"No," you whispered gently. "I think perhaps it's best to remain strangers."
"Why's that?"
"My heart has ran out of space for new people."
There was silence once again. The man stood, and your heart sank with disappointment, assuming he was getting up to leave. Instead, he stepped in front of you, holding out his hand to you. You looked up.
"Then allow me another dance before we disappear from one another," he said.
His eyes were warm as he said it, something inviting you to take his hand.
So you did.
He helped you to your feet, then instantly took you into an intimate dance stance. You stepped back, surprised.
"Here?" you asked. "Like this?"
He nodded. "Here. With no one watching."
"But there's no music."
"That's fine. You have no rhythm."
You slapped his arm and he chuckled, leading you in a new dance under the stars, the crickets and rustling leaves your only melody.
***
The end of the month was always the busiest.
It seemed that there was no shortage of guests and clients going in and out of the Kim household. There was meant to be a new line of jewelry for the coming year, and the summer was filled with events, appointments, and guest dinners in order for the preparation of the new release. You were up to your ears in cooking and cleaning in the kitchen, trying to keep up with the head chef's demands as much as possible. Only in short pockets of time could you look in on the Kim family in their work, catching glimpses of the eldest son, Namjoon, working under his father's guidance and mentorship.
Namjoon was meant to be the future heir of the jewelry business, and he took that responsibility with the utmost seriousness.
So seriously, in fact, that he had agreed to marry a wealthy investor's daughter in exchange for the family business to thrive.
And the worst of it was knowing that he planned to follow through with his obligations because he had no interest in doing anything unrelated to business.
"Who's on the guest list today?" Jimin, your coworker, asked as he looked over the list of food to be prepared.
"Tea time with Seokjin," you replied.
"Ah, the designer," Jimin confirmed. "I feel like in the last year, we've either seen him every day, or not for months at a time. I bet you still remember his coffee, though."
"Half-cup coffee, a fourth water, a fourth milk, no sugar," you said automatically.
Jimin laughed and nodded. "Shall I get the coffee started then?"
"And I'll take care of the petit fours," you added.
Seokjin and Namjoon's fathers were business partners, Seokjin's family business specializing in jewelry designs, and Namjoon's family focusing on funding and production. Seokjin spent a lot of his time traveling around the world to research new designs, and once he settled on a new design, he came to the house nearly every day until the project was finished. Then he would disappear again for another three or four months as he traveled. He always brought gifts for Namjoon's staff, from chocolates to scarves to cigars. He was ridiculously generous in his wealth.
His only flaw - perhaps - was that he was far too generous with his flirtations.
He arrived promptly at half past noon.
"Good afternoon, monsieur!" Seokjin said, his light, summer voice echoing through the foyer. "Why, it smells positively delicious in here. Is that strawberry petit fours?"
"Of course, Mister Kim," the doorman replied with equal energy. "Allow me to take your coat."
There was some muddled laughter and banter as you arranged the petit fours on the plates for tea time. You vaguely heard heavy footsteps approach the kitchen, thinking nothing of it until a voice spoke your name.
"Y/N!" Seokjin said. "It's good to see you again."
When you turned to greet him, you couldn't help but stop for a moment at his smile. It had been some time since you laid eyes on him, and you had forgotten just how charming his smile was. He looked even younger than three or four months ago when you had last seen him, his eyes even brighter and more dazzling than you remember.
You remembered to curtsey. "Good to see you again, Mister Seokjin."
He laughed and waved his hand nonchalantly. "Just Seokjin, Y/N, please. You know I can't stand formalities. I'm relieved to see you're still working for the Kim family. I thought by now you would have run off with a rich young man."
You laughed ironically and shook your head, trying to hide your pain. "Afraid not."
"Do you want to?"
He leaned over the counter, resting on his elbows as hevsmiled recklessly. You turned your face down and pretended to focus on the dessert plate even though your eyes couldn't focus on anything at all.
"Seokjin!" Namjoon's voice called out.
You became even more flustered, the man of your affections walking into the kitchen. As usual, he was in work mode, not seeing anything else... including you.
"Have you brought the designs?" Namjoon asked Seokjin.
Seokjin let out an exasperated, dramatic sigh. "Didn't your mother teach you to greet a guest more warmly? You could at least allow me to enjoy my company for a moment longer."
He winked at you as he picked up a strawberry petit four from the plate, delicately taking it in his mouth in one bite, then sucking the icing from his thumb.
Namjoon nudged him. "Stop fraternizing with my staff. Let's get to work."
It was only then that Namjoon seemed to notice your existence at all.
"Bring in the coffee and desserts to the office," he commanded you.
You nodded, continuing to set up the dessert plate and coffee for their meeting.
You squeaked when Jimin nudged you.
"Dear God, Jimin!" you exclaimed. "Where did you come from? How long have you been standing there?"
"Seokjin was clearly asking for your attention, Y/N," Jimin said, nodding towards the door. "I've never seen so many flirtatious remarks in a few seconds. I might have to take notes."
You tried to hide the blood rushing to your face. "He's like that with everyone."
"You should flirt back and see what happens."
You gaped at him. "I could never! He's a business partner –"
"A rich business partner who is clearly flirting with you." Jimin put the sugar and cream on the coffee tray. "All I'm saying is maybe your eyes should be on someone who's looking back at you."
You froze as you reached for the coffee tray, seeing the hint of pity in Jimin's eyes. For a moment you felt incredibly small, as if you could crawl into the sugar bowl. Instead, you swallowed, saying nothing else as you took the tray of coffee and dessert up to the office.
The door was slightly ajar, so you only had to tap it open with your foot.
"The coral necklace should sit a bit higher on the collarbone," Seokjin said, pointing at the papers already scattered across the table. "And it will go well with the long-chained locket."
Namjoon's eyebrows furrowed over the drawings. You set the coffee tray on the table, out of the way of the drawings.
"I'm not sure how I feel about coral," Namjoon said. "It looks cheap."
"Oh, but it's all the rage," Seokjin replied. "I've done my best to avoid the paste trend. A fine woman should never wear something inauthentic..."
His eyes met yours momentarily, then he looked down at the tray.
"Ah, refreshments!" he said playfully. "You see? This is how you treat a guest, Namjoon."
"Paste enhances the gemstones," Namjoon returned. "It offers us a larger demographic."
Seokjin placed another petit four in his mouth, turning to you to speak.
"He doesn't hear a word I'm saying outside of work," he muttered to you.
You couldn't help but smile at his sarcasm, watching him take a sip of his coffee. He swallowed it, looking down at the cup.
"Forgive me," he said, "but it seems a bit cold. Could I bother you for a bit of hotter water?"
You curtsied and left to the kitchen to bring back a bit of hotter water. Namjoon and Seokjin were still focused and talking about paste and gemstones as you returned. You poured the hot water into his cup.
"Ah, yes," Seokjin said, "The temperature is now perfect, but I'm afraid I've muddled the flavor. Could I bother you for a mixer?"
You nodded again, leaving to go down the stairs once again to the kitchen to get a mixing spoon. You brought it back to him, carefully mixing his coffee together.
He smiled taking another sip. "Yes, it's quite fantastic. This would go perfectly with the caramels I brought with me. If you'd be so kind to grab my bag in the foyer –"
"Could you focus for once, Seokjin?" Namjoon snapped. "Stop being so damn picky about your coffee."
"How am I supposed to work without a decent afternoon coffee?" Seokjin returned. "You know that I'm particular about the things I like, Namjoon."
He looked at you over the rim of his cup as he took another sip, his words lingering as his eyes met yours.
You lost your breath for a moment, doing your best to collect your words.
"I-if that will b-be all," you stuttered out with a curtesy.
You rushed out of the room, closing the office door behind you.
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