Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from this drama. Rae Na. Jae Min, Jae Na, Hye Su, Akira, Amara, JaeHoo are mine. Jan Di's company is also mine.
Warning:
Note: Alright! This is the new chapter! I hope you like! And It's LONG! Please Review!
New Chapter
JD | Entrance ShinHwa Mall
Wednesday | 08:56:24 AM
"Come on baby." Jan Di cooed softly while rubbing her hand up and down Rae Na's back. Her left arm rested under Rae Na's pants clad bottom while she used her right to tuck her daughter's face closer against her neck. "Momma will hold you until you are awake enough to walk around."
Rae Na nodded against Jan Di's neck, staying quiet. She sniffled softly and tucked her cold nose against her mom's warm neck. She breathed in. "You smell goo momma."
"Thank you baby." Jan Di whispered and held her baby tightly. She placed a soft kiss on her hair and hummed under her breath. A soft smile covered her lips as she glanced up at JunPyo. "Hey."
Junpyo nodded, his eyes roving over the little girl in Jan Di's arms. Tiny. He swallowed hard and tried to focus. "Hello." He placed a well practiced smile on his lips. "How are these two lovely women this morning."
"Not too bad." Jan Di smiled, her dark brown eyes twinkled brightly. "This one isn't ready to greet anyone yet." Affection cluttered her voice. "It's too early for her."
Junpyo nodded. "No worries." He held the door to the mall open and followed the two women inside." He nodded at Jaemin - who locked the door behind them. "This is Jae Min." Junpyo introduced.
"Hello." Jan Di smiled sweetly. "I'd shake your hand . . ." She trailed off with a laugh.
Jae Min chuckled softly. "No worries sweetheart. She seems precious." His eyes twinkled. "Reminds me of my little grand babies."
"Aw, thank you." Jan Di rubbed a soothing hand up and down Rae Na's back. "She can be utterly precious when she wants too." Her eyes twinkled. "But I believe all children are like that."
JaeMin laughed. "Very true." He bowed slightly. "I will be in the food court if you need me sir." He bowed sharply once more before heading off.
"Is it just us?" Jan Di whispered softly. Her dark eyes flitted back and forth through the mall. She bounced Rae Na with each step and cooed softly. Jan Di glanced up at Junpyo as he led her towards the escalators.
Junpyo nodded in reply. "Yes. The food court workers will arrive about eleven to start preparing food." He smiled slightly as he glanced at her once more. He didn't want to be obvious. He stuck with stealing quick little glances. He wanted to see her face. But he couldn't bring himself to wake her in an shape or form. Junpyo took a deep breath, trying to calm the raging storm that had settled over his heart. This was going to be a long showing.
"Okay, so when little miss wakes up and wants to run around . . ." Jan Di smiled widely.
Junpyo laughed softly and nodded. "I don't see any problem with her running around." Hell, he'd let her break anything in the store she wanted if it meant she would stay longer. "The mall doesn't open till twelve, so you won't have to worry about anyone but us for a little while."
. . .
Jan Di stood in the spacious place. "I know it might sound stupid. But it is much bigger in person."
"Blue-prints never do anything justice." Junpyo smiled. His skin itched. He wanted to hold her. See her. Talk to her. It was killing him. But if there was one thing he could say . . . His daughter took after him in sleeping habits.
Jan Di sat her purse down on the glass case. "Will I need to supply cases and racks?" She shifted Rae Na as she pulled out three pens -red, blue, and black - and two highlighters - yellow and blue - and a pencil.
"No, I supply all cases and racks for my stores." Junpyo answered easily. "Each store pays a small minimum maintenance fee."
She nodded. Her hair fell across her vision as she pulled out a manila folder with information tucked inside - colored tabs sticking out at the ends. "Okay, that is perfectly fine." She hummed softly as Rae Na fretted. "Did you bring the blue-prints?"
"Yes." Junpyo had been inquisitive since the beginning on why she asked for the prints. It was rare - no one ever asked for them to be brought. He pulled the blue-prints out of his brief case and unfolded them across the glass case.
Jan Di looked down at her daughter. "RaeRae?" She called softly. "Momma needs to work." She smiled softly as she felt the younger's arms tighten around her. "We talked about this last night. When momma had to put you down to work."
Rae Na cried slightly.
"I . . ." Junpyo froze. Could he really? Would she agree? Was it too soon?" He bit on his lower lip and cleared his throat. "I can . . . If both of you are okay with it?" He swallowed hard, hoping he shouldn't have swallowed his tongue before they entered.
Jan Di glanced at the man standing next to her. He's willing to hold her? Her brows furrowed slightly. "Rae Rae?" She questioned softly. "Can Momma let JunPyo hold you?" It would be up to her daughter. Rae Na was never one for strangers. If she said no, she said no.
"Okay," Rae Na whispered as she pulled back. "He seemed nice when we met at the doors." Her nose scrunched.
JunPyo froze, it seemed to be a default setting when he was around these two women. She trusted him? They hadn't even met face to face.
"Okay pumpkin." Jan Di placed a chaste kiss on Rae Na's forehead before turning towards Junpyo. "She says okay. Thank You." Jan Di whispered a she handed her daughter over to the man next to her. He's so tall. She glanced up slightly and her breath caught.
Family.
Jan Di blinked a few times. A stock smile covered her lips. They looked like a family. They had too, any outsider wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Jan Di swallowed and turned back to the blue-prints on top of the case.
Junpyo swayed quietly. His heart pounded deafeningly in his chest. Had she noticed the similarities? Was she going to run away with Rae Na. His grip tightened slightly. She couldn't take his baby away. JunPyo's throat constricted, heart stopping in his chest. He was holding his daughter.
A deep fear set-in in the back of his mind. What if this wasn't his daughter. What if all this planning, all the care he was putting into this was for someone else's child. What if . . .
Junpyo swallowed hard. He smiled softly down at the girl in his arms as he let the world around him fade away. Junpyo swayed gently and had to almost smack himself when he started to hum. Idiot.
Jan Di swallowed quietly as she continuously glanced at the man holding her daughter. So that's what it would be like. Jan Di blinked a couple times to clear the vision of a happy family from her mind. She didn't need that. They were happy. Just the two of them. There was no need for . . .
"Momma?"
Jan Di jerked around to see her daughter rubbing her eyes and leaning heavily on Junpyo. A soft affectionate smile covered her lips as she let the pencil drop on the blue-prints as she moved closer to her daughter. "What do you need baby?" Jan Di's head tilted to the side as she waited.
"Can I have my juice?"
Jan Di smiled, "of course you can baby." She turned back to her purse and pulled out a small Minute Maid fruit punch. She placed the small bendy straw into position while holding it out for her daughter. Jan Di paused last second. "Is that okay?"
"Um . . ." It took Junpyo a moment to catch up. He nodded. Sweet Jesus, he was going to go completely stupid the longer he was holding his daughter. Junpyo stared down at the beautiful little girl in his arms. That would be an okay way to go. He rubbed his left hand up and down her back soothingly.
Rae Na smiled sweetly, icy blue eyes disappeared quietly. She sipped slowly at her drink as she placed her head back on the man's shoulder. Rae Na heaved a small sigh and closed her eyes.
"She must not be ready to wake up yet." Jan Di's eyes sparkled. "Are you a child whisperer?" Her tinkling laugh filled the air around them. "I've never seen her sit this still or be this quiet in a very long time."
Junpyo smiled softly. "I've never held a child before." He murmured softly as he stared down at the little girl in his arms. "She's beautiful."
"Thank you." Jan Di blushed slightly. "She is very beautiful." She turned back to the blue-prints before comments of whom she favors could surface. Yes, Rae Na was a little over fine; the comments still hurt from time to time. The fantom pain would rush through her lower stomach area and memories would resurface. Jan Di didn't want them.
Junpyo moved closer to the woman who stood over the glass case. "Exactly what are you doing?" His voice was deep and soothing, a calm tremble that rumbled gently through his chest. Junpyo's brows furrowed slightly as he looked down at the blotches of color on the blue-print.
"I'm deciding if this print will have enough space - or if I need to downsize." Jan Di answered easily as she glared at the print out. She erased the same point once more as she tried to establish the correct area for the clothing racks.
"There will be no need to downsize - if you need more room just let me know." Junpyo replied. "I have no problem finding you a different place to open your store." He wasn't one to settle, and he didn't let his employers settled either.
Jan Di smiled slightly and bobbed her head. "I'll remember you said that when I start moving stuff in." Her eyes twinkled brightly.
"You're choosing to stay?" Junpyo questioned, throat constricting. He couldn't afford to jump to conclusions. As it was he was trying to decide if he'd be able to get away with kidnapping. It was a close call; however, he couldn't. He knew what the pain felt like, loosing someone he had yet to meet but was clearly his. Junpyo wasn't able to describe the pain of loosing someone he'd have five years to build a life with.
Jan Di nodded. Her short brown hair swayed slightly with the up and down motion. "Yes, you seem persistent and competent." She smiled. "You also seem good with children." Her dark eyes twinkled. "It's a good thing to know ahead of time - in case anything else happens." Jan Di's eyes were trained on Rae Na as the little girl cuddled against Junpyo.
"Anything else?" Junpyo frowned softly. He swayed softly and coddled the little girl.
Jan Di shifted closer and tucked a couple strands of hair behind Rae Na's ear. "There was a little bit of bullying at her school." Her twisted with worry and sadness. "It's my fault." Her voice was petal soft as she ran a finger over the younger's soft and puffy cheek.
"How?" Junpyo whispered as he stared down at the two women that had suddenly entered his life - becoming most of his world. A shock ran through his body. Jan Di? He knew Rae Na mattered, of course she did. Rae Na was his flesh and blood. However, he hadn't noticed the bond forming between Jan Di and himself. Junpyo swallowed hard.
"Her father is not really in the picture." Jan Di winced out a tired smile. "I'm trying to protect her from everything I can, but it seems that I can't protect her from everything."
Junpyo swallowed softly. "You're a good mother." it seemed like the right thing to say. And as much information as he had gathered on her . . . It was true. Geum Jan Di was a good mother, protective and affectionate.
"Thank You." Jan Di whispered. She took a step back and cleared her throat. "Well, I have gone over all the prints and everything seems to be working." She bestowed the male with a bright smile. "Let's get this show on the road."
Junpyo chuckled. "Yes."
"Momma?" Rae Na called just above a whisper. Jan Di hummed in reply Rae Na pulled back and looked at her mom. "Are we done yet?" Her head cocked to the side as she waited. A smile slid onto her plump lips as the other nodded. "Can we go see Jun then?"
"Yes." Jan Di laughed softly. "We can go se him. He misses you just as much as you miss him." She held her arms out for the little girl. Jan Di coddled Rae Na closely. She shifted the girl to her left side, hip cocked. She reached out with her right hand, while looking at Junpyo. "Thank You for everything."
Junpyo nodded. "I'll give you a call next Monday when everything is completely ready for you to move in." He grasped her hand softly and shook it gently. "I will have an office set up for you." Junpyo grinned. "You don't have to use it. I am perfectly happy if you want to stay in your current location."
"Okay," Jan Di nodded. "And we need to discuss overseas sales." She tucked Rae Na close and placed a chaste kiss on the little girls temple. "Thank you for being a good girl." Jan Di whispered against Rae Na's hair.
He nodded and stood a little straighter. "I will draw up a couple different plans that are beneficial and satisfactory to both." He ran a hand through his hair. Who the hell is Jun? His brows furrowed as he tried to keep his face as neutral as possible. Why hadn't he been told about Jun? Had Woo Bin not come across that info?
"Great," She smiled brightly as she packed her pens and pencils away. "I will talk to you on Monday then." Jan Di pushed the straps of her purse up on her shoulder as they moved towards the exit of the soon to be department store.
Junpyo walked beside Jan Di as they moved towards the exit that they had entered through. His chest puffed out slightly as he glanced at a few of the food court employees. This is what it would be like to walk somewhere with a family. Junpyo looked down t the two women cuddled together walking beside him. A soft smile covered his lips. He wanted that.
Jan Di swallowed. They were staring. All of them. Did they think they were a couple? Rae Na their child? She breathed out deeply and hugged her little girl to her chest. I'm sorry you don't have a father baby. Jan Di rubbed Rae Na's back soothingly.
"Thank you for coming today." Junpyo spoke cordially. He needed to get himself back under control. His smile was business.
Jan Di bobbed her head. "Thank you for allowing me to do it within my parameters."
"It was no problem. Talk to you on Monday Ms Geum." Junpyo bowed slightly. "Have a good day ladies." He swallowed hard as he watched his daughter wave at him sleepily.
"Sir?" Jae Min whispered. His dark eyes shimmered as he stared up at the younger man. "I saw that look sir."
Junpyo swallowed hard. "She makes me weak." His lips formed a tight thin line. "She makes me . . ."
"Human," Jae Min smiled. "She makes you human." He chuckled softly as he stepped closer. "That's a good thing. A very good thing."
Junpyo heaved a small sigh. "Is it really?"