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❝All we are is an isle of flightless birds.❞

•••

CHAPTER TWENTY

SOMEONE WISE ONCE SAID; LIFE IS A MAZE FULL OF CHOICES. But how's that, every choice that I make is so darn wrong. Think, and think and again. Regret, repeat and, again regret. Blame, defeat and mundane are certain characteristics of your life, that no matter how older you get, you start to understand there is no pause button, life is just never simple. That's is why I start everyday again, with the same thought, to not regret the choices that I make and the choices that I've already made.

“Some men are really pathetic. Even though they are married, they keep a mistress outside of their marriage. I certainly despise women who choose to become the other woman knowing certainly well, that the man would never abandon his wife and children.”

My breath shudders, as I lean closely against the cubicle door, trying to make as less sound as possible. A minute goes by before another lady laughs, and then I hear the sound of water tap turing off.

               “Men are dogs. It's up to us women to decide if we can live a life like that,” she begins to speak an in oddly cold voice that made chills to run down my spine,“But have you seen Me Jeon’s wife? Jeon Ivy, gosh she is seriously so cold. Her aura is like that of an heiress, she really scares me.”

“You’re absolutely right, with a wife like that no woman would certainly dare get intimate with her husband. Even though, Mr Jeon—” as a third voice begins to speak, but is immediately cut off with the voice of the second speaker as she once again begins to speak.

“Have you seen Ms. Kim lately? Although she's the new secretary, but I've been noticing that she's pestering herself with Mr. Jeon a little too much, I think she's doing all that to grab the big fish in the pond.”

         “Now that you mention it. It's indeed true, did you see her face when Mr Jeon brought his wife the other day, she really lost it then,” her chuckle echos hauntingly around the washroom, as I sigh in relief when the trio begins to leave.

As my phone chimes, I finally step out of the cubicle, after washing my hands clean. My eyes linger at my reflection in the mirror for a few seconds, before the door is once again pushed, my eyes widen in alarm before realization sinks in and, I find myself face to face with Hara.

“Ivy, how long are you going to stay in there? Mr Lee is already here and Jungkook just asked me to fetch you, she begins to speak but her voice dies off as she notices the look across my face,“Are you alright? Your face looks so pale right now.”

Taking a deep breath, I steady myself, and murmured back softly,“No. It's fine we really should be going it's getting late.”

She nods nonchalantly as I take one last look at my reflection before walking behind her as she points things here and then, but my mind was totally in a different place. All that I could think about was our disagreement this morning, which I don't think was an argument but just stubbornness on my part. I understand he was being considerate, but I've always been cautious about my work, and I would never abandon my duties. Yet, Jungkook knows that as well but he still insists and I don't how much longer will it take for him to understand, I'm fine and I can handle my work on my own.

Even so, he still interfered and the meeting that was suppose to happen three days later was happening now, today was just the basics which only Mr Lee and I were suppose to discuss at his office. But, Jungkook being Jungkook cancelled it and scheduled it to another day, and decided that the three of us should take a look at the location of the school.  And if that wasn't enough, I just heard the most bizarre conversation ever, and the more that I think about it. The more uncomfortable it makes me feel.

Surely, I don't want to believe them, because young women have a tendency to be jealous, and they might be exaggerating things and taking it out against an innocent woman, who was just doing her job as a secretary and nothing more. That is why I'm not going to question the relation between Ms Kim and my own husband, as it could harm my own relation with my husband.

A husband whom I've known for years.

•••

“You seem quieter than usual, Ivy.”

Hara spoke, from beside me as I turned shrugging my shoulder as the car takes a turn, my heart hammers in my chest as I recall the face of that young secretary Kim Anna, only twenty- two, with radiant brown eyes and honey skin she was extremely attractive, for a woman her age I admire her posture the way she carries herself, it certainly gives the reason why other women would be jealous of her. 

“You should've not let Jungkook ride the same car as that secretary, Ivy. He asked you to join, but I don't know what's wrong with you, why do you have to be so difficult all the time?” Hara complains in a high tone, as I chuckle coldly turning to look outside but, something about her words managed to irk the non existent fear in my heart and I couldn't help but speaking out loud.

“True. Maybe I should've—”

“Well, it's a long way and we will surely stop at some cafe for some snacks, you can then change your seats,” Hara reminds me in a heart warming tone, as I try to smile certainly feeling not that delightful.

An hour later just as  she predicted the car did stop on it's way at some cafe, precisely 3km away from our destination. Running a hand through my clothes I tried fixing the creases, while the cold breeze flared fast, crawling through my skin  as I hear footsteps in front of me, my heart skips a beat, the instant I looked up and found myself staring back into those familiar brown eyes.

“It’s seems like it's going to be really cold today. I suggest that you should drink something warm Mr. Jeon,”Kim Anna suggested getting off the car alongside Jungkook.

I noticed the woman standing beside my husband, her eyes eagerly waiting for his reply, while he stood there, utterly blank his eyes seem to have darken as I swiftly pull my coat closer to myself, suddenly feeling too self-aware under his persistent gaze, that paralyzed my senses making me unable to think about anything but the ferocious beating of my treasonous heart.

          “Ms. Ivy?” startled, my eyes flicker momentarily in surprise when, Mr Lee’s voice greets me from beside, as furrowing my brows I weakly move my gaze away from Jungkook and turn to stare at the man beside me.

“Mr Lee, I know how disappointed you must've been to know that our private meeting that was scheduled was postponed to another day—it is my one true intention to let you know that I am indeed, truthfully devoted to my work.”

As I pause, to take a deep breath I was bewitched to witness Mister Lee Taeyong gazing back and at me with an amused face, urging me to take another deep fanatic breath.

“It does not matter if our meeting was scheduled to another day. I am simply too glad to be working with you, and as far as your devotion is concerned; I am quite sure you'd make an excellent partner, Ms Ivy,” as he begins to speak, I wouldn't know if I was still in my right mind, as his words surprised me. They awakened something in me, as  I deflected my gaze with a soft chuckle with an undertone of mirth. And to put it more simply, surprise might have been one of my many reactions, but I am too resilient to admit it, especially when we were standing in the company of my husband, who has managed to at least dig a hole in Mr Lee's head by his icy stare.

So clearing his throat rather too soundly, Jungkook steps forward,“Mr Lee as much as I am delighted to know, how much you find it interesting to work with my wife, Ivy,” he paused briefly in the middle of his conversation as if he wanted me be very well aware of his seemingly frightening presence when he walked to stand just behind me, too close, as placing his hand against my waist he spoke in a dark tone,“I have to remind you we have meetings to attend, and abundant of work to complete.”

“Indeed. We must make haste.”

Mr Lee Taeyong answered profoundly in a calm tone; but I would be a fool, to not notice his bold stare as he locked gaze with the man standing behind me.

TO BE CONTINUED

Author's Note:

There, you want it? You get it. I've been receiving so many messages of everyone,  asking me to continue writing and I just couldn't fathom what I should do about it. I mean this book is still a baby, I just started it and the amount appreciation and love it has been receiving encourages me in so many ways to not give up. I know I've been gone for awhile, a lot changed in my life. I along with my whole family were tested positive for covid just few weeks back and before, I just wasn't my best. But now that, I've passed the most difficult phase of my life I think, I want to try getting into things that make happy? I don't know but I would want to write an ending to this story. And do justice to it.

And at last,
EID MUBARAK ❤️

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shafaq-Shapel♥