unrivaled

chapter 16

*Happy Valentine's Day*

Jin had roused out of the bed, sitting for a moment assessing the toll the night before would take on him.  Surprisingly he felt fine.

He showered and went to his home office and put in several hours of work before he noticed the night had grown late and the lights were winking in cityscape below him.

He cursed and checked his watch. With a sigh he decided it was time to get ready to go.  He was finishing one last report when his phone chimed.

Frowning, he saw that Alex was calling. He started not to answer, but then he had the hopeful thought that maybe she was sick, or calling the night off or found a better date than him. 

“Hello,” he answered.

“Jin, sweetheart. When will you be by to get me?  It is getting late.  But that's ok.  I like to make an entrance.” Alex was cool and confident as she asked, just like he had not told her explicitly she would be going alone.

“Perfect timing then Alex.  You go ahead.  I just finished work and I am not ready. I will meet you there, like we planned.” His voice was firm.

The next several minutes were wasted with the same arguments they had fought for weeks. 

Alex thought she could whine her way out of, or into, anything she wanted.

Finally, Jin got fed up with hearing her in turns beg, then demand for him to come get her. 

“Fine Alex!”  The car will be there in 30 minutes.  Don't be late,” he said.

He could practically hear the triumph in her voice as she said, “I knew you would cave in.  Hurry up! People will be missing us.”

Jin simply hung up on her and dialed his driver. He gave him Alex's address and asked him to arrange another car to pick her up and stay to return her to home after the evening was over.

It would be almost worth it to see her face when she got in the empty car.

Alex would be furious. Jin no longer cared.

He slowly wandered into his closet and picked the suit hanging nearest him.

He smiled when he saw which one it was, remembering Tae's special instructions about the pants.  What the hell, he thought.

He finished dressing without particular care and was ready to leave without much fuss.

He was gathering his keys and wallet as his phone went off. 

Alex.  He was sure she had an earful for him. He declined the call and silenced his phone.  He had tried nice with her; he had tried blunt. He was sick of trying.

Minutes later he was speeding toward the Gala, trying to ignore the guilt he felt over Dae and the dread he felt over Alex's arrival.

Damn it!  Could this night be over already?

Jin exited his car at the entry to the Gala and had to step back as a second car rolled in right behind him.

He recognized the driver as one of his men.  Sighing he glanced from the car to the waiting photographers.

Gritting his teeth, he walked to the rear door and offered his hand to Alex as she exited the car. 

He did not even look her way as the flash of the cameras exploded.  He knew her well enough to know she had given an “almost scandalous” glimpse of leg and breast as she exited and that she would hit all her best angles before she moved.