Paul POV

I closed my eyes, a smile forming on my face as I embraced the fresh and gentle air of South Korea from the two tiered patio of my childhood home.

It was a brisk December evening and though my father had been away on business since I arrived early this morning, this was still the warmest I had felt in months.

The prestigious neighborhood was quiet, especially in comparison to Boston. Within the gates of my father's tall modern house was a perfectly managed landscape. The evergreen trees and bushes complimented the strong geometrical elements of the home and its exterior walls were lined with white stucco and metal panel, dark wood cladding, and large glass windows.

I opened my eyes to observe the heated pool at the bottom of the concrete steps, water from a tall fountain spilling into it as the many memories I've made with my brothers in this backyard flooded my mind.

It felt amazing to be home, and I was growing eager to make even more memories with the boys back here this evening.

"Hyung!" Nam-joon called for me.

I beamed as I turned around to find him and Eun-woo stepping outside of the house holding two bags of boxed fried chicken.

As they set the food on the patio table, I walked towards them and greeted the two youngest with long hugs as we enthused over my return home.

"We've missed you so much! Lets have a look at you!" Eun-woo exclaimed, holding me out arms length. "Still as handsome as it gets, and did your shoulders get broader?"

I nodded. "A friend got me into boxing. The results are pretty impressive as you can see."

"No shit." Nam-joon gaped, squeezing my bicep. "Boxing though? Its only been five months since the move to Boston and you, the most conflict avoidant person in the group, are taking boxing lessons? Is everything okay over there?"

The boys laughed, and I did as well, despite how dangerous my life had truly become.

"Ho-seok!" Min-jun this time called for me, the tall athletic man rocking a business suit like the proper KD Group Director he was. "Get over here, hyung!"

I chuckled, doing as I was told before we shared a long embrace next.

"The Nation's Heartbreaker." I teased as we looked to each other. "How's married life?"

"Amazing." He gushed, and his smile was as large as it was on his wedding day. "What can I say? I'm a lucky man. I got away from the hellhole I once called home, and now I wake up next to the Nation's Sweetheart in our perfect penthouse every single morning."

"Wow." Eun-woo gaped as we all cringed hearing Min-jun enthuse over his famous wife. "You know I was your biggest fan on your wedding day, but this is just annoying now! Ho-seok, he brags like this every single day!"

"I do not!" Min-jun denied as he placed a bag full of beer on the table.

"Oh yes you do." Nam-joon confirmed. "Ho-seok, you're in the group chat and on the social media threads. It's 10 times worse in person. You should have seen him during fashion week season."

"That's not fair!" Min-jun cut in. "Your girlfriend modeled in New York and Paris too, and you were right there with me fanboying."

"No, no, no." Nam-joon pushed back. "He put my ass to shame, Ho-seok. I thought Amy might really break up with me by the end of the first show. He knew the designers they were modeling for and showed off all the studying he did without me! Outside of the shows he was even on the ground taking pictures of Haneul, in public."

My eyes widened. "No way! Hyung, you hate taking and being in pictures!"

"Exactly!" Nam-joon exclaimed.

Eun-woo scoffed. "Never forget, he opposed the marriage for nearly a year."

"Ya, why are you guys being like this?" Min-jun asked, though he was still beaming. "Why can't you guys just support my happiness? I support yours, and Eun-woo, never forget you "hated" and complained about Ji-soo daily since high school. Now, you're just as smitten!"

"Whatever." Eun-woo murmured as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Come on, lets layout the chicken and beer. I'm starving!"

"Same!" Nam-joon said.

Min-jun walked past me, and naturally I looked towards the door since one of us was missing.

"Where's Min-seok?" I asked Min-jun. They were neighbors and always together.

"He said he was going to be a little late. I came straight from work, but he said he needed to stop by his house before coming here."

I continued to help my brothers lay out the Chimaek on the table, tall elegant patio heaters surrounding us on this cold evening.

Though we wanted to wait for Min-seok to join, Korean fried chicken just is not the same when its cold. We all bit into the crunchy goodness, and I literally salivated embracing a taste I could not find anywhere in Boston.

"You must miss the food a lot?" Min-jun asked.

I opened my eyes to see the boys laughing at me, and there was no denying it.

"There's a lot of good food there, but nothing touches Korean cuisine." I paused recalling the one meal that did impress me. "Actually, have you guys ever heard of soul food?"

"Soul food?" Nam-joon asked. "What is that?"

"It's African American cuisine. Basically, it's what they call "southern cooking" in the States, but on steroids. My friend hosted a Friendsgiving, and it was one of the best home cooked meals I have ever had."

"Does this happen to be the same friend that got you into boxing?" Eun-woo asked.

"Boxing?" Min-jun gasped. "You're boxing now? You don't even like arguing with people. Is everything okay there, hyung?"

"I asked him the same question." Nam-joon chuckled as I took a sip of my beer. "I think Eun-woo's question needs to be answered though. If it's the same person, you've brought him or her up twice in the first 30 minutes of our reunion."

"Oh lets be for real, I couldn't even get Ho-seok in a ring with me." Min-jun teased. "We know it's a woman, already."

I bit my bottom lip, but just before I could confirm we heard the door slide open.

"Min-seok!" I exclaimed, standing up from my seat.

The tall handsome heir of Nam Group set another bag of alcohol down on the table before we hugged each other and enjoyed a long and a tight embrace next.

"Ho-seok, it's so good to see you." He replied, and when we pulled out of the hug I saw that charming smile of his, but also a hint of weariness in his gaze. "Sorry I'm late. I knew it would be a late evening, so I wanted to see Danny before I came here."

"Of course you did." I joked, patting his broad shoulder. "How is the fiancée?"

"Good." He replied, which was very short for Min-seok when it came to the love of his life.

"Did you bring the soju?" Eun-woo asked.

"Of course!" Min-seok chimed. "I brought some plastic shot cups too!"

I watched as he started pulling the green glass bottles out of the plastic bag, and though I had questions I knew Min-seok would tell me what was troubling him when he was ready to.

"Alright, should we do a toast now that we're all here?" Eun-woo encouraged.

"For sure!" Nam-joon said. We all looked to him since it appeared he wanted to have the honor of leading the toast. "Ho-seok, we miss you so much but we know you're doing great things at Harvard and we're so proud of you. I'm sure it gets lonely there, but never forget you have us. No matter how far you are, we're always a flight away. Welcome home, and let's make the most of our precious time together over the holidays!"

"Welcome home, hyung!" Eun-woo cheered.

We all endured the bitter rice liquor as it travelled down our throats, and soon Min-seok was getting settled in the seat beside Min-jun.

"Alright, now back to what we were talking about." Nam-joon said.

"Which was?" Min-seok asked.

"Ho-seok has a new friend in the States, and we think it's a woman." Eun-woo teased.

"Are they talking about Kayla?" Min-seok asked me while he grabbed a piece of chicken.

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Wait. Min-seok, you already know about her?" Min-jun questioned.

"Of course I do. She's Danny's cousin."

"HUH?" The boys yelled, as Min-seok and I laughed together.

"Danny and I introduced them to each other." Min-seok continued. "Her name is Kayla. She went to Harvard as well and lives in the area still."

"Daebak!" Eun-woo exclaimed. "What's she like?"

"She's the total opposite of Danny." I replied. "But at the same time, exactly what you would expect after seeing Danny and her parents. She tall, beautiful, and smart. She's a resident in Massachusetts' biggest hospital, and from what I hear a promising general surgeon."

"Sheesh, the genetics in that family are unreal!" Nam-joon chuckled. "Does she have an Instagram?"

"No, Danny says she's pretty reserved." Min-seok replied.

"I have a few pictures with her though. We see each other often." I pulled out my phone to locate the photos while the boys anxiously waited. "Here."

Eun-woo snatched the phone out of my hand, and recently Makayla and I had taken a lot of pictures either together or with our mutual friends.

"Woah, they look just alike!" Eun-woo enthused. "I can already see how different she is from Danny though. She doesn't have that innocent look about her at all."

"Matter a fact, she looks a little dangerous." Nam-joon smirked.

"You have no idea." I chuckled, taking a sip of my beer again.

"Let me see!" Min-jun said as he stole the phone from Eun-woo. He and Min-seok looked at the pictures together. "As much as you called me out - You're not one for pictures either, you got into boxing because of her, and she's even cooked for you. Just how close are you two?"

"Wait, what?" Min-seok asked, his eyes shifting to me quickly. "Boxing? Cooking?"

I nodded. "She's into boxing and self-defense, and she's a really good cook. You asked us to be friends, so naturally we're doing things each of us enjoy."

Min-seok grew tense in his shoulders, his expression uneasy, and I could tell he was unsettled hearing about the progression of the relationship I admittedly had not reported back on.

"Woah, a message just came in from her!" Min-jun said. "You guys even exchange pictures?"

My eyes widening as I took the phone from him and looked at the message, though I couldn't help but smile seeing a selfie of Makayla in her scrubs and she just got through her first colon surgery.

"Ya, I told you she was off limits!" Min-seok yelled. "You promised! She's Danny's cousin!"

"Chill, Min-seok. It's not like that." I replied, despite the mistake I had already made. "Is Danny really in the dark about everything that happened with Kayla last year?"

Min-seok nodded. "Yeah, did you find out what it was?"

"Her best friend was murdered." The table gasped, Min-seok's lips parted as he looked to me with wide eyes. "It was brutal too, and it took a toll on her. She's been pushing everyone away for a while now, but she's been opening up to me a lot the past few months."

"And how do you feel about that?" Min-jun asked.

"Grateful." I admitted. "To be honest, adjusting to Boston has been hard. I met her just in time, and I think it was the same for her. Outside of work and school, we get each other out of our houses and we have mutual friends we hang out with too. It's been nice."

"I'm sorry. Ho-seok, are you saying you have a friend that's a woman?" Nam-joon questioned.

"Yeah, why is that so weird?"

"Because it's you!" Eun-woo replied, Min-jun and Nam-joon chuckling. "You have never had a relationship with a woman outside of sex, since you came back from Canada. Are you saying you and her aren't in that type of arrangement at all?"

"I promise, we aren't." I replied, which was technically true.

"I'm calling bullshit." Nam-joon said. "Respectfully Min-seok, your soon to be cousin-in-law is hot. And respectfully Ho-seok, you have no discipline with this type temptation."

"She's seeing someone." I cleanly stated. "She's been dating someone for over a month now, and I give her dating advice all the time. Do you see how undeniably friendly we are now?"

"Or how undeniably friend zoned you are." Nam-joon teased, him and Eun-woo bumping fists.

"I'm calling your bullshit too, hyung." Min-jun added. "I've never seen you casually entertain text messages either. Outside of the people you care about, you're not into texting or phone calls. This is strange behavior on your end."

"I just told you what she went though and Min-seok told me to be persistent. That's what I did and now I have a close friend in Boston. Stop making this bigger than it is. Min-seok is about to have a panic attack."

Min-seok had indeed grown even more tense throughout this discussion, and when the rest of the boys noticed his discomfort that awkward silence filled the air.

"Sorry, we were just having fun." Eun-woo apologized.

"But would it really be the worst thing in the world if he liked her Min-seok?" Min-jun asked, starling all of us. "No shade, but lets not ignore the past."

"Ya!" Min-seok hissed.

"I'm just saying, we're all pretty damn happy right now." Min-jun chuckled. "Don't block other's blessings like I almost did with you and myself."

Frustrated, Min-seok chugged the remainder of his beer while a spark of hope ignited in my chests. Though I was still confused about my feelings towards Makayla, I knew the biggest concern I had was disappointing Min-seok.

"Boys!" My father exclaimed, startling us as he stepped out of the house.

"Father." I replied as we stood up and bowed to the renown lawyer with the upmost respect.

"My son, come here." He chimed, opening his arms for me to walk into.

I hugged the man who was exactly my height, my eye closing as I enjoyed his familiar scent and warm embrace.

"Father, I didn't think you'd be back until tomorrow morning." 

He brought his hand to the side of my face when we pulled out of the hug, and I also observed his handsome features up close. Despite how gorgeous my mother was, people have always said my looks come from him.

"I was determined to get home earlier to see you." He replied. "But I see you're busy with your friends tonight. Let's do brunch together in the morning?"

"Of course." I responded.

Father then looked past me, and to my brothers.

"It's good seeing you all. Let's be sure to get the families together this holiday."

"Yes, sir." The boys agreed, and we bowed to my father again as he left us on the patio.

"How has your father still not aged?" Nam-joon chuckled as we got seated again.

"Not one grey hair on his head after all these years of being South Korea's best lawyer." Eun-woo added. "You're going to age so well, hyung."

"To good genes?" Min-jun joked, and we clanked our beers as we moved on with the night.

Despite how tense things had become earlier, Min-seok moved on now that we were catching up on the things I had missed in Korea. Just like when I returned from Canada, I couldn't bring myself to tell them in detail just how miserable I was abroad.

I also didn't want to make the night gloomy. My brothers were all the happiest I had ever seen them, living their adult lives with the women they were committed to. Being in their presence and hearing about all the fun I had missed was all I needed this evening.

"Uh oh." Eun-woo said, looking to the incoming call on his phone. "It's Ji-soo, and it's past midnight."

"She got into a fight." Min-jun and Nam-joon teased through that Asian glow of theirs.

"Her family's business just became a franchise! You'd think she'd behave better by now." Eun-woo groaned, and the entire table was cracking up. "I don't know why you're laughing, Nam-joon. You must have forgotten Ji-soo went out with her roommate, aka your girlfriend, this evening. You know the mess that duo can cause together!"

"Oh shit." Nam-joon recalled. "Yeah, that's our queue."

"I should get going too." Min-jun said. "Haneul and I have brunch with her parents tomorrow."

I stood up with the guys, and said my farewell to three out of the four. I quickly noticed Min-seok was doing the same and Min-jun was just as surprised.

"You're not coming?" Min-jun asked him. "I figured we'd head back together."

"I'm not ready to go." Min-seok responded. "I'll spend some more time with Ho-seok since I was late getting here. Unless I'm imposing?"

I shook my head. "Of course not. I'm still adjusting to the time, so I'm wide awake."

"Okay then." Min-jun said, the skin between his eyebrows scrunched. "I'll see you later."

Min-seok and I waved goodbye to the guys, but we were settled back in our seats within seconds and I took a large swing of my beer before I just got to it.

"Is everything okay?" I asked. "This isn't like you, Min-seok. You're always the first one to leave and in a rush to get home to your beloved Danny. What's going on?"

"She's not there." He replied. "She's heading back to the States to spend the holidays with her family."

"Wait, what?" I asked. "And you're here because? I know you care about me, but I also know how much Danny means to you and going to the States to visit her family is rare for you two. Why didn't you go with her?"

Min-seok slouched back in his chair, and he was staring me down.

"Ho-seok, how close are you with Danny's cousin? Can I trust you?"

"Trust me?" I asked.

He sighed, pushing his fingers through his hair. "As you know, Danny is best friends with all of the boys' significant others so I have to be mindful of what I share with them sometimes. I'm going crazy though and I was hoping I could talk with you about something tonight, but I was taken aback when I heard how close you've become with Kayla."

"Hyung, Kayla and I are good friends but you're my brother. If there is something you need to talk to me about I promise you it stays between us. What's going on? Are you two fighting?"

Water started building up in Min-seok's eyes but before tears could fall, he poured a shot of soju, drank it, and took a deep breath.

"She's pregnant." He said. "Danny is pregnant."

"Really?" I gaped, a smile forming on my face. "That's great news! Why are you so down?"

"Because she doesn't want to keep it." He uttered. "She doesn't want to keep our baby."

"What?" I asked, and he poured another shot for himself. "Why?"

"I think it's all too much for her at one time..." He paused and drank the alcohol. "She's been cold to me for two weeks, and has barely let me touch her. She just kept picking fights with me and then she finally told me she was pregnant earlier this week.

"I was so happy to hear the news, but then a huge flight started. She told me she's sacrificed so much to be with me, and she reminded me of the oppressions she overcoming daily with her decision.

"She said the last thing she had for herself was her education and getting her degree was also the only thing her father asked of us when he accepted my request to marry her.

"I want to understand her. No, I do understand her but how could she-..."

Min-seok paused, his head falling as those rare tears of his slipped past his eyes.

"How could she even think of abandoning something so precious?" He whimpered.

"Hyung." I cooed. I sat in the chair beside him before I placed my hand on his back.

"She ignored my texts and calls all day, and then suddenly let me know she was flying out this evening. I rushed to the airport before I came here. That's why I was late."

"Did you get to her in time?"

He nodded. "She said she needs some space from me, and she wants to think about things over the holidays. I'm so scared though, Ho-seok. What if she has an abortion while she's there? I hear things are a lot more lenient and it's much easier to do in the States."

"That's not going to happen."

"You didn't see the look in her eyes. She's tired, and she's not even been my fiancée for a year. I think she's regretting her decision to be with me and this was the final straw, Ho-seok."

"She's just scared, and rightfully so. A lot has changed for her since she agreed to marry you and, she's also the youngest of the group. She's having to mature quickly, and she's going to have to mature even more as a mother all of a sudden. Danny will do the right thing, but she needs time to see what it looks like. You know that's how she is."

"She's going to be gone for almost a month. How do I explain her lack of presence to everyone over the holidays?" Min-seok asked. "No matter how hard this is for me, I want to respect her privacy as she thinks through things."

"The boys, while curious, will always respect your privacy as a couple. You know that. You tell them she went home for the holidays and that's all."

"What about my parents though?" Min-seok asked. "They will find it strange I let Danny leave without me and if I told them about the pregnancy and how unhappy Danny is about it, they would be hurt to know this is how she feels about carrying my child. You know our culture, there is no greater joy. Especially when Danny is carrying the next generation of Nam legacy."

"Tell them you two are going through a rough patch and Danny just needs time at home. I don't think that's a stretch Min-seok. She's been busting her ass fulfilling her role as the future Lady of Nam Group while being a student in her last year at SNU. The politics is exhausting, it's a huge culture change for her, and the two of you can't be perfect forever."

He sighed, nodding his head nonetheless.

"If she chooses to abort the baby, how will this impact your feelings towards her?" I asked.

Min-seok looked to me, and for the first time I saw uncertainty when it came to Danny.

"I'm torn. It's Danny. There's no one I love more in this world, but I've also lost someone I was deeply connected to before. Just knowing the love of my life is carrying my child, I'm already so attached to the baby, Ho-seok. If Danny goes through with an abortion, I don't see how it could feel any different than the day I lost my sister."

His lips quivered and his head fell onto my shoulder before I hugged him.

In comparison to what I've recently witnessed between Johnny and Madison, Min-seok and Danny had always been on another level. There was nothing Min-seok couldn't do to be with Danny, and they overcame many obstacles to be where they are today.

There was so much love between the two, but it appeared Danny's decision could change their entire course as a couple and I could tell Min-seok was scared of losing more than one person at this point.

"Seems like you need a night of deep drinking." I said to Min-seok.

"As long as you'll be my drinking buddy."

"Of course." I confirmed, placing a reassuring smile on my face as I poured him a shot of soju.

Though in silence, Min-seok and I drank the night away while he collected his thoughts and softly cried here and there. I on the other hand actually found myself thinking about Makayla nonstop.

What was she up to? Was she having a good or bad day at the hospital? Had she eaten? What would she do this weekend with me out of town? Would she be with Jackson? Would she miss London, and as a result, would she put herself in danger again?

It felt strange. I had missed Korea so much but a part of me felt anxious being away from her.

"Sorry, hyung." Min-seok slurred as I struggled to guide him into my bedroom. "This is not how you should be spending your first night back at home."

"It's perfectly fine. I'm here for you, Min-seok."

He could barely keep his eyes open and though the tall man was built of lean muscle, his legs could barely maintain his weight at this point.

We stumbled onto my king sized bed and when Min-seok was settled, I covered him with my grey comforter. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, so with that, I took my place on the other side of the bed and got comfortable for the evening.

I finally replied to Makayla, sending her a selfie of me and a knocked out Min-seok.

Though my brother was having a hard time, the picture was a good representation of my first night back in South Korea. Overall the boys seemed to be doing well and I knew there was plenty to look forward to this Winter Break.

But before that, it was best to confront my father about The Elite sooner rather than later.

-*-

"Young Master." Ms. Mun-hee, our lead housemaid, called for me. She softly knocked on my bedroom door before she opened it.

I had just finished getting dressed in a white button up, layered with a grey sweater, and a slim pair of denim jeans.

"Brunch has been served. Your father is waiting for you in the dining room."

"Thank you." I beamed.

Feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket, I looked to the screen and saw a new text message.

(Min-seok): Just got home. Thanks for last night, and please don't tell Kayla anything.

I assured my brother that his secret was safe with me while I followed Ms. Mun-hee out of my bedroom. But once the serious matter was sorted, I surprised her when I wrapped my arms around her narrow shoulders.

We laughed while we walked down the naturally lit hall. As the woman who basically raised me when my mother moved to Canada, Ms. Mun-hee was very familiar of this playful side of me.

"I leave for five months, and you're back to calling me Young Master?" I joked.

"It's what's appropriate. You're indeed the Young Master of the house and I need to set an example for the rest of the housemaids. You've managed to return home even more handsome and charming, so I can't have these young women thinking they can be this comfortable with you and tempting you. Got it?"

"Yes ma'am." I replied.

As I stopped hugging the woman in charge of managing the house, we walked past two young housemaids and Ms. Mun-hee wasn't wrong. They blushed when I smiled to them, though they still bowed to me.

"Your father is in high spirits, this morning. He joined the kitchen staff and made sure brunch was perfect for you. He must have missed you, so much."

"I've missed him too." I chimed. "I know he's busy, but it's tough going months without talking to him. Especially after living here while I was studying at SNU."

"Tell him that. He'll have Secretary Choi adjust his schedule as soon as you say the word."

"You think so?" I asked. "He's got enough to worry about. I don't want to add onto his stress."

"You're his son, Ho-seok-..." She paused, covering her lips as we chuckled. "I mean Young Master, you're the successor of AHS Group. Nothing is more important to him than you."

Hearing her reassuring words gave me the confidence I needed to confront my father about The Elite on this vibrant Sunday afternoon.

When we entered the bright dining room, my eyes widened seeing the gigantic spread set on the wire-brushed oak table, it's color a charcoal grey in contrast with the surrounding white walls and the silver pendant light fixture hanging above it.

The kitchen staff prepared Seaweed Soup, Spicy Tofu and Egg in a Skillet, Grilled Mackerel, Purple Rice, and my favorite side dishes that always added a burst of flavor.

"Welcome home, son!" Father chimed. "I can't imagine how much you've missed Korean dishes in America."

"You have no idea! I am going to eat so much while I am here."

Father chuckled, and gestured for me to take a seat with him at the table.

We both sat in the two grey arm chairs on the ends of the nine piece set. As I placed a white silk napkin on my lap, staff served us our beverages.

"I made sure the coffee was dripped." Father said as he watched me take a sip of the warm caffeine. "The beans are from Costa Rica. What do you think?"

"So good. Smooth, rich, and that hint of walnut is nice."

"Right?" He enthused. "Make sure you bring some with you when you return to Boston."

"Thanks Father."

I started loading my plate, soft acoustic music playing in the living room that was next door. Father shared a love for singer/songwriter music like I did, and he actually taught me how to play the guitar when I was a beginner.

"How is your mother?" He asked. "You went to Canada during your Fall Break, right?"

"Yeah, she seems to be doing well."

"Secretary Choi tells me you're still sending her money. I don't want you doing that anymore."

"Father, don't be like that." I sighed as he enjoyed his latest bite. "I know you didn't end on the best of terms, but she's still the woman who gave birth to me."

"I'm aware, and I am grateful. I'll be the one to send her money if its that important to you." My eyes widened, as did the smile on my face. "That being said, let her know my generosity ends if I find out her husband and his kids are still mistreating you."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"Johnny told me it was a hard trip for you." I sighed, my shoulders falling. "Don't get mad at him. Last time you came home from Canada, you were depressed. I was worried about you. I asked him to let me know how the trip goes, and he did what was best for you.

"You've given your mother's family plenty of chances to treat you right. I won't continue to sit back while they take advantage of your kindness. I'll snatch that comfortable life they're living overnight if this continues, Ho-seok. So let her know that, okay?"

"Yes sir." I answered, and while this made me worry for my mother it also assured me that my father would never want to see me in danger.

"Is there anything else Johnny kept you in the loop about?"

"I heard you're also refusing your mother's efforts to match you with a woman." He chuckled, shaking his head. "You're too much like me, son."

"There's plenty of time for that down the road if it must happen..."

"I agree. Plus, I'd prefer you match with an authentic Korean woman here in Seoul. Since marrying for love doesn't seam appealing to you, why don't we make it a business move?"

I fell silent though the annoyance I felt was all over my face.

Father started cracking up while he waved his invisible white flag. "Okay, okay. We'll revisit this discussion another day. I got it."

"Is there anything else you've discussed with Johnny?"

Father shook his head. "No. I come to him with specific questions. I know your friendship with him is very sincere, and I try not to meddle too much. Especially during a time when you need him more than ever."

"I appreciate that." I said.

"Is there something I should know? What's with these questions?"

"I'm just wondering how much you know about The Elite."

"All that I need to." He said before he took a sip of the soup. "That tiny but mighty organization has one of the best networks in American law.

"As the son of the Harvard Dean, Spencer Lancaster's connections span across the globe. The hockey player seems a little useless, but his father is a good pathway into the sports industry. Donnell Stirling comes from a family of well known judges, which are always good to have in your pocket as a lawyer, and last but most important is Antonio."

"What makes him so important?" I impatiently asked. "We're already international. We have clients in Italy, don't we?"

"He's the President's son, Ho-seok. That's a different level of clientele." He chuckled. "I don't need you to sincerely like them, but you do need to make a relationship with them."

I sighed. "Father, about Antonio. I think he's dangerous."

"Why because of the medical student he was accused of murdering? Those allegations were already addressed and discredited."

"You and I both know, the law can be fixed with the right amount of money and power."

"Not our problem." I sighed seeing my father shifting to his business side. "Whatever you're concerned about, look the other way and stay out of the trouble. That's all you need to do."

"Father." I tried, and he shook his head.

"This is a part of being the heir of AHS Group, son. We're lawyers, not prosecutors. Whether someone is a criminal or guilty, if they pay for our services and expand our business that's all that matters. Stop making this a personal thing, and think bigger Ho-seok.

"I was assaulted back in the Fall." I confessed. "Just because I was a member of The Elite, I was beaten and nearly killed."

"What?" My father gasped. "What the hell, Ho-seok? Why are you just telling me about this?"

"Because I wanted to discuss it with you in person. I wanted you to see my face, and I wanted to see yours when you heard this news."

"Are you okay?" He asked. "Did they find who assaulted you?"

"I'm fine. It was a painful recovery, but I'm alive. As for identifying the assailant, of course no one has. It was swept under the rug because I got caught in the middle of a turf war. You've gotten me mixed up with a drug dealer. Do you understand why I am so concerned now?"

Father sighed, and once he set down his silverware he wiped his mouth with his napkin.

"Son, I know that must have been a very scary experience." My heart sank hearing his tone, and I knew I was going to get the answer I didn't want. "But I still need you to establish a relationship with Antonio, and make him a proper client of AHS Group."

"Father." I pleaded.

"You think I've never been in a few dangerous situations?" He asked. "I'm hurt hearing you got injured to such an extent, but what did you learn?"

"Is that the point right now?"

"What did you learn, Ho-seok?"

"I learned that Antonio really is a criminal."

"And how did you react to that?" I sighed, understanding the point he was about to make.

"Unlike the rest of The Elite, I told him I wanted no part of his business and that AHS Group couldn't protect him if I became an accomplice in his crimes."

Father started clapping, his proud smile radiant. "That's it! That's my boy! That's what you do!"

"Even so, I think he's got even bigger stuff going on and I'm worried. Do we really want to protect people like him?"

"People like him keep the big money coming in, son. I know this isn't amazing to hear, but AHS Group is where it is today largely because of the organized crime you're suspecting. Focus on the fact that this isn't all of our clientele but sometimes we have to deal with these cases if we want to continue to live like this. Do you understand now?"

My head fell, though I nodded nonetheless.

"I'm proud of you, Ho-seok." Father praised. "It sounds to me like you know exactly what you're doing. Continue to maintain the right distance from that group to protect yourself, but do just enough so they trust you enough to come to you when they need our business."

"Yes, sir."

"Go on, and eat up before the breakfast gets cold." Father advised. "If you're okay with it, how about spending the rest of the day with your old man? It's chilly but beautiful outside. We could do some skeet shooting at the range. How does that sound?"

"It sounds amazing." I replied, placing a smile on my face.

Father snapped his fingers in excitement. "Okay! Indeed, it's going to be a great Sunday!"

Disappointed, I watched the AHS Group CEO gleamingly resume his meal while I accepted the reality that I was not escaping The Elite anytime soon. 

____

Author's Note: I know it was a long chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless!

How was it seeing the boys again? A lot has changed since The Exchange, and I promise it will not be the last time you see the crew! Big Hint - Danny is going to be back in the States for the holidays and Min-seok just revealed a surprising update about the couple's status!

Also, what are your thoughts on Paul's father so far? Can you see where he gets his charming and savvy personality from yet? :) 

Please remember to vote and comment! Thanks for the support!

- Zelene