Taking another sip of my wine, I watch Mia laugh whole-heartedly at something Josie just said to her. Even though the conversation wasn't a quiet one, and neither was the restaurant, I couldn't seem to hear anything else other than the cute sound radiating from the woman I know I shouldn't be paying so much attention to.

Clearing my throat quietly, I sit down my wine glass and cut into the filet mignon I had ordered. This isn't right. I can't be admiring a married woman, no matter how attracted I am to her. Sure, I don't know much about her personal life or what her likes and dislikes are but physically, I'm definitely drawn to her. I just need to keep reminding myself that our relationship is purely professional.

That's all she sees me as anyway; a colleague. She probably doesn't even find me attractive and I'm crazy for even feeling a twinge of disappointment at that thought.

"So, Jimin, are you planning on bringing anyone special?" Josie questions as I'm brought out of the confines of my thoughts.

"Anyone... special?" My brows raise as I slowly bring my fork back down to my plate.

"To the launch party once we get the fragrance out on the market." She tilts her head as she examines my state of being. "Are you feeling okay? You seem kind of off tonight."

Flitting my eyes to Mia, I shift in my seat and bring my napkin to dab at my mouth before I respond, "I'm fine. Just a long day, I guess. No, I don't have anyone special to have as my plus one."

"No one? Come on, there has to be a cute girl that you'd like to go with." Mia pleasantly smiles at me, giving me a little nudge with her shoulder.

"Unfortunately, no. I don't have anyone I spend my time with. I'm still the new kid in town, remember?" I give her a little wink and immediately regret doing that.

"Right," she takes a sip of her wine while keeping eye contact with me. "That's still a while from now. Who knows who you'll meet in the meantime."

"The offer for me to set you up on a blind date with my niece is still on the table," Josie interjects and my stomach twists at the thought.

I appreciate her wanting to help me mingle in this wonderful city and I'm honored that she would like for me to date someone so closely related to her but dating my boss's niece seems like a really bad idea. If things went bad then well, so could my job.

Giving her a genuine smile, I shake my head, "Thank you, Josie, but not right now."

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mia tap the screen of her cellphone for the fourth time in less than thirty minutes and let out the smallest of sighs. If I wasn't paying so much attention to every little detail, I would have missed it. Especially with how she jumps right back into conversation with such an upbeat attitude.

It's as if she has rehearsed this act of false happiness until she's perfected it, but given how she was the other night and knowing her marriage is rocky right now makes it obvious to me that this beautiful smile she's currently showing Josie isn't truly genuine. Something is bothering her inside.

The evening continues on until all of our plates have been cleared, including the dessert that Stefan insisted on and I have to agree that it was delicious. Although, I have no clue what it was or even how to pronounce the name again to order it another time.

Walking out of the restaurant, we all stop next to the street illuminated by a fancy-looking light post as Mia and Josie laugh about something in French to which I didn't understand so I just give a small smile to try to fit in.

"Would you like for me to take you home? We could share a cab." Stefan offers Mia and I become slightly tense at his words.

Knowing that he may touch her inappropriately or could make her feel uncomfortable with his overly flirtatious attitude causes me to be worried for her. It seems as if she has enough going on at home as it is. The last thing she'd need is for some perverted older man trying to fondle her in the back of a taxi cab.

"No, thank you. I actually don't live too far from here and it's a very nice night out. I think I'll take a walk instead," she politely declines with a shake of her head and a grin on her face as she slips on a pink beret that matches her dress.

"Nonsense. A pretty woman like you shouldn't be walking alone this time of night," Josie argues.

My mind races with what I could do to help Mia out. She doesn't know Stefan as well as I do. She hasn't seen the creepy advances I've witnessed day-to-day and Josie either likes it or acts oblivious to it.

"I can walk her home. I'll just catch a cab from there. You and Stefan both live on the same side of town," I look between Josie and the man I'm not too fond of. "It'd be better if you two shared a taxi anyway. Save on the fares."

Nodding her head, Josie slips on her peacoat and ties it around her tiny waist, "You make a valid point. It was lovely having dinner with you, Mia."

"You, too," she smiles back at my boss. "Have a good night, Stefan."

Glancing at me before responding to her, Stefan forces a small smile, "Good night, Mrs. Scott."

We both remain in our spots on the sidewalk as we watch the others climb into the waiting taxi, driving off into the night as the people behind us continue to converse while they go in and out of the restaurant.

Looking up at me, she pulls out the attached gold chain from her purse and slides it over her head, turning her handbag into a crossbody, "You don't really need to take me home. I've walked these streets plenty of times at night."

"And leave me to toss and turn at night worried if you got home safely? I think not." Holding my arm out for her, she chuckles and locks her arm with mine allowing me to start leading the way.

"Uh, Jimin?" She meekly says and my cheeks flush at the sound of my name from such an angelic voice. Looking over to her I raise my eyebrows as I wait for her to continue. "I live in the opposite direction."

My shyness overwhelms me as I drop my head and squeeze my eyes shut, laughing as I slowly turn us around, "You could have told me before I made a fool of myself."

"It was cute watching you pretend to know where you were going," she jokes as we step down onto the pavement to cross the street.

We don't speak for the next block and I take slower than usual steps to accommodate her strides in heels, not wanting her to trip or twist her ankle under my watch. The wind blows every few seconds and the smell of her shampoo lingers in the air around me. Her hand holds onto my arm a bit tighter for extra stability when we step over uneven terrain.

I want to ask her if she's been doing well. If she needs a friend to talk to or if there's anything I could do to help but I bite back the urge and continue to just be in her presence.

But as if she could hear the questions running through my mind, she speaks up on her own, "He hasn't texted or called me all evening. Even though it's now half-past nine, he hasn't reached out to even make sure I'm okay. That's a red flag, right?" She looks up at me with knitted brows and almost puppy-like brown eyes, "I'm not crazy for thinking he should at least make sure I'm okay... Right?"

Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, my eyes search hers as I see them glistening with tears. I'm not sure what to say exactly. I know that she's not crazy for thinking those things and her husband should at the very least be concerned for her well-being but I know that I am an outsider in this situation and I am not trying to persuade her in any form or fashion.

"I shouldn't have made you feel uncomfortable. I'm sorry." She drops her head and brings her free hand up to her face to wipe away the tears threatening to fall to the ground below us. "I just... I don't really have anyone that knows that my marriage isn't doing so well and I hold it all in. I guess it just sort of came out and-"

"You don't have to apologize for wanting to talk to me," I cut her off when I hear the break in her voice. "And no, you're not crazy for thinking he should make sure you're okay. That should be the bare minimum a man should do."

Tilting her head up with my index finger, I smooth away the wetness from her flushed cheeks. Her eyes search mine for a moment before she blinks back the sadness and clears her throat, putting back on that same performance I saw her do at the restaurant where she forces herself to pretend she's okay.

I just know she'll be crying herself to sleep later and I hate being aware of that fact.

Giving me a smile that doesn't reach her big brown eyes decorated with wispy lashes softly coated in mascara, she starts to walk again, giving my arm a slight tug making me continue along with her. Glancing at her taking in the night sky and grinning at the spring flowers that have blossomed in the trees as she obviously tries to fill her mind with happy thoughts, I wish that I could tell her that she deserves better than this. No one deserves to feel unloved and that's clearly what's going on. The reason why her marriage is rocky.

But alas, that's not my place. We barely know one another.

"Have you found any new restaurants to eat at besides the one below your apartment?" She questions to make small talk.

"I've been to the cafe you took me to a couple of times now," I chuckle with a little shrug.

Stopping and rolling her eyes at me, she huffs out cutely, "Jimin, you're in Paris. Live a little! You can't stay cooped up in your apartment or slamming yourself with work. Where is the fun in that? You're a single, attractive man in the city of love for goodness sake."

She finds me attractive...

Focus on the conversation, Jimin.

"Well, I just don't know where to start. Clubbing alone isn't really my thing, I barely know any French, and I get lost if I walk more than four blocks from my place."

Tilting her head side to side, she stares up at the sky once again before meeting my curious gaze. I've noticed she stops walking often as if she's not in a rush to get to her house. If only I could take her home with me instead.

"You need a French tutor," she giggles and I have to tuck my lips into my mouth to stop myself from smiling like a damn fool. "How long do you plan on living in France?"

"No plans to leave any time soon," I state as I glance down at my shiny black shoes and drag my eyes back up to sheepishly meet hers.

"Hm," she stares at me for a moment. "I could use something to do when I'm not working and the distraction from my personal life would be nice. I could tutor you if you'd like. We could meet on the weekends. Each time at a different place so that you can actually start to live in Paris instead of just existing here."

While I know that her intentions are pure, I also know how drawn I am to her and that makes me hesitate to accept her offer right away. I look into her round eyes and glance down at her plump lips before looking away and focusing on the bush filled with some kind of pink flower nearby. Accepting her offer would mean that I would undoubtedly spend more time with her. It wouldn't technically be dating each other but I know me and I know I will end up getting attached to her.

But then again, she's right. I need to quit living in this safety bubble I've put myself in and experience things. No matter how scary it is to live alone in a foreign country. I chose to accept this job and move here with no plans to move back to Korea. I should embrace the culture here and make a life for myself.

"Come on." She sticks out her bottom lip and bats her lashes, "I could use a friend, too."

Friend.

That word brings me back to reality.

Taking a deep breath, I nod, "Do Saturday afternoons work for you?"

Smiling brightly she agrees to the set time and begins walking with me again, "I'll text you the place we'll meet at by Friday night. I have to decide where to take you first."

"I look forward to it," I smile to myself as we turn the corner when I realize that this means she held onto the business card I had given her with my cell number on it.

It doesn't take us much longer to reach the steps of her building. Staying back, I place my hands in my pants pocket and watch her walk up the steps as she pulls out her keys from her purse. Turning around, she gives me a small smile and fiddles with her keys for a moment.

"Thank you for making sure I got home safely."

"It was only right that I did," I smile up at her, the glow of light softly illuminating her beautiful features.

"I'll see you soon. Be safe getting to your apartment."

"I will. See you soon, Mia." Turning to walk away, I stop when I reach the road and look back to make sure she got inside. Grinning as I see her turn to look back at me once more, I give her a small wave before I continue to walk back toward the busier street to catch a cab home.

For the first time since I moved here, I look forward to the weekend. No longer dreading its loneliness without the distraction of work.

I just hope I can keep myself from falling for a woman totally out of my reach.