Secrets

I need you to come to my office

It had been a few weeks and Seonghwa still hadn't figured Hongjoong out. He was clearly hiding something but he didn't know if it meant he was a spy or if he was just a private person.

He sat in his office chair, head in his hands as he tried his best not to pull out any hair. It was so frustrating. He wanted to believe he was clearly dangerous but he couldn't accept it.

Just as he was about to bang his forehead on the desk, his phone rang, startling him. He jumped up and grabbed it, hoping it was his father with some helpful news.

"This is Seonghwa."

"It's your father. I need you to come to my office."

Seonghwa tensed. Was he in trouble? Had he taken too long on the case? Or would he finally get some information? Either way, he was nervous.

"Yes sir. I'm on my way."

He hung up and grabbed his suit coat and car keys and rushed out the door.

...

"What do you need from me?"

Seonghwa basically barreled into his father's office. The long drive had given him way too much time to stress out over his father's call and he was desperate to figure out what he needed to talk about.

"Calm down, take a seat."

Seonghwa hesitated.

"Alright, it's about your case."

Seonghwa felt his chest tighten. That was what he had determined.

He nodded and sat across from his father his hands wringing nervously in his lap.

"Stop fidgeting, I told you it shows others that you're unsure and hesitant. A powerful CEO can't let his enemies see his fear. And sit up straight."

"Yes sir. Sorry sir."

His father leaned back and sighed.

"I'm sorry. It's just—I had really hoped we could use this situation to introduce you to the true business world. Everything is turning against me and it's got me on edge."

"What exactly is turning against you?" Seonghwa asked, his eyes flashing.

Was the situation worse than he'd anticipated? Did he figure out Hongjoong was probably working for corporate? Was he going to have to put someone more capable up to the task? Was Seonghwa going to have to return to isolation?

"It seems I've...made a fool of myself."

"What?"

"The man you've been observing the past few weeks—he isn't a spy."

Seonghwa's mouth fell open.

"What!? How—how could you know for sure?"

"He was hardly a temp at JYP and even filed lawsuits against them. He clearly has no ties to them. He just wants to work in fashion."

"But—but that doesn't make any sense! He's way too good at his job to have been such a low-level employee!"

"His lawsuits were for wrongful termination. He claimed he was an above average worker and was let go due to inadequate reasons."

"But—he also told me he came from Seoul! So he was probably working at the corporate branch!"

Seonghwa couldn't explain why he was trying so hard to expose Hongjoong. After all, he'd been skeptical of his actual ties to begin with. He couldn't even convince himself that Hongjoong was a spy.

So why was he trying to convince his father?

"There's plenty of low-level offices in Seoul, Seonghwa. JYP is a big business."

"But—but he's clearly been trained in how to manipulate others! He's been working me this entire time! I can't explain it other than he's unsettlingly easy to talk to. He has to be incredibly conniving. He has to be a spy!"

Seonghwa almost jumped as his father burst out in laughter. He hadn't heard his father laugh like this for a long time. He was a pretty serious man.

"That's called a friend, Seonghwa. He's easy to talk to because he's your friend."

Seonghwa stared at his father. It felt like his world was crashing in around him. How could this man he'd been studying for weeks be just—some regular guy? On top of that—his friend? He'd never even considered that possibility.

To begin, Hongjoong was an evil undercover agent. So that limited any possibilities of a friendship. And he'd also believed he was being brainwashed.

Thinking about it now, he realized how stupid he sounded. He laughed along with his father, a bit embarrassed.

But his father's laughter quickly slowed as he looked his son in the eyes. Seonghwa saw a sad expression he'd never really seen on his father before. Guilt.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't laugh. After all, it's my fault you never had the chance to make any friends."

Seonghwa quickly placed a hand on his father's shoulder.

"No, no it's not your fault. You've only ever protected me. It's for my own safety."

"Is it? Clearly I'm just a paranoid old man. I sent you on a wild goose chase with this case and the man wasn't even a spy."

Seonghwa knew what he was saying was true but he didn't want his father to feel guilty.

"You don't know. Something could have happened to me—to the company—if you had told the public about me."

"Key word, could. It's also possible that nothing would have happened to us."

"No matter what, I don't blame you. Even if this case was for nothing, at least you've given me the opportunity to make friends. And I'll forever be grateful for that. Maybe I'll even hang out with them once in a while."

At that, Seonghwa's father turned to face him.

"Maybe? Oh I'm not taking you away from your position yet. I insist that you stay."

Seonghwa gasped as his father gave a soft smile.

"What about all of my duties I've been missing the past few weeks? I can't just ignore them!"

"I've got you covered. I should be able to handle both for the next month at least."

"Father! Your schedule is already so busy! It's not good for you health! Please, it's alright."

"Don't worry about me, I'm tougher than you think. After all, I built this company from the ground up, didn't I? I think I can handle a little extra office work."

Seonghwa couldn't help but smile as he wrapped his arms around his father who was caught by surprise.

"Thank you, thank you! I promise I will do my best to make as many friendships as possible!"

Seonghwa bowed deeply and his father laughed.

"I bet you will. And if anyone doesn't want to be friends with my son, I'll fire them."

"Father!"

"I'm just teasing. Now you'd better head back or you'll be driving late into the night!"

His father rushed him out of the office before he could protest and closed the door.

Seonghwa leaned against it a moment, smiling to himself. Now he could just make friends.

He didn't have to worry about spies or secrets—he could just go to work and work with his friends, maybe even hang out again.

He could just accept Hongjoong as a friend. He didn't have to be suspicious anymore.