•ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʟʟ•

How does a man look so depressed yet so gorgeous?

Johnny had grown more serious over the course of time, from being a caring, jolly and altruistic boss, to a leader who was ruthless with his words, rough with the people who made silly mistakes and now, all I saw in him was a reflection of what was known only despair.

His hair grew longer and must I even start on how beautiful he looked with his long healthy hair? It suit him all too well, he stopped wearing a tie, leaving the start of his buttons loose and it wasn't helping me much with his overall built.

I would die to have collarbones like his.

Coming back to work, stocks were back up. It's business after all, turns tables in days, and now, from the looks of it, people were lashing out on Minyoung and Entice, whilst some were very supportive of her, some claimed she did all of this for attention.

Which I know she couldn't have, I knew her at least that much.

While Johnny attended a call on his phone, discussing the next project with a client, I made sure to listen to his words closely, knowing he'd ask me to help with a lot of the work put into it.

My hearing came to a halt at the buzzing of the phone on the table, the telephone rang and I quickly picked it up before he could get interrupted in his conversation.

"Yes," I said, not introducing the company neither myself, knowing if anyone called on the particular phone, it had to be someone from the inside of the company.

"Good morning, Raven," I heard on the other side, my fingers clutched together, pinching my palm as I recognized that voice and turned slightly, to see Johnny still discussing the date and day for Publishing another book.

"Allow me your doubts," I said, not changing the usual tone and sounding as though I were talking to another client like I would normally.

The fact that I stood right in front of Johnny who was seated on his office chair with his feet crossed made me gulp, hoping he wouldn't notice my actions.

"I need your help, come to my office, I'm sure you know where it is," Minyoung told me and I furrowed my brows.

Why would she need me?

"Why is that so?" I asked, professionalism in my voice, such that Johnny couldn't catch onto the fact that I was talking to his ex wife.

"Just to have a talk, and when I say talk, I mean money talk," Minyoung said and my ears perked.

She wasn't a simple woman.

Minyoung may have been a very kind and empathetic woman when it came to addressing the people around her, but when it came down to business, she was a cold hearted bitch.

And I knew that just fine.

"Alright," I told her and kept the phone down, Johnny bid his goodbyes and I stood in front of him, hands held together in front of me as I stood before him.

"Who was it?" Johnny asked, while checking up on some emails and I built quickly a lie in my head.

"Lami, she has the drafts ready for being edited, so she had a few questions about it," I lied and Johnny bought it. The idea of meeting Minyoung was a bit eerie for me, I hadn't seen her in a while and knowing now all she cared for was her company, it obviously intimidated me.

Regardless, I left the office at lunch.

I used the 30 minute break to go meet Minyoung and once I got there, my entry was quick, it seemed as if they awaited my arrival which only worried me further.

Pushing up my glasses up my bridge, I knocked on her door and heard a curt 'enter' before I stepped in.

"Thank you for coming at such short notice," Minyoung said, a cheeky smile on her face and I knew this wasn't something good.

"What is it?" I asked, dropping the professionalist act that I put on every day from 8-4 AM, my arms hung loosely by my sides, the usual polite smile on my face now replaced with an attitude that spoke profanities.

She knew me long enough anyway, I didn't need to act in front of her.

"Good that you came to the point, now, sit here," she said, pointing at the chair in front of her desk, files piled on her table and I sighed before walking towards the chair, pulling it out and taking a seat.

"You must've noticed that our stocks have been failing, mainly because my reputation has fallen behind for no damn reason, the media loves playing games and it's playing it's cards on me now," Minyoung said, a bored yet annoyed look in her eyes.

"So what?" I asked, not understanding her point.

"I want you to do something for me," Minyoung said, placing both her arms on top of the desk, giving me puppy eyes but I wasn't one to fall for it.

"Elaborate," I said curtly, not wanting to waste any time here.

"The only reason the media hates me right now is because I'm a divorced woman, also the CEO to a heritage company so ultimately, now they think I can't handle the responsibility because I'm a woman with lost reputation, does that make any sense?" She asked.

No, it in fact, didn't make the slightest bit of sense, but then again, if you think about it, we live in a world reigning on patriarchy, so even if it didn't make much sense, it sounded possible.

"No," I answered and she smiled wide.

"That's why I need your help, women help women don't they?" She asked again with her sweet tone, the need to coax me clear in her gaze but I pursed my lips.

"What do you want me to do about it, Minyoung?" I asked once again and her smile dropped.

"Seduce Johnny Suh," she said and I felt my heart drop, in both fluster and surprise, and don't mistake it for the good kind of surprise.

"What the literal fuck?" I asked, not being able to control my train of thoughts. I almost thought I heard her wrong.

"Woman, are you not out of your mind?" I asked bewildered till she motioned for me to listen to her.

"Only till my stocks are up, and don't worry, I'll tell you everything you need to do," she said but I knew who she was, I knew the kind of woman she could be and so I was in no mind to believe a word she said.

"Fuck this, my break is almost over and I need to head over to Mr. Suh," I said and got off the chair, kicking it away and walking to the door till I heard her voice.

"I'll help pay for your grandmother," she said aloud and that stopped me in my tracks.

"I know it isn't just that, Minyoung, I'm sorry, I'm not gonna do it," I said loud and clear, knowing she had more cards up her sleeve but her smirk told me she had different plans in mind.

"Not even if I ruin your reputation, which would bring Adamo down anyway?" She asked and I widened my eyes.

"You wouldn't," I told her, my voice growing softer now.

"Oh but I will, you know I hate losing Raven," she said and placed her palms on the desk, giving me a cute smile that denied her horrendous words and made my breathing uneasy.

"Your past with Joohyun, if that falls out, everything would be over wouldn't it? You'd be disregarded just like I'm being disregarded right now, and your disgrace would only put down Johnny along with his hard earned company, so technically speaking, you have no choice," Minyoung said and I felt my throat tighten, words wanting to spill out but I couldn't say much.

"Three months, do as I say, I'll pay your grandmother's hospital bills and keep your little secret, once I reach the top, we can part ways and pretend nothing ever happened," she said and I scoffed.

"What about Mr. Suh then?" I asked, she only seemed to care about herself and I knew that for sure when I saw the nonchalant gaze in her orbs.

"What about him? His net worth may fall down by just a bit, nothing more," she said and gave me that sweet grin once again, only I knew how much malice she held behind that smile.

Taking a deep breath, I left her office, trying to clear my mind.

Not being able to believe that a woman just asked to me seduce her ex- husband, who also happens to be my boss. Cussing out, I reached Adamo, the building tall and proud, much different from me right now.

Was I really going to do this?

To be Continued...