hostage || jaeyong

twenty four

At first, he had been a bit taken aback to learn Jaehyun had left, but it was not like he was left with nothing to do.

The physical activity had made him feel really good. Useful, in fact.

Only that now he was in the foreman's office and that was making him feel a bit out of place. Maybe he did something stupid?

"Sit," the man showed him a chair. "Mr. Jung says you're interested in learning about managing a project."

"He does?" he asked, feeling his throat a bit dry.

The foreman watched him with a frown.

"Look, kid, if you don't want to sit with me here for a while and watch over plans, you're free to go and work with the rest."

Taeyong almost hurried to say 'yes' but something in how the man looked at him made him change his mind.

This old man was judging him.

He was looking at him, and he saw street trash, nothing else. Yet, Jaehyun had left word that Taeyong was to learn about this management stuff, and that could mean only one thing; that in Jaehyun's eyes, he was more than that.

He was a guy with a bit of brain in his head, and he could not disappoint Jaehyun by being a chicken and settling only for what was familiar.

"I'm willing to learn, sir," he said firmly, and the foreman looked at him, a bit surprised.

"Alright kid," the man shrugged. "But I won't spend my entire day trying to get you to understand what I'm saying. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," Taeyong replied.

*

It was the end of the work day, finally, and he felt pretty much spent.

Who knew learning all about planning and scheduling had to be so mind-boggling? But he had persisted, and he had followed the foreman in everything he said.

"Hi," he saluted Minhyuk, and the man nodded.

He was in terrible need of a shower, but the car was already there, and he could not let the driver wait.

It was already weird enough that he got to be chauffeured like he was some hot shot when he was nothing but a guy from the streets.

"Can I ride in front with you?" he asked the driver who was solemnly holding one of the back doors open.

"Certainly," the man spoke after a short moment of hesitation and closed the door.

Taeyong climbed in front and put on his seatbelt.

"Have you been working for Jaehyun for how long?" he asked, hoping he didn't sound too nosy.

"That would be seven years," the driver supplied the answer.

"Wow," Taeyong commented and looked out the window. "Do you mind if I ask you... is he like a good guy?"

"Mr. Jung is the best boss I have ever worked for."

"That's cool," he replied, not knowing what to say. "Sorry for bothering you," he added.

"That's okay," the man spoke. "Some work days are boring. It feels good to have someone to talk to."

"Oh, yeah? That's great. Because I definitely like talking," Taeyong said. "Is it true that Jaehyun travels a lot? Doesn't he have like a home or something?"

"If you're asking me about his headquarters, that would be Connecticut, but he is involved in so many businesses that he travels, indeed, a lot."

"Have you ever been to France?"