❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎

It had been a week since Joshua and Seokmin had returned from London and while it was a healing experience, it was also a trip that made them both come to their senses.

Since the day Seokmin told Joshua that he couldn't stop protecting him, they hadn't engaged in a proper conversation.

Most likely because their feelings were bubbling up to their surface and neither of them could do anything to stop it other than avoid each other.

Seokmin had taken a week off work because of his injury but today was the day he would return.

"Do you really need to continue working for him? Look at what happened to you because of him! If I were you, I would've just let him die, wait! Why didn't you just let him die?" Parker's voice crackled as it passed through the speaker.

Seokmin froze, his hands on his tie as he stood speechless. How could he tell Parker he recently realized that he could never just let Joshua die?

"Hello! Seokmin!" Parker yelled and Seokmin broke out of his thoughts, picking up his phone. "I have to go Parks, bye." He ended the call, pressing the red button before putting the phone into his pocket.

He hadn't talked to Joshua properly in almost 2 weeks. He didn't know how he was going to face him and be able to keep himself composed.

The thoughts he'd been having were far from that.

He had to stop himself from going any further. He needed to go back to the roots, the plan, what he came to Korea to do, even if he didn't want to.

...

Seokmin reached the company soon after, going up to Joshua's office and entering the room. "Dokyeom, nice to see you after a while!" Allison waved her hands and Seokmin waved back.

"He's in there, been waiting for you I think." Allison informed Seokmin who hid his surprise. Joshua had been waiting for him?

Seokmin knocked on the door but after receiving no response, he opened it anyway and stepped inside.

"Hey." Joshua waved slightly before sitting down. "Hey." Seokmin replied, the air thick and clouded by awkwardness.

"Are you feeling better now?" Joshua questioned as his eyes fell to Seokmin's stomach where he had been shot.

Seokmin nodded, moving closer to the desk. "Yeah, think I needed the one week off." He folded his arms as he sat down. Joshua agreed with a nod and the two sat in loud silence.

Their eyes were saying much more than their mouths were with the way they looked at each other.

"This is really fucking awkward." Seokmin gave in, leaning back. Joshua rolled his eyes before a smirk plastered on his face.

"You do know that it's your fault, right?" Joshua asked, his unbelief starting to show as he saw Dokyeom's brows furrow.

"What did I do?" Seokmin questioned, confused. "You made things awkward by saying you can't stop protecting me!" Joshua pointed at Dokyeom, his voice a lot louder than usual.

"How is that making things awkward?... It's just the truth." Seokmin admitted, the sound of his voice shrinking as he stumbled on the last part. Joshua's face softened as he heard Dokyeom's words.

As their eyes met, they stared at each other in complete silence and their emotions circled around them, waiting to drop.

Seokmin's cough broke the silence and their eye contact as the two turned away in sync. "Umm, well, you know I have a meeting right?" Joshua asked Dokyeom who nodded, standing up with his briefcase.

"It's on the 4th floor though." Seokmin informed Joshua who also nodded, getting up from his seat. Seokmin's eyes stuck on Joshua's body, his need for the man growing with every look he took.

Joshua's heart was racing as he noticed Dokyeom's eyes fixating on his body. It was becoming incredibly hard to hide from his feelings, to avoid them, to not act on them. He didn't know how much longer he could.

"Let's go." He said as Dokyeom stopped gazing at him and walked towards the door, letting Joshua through before himself.

The two strode down the hall into the elevator and down to the 4th floor which took a while as Joshua's office was on the 15th. "Are you seriously okay? You can take more days off, you know?" Joshua glanced at the position of Dokyeom's injury.

He was still very worried about Dokyeom and his gunshot wound and he just wanted it to disappear, he wanted him to be completely okay. Joshua had noticed how he was walking because of it and he started to feel guilty again.

If only he hadn't gone without proper backup. They would both be okay... he would be okay.

For once, something mattered to Joshua more than wealth, status and himself. That something was Lee Dokyeom.

"I'm fine Josh, I'll be healed completely in a few weeks." Seokmin reassured Joshua as be leaned on the rail of the elevator. Joshua's face reddened rapidly and once Seokmin saw, he came to the realisation that he'd just called Joshua Josh.

Then it made him red too.

They looked at each other at the same time and as their eyes met, they instantly turned away, taking deep breaths as they evaded each other.

The doors of the elevator opened and Vernon stood right in front of them with his own files. "Vernon, good to see you." Seokmin brought out his hand which Vernon did not shake.

"Welcome back Dokyeom." He replied before turning to Joshua. Seokmin pursed his lips, taking his hand back to his pocket.

"Sir, why are you so red?" Vernon questioned as his eyes landed on Joshua, then back on Dokyeom. "Both of you actually." He pointed out.

"Ya! We just came eleven floors down! That elevator isn't properly ventilated." Joshua made his excuses sound so real. He was just as good at lying as Seokmin was.

Vernon's eyebrows scrunched as he looked at the elevator, unable to say anything else as Joshua walked past him and Dokyeom followed.

He looked at the two men, suspicious. Something had happened, was happening or was going to happen. He just couldn't pinpoint what.

Together, the three men entered into the meeting room and Joshua took his seat at the head of the table while Vernon and Seokmin sat on his left and right.

Throughout out the meeting, Seokmin could not take his eyes off Joshua. He was just so flawless and celestial. He was captivating and enticing and yet he maintained his dominant and prominent edge.

Speaking of edges, if Seokmin didn't put himself together soon, he would fall off one.

Straight into the pit that was Joshua Hong.

The meeting ended with Seokmin not even realising it was over until Joshua dragged him out of the chair.

"Follow me." Joshua took a turn to the exit which led to the car park and Seokmin confused, still followed Joshua.

"Where are we going?" He asked and Joshua checked the time on his watch. It was just 11:30. "Check out Christmas decorations."

Seokmin folded his arms, still a bit disoriented. Why were they going to check out Christmas decorations?

"I know you weren't paying attention during the meeting." Joshua stopped walking and turned around, facing Dokyeom fully. He moved his face closer until their faces were barely apart.

"We're going to check out other businesses' Christmas decorations so we can make ours the best." He explained before pulling himself backwards and turning again.

Seokmin went silent, his heart climbing up the walls of his chest, ready to burst out at any moment. "Did you need to be so close to say that?" He asked, trying to sound annoyed.

Joshua smirked as he continued to move towards the exit. Seokmin rolled his eyes at his silence and followed behind him.

If Joshua was going to be like this, then he was also going to be like that.

Seokmin simpered as he stared at the back of Joshua, a sinister expression developing on his face.

Joshua thought he was the only one who knew how to take people's breath away? Seokmin would teach him how it was properly done.

Let the games begin.

❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎

Ⓒ︎𝐎𝐇𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐇𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐇
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 - 06/10/2024
𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 - N/A