I'm surprised to see a stunning bouquet of those same pink flowers I always admire when walking the street already sitting on my desk the moment I walk into my office. Looking behind me, I don't see any of the receptionists around so I assume they have been here for quite some time.

This morning I gave myself some extra time to sleep in after I called my boss to let him know that I would be late. Jimin took me back to the hotel after spending hours around the city just hanging out and talking as if we had known each other our entire lives. I got to my suite at a respectable hour but when the silence set in, so did the heartbreak again. It took me most of the night to get to sleep after that.

After setting my purse down on the little sofa, I take hold of the small card and smile when I realize it wasn't my husband who sent these. I'm not sure I'm ready for Cameron to try to make amends yet. It wouldn't feel genuine.

I hope you can keep that
smile on your face today.
I had a great time with
you yesterday.

- Jimin

Pulling out my phone from my pocket, I immediately send Jimin a text message, thanking him for the unexpected flowers. Within seconds I get a response from him with well-wishes for the day and a request to have lunch together which I happily accept.

Being around Jimin makes me happy and whatever makes me happy is something I'm focusing on now. When I finally pulled myself together this morning after giving myself time to feel, I straightened my shoulders, took some extra time for some self-care, meditated, and made the decision to no longer live my life based on people who don't give me the same energy.

When Jimin confessed that he was terrified of heights but was willing to go on top of the Eiffel Tower to simply put a smile on my face, that was a wake-up call. My husband, even when we first started dating, would decline to even let me pick what movie to watch because it wasn't something he would want to see but I was too lost to notice it. No matter how much I bent over backward to do things to make him happy, he never cared about doing the same for me. So with the knowledge that Jimin doesn't also think that way, I begin typing away into the search engine on my computer to plan a lunch together. Jimin can get the better side of me. So far, he deserves it.

Finding a Korean restaurant in between our two businesses, I send him the address and tell him to meet me there at half past noon. I don't mention the type of food and knowing him, he won't ask. He'll just happily show up at whatever place I choose. I'm excited to see how he'll react once he arrives and notices it's a type of cuisine he's familiar with, even if I am not.

With confirmation that he'll see me then, I push aside the butterflies growing in my stomach and focus on work. There wasn't much I could do in the two hours I have until I leave for my lunch break but I call to verify the date for the Chanel fragrance commercial shooting and that the models that Jimin and I chose will be there on time.

Thinking back, I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't accepted Chanel as my client. When my boss, Mr. Dubois, offered me the account, I had the option to decline and pass it along to the next marketing agent in line but he had insisted that this would be good for me and my career. If I hadn't accepted, I possibly would have never met Jimin at all and it makes me realize how thankful I am to have him in my life at the moment.

Am I attracted to him? Yes, of course. How could I not be? Anyone in their right mind would find such an alluring man with such a beautiful soul attractive. But beyond that, he has been a light on some of my darkest days. A true friend beyond anything else.

Now, I'm not naive enough to think he doesn't have any flaws. Everyone does. He may snore loudly or leave his dirty clothes around the house. He may leave empty shampoo bottles in the shower or forget to turn off lights when he leaves a room. All of that I could put up with. Over the years of being married, I have realized that most men are that way with only a few being an exception to the rule but Jimin has already proved to me that he is not selfish and has no problems putting others above himself. And that? That's something that would definitely make me overlook any of the tiny flaws he may have.

Am I starting to imagine what it'd be like to be with him? Not just sexually like usual but in an actual relationship with him?

Shaking my head, I push those intrusive thoughts aside. I'm married. Possibly on the road to divorce but Jimin doesn't deserve to be a rebound. I need to figure things out for myself so that I don't accidentally hurt anyone else.

My desk phone rings and I mindlessly answer it as I stare at the sales graph I have pulled up on my computer screen. "Mia Scott," I answer monotonously.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay. You never texted or called," Cameron says on the other line.

I pause my movements, staring blankly at a specific spot on my wooden desk with a deeply engraved scratch that I had accidentally put there on my first day. "You didn't call or text me either but yes, I'm fine."

"I know I pushed you to leave. I hope you know I never intended for things to be this way," he takes a deep breath before sighing. "I'm going through some things that even I don't understand and didn't want to drag you down with me, but I guess that's exactly what I did."

I stay silent, feeling like there was no need to respond.

Catching on to the fact, I don't intend on licking his wounds, he continues, "I'm sorry I've hurt you, Mia. I've hurt you for way too long and I know you deserve better than that. But I don't know if I can give you what you deserve right now. If you need me to help you find a place or if you want to come back here and I leave instead, I'll do just that until we can figure out what we're doing. I don't want to force you to come home if you're not ready and if I know I can't be the man you deserve right now."

"Thank you for admitting that you're not in a good place. I will be back to get some more things when I need to. I'd rather not be in that house alone anymore. Especially not right now."

"I understand. Take care of yourself and call me if you need anything."

"Bye, Cameron."

Taking a deep breath, I hang up the phone and run my hand through my hair. Just speaking with my husband felt like my spirit has been drained.

Looking at the clock, I see that it's almost twelve-thirty and stand to grab my purse. Soon, I'll be seeing Jimin and he seems to recharge me every time he's around.

On the way to the restaurant, I smile to myself wondering how he's dressed today. He's always so fashionable, especially during work, and I realize how excited I am to see him again, but thoughts begin to cross my mind: Do I hug him this time? I want to but would that be weird? He said we're no longer just colleagues. Friends do hug each other, right? But I don't want him to feel awkward and I don't want to get rejected either.

Walking up to the small restaurant I've never been to, I see the Korean writing on the sign and tilt my head wondering what it says. Jimin hasn't arrived just yet. I wanted to get here first to see the look on his face when he realizes what I'd chosen for the day. Little does he know I've never had Korean food a day in my life but this lunch is all about him as a small way to show my gratitude.

Hearing footsteps along the cobblestone street, I turn around to see Jimin looking around with a confused expression as he tries to figure out which building the secret restaurant is located in. Whistling to get his attention, I wave my hand as high as I can in the air and he picks up his pace as soon as he sees me with a bright smile spreading his plump lips.

I take a few seconds to admire his outfit. Fitted dark gray almost black slacks accentuate his toned thighs as he takes long strides towards me. The wind tightens his white button-up shirt with the sleeves pushed up, showing off a defined chest underneath and apparently a nice set of abs.

I'm sure I'll be thinking about that later.

"Hey!" Jimin exclaims as he gets closer. Holding out his arms, I giggle and take a step forward myself so that he can wrap me up in a hug. "You look lovely," he whispers as he holds me tightly to him for a few more seconds.

Pulling back, I smile up at him and appreciate his smooth olive complexion. "Thank you. You look handsome yourself."

Finally looking up to the building behind me, his eyes widen before he peers down at me with admiration. "You chose a Korean restaurant?"

"I thought you'd like it since you were telling me just yesterday how you miss the food back home," I state with a shy little shrug.

"You chose this for me?" His eyes twinkle while his bottom lip gets trapped between his teeth. Nodding, he runs his index finger under my chin making me look into his eyes and my stomach twist. "Thank you," he says just above a whisper.

Clearing my throat, I step back and gesture towards the entrance. It doesn't take us long to be seated and for him to grab the menu. He gushes over the assortment of choices that I have never heard of but apparently are some of his favorites. Closing the menu, he tilts his head and takes a sip of water as he watches me try to understand any of the items listed.

"You've never had Korean food before, huh?"

Popping my head up, my cheeks flush, "Huh?"

Chuckling, he sets his glass back down on the table before leaning closer to me, "You've never had Korean food."

Looking into his chocolate eyes that twinkle in the sunlight, I don't say anything for a second, feeling like a kid that got caught lying. Eventually shaking my head, he smiles at me and slips the menu from my fingers, letting me know he'll be ordering for the both of us.

A petite middle-aged woman with her hair tied back comes to our table and does her best French until she sees Jimin. Prattling off something in what I assume to be their native tongue, Jimin nods his head at her question and the two continue on in a friendly conversation that I cannot translate. Grinning at him seeming so at ease as he speaks with the woman as if he's known her since he was a kid, I sit back and wait for the two of them to finish.

Not going to lie, hearing him speaking in his native language is pretty sexy. Especially when I notice that his voice has dropped an octave.

Looking at me, he chuckles and states a few more things to the waitress before she slightly bows to both of us. When Jimin does the same to her, I follow along assuming that has something to do with the culture as well and not wanting to come across as rude.

The food comes out fairly quickly and piping hot along with a plethora of sides which Jimin told me is called banchan. Some things I recognized, like rice and some seasoned vegetables, but others I did not. After a brief explanation of what everything is and me doing my best to pronounce them properly, we get ready to eat.

With a soft chuckle and a tilt of his head, he grabs his chopsticks and expertly picks up some of the tasty-smelling beef from the dish in between us, "Oh how the tables have turned. Now I'm teaching you an unknown language."

Holding the food up to my mouth, I blush and open up for him to feed me, "That's really good!"

His eyes slightly widen and he becomes fidgety after he has placed it on my tongue. Licking his lips, he slowly looks up at me, "It's normal to feed friends in Korea. Sorry if that was awkward, I sometimes forget that things are different here."

Shaking my head with a grin, I pick up some of the vegetables with my own pair of chopsticks, although not as skilled as he did, and hold them up to his lips. A slow smirk starts to raise at the corner of his mouth before he takes the food I'm offering.

"This lunch is all about you. Teach me anything you'd like to," I state as I stare at his lips for a bit longer than I should before forcing my eyes back to his.

"Maybe we'll dive into my culture later on if you still want to learn. How was work this morning? I know you said you'd be going in later than usual."

Raising my brows as I think back on this morning, I swallow the bite of rice. "Well, Cameron called me."

"Oh?" Jimin questions as he pauses before taking another bite of his own.

I nod. "He apologized for hurting me and acknowledged that he knows that he was the reason why I left and stated that he never intended for it to be this way. But he also said that he knows he's incapable of giving me what I deserve right now." Taking a deep breath, I pinch the bridge of my nose. "I guess I need to go over there and pick up some things at some point and extend my hotel stay or figure out what to do next."

My lunch date takes a moment to look me over. "I'll go with you to get some more things if you'd like. And you're welcome to stay with me until either you two work it out or until you find out what you want to do. Hotels are expensive and uncomfortable to stay in for such long periods of time."

"Thank you but I wouldn't want to intrude."

"You wouldn't be intruding," Jimin says a bit louder than necessary causing other customers to look our way. We both chuckle at his outburst as he sinks down in his seat and speaks a bit quieter, "You wouldn't be intruding. My home is open if you need it."

Nibbling on my bottom lip, I think it over. Sure, I might be able to find myself an apartment or something at some point but I'm not sure how long that would take and a cheaper hotel is full of creeps. That is something that I'm well aware of from those years I was homeless. Funny how I'm back at square one.

"How would that even work?" I question as I knit my brow. "Where would I sleep?"

"I can stay on the couch and you can have the bed. I don't mind, really. It's a comfortable couch and I sleep on it more and more lately anyway." He offers me a sympathetic smile.

My eyes roam his face for a few seconds as I contemplate this a bit more. I have nowhere else to go and I trust that I would be in good hands with him as he hasn't shown me anything short of compassion and protection.

Sighing, I nod and watch as his eyes light up at the fact I'm taking him up on his offer. Holding up his drink, I clink my glass with his.

"I'm glad to know you'll be safe," he whispers before taking a sip and I feel that same flutter of my heart once again. "I'll get some drawer and closet space ready for your arrival after work. I'll text you the address before the end of the day."