#220

Jaejoong's phone rang. He took it out and looked at the caller id. It was Yuki.

Yuki: Jaejoong, where are you now? I thought you were meeting Jaein at the cafe? How come I can't find you two?

Jaejoong: Huh? How come you know about our meeting?

Yuki: I'm your secretary remember? And Jaein called me to make the appointment for today.

Jaejoong: WHAT?!!! She knows that you're working with me?

Yuki: Yeah. I've also told her that I'll be meeting you after the meeting. I asked her to join us for lunch too. Didn't she tell you?

Jaejoong: I can't believe this...

Yuki: Yobosayo... yobosayo... Jaejoong... Are you there?

Jaejoong: Just quit, Yuki... And leave me alone...

Yuki: What are you talking about? Where are you now?

Jaejoong: HAVEN'T YOU ALREADY CAUSED ENOUGH HARM TO MY LIFE?!!! YOU WERE THE ONE WHO MADE ME THE WAY I AM TODAY... IF YOU STILL TREAT ME AS A FRIEND, JUST QUIT AND LEAVE... I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN...

Yuki: Jaejoong... What's going on? Is this... because of.... Jaein?

Jaejoong: Yes... Your irresponsible and promiscuous behavior made me lose the only woman who truly loved me...

Yuki: But you don't love her right? You love me! That's why you left her standing at the door when you saw me that day, isn't it?

Jaejoong: No... I USED TO love you... But that was BEFORE I realised what you were REALLY like... I was in love with your façade... Not you... Jaein is the one I love then... And still am in love with now...

Yuki: I don't believe you... How can she compare to me? I'm so much better... In every way!!!

Jaejoong: She may not be better than you in terms of family background and looks... But she doesn't put on a fake front, unlike you... And... Her love for me is pure, she gives her heart to me and doesn't expect anything from me in return... That's why I love her... Not you...

Yuki: You'll regret this... I guarantee...

Jaejoong: My only regret is not rejecting you that day...

Jaejoong ended the call and left the room heavy-hearted. He thought hard of how he could attempt to win Jaein back. He knew that she must still love him. But what could he do to make her believe him again?

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Monday - Merger meeting between Kim Holdings and SM Holdings at Park Law Firm...

Jaejoong arrived early at the firm and Micky had Jaein tend to him in the meeting room before the SM Holdings party arrived. Jaein brought Jaejoong to the meeting room and showed him his seat. She went about preparing the room for the meeting, laying out the documents. The coffee lady came in and arranged the beverages. Jaejoong observed Jaein as she worked silently. But he didn't say anything as the coffee lady was around. After she left, Jaejoong took a deep breath and wanted to explain things to Jaein. But the door opened suddenly...

Micky: Over here Mr Lee...

The director from SM Holdings and his lawyer walked into the room with Micky. Everyone shook hands and did their introductions. Then they settled down to discuss the terms for the merger agreement. After a lengthy discussion for an hour, everything was settled. They wanted some changes to the terms, and Jaejoong was agreeable, so Jaein was to make the revisions and send it to them for a preview before the final signing a week later.

Everyone stood up and shook hands.

Mr Lee: Ms Jun... Your proposal is very well planned... Mutually beneficial for both parties... I must say I have not much to change... Just those minor points we've mentioned... You are a very good lawyer... I'm glad that you are handling this case...

Jaein: Thank you Mr Lee... I'm just doing my job... It's Mr Kim who is a ethical businessman... As he agreed to all of the terms I've proposed...

Mr Lee (turns to Jaejoong): Thank you Mr Kim... For your mutually beneficial terms... Your dad must be proud of you... Such a fine young man with business ethics... Very rare in the cut-throat market now... I must thank you on behalf of all my staff again...

Jaejoong (shakes Mr Lee's hand): Thank you for your compliments Mr Lee... But I really don't deserve all the compliments... I'm still learning from my dad... And Ms Jun had been a great help in this...

Mr Lee: Ha ha ha... You two are so much alike... Stop pushing the compliment to each other... Both of you did well... I enjoyed doing business with you two... Thank you again...

Micky: Jaein-ah... Can you please see Mr Lee and his lawyer out?

Jaein: Yes Micky... No problem... This way Mr Lee...

Jaejoong and Micky watched as Jaein led them out. Micky walked over to Jaejoong and patted him on his back.

Micky: Fantastic, isn't she?

Jaejoong (lost in his own thoughts): Huh?

Micky: I mean Jaein... Isn't she fantastic? I'm so glad that I managed to hire her... She was hot property on the market as her grades were so good...

Jaejoong (turns to Micky): Really?

Micky: Yeah... I really must find a way to keep her here for good...

Jaejoong looked at Micky. He was smiling to himself.

Jaejoong: Do you... like her?

Micky (rubs his head sheepishly): Well... Honestly... Totally... Mesmerised... During her interview, you should have seen her... She was so confident and yet warm and not arrogant like others... I almost couldn't talk... I was dumbfounded...

Jaejoong: So that's why you hired her? To keep her by your side? Cos you like her?

Micky: Well... Not totally... Her abilities were fantastic too of course... So...

Jaejoong: Does she know yet? How you feel about her?

Micky: No... I haven't told her yet... I hardly have a chance to talk to her alone... Unless it's about work... It doesn't help that my other female staff are always vying for my attention...

Jaejoong: Her too?

Micky: No... She's different from the rest... She doesn't seem to want my attention at all... And everytime she talks to me, it's all about work... So far I don't know anything about her except that she works for me...

Jaejoong's thoughts: Good... He hasn't made his move yet... And she doesn't seem to be interested in him... She must still love me... I still have a chance...

Jaejoong: Micky... Do you mind if I give her a treat tonight for doing such a great job for my case? It's my way of thanking her...

Micky: Am I invited too?

Jaejoong (reluctantly): Of course my friend...

Micky: Alright... I'll let her know... Where do you want to go?

Jaejoong: Erm... My fave restaurant... Amour...

Micky: Amour!!! Wow... That expensive place... Okay... We'll all need to get changed before we go then... Hmm... It's already 4pm now... I'll let her off now so she can go home to change first...

Jaejoong: Thanks Micky...

Jaejoong left the firm and went home to change. He was excited to be dining with Jaein again. Even though it meant that Micky had to be there too in order to make sure that she would come. He had so much to tell her. Hopefully she would let him send her home tonight and then he could explain things to him.

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Micky: Jaein-ah... Jaejoong wants to treat you to dinner tonight to thank you for your great work...

Jaein: Micky... It's alright... I'm just doing my job... And I have things to do still...

Micky: It's just his way of appreciating your work... Come on... Don't reject him... Or else I'll lose the chance to eat free food at Amour...

Jaein: You're going too?

Micky: Yeah...

Jaein's thoughts: If Micky is there too, I think it should be find right? He can't do anything to me...

Jaein: Alright then... I'll go...

Micky: Thanks! You can go home now to get yourself changed for dinner tonight... I'll see you there at 7pm with Jaejoong then...

Jaein: Okay...

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At Amour restaurant...

Jaejoong arrived 15 minutes earlier and waited at the private room. Micky arrived 5 minutes later. Both were decked in formal suits, Jaejoong's was black and Micky's white. They chatted over red wine as they waited for Jaein to arrive.

Jaein: Sorry I'm late...

Both turned to look at Jaein when she spoke. She was wearing a simple black tube dress with puffy skirt, with black patent pumps. Her neck was adorned with a simple diamond necklace, and she carried a small black patent clutch. Both Jaejoong and Micky were speechless when they saw her. She looked so different from her normal work suits which comprised of black pants suit, with white shirt under.

Jaein walked in and both scampered to get up from their seats to pull the chair for her, grabbing it at the same time.

Jaein: It's okay guys... I got it...

They retracted their hands, and she pulled the chair herself and sat down. Both men scampered back to their seats and settled down.

Throughout the dinner, Jaein kept a professional front with both of them, smiling politely at their discussions and seldom gave her comments unless asked. Jaejoong kept looking at her whenever he had a chance to. But she almost always, avoided his eyes by looking down at her food instead. But she looked at Micky when he spoke to her. Jaejoong was becoming more and more jealous of Micky. Not only did he have her working with him everyday. He had her attention. He wanted Jaein to look at him, and not Micky. To speak to him, and not Micky. To see him, and not Micky. To love him, and not Micky.

Dinner soon ended and it was time to leave.

Micky: Jaein-ah... Why don't I give you a ride back home? It's already so late...

Jaejoong was anxious. He wanted to send her back. But he knew that she wouldn't let him. But he didn't want Micky to do it too...

Jaein: It's alright Micky... I drove here... I can go back myself...

Micky (jokingly): Ah... You never give me a chance at all do you?

Jaein: You're my boss... You don't have to send your staff back home everyday... Otherwise you'll be so busy sending everyone home... But most importantly... I don't want to infuriate your "fangirls"... I still cherish my life at work...

Micky: Ha ha ha... Alright... Alright... My car's here... I'll make a move first then... See you at work... (turns to Jaejoong) See ya Jaejoong... Thanks for the treat!

Micky left the two of them waiting for their cars at the front. Jaein kept her back to Jaejoong. She didn't want to talk to him.

Jaejoong: Jaein-ah... We need to talk...

Her car arrived and she walked off to get into her car, ignoring Jaejoong. She drove off. Jaejoong was like ants on a hot pot. Then his car arrived too and he hopped up and sped off, hoping to be able to catch up with Jaein. He spotted her blue cabriolet and trailed after her at a safe distance. He needed to explain things to her. And he wouldn't rest until he did. Micky was already interested in her. If he waited any longer, she might just end up being Micky's. And he didn't want that to happen.

Jaein parked her car at her loft apartment's car park and got off the car. Jaejoong hurriedly parked his car and followed her to the lift lobby. He waited in the shadows where Jaein couldn't see her, and once the lift doors opened and she walked in, he raced out and slipped into the same lift, and closed the doors.

Jaein (shocked): WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!!! HOW DID YOU...

Jaejoong: I followed your car...

Jaein: You're despicable...

Jaein walked forward to try to make the lift doors open. But Jaejoong blocked her way.

Jaein: GO AWAY!!!

Jaejoong: We need to talk Jaein...

Jaein: There's nothing I want to say to you...

Jaejoong: But there's something I need to say to you...

Jaein (heartlessly): I have no desire whatsoever to hear it...

Jaejoong: Please... Jaein... Please... just... listen... to what I have to say first... If you still don't want to see me after you hear it... Then I'll not bother you ever again...

Jaein: Well... If it means you will disappear from my sight forever... Then... make it quick...

The lift door opened at Jaein's apartment level.

Jaejoong: Can I tell you in your house? Where it's more private?

Jaein: Alright.

Both stepped out of the lift and Jaein led him to her house. She opened the door and let him in, before closing the door behind her.

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