cushioned chair. "Then deal with the consequences." Was his cold sentence. Defeated, the older man hung up.

Jumin heaved a distressed sigh; suddenly wanting the earth to swallow him whole.
-

That night, Jumin was entirely unable to conceal sleep. He wasn't completely sure why, but he supposed the Kyungju Choi issue was a strong cause of his insomnia.

He wanted to forget about it. To simply not care... that's what he usually would have done when it came to arranged marriages proposed to him (quite frequently, as well).

But this was different. Because of the blackmailing, the tight position his father and C&R as a whole were in, he had no choice but to care. Worry, even.

And he loathed it. Didn't his father know how much he despised those women? That literally the only way he would touch them was with a stick.

A stick at least five meters long.

At least his dear Elizabeth was there to comfort him. She slowly walked towards his tired figure, arms and legs extended all over his king-sized bed with what anybody would claim was a sweet smile.

She purred as she stroked herself against his feet and he returned her affection by caressing her head gently.

With his beloved kitten by his side, the corporate heir's eyes eventually drift off to slumber.
-

Unfortunately, what he dreams was of great contrast to what he expected.

"No! No! Don't go...!" He heard his own voice cry desperately. But there was a big distinction.