Yen's POV
The door suddenly flies open, making me jump off my seat. I am checking some documents that have given me a headache for hours. And this sudden intrusion gets under my nerves. So I look up and prepare to rant, only to see my best friend stepping into my office like a princess in distress.
Ever since Kim removed me from the managerial position, I feel I have lost my freedom. He has appointed me instead as his executive assistant, making me tail wherever he is. I don’t feel bad at this because I understand his intention, and that is to tie me up to him on whatever projects, transactions, or functions we are engaging in. However, this also secures our relationship because I am with him all the time.
Being the highly-respected CEO and the highest shareholder of the company, Kim has treated me not just as his equal but the queen of the company. As a result, my decisions are often the company’s laws, and my words are his rules.
“Ara?!”
“I’m sorry, First Lady, but I can’t take this anymore.” She slumps down into the couch inside my office, closing her eyes and tossing back her head on the backrest.
I stand up from my swivel chair and sit beside her. “What’s wrong? You should be in the office at this hour, don’t you think?”
“I should, but something is bothering me. I can’t focus.”
“Coffee?”
“Please.”
I dial some numbers into the intercom, asking my secretary to bring me two cups of coffee. Ara looks so exhausted, and a boost of caffeine might help. But before I even go back to Ara’s side, the door opens again, and I see Kim leaning on the door frame. He moves his gaze between Ara and me, and then his lips break into an amused smile.
“Girl problem,” he winks at me.
“Perhaps.” I shrug.
Kim walks up to me and places his arms around my waist. I also throw my arms around his neck.
“Looks like you’re going to have another pile of burdens.”
I chuckle and glance at Ara. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“If you can’t, you have me.”
“Thank you.”
He responds by bending his head and sealing his mouth over mine. He kisses me so deeply that I already feel uncomfortable knowing that Ara is there.
“Enough. We have an audience,” I tell Kim, pushing him away.
“Nah, go ahead. I can even go out if you want to finish it,” Ara suddenly butts in.
Kim chuckles and looks at Ara. “As much as I want it, but I’m generous. I’m willing to share her for now.”
“Thanks. Now, mark your word and go away!”
I giggle at Ara’s boldness to talk to Kim that way. People shiver at his presence, but Ara treats him like he’s just a low-ranked employee.
“Ouch! I’m being shooed away. See you at lunch, my love!” Kim pecks on my lips again before he spins around and leaves.
“Ugh! You’re so gross. Are you always making out in front of your subordinates?” Ara grumbles, then roll her eyes at me.
“Whenever he feels like it,” I tell her honestly.
Since Zed has come back, Kim has changed. He becomes more romantic and clingier. He makes me feel desired all the time, that he often can’t wait to get us home. The walls of the office and its furniture are the witnesses of our intense lovemaking, of my moans and screams.
Before Ara can retort, a knock on the door disrupts us.
“Come in,” I say, still laughing about Ara’s grumbling. And my secretary comes in with a tray of steaming coffee.
As soon as the secretary leaves, I sit beside Ara and hand her the cream and sugar box. She immediately tears two sachets of both, then looks at me as she stirs the cup.
“I promise Ella to keep this a secret, but Zed is too stubborn. I can’t bear the burden alone anymore,” she begins. My heartbeats also spike higher at the mention of Zed’s name.
“What’s happening?”
“Zed is in danger. Ella is expecting that once Jamella starts operating, James will send his men to avenge him.”
My heart immediately shoots a rapid succession of crazy heartbeats, choking me instantly.
“What are you talking about? How does Ella come into the picture?” I ask, fighting against my shallow breaths.
I pick my cup of steaming coffee and take a sip. Maybe, the caffeine it contains will open up my airways.
“Ella happens to be James’ fiancée. And James has recently learned that Zed participated in the investigation team that pushed him to jail. In Japan, if you rape a woman, your chances of being arrested are very low, and the odds of being prosecuted is as a flip of the coin—slightly weighted toward no prosecution. And even if you’re found guilty, there’s a good chance you may never spend a day in jail if you say you’re sorry and pay damages. But Zed’s team dig up his dirt that if found guilty of those other charges, he may end up hanged.”
What Ara reveals sends shivers to my spine. The sense of guilt that I have almost forgotten is now relived. If it were not because of my dissociative amnesia, I would have suffered an incredible depth of shame and depression now. But thankfully, I woke up being loved and protected.
“So, how’s Ella and Zed now?”
“They canceled the engagement, of course. Do you think James will allow her to marry the man he curses with a life worse than death?”
“So, how are you supposed to help him?”
“To convince him to hide while James’ cases are still brewing. The charges against him are too heavy to prove because they all link to his connection to one of the mightiest Yakuza groups.”
Everything becomes clear to me now. James has delayed his revenge until Ella’s collaboration with Kim Yuan gets stabilized. If proven, James is not losing his dignity only, but lots of his financial means. So he can only cling to Ella. And If he strikes before that happens, I have all the power to end the partnership just because Zed is not just Ella’s boyfriend but my ex-husband.
Ara leaves with a promise that I will take over. She knows I can’t ignore the situation that Zed is in now. Just because I am forever indebted to Zed, even if I may have moved on already.
Kim returns at lunch just as he promised. And with just a glance, he knows I am bothered. So he walks to my side and gathers me in his arms.
“I guess we just have to order something for lunch,” he says.
“I like that.”
“But tell me what’s bothering you. I guess it has something to do with Ara.”
Instead, I pick up the phone and ask my secretary to order something for our lunch. Kim also waits patiently like he understands ahead the weight of my burden. When I put down the phone, I tell him everything Ara has confided to me. But to my surprise, he doesn’t look shocked as I am.
“Do you want me to arrange for his escape?”
I nod, not wanting to suggest anything. But I’m glad he knows what I want.
“Aren’t you mad at me?” I ask. I also feel guilty that he knows how affected I still am.
“Why would I? My heart is not made of steel, Jakara.”
“But Zed is- “
“I know.”
“Shall we cancel our collaboration with Ella?” I know I don’t have to ask that. Ella’s connection to us poses immense harm and danger, not just to our image but the company’s reputation, as well.
“No. The child is innocent.” I look at Kim, wondering if I’m talking to a ghost.