Can you re-love a cheater?

13

Every word Suho said, it made him angrier. He stormed away from his friends running out to his own car, and driving recklessly to the office that was a few miles away. Suho's smug words played on repeat in his mind. He hated this. He hated Suho. He hated how he couldn't protect her...how he couldn't call her his. He sighed punching the steering with such force that his hand begun to sting. He was thankful for the pain however; it was a distraction. A distraction for the way her eyes locked with his, the look holding more than she had said since she had come back. The pain proved as a distraction from Suho who he was itching to punch. He reached the office, his employees seeing a side they had never witnessed in all the time they had been part of Team Wang. He lashed out at everyone and everything, throwing things around carelessly, snide remarks coming out of his mouth as the workers looked at each other in confusion, leaving their boss to his own solitary. His phone went off moments later breaking his trail of thoughts as he looked down at the message.

From Irene
Calm down. Suho was out of line and I'm sorry you had to deal with it.

Jackson sighed. Why was she apologising for something that wasn't even her fault. He hated how she was talking on his behalf.

From Jackson
Why are you apologising for...you haven't done anything wrong...it's Suho.

From Irene
Jackson...

Seconds later his phone went off with her caller ID, his heart suddenly skipping a beat as he held the phone to his ear. "Hello." He greeted her. He heard nothing and then a deep sigh. "Don't be like this." He heard her say. "I know he was in the wrong. I'm not trying to say that he wasn't. But this is Suho, he gets what he wants and he's been trying to get to you ever since I've come back. Stop giving him the satisfaction." He sighed. "So does that mean he's gonna get you.." he paused hearing dead silence and the intake of a sharp breath. He pinched the bridge of his nose for his slip of tongue. "Your right I'm sorry." "Jack it's not your fault." She said his heart suddenly thumping in the way she spoke his name into existence. "I just don't want to see that look in your eyes. He's trying to piss you off so that you give him a reaction. Just act like I mean nothing to you....that shouldn't be too hard." She bit her lip as soon as she spoke those words. "I didn't mean it like that." She rushed, knowing the face he was making on the other side to conceal the way her words had just hurt him. "It's fine." He heard her sigh. "I'm sorry." She whispered. They dissolved into silence, the two hating the awkwardness that had stemmed, the flow they once had with each other gone almost nonexistent. "Have you eaten?" He asked looking at the clock. "No. I've been in back to back meetings. I have one with JYP in a bit for a client that we both want, so I'm gonna have to go I need to prepare for it." He nodded. "Please eat." "I'll try to." "Irene." "Jack I don't have time." He sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. "When's the meeting?" "Half an hour." "Okay. I'll let you go. Bye Irene." "Bye Jackson." He smiled as she cut the phone, instantly calling JYP. "Hey Jackson, nice to hear from you again, I was wondering where you  had disappeared to." "Have you got a meeting with Irene?" He asked abruptly, cutting him off. "Wow, no hello, no how are you. Just straight to Irene...boy your whipped." "That didn't answer my question." "Yes In half and hour why?" "I'm coming with you." "Yeah okay." He said knowingly as Jackson hung up the phone, grabbing his blazer and running out the office, past employees who were relieved to see the signature smile back on his face.

Jackson reached the office bang on time, his eyes widening at the way SM had changed. He walked in JYP in quick succession as they were led into a conference room where the potential artist sat, the nerves present on her face. The secretary, handed them water as they engaged the artists in brief standard conversation as they waited for Irene. She fell into the room, files in her hands, her shoulder elevated to hold her phone as she huffed her bangs out of her face. They stood up instantly as Irene tried to end the conversation. Jackson rushed forth taking the files out of her hands, her eyes widening at the sight of him, flashing to JYP in confusion. They heard a shout from the other side of the phone. "Yeah yeah I'm listening." She said her eyes staring into his hazel eyes, doing a quick sweep of his suit clad form. The caller going deaf to her ears as she checked him out, cursing to the gods above as to why he was so hot. She quickly averted her eyes, going back to the phone call. "I'll phone you later, I'm in a meeting. We can come to some type of agreement then." She hung up not bothering to wait for a response throwing her phone to the table. She gave them a tired smile, greeting the artist and JYP who smiled warmly at her as she flopped down into her seat. "Sorry about that." She said, they shook their heads saying it was fine. Irene's eyes ghosted to Jackson's form, her heart skipping a beat against her wishes. She looked back down as JYP smiled catching the exchange. "I like what you've done with the place Irene." Said JYP. "What you mean fire practically everyone and start from scratch?" She said sarcastically causing them to laugh. "Yeah, exactly that." She laughed. "Okay so India it's a pleasure to finally get to meet you, I'm aware that your unable to decided with who to sign with JYP or SM correct?" The young girl nodded, as Irene smiled at her warmly. "Feel free to ask either of us any questions to help make this situation easier for you. I'm not gonna speak on behalf of JYP, but I plan to sell my company well with you. Is it okay if I go first?" She said looking to the men who nodded. "So the first thing that artists your ages ask about is dating bans...the whole idea behind them is that we don't want artists to be distracted with a relationship, so we came up with a compromise. The three year ban that SM pose is as it stands but it depends on your sales and profit you make off the first album. Depending on how well you do we knock it down to a year. Another programme we have introduced recently is a mentoring program. Being in this industry is daunting, so we give you all the groups the company has signed with and then you can chose as to who you would like to be working with. In order to project you, that group will do a collab with you and settle you into the company, they will join you with tours and stuff to make sure your journey is as smooth as possible. This will last until you feel comfortable, in turn it helps with our marketing strategy depending on who you decided to have as a mentor. That's the basics of what we offer for start up artists. Your also really pretty so modelling for contacts that we have such as channel and Armani will come in handy to help boost your awareness in this industry." Irene paused watching the girl soak up the information. She turned to the Jackson and JYP who began to promote their company and what they are open to doing and their basic guidelines. Ten minutes later after they had finished the room settled into silence, Irene observing the way the younger girls face tensed and the nervous shuffling caused her to smile warmly. "Hey hey hey, it's okay. Take your time with your decision. JYP can I talk to you for a second outside." He nodded as Jackson watched them leave turning to the younger girl smiling brightly. "Your doing amazing." He watched the nervousness crack as they engaged in conversation that made the younger feel comfortable. The door opened seconds later Irene and JYP entering as they took their respective seats. JYP signalled Irene. "We can tell how much this means to you and both companies want to work with you, so we have decided to offer you a joint contract. The dating ban will be upped to two years and then the mentoring program you can chose a company from SM and JYP to support you. Both groups will work with and you will be placed on a joint tour,  you will also have the chance to collab with each group at any point within the first year. That's our final offer India." She said. The young girl looked like her dreams had just come true. And within the next half an hour they had a contract signed as she and JYP left, leaving Irene and Jackson alone. Irene walked to her office as she signalled Jackson to follow her. She fell into her chair, kicking off the deadly heels she had been walking in all day. He placed a bag on the desk watching as her eyes lit up meeting his. "You haven't eaten right?" He questioned. She nodded negatively as he took the food out of the carrier bag moving to her coffee table and sofa as he signalled her to follow. He sat down as she flopped down next to him, excitedly. He watched her face light up at the contents inside the container, her heart quenching as she looked at him. "You remembered?" "Of course." He said leaning back. He signalled her to eat as they both talked and laughed, the tension that had plagued their relationship dissolving as though it was never there to begin with. For an hour they forgot about the past. For an hour they forgot about the world around them. For an hour they stayed talking, laughing and reminiscing. The dull ache in their hearts fading to nothing as Irene caught him looking at her. "Don't look at me like that Jackson." She said turning her head to the side. "Like what?" "Like your in love with me." She chuckled bitterly, her head remaining turned. "I am in love with you." He whispered loud enough for her to hear. His fingers brushed her chin turning her face to his, his eyes  pinning hers to his. He looked at her. His eyes flickering down. His hand now holding the side on her lower cheek and neck drawing her closer, she didn't move away, her body yearning for his. Moments later his lips ghosted hers checking to see if she was okay with his brave movement. Out of nowhere she was overcome by her feelings that she had suppressed for the past five years, her lips hungrily meeting his as they picked up on the passion they had left in shattered pieces. He worked at her lips devouring them.

They heard a loud knock at the door. Irene breaking away eyes wide. She stood up taking steps back as she shakily called out a yes. "Ma'am we need you." "I'll be there in two minutes." She said more firmly. They heard the footsteps fade away. Jackson stood up "Irene." "You shouldn't have done that." She whispered her eyes ghosting to his. "That was a mistake." "No it wasn't. You wanted it as much as I did." He said taking steps closer to her as she staggered back. "We can't do this again Jackson." "And why not?" "How can we?" She challenged back. Their eyes staring into the others. Both begging but for different things. One to let go. And the other to hold on. "I've got to go." She whispered, reaching the door as she opened it. "Irene." She heard call out. She refused to turn back, walking forward out of the door. It wasn't until she was out of sight did she turn. Tears shining in her eyes. Tears that she needed to hide from him.

TBC

Authors note:
Hey guys, hope you are all well. Let me know what you think of this one. I look forward to hearing back from you all. Lots of love and best wishes to you all.