Jaejin won't lie and say that he wasn't moved or unhappy by Eros's declaration.

He held onto Eros tightly, feeling his body warmth and his light kisses as he was comforted. He complained softly about the time and place to say these things. Who would have thought that this quiet CEO would respond with a few explicit words in his ear?

Anyone can tell what those words were by how red Jaejin's ears were. Eros found it quite adorable and laughed at how silly his lover was. His happiness also stemmed from Jaejin's public affection. His sweet Jin was brave. It all came down to him not protecting him like a weak princess. All he had to do was simply stay by his side and move at his pace. They weren't in a hurry.

They have a lifetime ahead of them.

"We can spend more times like these in the future."

Hearing Eros's words, Jaejin gently removed himself from the tight embrace and looked at his partner. The two were oblivious to the stares and gossip around them. 
Jaejin only focused on that little promise. He smiled when he understood. That's when he realized how open he was with Eros. 

He was still on campus.

He held someone of the same sex intimately and even kissed him.

Weren't their actions blatantly telling everyone, "I'm gay and this is my lover"?

Taking a deep breath, he brushed away that insecurity. He can fall in love too even if it's with a man. "I'll like that," he replied.
He was about to return to Eros's hold when the awkward clearing of the throat made him pause.

"Uhhh... Mr. Delacourde, sir... I...."

"Why are you calling him Mr. Delacourde? He already gave you permission to call him Eros." Jaejin couldn't help but tease his friend. Turning around he saw how uncomfortable Adam was. He was fidgeting and turning his head to random locations where his eyes would avoid the couple. The poor thing was like a lightbulb next to the couple.

"I don't know. I can never get his name out then I switch to default mode," Adam complained.

"Switch...to ... default mode. Weird analogy but okay. What was it you're gonna say?" Jaejin asked; he opted for leaning against Eros's body. Naturally, Eros wrapped his arms around his waist and quietly listened to the two friends talk.

"I was about to stop the free soft porn from the public eyes but you already did it for me. Plus, are we still on for later or cancel for another time."

"Oh right." Jaejin turned his head to speak with Eros only to find the person already looking at him. A silly grin bloomed on his face. He gave Eros's lips a quick kiss before asking him about his plans.

"I'll take both of you for a quick meal and leave a car to use. You haven't been out for a while. It's good to relax with your friend," Eros answered. He won't let Jaejin know of the date he planned for both of them. It can happen another time, no rush.

Jaejin knew his Rose was hiding something but didn't question it. His words were full of pampering which was a clue of Eros's substitution for something. This happened three times when work interrupted their personal time. He will make sure that Jaejin is happy before he leaves.
"Thanks, baby."

"You can follow in the car," Eros said to Adam and led them both outside the gate.

A black Mercedes drove up to the curb and stayed idle. The driver came out and greeted both his masters respectfully then stood to the side to await his next orders. Adam visited Jaejin during his recovery time and witnessed this countless times, he still couldn't get rid of his bewilderment. Things like these are mostly seen on TV in high society, not in their everyday world. 
Adam glanced at his best friend and smiled. He was happy that the guy was now comfortable to be amongst the public and be himself. Jaejin is pretty lucky too. The silly guy is living a novel-like life, a handsome and rich CEO is in love with and spoils him greatly. 
Every girl's dream. Well, a few guys' dream also.

"This is Adam, young master Jaejin's best friend. You will be looking over his safety while you follow us to the restaurant. The team will meet us there. After our meal, Jaejin will be in your care. Understood?" Eros stated.

"Yes, young master," the driver replied. 

Eros gestured for Adam to get in the car before leading Jaejin to the motorcycle. 

When the two were alone, Eros helped with the helmet, purposely brushing his fingers against Jaejin's fair neck when he fastened the straps. He smirked when a faint red hue appeared and the awkward clearing of his throat was heard.

"Rose. Please stop." Jaejin stepped closer to him to let Eros feel what he had been trying to hide for the past five minutes. His voice was strained when he spoke. 
After being intimate with him, Eros knows when his sweet Jin is aching in need.

"Let me be proud. Only I have the power to affect you like this. Understood?" Eros stated clearly. His arm was around Jaejin's waist, plastering his body against his. He can hear his partner's breathing waver through the earpiece in the helmet. It was too immersive. 

He chuckled and the low rumbling sound sent shivers down Jaejin's back. 

Jaejin clutched onto Eros and softly begged him to behave.

"Anything for you," Eros replied. He held Jaejin's hand and climbed onto the bike then helped him. When he was securely against his back, Eros bit his lip when he felt Jaejin's honest reaction to him. He began to think about how he could ditch Jaejin's friend and monopolize him for the rest of the day and possibly night.

Jaejin felt the change in Eros and hugged him tightly. "Though I love your attention to my body, now isn't the time."

"Fuck."

The sharp curse made his ego rise. In the same way, Eros can control his body with a simple touch, he can affect Eros just the same.

The loud catch of the motorcycle engine blasted through the surrounding area. The onlookers finally came back to their senses after witnessing such a bold display of affection between two men. These things are usually hidden even though laws were created for them. Not everyone likes to see such things. 
Naturally, Eros and Jaejin were oblivious to these stares, they drove off leading the blacked-out Mercedes and two motorcycles that appeared from across the street. 

One sped up and rode alongside Eros while the other stayed beside the car. 

"Are they your people?" Jaejin asked over their private channel on the helmets.

"Our people, baby. Our people. Don't forget."

He squeezed Eros's waist affectionately after the tender correction. "Our people," he whispered. 

"They are two of the hidden pieces I placed on your route. You won't see their faces but know that they are always there for you. When I'm not around, they will protect you," Eros said solemnly.

"It sounds like you had an epiphany."

Eros laughed at the word, it was a close deduction. His clarity on things between them struck him like a thunderbolt.
"I did. I realized I was treating you the way you didn't want to be treated. I wish to protect you from everything, my sweet Jin, and that made me say and do things without thinking about how you feel."

It was a fine moment listening to Eros speak in a lengthy manner. Jaejin felt proud that his Rose was opening up to him. "It's alright. I love the fact that you will always think of me and put things in place. I'm honored to receive your love. From now on, let's talk things through, alright?" Jaejin said these words softly and placed his head on Eros's shoulder, looking at the scenery rushing by. A smile was on his face as he felt the sun on his face through the helmet visor and his exposed skin. The wind wrapped around his body as Eros rode at an average speed along the streets. Hearing Rose's heartbeat and the sound of the bike engine, it was comforting to his mind. 

"I promise." Eros's soft reply added to Jaejin's comfort. 

~~~~~

The restaurant Eros chose was a curbside spot he used to frequent when he first came to Pasadena. The area kept its historic beauty and developed into an eclectic community. The three occupied an outdoor table, waiting for their orders. Jaejin was the one leading the conversation among them. One hardly talked and the other was nervous, these were his people. 
"I can't go on," Jaejin whined. He slouched in his chair and boldly placed his legs on Eros's lap. He took a look at the crowd around them before he did this. The community was one of the few LGBTQ places where couples and singles could eat in peace. It was a casual restaurant that embodied freedom.

Eros gave him a gentle smile and smoothly began to massage Jaejin's calves.

"Sorry. Your man is really frightening," Adam muttered under his breath.

"What was that?" Jaejin wasn't paying attention to him but heard a few syllables.

"Nothing. Nothing." Adam denied it wholeheartedly. He even pretended not to see the lovey-dovey moment of the two. 

"Sorry if I make you feel uncomfortable. I'm not good at socializing," Eros commented. Like a dutiful wife, Jaejin nodded his head in agreement. 

"Oh! Wow. It's okay then," Adam replied and proceeded to ask simple questions that both of them could have at least three sentences with.

It wasn't long before their orders were served and the three found it comfortable to have a meal together. 

During that time, Eros received a text from Druex. There were loose ends he had to tie up. In order to have a foothold in South Korea, he had to handle this case properly. 
Jaejin saw the text, but he didn't have any reaction to it. The name of his father was within that text. As he can guess, Eros's game is at its end and his father is in the process of being cleaned up. 
'Meh, none of my business,' Jaejin said inwardly.

After their meal, it was time for Eros to leave.

"I'm heading home. Have fun but be careful."

Jaejin didn't respond right away. He looked between Eros's soft amber-colored eyes and his slightly parted lips. He bit his own, causing his pink lips to become bolder. "I will." He spoke softly and gently kissed the corner of Eros's lips. He lingered there and felt Rose's hands grip his waist. Jaejin smiled and gave him a proper kiss. 

The two created a picturesque view. Both were lost in the feelings they shared under the evening sun. As Jaejin moved his head, the earrings Eros gifted him shimmered under the natural light, coating them in a romantic aura when their lips met once more.

Adam escaped into the car and cursed his single life.

"Tell me again," Jaejin demanded.

Eros smiled against his lips and spoke slowly so his Jin could feel each word. "I love you."

"The feeling is still there," Jaejin gushed.

This was his sweet Jin.

~~~~~~~

Returning to the penthouse, Eros took a quick shower and dressed in his normal attire - a pressed tailored suit with his custom-made cuff links. Checking the time, he moved to his office on the second floor. The second bedroom next to his office was converted into Jaejin's studio office. 

He took a look in the room and saw a few framed vintage manga covers and some merch from his favorite animes neatly placed on shelves randomly placed on the walls. He shook his head at the new carpet and colorful furniture. His aesthetic reminded Eros of his little sister and mother's need for color.
"He'll fit right in."

Continuing to his office, he placed thoughts of his lover aside and focused on his current plans. Sitting behind his desk, he flipped through the printouts Jian provided and meticulously reviewed each page. 

The contents of the document may cause different reactions to the heads of certain industries. Though the technological industry in the West can be said to be conservative on the outside, it's not the same to the insiders. The advanced breakthroughs that the East released to its public are monopolized by the government. 

Eros plans to break that cycle. Home and business cyber security is the foundation, gradually he will usher in, home care and mobile payments - these things require trust in the company and peace of mind. There are a few banks that started this trend but it was limited. Eros believed with the right program and tight cyber security - mobile payments could cross many platforms. With his family's reach in the government and the big guys' dependence on them to keep the surface clean, they owed the Seal a huge favor. 

When things are settled on that fore-front then he can start in the game industry. His partnership with Baek Chun currently revolves around that. Their R&D team has a 70% completion rate. The Japanese are already in the VR gaming era but it's lukewarm. Eros and Baek Chun want to pick up that slack and to do that they need resources.

People and money are those resources. 

To get that easily, they took down a defenseless company - HW Financial Group. The contacts of that company can help bring in investors. 

Investors bring the money. Baek Chun makes the status change of the company. Eros brings the people to speed things along. 

He will slowly develop in Korea and then bring the market to the US. It will take some time and he doesn't mind. He's doing something he likes.

After reading, he locked the document in the safe in the depths of his desk and opened up a video channel he had on mute. 

The video feed has been on since he came in but he didn't bother to greet the two people on the other side. 

They are not worthy.

The people on the other side were shackled to two uncomfortable straight-back chairs with their sight and hearing blocked.  They wore thin polyester prisoner's garb which did not give them a sense of warmth in the cold, soundless room.

When Eros turned on the mic, a guard entered and removed the earplugs and blindfold. The two looked around bewildered. When they saw who was beside them, they forgot their current plight and began to throw insults at each other. 

On the large LCD screen on the wall, Eros watched the two as they bickered in their native tongue with an indifferent look. At the same time, the screen split in two to welcome the second viewer - Chairman Baek Chun. He too had an indifferent look on his face as he signed off on a few documents and talked to his assistant on the side.

"Can we move things along gentlemen?" Eros spoke in Korean which startled the men out of their spat. They didn't recognize him but they recognized Baek Chun.

"I knew it was you behind this. Are you so petty to ruin me until I retreat to my ancestors' grave?"

Baek Chun didn't respond to the rant. He didn't raise his head to look at the men. "My little brother will tend to your grievances. My role here is a witness or executor, depending on how his mood is," he said unhurriedly.

The men looked at the young man who was currently sitting in a lazy and relaxed position, eyeing them carefully. He propped his head on his closed fists and gave them a lazy smirk. 

"Former Chairman Min Hanjool. Past Administrator Cho Wu An. I should be calling you uncle but it is no longer of use." Eros liked their confused expression. It's like a prelude to a Shakespeare play where emotions are rampant and test the actors' skills. He tends to amuse himself in watching the change of expressions when intimidating people or having persuasive talks.

"I don't think your capacity to acquire information was lacking when you arrived in the US, I believe you were arrogant and not ignorant. Am I right? After all, to start your side business a few red flags may have popped up."

The two middle-aged men's faces became pale when they realized who they were talking to and who had the power to take them away without a sound from the public. Of course, they were warned and rejected because of the family who watched over them but they brushed it aside.

One thing though.

They didn't know which member they were talking to. The young man spoke fluent Korean and was in a close friendship with one of Korea's young tycoons.

Eros didn't state his name. He continued his little speech. He was in a good mood. Baek Chun saw this and raised an eyebrow at this peculiar happening.

"I planned to simply put the Feds on your tail and forget about you but who would have thought that our paths would have crossed in a big way? To think I was this close to calling you father-in-law. Isn't that funny, Min Hanjool?" Eros watched Jaejin's sperm donor closely. The man wanted to curse after putting two and two together but bit his tongue to stay silent.

Eros chuckled but there was no real amusement in it. The little laugh was void of any emotion - bland and cold.

"You angered him, you upset me greatly. You made a move against him, you disrespected me. You made him cry. You pissed me off. Indefinitely. I do not like things to affect me. Isn't it right to get rid of them?" Gone was the lazy and amused CEO. In front of them was a predator looking at his prey thinking of the best way to get rid of them. 

Eros sat back in his seat and eyed the men. His amber eyes were eerie, it made them uncomfortable and wish to look away. The oppression from this young man was unbelievable.

This kid was a tyrant.

"The urge to put a bullet through your head was my first choice when I first spoke to your son but his refusal extended your life span. It's a pity, though. How's your body? That sequela of your stroke is a bitch, right? To think a little trick of making your bastard the new chairman sent you to the ER is truly pathetic."
"Weak." The sneer was heard in his words. Eros truly looked down on the man.
"And you. Mr. Right-Hand man. Do you think you can simply escape from my hold? You were like a hamster in a cage when you ditched your friend and planned to leave the country."

Min Hanjool spoke up. "Young sir, I believe you and my ... son would be happy together. I know how soft-hearted Jaejin can be. Don't you think that he will be upset if you hurt me, much less kill me?"

"No."

Baek Chun chuckled and coughed lightly to cover up his faux pas. Min Hanjool's dumbfounded look after hearing that answer was too comical.

"I think he will smile when I tell him that I blinded and paralyzed his father. Put him in an old cargo container and set him adrift at sea. You will have a few friends along the way. If you survive or are rescued, it depends on your luck."

"You can't do this. That's murder!" Administrator Cho shouted in defiance. 

"There will be people looking for us. Right now, people are looking for us," Min Hanjool added. 'That bitch should have some uses. She will know that I'm missing,' he thought to himself. But that thought withered when he heard Baek Chun speak up.

"Oh. About that. You have run away in guilt after your involvement with Josef Macallis was exposed. Your whereabouts is unknown. The Feds searching for you are unable to get a trace. Shocking News, I have to say."

The two had their worldviews turned. The young men on the TV screen were meticulous villains in their eyes.

Eros chuckled at Baek Chun's narration of their ending scene to the game.

"Don't worry. We will take good care of your company and all of your assets," Baek Chun continued.

The door opened.

[Trigger Warning!]

Four guards walked in with their hands occupied with a stainless steel pot and single burner camp stove. The shackled Min Hanjool and Cho Wu An became uneasy when the scent of vinegar reached their noses and the sight of the visibly hot pot.

The pot was replaced on the fire and two guards took their positions behind the men and held their heads firmly with their insulated gloved hands.

"H-Hey! What are you doing? Let go of me."

It was useless to struggle. They can't move their hands and legs. They were trapped and could only shout to be released. The sound of a cover being taken off was heard. The scent of vinegar became stronger. 
The remaining two guards retrieved stainless steel cups that were in their pockets and patiently waited for their orders.

"Did you know in historical societies, as punishment for intentional crimes, the criminals were blinded due to the law change of the death penalty? You can use any method to blind the criminals. You can gouge their eyes out with a hot poker or pour a boiling substance. I chose the latter. The scent of burning flesh takes a long time to ventilate.," Eros commented unhurriedly. "The substance I chose is vinegar. The acidity is great. It will be interesting to witness this. It's the first time I'm doing it."

The guards filled their cups and moved towards Hanjool and Wu An. 

They can feel the heat. They were scared out of their minds and began to plead for their lives. 

The guards weren't moved. They tightly held the chins of the whimpering old men and slowly poured the heated vinegar directly into their eyes.

The faces of the guards remained unchanged. The wailing and blood-curdling screams filled the room. If you listen closely you can hear the burning of flesh and the clash of heat and eye fluid, hissing upon contact. 
Flesh were burned away. The acidity ate at delicate parts of the eyes as the seconds passed by.

The two passed out from the pain and the screaming. Their faces were grotesque, surely unpleasant to the eyes but it was satisfactory work for both Eros and Baek Chun.

"Break the C7 vertebrae to paralyze them and follow the instructions I sent you," Eros said indifferently.

He watched the smooth actions of the soldiers he trained and felt like a proud father. 

The pain from the attack woke the men. The pain doubled and the panic exceeded the expected outcome.

Pain.

Darkness.

Immobile.

It was unbearable. Unthinkable. 

They were about to die.

That kid did what he said he would do.

Their begging began and so did their apologies. 

No one answered them nor did they realize that they were currently being moved. 

"If they survive, they can tell a wonderful story about actually sleeping with the fishes."