Every Rule Has an Exception

Every Rule Has An Exception - 2

Okay, sounds good. We'll keep in touch! Bye, bye!"

Jo let out a groan, returning to her usual speaking voice. She locked her laptop to sit up and stretch her body, the chilly air of the late morning breezing through the open window. Her 8AM meeting lasted for an hour and a half, and her stomach was begging for its delayed breakfast. Jo had not had the chance to grab groceries since she'd settled in Seoul, and she opted to order a Korean-specific, nourishing meal to fuel up.

Surprisingly, Jo did not feel as tired as she had expected to be, after Mark's birthday party. Sure, the soreness in her feet was still there from the day before, yet the energy was up, despite sleeping a little more than 4 hours. She picked up her phone to call Samantha and thank her for the invitation. The event was a great success, and Jo had a very good time.

Partly, the success was owned to Jackson. Mostly, Jackson.

"Hey, girl! I wasn't expecting you to pick up."

Samantha giggled on Jo's screen and untied the medical bonnet on her head. "Morning, my favorite businesswoman! I shouldn't have, but I finished my surgery early. Everything went well, so no major surprises. How are you?"

Jo picked up the other's cheerful tone. "Did you mean to ask how last night was?"

"You caught me red handed, didn't you?"

"You're an open book at this point, Sam."

Jo seated herself back into the office chair, checking for unread emails. "We didn't do anything. As a matter of fact, he never entered the house."

"And you want me to believe you?"

Samantha's unimpressed expression was an indicator that she did not, in fact, believe her friend.

"Go on, as Mark to talk to Jackson. We parted like two mature adults. I even gave his loafers back."

Samantha was silent for a while. She grabbed her medical coat and headed to her office to have some privacy.

"But?"

"I'm supposed to meet him later today." Jo turned her attention to her friend. "But hold your horses, it's not a date. He said he looked up my firm and he wants to discuss a collaboration on a Team Wang initiative."

"Thank you, Jackson, really. You didn't have to bother to bring me home. I could have handled that myself."

Jackson handed Jo her belongings, which he was very adamant to carry until they reached her house. "What kind of man would I be to leave a woman, again, to go home alone at night?"

Jo chuckled. She took out the keys from her purse. "I wouldn't have seen you for less of a man if you did." The door lock clicked. "Would you like to come inside? Luckily, it's still tidy since I didn't get to unpack everything."

Jo wouldn't have thought her question sounded like a sexual proposition of any sort. She wanted to be polite and repay Jackson's kind gesture, in case he wanted to gather his breath for a moment or two. She couldn't read Jackson's reaction entirely.

"Oh no, I couldn't," he shook his hands in the air. "And I have to get back to the boys anyway."

Jo pushed the door open to place her belongings on a nearby stool and hurriedly grabbed a pair of flip-flops. "Just a second, I'll grab a bag for the shoes."

"Please, you can keep them."

Jo ignored his last response and grabbed a plastic bag lying around from one of her unpacking sessions. "If I want to invite you to my house again, I wouldn't want it to be over a pair of lost loafers."