Chapter Text
Jay had lost count of the times his name and face graced a page in a magazine, newspaper or an article in the internet —stories and interviews of him being a successful fashion icon and businessman at young age, but more often than not, scandals. He should be bothered, he thinks, but said man is now used to being the talk of the whole South Korea that it became his hobby to read them and judge how well the media wrote of him. He has gotten so used to the attention to the point them calling him "fashion genius" and "manwhore" in one sentence no longer has any effect on him. If anything, he finds their creativity in giving him titles amusing.
Being the only son of Fashion Border's CEO and having looks that would put all the company models' beauty combined to shame, it is no wonder he will be the center of attention. When he assumed the position of creative director a year and half ago, his name buzzed even more and the media was all about him, sudden but not unexpected. So when Heeseung called him to tell him to "turn the TV on and go take a fucking look", anger apparent in his voice, Jay didn't even flinch. His bestfriend was always collected, always rational and almost never curses so Jay should be alarmed hearing such words from Heeseung but he knew already what the older is furious about.
So, Jay nonchalantly leaned back on his office chair, feet propped up on the table and turned the TV on, phone still pressed against his ear. He had expected Hwang Seri to hold a press conference and he was right. Jay knew it wouldn't take long for the actress, the pathetic bitch, to come out and cry in front the media how Jay Park played with her heart. She walked in on him and his secretary eating each other's face in his office and of course she flipped out at the sight, quickly grabbing a handful of the other girl's hair. Jay then dragged her away from his terrified assistant and told Seri that she was stupid for assuming they were more than just fuck buddies. The actress bristled, threatening him she will call for a press conference if he refuse to date her. As if that would scare him.
All relaxed in his seat, Jay watched the ridiculous press conference unfold with amusement as the actress sob pathetically and tell the media a breakup story she made up. Delusional woman.
"This is not a laughing matter, Jay!" Heeseung hissed on the other line when he heard Jay chuckle.
"I know but man, look at her". He can really tell Heeseung was frustrated as he was the one who kept reminding Jay he can play around but please not with anyone who has paparazzi always tailing after them.
"I told you not to mess around with people in the show business!"
"Yeah, you did. Thank you for showing me this, hyung. Made my day. Gonna hang up now."
"Sure. You never listen, do you?" Jay can imagine Heeseung rolling his eyes. He can tell the older knew it is no use scolding him now as all his words would just enter one ear and exit the other. Jay suddenly feels sorry for making Heeseung put up with shit because for sure it's the latter who will be cleaning up this mes— “and oh, uncle is on his way there. Good luck." Or probably not.
"Wait. Wha—" a scoff and then a beeping sound. Pissed that Heeseung beat him to hanging up, he turned the TV off. Jay prided himself for being able to keep his calm despite emotions boiling inside him, for pulling off the cool guy facade. As mentioned, it's not the first time he got into a controversy. He has dealt with far too many scandals that he became a master of it but at the mention of his own father —the CEO of this company who never bothered to even say a word about Jay playing around as long as he's keeping the company at the top of the game— barging into his office, Jay can only stare blankly into space, unsure of what to do for the first time.
The door to his office flew open and a red-faced James Park stomped into the room.
"What have you done this time, Park Jongseong?!"
When Jay heard his korean name, he knew there is no escaping.
~
Jungwon adjusts his tie as he stood in front of Fashion Border's building, admiring its majestic edifice. This is it, he thought to himself, can't afford to screw up another interview especially in a company this big. It has been more than a year since he graduated from college. Most of his friends and classmates are now doing well with their own thing —even Riki who spent the entire college sleeping either on rooftops or libraries found love in photography —while Jungwon was still unable to get himself a job.
It's not that Jungwon doesn't have what it takes, no. In fact, he was the top student of his batch. He was intelligent and hardworking ,can get along with anyone and has proven himself worthy of being a leader. Everyone had expected him to do well after graduation, what with all the honors and medals he hogged to himself. He was very hopeful.
But came rejection after rejection.
He used to be confident but after a handful of interviews which all failed due to his unattractive appearance, he started to doubt himself even though he knows he shouldn't. Jungwon thought just being a smart all-rounder could get him by, so he never paid attention to his looks. Now all these rejections are starting to get to him no matter how much he tells himself he's talented enough.
So, Jungwon was surprised to receive a call this morning from Fashion Border inviting him for an interview. Right when he was on the verge of giving up. He almost forgot due to the long train of rejection that he submitted a resume by a chance. Not that the said company was one of his choices but he only heard good things about it so might as well try, right? Quicker than a lightning bolt, he jumped into the shower as soon as the call ended and put on the suit his grandma gifted him after graduation. The interview is set at 2 o'clock and the journey from home to the company only takes an hour. He had time to reherse in front of the mirror so he was more confident this time.
He took a step in to the building and felt a little dazed, not because of the revolving door he just passed through, but because of the grandeur of Fashion Border's interior —and it's only the reception area! There are no gigantic chandelier hanging off the ceiling like in the movies but the curved gypsum ceiling styled like that of a camera shutter on top of another just accentuates how big the room is. The pristine tiled floor looks immaculate as well with the help of the light set just about the right brightness. Jungwon had to catch himself from looking around so much to save himself from looking like a lost kid. He looked ahead to the reception desk and trotted forward.
Jungwon immediately provided his name and his purpose. The lady stationed there eyed him from head to toe and picked up the phone, barely acknowledging him.
"Mr. Lee is waiting for you at the 8th floor." the lady provided him, devoid of any enthusiasm a receptionist should have. He thanked her and quickly get to the elevator, ignoring the way the receptionist eyed him —negativity is the least thing he needs right now.
People come in and out of the metal box on his way up and in the duration of it, he's already come up with several images of Mr. Lee he's gonna be meeting in a little while. He thought of a man in his early 40's with a stern look on his face, wearing some crisp suit that costs more than the tuition his grandma worked hard to pay for in his 4 years in college. He has thought of ways to impress a man as such without looking like he's trying so hard. Jungwon has thought everything through and he can finally say he's confident.
The elevator dinged announcing he has reached the 8th floor. Again, another expensive sight greeted him but Yang Jungwon is a man on a mission so he approached the first man he saw.
"Excuse me..." he prompted and the man turned around to face him. Pretty round eyes landed on him and the man smiled,
"You must be Yang Jungwon, yes? Hi, Im Lee Heeseung, marketing director of Fashion Border. Nice to meet you. " Jungwon swore if it weren't for this setting they're in, he would have swooned and kissed this man's feet. Everything he has rehearsed earlier went flying out of the window because damn he has never met a guy so fine like this one. Standing tall in a cream dress shirt hugging his obviously well-defined torso, sleeves rolled up to his elbow and a smile that could have blinded Jungwon despite it being soft, he could have mistaken him as a model. But aside from his stunning appearance, what made Jungwon's jaw open ajar is that he's the marketing director. There was no advise that he's gonna be speaking to someone with high position right off the bat and ain't that weird? Normally someone from HR or a manager conducts interviews. Also, instead of waiting for Jungwon to be lead to the man's office, he was there by the elevator to greet him. Jungwon came here prepared but now he felt his nerves spike up a bit.
For the second time upon entering the building, Jungwon stopped himself from being so tranced.
"Yes. Nice to meet you, too, Mr. Lee." he smiled back albeit nervously and the other's lit up at that.
"Shall we?" he said stepping aside and gesturing Jungwon to follow him. He nodded and Lee Heeseung started leading the way. They walked along the aisle of lined up office booths and as they do, he could notice the employees giving Heeseung a small bow before giving him a scrutinizing look and he couldn't help but feel conscious. Jungwon looked at his own reflection when they passed by a glass wall. He was wearing a green-orange combo plaid suit that's a little too big for him, his brown mop of a hair in disarray despite combing it for the nth time before hopping out of the cab and falling just above the frame of his spectacles. Well... his suit maybe a little too flashy. Probably. But he's not here to worry about his looks he tells himself and the suit was a gift from his beloved grandma so might as well put it in good use.
They finally reached a room which he knew at first look is the boss's room —this might be Lee Heeseung's office. The latter opened the door and prompted him to go in first with a smile and Jungwon obediently stepped in with a small bow. The room has a minimalistic design —black, white and grey being the dominant colors. Everything is in order and neatly arranged except for the grotesque sketches framed on the wall. His eyes were too busy looking around taking in every detail that he didn't notice the swivel chair spun, the person sitting on it silently observing him.
Lee Heeseung clears his his throat and the young lad turns to look at him,
"Mr. Yang..." he started, nodding his head as if telling Jungwon to face in front so he did and his eyes went big like saucers upon recognizing the man before him. Of course he made a little research before getting here, wanting to take note of the most important person in the company and he definitely saw this face in the article he read. "This is Mr. James Park, the CEO of Fashion Border".
Jungwon wants to pass out.
~
Jay heard the door open but didn't feel the need to turn around to see who it was. There's only one person in this building who just barges in and never bothers to knock.
"Has dad already left?" Jay asked, twirling a pen on one hand, the other lodged inside his dress pants.
"Yea, about five minutes ago. Said he's attending a meeting so no worries you can now breath," came Heeseung's reply with a chuckle, all-knowing how his bestfriend might be feeling at the moment. Not that it's hard to deal with his father, he just didn't know what he had expected when he was told his dad's coming. Jay has a close bond with his family, most especially his dad. He knows well how his father could get when mad but being subjected to his anger is a whole different thing.
"You know I love my old man but can't say the same when he's practically reciting a litany right in my ear," his nose scrunching as he recalls the sermon he received earlier.
"Uncle wouldn't be like that though if you didn't do anything stupid. You deserve it, you know," even without looking, Jay can tell Heeseung's sporting a smug face now and though the older man's right, Jay will never admit that to his face,
"I guess I'm still lucky I get to keep my baby. I don't want you barging into my flat as well every fucking day to give me a ride, no way in hell." Because, yes, without his car, his dad will definitely have Heeseung drive him to places and the latter will just do what he was told since bugging Jay is the joy of his life, like an annoying older brother. Heeseung laughed heartily at that making him let out a chuckle as well. The younger man turned around to throw the pen at his bestfriend in attempt to look disgusted at the thought of being treated like an elementary school kid.
"You're lucky he still went easy on you given the mess you made is gonna require a lot of work to clean up,"
"Still I couldn't believe he suggested he will be hand-picking a secretary for me himself as if—" he trailed off, noticing another presence standing behind Heeseung, "who is that?"
The spectacled guy is only few inches shorter than both of them but he looked so small in that suit —a god awful one, Jay notes. Despite being the shortest and worst dressed in the room, he's holding Jay's death glare so well.
"Jay, it wasn't a suggestion," his bestfriend said with a smile, the kind of smile that makes Jay want to just jump out of the window right then and there. That smile is nothing but bad news.
"Who is that?" he asked again. Heeseung smiled even wider at that, stepping aside to introduce the lad he's with,
"This is Yang Jungwon. He's gonna be your secretary starting today!"
It was clear in Heeseung's voice he's enjoying this and Jay is getting more and more annoyed. The latter eyed his new secretary and Jay feel like pulling his hair out at the sight of this fashion disaster. He shouldn't have expected less from his father.