by Arthurs, Nia
Stunning. That’s what she was.
Her eyes flicked to his. “Thanks for lunch.”
“No problem.”
Her lips twitched and curled into a small smile. “I’ll see you later.”
Sun Gi’s heart pounded, but he didn’t let his nerves show. Dipping his head in farewell, he rolled up the window and drove off.
On the way to his meeting, Sun Gi brushed his fingers over the leather of his steering wheel and tried to get his head back on track.
By the time he’d parked the car and ambled to his meeting, he still had no solutions, only problems.
Problem one: Hanna.
His reluctant fiancée. The woman he’d promised to date for the next three months—one that wouldn’t be in the country for an unforeseeable amount of time.
Problem two: Jo
The woman who’d captured his heart with her song. Now his new secretary who’d be right by his side for half a year.
“Sir?” the DollarGram rep tapped him on the shoulder. “Are you ready to begin?”
Sun Gi cleared his throat. His love life was a tangled web that wouldn’t be straightened out in a day. He forced himself to focus on the matter at hand.
Love was complicated.
Money wasn’t.
The meeting took a few hours. By the time he walked out of the building, it was almost five o’clock. Sun Gi debated returning to the office but decided to head home. He could just as easily work from there.
The sunlight was beginning to wane in the horizon. Fluffy clouds, brushed with orange, red and gold tones, hovered in the sky. School kids skipped past in their uniforms while workers scurried by to catch the bus.
I wonder if Jo will leave the office early today?
As he strode to his car, he pulled out his phone to dial Bo Young when the hair at the back of his neck stood to attention.
Sun Gi paused and glanced behind him.
There were a few kids in uniforms striding down the street, but no one was paying him any mind.
“Must have imagined it,” Sun Gi mumbled.
He strolled to the parking lot and put his phone to his ear. It dialed twice before Jo’s sultry voice picked up. “Hello, this is Mr. Kim’s office.”
Sun Gi needed a minute to catch his breath. That voice of hers was dangerous. He shook his head and reached out to unlock his car. “Hey, Jo.”
“Sun Gi?” There was bewilderment in her tone before she cleared her throat and replied with a polished, “I mean, Mr. Kim. How can I help you?”
He popped the car door open. “Is Bo Young there?”
“Yes. Would you like to speak to her?”
“Please.” Sun Gi heard rustling in the background.
A moment later, Bo Young blared in his ear. “Sir?”
“No. I’m heading home now. You and Jo should wrap up for the day.”
Bo Young shrieked. “Are you sick? Is it the flu? Should I bring some soup over?”
“No, I’m not sick.”
“Then why are you going home?” She paused and he could almost hear the wheels turning in her head. “Wait, do you have a date with Hanna?”
He opened his mouth to tell her about Hanna’s grandmother but stopped himself at the last minute. “You’re acting like I never go home early.”
“Because you’re chained to your desk.”
Sun Gi smiled. “How’d Jo do today?”
“Great. I can see why Eun Jung favored her. She’s smart, capable and eager to do her best. Anywhere she goes, she’ll be a leader.”
Sun Gi felt his chest swelling with pride even though the person on the receiving end of the ego stroke wasn’t him.
“Anyway, I’ll let you go, sir. Enjoy your hot date tonight.”
He stiffened, imagining Jo sitting next to Bo Young and getting the wrong idea. “No, it’s not—”
Bo Young hung up.
He pocketed the phone and froze as an eerie sensation crawled up his back. He shot a glance over his shoulder, puzzled when he saw nothing but vehicles spread out for blocks.
Am I going crazy?
He climbed into his car. Paranoid, Sun Gi checked the back seat for masked men with knives and came up empty.
He wanted to laugh at himself, but the adrenaline rushing through his veins prevented him from tossing the feeling aside.
The number of people who’d want to do him harm was staggering.
He’d stepped on many toes in his chase for success. Sun Gi wouldn’t apologize for having high standards and a low tolerance for incompetence, but his unpopularity didn’t help in moments like this.
He locked the car, securing himself inside, and pulled out his cell phone again. Even though the list of potential stalkers was huge, his instincts pointed to one suspect.
Brighton.
He was a disgruntled employee with an ax to grind. He’d also publicly threatened his life. He’d cross Brighton off the list first before he started investigating his past.
Sun Gi called Eun Jung to check if Brighton had been in contact with her. If he’d made any more threats, Sun Gi planned on calling the police immediately.
The line rang and rang, but there was no response.
His disquiet mounted. What if something had happened to her or one of the other workers?
Worried, Sun Gi drove to the department store. His feet pounded the steps to the front door and he burst inside, searching for signs of a struggle.
There were none.
Rhia balked when she saw him. “Mr. Kim?”
“Are you,” Sun Gi gasped and held a hand out to her as he caught his breath, “are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Well, now I feel stupid.
Rhia blinked. “Ms. Jung isn’t here. Do you want me to call her?”
“No, I—” he shook his head, “it’s fine. It wasn’t that important.” He started to back away.
“Wait! Mr. Kim!” Rhia bounded toward him. “I was hoping to talk to you, but I wasn’t sure if I should.”
“What’s up?”
“It’s about Brighton.”
His face tightened. What’s so great about that man that every female worker is fighting for him? “Rhia, if you’re trying to convince me to give him his job back, I can’t—”
“No, it’s not that.” She played with the gold ring on her dark fingers. “The truth is… I knew that Brighton used to steal things.”
His eyes widened. “You did?”
“I saw him taking a CD player once. He told me that it was a defect and he was taking it to get it fixed, but he never brought it back.” Rhia tossed a long braid that was dangling in front of her face. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have let him get away with it, but I didn’t want to snitch on a friend. And… I kind of liked him too.”
“Rhia—”
“I can see now that it was wrong.” She bowed. “I’m sorry, Mr. Kim. My mother’s sick and my two little brothers depend on me for everything.” She glanced up. “But if you want to fire me, I understand.”
He sighed. “You’re right. You should have said something, but it wasn’t your fault. The person who deserved punishment was Brighton.”
“Really?” She straightened, eyes pooling with relief.
He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “Keep up the good work.”
“Thank you, sir!” A brilliant smile bloomed.
Sun Gi nodded and exited the store.
His thoughts raced as he got back into his vehicle and drove home. So maybe Brighton wasn’t the one who’d been watching him. Maybe no one had.
That was one less thing to worry about.
Sun Gi leaned his elbow on the window and grounded his thumb against his bottom lip. A few minutes later, he slowed down in front of his house and waited for the automatic gates to move aside.
A dark figure rose in his periphery.
Brighton!
He inched his foot on the gas, silently urging his gate to move faster. If Brighton had a gun he was d
one for.
“Come on, come on.” He hissed at the gate.
Tap, tap.
“For the love of—” Sun Gi muttered an expletive as someone knocked on his window.
“Sun Gi.” He recognized his brother’s voice.
Heart still thundering in his throat, he slowly wound the window down. “What the hell, Joon? Are you creeping up on people now?”
“I tried to wave at you, but you didn’t notice.” His brother’s lips curved upward. “You still scream like a girl.”
Sun Gi huffed out a breath. “What are you doing here?”
“I was sent on a mission.” Joon shoved a large container through the window. The scent of something chocolate and savory filled his car. “Sky sent apology brownies.”
“Why is she apologizing?” He peered at his brother.
“She’s not. I am. I shouldn’t have accused you of trying to flirt with Sky. No hard feelings?”
He chuckled. “Sky’s forcing you to do this, isn’t she?”
“She went on and on about how important family is and made me swear to make up with you or else. I’m already in the doghouse, man. Just accept the stupid brownies and let’s move on.”
Sun Gi smirked. “You must like her a lot.”
“She taught me what it means to love someone. I owe her for that.”
“You love her?”
“I’d die for her.” Joon snickered. “That sounded dramatic. I want her to be happy to my own detriment.” He shrugged. “I’m committed to her on a level that’s deeper than the physical. I love her.”
Love had never appealed to him before, but the thought was tempting. Sun Gi wanted that kind of relationship with someone. He wanted that warmth. But not with Hanna.
He wanted a relationship with Jo.
24
Jo crashed through the doors of the Hidden Reef and stumbled to the bar. She motioned to the bartender with her finger and croaked, “Rum and coke. On the rocks.”
The handsome server, who’d obviously been chosen for his looks along with whatever skills he had, nodded once and started her order.
Jo swung her leg to mount the bar stool and got a slap of cold reality when her pencil skirt remained taunt around her thighs. Stupid skirt. She was already at a disadvantage thanks to her height and the tight material wasn’t helping matters.
Jo slung her foot on the bottom rung of the bar stool and scrambled up like an uncoordinated child trying to mount a merry-go-round.
It wasn’t pretty or graceful, but she got to the top and sat down just in time for the bartender to slide her the drink. His pink lips curved up in an amused smirk. He must have seen her embarrassing scramble a few seconds ago. At least he was kind enough not to mention it.
Smart man.
She saluted him with her drink and knocked it back, gesturing for another. Jo had just started on her second glass when Carrie barreled out of a side door and skidded to a stop in front of her.
Jo ran her eyes lazily over her friend’s body. Waist-length black hair—premium imported Brazilian. Dark brown skin. Wide eyes. Frowning lips. Even when she was furious, Carrie was still hot.
Jo put two-thumbs up. “You look nice.”
“What are you doing here?” Carrie hissed.
Jo arched an eyebrow and pointed to her half-empty glass. “Take a wild guess.”
“Jo, you know you can’t hold your liquor.” Carrie grabbed the mug away and tapped the counter to get the bartender’s attention. “Zeke, give me some water. And do me a favor,” she put her palm under Jo’s chin, “cut this one off.”
Jo swatted her hand away. “I’m a paying customer.”
“You’re a public menace. Do you want me to call your parents?”
Jo straightened and shook her head slowly.
“What did she have?” Carrie asked Zeke.
“Rum and coke.”
Carrie groaned.
Jo stared at her friend resentfully. Why was Carrie acting like her mother?
“When I heard you were here, I thought you wanted to sing.” Carrie gave her a dark look. “I had no idea you were trying to get smashed on a freaking Monday.”
“Hey, the highest number of suicides happen on Monday.”
The way Carrie’s eyes doubled in size, Jo wondered if she’d said something deathly offensive. “S-suicide?” Her friend stuttered. “What the hell, Jo?”
She swayed lightly. “It’s true.”
“Come here.” Carrie plunked a hand on her shoulder and dragged her closer. She sniffed around her neck and pulled back, a scowl on her face. “Did you drink before you got here?”
Jo’s head flapped as if it had disconnected from her spine. She poked out a guilty finger. “Yes.”
“How much?”
“Well,” she thought back through her hazy memories, “I left work at five and drove to the grocery store. I had a beer then so I called a cab.”
“So you only had one?”
“The cab took me to another store and I bought the green apple flavored vodka—because you know that’s my favorite. But they only had two more left so I had to go somewhere else—”
“Joana!” Carrie screeched.
She pulled her hands into her lap and pushed out her bottom lip in a pitiful expression. “Sorry.”
Carrie tipped her head back and groaned at the ceiling. “Why did you drink so much?”
Jo clutched her chest. “He’s on a hot date.”
“Who?”
She dropped her head to the cool granite of the bar top and sniveled, “He’s on a hot date and then he’ll have a hot wedding and a hot honeymoon night.”
“Jo?” Carrie dropped her head to hear what she was mumbling. “Are you still talking English? Is this Korean?”
Jo’s heart shuddered in her chest.
“Stay there. I’ll call your mom to take you home.”
“No!”
“Then what do you want me to do?”
“Call him.” Jo threw her phone at Carrie and tapped on Sun Gi’s number. “Call this person and tell him to come to me.”
“Who’s Evil Boss?” Carrie made a face. “Is this Sky?”
Jo almost laughed. Sky wasn’t evil. She was the sweetest, most kind-hearted person in the world. That’s why she hired some random beauty selling fudge in the market to work in her kitchen.
“Hello? Is this Sky?” Carrie’s voice sounded behind her. Jo glanced that way and saw her cell phone plastered to Carrie’s ear. “Wait… Sun Gi! As in the guy who was looking for Nightingale?”
When Carrie glared at her, Jo ducked and focused on her shirtsleeve.
“No, it’s fine. Jo’s drunk and she made me bother you for nothing. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of her.” Carrie tilted her head and listened.
Curiosity burned her, but Jo knew if she moved an inch, Carrie would bite her head off, so she stayed still.
“You really don’t have to… okay. Okay. Thanks.” Carrie nudged her in the side with her phone.
Jo accepted it as excitement trembled in her gut. “Is he really coming?”
“I ask the questions around here.” Carrie poked a finger to her chest. “Now, tell me why you have Sun Gi saved as ‘Evil Boss’ in your phone. And why did you call him to take care of your drunk butt when you were diving behind boxes to get away from him a few weeks ago?”
Jo cringed. “It’s a long story.”
“I have time,” Carrie sassed.
“Carrie!” A woman with pale skin, eyes heavily shaded with eyeliner and thin lips strutted toward them. Her straight black hair flailed as she rotated her neck. “What’s going on? I sent you out to get the list from Zeke an hour ago.”
Carrie frowned. “Sorry, Stacie. I’ll get right on that.”
“Hurry up!” Stacie huffed.
Carrie wiggled a finger at Jo. “This isn’t over.”
Jo waited until Carrie had disappeared and then slipped a twenty over the counter. “Hey, Zeke, Could you disregard everything you’v
e heard until now and pour me a new one?”
“Anything for you, beautiful.” He winked.
Jo giggled.
Suddenly, Carrie shot back to her side and jumped at Zeke. “If you so much as pour another drop, I swear I’ll turn you inside out so birds can peck your esophagus!”
Jo trembled. That’s creative yet graphic.
The mug in Zeke’s hands magically disappeared.
So did he.
With a sigh, she buried her head in her arms. Her hair scratched against her neck and dangled to the counter. She felt like a little kid waiting for Christmas to arrive.
When is Sun Gi coming?
Jo yawned. Despite the chaos of conversation and music in the bar, her eyes struggled to remain open and her body turned sluggish.
She decided to rest, just for a minute.
Her eyes drifted closed.
What felt like a second later, someone shook her shoulder. “Jo? Are you up?”
Jo raised her head and blinked until her hazy vision became clear. In the dimness, she saw Sun Gi hovering over her. His dark eyes were unreadable black pools.
Jo wet her lips and tried to stand, but the floor tilted and she ended up almost falling flat on her face.
“Whoa!” Sun Gi caught her. His arms banded around her waist, keeping her suspended. She felt his muscles contracting as he held her tighter, for just a fragment of a minute, before setting her on her feet.
Jo brushed her hair back and tried to look as sober as possible. “Hey.”
“Hi.” He chuckled in shock. “Are you really drunk?”
“I think so.”
He flashed a full mega-watt smile and she almost fainted. Jo stared at the hand he offered, marveling. She had always been a sucker for a pair of well-groomed fingers and Sun Gi’s were just her type.
When she took too long to take his hand, Sun Gi grasped hers. His fingers slid against her palm, a completely innocent touch that sent shivers skittering up her back.
There were callouses on his hands. She looked at him in surprise. “Your hands are rough.”
“Yeah.” He pulled back as if embarrassed. “I try to work out everyday and the bars mess me up.”