This little establishment was small, dark, and smelled heavily of fire and musk, but the man standing behind the counter was rumored to be the best in Seoul. He stood firmly with his arms crossed, shaking his head with a vehement no. As if my instructions were so out of the realm of possibilities that he could not possibly comprehend. But this was not up for debate.

Wearing a bag on my back, I slung it over my shoulder and slammed it down the desk. The sound of zipping permeated across this tiny space before I pulled out a very unspecific wad of cash from inside and dumped it on the counter in front of him. It was a good thing that I foresaw the need for... additional means of persuasion to have this renowned kintsugi artist fix the mugs that I destroyed. And perhaps fix this broken relationship that I alone have destroyed. The artist's eyes momentarily strayed on the cash before slowly glancing up at me.

"You want it done by tomorrow morning?" he asked slowly, reiterating my earlier demand while I retrieved my bag and secured it once more. "No problem, no problem. No time is too short for this artist right here. I will see you bright and early."

He opened a draw below the cash register and used his entire forearm to brush the money inside, presumably claiming it before I could change my mind. I half wanted to scoff, and half wanted to chuckle. Deciding against neither, I bowed and gave into the slight grin making its way across my face. "Pleasure doing business with you."

Not waiting to receive his bow in response, I turned and headed straight for the door. It was almost claustrophobic being inside this tiny and peculiar space. By tomorrow, the mugs would be fixed and molded back together with gold just as Haneul had absentmindedly suggested. The thought of seeing his eyes water with happiness rather than sorrow or regret the moment I showed these to him tomorrow only further confirmed my decision.

Mr. Kim remained in the driver's seat of the work vehicle while I went inside, and though I could tell he was curious, I was not about to indulge him. The car was still running on idle, so he put it into reverse as we returned to the road and continued the journey to the airport. It was evident that Haneul was insecure about us going away together this weekend. I would have to call him, no, video call him regularly just to give him peace of mind. All I wanted was to reassure him that I would be home tomorrow, and he would be right back in my arms.

We reached the airport, but as opposed to opening the boot and climbing straight out of the car, Mr. Kim slowly and reluctantly pulled out a yellow paper folder out from the glove compartment. He placed it in his lap and glanced at me through the rearview mirror. Not just once, as his eyes flitted away momentarily when our eyes met through the reflection, but a few times before he started to try my patience.

"Did I forget something?" I asked, feeling irritated enough to snap at the slightest provocation. Now was not the time to deal with anything unnecessary. "Is it an important source document? Out with it."

"Sir," Mr. Kim said with slight indignation. "This is my official resignation."

"Right when you're about to advance to an executive position?" I asked, turning the paper in my hand as I studied it. "How peculiar. Nevertheless, it is your decision to leave if you should choose. I will process this when we return to the office."

"Sir, I won't be­­—"­ ­­

"Now is not the time," I said, glancing at my watch. I opened my suit coat and tucked it in an inner pocket compartment. "We will discuss this later. For now, let's get this over with."

Mr. Kim lowered his head but opened his door and hurried around to the boot. Even though his position included the responsibility of retrieving our bags from the boot, he was still considerably smaller than I, so I reached in and pulled them out myself. Just as I would not put the laborious tasks on Haneul, I could not in good conscience do so to Mr. Kim. Perhaps it was good that he was leaving the company completely, so I could no longer be burdened by these inner conflicts, and intrusive thoughts that constantly wondered what if.

We boarded the flight and made it to our destination with time to spare, settling our belongings down in our respective rooms. This was a five star hotel with a In the past, we would have shared a room without second thought. This time, I made sure that no such mistakes would be made. The thought of Haneul getting close with someone else could almost make me sick with rage, and I could recognize how badly this hurt him before, so I had no desire to make him feel such a way again.

After sufficient time to shower and dress into something respectable, we met in the foyer thirty minutes before guests were due to start arriving and began preparing ourselves. We talked through the many important business moguls who would attend this event, the speech Mr. Kim had prepared for me, and the financial figures I was instructed to present. Everything appeared in order and with each of us feeling confident, we made our way into the Grand Ballroom along with a slew of other invitees making their way inside.

Before me was a magnificent display of sublimity and grandeur, a room which suited the flitting of golden palettes as its patrons proved their money and status. Having come from nothing, I worked hard so that these people would know my name and the power it carried with it. Yet even as I stood here, eight years from the time I began building my kingdom from the bottom up, I could still recognize the difference in status. Women were adorned with shimmering diamonds and silver heels that almost seemed to complement the fine blue carpet, and the gentlemen wore tailored suits and coast that gave the illusion they were as large and powerful as the Grand Ballrooms deep rich mahogany walls.

In comparison, my kingdom was little more than a castle my hands built, with nothing but wet sand as its foundation. Heartbreak and betrayal were my driving force, but now that everything I believed was proven false, my castle was already crumbling. This was the life we dreamed of building together, yet it was incomplete without Haneul sitting on the highest throne. Now, from where I stood amid the masses, it felt as though I had ultimately achieved nothing.

Patrons circled the room while they appeased their most influential connections. Of those, many came to me, and many Mr. Kim dragged me around to indulge their egos. Time seemed to slow, and the number of attendees and social responsibilities continued to grow. The walls closed in around me until I had nowhere to turn. All I could think of was Haneul sitting by himself, waiting for my return. Amidst conversation with one of the hospital's board members, my phone began to vibrate and pulled my attention from my company.

With as much subtlety as practicable, I pulled my phone from my jacket's interior pocket and checked the caller identification to find my father's name. It stopped ringing just as soon as I retrieved it, but the moment it started again, I handed it to Mr. Kim and signaled him to answer on my behalf. Mr. Kim's eyebrows raised as he slowly glanced down at my phone, but nodded and walked somewhere secluded as he brought it up to his ear.

Two more people, a wealthy husband and wife, arrived to join in on our conversation and blocked my view of Mr. Kim. The conversation turned livelier, bringing my attention back to those surrounding me. This was not the time to concern myself with external matters. The sooner I could get through this otherwise negligible matter, the sooner I could return home to Haneul's side.

After the few people around me excused themselves, I managed to catch sight of Mr. Kim once more. He appeared stiff-lipped and tense, with narrowed and glacially cold eyes. His gaze rolled towards me, so I pretended my attention was elsewhere before witnessing him creep away from my peripheral. Mr. Kim's behavior came across as entirely unusual for somebody as professionally impeccable as he. Catching sight of him moving towards the foyer, I side-stepped until he was out of view before turning and darting after him. The sleeve of my shirt was pulled in somebody's attempt to garner my attention, but I pried their hands away and excused myself. I needed to find Mr. Kim.

There was a chime on my right, and I tossed my body in its direction before watching him disappear behind elevator doors. Fortunately for me, there were three consecutive elevators with the two others remaining unoccupied. I pressed the button and watched what floor level he was moving to while waiting for one of the others to open. I followed him to the eighth floor where his elevator had stopped, but when I arrived on the floor, the doors were closed and the elevator numbers disappeared. I had the feeling he had stopped the elevator inside for some privacy.

"Fuck," I muttered, brushing my hand through my hair. My other two options were to locate the control room and make up an excuse to review their cameras, or ask the reception to allow me to contact my father. With the second option being the less risk of the two, I hurried down to the ground floor and tried to find assistance. There were signs pointing to a concierge, so I followed them to a room with a grand counter that spanned almost the entire width of the room. Behind it stood an immaculately dressed man in a pressed navy-blue suit, who nodded to acknowledge me as I approached him there.

To the right of the counter, there was a small cubicle-type office that could only be accessed from his side. With the concierge's permission, I entered the room and closed the door behind me. I flicked on the light to find that it was well-lit despite it being such a small and secluded area. Inside was little more than a computer desk with a small chair tucked beneath it. A multiplicity of papers lay sprawled and littered the desk, leaving very little room for me to place the phone down. I pulled the chair and sat, then adjusted the length of the phone cord to bring it closer to me. As I set it down opposite the computer monitor, it landed crookedly atop some of the papers and I realized that a mouse was covered beneath them. As I disturbed the mouse, the screen lit up with CCTV live footage of different areas of the hotel. Jackpot.

There were some inside the event room, in the underground parking areas, in the front entrance and reception desk. There was a drop down list available, but I had to click on it to find other CCTV options. I stole a quick glance at the concierge whose attention was on visitors speaking with him, then moved the papers aside to expose the covered mouse. Among the options of live cameras to view, were the three elevators. I opened it up and found Mr. Kim inside, pacing around on a phone while his free arm gestured anger and frustration. I tried to find audio options, but nothing I tried produced sound.

Not wasting any more time, I dialed father's number and was answered on the first ring.

"Son, why don't you have your damned phone on you?" he demanded. "Listen, I've been keeping tabs on your secretary for the past couple of weeks and you need to hear this."

There was movement coming from his end of the line before I began to hear crackling and the enhanced muffling of a male voice, but it soon became evident that it was coming from Mr. Kim. "You bugged his phone?" I asked.

"Shut up and listen," Father said. "He's on his phone right now."

I closed my eyes and tried to tune in to the conversation, and though the static made it difficult to ease into, I eventually got the hang of it.

"What the hell do you want me to do?" Mr. Kim asked, panic clear in his voice. "My flight to the US isn't for another three weeks. My immigration papers haven't even finalized. You got me into this mess, can't you stop it?"

A female voice ruefully responded, "It's being broadcasted as we speak."

"I gave you that information and you­­—" Mr. Kim venom-filled sharply broke off as if she knew without him having to finish it. "Director Han will throw me in prison."

"There's nothing I could do, Mr. Kim," The more she spoke, the more I had the feeling I recognized her voice. "It's out of my hands. I must go and get an exclusive from Haneul before someone gets their hands on him first. I've waited all these goddamn years; I'm not letting this opportunity go now."

The person this voice belonged to... it finally hit me.

"Are you crazy? Jaemin, don't you dare–" The line cut, interceded by a series of beeps. "You rotten bitch... Shit, what do I do? Augh!"

Seeing Mr. Kim through the camera, I watched his leg lift and kick the elevator mirror. The sound stopped through the phone, so all I could do was witness his outrage through the footage. "Father," I said, "What's happening? What's been leaked?"

"Everything," Father replied. "Every detail we've acquired since Haneul's return is being broadcasted right now as we speak. But you should know, this isn't a new event. It appears that Mr. Kim is in cohort with Haneul's father and has been since he first went missing. All the deleted medical files, the media going hush before he was proven to be found... Mr. Kim was likely behind it all."

"How could that be?" I asked. "We entered the company at more or less the same time, much later than Haneul's medical history was tampered with."

"You have likely been deceived, my son," Father sighed. "He has been working for that hospital for twenty-one years." I could barely process what this meant. We were interns for the financial division at the same time. It was because we were close in age that we bonded and formed our physical relationship. I was curious about this deception, but I did not have the time nor luxury to care. Father continued, "That's enough of that for now. Listen, you need to somehow get to Haneul before the media does, or at least find a way to silence them. He is not well enough to handle the repercussions on his own."

"Shit," I grimaced. "Mr. Kim has my phone; I need to find him. Father, find Haneul and stay with him. Don't let anyone near him, please. And stop Jaemin if you can."

"Right, right," Father agreed. "I'll track him down."

My heart drummed rapidly, and I was afraid of the consequences that would surely follow the release of this information. Political and military corruption, terrorism, and so much more. As soon as I found Mr. Kim, the bastard, I would surely make him pay.

"Father..." I murmured.

"Yes, son," I heard him sigh, heavy with burden.

"Keep him safe."

Some time passed before Mr. Kim finally appeared from the elevator. As his eyes settled on mine, I witnessed the split moment of panic flash across his face before he successfully resumed his composure behind a masterful façade. Had I not seen and heard the ordeal of his betrayal for myself, there would have been no way for me to notice it.

"Director Han," Mr. Kim said, bowing his head in greeting. His eyes dipped to see my luggage on the ground beside me, that I'd already retrieved from the hotel room before he finally emerged. "Are you leaving early? I have tended to your matters and can brief you at the end of the conference."

"No need," I said, extending my hand out towards him. "I decided to take my leave early. My phone, please, if you will."

His eyes widened before reaching into his pocket to retrieve it for me. "Of course, Sir."

"About your resignation," I said, pulling his letter out from my pocket. "I decline."

"Pardon me, Sir?" he asked, curling his brow in confusion as I began tearing the letter in front of him. I allowed the pieces to fall, flittering through the air as they fell around his feet. I stepped closer to him, closing the distance between us until our shoes almost touched. He grew tense, quivering in apprehension as he stared into my eyes.

"I will say this to you now as your superior. You will be relieved of your duties and placed on unpaid leave," I said, placing my hand on his shoulder, "following a formal investigation into professional misconduct, including tampering with medical records, and distributing protected information, thereby breaching privacy laws. I will not allow you to run away so easily."

"Sir, where did you hear—"

Closing the distance even more, I leaned in until my lips grazed his ear, and my fingertips softly touched his tremoring shoulder. "And I say this now as your ex-lover," I murmured, relishing in the fear I was capable of instilling in him, "that I will destroy you. For messing with me, and for messing with the one I love." My attention was drawn to the increasing redness of his neck, and I smiled with satisfaction. I pulled away just slightly, just enough to look into his eyes and watch the fear seep through him. "Just see what happens from here."

When I pulled away and took a good look at his face, I could see his eyes glistening and swelling with tears while his shoulders heaved. This sweet face that had fooled me for so long had no more bearing. I picked up my belongings and turned away ready to head to the airport. Fortunately, the concierge had already arranged a flight for my early departure upon my earlier request.

At the front entrance, a man wearing a dark blue suit and shades stood at the passenger door of a black sedan. As I approached, he bowed and adjusted his angle to greet me.

"I am here to personally collect special VIP guest, Mr. Han," the driver said with a brief bow.

"I am he," I said, then watched as he took hold of my belongings and opened the backseat car door for me. "Please, step inside while I put your things in the back."

As I climbed inside the car, I started receiving a call from an unknown number.

"Chanyeol Han," I said, answering the call.

"Director Han," someone said from the other end of the line. "This is Doctor Somarathne speaking. I'm calling because you are listed as Haneul Bom's emergency contact."

My stomach almost convulsed. "What's wrong with him?"