The irony of the day was just a bit overwhelming. Funny, weird, odd, you name it that's what it was. 

When I brought the envelope home to Taemin and Jackson they were also flabbergasted by the events. 

And what exactly did Jin mean by we would meet each other again soon? 

It actually didn't take long for me to find out what he meant by that. 

"You have mail." Taemin said knocking on my door. I was on my computer shopping for some cake items I needed for Leah's birthday. 

"You can set it on my bed." I told him. 

"Actually can you open this one now?" 

I turned and saw he had several large black envelopes in his hand. Two had white ribbons on it, one had a pink ribbon, and one had a red ribbon. 

"What are they?" 

"I am almost certain the are invitations." 

"To what?" I asked. He handed me the one with the red ribbon, and I noticed Leah's name on the pink ribboned one. 

"The semiannual Kim banquet." He said, as he opened one white one. 

"Seriously? Is this because of your new partnership?" 

"I guess." He shrugged. "There's one for Leah and Jackson here too." 

I opened my envelope and there was a standard invite to exactly what Taemin suspected, but in mine, there was an extra piece of paper with a personal note. 

I look forward to seeing you again. - J

"Well looks like someone made an impression of the CEO." Taemin teased. 

"I guess." I said, looking back over to him. "Is he not married?" 

He shook his head. "No. Minah's mother died of a drug overdose a year after she was born. Jin has had custody of Minah since she was born." 

"Oh wow." I said, as I looked over the invite. 

"You gunna go?" He asked me. 

"Sounds fun." I smiled. "Just surprised he invited all of us." 

"I'm not." Taemin said. "After the initial negotiations for our partnership, he turned into a really down to earth guy. 

"Arrogant." I said, making him laugh. 

"Well yeah." He said walking out of the door. "We business tycoons can be arrogant." 

I rolled my eyes and just as I was about to throw the extra note away, I saw on the back was a phone number. 

I punched the number into my phone and sent a message to see if it was who I thought it was. 

Me: Jin?

Jin: Yes? 

Me: Just checking. 

Jin: I see you've opened the invite

Me: Yeah, thanks for that. 

Jin: Dress nice, maybe in red? 

Me: Is that an order your majesty? 

Jin: Suggestion only. I think you'd look good in red. 

Me: Is that why my invite ribbon was red? 

Jin: Maybe

Me: I guess I'll see you Saturday night

Jin: If you can, arrive early. And bring Leah, we have a special wing of the banquet hall for the children

Me: We are just going to leave them there? 

Jin: I have hired help to watch them

Me: Not Uncle Kookie is it? 

Jin: lol no. Professionals, and several. 

Me: Alright, I'll run in by Taemin

Jin: Good. 

I left him on read after that. I had never had such a person so boldly, and subtly hit on me. 

Because that is what he was doing. 

Wasn't he? 

Taemin went ahead and ordered tux's for he and Jackson, and in a little adventure he took Leah and I to get dresses for the event. 

Leah was so excited. In her invite, there was a picture of Minah and a note that said 'I want to be friends.' That excited Leah and when she found out the dress I was picking out was the same color as my ribbon, she wanted a pink dress to match hers. 

The day of, I found myself a little nervous. 

"You alright?" Jackson asked, stepping into my bathroom. 

"Yeah why?" I asked putting in my earrings. 

"Taemin says that you've caught the eye of the big guy." he joked jumping on the counter in his nicely pressed tux. 

"You're going to get all wrinkled." 

"I don't care." He laughed. 

I rolled my eyes at my adult child brother, and went back to my dress. "You don't think this is too much?" 

"No, I think its very nice." He said. "Elegant, and probably just what he was hoping for." He winked at me. 

"I cant believe I actually did the red dress thing. I should have worn black just out of spite." 

"What fun would that be?"

The dress I had picked out was very basic. It had a soft fabric, and straps over both of my shoulders. The bottom flared out to just below my knees and I curled my hair perfectly over my shoulders. 

"You must want to make a good impression." He said. 

"What makes you say that?" 

"You've been getting ready for about 2 hours now, and I have never known you to take 2 hours on anything." 

"This is a business partner of Taemin's." I scolded him. "I don't want to go into this event looking like I just rolled out of bed." 

"Are you ready?" We heard Leah shout as she barroled her way down the hallway and into my bathroom. Her dress was big, and she looked like a giant pink cupcake. I had done her hair earlier and thank god for hairspray because those intricate pigtails on top of her head werent going anywhere. 

"Almost." I said looking over myself. I grabbed the lipstick that I had and was about to put it on but then stopped. 

No lipstick. 

Leah was jumping up and down in her excitement which caused Jackson to jump down and pick her up. 

"Lets go." He said. 

I was grabbing my bag and checked my phone one final time when I saw I had a text. 

Jin: Looking forward to seeing you 

I didn't respond because just then I heard Taemin shout across the house that the limmo he rented had arrived to pick us up. 

The whole ride, Leah was jumping up an down, we did a video call with her mom so she could see her in her dress, and she asked both Taemin and I questions about Minah. Taemin went through his regular dad checklist, telling her to be good, and to listen to the teachers that would be there. 

When we got there, the room for the children was actaully decorated as if for a wedding. There were only about 10 kids there, but about 20 teachers. 

Probably for obvious lreasons. 

When Minah saw me she smiled and ran over to me hugging my leg. 

"Hi." She smiled making me smile to her. "Daddy is excited to see you." She giggled. 

"Well I am excited to see you again." 

"Where's Leah?" She asked. 

Just then I looked over to see Leah standing behind her father's legs, seeming shy to see the little girl in front of me hug me so boldly. Minah followed my gaze to see Leah looking at her. 

She let go of my legs and waved to her. "I'm Minah!" she greeted with a friendly smile. 

Leah waved to her but looked up at her father for reassurance. After some encouragement she bravely took Minah's hand as she asked her to dance. We stayed there for a few minutes, asking a few questions to the teachers that were watching them. 

Taemin said goodbye and we were walked over to the other side of the banquet hall to join the festivities. When we go there, I was awestruck. Everything was decorated in rose gold. The entire place sparkled, and different servers approached us with champagne glasses. The drink was sweet and bubbly, making you feel light and rounded. 

There was a hostess who asked for our names, and walked us to our assigned table. 

Both Taemin and Jackson sat down, but the table was full of other items from other mingling people. I looked over to the host who seemed to understand myconfusion. 

"This isnt your table ma'am. Your table is over with Mr. Kim." 

Both Taemin and Jackson started laughing, making me give them an annoyed look. But nonetheless I followed the hostess to a table closer up to the front, Jin in deep conversation with a face I recognized. 

Namjoon noticed me first, smiling and giving me a polite wave. 

Jin then turned to me, gave me the most knee weakening smile I had ever seen. 

"Good evening." He said, standing and reaching hish and out. 

"Good evening." I replied, giving him my hand. 

"You look lovely." He said kissing the back of my hand. He then pulled my chair out for me, beckoning me to sit. 

"Thank you." I said as I sat. "May I ask you why I am seated here and not with my brothers.?" 

"Oh because you're my date tonight." 

I looked over at him a little stunned. Namjoon laughing and turning to speak to someone I had not seen. 

"A little arrogant of you to assume this is a date." 

"Did you not accept the invite?" He asked, smirking, a cute little smirk. 

"As did my brothers and niece." 

"Did you wear red then just to apease me, or is it a color you would have picked out yourself?" 

"I like the dress, and it so happens to be red." 

"Ah." He replied, still smirking. "Then I guess it was just wishful thinking." He reached down to take a hold of the base of my chair pulling it into him. Then wrapped his arm around the chair, careful not to touch me. He leaned forward, so his words were whispered into my ear. "Will you please be my date tonight?" He asked, his voice low and playful. 

"I should say no out of spite." 

He pulled back girnning. "I really like you." 

"You don't know me." 

"I'm getting to." He said, taking my now empty glass from me and placing it on the table. 

"Wouldnt a proper date ask me if I wanted another?" 

"That depends." 

"On?" 

"Are you my date?" 

This was a very, very intersting man. I'm not even sure this was arrogance anymore. Maybe it was just playful confidence. 

Playful confidence that made his already attractive appearance even more attractive. He was challenging me. Forcing me to answer. 

I like this game. 

"Yes." I said boldly. 

"Then allow me to get you another drink." He took my hand, kissing the back of it before then standing and finding one of the servers. 

I looked through the tables searching for my brothers, both who were so locked into conversation with the very beautiful women they were sitting next to, that it almost looked as if the seating was done deliberately. 

"So let me guess." I said, as I took the glass from him as Jin brought it back to me. "Those two women, that my brothers are talking to. Not only are they beautiful, but they are likely smart and most importantly single." 

"That they are." Jin said. "And very dear friends of mine." 

"Strategic." I complimented him sipping from my glass. 

"I don't think I ever thanked you for the other week." He said, taking a sip of what looked like whiskey out of a glass. "When I got the frantic call from my brother that he had lost my daughter, I almost walked out of my meeting with Taemin. But then Yoongi called and told me they had actually found her." 

"No need to thank me." I told him. "I'm just glad it was me and not someone....else." 

"Which is exactly why I have to thank you. Turns out that Taehyung and Jungkook couldn't go on the ride with her. And when she was getting off the ride, they lost her in the crowd of kids coming off of it, and she wandered out to the bathroom. Anyone could have grabbed her. Anyone." 

His eyes had a tint of fear in them, and Leah wasn't my daughter, but I love her as if she was. I don't know what I would have done if I was in his position. 

"You okay?" I asked. 

"I am. Just puts some perspective into a lot." 

"No more babysitting for Uncle Kookie?" I teased. 

He laughed. "No, no. Jungkook is a good uncle. We may just not do crowds like that anymore for a while." 

"I understand. I think it put some fear into Taemin as well. Had Leah wandered of thinking she could show herself as a big girl, he'd be in your shoes. He told Jackson and I no more crowds until she's older." 

"That is the rule here too." 

"So since I'm your date and all, I'm assuming you are single?" 

"Yes, When I met Minah's mother I was young and in love. I didn't really see her red flags and didn't care. Minah is the best thing to happen to me. Her mother dying was...bitter sweet." 

"Wow." I said, not expecting that.

"Forgive me." He said, continuing to explain. "I would never want to take Minah's mother away from her, but she didn't want her daughter. She wanted to get an abortion but felt too guilty. I am grateful every day she carried to term so I could release her from her parental responsibilities. The day we signed those papers was the last day that we ever saw her again. Then a year later I got a call that she was found in a hotel after an OD. I fell out of love with her the day she signed that paper. She wasn't the woman I thought she was, and then in her death..." He paused, and looked over at me. "I feel like I'm oversharing." 

"Not at all. Sometimes we just have to blurt things. Get it out in the open so we can move forward." 

"Exactly." He replied, taking another sip. "So I make the same assumption of you. You must be single to agree to be my date." 

"You would be right about that. I haven't dated since I moved in with my brother. Focused so much on Leah." 

"Is her mother involved?" 

"Oh yeah." I assured him. "She works more than Taemin does, but she is a good mom to Leah. We all get along well and they coparent beautifully. Their agreement was no day care, so even though they can afford it, they just didn't want to put her there. So Jackson and I moved in. Jackson was feeling burn out from the company he was working for, and I could work from anywhere if I wanted. Taemin kind of supports us all." 

"Well with the amount of money I am investing in his endavours, you all should be sitting pretty for a while." 

I laughed. "So when you're not tricking people into making deliveries, or being a date, what do you do for fun?" 

"Oh this is the most fun I've had in a long time." He said, finishing his drink. 

As we talked, the food was served and Jin seemed to lose his teasing arrogant vibe and turned out to be a real down to earth person. He loved Minah more than anything, and his brothers were also very active in her life. Both his brothers and his closes friends actually work for him for the state. Jin being the main financial supporter of all the advancement of production in the state. That's why he was meeting with Taemin, to get the project up and running. 

My brother's were infatuated with their 'dates' spending nearly the entire night with them, allowing Jin and I to get to know each other a little better. 

After dinner and dessert was served, there were a few people dancing on the common area dance floor near the middle of the space. Jin stood, and reached for my hand, which I gave him and brought me out to the middle of the dance floor. 

"I cant dance!" I giggled to him, making him laugh in response. 

"Neither can I." He replied. 

Thankfully the song was slow, and Jin and I enjoyed each other's company as we limited our movement to circles as to not fall. 

"I'm glad you declared me your date." I said, to him. 

"So am I." He teased. 

When he smiled at me again I felt the not in my stomach tighten just a little. I was actually falling for his charm. This sudden urge came from within the core of my body, and I felt my legs and arms tingle. The tingle quickly made it to my lips, and I realized I wanted him to badly to kiss me. 

I must have been giving him a look he could read, because he smiled and leaned in, kissing me softly on my lip. 

He pulled back far too soon, making me long for more of his solf lips against mine. 

"You have no idea, how badly I want to kiss you again." He said, in a low voice. His hand flattening against my back and pulling me impossibly closer so our bodies were pressed up against one other. 

"Whats stopping you?" 

"If I kiss you again, I wont want to stop. And then I'll want to kiss you on your neck, then your chest..." He replied, slowly, looking over my neck and shoulder. "And then...I wouldn't be able to stop myself." 

"Maybe I'm okay with that." I breathed, feeling myself long for those kisses he teases. 

But before more could be said, we were interrupted by Namjoon. "Minah is looking for you." He said, making Jin stop and look down to her level. 

Minah was looking for her dad, holding on tightly to Leah's hand pulling her along for whatever mission they were on. 

"Daddy!" She cried, as she reached us. 

"Baby, what are you doing out here?" 

"I had to ask you." She said, Leah waving at Jin as he waved back with a smile. "Um, Leah and I are best friends now, and we want to have a sleepover." 

"Tonight?" 

"Yes!"

"Please?" Leah add, brave to address a stranger. 

Jin looked up at me making me hold my hands up. "Dont look at me, that's Taemin's call."

When we looked up, Taemin was making his way over to the 5 of us, concern and worry in his eyes. 

"Is everything okay?" 

"Daddy, Daddy, this is my new best friend." Leah said, still not letting go of Minah's hand. "She asked if I could sleep over! Can I? Pllllllllleeeease?" 

"Oh I don't know, Leah." 

"Please Miser, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE?!" 

Taemin laughed looking over at Jin who shrugged. "I don't mind."

"You're going to be okay with the two of them on your own?" 

"Well my family will be home." He said. 

"And me." I stepped in. "I'll be there." 

Taemin raised a brow at me. "You will be spending the night?" 

I looked over to JIn "That was the plan, wasn't it?" 

"No, but I'm open to new ideas." He said, turning to Taemin. "It's up to you and what you're comfortable with." 

"PLEASE MISTER!" Minah shouted again making Jin hush her. 

"I guess I don't mind." Taemin laughed. "You don't have any of your overnight stuff." 

"Don't worry mister, I'll share my jammies with her." Minah said as she pulled Leah back towards the teacher that escorted them here. 

"She is a force to be reckoned with." Namjoon said, before taking his leave

"She is." I agreed. 

"Sooooo, you're staying the night at the Kim's?" Taemin asked. 

"I am." I turned to Jin. "Right?" 

"Right." He replied with a grin. "And don't worry, I'll share my jammies with you."