CHAPTER 12

BOO KI'S POV:

"So what do you think?" Alejandro asks.

"It's impressive!" I say honestly. I'm also a little envious. This new restaurant of his is amazing. It's outside on the roof of one of his Hotels. All of his employees smile at him and he greets them warmly. He seems to be an amazing boss. It makes me miss my job at home. The owner of the restaurant I work for isn't really involved much. He trusts me and it gives me free-reign to make it as successful as I can. I can see that Alejandro has the complete trust and respect of his employees just like I do with my employees.

It amazes me how different he is from his family. It's yet another thing we have in common. This past week since the party, I have spent every day with him and I have come to realize what an amazing man he is. He's funny, smart, handsome, and he has high moral standards. I'm convinced that the reason he doesn't get along with his father and brother is because he knows what they have done.

"How is the food?" Alejandro asks as we chat over dinner.

"It's delicious!" I say and he smiles broadly at me.

"I'm glad you like it. Se Na… I know this may sound kind of forward but… I was wondering…" he looks around nervously and sets his silverware down. He has never been like this before. He is always so confident.

"Si? What is it?" I ask curiously.

"I have to go to Cartagena in a few days for the grand opening of my new restaurant and I was wondering if you would accompany me?" By the end of his rushed sentence, his cheeks have grown a bright shade of pink. He is very cute… But his question surprises me. Going to Cartagena would help me locate one of my contacts close to my family and I could possibly find out what is going on in Italy. Going with Alejandro however means that he probably wants to sleep with me. I do like him but I don't want to hurt him.

"Alejandro…"

"I'm not expecting anything. We will have separate rooms. I'll be the perfect gentleman." He says it so sincerely that I can't help but laugh.

"Well as long as you don't try to grab my ass or anything, sure. Why not?" I say.

"Unless you want me to grab your ass. I'll be happy to volunteer." He says mischievously.

We laugh and tease each other throughout the night and as he drives me home, I realize that when I am around him, I forget all the bad things going on in my life. I must admit, that sleeping with him would probably be amazing but I know that his heart is getting involved and I can't do that to him.

Plus there's… him. As I enter the front door, I watch Woo Bin stand up from his chair to look at me. It's been a week since the party and we have hardly spoken to each other. He's grown so serious. It's weird and I don't like it but… I don't want to give him false hope. Even though I long to wrap my arms around him and kiss him senseless, to explore every inch of his skin, and feel his body pressed against mine I can never let it happen.

I will admit that I hate seeing him flirt with Juliana. I hide it well but I wish he didn't have to. I guess it's only fair though since I am flirting with Alejandro.

"Did you have a good night?" Ji-Hoo asks.

"Yes. It was nice. He asked me to go to Cartagena with him in a few days. We shouldn't be gone very long."

"…What? You're going with him?" Woo Bin asks. His face looks stormy and I head for my room. I don't want to argue with him tonight.

"Yes I am." I say and hear his rapid footsteps behind me before he grabs my arm.

"You aren't stupid. You know what this means. He wants to sleep with you."

"Maybe he does and maybe he doesn't. Either way, he trusts me more and more every day. I'm hoping to visit his father very soon. Besides, I like Alejandro. He's fun to be around and he doesn't lecture me." I say calmly. Woo Bin clenches his jaw and he's angry. I can't bear to look at the hurt in his eyes though and try to turn away. He grabs my other arm and forces me to face him. I let him because I feel a little guilty for lying to him.

"You don't have to do this! We never once asked you to do this! It's going too far!" He says desperately.

"It's just sex Woo Bin." I say quietly.

"It isn't just sex to me!"

"That's rich coming from the Don Juan of South Korea!" I scoff and he tightens his grip on my arms.

"I'm not like that anymore and if you want sex that badly, I am more than willing to offer my services but you can't sleep with him. I won't allow it!" he says hotly and gives me a rough shake. That was the wrong thing to say to me and I feel my anger rising to the surface.

"Woo Bin-ah." Ji-Hoo says warningly.

Breaking free of Woo Bin's grasp, I place myself as close to him as I can without touching him and glare furiously into his eyes.

"I don't belong to you or to anybody else. You cannot tell me what to do." I say coldly.

"Ani I don't own you but I am still responsible for you since I asked you to come with us. I cannot let you go this far. There are other ways to go about this."

"Cut the crap! The only reason you are upset is because you are jealous. If you were really only concerned about "responsibility" you would just make sure I'm safe."

"I don't like it either Boo Ki-ah." Ji-Hoo says. "Woo Bin may be angry because of how he feels but I am concerned about you as a friend. I don't want you to do this."

Finally breaking my gaze from Woo Bin I turn to Ji-Hoo. "I never said I would sleep with Alejandro. Woo Bin jumped to conclusions. As for whether or not I do, that is my choice and none of your business."

Keeping my face as cold as possible, I turn away from them and go to my room, closing the door behind me. I hear the front door slam as I sink to the floor and bury my face in my hands. What am I doing?

(^_^)

SAIA'S POV:

Hiding my smile, I turn my back to where DK and Jae Kyung are talking animatedly to each other. They seem to be getting pretty close lately. I suspect the only reason she came was so she could talk to DK. She told me that she doesn't like guns. Jun Pyo and Yi Jung asked me to come to the shooting range today and when I mentioned it to her, she eagerly asked if she could come watch.

"Are you ready?" Yi Jung asks with a smile and hands me the rifle. They seem anxious to teach me and I suspect that this is yet another activity they shared with Ji-Hoo. Little do they know that Boo Ki and her Aunt already taught me how to shoot a rifle along with several other types of guns.

Taking the rifle from Yi Jung I take up my position at the railing and smile at the two handsome Chaebols. "Honestly guys, you really don't have to teach me."

"You never know unless you try it! You may like it!" Jun Pyo says as Yi Jung starts instructing me on how to hold the gun.

"That's not what I meant. I already know how to shoot." I murmur and their eyes widen in surprise as they stare at me.

"You are always full of surprises Saia-ssi." Yi Jung says with a chuckle.

"That's what Ji-Hoo always says." I say with a laugh and immediately regret it as I see their faces darken with grief.

"Ya! None of that! How about we make this interesting? Whoever misses the most targets has to buy lunch. Arasso?" I say, trying to distract them. They nod their heads sadly and Jun Pyo shoves his sunglasses on his face to hide his watery eyes.

As we sit down to lunch, I talk about anything and everything that I can to lift their spirits. I purposefully missed more targets just so I could buy them lunch. I still feel bad about my careless words. I need to be more careful about what I say around them. Jae Kyung is a helpful distraction since Jun Pyo seems to enjoy harassing her. Plus they are also business partners since Jae Kyung started taking over more responsibilities for the JK Group.

"You still miss him don't you?" Yi Jung asks me quietly as Jun Pyo and Jae Kyung discuss a business contract.

"I do. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss him." I say honestly.

"You seem to be handling it better. How are you able to do it?"

"I remember how much he loves me, as cheesy as that sounds. He wouldn't want me to drown myself in grief."

"Ani. He wouldn't want that. Neither of them would." He says quietly and stares at his empty wine glass.

"You miss Woo Bin a lot don't you?" I ask.

"Yes I do. Especially since Min Jae was born but I realize just how much I miss Ji-Hoo too. Woo Bin and I were very close but Ji-Hoo and I… We had a disagreement once and I never fully forgave him for it. Our friendship was never the same after that. I deeply regret not talking to him about it."

"What was it about, if you don't mind me asking?"

"…Jun Pyo and Ji-Hoo both liked Jan Di when we were in high school. Did you know that?" he asked me. I shook my head in surprise.

"To make a very long story short, Ji-Hoo kissed Jan Di after Jun Pyo and her started officially dating. Trying to take a friend's girl isn't right in my book. Even though he made it up to Jun Pyo and helped them be together, I couldn't forgive him for it."

"Have you forgiven him? Or do you just regret not telling him that you forgive him?"

"…What?"

"I mean, if you have truly forgiven him then I understand your regret in not saying anything but if you simply wish you told him for your own piece of mind, then that's kind of pointless. You didn't say anything after all these years would it really make a difference?"

"It's scary sometimes how much you can be like him, you know that?" Yi Jung says with a chuckle but then looks at me seriously. "I forgave him a long time ago. I just wish I had told him that."

I smile at him and squeeze his arm. I wish I could do more. It will be such a shock to these two when Woo Bin and Ji-Hoo return. I don't know how they will take it. They will both be very hurt that they were not told about what is going on. I hope the friendship between the four of them survives this.

(^_^)

BOO KI'S POV:

Cartagena is amazing. I've always loved it here. We arrived yesterday and have had so much fun so far. True to his word, Alejandro has been the perfect gentleman and has been eager to listen to my insight on his new restaurant. The grand opening is tomorrow and I have been helping him with every little detail that I can. I'm very envious though. I wish I could be a part of it. To work at a restaurant here is like my dream job.

Tonight we are going to a club that Alejandro owns to celebrate and I secure the bracelet with my family's crest on it to my wrist. The likelihood that Alejandro knows what it means is near impossible. He wouldn't be involved with anyone like them. I just hope I can locate my contact tonight. I spent last night searching my old hangouts after Alejandro went to bed and didn't recognize anybody. I am running out of time.

Once we reach the club, we are escorted to a VIP booth with an amazing view. You can see every part of the club from here. It's an amazing place. Alejandro has amazing taste as always.

I absent-mindedly push my hair behind my ear and suddenly feel an iron grip on my wrist. Looking up, my heart starts to pound in alarm as I see Alejandro staring at the crest on my bracelet. His expression is hard as he slowly raises his gaze to meet mine and I feel regret as I see cold hatred in his eyes.

"…Who are you really 'Hong Se Na'?"