Chapter 1
The office door closed behind me and I walked over to the chair my manager was indicating. "Grab a seat Marley." Nodding as I sank into the closest one, frowning a little as I racked my brain for why I'd been called in, stiffly holding my shoulders still, I was confused. I always did my job well and efficiently and he didn't look angry so I couldn't imagine why I had just been called in for an impromptu meeting.
"We've just had a phone call, an assignment we'd like to put you on."
"Oh? Sounds interesting," I answered, relaxing a little in my seat. It didn't sound like I was in trouble.
"Yes, you have some hidden skills it seems and now they'll come in very useful."
"OK? What's this about Warren?"
"You can speak Korean? And we've been asked to send you along as a translator for a group that is arriving into the city in a few days. They are willing to pay a lot for you specifically."
My breath hitched before I cleared my throat because I knew, timing wise, what that meant. "Oh, well, I think I know who it might be then," I answered, heart thumping inside my chest at the thought of seeing them again, of seeing him again. As if I hadn't thought about him every day when I woke up and before I went to bed at night, googling to see what they were up to in the world outside my own little bubble.
"They have another translator with them who travels from Korea but there are times when they need to split into more than one group and although one of them speaks good English apparently, he will be busy working and they need someone else to take the load. Apparently you made an impression when they were here for the award ceremony and they want it to be you."
"Won't it interfere with my own work here," I asked, mind ticking over at all the things I had lined up to do in the next week, trying to push away the possibilities that could come with doing this, of breathing the same air as Jungkook again. Of maybe more.
"They are paying enough to more than compensate having someone take over your role in the meantime."
"How long is this assignment for," I asked, trying to sound mildly interested when inside I was fizzing with how out of the blue this was.
"They are in town for 3 weeks but haven't said if it's the whole time or not. I am going to assume it is."
I leaned back in my seat, crossed my leg and turned my head slightly in thought. Junkook had mentioned they would be coming back and I'd told him not to make any promises. It seems he hadn't forgotten me either. Pretending to think about it for a moment, my thoughts were locked on that night together, seeing it play out like a movie behind my eyes.
After a few moments, Warren grew impatient. "Well? I need to let them know today so we can get someone in to help with your job too."
"Starting in a few days you said?"
"Apparently the group arrives back in a few days so I need to find out all the details but I'm going to assume yes, you start Thursday."
Three days to think and plan. Three days to stress about whether it was a one time thing with no feelings attached and if it would be awkward. But if it was going to be awkward, they wouldn't have contacted me to be the translator, instead going with a proper agency. As to the one time thing part, time would tell and this was more than I thought might happen when I'd kissed him goodbye and walked away. I wasn't even sure he got the body scrub I'd left at the hotel for him.
"Sure, it would be good to hone more of my Korean language and I'm guessing, from a business point of view, a connection with them will be beneficial to the company," I finished, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Yes, that had crossed my mind," Warren said, resting his hands on the paperwork in front of him. "So, I can tell them yes?"
"OK, fill me in on when and where and what's required and I'll be there."
"I'm sure we'll have more information tomorrow and I'll email through anything that's relevant over the next few days."
Standing up, I nodded, feeling like I was still in a daze. I'd walked away from Jungkook that morning, reluctantly, and I hadn't thought that much about the comment he'd made saying they were coming back. Who was I kidding? I definitely had. But I knew it was probably just said in the moment so it didn't count. But here we were, 2 months later and whether it had anything to do with him, or staff or Namjoon recognising that I could help them, it didn't really matter. It was just another chance to see him again. I was feeling all sorts of butterflies and my mind was clouded with images of him. And me. And us. Images that could maybe come true again. And I was very, very distracted for the rest of the day.
The next few days were full of nerves and planning, research and thinking. I was nervous for the opportunity but really to see Jungkook again. Two months is a long time and it was just one night so really, it didn't mean anything. Apart from the fact it did mean something to me and they could've hired any translator for the job and definitely someone far more qualified then I was. So I lay in bed at night, after hours of watching BTS on youTube and thought about how I would feel if it was just a job and nothing more. And also how I would feel if Jungkook did want another night together. I knew I wouldn't turn it down but because I had thought about him every day since the last time, could my heart take a single night and another goodbye with no plans to see each other again? It would have to if I was realistic with myself. He was too famous and lived too far away for it to turn into anything else. And, last time had definitely been fun.
After work each day I booked a beauty treatment. Nails, hair, waxing; primping myself to be at my optimum, appearance wise. I could say it was all for me, for confidence that I was looking my best because when I did, I felt instantly better. But truthfully, it was mainly so he would see me and want to pick up where we left off.
I'd seen their arrival into the country, airport photos and videos posted online. They'd arrived the day before I was due to start working with them, no doubt getting over jet-lag before they started into their schedule. I'd been sent limited information and told I would get an outline of the schedule once I met up with everyone. For now, it was confidential to avoid it being leaked to the wrong people.
The night before I was due to start, I went to bed early, not wanting to turn up with dark circles under my eyes and I checked my alarm several times to make sure it was set to wake me up with ages to spare before setting three total so I had very little chance of sleeping through all of them. Because this was something I couldn't take for granted and I was more than a little thankful that I had a second chance to spend with them all.
I had to take a few moments outside the closed hotel room door, pressing my hand against my stomach as my nerves flared up. When I'd met them, I was in a familiar role and environment and I knew what I had to do. But I only knew a little of what I'd be doing the next few weeks and I felt like I might be a bit out of my depth, the normal confidence I tried to carry sliding away. And then there was Jungkook. That added a whole other dimension to why I was nervous.
Eventually I had to shake myself out of my fears, knocking lightly on the door and a staff member I recognised from last time smiled as they bowed and ushered me in as I bowed back. There seemed to be a big discussion going on in the corner where all the sofas were pushed together, band members squashed in and over all the available seats and chair arms. They were all engaged in whatever discussion they were having, leaning forward and it gave me a moment to look around the group, noting hair colour changes, hair style changes and Jungkook.
He was sprawled out with a pair of sweatpants on, baseball cap perched on his head and loose t-shirt topping it all off. He looked different to every situation I had seen him in last time, no performance clothes, suits or jeans anywhere in sight. But he looked relaxed, comfortable and divine. The 'boyfriend' look more than suited him. Looking down at the casual outfit I'd worn today, I felt the need to quickly adjust it one last time, smoothing the top where it was tucked into my jeans.
It was obvious when he noticed me, when they all did, the group going silent before I was greeted like an old friend, voices calling across the room, some bowing in my direction. Jungkook himself blinked slowly, a small smile appearing on his face before he tucked his lips together, hiding the look away and schooling his expression into an impassive one. Fair enough, I had no idea who in this room knew anything about what had happened with "us".
"Marley-ssi, we're so glad you said yes to helping us while we're here," Namjoon said coming over to shake my hand. Jimin took it one step further, leaning in for a side hug, smirking at Jungkook as he did. Jungkook just tipped his head to the side slightly from where he sat, fixing his eyes firmly on Jimin with a piercing look before he turned away, standing up to come over to me himself. As he drew close, the movement sent a wave over me, I could smell the scent of myself coming from his skin and I inhaled quickly, smothering the small noise that left my mouth as I realised. But he heard it.
"Yes, I use it everyday," he said quietly, taking my hand in his, giving it a small squeeze as he did, subtle, understated, not obvious. But the slight brush of his thumb back and forth across the back of my hand was enough for the sensations to linger. There were still some things unresolved between us. "It's good to see you Marley-ssi."
"Likewise Jungkook," I said demurely as I looked up at his eyes, trying not to remember them darkened and dilated as he hovered over me. Trying to stay professional, I gave him a look before dropping his hand and stepping slightly away.
"Welcome back to America," I said loud enough for my voice to drift over the room.
"It's good to be here," J-Hope said with a huge smile on his face. "I missed the pizza."
"I missed -," Taehyung began and I finished for him.
"- our Panda Express?" He looked surprised but I continued. "I've been doing research, for this job of course." I didn't say that I'd spent an hour each day for the last few months honing my Korean so that if I did ever have the chance to go back to Korea, who was I kidding – if I was ever to run into them again - I'd be more than ready.
"I was going to say I missed the people," Taehyung said, sounding somewhat salty but I could tell from his expression he was joking and I'd likely gotten it right the first time.
"So was I," Jungkook said from where he stood near me, his voice quiet but his implication there to be read into and I couldn't help doing that. I blushed.
"Well, I'm glad to see you all and everything seems to be even busier than a few months ago from what I've seen online." It would be foolish to pretend I hadn't been Googling them, anyone in my position would be doing that just to be prepared for working together. I was doing it for a whole other reason, or actually whole other person, standing near enough to touch but not accessible right now. Watching me too intently to be OK for my sanity. Was this even a good idea? I shook myself from my thoughts and tuned back into the chatter around me.
"Yes, we're already booking to come back in 6 months again. Sometimes we feel like we live on planes these days," Namjoon joked. "Come join us Marley-ssi, we're having a meeting about what we're going to be doing while we're here. You're staff now."
I heard the way he emphasised the word staff and I wondered if that was a warning. That he knew about what had happened between Jungkook and myself and was reminding us to stay professional. That was my intention. I was here to do a job after all. Being around Jungkook was just an added bonus. A fabulous bonus and maybe one I could take advantage of once I'd clocked out for the day and stopped being staff. We would see.
Zoning into the chat, I listened as we were talked through the day, senior staff, managers and Namjoon leading the talk. Today was actually an easy start with everyone at the same place for a photo-shoot and during that I would no doubt get an idea of what my days would be required to be. It sounded like in the next few days we would be broken up into three locations with Namjoon, Nicole (the other translator who had travelled from Korea) and I moving with a team of 2 members between the three places to make the time more efficient. I was nervously excited at all the new things I would be experiencing and for a moment, I didn't even feel the eyes burning into the side of my head. Until I could.
We were sitting clumped together although none of the males were touching me, cultural politeness meaning they were giving me space. But my side profile was facing Jungkook and twenty minutes into the meeting I realised I could feel the heat of being watched, glancing out the corner of my eyes to see he was looking my way more than he was listening to the talk. I knew from watching interviews online that he could stray sometimes, start moving and exercising mid conversation and so no-one seemed to be paying attention to what he was doing as he was being quiet. But I could tell it was me his eyes were aimed at and I was feeling self conscious. Did he like my hair like this? Were my lips looking full and kissable? And then I shook myself out of all my stupid thoughts because what was I doing? I was independent, confident and didn't need a man to tell me I was looking good to know I was. Sitting back and ignoring his stares, I focused on work.
The bathroom door clanged shut behind me as I came out, smoothing my hair back into place. It had been an easy morning, I kind of felt like I was just here today on the off chance I was needed during the photo-shoot we were about to head to but maybe other days would be busier once they split up across all the projects they were working on.
Nicole and I had chatted over lunch, she was beautiful, elegant and clearly there to do a job. Married with children she found their antics amusing and a little frustrating. I just found them cute, interactions constant as they bounced ideas off the other members amongst sitting on one another just to get a reaction or taking food off each others plates. The lunch had been a real eye opener as I watched them all, one more than others. Jungkook and I still hadn't had a chance to talk yet though although I'd caught him watching me closely a number of times. And each time my heart rate escalated and I felt my cheeks might be constantly a shade of pink.
As I rounded the corner of the corridor, heading back to the room we were meeting in today, I collided with a body, one that was familiar only because I could smell something that reminded me it was him. His cologne? Shampoo? Body wash? Why was I even analysing that when his hands were on me, steadying me so I didn't fall.
"In a hurry," he asked, stepping back from me a little, still too close for it to be sensible but not seeming like he was moving any further away. His hands fell from my hips and I willed them back.
"I think we're heading away in about fifteen minutes," I answered, looking up at him. Being that close, I couldn't help the flashes of moments we'd had together that were generated by looking at his eyes, none of them PG.
"Yes, soon," he replied, still looking at me before he grabbed my hand and pulled me into a small nook nearby, tucked away from all the eyes. "Finally."
"Finally?"
"Yeah, getting you alone was taking too long. I thought having you join us here would mean I could talk to you lots but I think we're going to have to take our moments."
"Oh, getting me here is your doing then? I'm not just here to work," I asked, raising an eyebrow and he blinked a few times, reaching for my hand.
"Do you want to just be here to work," he said softly, giving my hand a squeeze.
"Work, play, I'm here for all of it," I replied, sounding more relaxed than I felt in that moment.
"Play?"
"Unless you wanted it to just be work," I asked, clearing my throat and biting my lip in question.
"Not just work," he said, stepping more into my space.
"I very clearly remember these lips Marley," he said, running his thumb over my mouth, pulling my lip down and leaving his thumb resting there. I didn't think or hesitate, lightly sucked the tip inside, the heat enveloping it as I pulled it deep towards my throat. He hissed a little before a low chuckle slid between his teeth. "And I definitely remember that mouth."
"I remember all of you," I replied, as his thumb slid back out, hand coming to rest on my collarbone, gently stroking the skin, the wetness leaving a line across my shoulder.
"I'm very glad this worked out, I was very much hoping I'd see you again."
"Yeah," I breathed out in agreement but maybe it sounded like a question as he replied straight away.
"Yeah, since you left me that morning. It didn't feel like enough, like we weren't finished."
My heart escalated as he spoke. He sounded like he missed me, missed us. Or at least missed those steamy moments that were etched on my mind and body. I swallowed before opening my mouth to answer.
"I know what you mean," and his hand came up to rest on the apple of my cheek, touch gentle, intoxicatingly soft.
"Does that mean you missed me Marley," he asked, eyes flicking to my mouth as he leaned in towards me.
"I missed -," and a sound reverberated through the hallway, footsteps that caused his hand to fall from my face, stepping away from each other into what was likely an awkward looking, uncomfortable pose of feigned nonchalance.
"Ah, Marley-ssi, Jungkookie, we're loading up to leave shortly," Jimin said and grinned at us both, casting a wink Jungkook's way that I probably wasn't meant to see but who knew with Jimin. He seemed to flirt as naturally as he talked so he might not have been trying to hide it at all.
"Coming," I said with a smile, turning to follow after him.
"Not just yet," Jungkook breathed quietly behind me and I took a deep breath, involuntarily, feeling like these next few weeks were going to be exactly what I'd been hoping for.