Chapter 9

Izzie felt sun shining on her face as she slowly opened her eyes. She stretched and blinked, trying to remember where she was.

"Good morning," his voice made her heart flutter and with a smile she remembered precisely where she was. She rolled toward the open sliding glass door, leading to the balcony where she found him dressed, sitting in a chair reading a paper and sipping coffee. The bright sun cast a glow around him and for a moment Izzie just stared, amazed by how beautiful he looked.

"Good morning," she finally purred, sitting up with the sheets clutched to her chest, suddenly feeling self-conscious as she ran her hand over her hair.

"Would you like breakfast? Or is that the meal you're skipping today?"

"In Paris? Are you crazy? I haven't had a decent pastry in ages!" She started to get up but Ji-hu set aside his paper and stood, instantly by her side and placing his hand on her shoulder.

"I'll order it." He smiled at her, and Izzie felt a surge of butterflies dancing around her stomach. He squeezed her shoulder lightly before he stepped away and Izzie suddenly forgot why she wanted breakfast so badly.

She shook her head and glanced around, searching for her clothes, blushing as she thought about how they were tossed aside the previous evening. Fabric caught her eye, and she scooted to the end of the bed, giggling when she discovered a familiar button-down shirt folded neatly along with a pair of her panties that were more lace than anything else.

Clearly someone's been snooping in my luggage, she thought as she started to dress, watching him pace on the balcony wondering exactly how much pastry he was ordering from room service. She nibbled her thumb a moment before crossing to the sliding glass door and, when his back was to her, quietly let herself out. She felt him tense when she wrapped her arms around his middle, but heard him sigh as she nestled into his back.

It had been years since Izzie had been in Paris, but she still felt a sense of homecoming as she looked over the city. He set the phone down on the café table and turned in her arms, stroking her hair and back.

"Bon matin," she murmured before he kissed her lightly.

"It's almost afternoon, you know." He found the spot below her ear that made her toes curl, and his words took a moment to register as his teeth scraped the skin of her neck.

"Af...afternoon? Wait, what? What time is it?" She pushed him away and he blinked a moment before answering her, his smile fading.

"It's eleven thirty."

"Eleven...oh shit! I've haven't checked my phone in...oh where is it?" She dashed back into the room, searching for her purse, triumphantly pulling out the smart phone and dropping her bag on the desk. She turned it back on, tapping her foot as she waited for it to retrieve her messages. She ignored the texts and emails, going straight into her voicemail, grabbing the hotel's pen and notepad to prepare to take notes. She copied the date and time given by the automated voice, then her pen stopped as she heard Ga-eul's panicked voice. She immediately replayed the message, making certain she had heard everything correctly before she disconnected, tossing the phone back in her bag as she dove for her suitcase. Her heart was pounding and her stomach had descended to somewhere near her feet.

"Izzie? Is everything – "

"We have to get back to Seoul. Right now." She unzipped the bag, pulling out the first item of clothing her hand met then snatching her toiletries and heading toward the bathroom. She collided directly with Ji-hu, who grabbed her arms and forced her to focus on him. She felt herself shaking and registered the concern in his eyes as she tried to voice one of the thoughts racing through her mind.

"What's going on?"

"Ga-eul called. Jun-pyo and Jan-di...they're missing. They were supposed to have dinner last night with Ga-eul and Yi-jeong and never showed and now no one can find them." Her stomach churned as she repeated the words, her fear evident in her trembling voice.

Ji-hu released her and she disappeared into the bathroom, her hands shaking as she turned on the shower. She hurried through her normal routine, flying out of the bathroom dressed and ready, twisting her wet hair into a bun. She stopped when she saw Ji-hu was dressed, jacket on, their luggage sitting next to him. He held out a small paper sack and cup of coffee.

"Our flight leaves in an hour. The taxi is waiting."

"What's this?" she asked, taking the bag and popping the plastic lid on the coffee.

"Well...you wanted pastry."

Izzie felt her heart melt and she stood on her toes to kiss his cheek.

"Thank you, Ji-hu," she said, her hand resting on the lapel of his jacket.

"We should go." He gestured to the door and Izzie nodded, sipping her espresso as she led the way out of the room, leaving him to his own thoughts as she became absorbed in her own. He was worried, she knew, and was certain his mind was running through all of the possibilities of where Jun-pyo and Jan-di could be. She had checked Jun-pyo's personal and business accounts without finding any clues from his recent transactions. By the time she reached the airport she had finally spoken to the manager of Shinhwa's charter company and ascertained that one of their jets had been taken out on Jun-pyo's orders, but he couldn't give her a flight plan or destination.

"I wouldn't worry. Gu Jun-pyo probably decided to take a weekend trip – " Ji-hu began, but Izzie immediately cut him off.

"The week of the wedding? Why would he pick now to...why would I ask? He's Jun-pyo...he'll do as he pleases."

A pleasant woman's voice announced that their flight was boarding, interrupting Izzie's dark thoughts. She brushed the remaining flakes from her pain au chocolat from her skirt and led the way to the gate, handing over her boarding pass with a smile she didn't truly feel. Irritation was beginning to replace panic as she walked through a jetway less than 24 hours after she had arrived in Paris. A quick exchange with Woo-bin had been enough to establish that nothing criminal had occurred with Jun-pyo and Jan-di's disappearance, though he was not able to uncover anything more than that, either. She checked her phone once more, adjusting her settings so that anyone would contact her would receive a message providing her travel itinerary, before she turned it off and tossed it in her bag. She settled into her seat and turned to Ji-hu, but he had already pulled the brim of his hat over his eyes and looked to be dozing with his head next to the window. Izzie hesitated for a moment before deciding to leave him alone.

She watched him, however, replaying the past eighteen hours in her mind. It had only taken an hour after Ji-hu left for Izzie to decide she wouldn't accomplish anything by staying in Seoul. Her mind had been fixated, unable to move from worrying over his travels, how he would face Seo-hyun after such a long time and, mostly, whether Jun-pyo was right and old feelings would be rekindled when Ji-hu saw his first love again. She had spent the next eleven hours pacing the aisle of first class anxiously trying to decide what she would say to him when she finally arrived.

When she had pulled her suitcase from the taxi she was no closer to a plan, but then she had seen him, lost in thought and she had called his name before she realized what she was doing. When he strode toward her all thoughts fled from her mind and when he started kissing her she was sure she would never think again. As soon as he pulled away her mind started working again, and she spent the next hours oscillating between exhilarating clarity and blissful haziness.

Her irritation flared as she realized that, once again, Jun-pyo's undoubtedly selfish actions were disrupting her life. Her leg bounced and her thumbnail found its way between her teeth as she thought over all the things she still needed to tell Ji-hu, the questions she desperately wanted to ask him. Her breath caught when she suddenly felt a hand on her knee, stopping it from moving. She looked over and found Ji-hu looking at her, a soft smile on his lips.

"The plane shouldn't experience turbulence before take off."

Izzie smiled apologetically, dropping her hand to grip the edge of the armrest. His hand moved off her knee, but she was surprised when it closed over hers, squeezing it gently.

"Ji-hu – "

"Relax...or I'm giving you a sedative," he threatened lightly and Izzie couldn't help but chuckle.

"You can be awfully demanding, you know that?"

"Are you talking back to your doctor?" He raised his eyebrows and Izzie rolled her eyes.

"Fine, fine." She settled into her seat, resting her head against the padded cubicle at the top of her seat, hiding her smile as she relished in the feel of his thumb brushing back and forth over her knuckles. After a few moments she felt her eyelids grow heavy and before she could put up a fight even the feel of his hand on hers faded from her consciousness.

Izzie felt more alert and collected than she had in a week as she stepped back onto Korean soil, squinting against the bright morning sun as she pulled her phone from her bag, waiting impatiently for it to retrieve her messages. She glanced at Ji-hu, who was already on his phone in a conversation with, she assumed, one of the F4. She had just begun to scan through her texts when Ji-hu suddenly stopped.

"What!?"

She immediately turned, her stomach tensing as she watched him close his eyes and set his jaw in frustration.

"I understand. Later." He returned his phone to his pocket and wiped his hand over his mouth.

"What? What's going on?" she asked, trying to suppress her impatience.

"Jun-pyo and Jan-di are fine. They arrived at the Gu home an hour ago."

"Okay, that's good news."

"Mm."

"But your face tells me you didn't get good news." She set her hand on her hip, waiting for his answer as he sighed, looking out the airport window.

"They've eloped."

Izzie felt like she had stepped back onto one of the moving sidewalks.

"They...did...what?!"

Before he could respond she had turned and was flagging down a taxi. She paid no heed to whether Ji-hu was following her or not and the tone she used when she gave the driver Jun-pyo's address made it clear to all she wasn't interested in any conversation.

By the time they had reached their destination she was fuming, and marched past all staff as she walked through the door to the mansion, making her way directly to Jun-pyo's private suite. She was aware that Ji-hu followed her, but brushed off the butler that feebly tried to stop her as she burst through the ornate wood doors. Jun-pyo grinned from his desk, swiveling his seat as the group stepped into his private quarters.

"Miss, please, you can't just – "

"Oh, Bear, Yun Ji-hu, come to give your congratulations?"

"Master Jun-pyo, I apologize, I wasn't –"

"What the hell do you mean you you've eloped?!" Izzie exploded, crossing her arms over her chest and pinning Jun-pyo with a glare. The tall man had the decency to loose his grin as he motioned for the butler to leave.

"Jan-di and I decided – "

"Cut the crap – Jan-di had nothing to do with this! What were you thinking?" Izzie set her hands on the edge of his desk leveling her glare so that he shifted in his seat.

"I was thinking you'd be relieved!" his voice rose to match hers and he stood, matching her pose on the opposite side of the mahogany desk. "After all, the standard is for just a two-week notice to be given to an employer. I decided it was selfish of me to keep you longer than that, when you made it abundantly clear you wanted out, so I decided we would forgo the wedding and just elope."

"Seriously?! After we've done everything? After we fly half-way around the world just to track down a bridesmaid?"

"Yes, and how was your trip to France, Ji-hu? Did you have a touching reunion with Seo-hyun-eonnie?" Rage boiled in Izzie, making her speechless for a moment as Jun-pyo straightened, the smug smile returning to his face as he spoke with Ji-hu. "That reminds me, Jan-di did want to apologize to you, personally. She's down in the kitchen, if you would like to go speak to her."

"I'm not – "

"Go," Izzie ordered, finally breaking her eye contact with Jun-pyo to look over her shoulder at Ji-hu. She softened just a touch as she continued to speak to him. "I'm sure Jan-di is feeling terrible. Go talk to her, please."

Ji-hu hesitated then gave a slight nod, casting a dark look at Jun-pyo before he left the room, closing the door behind him. Immediately the smile disappeared from Jun-pyo's face and he collapsed back into his chair. Izzie noticed for the first time the dark circles under his eyes, and her fury was undercut by concern. Jun-pyo pinched the bridge of his nose and Izzie perched on the arm of the chair positioned across from Jun-pyo's desk, her anger fading as she studied him.

"What are you thinking, JP? Are you...are you punishing me?"

"Punishing...you think I would punish you?" He seemed genuinely dumbfounded and Izzie's frustration mounted again.

"Well, how else would you explain it? After everything we've done to give you the perfect wedding, you just decide to run off? You have your whims, but really? Why would you do this other than to throw everything in my face?"

"Because I thought it was what you wanted."

He was so quiet that Izzie doubted for a moment that she had heard him. She looked up at him, unnerved when she found he was watching her with a sadness that took her breath.

"Jun-pyo – "

"You made it clear you wanted to leave. I thought it was selfish to keep you here longer, just for my wedding. So...you can go. The jet is ready whenever you would like to use it. Your letter of reference is in your hotel suite." The words seemed to be forced out of him, and he refused to make eye contact with her.

"JP, please – "

"I also took the liberty to reach out to Amanda Beckett."

"Mandy?"

"I remembered she was the one who offered you the job at the U.N. and I recommended she find another position for you."

"I don't...I don't understand." Izzie felt her throat tighten when Jun-pyo turned to her and she saw the tears standing in his eyes. After a moment he cleared his throat and looked away, staring blankly ahead as he spoke.

"You've left me with a lot of work, Bear, trying to find a suitable replacement for you. Please...once you leave I will be able to focus on finding someone to fill your vacancy."

Izzie's eyes burned, but she eventually nodded and slowly rose from her chair. She took a few steps toward the door, her stomach churning as she fought back her tears.

She was done. He really was letting her go and she was now free to move on with her life. Away from Jun-pyo. Away from devoting her life to making certain someone else's ran smoothly. Away from living in hotel rooms and jumping on a jet at a moment's notice. She was free.

Yet, her footsteps faltered and she paused. She didn't feel free. In fact, she felt like the walls were suddenly pressing in on her, trapping and suffocating her. Izzie laid her hand on her chest, reminding herself that her heart was still beating and her lungs were still steadily expanding and contracting. Her mind raced as she realized this was her last chance to speak to the man she had been next to for five years. Realizing she had nothing left to lose, Izzie turned back to her best friend and former love.

"Jun-pyo, about everything else I said...I – that is, I should probably...you know..." she trailed off, her face burning as she desperately tried to wrangle her swarming thoughts into some kind of order. Jun-pyo looked at her with a small smirk before his face sobered.

"There's no need to discuss it. I will simply pretend I don't know what you're talking about."

Izzie almost wanted to thank him for what she recognized as his way of sparing her pride. She nodded, but couldn't convince her feet to move. Something still nagged at her, and she finally felt her thoughts organize into a question.

"Are you and Jan-di happy?"

"What?" His brow furrowed and he seemed surprised by her inquiry.

"With the elopement. Cancelling your wedding. Are you both happy about that?"

"Well we – "

"Because I know you, JP. I know that you love pomp and circumstance. You like over-the-top gestures and turn the smallest things into huge productions."

He cleared his throat, squirmed in his seat and Izzie knew she was regaining her wits as she stepped forward, continuing.

"And Jan-di, she may not feel comfortable being the center of attention, but she is just like every girl that dreams of her big, romantic wedding. She tries to hide it, but it's written all over her face."

"What are you – " Jun-pyo started to speak, but Izzie cut him off, finally arriving back at his desk.

"Jun-pyo, I was with Jan-di for her final dress fitting. I saw her step out of the dressing room and I watched her face as she saw herself in the mirror with that beautiful white wedding gown. She was...angelic. Radiant. And all I could think was how I couldn't wait to watch your reaction as she walked down the aisle. And do you know what Jan-di admitted to me afterward?" He shook his head, his eyes a touch brighter than normal as she continued. "She said 'for once, I felt like a girl who deserved to marry Gu Jun-pyo of Shinhwa Group'."

He looked away and Izzie knew it was her moment to go in for the kill.

"Jun-pyo, I appreciate what you have done, allowing me to leave. However, I promised that I would stay until your wedding was over. Please, allow me to do this final duty for you and Jan-di. Let me give you both the perfect wedding I promised. Then...then I will leave and you'll never have to worry about me again. Unless you ever have business with the U.N. of course." She managed to keep her voice even until the very end, doing her best to keep the tears she held back from choking her. She reminded herself to maintain her even breathing as she waited for his response.

"Is that...is that what you want?"

"Yes, it is," she answered, her voice barely wavering. She heard a noise and turned, finding Jan-di standing in the doorway looking back at the retreating figure of Ji-hu.

"No," she whispered, her calm façade instantly cracking as she felt a surge of panic. Izzie rushed toward the door, deaf to Jun-pyo yelling her name. Jan-di stepped out of her way as she called for Ji-hu, sprinting down the hall as fast as her pencil skirt would allow. He was only a few feet away but he ignored her completely, not hesitating a moment as he walked down the stairs and out of the house.

By the time Izzie reached the bottom of the stairs the tears she had been fighting had overwhelmed her defenses, falling steadily and silently down her cheeks as she sank to the bottom step, her eyes fixed on the door Ji-hu had just exited. A hand brushed her shoulder, but Izzie didn't look to see who sat beside her as her breath came in short gasps.

"I'm sorry, Izzie-ah," Jan-di whispered.

"He doesn't understand, does he? How I feel about him?" she asked, finally turning to Jan-di, not bothering to hide her tears. The other woman's smiled at her sympathetically before shaking her head. "And now I'm just like everyone else that has abandoned him. Another woman leaving him alone. Tell me, Jan-di, how many times do you think he'll let his heart get hurt before he gives up completely?" Izzie watched as Jan-di's eyes fill with tears.

"I...I don't know." Izzie nodded, then finally crumpled. Izzie felt Jan-di place her arm around her for support as all the hope drained from her body, one tear at a time, until she was empty, shaking and sniffling.

"Don't worry, Izzie-ah. I'll think of something," Jan-di tried to reassure her, but Izzie merely shook her head. Jan-di pulled away then, forcing Izzie to look at her as her face grew mock serious. "Hey! They don't call me fearsome Jan-di for nothing, huh? Trust me, okay? Fighting!"

Izzie failed to muster a smile as she looked at the other woman's upraised fists. Instead she wiped the tears from her eyes as her gaze returned to the firmly closed door.

Only a fool would let his heart be broken three times, Jan-di. And you and I both know: Ji-hu is not a fool.