Chapter 28

On a monday morning, Yunho entered his office room without any enthusiasm for the first day at work. He put his black wilsons leather drop-handle briefcase down & drank his coffee. He definitely needed a strong coffee to start his day. Enjoying the warm strong black coffee entering his empty stomach he closed his eyes. He could put his big problem at rest for a while as Mimi told him secretly that Yuri wouldn’t go to Australia with Yoongi right now. She insisted to finish her study in Seoul. Yunho sighed in relief when he heard the news. That was the best news that he got during these three horrible days. Now, he had to solve his problem with Jiyeon.

After checking with Seoyeon whether Jiyeon had come or not, he got up from his chair, heading towards Jiyeon’s room. He tried to put on a bright smile when facing Jiyeon because he believed that she was really angry this time.

Knocking on the door twice, he opened the door & saw Jiyeon sitting in her cozy chair. She lifted her face up to see who was coming but quickly turned her head away when she spotted Yunho at the door.

“Good morning, Yeonnie.” Yunho greeted her, & sat down on the chair in front of her.

Jiyeon knitted her straight eyebrows & pouted. She ignored Yunho & continued to read the file in her hand. Yunho sighed. He knew it was his fault. He shouldn’t run away from the important business like he did without delegating the task to Jiyeon. He wasn't acting as a professional businessman. He was in a hurry to have a date with Yuri & didn’t talk to Jiyeon personally about his absence. Moreover, he disconnected his mobile when he saw Jiyeon’s number calling.

Clearing his throat, he said seriously, “Yeonnie, I’m sorry. I know I’m the one who should take all the blame. I don’t blame you for cancelling our multi-million dollar contract with Mr. Smith. It should be me who should handle the project but that day I…”

“You don’t have to give me excuses. The contract has been canceled. I can only tell you that.” She answered coldly, without looking at him.

“I know but I don’t want our relationship as partners to be ruined, too. Mr. Smith is my client & you don’t know that much about this contract. It’s my entire fault & I’m sorry for that. I hope we can work together again, as good partnership.”

Jiyeon lifted her face up, looking at him with her shimmering eyes. Yunho had never failed to melt her heart. How she longed to have him back as her lover. She blinked her beautiful eyes & tried to think clearly of what she should do about him. Yunho was too sweet to be rejected. Maybe she could use his guilt to bring back their love.

“Where have you been on Friday afternoon?” She asked him in a serious tone. Her eyes were scrutinizing his face, trying to judge him whether he would utter a lie.

Yunho groaned inside. He had expected Jiyeon would ask that question. He wanted to tell a lie but looking at the seriousness on her face, he decided to tell her the truth. After all, Jiyeon knew his relationship with Yuri. So it was nothing wrong if he admitted that he was going out on a date with Yuri.

“I was out with Yuri. I wanted to celebrate her birthday together with her since I wasn’t able to do it last year which was on December fifth.”

Jiyeon stared at his face & admitted to herself that Yunho was serious with Yuri. He wouldn’t throw a multi-million dollar contract away just to celebrate a late birthday of someone if he didn’t have any feelings towards her. Her heart twisted in pain. The admiration & love towards Yuri in Yunho’s voice caused a stir of jealousy to rise inside Jiyeon. She didn’t like the feeling at all & tried to squash it away. She knew Yunho’s character. If she wanted to win then she had to melt his soft-heart with a tender touch.

“Oh, I see. Why didn’t you tell me before? If I knew then this misunderstanding wouldn’t have happened. You won’t lose the contract.” She tried to sound understandingly. Her voice was soft.

Yunho sighed in relief & smiled happily. He couldn’t believe that Jiyeon was easy to handle. He had imagined the worst thing happening when he met her but she did understand him very well.

“Never mind about that. I’ll contact Mr. Smith & ask for an apology. Thanks, Yeonnie. You’re really a best friend of mine. Tell me, what should I do to make it up to you?” He smiled with satisfaction as he looked into Jiyeon’s eyes. There was no longer anger there as he expected. Well, he was wrong about one thing. Jiyeon wasn’t angry with him anymore as she understood his reason.

Jiyeon hid her evil smile & looked at him innocently, “Eat dinner with me. We will eat korean soup, as you always like it. How is that?”

“It sounds good. You know very well my favorite food. You still remember that I like eating soup.” He grinned as he noted that she wasn’t angry with him as she showed him her beautiful smile.

“Just as long as you remember that I was the woman you were having an affair with.” She reminded him, with a smile. Her voice was light. Her smile hadn’t left her stunning face.

He looked at her in puzzlement. What was she trying to tell him? He tried to predict what she wanted but he failed. Jiyeon seemed so sincere to forgive him & just one dinner wouldn’t harm him.

“Okay. I think that’s a wonderful idea to make it up with you. Do you want me to choose the place or you will choose?”

Jiyeon smiled brightly this time. Finally he fell into her hand again. She got up from the chair & moved closer to him. Smiling politely, Yunho got up too, & waited for her next move, “Dinner at my place on Tuesday, tomorrow night at eight. I will cook your favorite meal. Don’t try to find an excuses. I know you’re not available on the weekend as you have to take your child to your parents but this will be Tuesday, one of your free days.”

“Why do you have to make yourself busy? We could just go out to a restaurant.” He raised an eyebrow as he didn’t understand why Jiyeon had to cook the dinner by herself.

Jiyeon smiled beautifully, “Aren’t you afraid the media will catch us spending dinner together & Yuri might think wrong? I’m just thinking for your own good, Yunnie Oppa. In my apartment, there won't be any annoying media!” She tried to give him a sensible reason while praying secretly that Yunho would agree. Thinking for a while, he finally agreed, “Alright. I’ll come. Make delicious food for me, will you?” He said jokingly.

Jiyeon nodded her head, still keeping the happy smile on her face, “Trust you to remember our dinner.” She moved closer to him further, straightening his light blue tonal herringbone tie with tender attention to detail, “You better get back to your room otherwise our staff will misunderstand our friendship.”

Yunho walked away, leaving her room & closed the door behind him. He took in a deep, shaking breath. Would it be another big problem for him? Why did Jiyeon act so weird or is it only his feelings? The question beat inside him, ‘Don’t think too far, Yunho. She only wants a friendship dinner with you.’ His mind told him. One dinner with Jiyeon wouldn’t harm him, right?

Hearing the door closed, Jiyeon smiled happily. Her first step from her perfect plan had run smoothly. She would make Yuri pay for stealing Yunho from her. She took the handset of the phone & dialed the specific number.

Clearing her voice, she said to someone on the other line, “Hi, this is Jiyeon. Let’s continue our business.”

Yoongi had went back to Sydney on monday morning. After accompanying him during those three days, Yuri sighed in relief. She found that her relationship with Yoongi would never be the same like before as Yunho stood in between them firmly, ‘What’s wrong with me?! Why do I keep comparing him with Yunho Oppa?! It isn’t fair!’ Her heart screamed out. To her surprises, Yunho didn’t ask about her disappearing from him during the last three days. She knitted her eyebrows when he talked to her as if nothing happened between them when he sent Chunghee home on Sunday night. She guessed he knew but didn’t want to talk about it. She didn’t want to pursue the matter further & he didn’t either. They acted like something happened casually but their sweet moments was gone. Each party was so afraid to open the conversation about Yoongi, scared to hurt the other.

Yuri remembered her last conversation with Yoongi when she went to see him off Incheon International Airport.

*Flashback*

“You will always keep your promise, won’t you, Yuri?”

She felt tears choking . She closed her eyes. Why did she feel like he sensed that she would betray him someday? “I will.” Her voice was husky, “Go