Just A Few Numbers Away

Chapter 43

The Strength of Kindness

Yoongi drove them to the company headquarters in silence.

The moment they stepped inside the lobby, the atmosphere shifted completely.

It was like a physical wave of heat-all eyes turned toward them, whispers blooming in their wake like wildfire.

When they reached the HR department, Aen was told she wouldn't be meeting a manager, but the CEO himself.

She felt the pressure tighten around her chest.

"You'll be alright." Yoongi whispered, leaning down so only she could hear.

"If anything happens, I'm right here outside, Jagi."

​As he helped her adjust her coat, Yoongi deftly slipped his Galaxy S20 into her pocket.

He had already opened the voice recorder and set it to high-sensitivity mode.

He knew Aen would try to minimize the conflict to protect him, and as a producer, he knew that the "raw audio" never lied.

​He wanted to walk in as her shield, but he didn't want to jeopardize her contract.

Instead, he sat in the lounge, pulled his black bucket hat low, and adjusted his Galaxy Buds.

He stayed close to the door, the Bluetooth tethering him to her voice through the thick wood.

Inside the office, the door clicked shut.

"Good morning Sir."

"Good morning Ms. Aen. It's good to finally meet you. I've heard much about you. Have a seat."

"Thank you, Sir."

"​"I understand your team manager suspended you for two weeks. Is that correct? May I ask why?"

"She said it was for the best," Aen said, her voice steady but soft.

"I was being harassed frequently while delivering products in my assigned area."

Outside, Yoongi's fist clenched so hard his knuckles turned white.

The audio through the Galaxy Buds was crystal clear, and every word felt like a stone hitting his stomach.

He hadn't known.

She had kept the harassment from him to save him the guilt.

"I see," the CEO replied.

"Did you report this to the police?"

"No... I understand why they were reacting that way. I wasn't hurt badly enough to involve the authorities."

"Those people are lucky then," the CEO remarked.

"Ehhh?"

"Because you are a good person. If it were me, I would have reported them immediately. Were they minors?"

"Yes... mostly middle school girls."

"And how exactly did they harass you?"

Aen hesitated.

"Mostly throwing eggs. Sometimes they would buy a Yakult from my cart and suddenly pour it over my head or my clothes."

Yoongi closed his eyes, his heart aching as the audio crackled in his ears.

He pictured Aen, standing alone in the street, covered in sticky yogurt while people laughed, all because of a soulmate bond she couldn't control.