Yuna and Joon reached the continental hotel in Okinawa and were ushered to their rooms by a hotel staff.
Joon was given the key to room 212 while Yuna got room 213. They both entered their separate rooms without saying as much as a simple 'Hm' to each other.
Yuna immediately sprawled on the soft bed and felt like she was about to sink in which made her sharply sit up. She swept her hazel eyes about the room, taking stock of the affluent bedroom.
Her eyes landed on a door that connects her room to Joon's room.
What is this? She walked to the door and bowed to peek through the key hole. Gong Joon is taking off his shirt, probably about to shower.
Yuna had to fight every bone in her body not to stare. She returned to the bed and jumped into it. Took a deep breath and exhaled sharply. I should catch some sleep.
THREE HOURS LATER…
An incessant knock on her door made her wake up. Hair scattered, drool stained on her chin, she clumsily waddled to the door and opened it.
"What the hell is this?" Joon's familiar flabbergasted voice made her sharply look up.
"CEO?" Her eyes snapped open.
"I thought we are supposed to meet with Mr Haguchi in …" he glanced at his wrist watch, "Ten minutes!?"
She swallowed, "I overslept. I will get dressed immediately."
She run back into the room and started rummaging through her luggage, flinging her outfit all over the room. She finally found her old black suit and quickly slipped into it. She wore her hair in a messy bun and rushed to meet Joon at the hotel lobby.
His eyes leered over her body, "This is what you want to wear to meet our potential VIP business partners?" He tried not to sound judgmental.
"I uh… you said I should hurry up." She murmured.
"Let's just go!" He headed for the entrance.
This man is just annoying me. She followed him.
They arrived at an elite bar just outside the hotel and went into a private dimly lit room.
Seated on the sofa is a pale man in a black suit with a man bun. Another man with glasses is seated next to him.
"Mr Gong from Korea, I have been eagerly waiting for you." Mr Haguchi smiled, extending a hand to Joon. They shook hands and exchanged greetings.
He finally turned to Yuna and gets to his feet, "You must be Miss Yuna, am I so glad to meet you …?" He reached for her hand, leaned and, planted a soft kiss on the back of her hand while still maintaining eye contact.
Yuna developed a sudden sense of discomfort and gently without raising his alert, pulled her hand away with a practiced smile, "Nice to meet you Mr Haguchi."
"Call me Yuki." He said, settling down, "We got fine wine, gentlemen, and a pretty breathtaking view …" he said pointedly at Yuna with a coy grin on his face, "This place feels too special tonight. Let's talk business, shall we?"
Joon glanced at Yuna who was still standing. It was as if he was telepathically trying to communicate with her. She read the words in his eyes and gave him a short nod and settled down beside him.
"Let's begin Mr Haguchi." She smiled.
HALF AN HOUR LATER…
They finished talking about the project and Mr Haguchi suggested they continue talking over some drinks.
Yuna would take small sips so not to get drunk alone as a woman in a room packed with men. She was feeling uneasy but still kept her composure and a smile plastered on her face.
It was getting quite late and Joon could sense the discomfort in Yuna's eyes. He turned to a now drunk Mr Haguchi, "I'm afraid we will have to get going. It's getting pretty late. We will meet again tomorrow to sign the contract. Good night."
They got to their feet and they headed for the door, and then all of a sudden, Yuki grabs Yuna's arm and yanked her towards him. She falls on his laps with a shocked whimper.
"What the HELL are you doing?" She pushed him away and sharply stands - clearly petrified by Mr Haguchi brazenness.
Yuki Haguchi only chuckled, "Why be feisty Miss Yuna? I thought we met her to enjoy ourselves. Right Mr Gong Joon from Korea?"
Gong Joon could barely hold himself back and spoke through gritted teeth, "With due respect, Mr Haguchi, I will not tolerate such insolent behavior towards MY secretary!"
Yuki scoffed, "Insolence? Me? Are you forgetting why you are here Mr Gong Joon? Do you forget that you need me?"
"What I need is your money, but after witnessing your behavior firsthand, I am afraid I cannot collect money from such a dirty minded man." Joon snared, grabbed Yuna's hand and dragged her out of the room before Yuki Haguchi could even think of a response.
Joon didn't let go of Yuna till they've reached their bedrooms. He finally released her arm and faced her apologetically.
"That which should happen happened, there is no going back. I hope you forget about it and forgive me for my ignorance. I should have stepped in since from the beginning but I really wanted to partner with him so I can defeat Jiho and win the Seoul cares project which made me overlook his attitude towards you. I am sorry. Good night."
With those words, he turned to leave but Yuna held him back, tightly grasping his arm. He slowly wheeled around to face her. Her eyes begged him not to leave and he saw right through them.
Without wasting another second, Joon pulled her into a tight embrace. She wrapped her arms tightly around him. They stayed in that position for a while and then they pulled away from each other.
Yuna gave him a grateful nod and slipped into her bedroom.
Joon's hand was still frozen in the way he held earlier, his body longed to feel her more. Somehow, embracing her brought him comfort too.
With a heavy heart, he entered his room and went to bed.
*****
Jiho parked in the underground garage and you both took the elevator to the first floor of Moon Bay building.
All eyes fell on you as soon as you entered the building together.
Mr Han, chairman Hangmo's secretary, rushed to meet Jiho, "You are finally here." He was panting - clearly ran over.
"What happened?" Jiho asked worriedly.
Mr Han took a deep calming breath, "That rotten reporter is here, apparently, he has filed an assault charge against you."
"WHAT?" You both gasped in unison.
That f**king stupid asshole, I will kill him! As if you had been pushed, you stomped off.
"Ari, where are you going?" Jiho and Mr Han rushed after you but were too late to catch up as you had already taken the elevator to the top floor.
Reporter Jaewon is seated comfortably in the conference room. He is with another man but you couldn't care any less.
You barged into the room like a torrential headwind and approached him. Your shadow loomed over his head like a thunder cloud. He looks up, meeting your daggering gaze.
"Are you …reporter Han Jaewon?" Your question made him feel a thousand rattling tingles. He swallowed, shooting a glance at the other man beside him.
The other man cleared his throat as he rises to his feet, "Hello, I am detective Min Je…"
"So he is truly reporter Han Jaewon! Wow, you truly are audacious." You interrupted the cop and pinned your gaze on Jaewon, "First, you wrote nonsense about me and now, you dare show your face and file a complaint against my husband?"
"Your husband physically assaulted him and the incident was witnessed by a lot of people. He needs justice." The cop explained.
"Ah, physical assault?" You perused at the mildly healed bruises on Jaewon's face. "You must have been hurt by my husband's actions. I guess I should step in and put your misery to an end."
"Exactly." Jaewon finally spoke, "Your husband really hit me badly. All I ask is a … little compensation and a public apology."
Greedy pig!!
"Okay." You nodded your consent. Jaewon grinned victoriously and rocked back into his seat in all his shameful-glory.
You leaned towards him, "And for publicly defaming my and my brother's characters, I WILL TAKE YOUR LIFE!!!" You barked and suddenly yanked Jaewon's hair.
He wailed and struggled under your grip as the inspector interfered and tried to save him from you.
Jiho and Mr Han rushed into the chaotic scene and jumped in. Jiho grabbed you by the waist and effortlessly pulled you away from Jaewon.
"Calm down. I know you are upset but calm down." Jiho pleaded
You take a deep breath, raising your hands in surrender, "Okay, I am calm. Leave me alone."
Jiho nodded and took a step away. You waited till they relaxed and charged at Jaewon again.
"I WILL KILL YOU!!!!"
Jaewon was eventually saved but with a messed up hair and mangled outfit.
He voluntarily decided to drop the charges. Jiho brought you to his office to calm yourself down while he left to escort Jaewon.
He kindly brought them to the entrance and that is when his expression took a dark turn. He glared at Jaewon,
"I punched you till your face could not be recognized and my wife here is more than prepared to kill you. Do you really think messing with us will be beneficial to you?"
"No." Jaewon instantly ejaculated. "I am regretful. I will never write about your family again. I have had enough and I also want to live a long life. Don't worry, I will be out of your hair so please …ask your lovely wife to leave me alone."
With those words, they skidded off.
Jiho entered his office and you are pacing up and about restlessly.
"Where did that asshole go? Why did you let him leave? I wanted to at least knock him out." You hissed.
Jiho chuckled in disbelief, "I had already taught him a lesson, why bother harming him again?"
You sharply faced him, "If that trashy reporter had just sticked to writing about me, I wouldn't care any less but that asshole dared to press charges against you, AGAINST YOU!? He had crossed all his limits."
Jiho couldn't believe his ears and you couldn't believe you blurted such words out of you. Given the tension going on between you and him, this feels like a punch to your gut.
With a mesmerized smile, Jiho suddenly strides towards you, forcing you to back away till there was no room left and your back is pressed against the wall.
You gulp, cheeks instantly flaring, "What …What are you doing?"
He tilted his head, giving you a look that will immediately win over the heart of the viewer.
"If I didn't know any better…" he momentarily paused, "I would think … You are in love with me."