Chaerin was almost forced to spend the rest of the afternoon in the studio, as Hyunsuk said, she should know the kind of artist he had before collaborating with her. She more than anything felt like running away, but she had a job, she had to endure it until the end of the day at least.

She heard TOP’s grave rapping, Youngbae’s lovely falsetto, Daesung’s strong vocals, Jiyong’s smooth rapping and Seungri’s lovable ballad voice. They were talented, they were unique, she knew, and if that façade was true, she would love to work with them, but the honest truth was that she couldn’t care less how talented they were, it was not her job to scout their talents.

Jiyong got out of the booth and smiled at her, his shirt ed on the top and the wrist pulled up, the tie was now looking like a necklace and his black coat long gone. She smiled back, still sitting on the couch, now totally alone since all the boys were scrambled, Seungri playing with Youngbae, TOP listening from the back of the room, his back rested on the wall, and both Hyunsuk and Daesung where sitting in front of the computer, producing the music. Daesung smiled at Jiyong and rested his back on the chair, “Want to hear you out?” Daesung asked Jiyong and he nodded eagerly. Hyunsuk played the music and Jiyong’s voice filled the room again.

Jiyong sat next to Chaerin, after all, the couch was next to the computer station, listening intently at the music playing, now that his voice was integrated to the BGM. Jiyong’s face was serious, completely focused on what he was listening. As the music ended, he frowned and rested his back on the couch, his mouth twitching to the sides before he spoke. “I think it needs to be higher, the notes. I can do that, let’s record again.” He said standing up. Chaerin almost rolled her eyes, after all it had been five hours since they started recording, and every time they finished recording, Jiyong would say it needed to be recorded again.

“He’s a perfectionist, and has quite the cunning ear to music, he has produced all of our songs, he knows his stuffs.” TOP said, now standing next to Chaerin. She smiled crookedly and nodded, letting out a sigh of almost exasperation.

“It was perfectly fine.” She said. TOP chuckled and nodded.

“Yeah, maybe it was, but it did needed a higher tone, two grave voices won’t do with that song. Besides, he wrote it, he knows what he wants.” TOP said. Chaerin nodded, pursuing her lips. She took a quick glance over Seungri; apparently, he pretended she was not there. He was laughing hard with Youngbae before the music started again and Jiyong started rapping once again, this time, his voice a few higher notes than before.

After he was done with his part, Jiyong step out of the booth, his face devious and almost dancing as he walked out, earning laughter from s. Chaerin laughed a bit too, still wearing her composure. Jiyong sat again next to her, and again, Hyunsuk played the music. This time, Jiyong moved his head to the rhythm of the music, his face pleased as he heard the notes and the words. Chaerin got engulfed in the music, moving her head and foot to the rhythm of the song. It was a mixture of rap and electronic, giving out a feeling of wanting to dance the night away. Jiyong’s voice with TOP’s voice at the back gave an euphoric feeling of excitement mixed with an ecstasy, giving goosebumps and the urge to dance and jump the night away.

The music stopped, and Jiyong smiled widely as Hyunsuk eyed him, completely pleased with the result. “I think it’s awesome,” Daesung said. Jiyong nodded and looked over at Chaerin, his smile seductive.

“What do you think? Is it good?” Jiyong said. Chaerin looked at him with one raised eyebrow, now on seductive mode, and nodded.

“It’s really good, of course. TOP’s voice gives out the need to dance and jump. It’s awesome.” She said. Jiyong laughed and nodded.

“That’s good. What do you think hyung? Are we done here?” Jiyong said and Hyunsuk nodded.

“I’ll finish this with Teddy, his fingers work magic. You guys go and take the rest of the night off, you deserve it.” Hyunsuk said. All the guys cheered and grabbed their things. Jiyong scoot his way towards Chaerin and smiled.

“What do you say? Should we go out and eat? I’m hungry,” He said, Chaerin smiled and nodded. If there was one way of getting close to Hyunsuk, it was with his golden boy, so this was like jackpot.

“Sure, I’m quite hungry too, your perfectionism got us here almost six hours, so you at least own me dinner.” She said and Jiyong laughed and nodded, standing up.

“Alright then, see you soon, I’ll pick you up.” He said grabbing his coat. She crooked her head and stood up.

“I got my car, I guess it’s better ‘see you at the restaurant’, don’t you think?” She said. He chuckled and nodded.

“Ok then, see you at the restaurant. Give me your phone number so I’ll text you the directions.” He said taking out his iPhone from his coat. She nodded, telling him her phone number, he saved it then dialed it, and Chaerin’s own phone rang on her hand, the screen flashing with an unsaved number. She smiled and saved the phone number on her contacts and locked the phone again.

“See you later Kwon Jiyong.” She said. He smiled and nodded, then Chaerin turned around and exited the studio. She walked towards the elevator, intending to go towards her car when a hand grabbed her arm and turned her around, just in front of the elevator. Seungri looked to the sides, and just when the elevator doors opened – exactly a second after he grabbed her hand – he pushed them both inside and pushed the button for closing the doors without pushing any level button. She glared at him and freed her arm from his tight hold.

“What the do you think you’re doing here?” He hissed as she stood straight, ready to kick his if he got funny.

“Your boss told you, why ask me?” She said crossing her arms, her hand close to the belt on her dress, one who hide a small dagger in it. Seungri raised an eyebrow and laughed without any humor at her face.

“A chaebol daughter? Please Chaerin; you’re as poor as I was. A chaebol daughter really?” He said. She smiled and nodded.

“Glad you remember our past, I though the fame clouded the darkness that surrounded it.” She said, pure honesty on her voice.

“Don’t with me Chaerin, this is my ground now, what the are you doing here?” He asked her again, hatred spilling from every word his mouth muster, and Chaerin’s senses got sharp, she was suddenly alert.

“Your ground? That’s nice.” She said, she extended her hand to press the button to the basement floor where the parking was but he grabbed her wrist, stopping her from doing it. She immediately made a move from her wrist that freed her from his grasp, again. He frowned and then scoffed.

“So you lied, you’re still on that company, you’re still a thief!” He said. She widened her eyes and looked at him. Her shocked expression relaxed quickly, as an idea popped in her head. She started laughing at his face, so hard it bothered him.

“Please Seunghyun, I already told you they kicked me out, it’s actually my desire to still form part of it, but because of you, they kicked me out, barely alive.” She said. He glared, his eyes cunning and sharp.

“So you’re here to have revenge on me?” He said, confusion clear on his tone. She laughed again.

“I think I made that already, don’t you?” She said. His face didn’t relaxed, but his body did, he slid his hands on his pocket, as if to prevent himself from hitting her.

“Indeed, but is not the answer I want, what are you doing here?” He said. She stopped laughing inwardly and looked at him, trying to look honest.

“Just what your boss told you, I’m here for the project on the states, nothing more.” She said. He raised an eyebrow.

“You’re not a chaebol daughter Lee Chaerin, your father, your real father, is a physics professor, as far as I know.” He said. She smiled and nodded.

“Indeed, can you keep a secret?” She said. Seungri looked surprise, this question taking him off-guard.

“What is it?” He said. Chaerin fidgeted, pretending she was looking for the right words, but truth is, she already had them.

“Well, I’m actually here protecting Lee Kwang Hoon’s real daughter. You see, she was the one supposed to be here, but a few days before she departed for South Korea, someone ambushed their cars, and he was desperate, and me, working as his assistant, happened to have his same last name and his daughter same age, and since he trusted me, he asked me to come here, do the same work but on behalf of his daughter. He told me I had to pose as his own daughter so he could have time to hide her, so here I am.” Chaerin said, quite glad she managed to sound so honest and real. Seungri’s face softened, then worry took the best of him.

“You’re risking your life for the daughter of a rich man? Is that even fair?” He said. Chaerin shrugged and looked at him with rounded eyes.

“It’s for the sake of the company and the conglomerate, and they’ve been so good to me, I couldn’t refuse Seunghyun, and Hyori’s my friend, I would do anything for her,” Chaerin said, obviously inventing that name. Seungri’s eyes widened when he heard the name.

“Hyori? Lee Hyori? The singer?” He said. Chaerin widened her eyes and then relaxed quickly, laughing.

“Of course not silly, not the singer, they have the same name, but they’re not the same person.” Chaerin said, her heart beating fast. She saw that he nodded, and seemed to have a brighter mood by now. “So, can you keep my secret? Can I trust you on that?” She said. Seungri looked at her, his eyes soft and polite.

“Of course you can, I think it’s the least I can do for you.” He said, Chaerin smiled and nodded, jumping a little when her phone rang on her purse. It was a text message, and it was probably from Jiyong, she didn’t bother to look. Seungri smiled and pushed the button to open the doors.

“Go on, hyung might be waiting, and he gets cranky when he waits a lot.” He said stepping out of the elevator, not before he pushed the basement button. Chaerin was going to say something, but the doors closed on her face. She frowned, and almost cleaned the sweat on her face when she saw her own reflection on the elevator doors, alone. She smiled at herself and shook her head, fishing her phone out of her purse. She checked the text and smiled triumphantly, two successes in one day; it may be her lucky day.