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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“ Tell him I'll wait.”
Jin moved to the sitting area and did just that. He waited over an hour, working remotely with his phone, vowing to stay as long as it took.
Finally the phone buzzed and Hobi nodded he could go in.
He walked into the office that NamJoon had changed to make his own. It was easier this way, there was not one remainder of Dae here to distract him.
As he stepped across the threshold, NamJoon's voice directed him to stop.
”There is no need for you to come any further. I have nothing to say to you. Get out,” he ordered.
“I am not going anywhere. We have an entire government project that is tanking and you want to play games? Tell me your problem or listen to mine. I care not. We have work to do,” Jin answered.
His tone was commanding and forced NamJoon to turn toward him.
At first Jin was sure they would have to fight before they broke this tension.
Finally, Joon’s eyes met his and Jin saw exhaustion and stress like he had never seen in his friend.
He took a seat in front of the desk and explained in detail the problems they were facing. He could see Joon was already aware of the issue. Now came the hard part.
“NamJoon, you already know this. We are falling behind because we don’t have a lead designer on site. This contract was very delicate. SongDae and I both tried every angle to snag this contract independently, but ultimately agreed we could only do this because of our combined skills. Now, all that balance is gone. We need Dae.” Jin noted the anger flaring in the other man's face.
“Aside from my personal feelings,” Jin continued, “she is the best designer in the industry. You have to know that about her Joon. The absolute best. Without her, we fail.”
NamJoon looked long and hard at his old friend. Jin could not decipher the emotions warring behind his eyes.
Finally, Joon spoke. “I listened to your problem, now it is my turn. You will listen to mine. You asked for this, remember?”
Jin nodded, not sure what to expect.
Joon rose to pace in front of the bank of windows. Finally he turned and quietly said, “ I trusted you with her.”
Jin blinked several times. He was not prepared for this.
“NamJoon. I care for Dae very much. I would give anything if she were here right now. But there are things we have to work out between us before I discuss them with you.” Jin began.
NamJoon turned on Jin, fury in his face.
“Not SongDae you sorry bastard! My wife! You were my best friend and I trusted you. And look what happened!” he hissed.
NamJoon was losing his battle to maintain control. It was as if a long-dammed stream was suddenly burst free.
“ I trusted you!! I went to America and knew you would look after her,” he laughed bitterly. “Thank you, brother, seems you did a fantastic job.”
“What in the hell are you talking about?” Jin asked, now standing as well.
“Don’t lie to me Jin. You owe me that!! I came home after six months so excited to see my bride. So in love, so lonely for her.” NamJoon's words stumbled one over another now, fighting to get out, to tell this story.
“She kissed me as soon as she saw me. We did not even make it to the couch. And after……after…“ Joon paused, fists clenched, voice shaking" after she told me how happy she was.”
He walked till he was toe to toe with Jin.
“She told me she was pregnant.” He paused to gauge Jin's reaction. His face was concerned, but he was patiently waiting for Joon to continue.
“A week later she was dead. Did she tell you? Did you know?” he asked, demanding an answer.
“Joon. I am so sorry. I should have known, I did not. I have felt such guilt. I should have checked on her. I …I did not call or talk to her like I should have. I basically left her alone to deal with you being gone. I……” Jin was trying to fit the puzzle pieces together.
NamJoon was still fixed on Jin’s face, beginning to falter in what he had come to believe over the past three years.
“She told me the baby would come in the spring. Fucking Spring Jin. I had been gone 6 months.” He explained.
He watched as Jin registered what he was saying. He watched the shock on his face and then the pity.
“Joon. I swear I knew nothing about this. I feel like all this is my fault,” Jim stumbled with what to say.
Namjoon drew back and blindsided him with a punch to the face, knocking Jin on his ass.
“What the hell was that for?” he asked. Looking up into NamJoon’s face. Jin finally got it.
He finally understood that Joon thought he had an affair with his wife and the child was his.
He scrambled to his feet, furious, drawing back to hit NamJoon, and then he saw his friend’s stricken face.
He dropped his fist and stepped back.
“How could you think I could do that to you?” he asked quietly.
“There was a note I found in her things,” came the answer.
Jin rubbed the darkening spot on his chin and took a deep breath.
“I don’t know how much of this you know, and I always thought it was Dae's place to tell you. When we met again at your wedding, we……,” he paused, keenly aware he was talking to Dae's big brother, “we started seeing each other. We kept our relationship a secret until we could decide best how to approach you and our families. We were inseparable. We were either together or planning to be together. I had no interest in any other woman. Still don’t. It was not me. I should have been there. If I had been paying attention…”
NamJoon cut him off.
“I hated you, you know. It's why I left. I lost my wife…but I also lost my best friend….it ruined me,” Joon confessed.
Jin had no idea what to say. He stood looking at the man he loved like a brother.
NamJoon looked at Jin for several minutes, weighing everything he knew about this man.
This time all he felt was exhaustion.
“Leave now,” Joon said. “I'm not calling her back. She'll have to come back on her own. Hire another designer.”
With that Namjoon sat down at his desk and slowly turned to face the skyline, turning his back on Jin and shutting out the world.
