A/N: Hi, guys! I'm back! And I'm going to start suppressing the trip as soon as humanly possible. In order to do that, I'm going to throw myself into the world of Mystic Messenger with my fictional boyfriend. Or my own personal harem. Whichever way you choose to look at it.

He's hiding. There's no way Jumin texts me so frantically, wondering where the hell I am and then, he happens to have a meeting when I get here? He knows I'd lay into him about this. And he's damn right I will. He's hiding. I know it. What else can I do? Focusing on work is a little difficult to do when there's a first edition copy of Anna Karenina on my desk! I couldn't help but wonder about him. Luckily for me, I had the wealth of information on Jumin Han a desk down from mine.

"Hey, Jaehee," I rolled my desk chair over to hers, "Can I ask you a few questions about Mr. Han?"

"I encourage you to ask as many questions you need to, MC," she allowed, "What's on your mind?"

"Does he realize how extra he is?" I began.

"No," Jaehee kept on with her work, "The more unreasonably and unnecessarily elaborate something could be, the better. And he won't hesitate."

"So, I've noticed," I grumbled under my breath, "And how often does he do random, grand gestures?"

"Not very," she dug around her desk for a bottle of white out, "But when he does, it's hard for it to go unnoticed. Why the sudden interest in Mr. Han?"

"If I'm going to stick around," I shrugged, "it can't hurt to learn a little bit about the man, right?"

"I guess not," Jaehee blew on the wet spot on her paper, "How are you doing with the cat hotel, MC?"

"All I have to do is call up the investors," I figured, "Maybe add a few final things to the presentation."

""You already have the presentation almost done?" she gasped, staring me down in disbelief.

"Yep," I beamed, taking pride in my work.

"MC, you're some kind of machine," Jaehee blinked a time or two, "If I had the power to give you a raise, I would definitely give you one."

"I already hired her on, Assistant Kang. What more could she or you want?" There he is. And so, he emerges from the foxhole.

"When was this?" Jaehee wondered, following Jumin into his office. They shut the door behind them. Oh, shit. Must be serious. It couldn't be me, could it? I didn't want to be the source of Mr. Han's misery. I've seen what he's like with a bad migraine before. I never ever want to cause one. This was worse than waiting for a parent teacher conference. I waited for at least twenty minutes before I heard anything again. All that happened was Jaehee shaking her head followed by her popping a couple of aspirin.

"Jaehee..." I treaded lightly, "Is everything ok?"

"Yes," she grumbled into her desktop.

Alright...I guess that's a point in my favor. I kept my fingers crossed, "Do I still have a job?"

"Yes."

Cool! Two for two! Then, it dawned on me what I still needed, "Do you need me for anything right now?"

"No."

"Can I..." I bit my lip, "Go speak with Mr. Han for a second?"

"Yes." Something about leaving Jaehee on her own right now didn't seem like a good idea, but maybe she could stand some time alone to regroup and gather her thoughts.

But still, I needed to talk with the boss. I couldn't let this slide. It's not every day a first edition of Anna Karenina ends up on my desk. Jaehee was right. His grand gestures couldn't go unnoticed. As irresponsible as this may be, I left Jaehee at her desk and grabbed the first edition off my own. I couldn't...Grand gestures were one of those things that never sat well with me. All I wanted was an explanation. I knocked on the frosted glass door in the corner with extreme caution. I wonder what Jaehee told him. Or vice versa, for that matter.

"Come in," a voice barked on the other side.

"Mr. Han," I cracked the door, "Could I have a word with you please?"

"Of course, MC," he offered me a seat, "And correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't I tell you that it was ok for you to call me Jumin?"

"We're at work, sir," I pointed out, "I figured it wouldn't apply."

"Fair enough," Mr. Han let it slide, "What can I do for you?"

"I think you already know," I held up the little gift from my desk, "What's this?"

"It's a book," he told me, "Wow, MC. If I had to explain that to you, maybe you are just a pretty face."

"You know what I mean."

"What?" Mr. Han shrugged, "It's a book. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. What about it?"

"You realize what kind of book this is?" I went on, "It's not your average copy of Anna Karenina."

"Oh?" he kicked his feet up on his desk, "It is a hard cover. Looks like it's maybe leather, too."

"It's a first edition!" I squeaked, "And in incredible condition for that matter! I found it laying out in a used bookstore yesterday and almost cried. And now, it ends up on my desk. Do you know how much this is worth?"

"Let's see," Mr. Han took my book from me, studying it closely, "I'd say...About six thousand?"

"On a good day!" my tirade continued, "And somehow, it magically appears on my desk."

"All I'm looking for is a thank you."

"Mr. Han," I put the first edition on his desk, "I can't...This is too much. I can't accept something like this."

"MC..." I think I might have caught him off guard. Mr. Han could hardly get my name out. He managed, though, "It's not often I say this and I hope you're not too horribly offended when I say this, but shut up."

Just when I think he couldn't surprise me. I guess I had that coming, though. Still didn't take the sting out of his words, "Excuse me?"

"I'm sorry," he chuckled, "But really. Keep the book. You'll give it a good home. I know it."

"But it's too much," I reiterated, "Mr. Han, this is a six-thousand-dollar book."

"And now, it's your six-thousand-dollar book," Mr. Han put it back in my hand, "Take it, MC. I got it specifically for you. If that's too hard for you to swallow still, consider it payment for taking care of Elizabeth III. And if it makes you feel any better, I did get a good price on it."

"Really?" I started to calm down.

"I only paid twelve for it."

"Twelve dollars?" I wondered. There was no way in hell that was right.

"Hundred," he corrected me, "That is a first edition of a book from 1886, after all. Getting it as cheaply as I did, I must admit I almost feel guilty. The woman at the bookstore overlooked a few details. Like the condition. Finding a first edition Anna Karenina is rare in itself. Finding one so immaculately kept is even rarer yet. The woman knew what she had. Just not very well. The edges are hardly frayed. The cover isn't falling off. The color of the cover isn't too badly faded or scratched up. The book really is a thing of beauty both inside and out."

He's alright...I took my seat in front of Mr. Han's desk, "Have you ever read it?"

"Once a long time ago," he nodded, "I remember it being one of the strangest reading experiences I've ever had."

"How so?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"I'm not quite sure how to describe it," Mr. Han thought it over, "Romance isn't my usual genre of choice. And the feeling it gave me after I finished it...I don't know. I've never been so perplexed by a book."

"Really?" I needed to sit down with Jaehee a little more before I talk to Jumin again, "I understand, though. When I first read it, I might have been thirteen. And I just...I got lost in it. I begged my parents to let me go to Russia, but of course, they said no."

"Honestly, I'd agree with them," he smiled, "But I'm sure it wasn't within the means."

"No," I shook my head, "But now, I pose to you this question."

"I'm listening."

"If it were you in Anna's brother's position," I wondered, "Would you run off with the maid?"

I could see the gears turning in his eyes. Mr. Han, so carefully weighing the pros and cons in his head. But then, I think things might have clicked. And a deep sorrow washed over his face, "In a way, I could very easily end up in that situation. I know my father wouldn't hesitate to auction off my love and affection for the sake of making quick money or for the possibility of improving business. I know I don't seem it, but I can be a romantic. If I'm going to be happy, I'll run off with whoever does just that. So, to answer your question, MC, I'd have to know the maid and the princess a bit better to make a decision."

In the short time I've known Jumin Han, that was quite possibly the most Jumin Han answer he could have given. It's honest, but without giving too much away. Vague, but not too vague. And he managed to avoid the question altogether. Well played, Mr. Han. Well played. I'll let that one slide. Although I wanted to tell him to keep the book and storm out of his office, I had one last question burning in the back of my brain. If I don't ask, it's only going to bother me later.

"So," I pulled the note he left out of the front cover, "Rumor has it, I also look cute in beige."

"That rumor is true."

"Are you stalking me, Mr. Han?" I teased, knowing he wouldn't be that creepy.

"I wasn't," Mr. Han assured, "I caught you. I had all intentions of going to the bookstore that day anyway. The fact that you were there was merely a happy accident. And you did look cute in beige."

"Well…" I blushed a little, "Thank you. For the compliment and the book."

"Does this mean you're keeping it?"

"Yeah," I nodded, "I still think it's too much."

"MC…"

"But it is going on my shelf," I promised, "Thank you, Mr. Han."

"MC…"

"Thank you, Jumin," I finally let my smile go after holding it back for so long, "This really is amazing."

"You're welcome," he gently reciprocated, "Now, get back to work, ok? I'm sure it's piling up."

"I don't let that happen, sir," I corrected him, "I'm nearly ready to start inviting our investors for the cat hotel."

"That's what I like to hear," Jumin praised, "Go on. Go make me proud."

"Yes, sir," I turned on my heel and headed back to my desk. Make him proud…The thought of that sent chills down my spine in the best way. And with the way Jaehee said I worked like a machine, I'm almost certain that I can make Jumin proud. Besides, I had a pleasant reminder on my desk now of what happens when Jumin's proud of me.

"Is everything ok, MC?" Jaehee worried as I sat back in my desk chair.

"Everything's fine," I assured, feeling lighter than when I walked in.

"So, the package," she asked, "What was it?"

"Oh," I showed it to her, "A gift from Mr. Han. He gave me a really good book."

Jaehee inspected my not so new copy of Anna Karenina carefully. Almost with the same care Jumin did, but maybe not with the same appreciation. Then, her eyes got big. If she wasn't wearing her glasses, I'm afraid they would've fallen out, "MC, this is a first edition! This has to be almost two hundred years old!"

"Closer to three than two," I took it back, "I know. It's one of my favorite books, too."

"I told you to be careful, MC," she warned, "Tell me you're still being careful about Mr. Han."

"I promise, Jaehee," I stuck my pinky out, "I'll be careful."

"Good," Jaehee slid down in her seat, likely exhausted, "Because there's a chance he's going to want something in the near future. That's usually what his grand gestures mean."

Ring, ring.

My work phone never rang. Weird. I stared at it in confusion, "Should I answer it?"

"Yes."

Hesitantly, I picked up the receiver, "Hello?"

"MC," Jumin barked on the other end, immediately making me straighten up, "Are you too terribly busy right now?"

"No," I scanned my desk over, checking on the work I had left compared to what I've done.

"I need you to do your secondary job."

Secondary job? It took me a second to realize what he was talking about, but then, it clicked, "Yes, sir. Should I send her your love?"

"Always. I'm surprised you even had to ask."

"On my way." The look of confusion on Jaehee's face right now was priceless.

"Thank you."

Click.

"What was that all about?" Jaehee gave me a look.

"I need to go to Mr. Han's penthouse," I threw my bag over my shoulder, "He wants me to check on Elizabeth."

"Good," she relaxed a little, "I'm glad someone else is taking care of that furry little heathen."

"She's not that bad," I giggled, "I'll see you later, boss."

A/N: It'll take me a bit until I get back in the swing of things, but my god, did I miss you guys. I actually want to address a quick comment from last week as to me joining Ao3. That probably wouldn't be a half bad idea, but I really don't want to start over. I like my home here. I've been here for damn near three years and it's awfully cozy. As of right now, we're 200 strong and growing. I've been asked several times to join in on Ao3, but like I said. This is home. This is where my family is. And I love you all dearly.

Now, Jumin. Jumin Han is the single most extra human being in the history of history and I love him. And in this chapter, I kind of wanted to give him a hug. The way he was talking about the emotion that went through him reading Anna Karenina kind of broke me. The fact that Mr. Chairman would be so careless about his son like that…Jumin's got some daddy issues. And someone needs to hug him.

So, until we meet again, friends. See you next chapter! xx