Chapter 6

It had been almost a week since Izzie had left on an emergency business trip with Jun-pyo, and Ji-hu found himself growing more irritable and introverted daily. By the third day of her trip he was aware that everyone in the hospital was avoiding him as much as possible, but no matter what he tried, he couldn't shake the mood. When he wasn't at work, he wandered his house, re-reading books that barely held his attention. He even tried to use Rui to dispel the depression, but even his prized horse couldn't lighten his mood.

The only effective treatment he found was sleep. The morning of his day off he slept late, finally emerging from his bedroom at noon and wondering what to do with himself when he found a text waiting on his phone. There was a brief moment where his heart dropped, as if he was disappointed, when he saw that the message was not from Izzie, but Jan-di. He scowled, wondering if it was the wedding planning that was making him feel down when he saw Jan-di's name. He shook his head, avoiding introspection when he was already suffering from ennui, and realized as he looked at his phone that he had also gone a week without speaking to Jan-di.

Why didn't you realize that sooner? She used to be the only person to make you truly smile. How could you forget that?

He responded to her text, agreeing to help her study and inviting her to come to his house. He busied himself preparing her favorite tea for them until he heard her light knock on the door. Ji-hu called for her to enter and smiled when she poked her head into the kitchen.

"Hey, seonbae, I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you."

"Of course not. Have a seat."

She followed his instructions, setting down her books, bag and sitting at the kitchen island.

"How have you been? I have been so busy with exams and classes, I feel like I we've become strangers."

"We could never be strangers," he said with a smile as he set a steaming cup and saucer before her, having already prepared it to her taste. "Besides, I have been working a lot since Dr. Kim has been on vacation."

"That's wonderful! How much longer do you have to complete your work at the hospital?" She made a face as she burned herself on the tea, something she did every time he made it.

"Oh not much longer. A few months, perhaps," he said vaguely. In truth, Ji-hu's residency had ended weeks before; he was currently working as a full staff surgeon, but he had no intention of telling Jan-di that he was just biding his time until she graduated.

"That would be perfect timing! Assuming, of course that I graduate."

"Of course you will. Don't collapse now."

"I don't know. It seems that this test is so much harder than the others, and I didn't do very well on them. Perhaps I'm not smart enough to be a doctor."

"Don't be foolish: of course you are. Whatever you set your heart to, you accomplish. No force can stop the fearsome Geum Jan-di."

She gave him the warm smile that made him feel like he was standing in sunshine, but something about it felt less warm. He was beginning to grow annoyed, now, that his bad mood wouldn't dissipate.

"Hey, Ji-hu-seonbae, is everything all right?"

"Hm? Of course." He quickly offered her a smile and sat down next to her at the island. "Now, what is giving Fearsome Jan-di the most trouble?"

They spent the next few hours going over her notes, Ji-hu's mood lightening somewhat as he quizzed her and laughed at the creative answers she would give to the questions she didn't know. They eventually moved to his living room, spreading out the books and themselves on the coffee table and sofa. She had brought over a boxed lunch for them to share and they talked and joked as they ate, something Ji-hu felt they hadn't really done since Jun-pyo's return.

"So, when will Jun-pyo be back from Japan?" he asked, masking the tone of his question with indifference.

"Mm, he said they would be back tomorrow before Yi-jeong's opening."

"Of course." In his dolor Ji-hu had almost forgotten about his friend's exhibit, or the invitation that sat on his desk.

"He said he may have to go back right away, though. The deal he is working on isn't quite finished and if Izzie can't complete it tomorrow night he will have to fly back the next day."

"Izzie's not coming with him?" His mood dipped again, and irritation crawled up his spine at the thought that Jun-pyo would abandon his work to his assistant while she was already so occupied with his wedding plans.

"He said she told him that Yi-jeong's opening was too important for him to miss and that she would handle things. She said it was a big night for Yi-jeong and it would be important to him to have all F4 there for support."

He closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. Of course she would be concerned about his friends and Jun-pyo making time for their important events. It very likely never entered her mind that she would bear the workload herself while, he was sure, she continued to finalize arrangements for the wedding that was now just a month away. He thought he should text her, to remind her that she needed to take care of herself and eat at least two full meals daily (they had reached a compromise weeks ago).

"So, Jun-pyo mentioned that you have been spending a lot of time with Izzie-ssi?" Jan-di's questions broke through his thoughts and he answered her quickly as he speared a rice ball.

"Hm. I'm helping her with wedding plans."

"About that, Ji-hu – "

"If you're going to apologize again: don't."

Nearly every time they brought an idea to Jan-di for approval she apologized that they had to do so much work for her and promised to be of assistance. Izzie tried to assuage Jan-di's conscious by telling her that most brides in the States went crazy if they didn't hire a wedding planner to handle the majority of the work, but Jan-di still looked a little forlorn whenever they brought her something for consideration.

"No, I was just going to say: thank you. I...I know it must be hard for you with...well...I just wanted you to know, I appreciate you." She closed her eyes tightly and bowed her head as she blurted her words and Ji-hu felt his heart squeeze. She was sweet, Jan-di, and he would always adore that quality that allowed her to be so kind, but such a tough fighter.

"Honestly? It's been fun." Her head shot up and her eyes went wide as she looked at him, her face blank with shock.

"F...fun?"

"Yeah. It's a challenge. And Izzie has such unusal ideas. Last week she called when I was in the middle of a surgery to ask what I thought about ice sculptures."

"Ice...sculptures?"

"In the middle of spring she wants to know if we should have stars and moons made out of ice. I told her unless she planned to give guests rain coats and boots we probably shouldn't and that I would call her when I wasn't completing an appendectomy." Ji-hu laughed at the memory, remembering shocked expressions of the nurses in the O.R. and the way the anesthesiologist had looked at him like he was losing his mind. As soon as he had said 'wedding plans' they all nodded sympathetically and the nurses had begun furiously whispering to each other for the next several days whenvever he passed.

"What do you think of Izzie? Jun-pyo speaks so highly of her, and she seems so nice, but every time we are alone together she becomes...shy."

Ji-hu's smile faded, but he covered by taking a sip of his tea. Jan-di was not stupid, and Izzie's heart was apparent to anyone who looked past her polished surface. He had promised to carry her secret, but he wondered how long it would be before someone else realized the truth.

"Izzie-ssi has a big heart, and works very hard to make everyone happy. She doesn't know when she's at her limit, and is terrified to let anybody down. Like when someone had all of those part-time jobs, Izzie-ssi will work until she collapses." He nudged her so that she would know he was teasing her by bringing up the memory. He waited for her to smile shyly before he continued.

"People like that, they can become wrapped up in their work and close out everyone else so that they can focus on doing a perfect job." Ji-hu saw Jan-di nod and felt he had covered adequately. He wasn't exactly sure why, then, he felt the need to continue as he opened his mouth and started to speak again.

"When she relaxes, though, she is an entirely different person. Fun. Funny. She can make anything a joke, especially at her own expense. She can't stand people who think they're better than everyone else and she really loves new experiences, even if it's just going to a new restaurant. Honestly, I think you two would be great friends." He finally looked to Jan-di, who was watching him with a strange smile on her face.

"Seonbae, I haven't seen you smile like that in a long time. You really...like her, don't you?"

"Of course I do. Izzie-ssi is intelligent and caring – "

"You like her, Ji-hu-seonbae."

"I – " Ji-hu froze, shocked that a rebuttal or denial didn't spring immediately to his lips. Instead, he felt...relieved.

It was as if the dark feelings that had gripped him all week suddenly released and allowed him to view his situation with perfect clarity.

He was falling for Izzie.

Ji-hu's thumb traced the rim of his teacup as he stared, unseeing, into the liquid. He had long ago acknowledged that the attraction he had felt for her was something he had never experienced with another woman. Even in adolescence he hadn't been plagued with fantasies the way he had since he had met Izzie. Though he had been somewhat disconcerted by the sudden surfacing of passion he had honestly thought he lacked, he had not considered it to be a portent warning him that deeper feelings were growing. Now, he wondered how he could have been so blind not to realize that she had become the first person he thought of in the morning, as well as the person his thoughts lingered on as he fell asleep.

But he was in love with Jan-di? How could he possibly fall for one woman while he was in love with another? An image of Seo-hyun sprang to mind and he realized that was exactly what he had done with her. He had felt like a burden, alone in their apartment in Paris, and had found his mind constantly going to Jan-di. It was then that he had made the decision to pack his things and return to Korea, unable to believe in his love with Seo-hyun any longer when his mind dwelt on another girl.

"Oh, it's late. I promised Ga-eul I would help her decide what to wear for tomorrow." Jan-di's voice cut into his thoughts and Ji-hu realized he had forgotten she was still in the room. He rose and helped her gather her things, too distracted to notice the pleased smile she had every time she looked at him. He walked her to the door and offered to give her a ride but she waived him off, lamenting the need for exercise so that she could properly fit into her wedding dress.

After he had waived goodbye, Ji-hu aimlessly wandered back to his sofa, sitting heavily and staring out of the window to watch Jan-di depart. The usual disappointment and longing was completely missing as she faded from his view. Instead, he felt oddly at peace. At first he couldn't recognize the feeling, as he couldn't remember the last time he had experienced any calm deeper than serenity. This feeling, however, was so intense it was as if he had just stepped into a land without gravity.

"I really like her," he admitted, smiling as the words were said out loud.

Now, he thought, what do I do about that?

~o~

Izzie tapped her foot and looked at her phone for the thousandth time before she looked miserably out the window. Yi-jeong's opening had begun fifteen minutes ago and they were still circling the Seoul airport, waiting for clearance to land. She was already dressed, and had arranged for someone else to pick up her luggage and deliver it to her hotel. Her only carryon was the clutch she held in her lap and the leather folder that was tucked safely beside her. She ran her hands over the cover, grinning with relief that she finally had all but one signature she needed on the document inside.

After she had sent Jun-pyo back to Seoul she had worked around the clock negotiating with President Akiyama and his company's board until, finally, they had reached a mutually acceptable agreement. She was thrilled she had managed the negotiation on her own and could not wait until she tell Jun-pyo he wouldn't need to return to Japan; she had handled everything as promised.

Her heart leapt as the flight attendant announced they would be starting their final descent and she heard cheers from the back of the plane. Her foot bounced as she checked the time again, mentally calculating how long it would take to get to the museum at this time of night on a Saturday. She was sure to miss the toast, but hoped she would at least be able to snag a few hors d'oeuvres and a glass of that divine pinot noir. Her mind fluttered to the night of the ballet, filling her mind with the image of Ji-hu in his white tux, smiling at her as she had made a fool of herself. Her heart did another small leap when she thought of how close they had become in the subsequent weeks. She had been in agony in Japan, desperately wishing she could call him for his opinion, wondering what he was doing while she was editing draft after draft of an endless contract.

She had tried to call him, but every time she had a free minute Jun-pyo would need her to run an errand or make a business call. Naturally, she had done as she was told, but by the end she was beginning to grumble that she was going to buy him a Rosetta Stone and force him to bring up his Japanese skills. Still, it had been refreshing to step away from wedding plans for a while and have some time with Jun-pyo again. The time, however, didn't feel quite right. They're friendship had been light and easy in the States, but whether it was because of the intensity of their business or the amount of other work they each had on their plates, they're relationship now felt slightly strained. It was as if they had forgotten how to talk to each other as friends, since all of their communication for weeks had either been about the business or the wedding.

The plane's tires screeched on the runway and as soon as the jet slowed Izzie had her seatbelt off. She managed to politely excuse herself so that she was the first person exiting the plane. She dashed through the terminal, was passed through customs once she flashed her passport and work ID and nearly sprinted through the concourse, her heels clicking on the tile. She sent up a prayer of thanks when she was immediately ushered into a cab and pleaded with the driver to take the quickest route possible. True to his promise, he delivered her to the steps of the museum in under an hour. She tipped him generously, checked her hair and makeup in his rearview mirror and calmly exited the cab, smiling pleasantly at the guests outside as she entered the museum.

Instantly, the sounds of strings hit her ears and sent a soothing hum through her body. She had started listening to the playlist Ji-hu had given her religiously, and now she had almost a Pavlovian response to the sound of classical strings and piano. She grinned when she caught a passing hors d'oeuvres tray and found her glass of pinot once the last crumb of philo dough was gone from her fingertips. Izzie surveyed the room as she sipped her wine, and while the place was packed, she saw no sign of any of the F4.

"Looking for me, baby?"

Izzie giggled when the voice spoke behind her, turning to find Woo-bin, looking dashing and slightly rakish as expected.

"You know, you will be much happier when you learn to seek the girl, instead of letting her seek you," she said, nudging him lightly with her elbow.

"How do you know I wasn't looking for you all night, doll?"

"Woo-bin-oppa! Where did you...oh! Here he is!" Two girls, who Izzie estimated to only have the intelligence of a bowl of kimchi between them, chose that moment to appear from the crowd and snuggle up to Woo-bin. Izzie snickered as Woo-bin nearly rolled his eyes. Instead, a wolfish grin spread over his lips as he put his arms around his dates.

"Ladies, perfect timing. This is the sad, spinster sister of one of my colleagues and I must honor him by dancing with her. So you, take this, and you take these." Before Izzie could object Woo-bin handed off her clutch, folder and wine and took her arm. "If you girls could hold those for just a moment, I promise I'll make it worth your while." He winked at them and the girls tittered and nodded eagerly as Woo-bin directed her to the dance floor.

"Woo-bin – "

"You're right. It is more fun when I have to do the chasing." He swept her into the waltz and Izzie couldn't stop herself from laughing.

"I pity the girl you finally do fall in love with. She has her hands full."

"In more ways than one," he said with a raised eyebrow that once again sent her into giggles.

"So tell me, Izzie dear, who were you looking for so intently when I interrupted you? Would he happen to be a golden-haired doctor who has been awfully surly since you and Jun-pyo went away?"

"I...I don't know what you're talking about," Izzie laughed, but felt a blush warm her cheeks.

"Oh, I see I've hit the nail. So our Ji-hu has moved on from Jan-di."

"No, it's nothing like – "

"Believe me, Izzie Wagner, I know my friend well. I only ask that you don't make it public until after the wedding. I have 50,000 won riding on it, and I've lost twice now to Yi-jeong. If I lose a third time I won't be able to live with myself."

Izzie felt dizzy and her heart was beginning to beat uncomfortably fast. Surely Woo-bin was simply joking – teasing her as he always did. He couldn't seriously believe that Ji-hu had fallen out of love with Jan-di so quickly and moved on to her.

"Song Woo-bin, I can guarantee there won't be any such announcement before the wedding. Your money is safe," she answered evenly as she mentally shook away his comments. It was natural, given the amount of time she had been spending with Ji-hu that his friends would assumed that there was something romantic between them.

Izzie sighed.

Her brows suddenly knotted and she barely missed stepping on Woo-bin's foot.

Stop that Isadora. Falling for Jun-pyo was bad enough; you are not doing the same with Ji-hu.

I do not love Ji-hu.

She caught a glimpse of a white jacket as Woo-bin spun her around the floor and her heart caught in her throat. It remained stuck when Woo-bin stopped and turned to greet Ji-hu.

"Hey buddy, we were just talking about you!" Instead of stepping on Woo-bin's foot, Izzie had the sudden urge to stomp on it as she blushed.

"Oh really?" Ji-hu gave her a smile that dislodged her heart, but sent it fluttering back into her chest so fast it took her breath. She caught it again when Woo-bin's Kimchi Twins suddenly appeared with her clutch and folder; the wine was, unsurprisingly, missing.

"Woo-bin-oppa, aren't you tired of the plain American?"

"Dance with us now!"

"Looks like you've got your hands full, Woo-bin. Allow me to make things easier?" Ji-hu smiled again, holding out his hand for Izzie. She felt a tingle up her arm as she touched his palm, feeling the warmth of his skin through her glove.

"Hi," she managed to breathe as she took a step closer to him, her heart now thundering as his smile brightened.

"Hi," he whispered back and Izzie looked away before she completely melted into the floor. Her smile dimmed, however, when she caught sight of Jun-pyo.

He was chatting with an associate, Jan-di nowhere in sight, and Izzie knew it was the perfect time to get him to sign her contract. Ji-hu had followed her gaze and she gave an apologetic smile as she released his hand and grabbed her things from the Twins.

"Hold that thought for just a moment? I have to take care of a small piece of business with Jun-pyo, then I promise I'll be right back."

"Of course," he said with a nod, but the smile had dimmed on his face as well and for a moment she thought she saw a flash of disappointment. She didn't give herself time to dwell, however, as she excused herself and darted through the gallery, avoiding servers and guests with spins and close dodges. When she finally reached him she was pleased to watch his eyes widen in surprise.

"Bear, what are you doing here? I thought I told you to keep working until the contract – "

"It's done," she interrupted, holding up the folder. "All it needs is your signature."

"Wh – I'm sorry, will you excuse me?" he nodded to the gentleman with whom he'd been conversing and gestured for her to follow him.

She trotted behind him as he navigated hallways until he found and unoccupied gallery with only benches and empty pedestals for art.

"Let me see it," he almost barked and she handed over the folder, unable to contain her grin as he began to read the document. Her smile dimmed, however, as she saw anger darken his face as he flipped the pages until he finally slammed the folder on the bench.

"Fifteen point nine? You agreed to fifteen point nine? What the hell were you thinking!?"

"I'm...I'm sorry?"

"I had said we wouldn't go higher than fourteen point seven! Was there something unclear about that?"

"Jun-pyo – "

"How on earth could you be so stupid, huh? Fifteen point nine...we're barely going to be turning a profit with that! Are you trying to bankrupt us?"

"No!" His anger was contagious as she shifted from glee, to crushing disappointment, to outrage. "What sort of profit would the Akiyama Group have gotten with that measly fourteen point seven? It was unreasonable and you knew it!"

"But they didn't! They're on unstable ground after that nuclear power plant disaster; they didn't have leverage to negotiate!"

"Of course they did! They had money you need to make the project happen!"

"Idiot! I could have found other money. I didn't need Akiyama and his little company for my deal to go through. There are always other investors!"

"We need to break ground in six months to avoid major losses – where were you going to find another investor?"

He rounded on her then and Izzie actually gasped as he towered menacingly over her. He forced her to step back until the back of her knees hit the bench and she landed hard next to the contract.

"I am Gu Jun-pyo of the Shinwha Group. I do not have to find investors, they come to me. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I – "

"Then good. Understand this as well. You are not a board member of the Shinwha Group. You are not even a vice president. You are just my personal assistant, and from now on, that will be all you do. You will arrange my private affairs, you will arrange my meetings, but you will never, ever again go near my business. Do you understand me?" She looked at the floor, unable to meet his eyes as her own burned and her throat began to close. Her hesitation irritated him, as he nearly roared: "Do you understand!"

"Yes!" she cried, squeezing her eyes shut in an effort to keep the tears at bay as she balled her fists in her skirt.

"Good."

Izzie sat frozen in fear, despair and rage, holding her breath as she waited for him to say something more. Instead, she felt him reach for the folder and heard the click of a pen. She looked up to see him scratching his name on the bottom of the document.

"What...what are you doing?" she asked, her voice embarrassingly small and quavering.

"I'm signing the deal."

"But you – "

"You've already given the word of the Shinhwa Group. I have no choice but to go along with it. The price I have to pay for trusting a secretary to handle a simple business deal." He tossed the contract back on the bench and immediately marched out of the room, leaving Izzie alone in her humiliation.

She choked down her tears as she picked up the folder, nearly overwhelmed with the urge to throw it across the room. Instead, she very calmly gathered her purse and stood, smoothing out her dress before she stormed out of the gallery and followed the signs directing her to the bar she had heard was part of the museum.

~o~

Ji-hu waited with growing concern for Izzie to come back to the main gallery. His stomach dropped when he saw Jun-pyo march into the room, the fury rolling off him like steam. Immediately he retraced Jun-pyo's footsteps, looking into every gallery until he finally found himself at the bar. There, sitting on a stool as far from the door as possible, he found Izzie. She was finishing a glass and pouring herself another from a square bottle as he walked up. She glanced at him, giving him a smile even though he could clearly see the pain in her eyes.

"Hey! Ji-hu-ssi! Have a seat! Have a drink!" She patted the stool beside her and motioned for the bartender to bring another glass. Ji-hu cautiously sat, eyeing how much of the bottle she had already consumed, relieved when it became apparent she hadn't been there very long.

"Scotch?" he asked as he sniffed the amber liquid she poured him, her own glass already emptied and being refilled.

"Mm. It's bourbon. Best thing to come outta my home state. Even better than Kentucky Fried Chicken!"

He took a sip, trying to adjust to the smoky/sweet flavor before he put his glass down and pushed it away.

"No? Well, more for me." She reached for his glass but Ji-hu stopped her, placing his hand over hers on the glass. They sat there for a moment, neither looking at the other, until, finally, Ji-hu spoke.

"Do you want to tell me what happed with Jun-pyo?" He felt her tense at the name and he tightened his grip on her wrist, not letting her escape the question.

"I fucked up," she whispered so quietly that Ji-hu almost missed it. Once he realized what she said he let her slide her hand away and return to her own glass, though she merely toyed with it.

"How?"
"You can see for yourself, if you like," she said, nodding toward the leather folder on the bar between them, still refusing to look at him.

Ji-hu pulled the folder in front of him and opened it, flipping through the pages as he quickly read the business deal. Finally, he closed the folder and turned to her.

"I don't understand."

"Apparently I don't either," she scoffed as she brought the glass to her lips, sipping at the amber liquid with a look of such bitterness Ji-hu's stomach churned.

"This is the deal you were working on in Japan?"

"Yep. Four days of work, a fifth of deadlock, and then 24 straight hours of hardball and compromise until we finally got that on paper."

"Jun-pyo's not satisfied?" She scoffed again, her eyes still fixed forward.

"He thinks it's a disaster. I've ruined him, apparently. Instead of making hundreds of millions, he'll only be make tens of millions. Such a hard life, huh?" She drained her glass again, but didn't move to refill it. "Stupid me, I thought he would be proud of me, but I guess I was just caught up in my own pride. 'Look at me, accomplishing something the great GuJun-pyo couldn't'. Making progress when we thought there was no further to go. Finding a way to get what we want, while making thing palatable for the other guys. Such an idiot."

Ji-hu sat in silence, inwardly seething, but outwardly calm. Why was it that Jun-pyo had to constantly hurt the women he cared about? And why was it they continued to care for him, even when he trampled on them so violently? He rubbed the bridge of his nose before he turned to look at Izzie, the hardness behind her eyes breaking him.

She had looked so beautiful when she had come in that he had been frozen in place, unable to move as he watched her savor an hors d'oeuvre then accept a glass of wine, her eyes scanning the room until Woo-bin had approached her. He had felt a stab of jealousy when his friend had taken her arm and walked her onto the dance floor. He watched them twirl, mesmerized by glimmer from the black jet sewn onto the long line heart-shaped bodice that hugged her like a corset, and enchanted by the layers of asymmetrical ruffles that ended at her knees. He had finally approached and the look she had given him had released a swarm of butterflies in his stomach. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair pulled in a loose ponytail over one shoulder and her glasses shield was missing, allowing him to look directly into her eyes and count the freckles of gold. It took everything he had not to whisk her off the dance floor and to some private corner when she had placed her small, gloved hand in his, looking at him with a mix of wonder and, he thought, desire.

Now, all sign of that enchanting girl was gone, shattered on the floor of some part of the museum with Jun-pyo's footprints all over them. As the anger swelled in him again Ji-hu downed the contents of his glass, wincing at the flavor before he turned to her.

"Jun-pyo doesn't have the right to knock you down like that. He owes you everything, and if he doesn't recognize that, then he's a bigger idiot than I thought. Izzie you – "

"Just take me home," she interrupted him, finally turning her head and meeting his eyes. Defeat now weighed down her shoulders and dulled her to the point her exhaustion was now visible, despite her expertly applied makeup to hide it.

"Please, Ji-hu just...just take me home."

He silently acquiesced, helping her from the stool and slipping his jacket around her shoulders as he led her out the bar's side door to the street. She stood with her arms crossed, clutching the folder as Ji-hu hailed a taxi, opening the door for her and giving the driver the address to her hotel as he climbed in beside her. When they pulled up in front Ji-hu paid while Izzie let herself out of the car.

"I'll walk you up," he said as he took her elbow and walked her through the lobby.

"Thank you," she murmured, giving him a weak smile as they waited for the elevator.

He followed her to her room, waiting as she retrieved her key from her clutch, and she held the door open for him to follow her into the room. Immediately she kicked off her heels by the suitcase sitting near the door, dropping his jacket over the handle and padded barefoot into the suite, tossing her jewelry on a stand with her purse and folder as he leaned against the wall, watching her. She finally turned to him, giving him another sad smile as she began to pull pins from her hair.

"You don't have to stay. I'm fine. I'm just exhausted."

"I can see that. Did you eat?"

"At the party?" He knew from her tone that she was teasing, and that she had most certainly not had a meal in over twelve hours.

"Get changed. I'll order something from room service."

"Ji-hu, really, I'm fine."

"Have you found another doctor?"

"I...no..."

"Then I am still your physician. I will not be satisfied leaving until I know that you are properly taking care of your health. Now go."

He picked up the menu from the bedside table and began flipping through, reviewing the menu. He watched from the corner of his eye as she sighed, then moved to her dresser, retrieving what he assumed were her pajamas. He was surprised, however, when instead of going to the bathroom, she crossed to stand in front of him. She shifted uncomfortably for a moment before finally meeting his eyes.

"Can you help with my dress? It's knotted."

Ji-hu swallowed hard but gave a slight nod. Izzie turned and Ji-hu took a deep breath as he reached for the ribbon that held her bodice together. Carefully, he unknotted the bow and slowly began to loosen the laces. He felt his blood surge when his fingers brushed the bare skin of her back as he worked apart the sides of the dress. By the time he reached the top blood was pounding in his ears and he barely heard her tell him it was enough before she crossed quickly to the bathroom, holding her dress up as she walked.

Ji-hu sat heavily on the bed, concentrating on breathing to get his body back to some semblance of order. Once again he was reminded that even when she looked pitiful and he was mad as hell, Izzie brought out a physical reaction in him that no other woman ever had. While he had worshipped Seo-hyun and adored Jan-di, neither of them ever elicited the blood boiling want Ji-hu had felt since Izzie had first leaned against him when he found her at the Foundation.

After a moment Ji-hu picked up the menu again, but his reading was interrupted by a small noise. He, again, set the booklet down and listened intently, determining that the muffled sound was coming from the bathroom. He stood and crossed slowly to the door, knocking on it lightly.

"Izzie? Everything okay?"

She didn't respond, and the noise hadn't stopped so Ji-hu very cautiously tried the door handle. It was unlocked, and so he pushed the door open an inch.

"Izzie, I'm coming in, all – oh, Izzie..." he sighed as he fully opened the door.

She sat on the floor, her back resting against the bathtub as she cried into the collar of her bathrobe; her attempt to muffle the sound clearly not as successful as she hoped. His chest tightened when she looked up at him, her heart obviously breaking with every sob. He lowered himself to the floor beside her, put his arm over her shoulder and pulled her tightly to his side. She turned into him, releasing her robe and instead clinging to the collar of his shirt as she wept into his shoulder. Ji-hu rested his cheek on the top of her head, rubbing her back and muttering quiet reassurances as he let her empty all of her tears.

When the cries became whimper and, finally, sniffles, he let her pull back enough that he could cup her face, wiping the last tears from her eyes as she tried to turn away from him.

"Don't apologize," he said, as soon as he saw the words begin to form on her lips. She looked at him with sad appreciation, her eyes still beguiling despite the smudged mascara and red rims. She glanced down and immediately her brow furrowed in worry.

"I've ruined your shirt."

He looked down and saw that, indeed, his shoulder was not only stained with her tears, but also with her makeup. He shrugged, making the black streaks move up and down.

"I can buy another one."

"No, that's – please let me have it cleaned," she pleaded, her breath still coming in hiccups, making it very difficult to refuse her.

"Really, Izzie, you don't need to – "

"Please, Ji-hu. Let me feel like I can do something for you. I need...I may have overreached in business, but I need to know I am at least still a good assistant."

Again, his heart twisted and he finally bowed his head to concede.

"You aren't bad at business, Iz – "

"Please. I can't talk about it. I'm...I'm just too tired."

"Okay," he agreed, toying with a strand of her hair that spilled down her back.

"Thank you," she said before rising to her feet and holding out her hand. "So. Give me the shirt. I'll call down and have the cleaners fix it right away."

Ji-hu felt the first hints of panic as he looked up at her. She raised her eyebrow, indicating her impatience. "I'm not wearing another shirt," he explained and he watched the comprehension bloom on her face.

"Oh. Well. That's...that's not a problem! Here, you can wear my robe." Her hand reached for the belt and Ji-hu's breath caught. Before he could remember the words to stop her she had untied the belt and the robe fell open. Ji-hu felt a wave of relief when he realized she was clothed underneath, but then gulped when he realized what she was wearing.

The nightie she wore was simple, black with tiny white polka dots, trimmed with white lace. He sat eye level with the hem, that ended just above mid-thigh, and moving his eyes further up didn't help as he got caught on the small row of buttons that was sewn between her breasts. He closed his eyes and stood, willing himself not to look below her neck when he reopened them. She had slipped off the robe and held it draped over her arm, which meant that it thankfully now hung like a curtain in front of her, blocking his view of those long, silky looking legs that he was trying very hard not to imagine wrapped around him.

What is wrong with me? Careful, Ji-hu, you're beginning to sound like Woo-bin or Yi-jeong.

He took a breath, pocketed his tie and began to unbutton his shirt, looking at the wall above her head as he handed her the soiled fabric and took the plush, chenille robe. He glanced down in time to catch Izzie giving his torso a lingering look before she bolted out of the bathroom, promising to have the shirt cleaned and pressed immediately. Ji-hu took the opportunity to lean his hands on the sink and catch his breath. He looked up, catching his reflection in the mirror and was shocked by how dark his eyes had become and the slight tension around them.

"You are not a teenager," he whispered to the mirror. "She is has just been trampled on. Pull yourself together and be a good friend."

The words were a weak balm, but they were sufficient to regulate his breathing and begin returning his eyes to their normal color. He tightened the belt as he stepped out of the bathroom, steeling himself against the vision of Izzie in her nightie. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding his shirt up to her cheek and rubbing it gently. She blushed furiously when she saw him looking at her and immediately stood, dropping the shirt as if it had suddenly caught fire.

"Sorry, it was just so soft I couldn't – she said someone would be right up. I'm...going to go wash my face."

He nodded and she passed him, returning to the bathroom and kicking the door almost shut behind her. He listened to the running water, letting the sound soothe him as he wandered her suite, looking at the few personal touches she had finally added to the room. He had teased her weeks ago about the fact that she had been living in Korea a month and it still felt like she had only one foot on the soil. She laughed at him and promised to begin searching for a more permanent residence after the wedding. In the meantime, he was happy she had at least put some personal effects on display in her room. He picked up a small, framed picture of a younger Izzie with a woman he assumed was her mom, judging by the similar shapes of their noses and lips. He smiled, noticing a slight sunburn on Izzie's face and significantly more freckles that she currently had. The picture had obviously been taken by Izzie and was just slightly off center, but the two faces pressed cheek to cheek, beaming into the camera was touching. There was a loud knock on the door and Ji-hu immediately set down the picture, crossing to the door and pulling it open.

"Ji-hu?"

"Jun-pyo!"

They both stood for a moment, equally surprised to see the other man standing before him. Ji-hu's face quickly darkened as he crossed his arms and shifted his weight, clearly blocking Jun-pyo's entrance to the room.

"What do you want?" He asked, forcing as much ice into his voice as possible. Jun-pyo had proved himself to be the better fighter many times, but that didn't mean Ji-hu wouldn't at least break his friend's nose if he tried to enter.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm here to see B...my assistant. What are you doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Ji-hu spit the words back at him with venom and watched the scowl form on his friends face, smiling smugly at Jun-pyo's obvious displeasure.

"Ji-hu, you forgot your...oh. Jun-pyo." Izzie stopped dead when she saw him, Ji-hu's shirt dangling from her hand.

"I didn't realize I would be interrupting. I'll leave first." He turned to leave, but Izzie called after him, stepping up so that Ji-hu had to shift to allow her a clear view of Jun-pyo.

"Why are you here?" she asked, a guarded expression on her newly washed face making her appear even more vulnerable.

"I came to discuss business with you, but now I understand."

"Understand what?" she asked and Ji-hu waited for the slightest provocation to take a swing. He watched a familiar smug look pass over his friends face as he stared down at Izzie.

"I understand where your mind has been. Clearly you didn't follow me to Korea to become better in business, but to attract a rich husband. It explains your muddling of things in Japan. Now that I see that, I'll be going."

"Jun-pyo – " Ji-hu fumed as Izzie stepped past him, stopping Jun-pyo before he could walk away.

"Jun-pyo...is that really what you think is going on?" she asked him quietly, and Jun-pyo sniffed in disdain.

"I'm not so foolish to not see what's right in front of me. Clearly you've begun to think more highly of yourself and felt entitled to take liberties with your position."

"You self-righteous bastard." She spoke so quietly both Jun-pyo and Ji-hu gave her a double take to make certain they had heard her properly.

"Ex...excuse me?" Jun-pyo sputtered and when Izzie's back straightened Ji-hu would have sworn she grew nearly as tall as Jun-pyo.

"How dare you. After all these years, everything I've helped you accomplish, now I'm just the help? One of the maids you can just toss if you don't like the way she serves your tea?"

"Bear – "

"Oh don't you dare! After what you said to me earlier, you think you can just drop my nickname and everything will go back to normal? Tell me, honestly, were you coming here to admit you were wrong, or just to make sure I'd learned my lesson?"

"I wasn't wrong, I just – "

"Shut up! I don't want to hear another word." Her voice was sharp, but still low enough to be respectful of the other hotel guests, something that made her anger seem even scarier to Ji-hu as she glared daggers into Jun-pyo.

"I've been by your side for almost five years now. First as your friend, then as your right hand. I've helped you broker more deals than I can count, and the first time I use my own judgment, after you left me in charge, you toss me aside because I didn't stick to your line in the sand? Well guess what, Jun-pyo? It was a stupid line! You would have never closed that deal because your arrogance. From the moment you returned to Korea you have become so self-centered and cocky that now, I can't even stand to look at you! And it disgusts me to think that I ever let myself fall in love with you."

Ji-hu's breath caught and he watched Jun-pyo closely, the surprised realization wiping away the anger from his face.

"I...Izzie – "

"That's why I followed you. That's why I've been by your side all this time. Why I passed up positions with the U.N. and the State Department. Even when you asked me to plan your wedding, I agreed because I admired and respected you, and I just wanted to be close to you as long as possible. But now...you aren't that man and I am going to put things in terms you can understand: this is my line in the sand, GuJun-pyo. I will stay by your side, working diligently to make sure you and Jan-di have the perfect wedding I promised. I will continue to schedule your affairs, both private and professional, and I will watch you marry the girl you love that I have envied for years. But after the cake is cleaned up and the guests are gone? So am I. You can consider this my four-week notice."

The words fell like small bombs, rocking both men where they stood. Ji-hu clutched the door, his emotions twisting uncontrollably. He was amazed by the way she had stood up for herself and so proud of her for telling Jun-pyo some much needed truth that even he had been hesitant to say to his best friend. Yet his stomach dropped as she announced her plans to leave, and he felt a sense of panic rise at the idea of her disappearing from his life.

"You'll leave first," she finally said, dismissing Jun-pyo before he could respond to her pronouncement. Wisely, he backed away, finally turning and walking down the hall to the elevators.

Izzie stood frozen in place, staring at where Jun-pyo had just stood, all energy draining from her body. Ji-hu reached out and brushed her arm lightly and she gave a weak smile.

"Ji-hu, I'm sorry I stained your shirt, and I do promise to have it cleaned but, I have to ask you to leave. I'm sorry, I just...I need to be alone."

Ji-hu stood in silence as she handed him his shirt and walked away, disappearing into the bathroom once more. For a moment, he debated going after her, but thought better of it. Instead he removed his robe, laying it over a chair, and quickly dressed in his shirt, finding his jacket where she had dropped it. He hesitated for a moment longer, wanting to pull her in his arms and tell her what a brave thing she had just done, then beg her not to follow through with her promise, but in the end he chose to respect her wishes and walked out the door. He nearly walked into a member of the hotel staff in the hall, who quickly bowed to him.

"Oh, forgive me sir. I'm with the cleaning service?"

"Right. Thank you, but it turns out the services are not needed." Ji-hu brought out his wallet and tipped the boy for his trouble before crossing to the guest elevator and taking the car down, bowing his head as he walked through the lobby and making the quick decision to forgo the taxi in exchange for walking home. It was a mild night, and Ji-hu desperately needed to clear his mind after such an eventful evening.

By the time he arrived at his home, his feelings were not sorted any better than when he had left the hotel, but at least he was too exhausted to worry about them. He changed and fell into bed, praying to wake with a clearer mind, a stable heart and the answer of how to keep Izzie in Korea in hand.