I know you want me
Come out and haunt me

When Seungcheol had first established 'Your Choice' he didn't want just a workplace. He wanted a place he and his boys could call a place to fall back on. Somehow, in all these years, they'd never needed to keep the professional decorum in the workplace unless it was a hugely busy day or a long mid-season day. But today, right after the people from the Carlton's left, a disappointed and heartbroken hush fell on the entire office. Never once in their life had they been scared entering S.Coups' cabin but right now, even Jeonghan took a second before entering. 

Seungcheol sat on his chair, a chair that no one but him sat on, out of sheer respect. That horrid voice on the back of his head vehemently reminded him that he'd let every single person out there down. Sighing, he loosened his tie with jerky movements, the knot that Rumi had perfected for him now feeling almost suffocating him. His mind was a mess, anger coursing through his veins mixed with something else; a mishel between humiliation, frustration and helplessness. And Seungcheol hated feeling helpless. Truth stood, there was one more person right now, who undoubtedly felt more helpless than him and right now he had to face him. As much as he hated it, Seungcheol had to. Resting his head back against the leather, he shut his eyes, trying to drown out the world for now, at least. And his mind dipped into the side of his hippocampus that he thought he'd stubbornly shut out for years until....today,

'You learn fast,' It was hard to impress me and she had done it; like it was no big deal. 'You teach well,' She was a child, who looked every bit younger than her age and had a mind sharper than most of the people her age. Maybe it was me being impressed but I was pretty sure she'd make the male-dominated world of business dance in her tunes. As a male, maybe I should've felt threatened, even emasculated. But all I could find in me was respect and admiration for her, which she'd rightfully earned. 'You're looking at me like I've done something huge,' There was one tiny flaw in this ambitious and stubborn girl; her view of herself. 'Because you have, at least for your age you have,' I answered simply, knowing full well she wasn't believing a word of it. 'I'm not a kid you know,' She shot back, the easy expression on her face replaced with a frown which, to me was adorable more than anything. I couldn't say the same for the others. Dino found that frown terrifying for some reason. 'I never said you were Myuzy,' I smiled, shaking my head. 'If it makes you feel any better, I'm pretty sure someday you'll be good enough to butt heads with me,' That earned me a smile, a devious one with a twinkle of mischief in her doe-like eyes. 'You won't see it coming, I'll make sure of it Seungcheol,'

A sigh escaped him, her voice echoing in some faraway corner of his brain. She kept her word, just like he knew she would. But in doing so, she hurt him. And more than that, she hurt the people he loved and spent his life protecting and looking out for. As much as he'd hoped that someday, she'd return and explain her absence, right now; he couldn't care less. 'Don't appear before me ever again Myuzy,' he thought to himself, getting up from her chair. As much as he cared for her, she was the reason for his and his family's pain right now. And that, in itself was an unforgivable crime in his books. 

"Are you sure about yourself this time?" Maybe it was irrational for her to flare up at a simple question but she was too pissed off at the moment to comprehend and he'd taken enough of her outbursts to brush off this one. Especially when she so damn well knew that she was in the wrong and so did he. "Questioning my decisions, John?" She raised an eyebrow, daring for him to answer with anything close to an affirmative. "Since when do you do that?" 

Doyoung shook his head from the driver's seat, his foot pressed on the gas pedal. There she went having a tantrum again. "Since you let vendetta cloud your business judgement Myuzy," Johnny sighed, gazing out of the window. Myuzy felt a streak of anger flashing past, the heat of humiliation slapping itself against her face like a burning whip. "Wow! I can't believe you right now!" She snapped, fisting on the material of her blazer. "One deal! One deal I reject and you're accusing me of using the company to fulfill my personal agenda-"

"You said it not us," Doyoung interjected, keeping his eyes trained on the road while Jaehyun bit back a smile behind his phone, not that Myuzy could see either of their faces.

"You-" She barely held herself back from throwing some colourful curse words at Doyoung because that's what her teenage self did whenever someone pissed her off and she'd been trying hard to prove herself otherwise. "Your Choice isn't the only fashion house in the world, is it?" She raised an eyebrow, seething inside. "We can explore the fashion world with any other fashion house we want. People would love for us to get involved with their businesses-"

"And we would have loved for us to get involved with THE most reputed fashion house in Seoul! If not the entirety of South Korea!"Jaehyun reminded, putting his phone down. For someone who'd always been the type to be quiet and listen for the most part, she was surprised that even Jaehyun disagreed with her so strongly. 

"They are neck-deep in rumours Jae!" She scoffed, feeling more like a petulant child, which honestly was a given since she was constantly being reminded of how royally she'd messed this up for everyone, not that she was going to admit it anytime soon. "Surely, we can find better people to put our money in. People who don't get wrapped up in silly rumours! Your Choice was not worth the money, time and effort that deal needed! I was doing us all a favour," 

"Rumours that you were willing to overlook until you saw him as the CEO," Johnny sighed, shaking his head. "You knew what you were getting into from the very beginning! I asked your permission well before we finalized Your Choice! What did you expect to see? The Founder of YC not being at the top?! And both you and I know that no matter what the rumours are, they need one show to hit the stages for the entire industry to forget! So do me a favour and at least own up to the fact that the only reason why you rejected Your Choice is because of Choi Seungcheol and nothing else!"  

She let out an exasperated sigh, looking away from Johnny's scrutinizing gaze. "If you 3 disagree with me that much then overturn my decision, go on!" She knew she was going to regret throwing the differences in power in the current situation, but neither of the 3 had ever exercised their power rights to overturn any decision Myzuy had made, not that they needed to. 

The car came to a halt and Johnny pushed his door open, buttoning up his blazer, sunglasses pushed down to sit on his sharp nose bridge and climbed the company steps without another word, Doyoung following close behind. Jaehyun stepped and opened the door for her, dark shades hiding his eyes. "We just might have to Myuzy," She was left speechless and alone as the taller man climbed the steps, pondering over her choices.

She was allowed one petty mistake, wasn't she? Why was everyone acting like she'd blundered up massively? But then again, Joshua's face when he walked them to their car, the look she so vehemently refused to acknowledge...she knew she was in the wrong from that moment on. She was just admitting it right now, and it wasn't like anything could be achieved. She'd rather eat her fist than go back on her words, especially in front of Choi Seungcheol. 

Yeoreum knew shit was about to hit the fan even before the Carltons left the premises; she liked to call it her intuition or whatever, but she had that ominous feeling in the pit of her stomach every time something was about to go on a downward spiral. And that churning feeling on her stomach was very unceremoniously right;

"I'd like a few words with Mr. Choi, if that's alright," For a girl's girl like Yeoreum, she was surprised by how much she disliked Myuzy Kwon. Maybe it was the way she looked at Seungcheol, that disdain and that look of some unbridled rage in her eyes; her protective tendencies banged alarms as soon as she heard that sugar-coated tone of her voice, contradicting the flash of hatred in the woman's eyes. She glanced at Seungcheol once and then at Jeonghan who gave her a subtle nod,

"This way please gentlemen," She kept her tone light, leading the 3 higher-ups of Carlton into their sitting room. To their credit, they didn't make much effort to hide the surprise in their voices or their expressions. "Thank you, Miss...." It was very hard for her to be impressed by a person's exterior alone, given the nature of her job, but Carlton's CMO could very much be mistaken for a supermodel. 

"Yeoreum, Mr. Jeong," She smiled, handing him the coffee cup. She met eyes with Jeonghan and flicked her eyebrows up, inquiring about the situation. Jeonghan in return rotated his index in circles and she exhaled shortly; since when did Coups have long, complicated secrets? "She never does this..." She caught a whiff of the CEO's voice, engaged in hushed discussions with his team and that was her strike 1.

Her heart leapt out of her throat when she saw her usually chill boss walking out of the conference room looking nothing less like a dark cloud of agitation and disappointment. "Send Jeonghan and Joshua to my room, Rumi," Another jump. What just...Seungcheol's tone had never been so clipped with her. Or anyone as a matter of fact, and that was her strike 2. What now? Were they not going to walk the Carltons' out? She turned her head to see the dark, short-haired figure of Myuzy Kwon walking towards the sitting room, her heels clicking a little louder than necessary. A flare of unexplained annoyance flashed past Yeoreum, a light shaking on her left hand began, once again and she cursed under her breath, taking off for the sitting room.

One word; awkward. The Carltons were well...apologetic for the lack of apathy from their COO who was already boarded into their vehicle, currently engrossed in her phone without so much of a 'goodbye' to...anyone. She glanced at Joshua whose gaze lingered on the dark silhouette on the window, his gaze hardening for the slightest second before they relaxed,

"It's been a pleasure, Mr Hong," Johnny said, a bit of a strain on his smile, Rumi felt bad for the man honestly. "Likewise Mr. Suh," Joshua nodded, shaking hands with him and then Doyoung and Jaehyun. "Good to meet you, Miss. Yeoreum," Jaehyun shook her hand, nodding. "You as well Mr. Jeong," Not another peep of a follow-up or a further meeting should've been her 3rd strike but she was too busy trying to control her hand tremors to register anything.

The gentle brush of warm fingers on her arm was what made her pull herself out of that state, or rather it was the possibility of the person who did it. Joshua's fingers hovered just enough to lightly kiss the folds of her crisp white shirt, a look so indecipherable that she didn't know what to focus on. That look on his face or the slight touch of his fingers, had her want to scream and cry for more.

'Why? Why?! WHY?! JOSHUA WHY?!'

"Was Hyung angry?" "Yes, he looked agitated and sounded short,"

'You ruined it! You ruined it all,'

"He wants you in his cabin," "Alright thank you," And there went her efforts, down the drain, once again.

"I'm sorry...who did you say I'd be working for?" It was a miracle that she hadn't choked and sprayed this insanely attractive man with her iced tea but she couldn't care less for semantics right now. If she heard right this could be everything...

"The CEO of Your Choice," Minghao repeated, glancing at the utterly gorgeous woman in front of him. He surprised himself with how obvious he was being and even more surprised at how she didn't seem to catch onto his blatant staring. "That is if you pass the interview process and 4-week trial period,"

"Of course, I understand," Liuxi nodded, gripping the fabric of her skirt into nervous balls under the table. Job meant interview, interview meant research, research meant background check and background check meant...her secret coming out. Up until that point, she'd worked on lower level positions and her background check was kept to the minimum. The biggest Fashion house in Seoul or Korea even...they could find her birth time and horoscope from Anshan if they wanted. Would she even get a callback...?

"Do you have your resume on you Miss..." Minghao trailed off, breaking whatever trail of thought she was going down on, which judging by her expressions, wasn't a good one.

"Cheng," She finished his sentence, pulling out the clear folder from her tote bag, "Here you go, Sir"

"The8 is fine, Miss Cheng," He hid the subtle rise on the corner of his lips behind her resume, skimming down her details. God damn he was being weird, he knew it all too well and yet, not a cell in his body was on board the idea of stopping or even rethinking his actions.

Once done, he handed her the documents back and laced his fingers together, looking her straight in the eye—calm, dark irises into her fidgety, light orbs.

"9 am tomorrow, Miss Cheng, just ask for Ms Lee at the front desk and we'll progress from there," He spoke calmly, insinuating each word so that her nervous demenour didn't hinder her way towards Your Choice, whilst sliding his card across the table. "We'll be in touch," His work was done and as unwilling as he felt, he got off his seat and gave Liuxi one polite nod which she hastily returned before he left on his way, steps light and poised.

"Liuxi..." He whispered her name once he was far enough, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He liked the way her name rolled off his tongue, he liked how she got nervous around her, how she looked at him with those wide, curious eyes. The contrast between her now and back then...he smiled again, shaking his head while his thoughts ran wild. 'My star, I knew you'd come before me sooner or later,'

It was painful, if not downright excruciating to watch someone who you've known all your life as strong and formidable and a force to be reckoned with so defeated....Seungkwan had a good idea of what he was going to hear and yet, Coups' crushed demenour hurt more than the knowledge that shit his life was probably going to hit the fan. 

"Seungkwan-ah," The older finally looked up at him, eyes rimmed red. "Hyung...don't." He wasn't going to sit through his Hyung apologize for not being able to sort out the mess he caused. "Don't apologize Hyung, you tried your best, luck was just...not on our side this time, it's okay. We have a plan, we'll have this mess sorted in no time," Even as he said it, he was sniffling, trying his damndest not to cry.

Seungcheol downed his espresso shot in one go, patting the younger's shoulder. "I never realized you grew up this much Seungkwan-ah," "Right before your eyes Hyung," A silent understanding passed between the two men and Seungcheol nodded before leaving Seungkwan alone, walking to his cabin where Jeonghan and Joshua waited, appearing deep in thought. Taking a few deep breaths, Seungkwan dialled a number, walking to a further corner to have a conversation. "Tonight; 10 pm," He nodded at his publicist's neutral voice; at least that's what it would seem like to anyone else. Seungkwan knew Chanwoo was one second away from going down the sarcastic route and starting up a fight. "I need a name, Chan," The sound of his voice made him wince, why'd he sound so defeated? "She goes by Cyrielle in the industry insiders," When Seungkwan didn't answer, Chanwoo pinched the bridge of his nose; forcing the biting remark back. The man was going through enough as it is, the last thing he needed was another shouting match. "Kim Seon," "Thanks Chanwoo," 

Seungkwan tossed his phone on the desk, staring up at the ceiling, his legs propped. His mind was a maelstrom of emotions and thoughts. His life was going to change over the next few days and he did not know what to feel or think. All he really knew or cared about, was throwing Your Choice's success back at people's faces. Him being defamed? He could handle that. But this...?

"I'm suing you," He spoke into his phone, the voice on the other side going silent with the abruptness of the situation. "Seungkwan you can't-!" "I can and I will," He didn't recognize himself at times like these. So angry, biting and vindictive. "I made my bed and you made yours," The woman on the other line sputtered for a response but he still wasn't done talking. "Now lie on it," Before his ex could scream, shout, protest or even beg; the call was disconnected and his phone was tossed onto his desk. It wasn't every day that he twisted the truth but when he did, he was well within his rights and mean about it. 

He was going to be jet-lagged as hell tomorrow and probably over caffeinate his day through work but heck! It would be worth it. For a romantic like him, photographing a royal wedding might just be the opportunity Mingyu had been looking for all his life. Sure, photographing pictorials and models was great but he loved this! The live scene, the candid shots, the backstory behind each snap that only he would know and the energy crackling through the venue; he loved this. And this was the first time in his entire life that he'd used his international fame to get a gig and honestly, as tiring as it was, he loved every second of it.

Another gorgeously dressed woman did a double take on him, whilst gripping harder onto the man beside her's arm tighter. Something about that split second made him pause in his tracks before he raised his camera to his eyes and snapped a picture of their backs, the lady's pink dress kissing the grass amidst the stone steps leading up to the chapel. Endorra was a charming little kingdom and the type that pulled the visitor in. He'd rarely ever extended his stay in a place but with the atmosphere in Endorra and the approach from the royal family's publicist to shoot the youngest princess' wedding; he had to make an exception. However, the freshly printed boarding pass continued to burn a hole into his pocket. Whether he liked it or not, his time in Endorra was ending and it was ending fast,

He saw it first through his camera lens; whilst taking a pano shot of the entire chapel, when a misplaced flash of white made him pause in his tracks. The shot forgotten, his legs carried him forward like they had a mind of their own, his stomach doing a funny jolt when he realized it was indeed what he was suspecting it to be. 

The woman above him had achieved a feat of marvelousness in that huge ballgown of a dress she had on, somehow climbing pretty high up the palace walls; her white arms covered in scratches and cuts, blood seeping into the lace sleeves and the heavy lace skirt restricting her movements to freedom. Frustrated sounds of protest left her lips, the pretty little head of black hair swaying around as she tried to find something; anything to step on and get a leg up.

He was a maverick seeking adventure and adrenaline but never in his wildest dreams did he ever expect to see a bride, (a royal one, no less) trying to run away from her wedding. Before the thought could process, her slippered feet slipped off the steep wall and she let out a scream of protest, gravity shoving her down whatever progress he made. 

Mingyu acted on instinct, crossing the distance in two long strides and cushioning her pretty dramatic fall; cushioned wasn't the right word since his physique was well...not soft. Hers was though and he was pretty sure that 70% of her weight was that huge dress she had on, but it still momentarily knocked the air out of his lungs. 

"Wha-?" "I'd suggest not screaming," His voice sounded more like he was making casual conversation and didn't just save a princess from cracking her head open from that fall or catch her trying to run away from her wedding ceremony; his hands hovering over her waist, her trembling form plastered to his; her back to his front. She pulled away as fast as her dress would allow (honestly; that dress was ridiculously huge. Even more so on her form, which was at least a head shorter than him)

"Who...are you?" She craned to look at him, and he was again reminded of how short she was compared to him. "I'm well..." He knew saying he was her wedding photographer would pull her guard up around him and he surprisingly didn't want that. She needed someone to count on and the fact that she was all alone, bleeding and panicked, trying to run away from a wedding; all alone, that said enough to him. "I'm a tourist, visiting this pretty little country. Someone said there was a royal wedding going and I'm a photographer so I snuck in," She tilted her head to the side, surprised by his honesty; well that's what it seemed to her. He knew he could be pretty convincing, and she seemed pretty convinced. 

"I see," She nodded, looking away from him, a slight blush on her cheeks. "Sorry to disappoint you but there won't be a wedding today, at least I'm trying my best for that," He laughed at her words, nodding. "I suppose you can excuse me for not minding my manners around the Princess," Smiling, she pretended to ponder for a second and then nodded. "You are excused..." She took in the appearance of the taller, handsome man who talked with little space between his words. 'Cute' she thought, suppressing a smile before meeting his eyes again. "...But I would like to ask if there is any way the not-so-polite traveller would be willing to help a lady in distress out?" 

This time he laughed heartily, amused and impressed by her humour; despite the sticky situation she was in. In a world full of sceptics, he liked her willingness to believe a total stranger; even though she was probably doing this because she was in a dire situation and needed someone to fall back on. "Ever heard of stranger danger Princess?" He shot back, smiling down at her. The gorgeous woman picked at her blood-stained sleeve while nibbling on her bottom lip before answering. "I have but I just cannot ignore the fact that the said 'stranger' saved me from cracking my head open without even knowing my name now, can I?" He nodded, leaning down towards her. "And how may I help you, my lady?" 

Smiling, she looked up at him, "Any chance you can drive me to the airport?" She'd thought this through, that much he'd give her. "And where exactly does my lady wish to fly to?" He watched as a flicker of nostalgia flashed past her features, her having to take a deep breath before she answered him, "Seoul, South Korea," 

Lucky for her, he was already following her right there. But before he could react or tell her, he heard some commotion towards the entrance of the chapel and he acted on instinct, gently pushing her behind the canopy growing against the wall, hiding her from the view by standing in front and pretending to take pictures of the Victorian style chapel. 

Once the coast was clear, he turned around, trapping her between him and the canopy, smiling down at her, eyes sparkling with mischief and suppressed excitement. "Let's go, Princess we have a flight to catch," Her eyebrows furrowed at his words and he smiled, grabbing her hand. "Come on, I'll explain on the way," He started going off in long strides and realized soon enough that he walked and jogged to keep up with him; which for some reason, was so endearing to him. 

Once she was buckled into the backseat of his SUV he leaned down, speaking in a soft voice, "You want me to grab something for you before we leave?" She looked surprised at his words but nodded, "There's a bag behind the canopy you hid me in...but you're going to leave...?" He smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, I'll be right back and if I don't..." He was crazy, fishing his keys out and placing them in her hand, "Drive off and I'll follow right behind Princess," She stared down at the keys in her hand like she'd never seen something like this ever and then back at him, shock morphing into her features. "You..." "Trust goes both ways Princess, lock the doors," 

He was being crazy! God! He didn't even know her name and he was already plotting how to somehow tangle her into his word, keep her close and learn her more. It was downright bonkers He knew that but the look on her face when he returned, that look of sheer relief and gratitude once he had pulled out of the chapel grounds; he was addicted to this girl. And while he didn't know how far this addiction went, he was going to find out. His smile grew into a silly grin when he felt her fingers resting on the leather of his seat, her chin peeked out as she alternated between staring at him and at the road ahead, something about her proximity and her body heat radiating off her and seeping through his light dress shirt, calmed that intense hunger for rush and adrenaline that he didn't know could be calmed. 

He didn't even care about the fact that he was going home and if that didn't make a difference; just what the heck would?! Mingyu always sought out chaos and of all the things in the world, a runaway princess bride with some crazy impulsive ideas and a criminally trusting heart was what calmed his search with the peace she exuded. The forces above had started a game and he was more than happy to play along. 

Coming up next;

"You weren't here all this time! This is not a one or two-day thing; this has been happening! Steadily for months now! where were you then?! I needed you then more than I need you now!" She knew it was a low blow, simply by the look at took over his angelic features. Like she'd slapped him; hard, across the face. But she was too angry, too scared and downright exhausted to stop! "Oh, that's right! You were too busy ignoring my existence!" God! He was hurt! She was hurting him and yet...she did not stop. Some darker parts of her argued that he did the same, and didn't stop ignoring her, despite knowing that she was hurting as well; justifying her causing that crushed look to come over his face. "You didn't care then-" 

In a flash, there was a shadow's worth of space between him, the sound of his palm slapping against the wall above her reverberating through the quiet hallway. "Careful Fraise," His voice was controlled and soft; his eyes staring down at her with a storm of frustration and sheer desperation raging beneath his irises. "Kill me if you must but don't you dare say that I don't care when everything I do, every step I take, every thought I think; is done with you in my mind," 

to be continued...

Does this; very drama-filled and action-packed chapter make up for the lack of updates? 

Show of hands my gorgeous people, how many of you downright detest Myuzy Kwon?🫢🫢Don't worry, she gets better ;)

If you liked this, stick around for the next chapter, which will be well, coming very soon. (And soon means SOON! Cause I wrote both chapters simultaneously and focused on this when I found my flow. I actually had to cut some parts of this chapter and put it in the next so if that doesn't speak for itself, I dunno what does.

The last few days of my life have been scary and incredibly eye-opening to me and I once again was reminded of the fact that you guys, these characters and writing is where I find peace in a world of chaos. So thank you for being a part of my safe haven and my apologies that it took me so long to relearn that again. I love you guys, and I mean that in the most sincere way I can, 

Your comments and votes are ALWAYS appreciated, 

All my love,

Fay <3

published: 28/07/2024
2:50 am