Propping an elbow on the bar counter, Chanyeol massaged his temple. Loud music was booming and the club was full with people. Yet, he felt empty still. All because of one girl he could not conquer.

Honestly, he missed talking to Suzy even when she didn't reply most of the time. But Suzy had disregarded him too much, he wanted her to realize his absence to appreciate his presence. Still, it seemed like his avoiding her only hurt him.

Chanyeol poured a shot of vodka and tipped his head back to down it. The alcohol burned his throat and its bitterness momentarily overpowered the pain in his heart. He massaged his temple again dipping his head low. Feeling someone's presence beside him then hearing a long sigh, he looked to his side then smiled at Hyejung who frowned at him.

"Why did you ask to meet here?" She immediately asked.

"There's no Sehun and Baekhyun in this club to tease us. I need to ask you something."

Hyejung heaved another breath. "Before you ask anything, why didn't you tell me the wife you always tell me about is Bae Suzy?"

"Hi, there!" A tall bartender interrupted them. "What can I get you?" He asked; eyes solely on Hyejung.

Hyejung slowly tore her gaze away from Chanyeol. "I'll have Manhattan cocktail."

"Coming right up!" The bartender went a little farther giving them space to talk.

"I would've told you if you have told me you're working at Silverline Group. I was going to ask why you didn't tell me that," Chanyeol answered her earlier question taking another shot of vodka. "I didn't think it was important to disclose my wife's name."

Hyejung clicked her tongue and turned away from him. "In any case, your father-in-law is putting me in a difficult situation."

Chanyeol furrowed his brows. "How so?"

"By asking me to tell you Director Bae's schedule." She briefly pursed her lips. "Something she doesn't like." Glaring at him, she continued, "So don't expect me to tell you her schedules. I'm trying to gain her trust, but doing that will only make her distrust me."

Chanyeol snorted. His eyes then zeroed on the shot glass he mindlessly twirled in his hand. "Has Suzy gone home? I didn't have a chance to see her again."

Hyejung looked surprised by the question. Nervous even. She cleared her throat then hesitantly nodded. "You trust that friend of yours?" She asked out of the blue causing him to raise an eyebrow.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Well..." She shrugged and scratched her neck. "He's able to be with your wife more often than you are. Aren't you jealous?"

Chanyeol's lips curled into an amused smirk. "Why would I be jealous of Lay?" He lightly shook his head. "He's not that type of person."

Hyejung rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

"Here's your cocktail." The tall bartender returned with Hyejung's ordered drink and winked before dismissing himself.

"I think he's hitting on you," Chanyeol commented with a smirk, referring to the bartender.

From the corner of her eyes, Hyejung glanced at the said guy now serving and winking at some other customer. She scoffed and looked away to drink her cocktail. "I think he's hitting on every girl here."

Chanyeol chuckled then slightly twist his body towards her. He propped his elbow on the counter and leaned his head on his hand. A small smile grazed his lips as he watched her drink. He gazed over her never-dyed long black hair, her short eyelashes, and small nose.

Still the same plain girl Chanyeol used to know.

To him, Hyejung isn't as pretty as Suzy, but she's somewhat attractive too. Though she was his ex from college, she was still friendly as ever when they met again a week ago at the club frequently visited by Sehun and Baekhyun. She was like an exact opposite of Suzy. Except for their love of working. Knowing that she had not really changed reminded him that she was one of the few ex-girlfriends he genuinely liked.

"Maybe I shouldn't have broken up with you," he suddenly uttered. "Maybe I should have married you instead."

Hyejung choked on her drink and Chanyeol stifled his laughter. "Ya! Don't say something like that!" She glared at him. "And how many shots have you drank already?" She stopped him when he was about to drink another shot. "Don't get drunk again!"

"Oh? Are you taking care of me now?" Chanyeol teasingly smirked.

Hyejung scowled.

"Don't worry. I have my chauffeur with me today." Another shot of vodka burned down his throat.

Hyejung clicked her tongue. "You better do!" She raised her cocktail glass and took a sip of it. "The first time I saw you get drunk again, you had a random girl sucking on your neck last week. Also, I don't want to have to help you walk to the cab again." Putting down her glass, she mumbled, "You didn't even pay for the cabs." She turned to him and crossed her arms. "Aren't you worried if your wife find out you've been hanging out with your ex? What if she smell my perfume on you and-" She suddenly stopped herself.

Chanyeol glanced at her and furrowed his brows seeing her blankly stared at him with rounded eyes. "What?" He deadpanned.

"Oh my god!" She gasped and covered her mouth.

"What?" Chanyeol blinked at her.

She pulled on a few strands of her hair.

"What is it?" Chanyeol pressed.

"She told me to change my perfume," Hyejung revealed making Chanyeol even more confused. "She said she hates the scent," she muttered to herself.

"Who?"

Hyejung groaned. "Your wife of course!" Groaning again, she buried her face in her hands. "I'm dead," came her muffled whine.

Chanyeol blinked then frowned. His tipsy self tried to process what Hyejung just said. Seconds passed before his face finally lit up. "Wait. Are you saying Suzy's jealous of you because of me?" A grin almost broke out on his face. "Bae Suzy?"

Hyejung threw her head back. "Of course her! Who else would it be!"

His grin finally grew full blast, then he laughed while shaking his head.

"Why are you laughing?" Hyejung raised a brow; her body leaning away from him.

"So I guess Suzy has a thing for me too," Chanyeol mused. He turned to Hyejung with his grin and held her by the shoulders. "You have to help me make her jealous even more then!"

"What? Are you crazy?" She shoved his hands off her shoulders. Turning away with a pout, she huffed a breath. "I told you I'm trying to gain her trust. Not lose it!"

Chanyeol softly smiled and tilted his head to the side trying to make an eye contact with her. "Oh come on! We'll just be pretending." He leaned closer. "You can see it as a chance to have a date with a handsome guy." She scoffed but he didn't miss the faint blush on her cheeks. He was just joking, but teasing her was worth it. "Don't you ever regret the end of our relationship?"

She finally turned to him but her eyes grew wide realizing the close distance between their faces. Chanyeol wasn't affected, but he saw her blush appearing again. Clearing her throat, Hyejung pushed him away.

"No! I won't help you. And I told you to stop bringing up the past already!" She rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue. "I need to go to the restroom," she announced hopping off from the high stool.

She tripped on her own foot when she took a step and her body lurched forward at the momentum. She would have fallen flat on her face if Chanyeol's arm didn't react quickly to catch her. Steadying her, he had his arm around her while his other hand rested on her upper arm.

"You okay?"

Hyejung only stared at him with wide eyes.
__________

Lay handed her a bottled water before leaning forward against the railing in front of the bench Suzy was sitting on. The sky had turned dark and the Han river reflected the city lights. After leaving the hospital, Suzy wanted to have her late lunch. Not wanting to go home right away, she decided to walk around the mall. But even when the night came, she still insisted on staying out to destress herself.

He heaved a breath after taking a sip of his own drink. Out of all places, he suggested going here. Suzy clicked her tongue as she watched him watch the river.

"I'll help you help yourself."

Whatever that meant!

Suzy shook her head opening the cap of her bottle. Lay then turned around facing her and leaned back on the railing. He tilted his head to the side watching her drink then smiled.

"What?" Suzy glared at him.

With long strides, Lay approached and sat down beside her. "Don't you have a dream?" He asked while looking up at the starless night sky.

Suzy momentarily closed her eyes in annoyance. She mentally cursed herself for letting him stay by her side too much. He stayed quiet most of the time; but once he opened his mouth, he asked too much.

"I mean besides being the President of the company."  His head turned to her. "Do you have other dream?"

"Yes. To take over the company," she nonchalantly told him while taking a sip of her water.

"And then?" Lay raised his brows.

Suzy glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. "Then, I win."

"Win over who? Chanyeol?"

Suzy gritted her teeth then fully turned to him. "My father. Now stop asking!" She scowled and looked away with a click of her tongue.

She heard him softly snorted and just rolled her eyes. A sigh escaped her lips as she watched the glimmering city lights before her. Thoughts crossed her mind.

Like how many people were still awake and working. Something she itched to be doing now rather than wasting her time here. If only Chanyeol weren't at the company, she would have gone back there after leaving the hospital. She knew, though, that sooner than later, she would have to suck up her annoyance of him and work. Under him.

"Will you be happy if you have become the president? If you take over the company?" Lay was already staring at her when Suzy tore her gaze away from the view. For the first time, his question stumped her instead of annoying her.

Happiness. That wasn't what she had in mind when she started this mission to destroy her father. She never thought of what it would do to her. Only what it would do to her father. And that was all that mattered.

"That doesn't matter," she finally said.

"Why?"

"Because there's no true happiness." The words tasted bitter in her own tongue. She clenched her jaw and looked away.

"Unless you follow what your heart wants," said Lay over a sigh as he looked up at the sky again.

Suzy scoffed.

Heart. That's what caused people pain when followed. Because the heart is weak. But Lay didn't seem to think that way.

"Well, what my heart wants is to see my father's downfall." She tried to entertain his perspective.

"Really?" Lay blinked his droopy eyes at her. "Isn't baking what you really want to do?"

Suzy froze at his question. She stared at him whose lips curled into a small smile. A little squeeze in her heart made her look away. The walls she had built around herself cracked a little and beams of memory splintered through it. For a moment, she could almost hear her mother's laughter. And her own. The sudden momentary surge of feelings felt so distant. Unfamiliar yet familiar at the same time.

Happiness. It had long left her. She didn't want it. It would only distract her. If anything, maybe she would taste happiness again once she win over her father.

As quickly as it was cracked, it was as if her wall was patched up again.

Biting down her tongue lightly, she abruptly stood up. "You're not supposed to talk much." She stared down at him.

"I was just trying to help." He smiled the smile that always annoyed her.

"Help me help myself?" She raised a brow and rolled her eyes when Yixing nodded. "Asking me these useless questions isn't helping me." Rounding the bench, she walked away. "Come on! I have a better place to go."

Suzy didn't miss the frown on his face. Before he even opened his mouth, she could already guess what he was going to ask.

"Why are we here?"

Suzy unbuckled her seatbelt and smirked. "I need to destress. I shouldn't be stressed out. Junmyeon said that, remember?"

"What he meant was for you to rest," Yixing stopped her from opening the door. "Not to go clubbing."

"Lay," Suzy glared at his hand around her wrist, "you're my bodyguard. Not my boyfriend nor my mom."

Clearing his throat, he let go of her wrist. "That's why I'm trying to protect you from unwanted happenings. And you're not supposed to drink alcohol."

Suzy rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to drink. Now, you can stay here and let me enter by myself, or you can stop your nagging and follow me." With an annoyed sigh, she alighted the car first.

She had not even taken three steps when she heard the door of the car being opened and then shut. A corner of her lips was tugged up. She turned around to face Lay.

Just as expected. "Take off your suit jacket."

"Why?" Lay raised his brows.

"Just take it off." Suzy waved a hand gesturing for him to obey.

Once he did and threw his jacket inside the car, she approached him.  He flinched when she silently rolled up his sleeves.

"There." She patted his shoulders then turned to walk ahead. "Let's go."

The club was full as always. The dance floor was more crowded than the bar counter. Passing through the crowd, Lay would sometimes put an arm around her while extending the other arm to shield her from the people they passed by. Suzy glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. A short scornful chuckle escaped her lips, amused seeing how the scowl didn't leave his face ever since he alighted the car. She wondered if this soft-hearted guy ever go clubbing.

Nearing the bar counter, her eyes searched for Kris only to be greeted by the sight of unexpected familiar faces. Her steps came to a halt. For a short moment, her eyes grew a little wider. Then she shook her head as an amused scoff escaped her lips.

"What is it?" Lay asked beside her.

"Looks like we're not the only ones to destress here." Tilting her head to the side and pursing her lips, she narrowed her eyes at Chanyeol who had her own personal assistant in his arms.

Now it all made sense to her: the awkward atmosphere between them just this afternoon, Chanyeol's coming home late at night, and even the jasmine scent.

"Chanyeol?" Lay softly gasped finally seeing the pair from a distance.

"Suzy!" Kris' voice pulled her gaze away from her husband and perked Chanyeol and Hyejung's attention.

As she walked to the bar counter, from her peripheral view, she saw Chanyeol abruptly releasing Hyejung. 

"Hey," she greeted Kris monotonously while taking a seat across where he stood behind the counter.

Leaning over the counter, the tall guy gave her a quick peck on the cheek- a greeting Suzy had already gotten used to. Then he winked. "You want the usual cocktail? Or tequila?"

"She can't drink alcohol," Yixing answered making himself known.

Kris was momentarily frozen, only realizing his presence now. "Oh my!" He gasped. "Are you her husband? I'm sorry for kissing her earlier."

Suzy smirked. "Don't worry. He's not." Kris heaved a breath of relief. She glanced to where Chanyeol was, finding him already making his way towards them. "HE is." She tipped her head toward Chanyeol.

The taller guy gasped again. "What?"

Hyejung fidgeted behind Chanyeol when they came near her. "Director Bae, I think you misunderstood-"

Suzy put up a hand and rolled her eyes. "Save your explanation. I don't need it. I'm not here for you two."

"We're just college friends," Hyejung explained anyway.

"Oh you were?" Suzy feigned interest leaning her head to the side as she gazed at Hyejung. "This guy here is my college friend too." She jabbed a thumb towards Kris. This unimportant conversation almost made her laugh.

"Su," Chanyeol called and Suzy wanted to scoff at that. He had not been speaking to her for more than a week and now he suddenly seemed to be worried she would be jealous. Which she was not. "What you saw- Hyejung and I- We didn't-" He let out a frustrated breath. "We need to talk," he told her.

"We do now?" Suzy glanced at him then clicked her tongue. "I'm not here for you." She diverted her attention back to her friend. "I'll just have strawberry juice, Kris. You have 'em?"

Seemingly relieved to be able to escape the awkward situation at last, Kris lit up again. "Only for you! Alright princess-" He faked a cough when Chanyeol glared his way "- I mean... Suzy." He quickly excused himself.

"We need to talk," Chanyeol insisted.

"Like we ever did," Suzy sarcastically muttered over a sigh propping her chin on her hand. "Ah!" She turned her head to the pair. "It's getting late. Why don't you bring Hyejung home, Chanyeol? It's not good for a girl to go home alone at this hour."

"Well, you need to go home too," Chanyeol took a step closer towering over her seated self as he stared at her in the eyes.

"I just got here," she deadpanned. "I'll go home with Lay." She turned her attention away hoping Kris would show up soon.

"No. You're coming with me." Chanyeol grabbed her wrist but she quickly whisked it away from his grip.

She rolled her eyes and leaned her chin on her hand again to ignore him. What made him think she would just follow him? She then noticed Lay rubbing his nape beside her.

Lay cleared his throat. "Or maybe I can drive Hyejung-"

"No," Suzy cut him off lazily. "You stay with me." Lay looked taken aback but she could care less of his reaction. "Ugh! What's taking Kris so long?"

A warm hand gripped her wrist again, and she was suddenly pulled off her seat.

"Come with me!"  Chanyeol dragged her, but Suzy altered her stance, resting her weight on one leg to pull them to a stop.

"What do you think you're doing?" She asked still looking composed despite the growing irritation in her. "Let me go, Chanyeol," she told him calmly though through gritted teeth.

Chanyeol pursed his lips and knitted his brows but ignored her request and tried to drag her again. Yet, another hand grabbed that same arm of hers, stopping them both. Suzy was surprised to find Lay standing beside her.

"Lay, let go," Chanyeol's voice sounded demanding and when Suzy gazed back at him, his frown was deeper than before. His gaze was piercing. He wasn't looking at her though. He was glaring at his friend instead.

This dramatic turn of event made Suzy want to roll her eyes so much, but she just closed them instead.

Surprisingly, Lay didn't immediately comply.

"Lay," Chanyeol uttered his friend's name in warning. His grip on her wrist was tightened; Suzy flinched.

"I'll let her go if you do too."