HeungSoon | My most important thing... Is You by harukno89

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HeungSoo's POV

"He touched my dick, I kicked his ass, and he threatened to destroy my career." Namsoon repeats.

I fling my jacket, yank the tie of my neck, unbutton the first three buttons, and grab my cell phone.

"Give me his address," I growl.

"No," he replies. He marches over to the sofa, sits, leans forward, fingers laced together and elbows on his knee. He stares at me.

"What do you mean, no!"

"Because I know that look."

"What look?" I snarl.

"The look that wants to beat someone to a pulp, so don't lay a finger on him. Do nothing, HeungSoo. I will handle this whole mess my way."

"What way is that? How are you going to handle this asswipe?" I force myself to calm down, walk over to him and sit down opposite him. I am livid. Namsoon knows me too well. I want to punch someone. I want to beat Hwa Chul-Moo to a pulp.

"I'll go to the company tomorrow morning and speak to Tae In Su, the chief editor. I'll tell him exactly what happened and politely ask that I debut with someone else, not Hwa Chul-Moo."

"Speaking of editors, where was yours when all of this happened," I ask.

"That's the weird part. We had agreed to leave together, but she suddenly left with Hwa Chul-Moo's editor, leaving me alone with that asshole."

"Hmm!"

"What?" He asks.

"Nothing. Seriously, how are you, Namsoon? I hate that you went through that. No one especially you should have to go through that harassment."

"I am fine. I flipped him hard and I think I may have hurt his back."

"Good."

"I can take care of myself HeungSoo, you know that," he chides me. "It was just a shock."

"I know but I still want to be there if and whenever you need me," I whisper.

"I'm glad because I feel the same about you," he leans towards me and kisses me softly. I return his kiss, pull him off the sofa onto my lap, and hold him tight.

"I am fine, HeungSoo," he mouths into our kiss, his hands circle my neck. He moves his hands down my back, massaging me in tempo with our kiss. The tension slowly eases from my body. He pulls his mouth, nipping my lower lip in the process and tilts my head and looks me square in the eye.

"I don't want you to get into any trouble, please. Don't hit him."

I smile and reply, "I promise. I won't lay a hand on him."

"Good."

Namsoon, just know that I never promise not to ruin his very existence, I tell myself.

"Ramen?" I ask.

"Of course," he replies.

"Ramen the cure for all that ails Go Namsoon."

I smile, lift him off my lap, walk into the kitchen, to make us both a nice pot full of ramen.

                                         ― ☾ ―

I lay on my back, with Namsoon laying half across my body. My head's swirling like crazy on what I'll do to that idiot. Just like I promised Namsoon, I won't lay a finger on him, but he'll wish that I had.

Even when we ran the gang, Namsoon was considered the hothead. The one who charged into every situation ready to beat the opposition to a pulp, but I always reined him in and calmed him down. We beat up a lot of bullies back then, but I always restrained myself because I know I can go too far, even farther than Namsoon ever went.

I recall an occasion where a bully injured Namsoon and I beat the poor boy so badly; he had to be hospitalized. Namsoon and the other members of our gang realize that day that in fact, I am the keg that must never be opened.

I pull Namsoon closer, rest my head on his, and my body calms down. I can sleep now because tomorrow starts my nonphysical thrashing of one Hwa Chul-Moo.

                                                  ― ☾ ―

Day One:

I had Namsoon take my other car the next morning for his meeting with Tae In Su, the chief editor at his publishers. I wish him luck, but I know he is fighting an uphill battle. One that I will make sure he wins while I teach that rodent a valuable lesson: never touch what is mine.

First, I call my office and let them know that I won't be in the office for the rest of the week. I told them I have a family emergency I need to take care of. It's true, Namsoon is my family, and he's in a dire situation.

I make myself a big, black cup of coffee and make my way down the hall to my home office. I place my first call.

"Good morning Lawyer Choi, I need a favor."

"Good morning, Park HeungSoo. How can I help you?"

"You told me once that your paralegal Ahn Ji Ah can find a needle in a haystack?"

"She can, why?"

"I need a thorough investigation of someone. I want to know everything about him, his finances, his holdings, his relationships, family ties, everything from when he was born until now. How long will it take her?" I ask, tapping my pen against my knee.

"A day or two at the most. And who's this unfortunate soul?"

"Why do you say he's unfortunate," I ask, perplexed?

"I'm a lawyer, Park HeungSoo, and I can read people. You don't strike me as someone who'll go to this length to know everything about a person, unless that someone just pissed you off royally," he says.

"Remind me never to play poker with you. The man is Hwa Chul-Moo. I'll fax over what limited information I have on him. And as always, discretion is key."

"Of course."

"Thank you. I look forward to your report. Have a good day."

                                               ― ☾ ―

A second call to someone who, to be honest, will kick Hwa Chul-Moo's butt if she ever meets him.

"Good morning KangJoo, sorry to wake you."

"No problem. I sleep a lot lately. One of the perks of pregnancy, I'm told. What's up?" she yawns.

I didn't bother to beat around the bush. "I need your help. Namsoon's in trouble."

"How can I help," she replies.

I spend the next few minutes telling her what happened and Namsoon's resolution. I fill her in on my plan and what I need her to do.

"You know, I've always known there's an unbreakable bond between you and Go Namsoon. You're alike in some ways and different in others. Namsoon, God bless him, believes he's tough and he can be. Unfortunately, the only thing his kind heart isn't is what you and I are..."

"... vengeful," I reply.

"Only when deserved, of course."

"Of course."

"I'll get you what you need in a day or two."

"And Namsoon cannot know. I promised not to beat the man, but I never promised not to..."

"... make his life a living hell. It's just desert for the unscrupulous son of a bitch. And to think we bought his books all these years, I'm so pissed."

I smile at her ramblings. KangJoo is growing on me, Lord help me.

"And how are you doing?" I ask.

"The baby and I are doing very well. Oh, we'll be in town in a week. My mom is here visiting and driving me up the wall. Someone needs to tell her I'm pregnant, not dying. Oh wait, I did, several times and it didn't do me any good. Anyway, we're bringing her back to Korea."

"Does Namsoon know you'll be in town?"

"Not yet. I'm sure he'll call soon about this incident and I'll let him know."

"How's the other mother to be?"

"Almost as bad as my mom..."

<... I heard that> Masaki screams in the background.

"Say hello to Masaki for me and we'll see you both in a week. Take care. And Lee KangJoo?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for being a wonderful friend to Namsoon."

"Honestly, it's the other way around. He's been my rock and kept me sane."

                                                   ― ☾ ―

I'm reading the dossier from Lawyer Choi's paralegal and I'm glad she works for me, by proxy. Just a little over eight hours and everything is in here. From the day Hwa Chul-Moo was born to what he ate last night. The girl should work for the NIS, CIA, and Interpol. Now I just need to wait for KangJoo to do her bit. With the report in hand, I call Lawyer Choi.

"I read the file you sent me. Can you arrange a meeting in your office tomorrow with the four men listed in her report? Tell them someone needs to hire them. A job interview, so to speak. For authentication, have them bring samples of their work."

"Are you going to hire them or just use them in your plan," he questions?

"One thing you should know about me, Lawyer Choi, is that I do what I promise, no matter what. If they're good, I'll hire them for Gidae Publishing."

"I'm relieved to hear that."

"I'll like you to attend the meeting as my legal counsel. Also, I need you to facilitate some purchases for me. I'll fax the list to you. Time is of the essence so no haggling if it'll cause a delay. We'll talk about it after we meet with the men."

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow. Good evening, Mr. Park HeungSoo."

"Thank you, Lawyer Choi."

So far, so good. An essential part of my plan depends on these men. I'm not surprised; I had an inkling we would find something like this.

I hear my door open and walk out of my office to my living room. Namsoon takes off his shoes, walks by me, and flops on the couch. I can guess what happened.

"Want a glass of water," I ask on my way to the kitchen.

"Mmm," he replies.

"What happened at the meeting with Tae In Su," I ask Namsoon, hoping that I'm wrong in my assumption.

"They threw me under the bus," he sighs.

"I don't understand. Who's they? I thought you were only meeting Tae In Su?" I walk back, hand him a cup of water, and sit down beside him.

"That was the plan. I walked into his office and my editor and Hwa Chul-Moo's were already in his office. I told him everything that happened. Both editors said they believe I overreacted. Hwa Chul-Moo is a friendly client who is just touchy-feely, they said. It shocked me. I expected my editor to at least have my back, you know," he runs his hand through his hair.

"I see. What is the plan now," I ask?

"The Chief editor says that Hwa Chul-Moo has refused to work with me. As if I would work with the asshole. He said that my debut will have to wait until they find another quote, justifiable, unquote way to launch my book. I don't know HeungSoo, I don't think they'll launch my book ever," he fumes.

"You have a contract so don't worry. They will launch it or get sued," I tell him. I am livid.

"You're right, I'll call my lawyer tomorrow and see what we can do," he leans back on the couch, head thrown back, eyes closed. "Relax, HeungSoo, I'll take care of this. Remember your promise?"

"I am relaxed," I respond.

"Unh Unh. The heat from your anger is permeating the room," he turns in my direction and pins me with a look.

I raise my hand in surrender, "I always keep my promise to you. I will not lay a finger on Hwa Chul-Moo's body," I smirk. "You look tired. Why don't you go take a shower and I'll make us dinner? I have a new ramen flavor we can try."

"Sounds great."

"Want me to wash your back," I tease him.

He nods. I walk over to him and we make our way to my bathroom. He takes his clothes off, turns on the shower, and gets in. I wait a few minutes because Namsoon likes the first cold spray on his body while I like it hot before I step in.

I step in a few minutes later and wrap my hands around his back, water cascading over us.

"It'll be all right; I swear it."

"I know," he whispers.

After showering, Namsoon changed and fell asleep instantly. I'll convince him to take the day off tomorrow. His anxiety about the possibility of seeing his work go down the drain is eating at him. First time since I met Namsoon that he slept instead of eating ramen. Not good.

                                                ― ☾ ―

Day Two:

The next morning, I left Namsoon in bed to relax. My man needs it. I left a note by the bed urging him to just take the day to recharge. I'm on a mission and cannot waste a minute if I want to save Namsoon's career.

I arrive at my lawyer's office. I greet his paralegal and thank her for the detailed and timely report she sent my way. I gave her the gift I got for her. She blushed and thanked me. She then walks me to their conference room.

Inside are Lawyer Choi, and four other men who look to be around my age. They're dressed in business suits and portfolios by their sides. They are seated on one side of a rectangular table across from the lone Lawyer Choi. I walk over to Lawyer Choi, shake his hand, sit down on his right while his paralegal sits on the other.

"Good morning, my name is Park HeungSoo, and you've met my lawyer, Choi Hyun-Shik. First, I must apologize to you. The main reason you're here is not for a job, but you may end up with one, nonetheless." I look up and encounter the puzzled faces of Im Dong-Min, Yim Young Min, Cheung Chung-Hee, and Huang Sang Ki.

"Gentlemen, before I talk about your employment prospects, we need to talk about the time you worked with Hwa Chul-Moo."

"Why?" Im Dong-Min, the oldest of the four at twenty-nine, asks.

"A family member had a run-in with Hwa Chul-Moo a few days ago. From what I've researched you all experienced the same thing he did. Only this time, I will not let him derail a friend's career as he did yours. If talking to me about what you went through is not agreeable to you, my sincere apologies and you may leave." I look at each man in the face.

"As long as anything we tell you stays in this room," says Huang Sang Ki, age twenty-five, the most recent assistant that was let go.

"Yes, you have my word." Again, I look at each man in the face, hopefully showing them my sincerity. All four men nod.

I turn to Lawyer Choi's paralegal, "Ahn Ji Ah, will you please give us a few minutes. We'll call you back when we're done. Thank you."

Once she leaves the room, Yim Young Min, age twenty-nine, scoots forward and tells his story. "I worked as Hwa Chul-Moo's assistant six years ago. A few weeks into the job, the touching and petting started. His editor observed some actions but did nothing about it because Hwa Chul-Moo had just released his second series and becoming more famous and making more money for the company. The last time, he tore my clothes, grabbed my privates, and forcibly kissed me, I reported Hwa Chul-Moo to the Chief editor..."

"... that's Tae In Su? I ask.

"Yes. When he did nothing, I went to President Sun Dae-Hyun and still nothing. Instead, I was fired and found myself blackballed in the industry. No publishing company will even hire me as an intern, much less an assistant."

The other three told similar stories, and one of them was almost raped.

"I see. Now onto the second part of our meeting. May I see your portfolios?"

"You really will offer us a job," Huang Sang Ki asks.

"One thing you should know about Park HeungSoo is that he does what he promises, no matter what. If you're good, he'll hire you for Gidae Publishing." Lawyer Choi replies deadpan.

Look who's suddenly my cheerleader and repeating my words verbatim, I smirk.

He calls his paralegal back into the room. I look through their portfolios and I must admit they're good. Wonderful stories and their drawings are excellent.

"I know most artists want to debut with a known publishing company but the company I work with is not as big as Misul, at least not yet but we have a growing loyal fan base. It is a family-run company where we look out for each other. If the four of you are okay with working hard at fine-tuning your stories, we can help you launch your manga. Just know that you may not make the huge money you want from the get-go," I advise them.

"I already applied to Gidae, but they turned me down," Yim Young Min tells me. The other three nod their heads in agreement.

"That won't happen again," I vow to them.

"Why?"

"Because he owns fifty percent of the company and he knows excellent manga stories when he reads them," Lawyer Choi says deadpan.

"Now please leave your contact information with Ahn Ji Ah. I will take your portfolios with me and I'll get back to you in two weeks. Will that be enough time for you to start afresh with Gidae?"

"Yes sir," they all reply.

"Great. Welcome aboard and it's been a pleasure meeting you. Thank you for sharing what has been an uncomfortable situation with me. I need to meet with Lawyer Choi on another matter, so we'll leave you in Ahn Ji Ah's capable hands."

I get up, we exchange bows. Lawyer Choi and I leave to complete the next phase of my plan in his office.

Author's Note: Just the beginning. Park HeungSoo is not done yet!