*This will take place around chapters 32 & 33, then move on to chapter 40*

Jaebeom's POV

"CEO Lim, welcome." The front desk secretary greets me with a big smile.

"Good afternoon." I smile. "I know I'm not on his list of appointments today, but is Namjoon in?"

"He is and he's free right now. You may head up."

"Thank you."

I head to the elevator and am pleased that it doesn't take long for the doors to open. I softly hum to myself as I make my way to the top floor. It's a random popup, but if Namjoon was busy, his secretary would've let me know. The elevator dings, letting me out and my feet easily take me to his office door. I'm about to knock when I stop from hearing voices.

"You're more than just sex to me. Always have been. It took me some time to figure it out, but I know now. I know that I have feelings for you and that I am jealous that you're with someone else." I hear Namjoon speaking. It sounds like he's got a complicated love life. I really don't mean to eavesdrop when I'm only here for business, but it would be rude to knock and interrupt his conversation. I'm not interested in his conversation because it isn't my business, but out of politeness, I wait for him to finish before I knock. "Seeing you smile and knowing I'm not the cause eats at me. I miss you, Harlow."

Harlow? My Harlow? The woman that I constantly think about on a daily? What the hell is going on? I wasn't interested in the conversation before, but now it seems as though this is detrimental for my relationship. I mean, what other Harlow could this man possibly be talking to?

"I miss being able to just openly talk and not be awkward. I miss the hugs we gave each other, and I miss the feeling of you. The feeling of you on me, the feeling of your lips. I miss that and I want that. I want you."

Harlow was more than just a nanny to him. There's so much she hasn't told me about her relationship with Namjoon that, honestly, I feel like I should be informed of. Am I going to be in competition with my colleague over my girlfriend?

"That can't happen." She finally speaks. It's definitely my girlfriend in there. "This is what I wanted from the beginning. When I came to your office, before we had sex in here? It was me wanting to tell you I was in love with you, but that didn't pan out. I can't do this and something has to give because I can't just leave Jaebeom, and I won't."

I feel a plethora of emotions within me. I'm shocked, I'm upset, I'm sad, and I'm overall confused. She wanted to profess her love to him, and they've had sex right there in his damn office. That makes me so uncomfortable. I feel like a rebound.

"Do you still love me?" He asks her. I really hope that she says what I want to hear.

"Yes." She answers. My heart sinks into my stomach. She begins speaking again. "But I'm not in love with you. I can't be and I can't allow myself to."

That makes me feel a bit better, but it still hurts. It hurts knowing that my girlfriend loves another man. What am I here for if she's feeling this way toward another man? I'm left with my thoughts as it becomes quiet for a moment.

All too suddenly, the door opens and standing in front of me is my horrified girlfriend. Her eyes are wide as she says my name softly. "J-Jaebeom."

Her eyes study my face. I know my reaction gives off one of confusion. Namjoon is off in the back with almost a look of shame on his face, as he so should. But what do I say in this situation?

My hand slowly makes its way to her soft cheek, where I gentle run my thumb across a tear that has slid down from her now red eyes. She's so overwhelmed. I say the first thing that comes to my mind. "Princess."

Her tears fall now and it breaks my heart. I've never seen her cry before, and it kinda hurts me to see her look so lost and broken. "What did you hear?"

"Enough to know that we need to talk. As soon as possible." I answer, continuing to wipe her tears.

"Can we do it now?"

I sigh, shaking my head. "I'm still a man of my work and I have some business to discuss with Namjoon."

She turns to look back at Namjoon, who is fixing his tie as he stands. He clears his throat and nods in our direction. "Of course."

"I'll see you later. Okay, baby?" I kiss her lips softly and feel her nodding as I pull away. "I'll call you when I've got everything situated."

I step to the side slightly to let her walk by. I watch as she walks down the hall then I sigh, closing Namjoon's door. I don't know what to say to the man behind me right now, so with putting our business first, I'll be able to strategize with the words I want to say.

I turn to see Namjoon motioning toward the chair for me to sit. I can't describe the tension, but it's truly suffocating. I just heard this man confess his true feelings toward my woman. If I wasn't a patient man, I'd have lots of words for him right now. But seeing as we have to talk about work, I maintain my composure.

"I really want to apologize for whatever you had heard." Namjoon says, causing me to look at him.

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

He nods in agreement. "Absolutely. So, what brings you this way today?"

"South Korea prep. I have just a few questions."

As we discuss what will happen when we leave the country, I still can't get over the conversation I heard between and Harlow. How long has he had these feelings for her? And why in the hell was he having relations with his nanny in the first place?

"So, the last week," I'm pulled from my thoughts when he speaks. "all operations are on you."

"Sounds good." I nod simply. "Thank you."

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

"Yes, actually. Just this one thing." I say, now ready to discuss what it was I had heard while outside the door.

"Okay." Namjoon leans back slightly in his chair.

"Now that this business is handled, I'm curious as to what business you have with my girlfriend." I come right out and say. I can tell that I sprung this on him suddenly, as he begins to look nervous. I have no time to sugarcoat the matter when it involves my woman. With his silence, I continue 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?" He asks, shocked. But why would he be? I know nothing about, nor am I concerned about his personal life.

"How would I know something like that?" I chuckle. "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." He nods, relaxing just a tad. "I apologize. I'm so sorry."

"Thank you." I acknowledge his apology. "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." He admits.

"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."

"I understand."

Namjoon tenses up as I speak about Harlow. It bothers me because if he wanted her that bad, he should have gotten her when he had the chance. They had some weird thing going on before me, so why not have just sealed the deal then? Why be jealous of someone who has what you didn't want in the beginning? I guess I won't understand.

"Thank you." I give a gentle smile, happy to be done with this conversation. "I'll be going now."

"Have a good rest of your day."

"You as well." I stand, quickly exiting the room.

As I head toward the elevator, the only thing on my mind is Harlow. The woman of the hour. I want to know what she really feels for me. From the beginning, we've been nothing short of real with each other. This was none of my business to begin with, but it is my business now that I feel as though I am in competition with another man for my woman's heart. I don't like this.

--

I really don't like this at all. It hurts, hearing that the woman you began falling for loves another man. I was already prepared for the worst, but hoping for the best. Nothing could have prepared me for this heartbreak, though. I really did see myself with Harlow for the long haul, but that wasn't in her plans. I heard my own heart shatter when she said "I love you, but-". There is no "but" when it comes to loving. So, I had to let her go. That is the only way she can truly be happy, little does she know.

As I drive her home, I never let go of her hand. I'm savoring these last moments with her.

"Thank you." Harlow says.

"For?" I ask softly.

"Everything." She replies. "You showed me how I am supposed to be loved. You gave me that in such a short amount of time. I'll never forget that. You deserve every good thing that comes your way, and I can't wait for the next woman to sweep you off your feet."

I smile, nodding at her as I swallow the lump in my throat. I wanted that woman to be her. "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to show you how to be loved. I wish I could have given you more, but I understand where your heart is. And it isn't with me. Just promise me that you'll never settle for anything less than what you deserve."

"I promise." She says. "I will keep that promise til the day I die."

We arrive to her home shortly after, and I hope out to let her out of the car. We hug for so long as I take in the last of her. I don't want to let her go, but I have to. For all of us. When I finally let her go, she kisses my lips for the last time.

"Thank you. Please take care of yourself." She tells me.

"I will. You too, princess."

With one last kiss I place to the back of her hand, I slowly make my way back over to the curb to get into my car. I wanted so bad for her to call my name, to stop me from leaving, but she doesn't. That's my sign that I made the right call for her sake. I look back at her once more as I drive away.

That's the end of us. It's odd knowing that I've just lost my love to my work colleague. This hurt is different than the ones I've had before. Breaking off my engagement didn't hurt this bad because that was a mutual agreement. This breakup, however, was literally me having a forced hand. It was better for me to end it for us before I got hurt. I know it's better this way, but a selfish part of me wishes that I was able to make her love me more than him.

I head back to my office, my stomach in knots and my heart heavy. Once I'm settled inside after a few minutes, I take out my phone and delete the photos of Harlow and her contact information. I sigh, locking my phone and setting it down.

I love Harlow, enough to let her go. She loves someone else and I can't stop her from loving him. It will take a minute for me not to think about her, but there's someone out there for me somewhere.

∆

JB! Let momma love you since Harlow didn't! 😂 okay so yeah, this was just a look into what Jaebeom felt around those few chapters because we never saw his POV. This was random but my thanks for over 300k reads 💕 so thank you so so much.

I know I'm super late on this, but please don't forget to ask any remaining questions you have for the cast in the prior chapter for the last q&a. Let's fully wrap this book up! I love you all! ❤❤❤❤❤❤

P.S. Spin-off anybody? 👀👀👀👀

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~S.xx