From that point on, Seonghwa had officially been appointed as head of the organization, everything was beneath his fingertips. Despite what he had done to Samuel, surprisingly, the whole organization welcomed him with open arms, even Samuel's daughter, Hana. It was almost as if they had all been impatiently waiting for him to finally step up. After all, he was his father's son, he had the perfect skill set and intuition to run something as large as this.

A few weeks after Seonghwa had begun orchestrating the puppet strings, he wasn't living up to what he had originally promised, he didn't begin to turn the company around. In fact, it had only gotten worse from there. 

The virtually endless power at his whim, the sea of green paper. The more he tasted, the more he wanted. While the organization was thriving more than it was before, the way it was changing Seonghwa was becoming dangerous. He had softened a lot since Hongjoong entered his life, but with a new taste of power on his tongue, the person he used to be was seeping through the cracks once again. Hongjoong tried to keep faith in his lover, but that was hanging by a hair-thin thread that was going to snap at any moment.

One afternoon, after receiving a request from Seonghwa to find some information on a rival organization, Hongjoong had walked into Seonghwa's bedroom with an orange envelope in his hands, but Seonghwa wasn't there when he'd gotten there.

Where the hell did he go? A frown formed on his brow as he thought to himself.

Walking out of the bedroom, Hongjoong made his way down the hall to the living area. He caught a glimpse of Seonghwa in the corner of his eye, lounging outside beside the pool in a pair of black swim shorts, a single bucket hat covering his face. Hongjoong huffed out slightly, then walked over to the sliding glass door, grabbing the handle and sliding it open. He stepped out onto the concrete of the patio and made his way to Seonghwa.

"Seonghwa..." Hongjoong began as he stopped beside the black-haired male, looking down at him on the lounger. "I have that information you wanted on Jeong Enterprise. The records are surprisingly clean, somehow everything that they've been working on has no digital footprints."

A subtle grunt came from Seonghwa's throat and he waved his hand dismissively. "Not now... I'm busy here." Seonghwa huffed out, not even bothering to remove the bucket hat from his face.

Hongjoong bit the inside of his cheek at the response of his lover, he was growing increasingly tired of the snobby attitude of the other male. He took the envelope and smacked it onto the bare skin of Seonghwa's chest.

Yanking the hat from his face and sitting up, he flashed a glare at Hongjoong. "Yah! What's your deal?"

"Some of us are actually busy doing work. Your definition of busy is incompetent, lounging by the pool isn't "busy." I spent all morning gathering that information for you. Review it." Hongjoong spoke as he tilted with his head, putting on a fake smile.

As Hongjoong started to walk away, he could hear that Seonghwa muttered something under his breath. The white-haired male stopped on a dime, turning around and looking at Seonghwa.

"What did you say?" Hongjoong questioned with squinted eyes.

Seonghwa let out a cheeky scoff and shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing. If you didn't hear me the first time, then I guess I won't waste my time repeating myself."

Hongjoong rubbed his forehead as he let out an annoyed laugh. "You're a fucking prick..." He spat out heading back inside.

The corner of Seonghwa's mouth curled into a smirk, standing up from the lounger to follow Hongjoong inside with the envelope in his hand.

"What's your problem today? Wake up on the wrong side of the bed, baby boy?" Seonghwa called after Hongjoong with a condescending tone, following the smaller male into the parlor.

Hongjoong bit his tongue to refrain from snapping back with something snarky. The white-haired male just proceeded towards the bar, getting a small glass, filling it with ice cubes and grabbing a large bottle of rum from the wall of liquor. Seonghwa followed him behind the bar as he set the envelope down. He then took the bottle of rum out of Hongjoong's hand.

"Didn't you hear me talking to you? And why did you only get a single glass? You're not going to share?" Seonghwa tilted his head, a smirk on his lips as he leaned close to Hongjoong's face.

Hongjoong shot a glare at the taller male, snatching the bottle back before pouring himself a drink. He still kept his mouth shut even through the incessant prodding of the other male.

Seonghwa gave a playful pout, reaching out a hand to hook a finger under Hongjoong's chin to make him look at him. "Oh come on... You know the silent treatment doesn't work with me. I could always other sounds come out of that pretty mouth of yours."

Seonghwa had leaned in to kiss the smaller male, but Hongjoong immediately pulled away and started walking off with the glass of rum in his hand. This didn't settle very well with Seonghwa, so he followed after Hongjoong again, grabbing his hand to stop him.

"What the hell is your problem? I'm just playing with you a little bit and you're turning the other cheek." Seonghwa sounded frustrated at this point.

Hongjoong whipped his head around, clearly now looking pissed. "If you don't step off, Seonghwa, we're going to have problems." 

Seonghwa let out an amused laugh. "Wooo... You're spicy today, huh? What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing that concerns you, not like you'd actually give a shit anyway. Aren't you supposedly busy lounging by the pool?" Hongjoong raised a brow before tossing back the drink in his hand. "I have work to do, attend the meetings you apparently don't have time for." Hongjoong tossed the glass onto the floor, a loud crash echoing through the room as it shattered.

Seonghwa looked to the ground in shock as the glass shattered at his feet, then looked up at Hongjoong as he left the room with a frown. He immediately stormed after the smaller male, catching up quickly and grabbing him by the back of the collar. Seonghwa yanked him back before moving him to the wall and pinning him against it.

"Seriously, what the fuck is your problem?!" Seonghwa exclaimed, having enough of the attitude Hongjoong was giving him.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Someone apparently doesn't like it when I use the same arrogant demeanor as they do." Hongjoong said with an innocent smile when he looked up at Seonghwa. "Ask yourself what the problem is before you start pinning this on me."

Seonghwa shot a hand up, grabbing Hongjoong by the chin firmly. "I'm getting sick and tired of how you're speaking to me. I haven't done a damn thing to you. Extinguish your fire before I do it for you." Seonghwa snapped with anger behind his voice.

Hongjoong let out a cheeky laugh, completely unfazed by the whole situation. "And what are you planning on doing about it? Please, enlighten me. If you're going to threaten me, you better hope it's a fucking promise." Hongjoong spat out as he ripped his face from Seonghwa's grasp. "If you have nothing further to say, I really must get ready for the first meeting of today."

Seonghwa licked his bottom lip as he tried to keep his composure. After staring down the smaller male for a long while, he finally stepped back and gestured with his head for Hongjoong to go.

"Alright then... Remember to use sunscreen, wouldn't want you to get burned." Hongjoong remarked in a snarky manner before walking off.

The taller male watched his lover walk off down the hallway, anger still brewing in his gut. He didn't know what Hongjoong's problem was, but he wasn't going to just let him slide like that.

____________________

Later that evening

____________________

The sun had completely set beyond the horizon, the dark sky of night overlooking the earth as it got later.

Hongjoong had returned from town after holding a meeting with one of Seonghwa's clients, later than intended. As much as he hated that he was slowly getting more involved with the business, at least it would keep him busy and away from Seonghwa as much as possible.

Kicking off his black leather dress shoes at the door, Hongjoong heard the sound of someone clearing their throat from behind him. Hongjoong raised a brow, seeming displeased to make eye contact with Seonghwa. 

The taller male had looked as if he was preparing for bed. Seonghwa's black hair had been freshly washed, still damp as it hung in his eyes. He wore a simple white t-shirt and a pair of grey sweatpants that hung low on his hips. He didn't seem very happy that Hongjoong had come home later than he said he was going to.

"Where have you been? You were supposed to be home over three hours ago." Seonghwa said with a frown. "You didn't answer your phone either."

"The meeting was over fairly quickly, but I stuck around for a couple of drinks. I learned a bit more information than I had originally planned, but that benefits us I guess. Mr. Kang was good company, I see why you work with him." Hongjoong said with a simple shrug.

Seonghwa got a look in his eyes that showed a glint of jealousy. "Mr. Kang? Yeosang Kang? I thought you were meeting with Mr. Jung."

"I did, but Mr. Kang was with him, apparently they're partnering together to profit more business. Mr. Jung had to leave early for another meeting, but Mr. Kang stayed behind and offered to buy me some drinks." Hongjoong made a weird face while he spoke.

"He bought some drinks... So you had a couple of drinks, and that took three hours longer?" Seonghwa clenched his jaw slightly as he nodded. "What else aren't you telling me?"

"What are you talking about? I told you everything that happened. What's so wrong with a drink? It's not like I fucked him." Hongjoong said with a scoff. "You really think that I would do that?"

"I never said you did, but you denying it like that is making me think otherwise." Seonghwa licked his bottom lip with a slight growl. "What took you three fucking hours, Hongjoong? I won't ask you again."

"Nothing happened, Seonghwa! Jesus, lay off! I swear I didn't sleep with him! I wouldn't do that to you!" Hongjoong exclaimed and frowned up at Seonghwa. "Besides,  what would it matter anyway? The only time you have a regard for what I do is when I'm doing your fucking work for you!"

A bitter smirk curled the corners of Seonghwa's mouth as he got into Hongjoong's face. "It matters because YOU are MY husband. You are MY property, you belong to ME and no one else."

"I am NO ONE'S property, I'm not a fucking object, I don't belong to you or anyone. But that's typical of you, everything you come across just automatically belongs to you, right? Remember when you actually treated me like a human being? Remember when you actually had respect for me?" Hongjoong shoved a finger into Seonghwa's chest as he snapped. "Oh, right. You don't remember because the only fucking thing that matters to you is the money and power!"

Seonghwa grabbed Hongjoong's wrist roughly, shooting an intense look down at the smaller male. "You act like I don't care about you, and you have no idea how wrong you are! Everything I do is FOR YOU! The world I am making for us is all for you!"

"That's fucking rich!" Hongjoong scoffed with a laugh before ripping his wrist away. "What happened to turning the company around? What happened to all the promises that you've made once again and broken? Everything you said to me WEEKS ago has proven to be another white lie so you can have unlimited power and money at your disposal!"

"What are you-"

"DON'T EVEN DENY IT BECAUSE I VERY CLEARLY REMEMBER YOU SAYING THOSE EXACT WORDS TO ME!" Hongjoong suddenly yelled and smacked Seonghwa's chest. "I TOLD YOU IF YOU DIDN'T FULFILL THIS PROMISE, WE WERE OVER!"

Seonghwa stood there for a moment in shock, just blinking as he tried to figure out what to say to that.

"I'VE BECOME NOTHING BUT AN ASSET TO YOU ONCE AGAIN! YOU USE ME ONLY WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT FOR YOUR CORRUPT OPERATION! YOU'RE A FUCKING PRICK!" Hongjoong shouted before he started to storm off towards his room.

Seonghwa immediately followed after him, grabbing his wrist to stop him in his tracks. Hongjoong whipped around and shoved Seonghwa back pretty hard, the taller male almost losing his balance as he stumbled back. Seonghwa stood there with wide eyes after he caught his balance again, he was speechless from being shoved back.

"Don't touch me. Whatever romantic relationship we have, whatever relationship we have in general, it's over." Hongjoong said with a lump growing in his throat, starting to choke on his words. "No more promises, no more lies. Everything between us? Strictly professional." Hongjoong bit down on his lip hard and looked away, his face scrunching up slightly as tears started to fall from his eyes.

Seonghwa felt a sharp pain ripple through his chest, it felt as if he'd gotten shot right there as he huffed out with shock. "Joong... You can't be serious."

"I'm as serious as I can be." Hongjoong sobbed softly as he looked back at Seonghwa, throwing his hands up. "You're thriving in the life that you swore you didn't want to live. Ever since you stepped up, I've been expendable..."

"You're not expendable, Joong," Seonghwa said as he got closer to the smaller male, placing a hand on the nape of his neck. "I admit, I did break the promise I made, but you have to understand-"

"Understand what? The only thing I understand is the disregard you have for me. You say you're doing all of this stuff for me, but I don't see what exactly it is that you're doing for me. There's not one bit of proof you can even provide. You're making an abundance of money for yourself, running the company how you want, and I've just been an aid to it all." Hongjoong just shook his head, his head falling as he looked at his feet.

"What do you mean? I've done everything for you. Please, I'll change. I'll do anything for you, just tell me what you want and I'll do it. You can't leave me, Joong. I told you I won't let you leave me again." Seonghwa himself was starting to tear up as he tried to make Hongjoong look at him, but the smaller male refused.

Hongjoong twisted the ring from his finger on his left hand and pulled it off, soft sobs still escaping from his mouth. He then grabbed Seonghwa's hand, placing the ring inside his hand before closing his fist.

Seonghwa looked down at his fist, then back up at Hongjoong as he shook his head. "Joong... Please..."

Hongjoong just turned on his heels, walking into his room and shutting the door, the soft click of the lock sounding. Hongjoong pressed his back against the door and slid down to the floor, completely breaking down at that point.

The sounds of sobs from the other male could be heard from outside the room, then the sound of footsteps walking away down the hall only made his heart ache more. This isn't what Hongjoong wanted to do, but he was tired of the lies, the empty promises, tired of fighting for something that only hurt him more in the end.

Ever since Seonghwa had taken over, he had completely changed. He didn't treat Hongjoong like a lover for those following weeks, he treated him as another employee that worked beneath him, and it seemed very cleary that's all that Hongjoong was to him. Every bit of passion they once had, the respect and regard for one another, it had completely vanished.

Hongjoong just wanted things to go back to how they were, but he knew that wouldn't ever happen. He missed the small moments they had, the smiles, the gentle embraces, their intimate moments, and the way Seonghwa would look at him with love in his eyes. 

None of that existed anymore. The memories hurt more than what Hongjoong had just done.

****THE STORY WILL CONTINUE IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. THANK YOU FOR READING****