"Where have you been this morning? You missed briefing." Saha asked as Dalmi rolled into the office later than usual.
"I've been with Nam Dosan," she replied simply, as if it was the easiest answer.
Almost choking on the coffee she was sipping, Saha frowned deeply before wiping her mouth to speak.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me." Dalmi shook her head.
"What were you two... doing?" Saha was puzzled at this point, almost surprised that things had worked out this quickly.
"I stand by what I said last night, Saha. This has nothing to do with anything that conspired between us. Kim Yongsan is going after him and I felt obliged to settle my own score." She shrugged as if it was the simplest concept.
"Are you sure that's the only reason you are doing this? You could have done it alone?-" Saha suggested but was cut off by Dalmi's hand in the air.
"I have no ulterior motives if that's what you're thinking. Now what did I miss this morning?"
"Don't change the subject, Dalmi-ya."
"I'm allowed to. It's my business. Now what did I miss?" she confirmed, shooting her best friend down again.
Sighing out of frustration, Saha didn't argue, for now.
"The samples came and we need to go through final pieces for next week."
"Perfect. Now can I have a moment alone in my own space. I need to check my mail," Dalmi said sickly but polite as Saha smiled sarcastically and left her to it.
___________
"Did you know Dalmi came to see Dosan this morning?" Saha questioned as she sat with her back against her boyfriend's chest as they sat on the sofa eating popcorn and attempting to what a movie.
"Ne, I saw her leave. Something to do with Yongsanie?" Chulsan replied in a calm fashion.
"What did Kim Yongsan actually do to Dosan?" She turned, to see Chulsan swallowing at her question.
"Kim Yongsan is a jerk, is it really that important?"
"I know who Kim Yongsan is, Chulsan-ah. And the fact that my best friend and your best friend have teamed up for a take down, I think it is about time someone told me what was going on."
Saha had to hand it to herself, she was getting good at being stern and getting want she wanted through such firm communication. It was a new side of her that she thoroughly enjoyed; even seeing Dalmi react to her warning tone was rewarding enough to try it again on Chulsan.
At this point Saha had now moved away from Chulsan and turned so she was now sitting cross-legged next to him on the sofa.
"Speak," she demanded as Chulsan reluctantly gave in.
"Before Dosanie's Abeoji died, he was given his mother's ring. Literally weeks before and well after he died, Yongsanie turned back up in town. We were old friends and Yongsanie was really supportive; we'd go out and relax- take Dosanie's mind off things…anyway, Yongsanie got involved with some bad people and a poker game. Long story short, he stole a lot of cash and the ring as insurance money. He lost, fled." Chulsan admitted, shrugging a little.
"How could he- the ring?" Saha shook her head.
"It was a one of a kind Harry Winston. Out of pure luck Dosanie tracked the guys down and made a deal. He would tell them where Yongsanie was for the ring."
"And now Kim Yongsan is back for revenge." She summed up, standing from her position and pacing a little.
"Ya, andwae. Whatever you are thinking, please don't." Chulsan eyed cautiously as he stood too, following her path.
"I know Yongsanie and I know he will look for an easy way in…I gotta go-" Saha jumped from her spot and went to grab her bag and coat.
"Ya Sa-" Chulsan tried but was only cut off by Saha's lips and sure nod.
"Trust me. I need to talk to Dalmi." She promised as she ran for the elevator, leaving Chulsan completely out of the loop.
____________
"Yongsan knows about Dosan's business deal." Saha blurted as she walked in her office, Dalmi looking up from her paperwork.
"Mwo? And why would he know that?" Dalmi questioned, pushing her work aside and frowning at her best friend.
"Because I told him," she answered simply, smiling with satisfaction.
"Michyeosseo!? The reason I didn't tell you anything about Dosan and I's plan was because I knew you would pull something like this! I promised him we would keep his company out of it." She snapped, standing abruptly from her seat.
"Yongsan would have found out from somewhere. But by me planting the seed, we know his next move and you can intercept."
"But- there is no 'we' and we have no idea what Yongsanie will do next-" Dalmi muttered as Dosan stepped into the office unannounced.
"Care to tell me what's going on? I heard mine and Yongsan's name mentioned?" Dosan made his presence known as he closed the door behind him, eyeing Saha and the hostile posture of Dalmi.
"She told him," Dalmi blurted, pointing to Saha who shook her head and rolled her eyes as if they were in the playground again, through the blame around.
"She told him what exactly?" he asked curiously, frowning deeply at how annoyed Dalmi looked. Even with frown lines and a scowl, she was beautiful.
"I told Kim Yongsan about the New York deal," Saha stated bluntly with a shrug.
"Ya, who the hell gave you permission to share that information?" Dosan almost yelled.
"Chulsan mentioned it last week and I knew that the only way Yongsan would approach you would be if he had a way in, so I gave him one."
"You let her do this?" Dosan snapped as he turned to accuse Dalmi who stood bewildered by the accusation.
"Ani eopseo! How dare you!" she shouted back, not quick enough to realize that she had thrown a pen in his direction, hitting him firmly against the chest.
"First this and now you're trying to physically assault me?" He gestured to Saha and then rubbed his chest, his mouth agape as Dalmi's formed a thin line.
"Wow… talk about sexual frustration!" Saha mumbled with a cough to cover herself as Dalmi's face grew horrified.
"Do you two need a minute?" she added with a small smirk as she noted Dosan biting his lip not to grin.
"Ne." Dosan supplemented as Dalmi's eyes shot to his before shouting again.
"Aniya!"
Laughing quietly, Dosan shrugged with a smirk as Dalmi turned flushed, red cheeks and all.
"I'm gonna take that as a yes." Saha grinned and laughed as she back stepped to the door, opening it and in only the sight of Dalmi, winking before leaving them alone.
"She- erm…" Dalmi stuttered as she tried to regain ability of speech but as Dosan neared her behind the obstructing desk, she only fought to calm her beating heart as it thumped loudly in her ears; sure he could here it now due to his overwhelming proximity.
"She what?" Dosan smiled warmly as he was now next to her, his eyebrows knitting together as his hand sunk onto her upper arm.
"Sh-she was teasing-" She swallowed hard as she let him run his fingers down her bare arm, leaving goosebumps in their path.
God she knew she should have moved away from his touched or changed the subject at least but his presence, his scent overwhelmed her and as much as she was mad at him for everything, she wouldn't let herself move from his touch. Dalmi wouldn't bother lying to herself for the latter; she wanted to help him to be near him. Any opportunity to see his face, touch him innocently in a kind gesture even if it was the brush of a shoulder or hand, it would be worth her time.
"I know…" He drawled
"This is just a business deal." She assured her self as he watched her reaction as she closed her eyelids tight at his touch and closeness.
Dosan wasn't able to control himself when his other hand slipped from his waist to her chin, lifting the supple skin between his thumb and index finger until he was able to place his lips against her cheek, savoring the silky texture against his lips for a longing moment as he kissed the spot with appreciation.
"Of course it is," he whispered against her ear before he pulled away, stroking her cheek as his hands left her marred with his smell and handle.
Dalmi licked her lips subconsciously before she eventually felt the absence of his once scolding touch. Snapping her eyes open, with blushed cheeks, she pulled at her pencil skirt and coughed politely, shrugging the last few minutes away.
"I don't know what came over me." She composed herself before stepping out of his region, at a safe enough distance that she wouldn't feel the heat radiating from his perfect masculinity and the overwhelming need to jump him right there and then.
Laughing lightly as the obvious affect he had on her, he smiled warmly at her when she caught his eye.
She was intangible, an adventure, gorgeously complex and he wanted to know every crack and smooth plane. He wanted her more than he had ever known.
"Meet me at the palace bar tonight so we can talk?" he asked.
"Ani. Come to mine. I'm not in the mood for a public outing. Anyone could be listening." She corrected, rooting herself towards the door which she now opened for him.
The quicker she got him to leave, the quicker she could slap herself for nearly cracking under his presence.
"Seven?"
"Eight." She corrected again, liking the way he would simply nod at her order rather than fight her on it. It gave her a little thrill to know she had a little control.