Jihoon noticed them as soon as they entered the ballroom. He watched as Changmin's eyes darted from one side of the room to the other. Jihoon knew exactly what he was doing, and if they had swapped places, he would also be scoping out the 'lay of the land.' Changmin had a gift, he was able to gain enough understanding of his environment just by glancing around him. Within moments he patted Yoona's hand, that was still looped on his arm, and proceeded forward, marching into the lion's den with a precious doe as his companion. The way he raised his chin, rounded his shoulders and stuck out his chest sent out the protective, fearless vibe that conveyed to all other males, that Yoona was his date.

"Ohhh Yummy!" Hyori cooed to Jihoon. "I want a drink of...that!"

Jihoon didn't even need to follow her eyes to know she had already spotted Changmin. As did several other ladies in the room.

"He's not like the others, Hyori," Jihoon warned.

"All the better!"

"Just try and remember the game plan. He is the key to making it happen."

"All work and no play makes for a boring life, Jihoon. You need to stop being an old man."

Yoona had spotted them talking and waved with her free hand. She leaned over to Changmin, who followed her gaze over to the two of them.

"Does he ever smile?" Hyori asked.

"Not that I've seen."

"Challenge accepted!"

"Since you're bound and determined to eat him alive, make sure put those womanly wiles to use, and persuade him to work with us."

"Divide and conquer!" she stated, her eyes flashing darker with intense interest.

Taecyeon had entered the ballroom, and immediately located the young couple exchanging handshakes with Hyori and Rain. They both exuded freshness, and an almost innocent air about them. He noticed how close Changmin stood next to Yoona, and Taec smirked. The evening had definitely picked up.

Instead of approaching the foursome immediately he decided to stand back and observe for the time being. He found a quiet spot against the wall, hoping to remain unnoticed by the many women admirers that buzzed around him.

"I didn't get the chance to apologize for Yuri's coffee mishap," Hyori smiled at Yoona, and then flashed her attention over to Changmin. "But it would appear we left you in very capable hands."

Changmin didn't respond, but he didn't miss the way the older woman sized him up from head to toe.

"Oh it was my fault," Yoona apologized, "I should have been watching where I was going. I'm glad no one got hurt."

"What's this?" Rain asked. "What happened?"

"I was clumsily blocking the hallway," Yoona blurted out, "And I'm so sorry but I've ruined one of the suits…"

"The coffee spilt on you?" he interrupted her. "Were you burned?"

As she shook her head Hyori lightly touched Changmin on the forearm, brushing her index finger down the length, "Changmin Shim, Rain tells me that you're an excellent photographer. I have so many questions to ask you!"

"I don't photograph models," he cut her off bluntly.

"So I've heard," Hyori grinned at his abrupt candor.

"Yoona, I've already been told that I'm a boring old man once tonight, so I'll apologize in advance, but this is actually a work event, so let's get to work. I need to introduce you to some people." He bowed slightly to Changmin and Hyori, excusing themselves.

Rain looked at Changmin and then back at Hyori. Changmin definitely wasn't a push over. She'd have to work it if she wanted to get anywhere with him.

But then again, she was "THE" Hyori Lee. No one in the country could work it like she could. She owned more hearts than any other female in Korea. Her posters still graced the walls of almost every man in the armed services!

"Changmin, please try to keep Hyori out of trouble, ok?" Rain gave him a pat on the shoulder before ushering Yoona off. Yoona looked back at Changmin, and saw something flash across his facial features… and couldn't quite make out the meaning of the expression that just swept over his face.

Both Changmin and Taec watched as Rain guided Yoona to some of the most well known heads of the fashion and entertainment business. It didn't take long before she had them smiling with her polite 90-degree bows and gracious manners. They weren't the only ones watching. Several of the top male models caught sight of the tall, attractive and brightly glowing 'new girl.'

Siwon Choi was the first to brave the approach, as he sauntered up to the small group of people. Taec watched as he had reached for Yoona's hand, undoubtedly intending to kiss the back of it, his signature move. But Yoona had instead grasped his in a very robust handshake, which left Siwon laughing. Her confused smile bothered Taec. He glanced back over to Changmin and Hyori, and he noted that he wasn't the only one that had seen the interaction.

Hyori noticed how Changmin had not taken his eyes off of Yoona since they had parted. As she tried to converse with him, he would either grunt or reply with a very simple "mhm." This was new. She doubted he was gay, based on his protective, watchful eye over the Assistant… but still, this was not what she was expecting. She expected a young university student that would be melted butter in a matter of minutes left alone with her. She almost found herself congratulating Changmin on his cold, aloof disinterest.

Hyori nearly snorted at the women that were coming toward her and Changmin. They reminded her of vultures, circling their prey. But a single warning glance from her kept them at bay. Most of them. Yuri had marched up to the pair and folded her arms in dismay.

"Have you seen Taec?" she was obviously perturbed.

"Yuri, don't be rude, and say hi to our guest, Changmin Shim."

Yuri gave him a very quick glance, a nod of the head, and then turned her attention back to packed ballroom.

"He's here somewhere," Yuri pouted.

"I'm sure Taecyeon is doing what he does best… just follow the giggling circle of ladies, and he will be in the center."

And with that she marched off just as quickly as when she had approached them.

As the evening drew on, Changmin had lost sight of Yoona. From time to time he would catch a glimpse of her with Rain, and then watched as Rain would guide her, with his hand on her back, to the next influential, important group of people to meet.

Hyori had not left his side, which he was begrudging grateful for, as it kept him from sticking out like a sore thumb, in his humble opinion. But the down side is that she was relentless in her discussion of photography. He usually loved the topic, but she obviously had an agenda in mind.

What surprised him was her technical knowledge of art, and how much she genuinely seemed to understand about the process. He nodded from time to time as she talked, and even found himself reluctantly answering some of her questions… but not many.

The soft yellow dress with the sparkly shoulder wrap flashed in the corner of his eye and caught his attention once again. There she was: on the dance floor with the Director, smiling and obviously enjoying herself.

He glanced at his watch and only an hour had passed. He could have sworn it was past ten already, and frowned when he watched Rain expertly glide Yoona across the wooden floor, soon to be swallowed up by other dancers.

"At least you could pretend to be interested," Hyori sighed in near defeat.

When he didn't respond she grabbed his arm and pulled him in the direction of the dance floor.

"Uhh, I don't dance." Changmin attempted to retreat.

"You do now… " she insisted.

"No really, I'm not just being polite, I REALLY don't dance."

"You haven't been polite all evening, why start now?"

When he froze into place she looked up at him, bending her head upwards since he was so much taller than she was, "Look, you obviously would rather be with the Assistant Yoona at the moment, and the only way you're going to get her out from Jihoon's work regime is to cut in on the dance!"

That made sense. But still, it would mean he would have to … dance.

"I'll end up embarrassing us both," Changmin warned.

"Honey, even if you stripped naked, and placed a rose between your teeth, you couldn't embarrass me. Now get your ass out there and go claim back your date."

Hyori grinned with inner pleasure. She could see him wavering, and tugged once again on his arm. And he took a few steps forward. He caught a glimpse of yellow for a short moment and Hyori no longer had to pull him, and instead, he actually led her out to the floor.

He reached down and took her hand in his, and wrapped his arm around her back as he attempted a few steps, back and forth, trying to sway in time to the music.

Hyori's smile broadened as she decidedly took the lead, and gave his shoulder a light squeeze.

"Yoona is expected to attend these types of functions on a regular basis, Changmin Shim. Someone either needs to let her go on her own… or accompany her. You may want to invest some time in some dance lessons. Let's start with lesson number one…" she gave him a squeeze of the hand and tightened the grip on his shoulder as she guided his steps.

She was a master of motion. He found it amazingly easy to follow her.

He was dancing. He didn't know how it happened, but she expertly guided, prodded and nudged him around the floor. As he glanced around, so many eyes were watching them now. He straightened his back and lifted his head in attempt to find her.

Yoona was surprised when she saw the tall man tap Jihoon on the shoulder.

"Can I cut in?" he asked.

The Director smiled, "Oh I don't know if I'm ready to give her up yet, we just barely finished one dance."

"And by the looks of it, her dance card will be full for the evening," the taller man grinned.

Rain bowed slightly and walked off the floor, proud that the evening was such a success so far.

Yoona had come to a complete stand still and glared up at her new 'would-be' dance partner.

"I think I'll sit this one out," she told him.

Taecyeon smirked as he took her waist and reached down for her hand.

"Don't be such a spoiled child, everyone who's anyone in the fashion industry is here tonight... watching."

She glanced around her and he was right. She found several eyes resting on them and found herself slowly moving in motion with the tall model.

Her left hand could feel the hard, strong shoulder, and she immediately noticed how he drew her closer in, with his right palm on her back. His left hand softly squeeze her right hand but she did not give him the benefit of looking up at him or smiling.

"Why are you dancing with me?" she grinded threw her teeth.

A smile flashed across his face as he felt the warmth of her back and the nervousness in her hand.

"You and I are going to be seeing a lot of each other," he started. "Don't you think we should try and get along?"

She snorted in response.

"Well, then again, I guess we've already seen just about everything of each other there is to see." he whispered into her ear.

That earned him another of Yoona's fierce glares.

"Oh now, don't be so angry," his smirk remained in tact as he glanced round the ball room floor and then leaned down once again to whisper in her ear, "From what I could see, there wasn't much to show anyways."

Yoona stopped dancing and attempted to wring her hand from his grasp, but he had anticipated her resistance, and continued speaking into her ear, "They're watching."

"Look, I don't see any reason to finish this dance, do you?" she challenged him.

He looked down at her, sparks firing through her eyes, her cheeks blushed red with anger. This spitfire was actually attractive in her own natural way. He chuckled at her attempt to dislodge herself from his hold.

His male instincts were in fully aware of enemy approach before he even saw them. He glanced up in time to see Yuri across the dance floor, partnered with Jaejoong, straining her neck as she perused the ballroom. She was looking for him.

At the opposite side of the floor, he saw the tall photographer who had just locked eyes with his own. He stopped dancing with Hyori, and bowed slightly. His expression burned into Taec's, with feral warning, like a predator. He was headed directly at them.

"You're right," Taec told Yoona, who's back was facing Changmin's approach. "It's boring here, let's find us something to drink."

Within seconds he had whisked Yoona through the crowded dance floor, and carved their way quickly through the on lookers, and out the ballroom door. They were headed down the hall before she could even hear herself protest. She tugged on her arm, to no avail. It was locked into his vice grip, as his hand completely swallowed her own.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" She attempted to stop walking and pulled on her arm.

"Look, I'm saving you, ok?"

Her halted steps were forced back into motion as he easily dragged her down the hallway, her protests were not match for his strength and power.

"Saving me from what?" she tugged back, trying to dig her heels into the carpet.

"More like from whom," he chuckled. "Remember the coffee girl?"

Yoona looked at him, confused.

"Yuri will eat you alive if I let her. She's been after me all night, and you just happen to be the unlucky girl that she found dancing with me."

"If you've got a girlfriend, I don't see why you're..."

Yoona didn't get to finish her sentence, and she yelped as he quickly opened up a door and pushed her inside.

It was dim, but not completely dark. It was one of the coat rooms. They were surrounded by racks of furs and overcoats.

"First of all, she's not my girlfriend." Taec said as he watched her small chest rise and fall, either from the swift walk down the hall, or from anger. Either way, she was about to explode, he could tell. "And secondly, you're not her senior or anyone important in her eyes, so she will not hesitate in demeaning you or making mince meat out of you."

"I don't need you to protect..." she pushed at his chest with both of her palms and he reached for her wrists with one hand and covered her mouth with the other.

"You have no idea what you need right now," his eyes bore deeply into her own.