unburdened

chapter 4

The session with HR was humiliating, but blessedly brief, leaving her with a splitting headache as she hurried back to the office.

The rest of the day was spent working hard to repair the damage done this morning, both to the files and Mr. Kim's trust in her.

She did not spare a thought for the handsome young man from accounting, not until she was safely locked in her tiny, dingy apartment after the long cross-town bus ride home.

As she warmed the small cup of noodles that passed for supper, she finally allowed herself to think of him.

Lyra did not have many friends at work, but the few she had made were constantly talking about “the new guy”.

She had heard several woman brag that they had taken him out for lunch, or drinks.  It appeared he was single and liked to date, a lot, and a lot of different women.

Lyra frowned.  There was something about him, something more than met the eye. He really was a mystery.

The information from the office gossips just did not square up with the man who had encouraged her today, the one who made her laugh and feel like she had someone on her side.  He seemed really nice, and kind and …

Lyra's face drained of color.  Of course, she did not see him like those stories of the new hot, sexy boy in accounting because he did not see her as one of those beautiful women.

How pathetic he must think her.

First, she walked into him off the elevator and now today he walks in on a very damaging situation in the boss’s office.

She looked down at the simple blouse and plain dark skirt she wore.  Her brown coat, her only coat, was slung on the hook beside the door.  The tiny rack that served as her closet held more of the same, simple, inexpensive skirts in basic colors, drab tops to match.

She squeezed her eyes tightly and tried to stop the tears. 

This was her life now.  She had a place to sleep and at least one meal a day.  She had a job and a perfectly fine wardrobe for a secretary.  She was fine.  This was fine.

She stood and cleaned the area where she ate, hung her clothes carefully and changed into warm pajamas.  She crawled into her simple nest on the floor and pulled the covers over her.

She settled into the darkness.  Only there, in the still and quiet of her most private thoughts, did she allow herself to dream of the handsome man with a kind heart and eyes that saw past what everyone else saw. 

For the first time in a very long time she allowed herself the wish that she could be real with someone, with him. Only in her dreams did she remember how dangerous that could be.

The next weeks were spent with negotiations for the contract.  These days were always difficult because of the uncertainty of the scope of the job.

Until the final details of the contract were determined the entire team was on edge and guarded.

JK had also made time to learn more about Lyra. 

He soon found that her routine was distressingly predictable.  She came in the same time every morning; she took the exact bus route every day and waited at the same spot at the bus stop.

On the rare days she stepped out for lunch, she invariably went to the same small café. 

JK did not have to rely on his training as an investigator to know she was making herself vulnerable as a target.  Anyone who wished her harm would easily predict her whereabouts at any given time and know when she was most vulnerable.

JK intended to talk with her about being aware of her safety, but things had gotten so crazy busy with the contract talks that he found himself missing opportunities to see or talk to her.

JungKook’s attention was drawn away from Lyra as the final days of negotiations led to long hours securing details with the government agencies.

Finally, Jin called down to JK's office with the news that it would be a joint project.  He set a meeting for later on the week, leaving JK to coordinate final security issues with Kim Taehyung at iNovis.

JK assured him they would be ready by the contract meeting.