<Shimmer Grandeur HQ>

Seungcheol, Jeonghan, Hoshi and a few guards were present at the meeting room in front of the delegates of a well established Marketing Firm, Shimmer Grandeur, owned by Mr. Park Seunghan who was in his late 50s.

"Pleasure meeting you, Mr. Park." Seungcheol chuckled.

'He knows how to smile?' Jeonghan thought to himself.

"Of course, son- I mean, Mr. Choi." Seunghan laughed, "I've seen you since childhood so that word, son, just comes out by itself. Just tell me about your dad's well being then we'll start the official meeting."

"Dad is fine and he wants to see you real bad." Seungcheol replied.

"Sure sure." Seunghan nodded as the meeting began.

Seungcheol, Jeonghan and Hoshi explained everything briefly after which the main presentation had to be played.

The presentation started but instead of the designed slides, they were all black and white screens.

"I think it's glitching." Hoshi stood up from his seat to immediately check on it but nothing seemed to work.

"Hyung-" Hoshi whispered to Seungcheol, "This is not that pen drive. It's different."

"What?" Seungcheol frowned as he turned to Jeonghan, "Mr. Yoon?"

Jeonghan didn't reply as he simply stared at the older with a small smug smile. Seungcheol clenched his teeth, his hands clenching into a tight fist as he looked away.

"Mr. Choi, what's wrong?" Seunghan called.

"Mr. Park, there's glitch-" Hoshi tried to explain.

"We're sorry Mr. Park." Seungcheol immediately stated, "Can we postpone this meeting?"

"Sorry? Postpone? What?" Seunghan frowned, "Do you think this is a joke, Mr. Choi? Just because I've good relations with you and your family doesn't mean you'll get an advantage in official works."

"I understand Mr. Park, this is a very unprofessional mistake done by our end and I take its responsibility." Seungcheol nodded, "We just need another chance-"

"So you really think this is a joke." Seunghan sighed, "Time waits for no one Mr. Choi. This is definitely not the Serenity Hyperbotics I knew. Under your dad, it was a punctual and perfect company.

But now? You really turned it into some joke. It's true, you kids would never understand how much we've worked to build these companies and firms. Why? Because you get to heir it without any efforts."

Seungcheol clenched his fists and looked down. He really wasn't at the place to argue because the mistake was done by his own side.

At that moment, he felt too stupid to let his guards down and think Jeonghan would not pull anything.

But c'mon, he never expected him to play so low.

"Really disappointing, Mr. Choi. What is your staff doing? Creating blank slides? Why don't you confront them and reconsider giving a job to them?" Seunghan continued, "Because I don't think you need to pay someone who is giving you this outcome.

And it's your fault as well. You should have checked the presentation by your own. Watch out, Mr. Choi, if it keeps going like this then you might go bankrupt after losing all the deals you make. Never knew Serenity would become so unprofessional.

Trust me, Mr. Choi, you really found a way to lose a good friend of your company. Do you know how much loss your company can have to endure if this thing goes out of these four walls?

You would really fall into the dilemma of kicking out a lot of staff from your company to manage the loss. And your utmost grasp in the business world wouldn't have helped you even by the slightest."

Seungcheol's jaw clenched. If this person wasn't some known one and he didn't have to do business with him, then- everyone would have been silent and his gun would be talking.

But he couldn't deny that it was his own fault. He dared to trust the wrong person.

Jeonghan's heart beat raced. He had imagined the scenario to be really intriguing but the constant humiliation was rather giving him goosebumps. He began to feel guilty for doing that as not only Seungcheol's but the entire company's reputation was getting demolished.

"I'm still giving you another chance." Seunghan stood up, "Just because I know you well. I'm willing to do business with you but I hope that the next time, you'll take me, my company and my time a bit seriously."

"Thank you, Mr. Park." Seungcheol managed to say those words by keeping a huge stone on his flawless pride.

"Don't thank me, just learn some basics of business and teach them to your staff as well."

Congratulations, you made it out alive.

The delegates of the Shimmer Grandeur left as Serenity Team began to wrap up.

Seungcheol slammed his laptop shut and left immediately without sparing a glance at Jeonghan.

"Hyung, listen-" Hoshi followed him.

"Shit." Jeonghan scrunched his brows, "Damn what the hell? What did I do?!"

He himself wasn't very entertained by all of it even if it was his own plan. He never imagined that this public humiliation would hurt him as well.

And now, for the first time, he was on his way to apologize.

<Serenity HQ>

Jeonghan was standing in front of Seungcheol who seemed to be busy with his laptop. He made a call from his desk to summon someone.

Soon enough, another employee stepped in, already apologising, "I'm sorry sir, I'm really sorry, I don't know how that file got uploaded in the wrong folder."

"And what do I do of your sorry?" Seungcheol clenched his teeth, "Get this fixed within an hour or pack your things and get out of the office."

"I'll get it done sir." The employee apologized again and left.

Jeonghan's heartbeat raced. Since the beginning, he had always seen Seungcheol on his jerk mode but never actually upset, definitely not like- this.

"Mr. Choi-"

"Yeah, I know you won." Seungcheol looked up, his gaze too intense, "Happy? Got me and this company humiliated in front of a trusted partner? Got your pretty revenge? Now what are you here for?"

"I'm sorry." Jeonghan mumbled.

Seungcheol laughed as he threw the pen on his desk, "You're sorry? For what? Because in your eyes, you must be really innocent and reasonable, right?"

"I didn't know things will escalate that much." Jeonghan accepted.

"Don't give me that crap." Seungcheol glared, "Mr. Yoon, THIS, wasn't a joke. It was serious, very serious. I don't care how much you curse me on my back. I don't care how much you talk back to me. I don't care how much you try to annoy me. But this was out of hand. You simply ruined the entire company's reputation. The company which PAYS you."

Jeonghan looked down, unable to find a single reasonable excuse.

"Look at me."

Jeonghan inhaled a deep breath.

"LOOK AT ME, DAMMIT."

Jeonghan looked up, interlocking his gaze with Seungcheol's fuming ones.

"Do you think this is joke, Mr. Yoon? IT ISN'T. You not only ruined my efforts but of all the employees who worked for this. YOU acted really selfish here."

"I swear I didn't know that things would get that out of hand." Jeonghan confessed.

"You didn't think?" Seungcheol's voice was low and menacing, "You didn't think that your actions would have consequences? You didn't think ruining the company's reputation would effect everyone, including yours and your colleagues' jobs?"

"I admit my fault, Mr. Choi, I'm really guilty for it." Jeonghan accepted.

"Your actions were reckless and irresponsible." Seungcheol stood up as he walked towards the younger, "As far as I can recall, I never brought anyone between our differences. Then why the hell did you drag another company as well as the numerous employees of this company amidst us?"

"I was angry and upset. All I could think of was a way to retort you." Jeonghan explained, "I didn't mean to cause this much trouble, Mr. Choi."

"Of course." Seungcheol paused, "If I wouldn't have known that it's you then I would have been signing the termination letters of all the employees who worked for this project. You know that, right?"

"Termination letters?" Jeonghan's eyes widened, "You would have fired all of them because of me?"

"NOT because of you." Seungcheol stepped closer, "I would have believed that it was their fault. You got so blinded that you willingly sacrificed the efforts of everyone who worked on this project. Very well done Mr. Yoon, after preaching about my ego and all, very well done."

The thought of others losing their jobs because of him brought another wave of guilt to him, "I'm genuinely sorry, Mr. Choi."

Seungcheol looked away, trying to calm himself. What angered him more that he was feeling bad for yelling at Jeonghan who was clearly at fault.

Fire him from the job, let him get out of your life - his inner voice said. But he just couldn't do that.

With that, he also felt the double standards building inside him. On one hand he would have definitely fired everyone behind the project if he didn't know that truth and on the other hand, he couldn't do the same to the real culprit.

"Fix it, Mr. Yoon. I'm warning you." Seungcheol threatened, "Win this deal if you want to safeguard your and your co-workers' jobs. Or be prepared to pack your stuff."

"I promise." Jeonghan nodded.

"Dismiss." Seungcheol scoffed as the younger left.

Seungcheol walked towards the window while kicking the table on his way, "What the hell is wrong with me?!"

"It was his fault, I can rebuke him for that."

'No, I can't.'

"He sacrificed it all for himself."

'Only if I didn't make him suffer so much.'

"NO! I did right okay, I- Fuck it." Seungcheol sighed to himself, "I'm going insane."

He thought for a while after which he pulled out his phone and made a call, "Yeah, I need you to transfer a parcel."

"I'm sorry, I almost ruined your jobs as well." Jeonghan mumbled while he was seated in his cabin with Woozi and Wonwoo.

"Calm down, hyung." Wonwoo patted his back.

"Yes, forget it. We've a copy of the presentation, we'll enhance it in a way that no one will deny our project." Woozi stated.

It was when a knock was heard, "Mr. Yoon?"

"Yeah?" Jeonghan looked at the door.

"Your parcel." The staff stated.

"Parcel?" Jeonghan frowned. He took the paper bag and dismissed the staff. He sat back and pulled out a box which happened to have three pastries in it.

"Woah who sent this?" Wonwoo asked.

"I don't know, it's on my name." Jeonghan scrunched his brows.

"Who cares, some well-wisher must have done that." Woozi scoffed.

"Hmm." Jeonghan frowned, "But who?"

"You sure it's not poison?" Wonwoo glanced at the other two.

"We ain't that famous to get killed through a conspiracy." Woozi rolled his eyes.

"Then just eat, no?" Wonwoo raised a brow.

"Yeah, eat." Jeonghan hesitantly chuckled, not getting over the question that lingered in his mind.

Who would send this?

"Of course, this might help you get over the previous dilemma." Woozi joked.

Seungcheol stopped peaking into the cabin and walked away, "Why did I do this? It's so embarrassing."

Seungcheol reached his cabin and sat on his chair, "It was his fault, why can't you understand this simple thing?! Damn!!"

Seungcheol clutched his chest. He wasn't used to feeling guilty for doing something after having reasons for it. But here he was, behaving like a shy high school kid.

"Why are you talking to yourself again?" Hoshi stepped into the cabin.

"Nothing." Seungcheol sighed.

"Let me guess? Mr. Yoon?" Hoshi took a seat.

Seungcheol nodded in agreement.

Hoshi laughed, "Only two people have the power to make you go crazy. Mr. Yoon and that stalker. Since, it's Mr. Yoon's shift right now, so yeah, of course."

"Shut up."

"You're too obsessed, hyung." Hoshi chuckled.

"I'm not obsessing over him, spare me." Seungcheol rolled his eyes, "I'm just annoyed over his behavior."

"You can't fool The Kwon Soonyoung." Hoshi leaned forward, "Are you possibly interested in him?"

"Shut up. Stop being ridiculous." Seungcheol warned, "What's so interesting about him? He's impulsive, reckless and more trouble than he's worth."

"Still you sent pastries for him." Hoshi teased.

"I was feeling guilty, that's it." Seungcheol glared at him.

"Of course I believe you." Hoshi nodded, "Hyung, just accept that Mr. Yoon wooed you by his charms."

"I'll smack you." Seungcheol frowned.

"Why didn't you fire him from his job?" Hoshi raised a brow.

"He works just fine." Seungcheol looked away, "He's the HOD of a crucial team, c'mon I can't fire him just like that when numerous projects are being handled by him."

"You want me to believe this crap, hyung?" Hoshi teased, yet again, "All of this is very unlikely of you. Believe it or not, I'm watching you since day one."

"It's called being practical, Hoshi, not unlikely." Seungcheol rolled his eyes.

"Practical, my foot." Hoshi scoffed, "You're just trying to keep him around. And since you can't accept this fact, you think he's annoying."

"Are you all free, right now? No work?" Seungcheol frowned.

"Whatever." Hoshi rolled his eyes, "Shimmer Grandeur will prefer to get the presentation through mail. The Web Designing team will report it to me by tomorrow and I'll check it myself before sending it to them. In short, you don't need to worry."

"Alright." Seungcheol nodded, "And- any clues about the stalker?"

"None." Hoshi sighed, "He's a huge game, hyung. Since you took this matter in your hands, have you planned anything?"

"Not yet but I do have a few things in mind." Seungcheol sighed, "We'll talk about it later."

"Min Hyeseok is coming back."

"Don't tell me-"

"With his drug addict daughter." Hoshi paused, "Brace yourself now. You're going to get a proposal soon."

"I got a text from him, I ignored it. Argh just kill them both." Seungcheol slammed his hand on the table, "The entire universe is just ganging up on me."

"Let them come back and talk. We won't let them survive for long."

"Indeed."

A/n : What about this marriage proposal going on?

Anyways take care everyone!
-Jeonghanneyonghaseyo