Kim SeokJin is a powerful CEO in one of the largest companies in the country. His lover is his chief business rival, Kim SongDae. Park JiMin only complicates matters between Jin and Dae with that damn smile of his.
All seven friends work togethe...
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She was numb the entire walk to her office. She gave thanks to see that Hobi had gone already. She would have been unable to face him.
He had left her a note, “I am sorry. I had a very important appointment I could not miss. Call me as soon as you are done. Please!! “
She sat at her desk and gathered her few personal things. She would ask Hobi to box the rest, he would know what to do.
Turning in her chair one last time, she faced the skyline view out the windows.
She touched her face in surprise as she felt a fat tear drop fall. She was in too much shock to realize the tears had started.
She had to make a phone call. She would not leave him without an explanation.
She dialed his number, the only one she knew by heart these days, and waited, suddenly desperate to hear his voice.
Jin sat reviewing the final draft of his quarterly reports. There was a tiny error somewhere and he was trying to trace it down.
At first, he was too absorbed to hear the phone. Then he realized it was ringing, followed immediately by his heart beginning to hammer in his chest.
It was Dae, something had gone wrong.
He answered only to hear her on the other end, struggling to speak.
“Dae! Are you ok?? What is wrong? Where are you? Are you hurt?? Dae!! Talk to me!” he started to grow frantic as he heard her sobbing with no answers to his questions.
“Jin….” She finally managed.
“Where are you? I am on my way,” he told her, already on the way out the door.
“Nooooo,” she cried, “you can’t.”
Jin realized she had to calm down.
“Shhhh…..shhhhhh….deep breaths. Talk to me baby…..shhhhh,” he soothed until he heard her taking shuddering breaths, calming down slowly.
Finally able to speak, she told him.
“Jin…..I have to leave. My father just told me,” she paused, then continued. “They are sending me on “vacation” and replacing me with Joon. They told me to be gone for two years or they would take everything.” Her voice caught on the last and it tore at his heart.
“Where are you? I am coming to get you!” he told her, causing her to burst into tears again.
“Nooooo Jin! Please no!! He said they would hurt you! That your father would take everything from you and your cousin would take your position,” she managed, her voice thick with tears.
Jin felt a pang at how real that threat was, but he was not going to let that stop him.
“Fuck that!” he said" we are leaving. Can you get to the airport? Meet me there in an hour. I will call and have them begin fueling the jet. Ok?”
When there was no response he repeated, “SongDae…tell me you understand and you are heading to meet me at the airport.”
She hesitated for a long time, but stubborn hope flickered still and she knew if there was anyone who could find a way out of this, it was Jin.
“Yes,” she whispered to him.
“Yes!” he responded, urging her to be careful then hanging up to call his pilot.
Dae shook her head and gathered her things. She turned the lights out in her office and called her driver.
Giving one last look around, she closed the door and stepped out into the unknown.
She took deep, calming breaths as she rode the security elevator down, focusing on clearing her mind.
She had her head bowed when she exited the elevator, plowing right into a hard chest as she stepped out.
She gasped as arms steadied her already knowing who held her before she found his face.
As her eyes met his she found all her hard-fought calm disappear and she fell against him, wrapping her arms around his welcoming warmth and crying into his neck.
Jimin staggered back as Dae barreled into him leaving the elevator.
The teasing comment died on his tongue as she stumbled into him and then burrowed into his chest and broke his heart with her silent tears.
Jimin pulled her into the small room used to wait securely for the cars to arrive for pick up.
He leaned against the wall and pulled Dae's body close to his own. He held her closely with one arm, tucking her head under his chin, feeling her heart pound against his chest. His other hand was running calming circles on her back as he soothed her.
Finally, he sensed she had regained a tiny bit of control.
He pulled back and lifted her chin. He lost his breath at how fragile she looked, and how beautiful she was, even with her eyes swollen from tears.
He took his thumb and gently brushed the tears away and felt her relax against his body. Years of watching and wanting her had him reacting to her every breath.
“Dae, what's wrong?” he asked.
Jimin held her and rocked her in his arms as she told him the story.
Jimin cursed and told her “NamJoon called me and asked me to come down and craft a statement for some changes. I had no idea it was something like this."
“I'll refuse to do it,” he said moving away from her.
Dae reached for Jimin again, pressing herself against him.
“Jimin please. Please help me.” She begged, hands fisting in his shirt. Jimin watched as her desperate eyes sought his.
“Please. If you don’t do this, they will get some hack to craft it. They will make it look like I was incompetent and Joon had to come out of mourning to fix the disaster I created,” she said, voicing a fear she had harbored since leaving the meeting.
Jimin worried that was exactly what NamJoon had planned.
“I'll take care of you baby. Always. Please don’t worry,” Jimin whispered the last, his control slowly slipping as Dae leaned against him lifting her face to his.
He bent his head to hers.
Searching her face, the mixture of vulnerability and trust was too much for him to resist. She made him feel like he had to protect her with everything he had.
Dae lifted her face to Jimin's and saw exactly what she was searching for in that moment. He promised her safety and protection. He had always been there for her.
Before she could think, she had pressed a small kiss on his plush lips.
Immediately she knew it was a mistake as his arms pulled her closer and his soft, gentle kiss intoxicated her. She leaned into him and allowed him to deepen the kiss, feeling all the emotions Jimin had saved, just for her.
She had no idea how long they kissed, she was lost in the warmth and safety and comfort of his arms.
Then Jimin pulled back and caught her gaze. He felt a twinge of guilt as he saw how dazed she appeared.
He kissed her temple then kissed her again. With a deep sigh he put her at arm's length.
“Dae, come with me. Please let me help you. I can protect you. You know your family has no problem with us being together. Dae,” he pushed her hair behind her ear and caressed her face for a long minute, seeking something from her.
“Dae, come with me. Pick me. Let me help you.” He whispered.
The intercom buzzed to alert them the car had arrived.
Jimin took her in his arms again, holding her close to him. She had grown so quiet and still. He was very worried about her.
“Wait for me at home, ok? As soon as I am done here I will come to you “ he promised as he opened the door and escorted her to the car.
Watching her leave, Jimin took just a moment to marvel how good she felt in his arms after all this time, even better than his dreams. Then determined to get back to her as soon as possible, he turned and headed to meet his new clients.
Dae sank into the back seat of the car and stared straight ahead. Her fingers traced her lips, the feel of Jimin's sweet mouth and tongue lingered.
She wiped them then, determined to sweep away the feeling and the memory.
Her phone chimed and she looked to see a message from Jin.
“Plane fueled and ready in 30. Can’t wait to see you then"
Dae stared at the message for a long time.
She knew now she has been stupid to hope Jin would find some magic way out of this dilemma and she was selfish to ask him to. Their fathers had planned this well.
The very thought of Jimin made her cry all the harder. Her body still felt his warm touch, his hands gently wiping her tears. He was willing to risk everything for her. She loved him much too much to do that.
Her decision was clear. There was only one way to protect all those she loved. It was, as Jin said, “the right thing to do".
She sat with tears dropping onto the phone as she sent a series of texts.
When she was done she gave the driver new directions and turned off her phone.
The rest of her journey was filled with stunned silence.
