Mallory yawned, stretching her legs out in front of her, beneath the tablecloth. She’d been invited to join her brother, and Elize, at his company’s gala lunch, but Mallory really didn’t want to be there anymore. She was trying to think of ways to escape, but had come up short.

“Mal, you look so bored.” Elize drawled, swirling her drink in it’s goblet. “Tell me, what’s the matter?”

Mallory made a face. “Your breath. Have you been drinking alcohol?” Elize hiccupped and Mallory groaned. Jaspar had made his way to his company’s CEO’s table and was making an effort of looking like an incredible human being, which left Mallory with Elize. He would soon regret that decision. “You’re such a child, Elize. God, what Jaspar sees in you, I’ll never know.”

“And what that lovely Japanese boy sees in you, no one will ever know,” She hiccuped again. “Not even him.”

Mallory groaned. “He isn’t Japanese. Do you forget that you’re in South Korea at the moment, Elize.”

“Mallory,” Jaspar’s voice was tinged with warning as he moved in behind where his sister and fiance were sitting. “I’d like you to meet Claude Vandam, the company CEO and mastermind of this whole event.” When Mallory turned, Jaspar made a wide sweep with his arm towards the CEO, Claude, and smiled vibrantly. Mallory stood and walked towards the man, keeping her signature solid expression on her face as she reached a hand towards him. “This is my younger sister, Mallory, sir.”

Claude looked young, but Mallory was sure there was some form of surgery to thank for that. He had dark brown hair and tight skin, giving him the look of a man in his mid twenties. His dark blue eyes made him look severe, in place of kind. “My my,” He said, taking Mallory’s hand and kissing her knuckles, as if he were some kind of old fashioned man. It made Mallory’s stomach churn. “You are a beautiful girl.” He said, patting her hand and grinning. “And your eyes, they’re simply captivating.” He said, winking at her.

Jaspar put a hand on Mallory’s shoulder. “My sister was fortunate enough to be the cover model for three editions of the Magazine Femmes this year, as well as have five spreads in magazines like the Vogue Femme.”

Claude widened his eyes, but Mallory didn’t think he was all that surprised, or impressed. “An incredible feat, mon chéri.”

Mallory forced a smile. “Monsieur Vandam, it has been a pleasure, but I regret to say I must excuse myself. A dear friend of mine has asked me to attend an event, and I find that I am already running a little behind.”

Claude made a look of shock. “A woman of your stature? Late? I don’t believe it! By all means! Go, to save your name, mon chéri! And please, keep in contact,” Mallory nodded and moved to leave, but Claude caught her hand and pulled her to him, kissing either side of her face. She, of course, did the same to be polite, but he held her by her arms, refusing to let her go. “I would love to see you at the show this weekend.” He whispered, and Mallory turned her head away from him, nodding.

She caught Jaspar’s questioning glance as she pulled away from Claude and hurried towards the table, where she’d left her clutch. She snatched it up and hurried towards the door, cursing her eyes, and her weight, the fact that she’d worn that dress of all dresses, and the heels that made her legs look so perfect. Had she dressed different and worn her contacts, she was sure she would have received no acknowledgement.

Her heels clicked on the hard marble floor of the banquet hallway as she made her way towards the elevator, fishing in her purse for her phone. She pressed the elevator button, phone in hand and, as she waited for the doors to open, she dialed. The doors opened and she stepped in, pressing her phone to her ear.

It rang a few times before “I called you.”

Mallory smiled. “I’m sorry, I was at a gala, and I didn’t look at my notifications before I called you.”

“What if something had happened to Kirby? You’d feel pretty bad, huh?” What could Mallory say? It seemed like calling Suga when she was in a bad position, or needed something to do, was her go to. She’d said it before, that she liked the way his voice sounded. It seemed to make things a little less overbearing. He made things a little less overbearing. He’d been around while she was on business calls, and advised her not to talk too snarky and other things, which seemed to make it easier, and he always came when she needed him. Giving herself these excuses made her feel less guilty about calling him so frequently.

Mallory laughed. “Yes, I would have felt terrible. But I doubt there’s anything wrong.”

“No, nothing’s wrong, I just figured you deserved an explanation for that last conversation we had.”

“Don’t need one. You wanted dirt, I delivered, all is good.” She said, leaning back against the wall of the elevator as it descended. 
 

Suga made a noise. “We didn’t want dirt, we just wanted… well, I guess.... anyways, you’re at a gala? Should I hang up?”

“No, I’m leaving. And I have nothing to do since my brother, and his dip of a girlfriend, aren’t coming with me.” Suga hummed a reply. “Want to go get something to eat? Or see a movie?”

He sighed. “Mallory, I have to shoot a music video. We’re supposed to get there early, so they gave us today to rest. Going out to eat and see a movie isn’t necessarily resting.”

There was shuffling on the other side of the line, and Suga shouted at someone. “I’ll go with you Mallory!” Jimin offered, and Mallory smiled. “And J-Hope said he’d come too.”

Mallory laughed, and Jimin shouted as there was more struggling and shuffling. “Say no, please say no.” Suga said flatly. “Jimin’s been driving me up the wall all day.”

Mallory laughed again. “Just you and I. But you’re going to have to sneak out, so they don’t know we’re going.”

“What time do you want me to meet you at your apartment?”