Chapter 2: Impossible Task

The rest of the morning after our "talk" was filled with a sensual electric charge that I can only describe as an extended kind of foreplay. Every touch, every word seemed to carry with it added meaning and intent.

I was also surprisingly more calm. Now that I knew that Zen wanted me, I was more than willing to play the thing out, tease him for it's all worth, make it last.

"Ah, honey," Zen said in a low thick voice as he sat on the corner of the bed watching me get dressed.

It was like a strip tease in reverse. I became conscious of things like pulling on my socks, my jeans, my boots. I bent over, drawing out each motion with the all out intensity of a slow motion film. I liked sneaking glances at him, watching me. In my mind I kept fast-forwarding to later, imagining the whole scene in reverse, when he would be undressing me for real.

"Zen," I said as matter-of-factly as I could muster. "Could you hand me my bracelet?"

"Ah, man," he breathed.

Then I let him put it on, letting his long fingers caress the inside of my wrist as he worked the clasp.

After breakfast, we did the dishes. He kept brushing past me, pressing my body against the sink. The motion reminded me of something else, which kept me weak in the knees and sighing over and over.

"Excuse me, babe," he said, taking an opportunity to chuckle into my neck and breathe into my ear.

It went on and on.

Later, when he gave me a ride to work on the back of his motorcycle, I kept clutching my thighs around him, feeling his chest heave and sigh with the pleasure of anticipation. We were both getting ready. I could feel it.

"See ya later, babe," he said when he dropped me off. The kiss was longer and deeper than usual. He grabbed me about the waist to lift me closer. I let my hand slide up inside his leather jacket, tracing a slight trickle of sweat that was making its way down his spine.

"You better believe it," I whispered, gently biting his lower lip. I took in a full breath, feeling his silver hair ripple against my cheek, before finally pulling away.

"Don't forget to eat a healthy lunch," he said with some earnestness. God, he was so sweet.

Walking backwards toward the staff entrance, I brought both hands up to my lips and blew him a kiss.

When I finally strode into the workplace, it was about ten minutes after nine. Jaehee had made it clear during my opening orientation that I was supposed to be there no later than 8:30am sharp.

"Punctuality is a courteous compliment the intelligent person pays to his associates," she had said with a self-satisfied smirk.

Jaehee was the first person I saw when I entered the building. She was standing near the window at the coffee station right inside the door, where she could have easily seen me saying goodbye to Zen. Instinctively, I knew she would not approve of such a grand display of affection. Had she seen our parting? The look on her face as she furiously stirred her coffee told me all I needed to know.

"Hello, Jaehee," I called, giving a slight wave, my way of trying to diffuse the situation. Jaehee responded with a half-nod and disgusted half-smirk and then went back to stirring her coffee.

After all these weeks, I still wasn't sure of Jaehee's real motives. Was she super crushing on Zen? Or really just concerned "as a fan" for his popularity and reputation? I really didn't know. I found myself feeling alternately angry and sorry for her. Could I imagine a world where I hadn't won Zen's affection? Thoughts flashed to his delicious smile, and the possibility of what would come later. No, I could not.

I took a deep breath as I power-walked past Jumin's glass-walled office strategically situated in the center-most position of the sea of cubicles that made up C&R International's Seoul office. Maybe if I didn't breathe he wouldn't be able to see me. No such luck.

"MC," Jumin said, striding out of his office like he'd been waiting, a tiger ready to pounce.

"Mr. Han," I started and then stopped, reminding myself. "Jumin…" He really didn't like formalities from me for some reason. He'd basically told me this during a weird moment we'd had after the big RFA party, where he'd called me into his office and shut the door.

"That was a fabulous party," he said, rubbing his hands together sadistically. "A top-notch celebration!" Jumin wasn't one for giving compliments so I was immediately taken aback and wondered if he'd been drinking. After all, he'd been the one who asked me to invite a representative from the Vineyards Owners.

"Thank you, sir," I said. For some reason I was totally comfortable addressing him as "Jumin" in the RFA chat room, but it was totally not that way in person. In the flesh Jumin cut an imposing figure, taller than I thought, more handsome. He wore expensive clothes, the kind that say "I am somebody" and this, even though I don't think I'm someone who cares about money, made me nervous. He was also awkward, very awkward.

"Please don't call me 'sir'," he said, pulling at the knot of his tie and making it straight.

"Ok," I said, carefully tucking a piece of my long brown hair behind my ear. "Mr. Han, then…?"

Jumin's gray eyes flashed momentarily with fire. "I'm Jumin, damnit," he said, taking a step forward. "Just Jumin."

"Uh," I said, taking a step back, like whoa. "Ok, yeah, 'Jumin'."

Then, as if on cue, my beautiful Zen turned up, my knight in shining armor, gently tapping on the other side of the glass.

"Babe?" He said. "You in there?"

It was a funny question, looking back, because obviously, he could see everything. The glass walls ensured the whole scene was in full view. I've never been so grateful for an interruption.

"Yeah, lovely Zen," I said. "I'm here."

"Oh man," Zen said. "I told you not to say that." I couldn't help but notice that his hand reached down to pull at the hem of his coat, and then back up to rake his fingers through his hair. I couldn't help myself. I knew he loved it.

As always in any situation where Zen was around, Jumin, and anyone else, faded into the background. He'd had to remind us he was there.

"A-hem," he said, pretending to clear his throat. Like I said, Jumin was awkward, and obvious about it. "We should probably..." he said, moving toward the glass door where the vision of Zen was perfectly framed. "...get back to the party."

In one motion Jumin moved chivalrously toward the door and seamlessly opened it in one motion. In my head or for real I'm not sure I heard an audible "swoosh".

Back at the office, Jumin was motioning me into his glass office again. "MC," he said, ushering me in.

I let out a deep sigh and followed him inside. "I'm sorry I'm late…" I started.

"Assistant Kang must have told you we have a strict start time," Jumin said, leaning back in his chair.

I flinched as a heavy white flash jumped into his lap. It was his beloved cat Elizabeth the 3rd. He took her everywhere. Jumin's hands reflexively began stroking her head between the ears and she began to purr.

"I know, I know," I said, glancing out the windows in the direction of my cubicle. I was ready to get out of there and get to work.

"Not a good way to start a career," Jumin said.

"I know, I know," I repeated, shifting from one foot to the other. "It won't happen again."

"Very well," Jumin said, motioning for me to take a seat in one of the two straight-backed chairs in front of his desk. I shook my head and he shrugged his shoulders.

"Very well," he said. "Suit yourself." He paused to lick his lips. "I have a task for you."

I felt myself stiffen. In my brief experience of him, asks from Jumin were rarely welcomed or pleasant. My mind flashed back to many late night chat room texts from Jaehee complaining about all the idiosyncratic and honestly, just simply weird requests he required of her.

"Of course," I said, forcing a tight smile. "Whatever you need."

Jumin's face spread into a slow smile. "Echo Girl is coming to town," he said.

Echo girl? The words were hitting my brain in a way that felt all brand new, like a bewildering kind of disbelief. Like I didn't already know that Echo Girl was a really popular pop music and TV star that had ridden her family's privilege to fame. She'd very recently tried to involve Zen in a scandal. Just before we got together, she came to his house and tried seduce him. When he had refused, she got angry and accused him of trying to take advantage of her. Although Zen had gotten over the incident pretty quickly, I was much less inclined to let bygones be bygones. Although I wasn't jealous, per se, I could do my fair share to hold a grudge, and I realized in this moment just how big a grudge I held against her.

My heartbeat quickened and I felt the blood rise to my face. My eyes narrowed. Rich bitch, I thought.

Jumin was watching me closely with a kind of playful sedition. He was enjoying this.

"Oh?" I managed to pop out in a kind of nonchalant croak as I tried to wrangle my emotions.

"Yes," Jumin replied. "I've decided to hire her as the new representative for our new brand of cat food." He looked down to scratch Elizabeth the 3rd under the chin. She was still purring in his lap. "Don't you think she'll be perfect, my precious Lizzy?"

"You can't be serious?" I heard the words came out my mouth as sort of a reflex, without the proper filter.

"I'm totally serious, and I'm going to need someone to manage her while she's here." Jumin smiled and sighed, deeply satisfied. "That someone is you."

Suddenly I felt myself go weak in the knees, and for the first time today, not in a good way. I wish I would have accepted that proffered seat.

"You can do that, can't you, MC?" Jumin said, smiling sweetly.

I think that's when I threw up a little in my mouth.