The Wizard

The news about the wedding proposal ran rapidly through the rumour mill, spreading like wildfire.

Things started as soon as the next morning came, when pictures taken of you and Yoongi at the tea house were posted on various social media accounts and gossip posts spread on the internet.

This reaction was to be expected, seeing how fixated people can be with the happenings surrounding high-class society. Even the smallest slight can have people talking and gossiping, with the internet helping feed those who are curious about the latest gossip or news involving the rich, socialites, and popular moguls such as Yoongi.

This reaction was exactly what Yoongi had anticipated. He aimed to achieve this by making the wedding proposal so open and public, with many people bearing witness to the occasion.

"It would save us all the time and energy we needed to announce to everyone about your new status. Or would you rather have reporters come to our homes and have a live interview to let people know that we're engaged?"

As someone who hates being placed so unnecessarily in the spotlight, you decided to follow his plan and let the news spread and travel on its own.

Although you quickly regretted it the moment everyone at your father's company kept making a fuss out of it when you arrived this morning to do some work. From the junior staff who have been working with you for the past few years, to the senior staff who have been working for decades under your father's lead, everyone has spared a moment of their time to congratulate you on your new engagement. Even the few meetings that you joined on behalf of your father had at least half an hour delay each just to give time for people to come up to you and have you share a little chat about it.

Perhaps that is why the day feels longer than it usually does.

There is not much work to do today, yet dealing with people has been draining your energy more than usual and you just cannot wait to get home. Only a couple of hours left, you wonder as you glance down at your watch, giving yourself the final push to get through the day. At least it seems that everyone has gotten content with the celebration that you can actually focus on getting some work done.

Your relief and newfound resolve are short-lived, however, when your personal cell phone suddenly starts ringing while you are busy sorting out the numbers in your data.

"Hello, this is _______ speaking," you answer, picking it up on the third ring after recognising the number.

A deep chuckle is heard from the other end. "Ah, and there it is, the beautiful voice of my future wife."

You bite back a smile, feeling thankful that he cannot see your face right now when you answer, "And this must be the man who was pictured kissing me lovingly while holding my hand."

Yoongi laughs. "Is that what the pictures spreading on the internet are showing?"

Scoffing softly, you share with him what you have learned so far. "I haven't seen the pictures, obviously. But some mentioned seeing those pictures in an article posted this morning on an online gossip blog. I'm not sure what got people fussing about the most the whole day. Whether it's the engagement news or the pictures."

He must have heard the weariness in your voice, because he later comments with a soft chuckle. "I take it today is filled with people rejoicing on our behalf?"

"Don't even start," you softly whine. "Everyone won't stop talking about it. Even one of my father's men on the board of directors kept bringing it up each time we crossed paths between meetings."

You hear his deep chuckle vibrating against your ear while you let out a sigh. "Congrats, you got what you were asking for. Your plan worked, maybe a bit too perfectly, seeing how quickly everyone heard the news and it's barely been a day."

"Thank you," he says, the deep timber of his voice drawing another smile on you when you can almost see his boastful smile through the phone. "You shouldn't be too angry about it, since I had to face the same thing all day since I got to work. I don't mind it, though. It helped take my mind off of work for a few hours."

"I'm glad that at least one of us is enjoying this," you say to him, feigning a mocking tone.

"I have to admit that I am enjoying this. I knew you'd be the perfect entertainment," he teases, which earns him a bitter scoff. But when the sound of his laughter reaches you, the only thing you feel is relief and calmness. This time, you are the one enjoying the moment, as you enjoy the sound of Yoongi opening himself and showing this side of him.

"So, what's your next plan?" you ask, changing the topic before you can start feeling things that aren't there, emotions that aren't welcomed.

"Hmm, that's the reason why I'm calling, actually," he says with a hum. "I hope you don't have plans for tonight."

"Are we going somewhere?"

He makes another humming sound. "As expected, the news has gotten to my parents. They called me to confirm the story, and now that I've confirmed it's true, they are insisting to see you," he explains. His gentle voice is slowly getting drowned in the rapid sound of your heartbeat as he continues, "They seemed delighted with the news of the proposal and our engagement, curious at most, but they seemed concerned. So perhaps it would be best to reassure them, don't you think?"

"I suppose," you murmur to the phone. "We might have to see my parents soon as well, so it might be best to get this over with."

"Good. My parents have arranged for us to meet for dinner."

You don't say anything at first. Everything seems to be going so fast that you can barely keep up with how everything is progressing. You cannot really blame his parents for rushing to see you, however. Just like everyone else, they should be curious to hear the news directly from you and Yoongi. Surely, no one had expected that you would be engaged to someone else so soon, lest of all for you to get entangled with the son from a rivalling family.

As you said so yourself, it would be best to get this over with, to answer their questions and to start taking your role immediately so this whole arrangement can proceed as planned.

"Will your grandfather be joining us?"

He responds with a light scoff. "No, he won't be with us tonight," Yoongi says with a bitter tone of voice. You even believe that you hear a bit of relief in his voice, yet you don't think much of it. "My grandfather is currently away for business. I don't think it would be wise for us to see him now either even if he's in the city." He releases a sigh, as if calming down his ire. "Our meeting with my grandfather might still be necessary, but it probably won't happen until much later. I'm sure he would prefer to see us at the family estate too, which I'm sure wouldn't be too comfortable for you."

"Oh, all right," you respond, unable to hold back the relieved sigh coming out of your lips. "So we're going out tonight for the dinner event then?"

"Yes, we are. My father reserved a table for us at the Country Club's restaurant. The space will be private enough for us to have a decent talk over dinner," he explains. "I'll pick you up at your apartment around 7.30 tonight if that's okay?"

"That should work," you simply answer, only for him to catch you by surprise when he suddenly adds,

"Try not to stay at work until late, will you? Try to find some time to rest before the dinner. I'm sure you're tired after handling the people from your office all day."

There it is again, you wonder to yourself as you bite your lip. The subtle concern that he keeps showing you through his words, sometimes even his actions. Anyone would think that he genuinely cares about you more than he should—more than what is deemed appropriate to be a part of a signed arrangement. Even you are beginning to find it hard to draw the line with how often he does it, even when no one is looking. Just like what he is doing now.

"Are you working late again? Don't you think that your father has been overworking you lately?"

"Please remember to not skip your meal."

"I suppose we can arrange our date another time if you are exhausted. I'll order you a warm meal and have the driver drop it at your apartment."

"Why are you driving your own car if you're going to be out the whole day? Take my driver. I can get around just fine without him."

You close your eyes and ignore the flutter in your chest, reminding you not to get swayed by his charms. Because no matter what kind of facade Yoongi is trying to show everyone, you are the only one who knows the truth lying behind it.

"I will be ready in time," you answer once you compose yourself. "I'll see you then."

Yoongi says his goodbye shortly after spending a few more minutes planning out the rest of the evening; from your dress—he had sent a few choices of formal dresses back when he first began asking you out to dates and various formal events as a token of appreciation for your hard work—and the car that he is sending to pick you up; to the things that the two of you are going to share with his parents after confirming about the engagement.

Once the phone call ends, the complete silence that falls right after feels dreadful. Without his voice, and with your mind filled with tonight's plans, you can feel the weight of reality pulling you down.

Your nerves are tense, and it feels as if there is a storm in your stomach that rises the moment you begin thinking about what is about to happen.

You are worrying too much, you scold yourself with a sigh. Placing your phone down, you close your eyes and pinch the bridge of your nose to calm yourself down. Everything is moving so fast.

You wish that time would slow down, giving you some time to breathe, to recollect your thoughts before stepping into the written future that seems daunting now that you are getting close to making it happen.

But right when you think that you can muster some resolve to get through it, you can almost hear your mother's voice echoing through the back of your mind, "You have six months."

Cursing under your breath, you shake the thought of your mother and her demands away. You never cared about the time limit she gave you. Never cared about her demands. But there was nothing that you could say or do to make her change her mind or for her to start thinking differently.

Already, you regret being so neglectful that your mother had somehow caught on about the deal you were making with Yoongi, or that you were meeting him the night you signed the contract. You have yet to figure out how she found out about it in the first place, yet you choose not to dwell on it. Not now, when you still have a lot to look into.

There is never a point in listening to her, after all, when you have different goals to aim out of this entire scheme. At least, for now.

If only I could tell her the truth, you suddenly find yourself wishing, hating that you are holding such a secret from your mother, from your family. If only I could let her know.

But the guilt always stops eating you up when you realise that your mother is doing the same to you—weaving secrets that she never cared to share and leaving you entangled in her web of lies. So you do the same, keeping your secret just a bit longer until the time is right for you to reveal everything.

Lost in your thoughts, you nearly jump on your seat when all of a sudden, your phone lights up once again, another incoming call breaking through the silence. It takes only one glance for you to quickly recognise the called ID flashing on the screen and grimace, surprised to find him calling you during working hours.

Merlin.

There is only one person who uses this codename. And for him to be calling you at this hour can only mean one thing.

"Yes, this is _____ speaking," you answer the call, keeping your voice low.

"You sound tired. Seems like you've had a busy day on your hands," the caller speaks to you with a similarly lowered voice, though it doesn't stop you from glancing at the closed door to your office on instinct, as if you have eyes looking at you.

"Probably wouldn't be as busy as yours, I reckon," you calmly answer once you deem the situation safe enough for you to continue talking. "What is it?"

Your caller, Merlin, responds with a deep chuckle. "So tense. That's a first."

"Only because I know that you wouldn't normally call first if it isn't to talk about something important."

He makes a humming sound that is slightly lighter than Yoongi's, and it bothers you that you are so quick to start comparing them together. "I'm merely calling to congratulate you on the engagement. Quite a buzz that you caused there. Everyone's been talking about it all day."

"I never took you as someone who would care about public gossip," you answer with a bitter sigh, which only makes him laugh. "But you've already known all along about this happening."

"I know. I'm just messing with you," he says once he sobers down, though you can see the faint chuckle that he makes. He always enjoys teasing you too much. "I'm calling to let you know that I have what you asked of me from our last meeting."

The news has you straightened up in your seat. "You do?" you ask with a whisper, suddenly feeling too wary to be hopeful. "So—did you manage to get everything we need?"

Merlin falls quiet before answering, "Not everything, unfortunately. There is only so much that I could get my hands on with only two weeks of searching. I couldn't seem to get anything comprehensible about his brother yet and what kind of relationship that the brothers may have."

Once again, you begin to feel the dreadful sense of worry. "I suppose that would be enough for now. I might still be able to make use of any information you've gathered so far."

"Good. I know that you'll be able to handle it," Merlin answers with a reassuring tone of voice that you find comforting, despite the man's mysterious presence. "Shall we meet, then? Will tonight be good? I'm not sure if sending this through the mail will be safe, considering the circumstances."

"Right." You let out a sigh. "I have a dinner arrangement tonight."

"Ah, with your husband-to-be, perhaps?" Merlin teases you with a chuckle. Like always, he knows how to push your buttons, to push and reassure you one moment, only to play and taunt you the next. You should feel irritated to be acquainted with someone so unpredictable. Yet you have no choice but to bear with it, realising how much you still need him.

Just as much as he still needs you to get everything fall into place.

"Yes, you're right. We're meeting with my future in-laws," you calmly answer while pressing your fingers against your temple when the headache begins to set in. This has been a long day, after all, and so much is happening that it feels like your entire world is spinning.

Though it doesn't stop you from hearing it when he sarcastically mutters, "Sounds fun."

If only, you bitterly wonder, though you keep your response to yourself instead of giving in to his constant goading. "It might be possible for me to see you around 10 PM if we must," you answer instead, figuring that you will have enough time to slip away after dinner to meet up with Merlin without Yoongi ever finding out.

"That's fine with me. I'll be waiting at the usual place behind Capo," he firmly says before immediately cutting off the call.

You watch his codename blink on your phone screen in the silence that follows, before turning off your phone and slipping it into your purse.

It has been a long day, and you have had enough of it. Seeing that there is no point for you to stay longer, that your mind won't stop thinking about tonight's appointments, you start gathering your things to leave the office early.

You might do a better job getting ready for tonight instead of lingering here without a purpose. After all, you need to show the best version of yourself and play your role perfectly if you want to make your first move.