Gods, it was hot in here.
Shin sipped his beer, and touched the bottle to his temple. Min glanced at him then and smiled. A seductive smile, his gaze inviting, Min beckoned him closer.
Shin obliged, as his hand moved to touch Min’s moving hips, he vaguely wondered what that dog, Young Jae would say if he were to see Min like this.
***
Chapter Two
Min stood up and the ground started coming at him fast. Reaching out to grab on to Shin’s jacket he closed his eyes and opened them again. Thankfully, the ground was right where it was supposed to be. He turned to Shin and grinned.
“I think I’m drunk.”
“No kidding,” Shin chuckled, glancing around the dark street.
They still had a few blocks to go before they got to his house. Since they had all gotten tipsy, they’d taken a taxi and stopped at a coffee shop for caffeine to help them sober up. Min had drunk the most; he was barely half way to sober.
“You can’t hold your liquor. This is what happens when we let you loose in a club with free booze.”
“It’s not that bad.” Min let go of Shin’s jacket to show him he could walk just fine, but the world spun. He bent over his hands braced on his knees. “It’s not my fault the earth keeps moving. Make it stop, Shin.”
“You are an impossible drunk.” Shin took his right hand and crouched in front of him. “Get on.”
“Get on where?” Min asked his arm held over Shin’s right shoulder. He blinked as he stared at Shin’s back. “Oh, are you going to give me a piggy ride? Can you even handle it? I’m very heavy.”
“Come on, Min. Jihu and Kaori are already at the house. We’ve been on this road for twenty minutes.”
Min chuckled and wrapped his arms around Shin’s neck. He pressed his chest to Shin’s back his movements wobbly and unsure. He smiled when Shin stood up with him on his back. Resting his chin on Shin’s shoulder, he breathed in Shin’s scent.
“You’re very warm, Shin.”
“And you’re very wasted.” Shin set a steady pace, and in ten minutes, they were walking up the short drive to Shin’s building. “Do you feel like you’re going to get sick? You had better warn me, so I put you down.”
“I wouldn’t do that to you.” Min closed his eyes as Shin reached for the gate to the compound and pulled it open. They walked up to the front door and Shin put in his code on the lock. When it clicked open, they entered the quiet foyer.
“We need to get you more coffee.” Shin dropped him gently onto a bench in the corridor.
Smelling his shirt, Min sighed at the scent of beer that spilt on him while he danced. Leaning back on the wall, he watched Shin pull of his jacket and hang it in the closet.
Min didn’t want coffee. He’d already had enough to drink. He was about to state just that when Kaori’s angry voice reached him. Frowning, he looked toward the living room.
“Why are they fighting?” He moved to stand up but Shin intercepted him.
“Let’s go to the kitchen. I’ll make you coffee.”
Shrugging Shin’s hand off his shoulder, Min started for the living room. “It’s probably Jihu pissing her off. Come on, we have to stop them from fighting, hyung.” (Big brother)
“Min,” Shin started to protest but he wouldn’t hear of it.
Min used the wall to steady his steps to the living room. The closer he got the clearer Kaori and Jihu’s voice came to him.
“Min, it’s not our business, it’s probably Jihu trying to get with Kaori again.”
“They are our friends, Shin.” Min started to hurry into the living room until Kaori spoke and her words stopped him at the door.
“We should tell Min. This is going to affect him too. This acting like everything is fine for two days is not helping. I can’t take it.”
“It’s better this way. He counts on us to distress. We should at least be able to give him tonight without spoiling things.” Jihu’s tone was pleading.
“It’s mean. Min deserves better,” Kaori declared.
Min walked into the room and glared at the two facing off a couch between them.
“Why do I deserve better?”
Jihu glanced up in surprise, his gaze narrowing and focusing on Shin behind him.
“You can’t warn us?” Jihu asked Shin.
“He heard you arguing.” Shin dropped onto the nearest couch.
“Min,” Kaori said, taking a step toward him.
“Tell me what’s going on,” Min said. He’d been sensing something all night, but he couldn’t figure out what was making Kaori so worried.
“We’re leaving.” Kaori said, her tone so low, he barely heard her.
“Leaving?” Min asked puzzled. “You’re not staying over? Is that what this is about?”
“Not leaving Shin’s house, we’re going abroad, Min.” Kaori clarified. “We’ll all be gone for a year and a half, give, or take a few months.”
Min stared at her feeling like an idiot. He didn’t know whether to smile or cry. These three were his friends. The only people he trusted in the world. Without them—
Min took a step back, and then turned away from them. What was he going to do? He wiped a hand down his face and took in a deep breath.
“Uhm…” Even questions were hard to formulate. Walking to a stool, he sat on it for balance.
“Say something,” Jihu demanded coming to crouch beside him an arm on his shoulder. “Min, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to tell you like this. I thought it should be tomorrow at lunch when we’re all sober.”
“It’s better this way.” Min met Jihu’s concerned gaze and faked a smile. “Where are you going?”
“I’m going for an engineering exchange program in London.” Jihu nodded to Kaori. “Her mother is taking her to Tokyo. They are launching a boutique there and Shin—
“Shin was awarded a contract by Vodacom.” Min finished for Jihu. “I heard it through my father, but I didn’t think you would have to leave Seoul. You’re going to Switzerland.”
“I need to for the first year,” Shin said.
“That’s why you called me yesterday.” Min sighed understanding their reasoning. It was good to meet before they left. “I’m happy for you. All of you, this is good news for all of you.”
Kaori stared at him for a moment. “Min, you don’t have to act like its good news. I know this is hard—
Min shook his head. “It’s not hard. You deserve so much more. I’m really happy for all of you.”
Standing up, Min hugged Jihu and moved to hug Kaori. Pressing a kiss on her cheek, he wiped the tears on her cheeks.
“It’s not like we won’t call each other,” he soothed.
Letting her go, he turned to Shin. “You should have told me earlier. We would have opened a champagne bottle and celebrated. That contract is worth a lot of money. Your company is set, Shin.”
“I didn’t want to brag.” Shin laughed and stood up. “Besides, I’ve yet to win you in net worth. Bragging rights will only happen when I’ve bested you, Jun Min Ho.”
Min was about to hug Shin when the doorbell rang. Shin frowned and left the living room to go open the door.
Kaori came to stand beside Min, her hand slipping around his waist. “I know what you’re doing. I’m not stupid.”
“What is that, Kaori?” Min smiled at her but the smile froze when he saw Young Jae enter the living room. Kaori gasped beside him.
“Let’s go.” Young Jae ordered.
Two bodyguards in black suits stalked toward Min. Kaori held on tightly to his waist as the men stopped right before him. One of them reached to grab his arm and he gave the gesture a warning glance.
“This is Shin’s house. Can’t you show some respect, Young Jae?” Min demanded glaring at the two suits.
“You show some respect first.” Young Jae stood with his hands at his hips. “Please don’t make this any harder than it needs
to be.”
“Leave my house,” Shin said running into the living room. He looked flustered, like he’d just been arguing. Shin ignored Min’s concerned gaze and glared at Young Jae. “You can’t budge in here like you own the place.”
“Don’t get me started,” Young Jae said. “Min, come on. If you don’t want your friend here to get hurt, you know the drill.”
Min really hated Young Jae at that moment. His disgust for the man threatened to choke him. Shin had his hands clenched in fists. One more word from Young Jae was probably going to trigger him.
“Don’t,” Kaori started, when she felt him shift. “We can bargain with him. This is the only time we’ll be together like this. Jihu and Shin are leaving on Monday.”
“Move it, Min. I still have work to do. Your father is landing at six in the morning.” Young Jae glanced at his watch. “That’s three hours from now. Stop playing around.”
“You can’t talk to him that way.” Jihu shook a fist at Young Jae. “Seriously, have you lost your mind? Who do you think you are?”
“Jihu, stop,” Min said. “I’ll leave with him. You guys need to sleep.”
“Min,” Kaori said holding him in panic. “We won’t see you after this.”
“It will be fine.” Hugging her, Min held her tight for a moment before he let go. “If you run into problems call me.”
“I will.” She let go of him and Min turned to Jihu. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“I’m a bit wilder than you, Jun Min Ho.” Jihu patted his back when they hugged. “I’ll come back to beat that chaebol (heir) shine off you. I wouldn’t want it to settle.”
Min laughed. “I’ll expect it.”
Young Jae glared at him as he walked toward him.
Ignoring the bastard, Min turned to Shin. Taking Shin’s fisted right hand in his, he took him out of the living room. He found a private alcove just off the main corridor. Min wrapped his arms around Shin and pressed a kiss on Shin’s soft lips. It was a light kiss, one meant to soothe instead of arouse.
They had a lot of history between them. He remembered the time they’d dated. A long time ago, it felt like ancient history, but kissing Shin now, it felt like yesterday. His heart surged with nostalgia.
Shin pulled away first, breathing hard his hands sliding up Min’s back pulling him closer.
Shin sighed and held him close. “I wanted to tell you myself, but it felt too hard. I worry about you, Min, even when I shouldn’t.”
“I think that has always been the biggest problem between us.” Min met Shin’s gaze. “I love you, hyung. That will never change.”
“I love you too.” Shin kissed his forehead. “I don’t like how Young Jae looks at you. Find a decent boyfriend, already.”
“I used to have one.” Min smiled. “He ended up becoming my best friend.”
“Well, your best friend is telling you to find a nice guy to love you more than me.” Shin brushed his fingers through Min’s hair. “Be good, Min. I’ll email you everyday.”
Min smiled and nodded. Pulling away from Shin, he stopped him when he started to follow.
“Don’t,” Min said, “stay. You and Young Jae fighting is something I’d rather not see. Goodbye, Shin, I hope you find what you’re looking for in Switzerland.”
“Min,” Shin said quietly.
Ignoring the soft call, he hurried out of the alcove almost running into Young Jae. When the man reached out to steady him, Min slapped his hand away and headed for the front door on his own steam. Outside, he found three men waiting for him. He let them lead him to the black SUV in the parking lot.
Once he was in the backseat, he sat back and held on to the pain. When Young Jae slid in beside him, he’d recovered his composure.
“You’re a pain in the ass,” Young Jae accused. “I’ll be sure to have a talk with your father tomorrow morning.”
“Who’s stopping you?” Min asked.
It really was confusing.
How could he love three people so much, with his heart, and hate another as much with the same heart. No wonder his chest hurt.
***
Chapter Three
“You have to stop being so irresponsible, Min.”
His father threw the morning papers at him on the breakfast table. Min stared at the front-page pictures. A picture of Shin carrying him with the caption, ‘Assemblyman’s son too drunk to walk’, graced the front page.
“I can’t believe you haven’t outgrown this.”
Min had learned at an early age never to respond to his father when he was angry. Judging from the glaring eyes and the fact that Jun Kang was on his second plate of eggs, his father was beyond angry.
“You’re just like your mother. I knew it was going to show up sometime, but this is too much. Why would you do this at such a critical time?”
“It is always a critical time.”
Min sipped his fourth cup of coffee. He couldn’t even look at food right now. He was running on two hours of sleep. Young Jae had taken a sick kind pleasure in waking him up the moment his father arrived. Now they both sat at the dining table watching his father eat.
Glancing at Young Jae, Min shook his head when he found the other man typing furiously into his laptop. Young Jae’s concentration barely disturbed by his father’s ranting.
“You’re the heir apparent of Hanje group. Being president of Hanje group is not easy, Min. Your reputation is important to the stability of the group. We can’t have you running around drunk.”
“It was one night.” Min pointed out tired of being the victim here. “Shin is my best friend, has been forever. You know that. I was perfectly capable of making decisions.”
“The point is that it’s on the front page. I don’t care if it’s Shin, Jihu, or Kaori. If you’re on the front page being accused of doing something suspicious, it’s a problem.”
His father stabbed eggs with his fork and took a big bite.
Min looked away from the sight, his stomach protesting the thought of food. There was no winning this fight. He didn’t have the will power to do it.
“What do you want me to do to fix it?” Min asked staring into his coffee.
Min hoped for an assignment that would last a year and a half. Sipping the dark liquid in his cup, he wished his father would send him away to one of their subsidiaries in some small country somewhere.
“I’m going to have you vetted.” Jun Kang declared with a flourish, his fork suspended midair as he nodded his head with satisfaction. “I’ve had enough of the questions I keep getting from the board. Your uncle is trying to have you found incompetent because he wants me to have his son take over as C.E.O. I won’t have it.”
“Vetted?” Min asked in shock.
Fear was a small emotion compared to what gripped him. He wished for fear instead of the ice block settling in his body right now. It was too soon. It wasn’t time yet.
“Father, you’re the head of Hanje Group. I don’t want to take over.”
“You’re my son.” Kang pointed to the papers and narrowed his gaze at Min. “You’re becoming easy prey for my brother. These reports are going to tarnish your reputation, and once you take over, no one will take you seriously. We need to make you strong.”
“You promised you wouldn’t do this when you decided to run for office.” Min reminded his father. They’d had this argument before. “You promised me, father.
“It’s time for new blood at Hanje Group.” Kang turned to Young Jae. “Young Jae, this son of mine needs to be well versed on every business under the Hanje umbrella. All sixty-five of them, you have two months.”
“Father,” Min gasped.
His father was losing his mind. Running through the multitude of companies in his head, Min could feel his stress levels already rising.
“Is there something else happening besides a gritty black and white photo in the newspaper?” Min
asked.
“Do as I say, Min. Don’t give Young Jae a hard time and work hard. You start on Monday. You’ll attend all meetings regarding the group in my stead. I think you should start with the resorts in Jeju Island.”
Min frowned when he saw Young Jae studying him with a curious expression. It bordered on elation, probably gloating. Those dark chocolate eyes were challenging him. Young Jae thought he couldn’t do it. Well, damn.
“I’ll leave this afternoon,” Min said taking up the challenge. Standing up, Min left his cup of coffee on the table.
“This is for the good of the company,” Kang said after him.
No, it was for the good of the Jun family reputation, Min thought as he headed up the stairs to his rooms.
***
“Aren’t your friends coming to say goodbye to you?” Young Jae asked when they were at the airport that afternoon. “Shin is always so eager.”
“They are getting ready to leave Seoul. You know that, Young Jae. Don’t pretend you don’t.”
Min glared at Young Jae before he adjusted the dark shades resting on his nose, and looked around the quiet lounge. His headache still lingered, his eyes were gritty from lack of sleep. The moment they landed in Jeju, he’d head straight to his hotel room and pass out until Monday morning.
“There is no need to be nervous.” Young Jae came to stand beside him. “You’ll be fine as long as you do what I tell you.”
“I don’t need advice from you. How do I know you didn’t send those photographs to the papers? The security team knows where Shin lives. They are the only ones who knew where I might have been. You appeared at the house right after we arrived.”
“Are you accusing me of such an underhanded thing?”
“I don’t trust you the way my father does.” Min ignored Young Jae’s indignant tone. “You’re probably working for my uncle.”
Young Jae cursed under his breath and stared out the windows. “Think what you want, Min. But we both have something to lose here.”
“What is that?” Min nodded to the empty lounge. “If you mean this position my father has forced on me, I could care less. I might even be grateful if I lost it.”
“I’ll remind you of that statement in the future,” Young Jae warned, then stalked out of the lounge.
Min could only stare after him puzzled by the statement. With his right hand, he rubbed at his left temple and wished for sleep.