Just my luck. Just my fucking luck. The name of my boyfriend rambles off of my tongue and by the look on his face, he's heard enough. I can't tell his emotions by his eyes, but his face holds nothing but confusion. I want to move, I want to speak, hell, I want to do anything that will help dig me out of this hole I'm in. I can barely breathe as I keep eye contact with Jaebeom.

His hand makes its way to my cheek, softly running his thumb across a tear that has slid down from my eye. "Princess."

I want to break down in tears at my pet name. I don't, and just let the tears fall from my eyes. "What did you hear?"

"Enough to know that we need to talk. As soon as possible."

"Can we do it now?"

He sighs and shakes his head. "I'm still a man of my work and I have some business to discuss with Namjoon."

I look back at Namjoon, who has now stood up and began fixing his tie. He clears his throat and nods. "Of course."

"I'll see you later. Okay, baby?" He kisses my lips softly and I nod. "I'll call you when I've got everything situated."

He steps to the side and lets me walk past him. I don't know how long their little impromptu meeting will take, but I know it'll feel like a lifetime for me. My heart is beating like crazy and it doesn't slow down one bit as Namjoon's office door closes. I just hope it's over quickly so I can see Jaebeom and explain myself.

--

Namjoon's POV

I motion toward the chair Harlow sat in for Jaebeom and the air is incredibly tense. This man probably heard me confess my feelings for his girlfriend. And now we have to talk about work. I almost don't know what to say to him, but if he's got business to handle, we will do that. But I need to address the elephant in the room first.

"I really want to apologize for whatever you had heard."

"Wrong place, wrong time." Jaebeom chuckles softly. "That's something we can deal with outside of work time. Right now, we've got a business to run."

I nod to him, agreeing. "Absolutely. So, what brings you this way today?"

We begin to discuss the preparations for the trip to Korea. I explain a bit about how operations there are different here, but what his department does is totally up to him. As long as everyone is on the same page at the end of the day, that's all that matters.

"So, the last week, all operations are on you."

"Sounds good." He nods. "Thank you."

"Not a problem. Anything else you need to know?"

"Yes, actually. Just this one thing."

"Okay."

"Now that this business is handled, I'm curious as to what business you have with my girlfriend."

I feel as if all the wind was knocked out of my body. I wasn't expecting him to ask that so suddenly. I'm very nervous to answer him, but this is an issue that I've created. So I need to man up and fix it. Before I can speak, he adds more on.

"I know she's your nanny and it shocked me when I found out, and also made me nervous. I didn't want her to feel like I was using her."

"So, you really didn't know?"

"How would I know something like that?" He chuckles. "We are still learning about each other and you and I are partners. Those are two different things. That doesn't include me knowing what happens in your personal life."

"You're right." I nod. I guess I worried for no reason. "I apologize. I'm so sorry."

"Thank you." Jaebeom nods. "I admire what Harlow does for you and your kids, but I didn't like hearing that you two have had some kind of sexual relationship. It seems awkward to me."

"That's a very complicated situation." I admit.

He nods. "So it seems. But you need to make it uncomplicated. I am really falling for her and I don't want to feel like I'm in competition with another man when I'm the one she's currently lying with."

Hearing the mention of them being even remotely intimate boils my blood. He's got a point, though. However, I still want her. Something has got to give. But for now, I'll go along with it. Everything will fall into place if it's meant to be. "I understand."

"Thank you." He softly smiles. "I'll be going now."

"Have a good rest of your day."

"You as well." He stands and quickly leaves the room.

I'm left with silence and my thoughts. He seemed genuine in not knowing about Harlow working for me. I actually feel bad for wanting her, seeing how much he cares about her. But I can't help that feeling of needing her for myself. Sorry to Jaebeom, but I wont stop until she's finally mine.

--

Harlow's POV

"It was all a big, jumbled mess." I say to Jaebeom. "I wouldn't say it was a moment of weakness, but we were both in this vulnerable state. I never even intended for it to go as far as it did."

"But you said you still love him." Jaebeom says and it breaks my heart.

"Not in that way." I quickly defend. "He as a special place in my heart because I've gotten to know him well, but it's platonic. A friendly kind of love." After talking to Namjoon, is it even still that friendly feeling I had since being with Jaebeom?

"Do you see yourself with him?"

"No."

"Do you see yourself with him in the future?"

"No." I hesitate for a moment, but I answer the question hastily. At this moment, I'm very confused.

This is not the conversation I ever wanted to have with Jaebeom anyway. I didn't even want him to know that Namjoon and I had that weird relationship going on. Everything was great. Sitting here with him right now just shows me how much he's willing to work with me.

"Harlow," He takes a deep breath. "I'm falling in love with you."

My eyes widen and my jaw drops. He's falling in love with me? But why? Why do I deserve his love when, deep down, I don't truly know what's going on with my love life? How do I tell him that I'm falling for him too, but feel the need to hold back my feelings after that conversation with Namjoon?

"I don't expect you to say it back."

"But I want to." I respond. "I know I'm falling for you. It's just that..."

We're silent for a moment before I sigh. Of course I wouldn't know what to say next. I didn't think I'd be in this situation.

He looks at me sympathetically and nods, with a soft but hurt smile. "I don't want to say what I'm thinking."

"Then don't." I say softly, a lump growing in my throat as tears sting my eyes. "Please, don't."

"I have to. It will help you, and I want you to be sure of this yourself."

"Jae-" I cry, holding onto his hands tightly.

I know what's coming, but I don't want this to happen. How do I stop this? How do I quickly rectify the incoming situation? I feel a number of emotions and they're all pouring from my eyes as he uses his thumb to rub circles on the back of my hand.

"Princess, you're so confused. I can see it. Let's take some time apart."

The words I had dread have come true. He wants to break up because I have love issues to sort out. I can't stop myself from crying now as the tears fall from my eyes. He pulls me into his arms and holds me tightly. What do I do? How do I save this relationship? I want Jaebeom and I want to love Jaebeom. He is who I can see myself with. Why can't I say that out loud?

"Please, just work with me."

"I am, baby." He kisses the top of my had. "I want you to really dig deep down to find out if you really want to be with me. To show me that you only want me and that you want to build with me. And only me."

"And you'll wait for me?" I mumble into his chest.

"For a little bit, yes. Because my feelings for you are so strong. But please, don't keep me waiting."

"I won't, I promise."

We stay in this spot, me in his arms as he softly caresses my arm and peppers tiny kisses to my forehead. This should've all been so simple. I meet Jaebeom, get to know him, fall in love, and possibly build a life with him. All so simple, your typical perfect textbook love. However, my life is far from perfect. I had the perfect man and began a perfect relationship, but the back story as to why I was looking for the man is nothing short of a hot mess. All because I let emotion get the best me. What a bunch of bullshit.

"Assure me that whatever happens," Jaebeom starts. "you keep it real with me."

I nod, still close to him. "We've been real with each other since the beginning. I intend to keep it that way."

"Good. Because I can't wait to tell you I love you."

My heart flutters at his words. There's no way I can't not fall in love with this man. He is the definition of perfect. But, do I deserve this kind of perfection in my life?

∆

Let's get right into it! So I had you guys do a twitter poll for me & these were the results.

And with how I wrote it, honestly, its like a mix of both? Lol he's wanting to work it out, but he's also wanting to take a break, essentially. I plan to make the next chapter emotionally charged with lots of Harlow's thoughts.

Oh & guess what? This book is almost over! 😭 I have no idea how many chapters I will do, but the next chapter determines how many are left. It can be anywhere from 2 chapters to 5 chapters. We're on 33 & I don't plan on going past 40. I just wanna thank you all for motivating me & being the reason I work so hard on this story. I love every comment & how invested you all are in my characters. From momma to all her babies, thank you so so much & I love you so much! Until the next chapter! ❤❤❤❤

P.S.: If you have a twitter, please follow & do the polls I post every so often. It helps me with some ideas I have ❤

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~S.xx