The last sun rays hit the glass windows of the communal office. Logan squints and adjusts the brightness of his screen. He looks at the evidence in the flash drive Su Ryeon gave him two days ago. A voice behind him interrupts. 

"Weird research you're doing there, for someone who'll settle". 

He sees his brother's reflection on the screen and curses under his breath.

"Alex". He rotates the screen, obstructing his brother's view. "Stop prying". 

"Do you have something to hide, little bro?" He pulls off his red sunglasses and settles down, "something about a certain case?" 

That's his brother, all right. A bad boy style that magazines would kill for and a face begging to have the tattoos slapped off it. 

"Spit it out, man". Talking to his brother is worse than dealing with a teenager and he can't help but stoop to his level. "What are you doing here?"

His brother only sets foot on the firm when he needs a favour. It's usually in the form of money, or "investment" as he calls it when he's asking their father to keep financing his extravagant lifestyle. Although both brothers were expected to become lawyers, Alex left the practice to pursue his passion. Only problem is, he didn't have one. To fill the void of responsibilities, he lives off as a carefree chaebol, traveling from Seoul to New York to Milan, searching for companies to invest in when his start-up had failed. In reality, his journeys involved less business and much more pleasure. Something that Logan viewed with dread. 

"I came to talk to dad. But before I went into his office, I heard Mom and aunt Mari arguing", he says with fake casualness. "It was the weirdest thing, they were talking about you." Logan closes the document and turns to his brother fully. "I couldn't help but overhear". 

"I'm sure you couldn't," he says under his breath. 

Alex's Cheshire cat smile evaporates. 

"Bro shut up, I'm the one on your side. Auntie was telling mom that dad is going to teach you a lesson for crossing him in front of everyone. Something about undermining his legal authority in a custody battle. You know how dad is."

Taking his office is only the first step, his dad must be seething with his defiance. 

"It's my case, I'll do as I see fit". 

Alex stands and starts circling the office, his oversized leopard shirt flowing around him, like a frat house overlord. 

He may be dressed as an eccentric idiot, but Alex is not. He's sinking his teeth in any family drama that he can find, any shortcoming that pulls focus from his own hedonistic life. And that juicy piece happens to be Logan's predicament. 

Alex looks down and regards him questioningly. 

"What sticks out to me is why. Why would my exemplary, rule following brother throw a fit over a mere divorce case? Except if it's not an ordinary case... for you". 

Logan dry swallows. 

"Every case is special for a lawyer," he evades, "especially the ones involving kids. You'd know that, if you weren't so busy parading around with models and selling air".

Alex snickers.

"We're not all made for the world of law. I don't have my life together, how could I represent clients and mess up with theirs?" Alex hits the table with his fist. "But how can you understand me, oh Saint Logan", he says with disdain, "you are the perfect son". 

Logan winces and huffs indignantly. 

"And look where it got me! I've been bending over backwards to satisfy mom and dad, because I thought it was the right thing to do." For years, he endured, while Alex enjoyed a carefree life."But the first time I really want to fight and make a difference in someone's life, dad puts me in my place. I'm not a perfect son, I'm... I'm their lap dog". 

"So why rebel now? Of all the times father has wronged you, of all the cases, why this one?" Alex plants him down with a look. The same look he gave him when they were kids and he was keeping a secret. Alex could always get it out of him. "What's with that woman, Shim Su Ryeon?"

He looks down at his hands. 

Alex's jaw drops. 

"You didn't".

Logan sneaks a glance and sees his brother's head downloading the information. 

It clicks. 

"Holy hell, Logan, you're supposed to be the smart one."

"Shhhh!"

"It's illegal!" He throws his arms around, flabbergasted. 

"Nothing's happened". 

Alex raises an eyebrow. 

"Damn it", Logan lets his head fall on the chair. He has no way to escape this. He walks slowly and closes the door, sits down next to his impatient sibling and begrudgingly debriefs him. 

He doesn't get into personal details but by the time he finishes he's shared more than he thought he would. Alex is not the best listener, his constant interruptions test his patience, but there's a calmness that befalls him after having confessed so much. 

When Alex speaks, it evaporates. 

"Dad was right to worry, after all". 

"Jesus, man. Can you be-"

"What? Proud? Happy? Do you expect me to fist bump you for falling for your client? I know, her looks are the bomb, I have eyes. And these short suits and heels..."

"Don't finish that sentence".

"This!" He gestures at Logan's expression, "That's exactly what's wrong with you! Getting involved with someone like that is dangerous." He paces around but suddenly pivots. "Did you think about her kids? Her husband? Yes, she's not divorced yet. Or the optics. The damage to the firm another trial loss would bring. Don't get me started on you risking your licence to practice."

"We're staying professional". 

"Does this look professional to you? How many more clients do you make out with?" 

"I don't need your approval". 

"But you sure need theirs." He's referring to their parents. "Do you know how many women mom has lined up for you to choose from? She has a whole binder! Laminated and alphabetised. They're all eligible, well educated, pretty. One runs the Bank of Korea for god's sake. If you want a woman so bad, take your damn pick!"

"I don't want anyone else". 

"Tough , you're marrying one of them if you wanna keep sleeping at home and working here".

He gets up to leave but turns back, pointing at him. 

"You know what, Logan? This is so your style after all. You found a woman in a tough place and you wanna save her. Do everything to get her away from that "bad man". But what do you think will happen when you do? She'll pat your head and say "good job, boy. Now leave". You're not the first man to fall for a damsel in distress. Wake up! She's taking advantage of your feelings to win her case. And you're falling for it, like an idiot."

___

He fidgets with his pen, appearing to be listening to his client talk about her predicament. But Alex's words bounce around his head. He thought his brother, the mutinous child he always was, would be the last to give him greed about his love life. What does he know, besides casual flings. Yet his insistence makes him think. 

How he wishes to put him to the witness stand and grind him for the truth. If only he could make his family confess as easily as his opposition. 

One thing his brother is dead wrong about, Su Ryeon is no damsel in need of rescuing. She's the woman whose hands dripped blood when she handed him the evidence. It's not protection she searches for, it's affection, he hopes. He pictures her crying after thinking she was rejected that night and shakes these thoughts out of his head. She'll make her choice after the trial. 

The small beige box is waiting in his drawer. 

___

"And why is Logan allowed to do whatever he wants with that case and you're asking me for a business proposal?" Alex addresses their father when they all sit on the dining table. He's about to start another classic tirade, but James stops him.

"Let's not talk about work today, son. We'll eat as a family". 

Logan snickers and takes a sip of wine. The crystal glass feels cold. His father is always about work, the family wouldn't be together if not for it. 

"No, dad, let him speak. We all know how much Alex loves work". From the side of the table, Alex clenches his jaw and glares at him. 

"You wanna talk about loving work, little brother?" 

"Enough", Stella intervenes. "Stop fighting, you're not children anymore." Her glare lands at Logan, expectant. In a move he's not used to, he throws his napkin on the table and gets up to leave, taking his plate. 

After that, two things become evident: he can't both live and work with his family, if he doesn't want to follow them blindly forever. 

And second, he has a plan for Su Ryeon's case. 

____

"Mom, look at all these books!" Seol Ah remarks with amazement as they're waiting for their appointment. A bookcase climbs all over the wall and numerous volumes of legal material weigh down the shelves. Logan's desk is here, but this is not his office. He's staying with the interns and paralegals. She wonders why. "Do you think Mr Logan has read them all?"

Su Ryeon turns to her daughter when a voice makes them turn to the door. 

"I haven't". 

Logan answers earnestly and comes in with secretary Hong on his heels. 

"But I know every law and every detail about your case, so don't you worry, Seol Ah", he says and the kid smiles at him. "Sorry to keep you waiting", he directs at her. 

She lets out a breath. In all her years seamlessly following social cues, she doesn't know what's the etiquette to address someone who she kissed and is working for her. 

"You said you had something important to tell me. About the case". 

"I do. Please sit". Images of her sitting on his desk and him touching her body flood her mind uninvited. She hopes her eyes don't betray anything. 

"Honey, can you wait with secretary Hong while mom talks to lawyer Lee?" 

They exit, leaving her opposite Logan in complete silence. A light blue suit covers his wide shoulders and a silver watch peeks from the sleeve. He's the same man she has sat in front of many times before. Serious, passionate about law, professional. Sitting straight on his chair and occasionally spreading his arms on the desk, when he's explaining a concept. 

He's always been serious, from the first time she met him. Yoon Hee had recommended her to this law firm, as she employed them to handle her divorce five years ago. Su Ryeon initially thought she'd go with one of the senior partners, one who'd have years of experience in divorce proceedings. But in the first meeting, while explaining her case she was met with a dozen icy stares. All except one, they offered ways to settle her case quietly. Logan spoke for the first time, telling her to take Dan Tae for everything he's done to her. Whatever it takes. She chose him as her lawyer in that second. He's always been serious, but his impeccably dressed appearance hides a fire she loves to see. 

"How are you doing?" He asks timidly. 

"Better". She plays with her rings under the table, attempting to shed off the tension. 

They stare at each other for moments that feel far too long. Heat rises on her cheeks, the more they hold their gaze. His eyes roam her face and land on her lips. 

"What did you want to talk to me about?"She breaks the tension and he comes back to reality. 

"How we're going to win the case".

___

Dumbfounded isn't enough to describe Su Ryeon's reaction upon hearing his plan. 

"This is dangerous! How do you know it will go our way? I can't have him say things in front of everyone. My children will be listening". 

"Hey", he comes from behind the desk to sit next to her. "I know it's risky, but it will work. That man always wants to be in control, let's make him think that he is. Let's show everyone how he's really inside". She puts her hands on her lap and lowers her head. If they want Dan Tae to pay, that's the way. "The other day you didn't hesitate to fight back. Only now you're not going to be alone". 

He extends his hand, but drops it. Then looks at her again and covers her palm with his and speaks softly. 

"I would never suggest anything that would put you in danger". He squeezes her palm comfortingly. He's looking at her the same way he did that night, a mix of worry and affection and she knows he's being sincere. If there's anyone she trusts in a bad situation, it's Logan. She turns her palm up and their fingers interlace together. 

"Let's do it, then". 

___