Love Me If You Dare

Chapter 23

— —-—

     Jisoo is wearing a Dior suit today. She sits in the sofa of Jungkook’s office and listens to the findings of the investigation.

   Lisa did most of the talking, because Jungkook said: “I do not want to repeat the same words again.” 

    "...... So, we need to immediately notify the police, and suspend all of the work on this case.” Lisa concludes.

   Jisoo remains silent for a moment, then looks at them calmly : "Thank you for the discovery, or I will not know there’s a murderer in my company. "

    Lisa nods. 

    Jisoo continues : "However, can we keep it low-key?  Why don’t you continue with the investigation.  Once you find out who’s the murderer, we will inform the police.  The media do not need to know about this. ”

    Lisa can understand her concerns.  She is afraid of the impact on the business. But like  Jungkook says, it’s a human life.  A secret investigation can be very difficult. 

    Jungkook : “No.”

    The room falls silent.

   After a while, Jisoo says to Lisa : “Ms Lisa, can you give us a few minutes by ourselves.”

    -

    Lisa gets out of Jungkook’s office.

    Manager Song asks : ”Is everything ok?"

    “Oh yes." Lisa replies, “The Chairman needs to talk to Director Jeon in private.”

    Lisa finds an empty seat. Suga glides his chair next to hers : “Are you busy today?”

   

 Lisa looks up and smiles: “I am not sure, need to check Director Jeon’s schedule first.”

    Suga smiles at her: “There’s a new Cantonese restaurant that’s just opened, wanna try later?”

     - Do not have physical contact with them… drug addicts carries infectious diseases…  do you not have any bone, let go of her….  She suddenly remembers Jungkook’s words

   She has a sweet smile on her face: “Sorry, I am busy tonight.”

    Suga : "Boyfriend?"

    Lisa does not disagree.  She gives Suga a smile.  He glides his chair back to his table.

    -

    Jisoo looks at her brother.  She is a little disappointed with him.  

    She knew Jungkook from young.  He is withdrawn, indifferent to everyone, including her.  But they did spend a lot of time together.  And they had some fun times too. In high school, she was the centre of attention.  Jungkook was the handsome and talented boy.  Nobody suspected they were related. But once, her boyfriend cheated on her, she was devastated.  She cried and cried at home. Jungkook went to find the boy, and beat the crap out of him. 

    Then he went to university to study criminal psychology.  He never bothers to initiate contact with her.  Sometimes she wonders if he has any feelings for anyone.  But  undeniably, she is the only woman who has been able to walk into his life.  And this fact had always brought her a strange satisfaction and pleasure. But she will never bother to analyst why she feels this way.  Is it because she is a proud sister, or it’s more than that.  Anyway, she has a brilliant life, a fiancé that is very nice to her.  And he is her only brother.  That’s enough.

But Jungkook has refused her request to her face, in front of an outsider. She is a little upset by it. 

   Jisoo says to him: “ This is a listed company.  A murder scandal will cause our stock price to drop dramatically."

   Jungkook glances at her.

    Jisoo said: "This company is built by your father and my mother with their sweat and tears.  And now it’s my future and my life.  Can you stand by to see your sister’s life ruined?”

    She sees that he is still not convinced. Jisoo stands up from the couch to walk beside him. She puts her hand on his shoulder : "I don’t want you to suspend the investigation, just do it in secret.  It should be a piece of cake for you.  You are so capable.  I have never asked you for a favour in my life.  This is the first time.  Just this once.  OK?“

    -

  Jisoo walks out of Jungkook’s office.  She is wearing a smile.  

    All the employees stand up to greet her : "Just had a chat with Director Jeon.  he is very satisfied with all of you.  Good job.  Keep it up.  Wait for the bonus at the end of the year.”

    Everybody laughs.  Manager Song sees her out.

    Lisa returns to Jungkook’s office.

"Book two tickets for tomorrow morning.  We are going to the resort for site exploration.”   

    -

Night.  Jungkook’s apartment. 

Lisa and Jungkook are doing some prep work ahead of tomorrow’s trip.  There’s quite a bit of information to go through, but she is getting tired. 

    Lisa do not know when she fell asleep, but when she opened her eyes, she realises she is on Jungkook’s bed. When did she go into his room?

  She is still wearing the same white shirt and black knee high skirt she had earlier, but her slippers have been removed, and it’s not on the side of the bed.  Was she… carried into the room by Jungkook? 

 He didn’t just leave her on the couch, but carried her to his bed.  That’s unexpected… and sweet. 

    Classical music travels from the lounge into the hallway, where she is standing now.  She slowly takes her step towards the lounge.  She stops as she sees another unexpected scene.  

Only the floor lamp is on in the lounge.  She sees steam rising out of the big bathtub. No wonder he brought her into the room - he wanted to bathe in the living room.

   But there’s no one in the bathtub.  She looks around, and sees him standing with only a towel around his waist.  His entire back is exposed. 

  With the dim lighting in the room, the shadows give his body a nice definition.  But soon, she also notices there’s something on his back.  Scars.  Lots of scars.  By the looks of them,  they were caused by once deep wounds.  In the night, they seem like ferocious vine flowers, blooming on his back.

- Where did these scars come from?  Isn’t he just responsible for analysing work?  Arresting the criminals is the police’s responsibility.  That’s what he said before.

She takes a closer look.  The scars are neatly arranged, in rows.  There are more than a dozen on the left, and on the right too.  

    Lisa stands in the dark.  Then softly, she tip toes back into the bedroom.