Chapter Text
A diplomatic marriage.
That is where Soobin found himself. It wasn’t his choice in the first place, not that he ever gets a say in anything. All his life, everything has been decided for him. Right from his name to the degree he has to attain. And now the person he has to marry, or perhaps, has married three hours ago.
The sheets feel unfamiliar on his skin and the room doesn’t give the same comfort as his room did, although it is in the same mansion. He’s still at home, if he could ever call this monstrosity of a construction his home.
He was born and raised here at this mansion, the Choi’s mansion that occupies more acres of land than required. If his grandfather wasn’t that greedy, it would have served as home to many.
Now, the mansion is even too big for his joint family and the numerous other structures built inside the compound doesn’t make much change to the vastness of the land. There’s a gym, another two condos, a large pond, a golf course, and a garden that stretches to the grand gate. The exact characteristics that define a conglomerate.
It wasn’t his choice to be born in the Choi family as well, to be the only son of the current chairman of Choi Corps, the multinational company that has taken over the 21st century on a whim. Although it’s nice to have no financial worry, the lack of emotion and care in the family made him swear to never be like them.
“I hope you know I didn’t really agree to be in this marriage.” This is the first thing he says when his supposed husband enters the room.
It is one of the biggest rooms in the mansion, allotted to him on his personal request. He doesn’t want to go through the trouble of sleeping in the same bed with someone he doesn’t know and hence two beds. The people in the family hadn’t said anything about his demands as long as he got married.
Afterall, this marriage brings in a lot for them.
His husband, another Choi, a chaebol’s son like him, doesn’t even spare him a glance at what he said and heads straight for the other bed.
What did he even expect from a rich kid? Even his silky night suit screams unapproachable.
Still, he proceeds.
“Just to make things clear, I see this marriage only as a tool for the two companies to benefit from each other and nothing else.”
There is no reply from the lump of body on the bed across from him. He has his back to Soobin meanwhile facing the wide window looking out into the garden.
Soobin tugs on the lamp on the table between the two beds and turns it off.
“Goodnight, Beomgyu.”
The next morning, he wakes up to an empty room. The other bed is neatly made and the curtains are drawn, letting the bright sunlight into the room. It makes the shades of brown a little lighter.
When he walks down after getting dressed, he finds the entire family at the breakfast table, all poised. They have their breakfast at the exact same time everyday, 7 sharp, courtesy of his punctual father. It’s just that he so happens to be a minute late today.
He slides into the only empty chair at the table, right beside Beomgyu and starts eating. No one opens their mouth for purposes other than eating, the clinking of the cutleries on the utensils being the only sound echoing in the mansion.
Towards the end of the breakfast, Soobin’s father clears his throat to get everyone’s attention. He seems to be in an undoubtedly good mood today judging from the small smile on his face. The shares he has gained from Hanguk Tech yesterday through the marriage must have played a major role.
“Welcome to the family, Beomgyu. I’m grateful to have you as my son in law.” He says and every face on the table offers smiles that are everything but genuine, including himself.
More like, I’m happy to get the shares as a part of the deal I made with your father .
He knows what it actually means and he’s sure Beomgyu gets it too but the latter doesn’t show, instead conceals with a polite smile, almost bashful. Looks like Choi Beomgyu is a better actor than him.
The family congratulates them one by one after the breakfast before leaving for their condos. He and Beomgyu break their backs from bowing so frequently. Not only that, his cheeks hurt from how forced his smile is. He peeks over to his side where Beomgyu stands, dressed in a sleek, black turtleneck and black pants, like he is at a funeral.
It does feel like a funeral. No one is truly happy for them despite what they show on the outside. They’re after the shares of the company only. Emotions are a rare entity in this household.
Maybe except for his mom. She is the strongest person Soobin knows and she is the only good that he has been blessed with. Growing up, he has seen her cry and hold out even in the toughest time. Bound in a loveless marriage with his father took a toll on her.
He doesn’t want to live like his mother. Soobin wants to love freely, to find someone for himself and marry the person his heart takes him to. But looks like he has to leave it as a thought.
With her wrinkly hands, she takes both his and Beomgyu’s and looks at them with the most sincere gleam in her eyes.
“I’m so happy for you, Soobin,” she tells him and then looks over to Beomgyu, “that you got a handsome, good young man as your husband.”
Soobin smiles. For the first time, he lies to his mother. He has never seen her this happy. If this marriage is the cause of that priceless look on her, Soobin is willing to lie.
“Thank you, Mom.” He hopes his mother buys it but he doesn’t have to worry for the woman has her eyes fixed on the man beside him, already dragging him along with the excuse of showing the new member of the family around the house.
He finally lets his shoulder slouch, watching the two leave for the other wing and massages his shoulder to the best he can. He has to head to the headquarters soon and sign the drafts that have piled up.
Just as he turns around, his secretary walks in through the main door, already in his suit and a planner in his hand.
“You have a long day, hyung,” Kang Taehyun says, flipping through the thick pages of his planner and Soobin could only sigh.
At the end of the day, no matter how much he hates it, he’s the next in line to be in charge of Choi Corps who has to go through the same routine of waking up, heading to work, signing papers and dealing with stingy investors.
The part he dreads the most is the nightly report he has to give to his father in his study. Choi Sangwoo would not change his expression as he listens but Soobin knows the various ways the old man is calling him incompetent.
Growing up in a powerful family, Soobin was taught to be perfect in every field.
“No one will follow a weakling’s order.” His father would always say.
Now, although he has learnt so many subjects and activities, he knows he won’t get to be the mighty image his father wants him to be. Choi Sangwoo wants someone that shares the same principles as him to be his successor and Soobin is not that in so many ways.
Everyone in the family knows what the Choi Corps chairman thinks of his son, even if it’s just by an inkling. Hence, Soobin’s uncle, Choi Bungchi and his wife, Jang Suju have been after the chairman position, sensing a possibility that Choi Sangwon would not pass down the company to his son.
Soobin would have let his uncle get his way and stepped down from the fight for the company if it wasn’t for his pride and the various hardships he had gone through to reach this point in his life. He has never wanted to be like his father. But he was trained to be the next successor of Choi Corps right from when he said his first word.
The old man’s lips are downturned and the glasses at his nose bridge are hanging by a thread. As always, he doesn’t look impressed with what Soobin is telling him. He has grown used to it, but it hurts him still.
“Try to meet Paradise’s majority shareholder tomorrow and see if there’s any chance for us to buy their departmental branch without encountering any loss,” the old man instructs him, eyes still glued to the files he’s going through.
He could only hang his head low and bow down with his hands tied to his front. He feels pathetic every time he stands in this room, suffocated and small. He has to suck it up and act like he enjoys it, or rather pretend he is at least diligent in executing his duty. But he doubts his father sees through it all.
“Then Father, have a good night,” he bows down once more and turns to leave. The sooner he gets out of the room, the longer he’ll live.
“Soobin,” before he can reach the door, the old man stops him, “treat the son of Hanguk’s Tech properly. We can’t afford to lose him at this crucial moment.”
Rage dawns on Soobin as his jaw clenches and unclenches. He may not be entirely in with the idea of marriage but he still has some humanity left in him. But as always, he has to swallow them and mutter the same automatic response.
“Yes, Father.”
When he enters their room, he finds Beomgyu sitting in front of the small vanity they have, blow drying his hair. It is no different from yesterday; his presence doesn’t get acknowledged. He hopes it stays this way always. It’d make him feel less of an asshole if the feeling is mutual.
He slips off his house slippers and hops onto the bed, discarding the papers he has been holding onto the bedside table. The day has been draining for him and the pretentious smiles he had to put out throughout it has exhausted him.
His eyelids feel heavy and they have been down for only a minute when he hears the shuffle of slippers and a soft thud. Shaking off the drowsiness, he looks up to find Beomgyu standing by his bedside and with the looks of it, the latter wants to get things done fast.
“These are papers you need to sign regarding the deal,” he deadpans, face shadowed, “Dad sent it to me this morning and he expects the signed ones to be at his by tomorrow.”
As far as he can remember, this has to be the first time Beomgyu is directly addressing him or more so, spoken to him ever since the ‘I do’ at their wedding. And the second time someone has spoken in this room since he did last night.
“I’ll make sure to go through them tomorrow morning,” he dismisses with an unenthusiastic nod and half expects Beomgyu to frown at him or tell him to do it now .
But the younger simply climbs onto his bed, wrapping himself in the white covers and faces the window again.
A big sigh leaves him and Soobin can’t say he’s happy with how things are although this is what he prefers. It’s not pleasant to co-habitat with someone who gives you the hardcore silent treatment.
Yet it can be true that he likes to be alone and hates to socialise of any kind, this situation is none like that. The room is full of negative energy and it’s stressing him out with Beomgyu walking around with an invisible heavy and thundering cloud above his head.
Lying in the cold bed even as the lonely night approaches, he wonders just how long he has to endure this. Till when will the alliance with Hanguk Tech be in force? Will he have to be bound in this marriage for the entire of his twenties? When is the day when he’d be signing the divorce papers and not the company deals?
He turns his head and glances at the still lump of body, the moonlight kissing every part of it. He also wonders if Beomgyu laments whoever made him marry into this household just like him.
***
He had not agreed. Beomgyu had lashed out and cried, even went on his knees and begged. And all he got in response were the crestfallen looks on his parents’ face telling him that there was no other choice.
“I’m sorry, my son,” hundreds of apologies came from his father’s mouth as he held his hands tight. It broke his heart into a million pieces seeing his father whom he looked up to doing so much as pleading with his own son. All for money and fame.
Eventually, he stood in the aisle, slipped a ring on someone else’s son and watched his family leave him in the unfamiliar house. What could he do? Beomgyu was blessed with the softest heart and it was torture for him to see even a single tear on his loved ones’ faces.
“Be very alert, Beomie,” his mom had pulled him aside right before she left, “this place is full of hungry animals. You have to survive by any means.”
At that time, he had thought how bad it could be, that his mother’s worry was useless. He is a grown and educated man, he could protect himself.
However, as he meets the only daughter of the Choi family, his aunt-in- law who has come with the excuse of congratulating on his marriage, he gets it. They are monsters, ready to rip anyone’s throat to gain even a shilling.
“I heard your father’s company is not doing so well.” It is the first thing the woman says to him and Beomgyu has to bite on his tongue.
They are sitting over tea served in expensive china, the flowery scent from the diffuser hallucinating them into thinking that they are in a luscious field and not this battleground disguised as a ‘home’.
“So Hee, don’t be so rude,” Soobin’s mom chides his sister-in-law.
It’s only the three of them today, other than the house-helpers. Everyone else has gone to work and it leaves only Beomgyu to entertain Mrs. Choi during the day until he resumes his as well.
Now, the unwanted guest has ruined the remainder of his day. Nonetheless, he smiles and nods, taking to his method of dealing with people like her.
“Aunt is not wrong, Mother,” he says to his mother-in-law, putting on an overly sweet smile, “I guess all is not bad about Hanguk Tech’s shares declining; it brought me here after all.”
By the apologetic smile his mother-in-law offers him, he has gotten his message across- that he is not married by his own accord, that he hates being here.
The aunt doesn’t seem to get the memo, or maybe she does actually but is acting like she doesn’t. Either way, it doesn’t please Beomgyu.
“You can ask your father to sell it to us anytime,” she says boastfully, crossing her legs, “I don’t know about my brothers but I can definitely buy it with the shares I have.”
“Choi So Hee!” Mrs. Choi shrieks and fixes her sharp glare on her sister-in-law, “you’re going too far.”
Beomgyu looks down at his lap to hide the chuckle he lets out in disbelief. If this is how they play the game, then he has to level himself up. He wraps his hand around his mother-in-law’s clenched fist telling her to not get so worked up on his behalf.
“I don’t think that’d be required, Aunt,” he states with a tight lipped smile, “my husband has taken care of everything.”
My husband, he snorts in his mind. The words feel bitter on his tongue but he’s an outsider in this household and Soobin is the only tool he has as of now. He has to use his name despite how much he dislikes it.
So Hee looks unimpressed, raising her brows and nodding in mockery, “It’s amazing how much trust you put on Soobin. Well, I hope he doesn’t disappoint you.”
Before Mrs. Choi could reprimand the aunt for insulting his son right in front of her, Beomgyu interjects and stops stuff from getting worse
“I think you should leave, Aunt. I doubt a successful woman like you isn’t busy,” he offers, hoping he looks arrogant enough to make it clear that he doesn’t like her presence.
To his happiness, the woman doesn’t prolong her stay further, simply picking up her bag and heads for the door, “Tell my brothers that their only sister was here.”
As if they’d be happy to hear that.
When he tries to excuse himself after the uninvited guest has left, Mrs. Choi stops him with a pitiful expression on her face. If there’s one person who isn’t indifferent to Beomgyu in the household, it has to be his mother-in-law. And he might have a slight idea of why it could be.
“Beomgyu dear,” she says with a soft voice, “please don’t mind my son, hm? If he bothers you, I’m always here for you to complain.”
If they’re talking about complaining, Beomgyu has a lot. But he feels like he isn’t in the place to do so when he and his husband haven't exchanged more than ten words since they have met and they’re married. That tells a lot, doesn’t it?
“I will, Mother,” he says, trying to sound as convincing as possible.
He doesn’t see Soobin for the rest of the day. It may have been 1 in the morning when he hears the door to their bedroom click and then a sigh. That particular sound seems to be Soobin’s favourite.
But instead of his usual routine of going into the shower and freshening himself up, Soobin has flung off his shoes on the floor haphazardly and plopped on the bed. Beomgyu doesn’t have to turn around to know that.
When he actually does face the other side, Soobin is sprawled horizontally on the bed, still in his suit and tie, his socks-cladded feet hanging off the bed. The bag he had taken to work lies beside one of his shoes on the floor. He is clearly drunk-dead.
It’s his third night with the man and Beomgyu is already perplexed. Is this how it's always going to be? Another reason to add on his list of ‘why this marriage is a punishment for him’.
A frown automatically makes its way up to his face the longer he stares at the man in the bed across his. On top of that, there’s a burn in his chest similar to a heartburn from how much he’s angered.
The clock shows 2 am and he doesn’t realise he’s been cursing Soobin who is sound asleep with his eyes for an hour. Eventually, he does get up from his bed, still angry. But Beomgyu is not heartless. He knows it must be uncomfortable for the other man to rest in his work-attire.
While Soobin is not the type to sleep in night suits like Beomgyu, he has seen him wearing old-worn out long sleeves and loose sweats to sleep. He is still observant despite his ignorance.
With feet planted firmly by Soobin’s bed, he hovers around the man’s face. He tries to reach for his tie but he hesitates again. Then he looks over to his feet only to grimace again.
It feels awkward. The good heart in him tells him that he’s doing what a decent human would do but the other part of him is of the opinion that he shouldn’t bother doing so for someone like Soobin.
After what seems like hours when it’s actually a dozen minutes, he ends up not doing anything and heading back to his bed. It seems that he has developed a grudge from how Soobin has treated him the past couple days.
But it’s not like he’s any better. He treated him the same way, just like Soobin wanted.
Although Soobin had woken up the next morning like last night didn’t happen, Beomgyu gets to know the reason behind the action.
Displayed in big, bold and red letters as a part of the breaking news in the TV is the estimated downfall of the Choi Corp’s values and it isn’t, by any means, little. It is actually huge enough to affect the economy of the country.
‘With the stock rates declining as a result of the pandemic crisis in two countries which are the resources of Choi Corp’s largest income, the said group’s values are suspected to experience a big free fall. The executives of the corporation have yet to issue a statement. Meanwhile the investors and public are in disarray that the heads of the corporation may neglect their duties while being caught up in the succession game.’
The woman on the TV recites, and alongside her is a muted video of several workers wearing yellow vests and raising their hands in protest.
Mrs. Choi walks back and forth in the living room, hands clasped together and distress seeping out of her. Just then, a loud crash echoes throughout the house and she is rushing to Chairman Choi’s study with Beomgyu behind her.
The door is ajar when they reach and Mrs. Choi doesn’t delay from going into the study. On normal circumstances, Beomgyu is not expected to enter the chairman’s study but his husband by law is there, head hung low and a cut on his cheek.
The broken porcelain vase greets them as soon as they set foot in the room, the pieces scattered around beautifully. But it looks like one of the pieces flew out and hit Soobin.
“Honey!” Mrs. Choi screams in horror, running to her husband’s side and holding his arm, “Why are you like this? He is your son, for God’s sake.”
She is at the verge of crying, yet still trying to calm his raging husband down. However, the old man seems to have other plans. He continues on glaring at his son, who looks small now despite being 185 cm tall.
“I’m ashamed to call that person my son,” the chairman grits out, pointing at Soobin, “Look where the company is now after I’ve let him handle it.”
Soobin stands unmoving, the cut on his cheek has started to bleed, small trickles of blood dripping down like jewels. Here, in this room, he is none like the Choi Soobin Beomgyu knows. Right now, he acts like he doesn’t have a name, just a mere puppet for his father to humiliate.
“He still has a lot to learn, honey,” Mrs. Choi hysterically holds him back, “it’s your job to teach him.”
“How long do I have to guide him by hand? Till I’m in my death bed? Is it so wrong for me to wish to see the company my father and I built up with our sweat and tears in good hands before I die?”
It’s deafeningly thunderous. Beomgyu has always heard the chairman has a hot temper but this isn’t what he had expected. He knows being in this field brings a lot of stress and anger, but he hadn’t thought even once that he’d treat his own son this way.
His father is a chairman too, the head of a company albeit not as big as Choi Corps. Beomgyu has seen him stressed and tired. But never once has he been yelled at by his father. It has always been smiles and gentle pats.
“Beomgyu dear, please take Soobin to your room.”
Sensing the gravity of the situation, Mrs. Choi calls out to Beomgyu who has been standing dumbly near the door like a statue.
“Yes, Mother.”
He walks up to where Soobin is and gently tugs on his arm. The taller doesn’t resist and follows him but not before giving a perpendicular bow to the seething old man.
It gravely reminds him of their wedding day as he brings Soobin upstairs to their room, his hand looped around his arm and walking together. Once they’re behind the door of their room, he instantly withdraws his hand and wipes his palm on his pants. He doesn’t know why he does this but he hopes Soobin doesn’t notice.
“Sit,” he tells the older, gesturing to the bed before he dashes to the bathroom to get the emergency kit.
His hands shake as he opens the cabinet and when he accidentally catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror, he finally drops his bravery act and lets the distraught expression he has been hiding surface. His heart thrums harshly and alarm bells are ringing in his head.
This is a scary place. There’s no love between any of the people living here and no one would hold back from eating the other for money. He has known this already but suddenly it hits him all over again that he could die if he’s not careful.
Nonetheless, he makes sure he’s back to his neutral expression when he leaves the bathroom. The last thing he wants is anyone in the family finding out that he’s terrified of them. Even if it’s Soobin.
Some of the blood has dried and Beomgyu has to clean with an alcohol swab. Soobin does not say anything and lets him do whatever he’s doing. Thankfully, the cut isn’t long and he puts a bandaid on after some ointment. It’s a small band aid, but a stark contrast to the older’s milky skin.
The observation makes him look away so fast, putting everything back in the box. The close proximity is already making him feel weird and he doesn’t need a zoomed in version of Soobin’s face to quicken his heart’s pace. It is not the right thing for him, never will be.
“I…” Soobin gets to his feet, “I…um…I’m going out for some fresh air.”
As soon as the taller leaves, Beomgyu exhales a long breath, tightening his hold on the emergency kit and stares at the door Soobin has just closed. He could seriously use some fresh air too.
***
It isn’t Soobin’s brain that brings him to the doorstep of his secretary, but his treacherous feet. He waits for the door to open, a prickling pain travels throughout his body- not the physical kind but one conjured yet again by his mind.
Usually, he would feel humiliated by the way his father treats him. But today, he doesn’t even feel the slightest embarrassment. Instead, he finds the situation quite funny. He has been doing everything that was asked of him and the moment something goes wrong, the blame automatically falls on him.
He doesn’t get further deep into his self-pity thanks to the door that finally swings open revealing his secretary in grey sweats. He must have just woken up judging from his mess of hair and swollen eyes. Yet, Soobin doesn’t feel sorry. He has been friends long enough with Taehyun to feel sorry for disrupting his sleep, considering the numerous times the former had done the same to him every morning before the marriage.
He isn’t offered a hi nor does he offer himself. Taehyun simply groans when he sees him and trudges back inside the house. It’s an apartment that he shares with Yeonjun, Soobin’s closest friend other than Taehyun.
When he walks in following Taehyun and slips on the spare house slippers that he bought for himself and kept there, he finds Yeonjun sitting on the couch with both his feet up and knees tucked to his chest, spacing out and still half asleep. Looks like everyone would have been sleeping the weekend in, if not for him.
“What brings you here to our humble abode, Mr. Choi?” Taehyun questions just after downing a tall glass of water.
The sound of the water hitting the glass as he rinses it fills in for the silence that follows while Soobin contemplates on deciding what to say. Moreover, he feels that he doesn’t need to say anything because he is ninety nine percent sure Taehyun already knows what must have happened. He is an excellent secretary.
Besides, he has made a habit of leaving his house and staying here whenever he gets into trouble with his father. Both Yeonjun and Taehyun know it and he’s thankful to them that they never question it. If Soobin arrives at their home at unusual timing, they make sure to keep him company and lighten his mood. Such good friends, so different from his family.
“Is this about the stock rates?” Taehyun asks again, putting the glass on the drying rack and wiping his hand on the kitchen towel.
Soobin snorts, “I thought you just woke up. How’d you know?”
“It was expected,” Taehyun only shrugs like it’s no big deal, but adds on, “You do know that it can’t be helped, right? We couldn’t have done anything to prevent it.”
“Try telling that to his old man,” Yeonjun interjects, the conversation seemingly waking him up properly, “what did he throw this time? A knife?” He points to the band aid on Soobin’s cheek.
“A vase.”
Taehyun sighs as he walks up to where Soobin stands firmly and rubs his shoulder in silent consolation. Obviously, they have been through similar situations like this numerous times- Soobin leaving his home right after an argument with his father and rushing here. At least, he hasn't run here with a broken hand or a bloodied forehead today.
“You came tidied up today,” Yeonjun voices out just that while making his way to the bathroom to freshen up “and the pororo band aid suits you so much.”
It is only then that Soobin turns around to check his face in the queer, square mirror hanging on the wall of the living room, a weird thing but Yeonjun loves it. The yellow band aid adorned with little pororos stare right back at him, a reminder of what happened an hour ago.
He thinks of the one who had cleaned him up, as Yeonjun said. He also thinks of the horror that the person tried to conceal on seeing what kind of a family they were. He wishes he could tell him that today happened to be a bad day but he’d be lying if he does that. The days are not to be blamed, it is the people. And things like this will happen a lot more than he expects.
Yeonjun makes his way back to the couch, hopping onto where he previously sat and Taehyun gestures to him to sit beside the older guy. Another moment of silence passes as the trio sit together in the living room completely lost in their own thoughts. That is until the oldest one takes matter into his own hands and breaks it.
“How’s married life?”
Soobin sends him an unamused glare; nonetheless, he appreciates the change in topic even though the topic is still his life. He’d rather talk about the sad mistake that they call marriage than talking about his father.
“I’m still alive so I guess it’s good,” he answers, hoping he doesn’t come off as too serious.
“But your husband’s really pretty, Binnie,” Yeonjun remarks teasingly, “I always thought you’d marry someone as dull as you, knowing your taste in everything, especially your fashion. Ew!”
Leave it to Yeonjun to sneak in assertions that he’s the best dresser out of them at random times. He can hear Taehyun let out a quiet giggle yet not glancing back up from his ipad, going through his secretary duties outside of office hours.
“It’s because I didn’t marry him, hyung,” Soobin opts to answer, “it’s our companies that married each other.”
That elicits a laugh from all of them, including Soobin, at the ridiculousness of it all. Marriage and legal paperworks, signing themselves as ‘husbands’ all for the sake of fame and money. Now, he’s tied to a name that still feels unfamiliar on his tongue, being called the spouse of a face that he hasn’t even seen more than ten times.
“Well then, is this marriage benefitting your company?” The older male continues, wringing his hands together in the air to make sure what kind of a marriage he is talking about.
“Somewhat,” He answers, “but not to the extent we expected. It must be the same for Hanguk Tech as well.”
“So you got married in vain?”
“I wouldn’t say that-”
He gets cut off with Taehyun flinging the ipad onto the couch and making his way to his room.
“Meeting with the shareholders in an hour, Soobin hyung,” he yells from his room and Soobin stands on autopilot.
“But it’s the weekend. There isn’t supposed to be work.” He can’t help but whine. He has had a long morning and the meeting most likely would drain the little remaining energy he has.
Taehyun peeks his head out of his room, “Looks like you have to sacrifice your weekend, Mr. Director.”
When he heard the news of the stock rates this morning, he kind of knew what was coming. He knew his father would have another breakdown of having him as his son and he also knew that the shareholders of their company would be mad as hell. What he didn’t know was they’d be mad enough to suggest he step down from the position of the director.
As if that was easy. If he could, he would have done it long ago. He has been trained from his childhood for this very position and it has been stifling him ever since. For him, being a director comes with constant criticism and insults from his father as well as his ducklings. If he thinks about it seriously, Taehyun might be the only one on his side in the entire company.
“Mr. Choi, I’m sorry but I have to withdraw my investments if this is going to continue.” One of the shareholders stands on his highest height and states with his loudest voice. The others seem to agree with him as they continuously nod their head at whatever the man says.
“Please calm down, Mr. Seo. The prevailing situation is not favourable to us but we can discuss some things and come to a solution.” Soobin tries.
“What solution will we derive, Mr. Choi?” Another voice joins in, a woman, “we have put enough trust on you. You assured us that everything will be good if we joined hands with Hanguk Tech but we haven’t seen much improvement as of now. And with the stock prices free falling, it’s just a catalyst to go overdue. You can’t keep making the wrong decisions again and again.”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Yoon but it is not as easy as it seems. We have to gather many opinions in order to make a decision. It is also the motive of today’s impromptu meeting— to know your thoughts.”
“Then have our opinion, Mr. Choi!” The woman yells, stunning everyone in the conference room, “We are tired of always being at the short end of the stick. I think it’s time for a change.”
The tension that persists in the room after the outburst is thick enough to be cut with a knife. If distress had a smell, the room would be reeking of it. The investors and shareholders are heaving out heavy breaths, fist clenched and clearly having a lot to say inside their minds. The whirring of the air conditioner serves as the only sound in the room for four whole minutes.
Soobin is no better. His brain is fried to its maximum and he would not be surprised if there is steam rising on top of his head. Everything falls on him, it all comes down to him whenever something bad happens from all sides. He hasn’t known peace of mind ever since he became the director.
No one to confide in, he has spent the past years with only himself to console. Taehyun and Yeonjun may be his friends but there is only so much he can share with them. He wishes to have someone who would understand him without him having to say a thing. He wishes to be held in embrace and be told that he did well, that he is worth being proud of.
But there is a reason these are called wishes, isn’t it?
He doesn’t get to complete his sigh as Taehyun knocks hard on the wooden table and gathers everyone’s attention. His glasses are perched high on his nose, expression staying neutral but deadly.
“Today’s meeting will end here. Please wait for further notice regarding the next.”
Constant murmur erupts but Taehyun, being the good secretary he is, ushers Soobin out of the room. Both of them breathe in relief once they are in the empty hallway. The rich shareholders, although the company is running because of their investments, are a pain in the ass. A word that leaves their mouth is an addition to Soobin’s growing blood pressure.
“You should go and rest for today,” Taehyun tells him, obviously having seen the stress on his face, “we’ll figure out things tomorrow.”
There’s no room for argument given his drooping shoulders and messed up hair. He still has tons of stuff to go through but Taehyun is right. They can always do it tomorrow. Putting off one day wouldn’t hurt, would it? He’s not so sure if he’d be able to work on a rational mind in this state.
He acknowledges Taehyun with a nod, gives him a ‘thank you’ arm hug and goes off on his feet. It’s a daze, really. One moment he was in the hallway of the headquarters and the next, he found himself being asked to get out of the car in the mansion’s complex.
His steps feel heavy on the ground, and the car zooms off behind him, leaving him in the dark evening with only the yellow lamp posts to accompany him. The house doesn’t seem lived in despite knowing that he has lived here as early as he has known it. It’s eerily quiet and hollow for a home.
His heart almost falls on the ground when he hears the clearing of a throat while he’s brooding on the gloomy thoughts. It’s already past dinnertime and by now, everyone would be in their rooms, getting ready for bed. Choi Beomgyu is the last person he expects to see when he turns around.
He quickly schools his scared-to-death face, slides his hands into the pockets of his pants and clears his throat as well in response. He’s a man, a big one at that. He shouldn’t get scared at the littlest sounds. At least, he should act like he doesn’t get scared at the littlest sounds.
“What are you doing out here so late?” He asks and he hates that his voice is now hoarse thanks to the numerous shouts he had to do with the investors.
Beomgyu doesn’t answer and instead looks at him with his big, round eyes. And the taller male feels seen to his core. It makes him nervous for no good reason.
Thankfully, Beomgyu answers his question soon enough, “I had some proposals to make to you.”
“Well, you could have waited inside. It’s cold out here.”
Soobin swears he can hear Beomgyu snort and he also sees the sarcastic smile that makes its way on the latter’s face. It is the first ever time he sees Beomgyu wearing something other than a frown and a straight face.
“I don’t trust your family enough,” he says, moving his brown fringes away from his eyes, “You do know that our room is bugged, don’t you?”
Actually, he doesn’t. But he’s not surprised at the revelation. It’s very typical of his family to spy on them. No privacy whatsoever.
“Have you removed them?”
“No,” Beomgyu says immediately, “it would make them suspicious of us.”
“What is there to be suspicious of us? We barely even talk.”
“We’ll remove them,” the answer comes, “but not now.”
He doesn’t press further. This interaction has been by far the longest one they had. It is usually three or four words on his side and Beomgyu ignoring his existence and vice versa. It’s already strange that the younger man has initiated the conversation without looking like he wants to erase him from this world but he also looks calmer than usual.
After the incident they had to witness earlier in the morning, Soobin had expected an awkward air to surround them for quite a while, they were not already awkward before. But there is none as they stand across each other in front of the main door of the mansion. One in a suit and the other in his pyjamas and a cosy cardigan over it.
“Is it important? Your proposal?”
“Yes.”
Now, here they are, in the wooden bench facing the small pond in the garden, Beomgyu tugging his cardigan a little tighter to shield himself from the chilly wind and Soobin sitting as straight as a pole.
The stars twinkle in the sky, making their presence known despite the pollution. The small fishes in the pond have risen to the surface of the water, lurking around idly as if to listen to them. Beomgyu takes a deep breath and says what he wants in one go.
“Make me your legal advisor.”
There is a pregnant pause and a frog croaks in the distance. Soobin blinks his eyes abruptly at the sudden request, not getting where this is going. He knows Beomgyu is a smart guy and all his decisions and actions are carefully crafted but he doesn’t understand why he would want that, when being associated with the Choi corps was the last thing the younger man desires.
“We have plenty of legal advisors.” He opts to say.
“I know,” Beomgyu shoots back, “but you don’t have one. A personal legal advisor.”
The words make him chuckle humorlessly, directing his gaze at the ground, “Are you saying my decisions are shitty too?”
“No, but your family is.” The younger man tells him straightforwardly without an ounce of guilt.
“And…,” Soobin waves his hand to show that he still is not sure of the idea, “and how is that supposed to help my shitty family?”
Beomgyu doesn’t beat around the bush, “I’ve been here for only a week but I know that almost everyone in your family is against you becoming the chairman.”
He is well aware of that but he thinks the younger man wouldn’t have to rub him in the face like that. Not that he is ambitious about sitting in a higher position, but still, it offends him somehow when it’s the truth only.
“Are you pitying me for that?”
This time, no instant answer comes but a hand forces its way into his line of vision. When he looks up, Beomgyu is standing before him with his arm outstretched and the straight face as always.
“I can prove them wrong,” he says with much more confidence than necessary, “I will help you become the chairman and show your worth to shut them up.”
Now, Soobin feels like laughing. His husband on paper is offering his assistance to defeat his own family. And he hates himself for preferring this stranger than the humans related to him by blood. He blames it on the lack of humanity and prevailing greed in his family to spare the dignity of his conscience.
“The reason?”
“I left the comfort of my loving family and married you so that it can benefit both sides. I sacrificed my dreams to be your trophy husband. It hurts my pride that despite all that, things are not improving.”
“Are you saying you’re ashamed to be my husband?”
“I’m saying I will be the oar you need to reach your destination and ward off the predators. Also, the sooner you’re at the top, the sooner we can get out of this mess. Like you said, I’m not enjoying this marriage as well.”
“And what do you want in exchange?”
“Let’s save that for the future. I’m pretty sure I will have one thing or the other I need from you in the future.”
It compels Soobin to close his mouth which was ready to ask another question. The day has been a roller coaster for him, and he has used his brain to the maximum already. Everything Beomgyu has said feels too much for him at the moment. But he guesses he could use a helping hand. An addition to the group of trio against the big Choi Corps.
Then it hits him. How is he so sure that Beomgyu would be on his side truly and not working as a spy of his cruel family? Has it always been this easy to trust someone? He’s known for being meticulous and calculating when it comes to accepting people in his circle but right now, his heart is already one foot in. What does Choi Beomgyu have that makes him feel safer than he is with his own family?
“My arm is getting tired.” Beomgyu says with his hand still in the air.
Soobin may not be a big fan of risks, but he’s willing to take this one. You never know unless you try, don’t you? If Beomgyu turns out to be unreliable, then what could he do? It is what is. But he wouldn’t know that if he didn't shake his hand, right? So, he stands up and does just that.
“Deal.”
***
He picks it up on the fourth ring. No matter how busy Beomgyu is, he will always make sure to pick up his mother’s calls. He quickly wipes his eyes with the towel as well as his hands and swipes up the green button.
“Yes, Mom,” he blindly answers into the phone, drying the rest of his face with gentle dabs in front of the mirror. The bathroom light makes his eyebags more visible than usual.
“Is my son doing well?” The mellow voice comes through the phone and Beomgyu’s heart swells with how much he misses his mother.
“I am, Mom,” he lies, swallowing the lump that forms so quickly in his throat. He hates worrying his mother.
“How’s dad?” He decides to switch the topic, “is he still stressed with the company?”
“Don’t worry about your dad, Beomie. He’ll manage,” his mother says lightheartedly, most likely teasing her husband who is in hearing distance, “tell us about you.”
“Is…is everything fine over there?” She continues, albeit a little hesitant, “they’re not doing anything to you, are they?”
This way, Beomgyu’s mother does not sound like the strong and loving mother he knows. Right now, she sounds exactly like someone whose point of weakness has been exposed and seized away to torture her. And maybe that is it, Beomgyu has always been her weakness, her youngest son that she has doted on.
“No,” he manages to let out but his voice goes considerably small, “I miss you so much.”
“Oh sweetheart,” the woman coos on the other line, “we miss you too. We’re so sorry, Cookey.”
“I told you not to say that,” he pouts as if his mother would be able to see it. But he’s certain she would sense it through his voice, she knows him so well.
“Still, Beomie-ah, mom’s sorry,” she says, “I couldn’t stop my dearest son from being sent so far away from me.”
“Mom…”
There’s sniffling on both sides. Beomgyu has sat down on top of the toilet seat, pressing the phone so close to his ear, hoping some of the comfort from home would be transported to the bathroom. There’s an ache in his chest that comes from being separated from his family. They spend the next few minutes getting themselves together and bringing an end to the breakdown before it ruins everything.
“Have you and Soobin become friends?” His mother is the one to speak up, "he appears…different.”
Beomgyu takes a deep breath at the mention of Soobin, “No.”
“I hope he’s nice, Beomie, “ the woman wishfully says, “he might be the only one I can trust you with in that family.”
“Mrs. Choi is nice too,” he adds, hurriedly. Soobin’s mother takes care of him well and if it wasn’t for her, his life there at the Choi mansion would have totally sucked.
“I know, darling. And I really do hope Soobin takes after her.”
He hears the melancholy in his mother’s voice. It must have been just as painful as it is for him. In this harsh, harsh world where good humour and decency are minimal, the only thing one can do is worry out of helplessness. It’s pathetic, really.
“S…Soobin,” he blurts out before he can stop himself, “th…they don’t treat him like you treat me.”
“Like what, Cookey?”
“Like their son.”
The observation has been weighing his mind down ever since he saw how things are, regarding Soobin, in this household. Chairman Choi wants him to be the perfect successor while Soobin’s aunts and uncles are trying their level best to throw him off. Either way, they are playing with Soobin’s self esteem and dignity as a human being. It is none of his business but he can’t help but imagine what Soobin must be feeling.
“Do you…do you feel bad for him?” She asks after a few seconds and Beomgyu takes another few to go over his words, pupils darting sideways as he thinks.
“It’s not feeling bad,” he decides to say, “I just…I just feel wronged on his behalf.”
“Do you know why?”
“I don’t.”
He swears he can hear his mom smiling through the phone when she says, “you will know soon. You’re a kind soul, Beomie-ah, you’ll figure it out. Always remember that mom and dad loves you, hm?”
That’s the problem. He may not look like it but he cares too much. People consider it to be a good trait but his sympathetic nature has only brought him more grief than happiness. Right now would be an example. He’s so worked up over Soobin that he is willing to insert himself in someone else’s life when they are practically strangers.
“I am Huening Kai, the new in charge of Choi Corp’s foreign affairs. I look forward to working with you.”
The guy is tall, only a bit shorter than Soobin, with the most defined features and such luscious locks. The prime definition of exotic beauty. He bows perpendicular to Soobin and Beomgyu watches the latter pat his shoulder assuringly.
He is here in Soobin’s office in the headquarters to proceed on with the appointment of the legal advisor, more like an interview. The office is on the ninth floor, well ventilated with plenty of sunlight from the floor to ceiling glass window.
On one corner is Soobin’s table with a huge shelf full of books and on the table are numerous papers, both stacked and scattered, and a huge screen computer, typical of a director’s table. To the side of the shelf is a tall wooden coat hanger on which Soobin’s navy coat is hanging peacefully.
On the other end of the room near the window is a soft-cushioned sofa with a wooden table in the middle of it. There are a few potted plants in the room as well and Beomgyu briefly wonders if Soobin had been the one to ask for them or Taehyun, his secretary, had brought them here to help with the stifling environment.
His inner monologue is cut short when Soobin calls for his attention.
“Welcome, Huening Kai-si,” he says, then turns to Beomgyu, “ this is my legal advisor, Beomgyu and as you must have already known, the other is my secretary, Taehyun. We’re glad to have you here.”
The newcomer’s gaze falls on him and Beomgyu can’t help feeling a little flustered with the intensity of it. It is not an uncomfortable one, but he can testify that it is not one of malice either. If his hunches are right, his eyes are conveying the message that he and Beomgyu would get along and that he’s excited about it.
Beomgyu bows in greeting but freezes halfway when Soobin adds, “he’s also my husband.”
It takes him by surprise but it’s fair, he decides. It isn’t like half of the corporate world doesn’t know of their marriage already with the uncountable pictures and headlines flashed on newspapers and online articles. The wedding has been everything but an intimate ceremony. It is safe to say that many profited with the publicity of their wedding.
Soon enough, after the formal introduction, Taehyun leaves with Huening Kai to show him to his office while Soobin volunteers to do his own. They don’t have to walk far as Soobin opens the door to the room right next to his and declares that it would be his office.
It’s spacious and big but not as big as Soobin’s, but Beomgyu is more than fine with it. He doesn’t plan to stay here long anyway.
“Is it okay?” Soobin croaks out, fixing his tie.
“Yeah,” he answers stiffly as he skims his fingers on the edge of the white table there.
“Feel free to add anything to your taste,” the taller man says, already on his way to the door, “I’ll send you all the files you need to begin this business.”
With that, he is left alone in one of the hundred rooms in the Choi Corps’ headquarters. He plops down on the chair and sinks into it, finally relaxing all the tense muscles in his body.
Life is full of unexpected events. He never thought he would work in a corporate company given that he is not so fond of it. He has always declined whenever his dad asks him to work in Hanguk Tech, or help his older brother in running the company.
He has studied hard, got into a prestigious university, majored in law with the highest grades and even passed the bar exam. It is his dream to stay in the academic field, maybe become a law professor, but never an office worker in the corporate world. It’s a little brutal of him to say this when his own father owns a corporate company, but he doesn’t like the constant flow of money and instability that comes with it and not to mention, the stress. He’d rather have a quiet job and live a quiet life without having to worry about losing money or even gaining it. In short, he likes playing safe.
Yet here he is, in a place he never thought he would be. It is not that baffling though. After all, he is married to a person he never thought he’d be. Expect the unexpected when it comes to Choi Beomgyu’s life.
It is only a week later that he is able to complete going through every file and every account book and ledger that Soobin has sent him. He did his own research and studied every transaction between the company and any other firm with his sleep as the sacrificial lamb. By the time he finishes writing a summary report on what he had found out, his neck hurts and a dull headache roots itself in his head from straining his eyes.
To say Beomgyu is disgusted is an understatement. When he saw the gaps and holes in the ledger files, he knew there was something fishy. It may not be obvious to businessmen but it is clear as day to a law student that some of the transactions in the branch companies are not perfectly legal. There could be many complications that can later sabotage the company as a whole.
With so many legal advisors in the company, he wonders how they could have missed this while auditing and have let this carry on for years. Just how rotten is the management inside.
He goes to the printing room to print the reports. At some point while working, he discarded his shoes and slipped on the fuzzy slip ons he kept there. The first three buttons of his white shirt are unbuttoned and his sleeves are rolled up to his elbows. He pulls off the reading glasses and pinches his nose bridge to relieve some of the tension there caused by the glasses.
The fatigue is getting to him that he doesn’t realise the new presence in the room. The printing sound is the only thing he is currently focusing on.
“Beomgyu-si?”
He has never whipped around his head so fast at the call of his name. He has heard the voice only on one occasion but he recognises it.
“Huening Kai-si?”
The man only smiles at him and Beomgyu feels the room get brighter a little. He reaches out his hand and offers him a cup of ice americano. Beomgyu bows his head in gratitude and takes the coffee sheepishly.
“You looked like you could use a coffee,” Kai says softly and it brings the ghost of a smile on Beomgyu’s tired face as well.
“Thank you,” he sips on the coffee and he instantly feels alive again.
“Are you done for the day?” he asks when he sees the bag hanging from Kai’s shoulder.
Kai laughs awkwardly, scratching the back of his head, “Yeah. It’s already past working hours. Do you still have work? If so, I can help you if that’s okay.”
It’s cute how he looks like an overgrown golden retriever that wants to see people happy. As much as Kai’s energy helps Beomgyu lighten up, he isn’t going to deprive the foreign affairs in charge of his rest hours.
So, he shakes his head with an endeared chuckle, “Thank you, Huening Kai-si. But you should head home and rest. I’ll leave after I deliver these papers to the director.”
“If so then, I’ll take my leave. Have a good night, Beomgyu-shi.”
And once again, Beomgyu is left with the printer and the papers and the air conditioner whirring. He picks up the paper and arranges them as he finishes the coffee, the cold liquid a relief to his parched throat. The pounding in his head and that of his feet are similar to some extent with the stress put on them.
When he passes by Taehyun’s office, he can’t see the younger secretary anyway through the glass door. He must have likely gone to a meeting with Soobin. He figures he could wait for them in Soobin’s office. A change in environment would be nice for him too, although it’s all indoors.
He pushes the door to Soobin’s office expecting an empty space only for him to halt two steps in when he sees who is there. He has had a long day and he is not sure if he can stomach talking to someone whose hobby is getting on his nerves. What a great way to end his day.
“Oh hi, Beomgyu!” Choi So Hee displays her sly smile, the corner of her eyes crinkling.
“Hello, aunt-in-law,” he greets back out of obligation, but without mirth, “I had no idea you’d be here.” If I had known, I wouldn’t have walked in.
“Is Soobin making you work overtime?” She asks, raising her eyebrows towards the stack of paper he is holding. He tries not to make it obvious that he doesn’t want her to see the contents of the paper by faking a laugh.
“I volunteered, actually,” he decides to say with a tight lipped smile.
The woman gives an unimpressed nod, adjusting the strap of her designer bag she must not have bought with her own money. So are the rings, shoes and earrings dangling from her ears. Beomgyu learnt that she is a person full of surprises.
There is also a fresh bunch of flowers on the table, wrapped in pretty lilac papers and a cute little ribbon along with a card addressed to Soobin. Lilium Falls, Jeju, it mentions, probably the name of the shop. He finds it hard to believe that she has come to congratulate Soobin on nothing. It has to be to spite him.
“How is Hanguk Tech doing? I assume the situation hasn't been brushed up yet, seeing as how you’re working at my nephew’s office?”
It is a pathetic move but Beomgyu refuses to get worked up on it and humours it instead. People like her often do not see even if truth and wisdom are served before them on a silver platter. It would be foolish of him to stoop down to her level.
“I guess I could say that,” says he, pushing up the glasses on his nose, “Besides, your nephew is not paying me enough. He says the company is facing a lack of funds owing to illegal management by some authorities?”
He sounds evil but it brings him satisfaction when he sees the flicker of insecurity flit across her face. And oh he wishes he could say that this is only the tip of the iceberg, the beginning of the war they are going to declare.
The moment is cut short with Beomgyu excusing himself with a gentle smile when the door opens and Soobin enters with Taehyun tailing behind him. Whatever they happen to speak is none of his concern. His only job is to get Soobin in the chairman’s position and free them of this marriage.
***