Chapter Text
Crap.. Crap.. Crap..
Was the first thing that Jeno thought as he woke up late, he had an entire checklist to complete before the sun even began to rise.
Checklist item number one; was picking up his bosses dry cleaning. He was be to sure that the shirt had no wrinkles, and the pants were extra starchy. He had learned his lesson not following that in the first place.
Checklist item number two; was walking his bosses dog, which he didn’t mind because she was god sent, quite literally the only angel on this god forsaken earth. Jeno quickly dropped off the dry cleaning and set Daegal up in her small room after her walk.
Checklist item number three; was getting his bosses favorite coffee: an iced vanilla latte, 7 pieces of ice -yes he counts each ice cube-, 4 packets of sugar in the raw, and a ridiculously long glass straw. Jeno thought the straw was performative, because if his boss really cared about the amount of plastic intake in this world, he wouldn’t be drinking out of a plastic cup.
He wouldn’t dare tell him that because he would fire him on the spot. Jeno rushed into the coffee shop and was hit with the massive line that lasted until the door. Jeno looked down at his watch terrified that he wasn’t going to make it.
“Jeno, Hey! I got your two vanilla iced lattes.” The barista shout out, waving Jeno over.
Jeno sighed out of relief and walks up to the front of the line, “You’re a god send, you know that right..” Jeno reaches into his pocket pulling out his wallet,
“No.. No Don’t worry about it, I can tell you’re running late, Today it’s on me.” The barista smiles handing him the two cups and shooing him towards the exit.
Jeno sped through the long line of people, bolting out of the small coffee shop. He glanced down at his watch for what felt like the nth time that morning. His boss ran on a tight schedule, if he was luckily he could make it moments before his boss arrives.
Jeno dashed through the lobby and straight to the elevators, he pressed the top floor button and lets out a sigh of relief as he rides to the top. The doors shoot open, revealing the chaotic office space that he worked in.
Jeno takes his last and final deep breath before stepping into the chaos he called his job. Jeno hated the eyes that followed him as he walked deeper and deeper into the office space. He knew there was one particular person staring at him as he strolled past her office..
Jeno peeked his head around staring at the closed doors of Giselle's office, he never really knew what she was really up too.. That was his first mistake of the day as he quite literally ran into her.
“Woah, watch where you’re going with those.” She shouts jumping back before the iced latte spilled on her.
Jeno looked down at the mess on his shirt, there was no way that he could present himself with a stained shirt, that’s how the last assistant got fired. He didn’t have time for this, his boss would be walking in any second.
Jeno rushed to his coworkers desk, “Switch shirts with me right now.”
His coworker looked up from his computer, “What?” He responded out of shock,
“Switch shirts with me, I don’t have enough time to explain.” Jeno spits out, seeing the elevator numbers begin to jump in number.
“Why would I-“
“Listen Jisung, I have two front row tickets to see Oasis in their reunion tour, switch your shirt with me and they’re yours…”
Jisung’s eyes bug out of his head, “Really?”
“Yes, really-“ Jeno eyed the numbers on the elevator once more, only twenty more floors before they stopped at their floor, “You have 3 seconds before this offer expires 3…2…”
Jeno didn’t have to finish his countdown because Jisung was already unbuttoning his shirt. They switched shirts rapidly, leaving Jeno to button his last button as soon as the elevator opened.
And in he walked, with his head held high, in one of his many expensive suits, and unsurprisingly wearing sunglasses inside, while on his newest iPhone talking to a high profile writer. The office was so silent you could hear a pen drop.
“Listen Kun.. you can do Oprah, everyone loves Oprah, she can give you the real exposure that this book needs. I know you said no talk shows, but she can work wonders-“
Chenle walks into his office not paying anyone any kind of attention. As soon as he shuts his door, there was audible relief let out by all of the workers on the floor.
Jisung nods off Jeno, “Good luck in there, you’re gonna need it.”
Jeno scoffs picking up the extra coffee cup off of Jisung’s desk. He grabs his emergency straw out of his back pocket. Jeno walks up to the large double doors, and knocks before he enters.
“That’s excellent Kun, I’ll let her know that you’ll be delighted to be on her show.”
Jeno strolls over and places the coffee down on his desk, he steps back pulling out his phone,
“You have a slightly packed schedule, you have a meeting at 10 to finalize this script, another meeting at 12 for Taeyong’s book campaign. Check in at lunch with Daegal’s sitter, and a new meeting with that Children’s book author.. Also immigration was on the line.. they said it was urgent..”
Chenle nods, taking a sip of his coffee, “Jeno, how do you like Chicago..?”
“It’s an amazing city, haven’t been in years though..” Jeno trails, not knowing why he just asked him that.
“I’m glad you feel that way, we’re going this weekend..”
Jeno’s eyes bulge, “This weekend? I can’t do this weekend, I already told you and took off..”
Chenle squints his eyes, “What could be more important than finalizing a deal, and getting one of the greatest writers of our generation onto Oprah?”
Jeno sighs, “It’s my grandmothers 90th birthday. I was going to go home this weekend.”
Chenle picked at the soggy paper coosy on his cup, “Is 90 really that important, given that she’s had 89 before? Doesn’t matter, pack your bag because we are going to Chicago this weekend..”
Jeno bites back his anger, “Did you read my manuscript?”
Chenle slides his sunglasses to the top of his head, “Did I read your manuscript…” Chenle taps his chin like he was pretending to think about it.
“No, I haven’t gotten the chance to yet. Maybe I can read it after Chicago. Who is Renjun by the way?”
“Renjun?” Jeno answered with a question.
“It says, ‘Call me sometime, love Renjun. XOXO..’ Who is Renjun?” Chenle asked, crossing his legs.
The gears turned in Jenos head, “Oh, Renjun is the name of the barista, at the coffee shop that I normally go to..”
“Ok.. why are they writing on my cup for me to call them?”
Jeno rocks back onto his heels, “That’s not your cup..”
Chenle holds the cup up reading the biodegradable sticker stuck to the side. He begins to read it out loud,
“An Iced Vanilla latte, with light ice, 4 sugar in the raws, and a splash of almond milk? This is my exact order, how isn’t this my cup?”
Jeno raises his eyebrows, “That’s my cup.”
“This is your cup? With my exact order?”
Jeno nods, “Yup, it is..”
“You drink the same things as me?- Matter of fact, if this is your cup, Where is mine… You didn‘t drink out of this one did you?” Chenle blinks.
“Your cup spilled this morning, so I had to give you mine instead.” Jeno stated, putting his hands behind his back.
“So.. you order the same thing as me in case of emergencies?? I know you don’t like iced lattes.”
Jeno shakes his head, “No I love iced lattes, especially with an exuberant amount of sugar and no milk.”
“Whatever, don’t you have work to do, get out of my office.” Chenle sips out of his coffee grabbing one of the thousands of papers sitting on his desk.
-
“I know.. I know.. I haven’t visited in 4 years.. But I can’t take off, I’ve already tried.. It.. It was approved but this Chicago trip is important. I just can’t bail in a crucial moment like this.. I will see halmeoni another time I promise.”
Jeno eyes Chenle coming out of his office, “Ok Eomma, I really have to go, I will talk to you later..”
Chenle tapped his severely bitten finger onto Jeno’s desk, “If you are done with your personal phone call during company hours, I would like for you to join me…”
Jeno stands, following the smaller as he walks into the direction of Giselle's office.
Jeno goes to knock but Chenle grabs the knob and walks straight in.
“Giselle.. Is this a new bookshelf?” Chenle swipes his pointer finger across the middle shelf.
“Thanks for knocking..” She looks up from her phone causing her glasses to fall to the bottom of her nose. “To you.. probably, but new no. That is an 1800s French antique, I just had imported from France.. I think that’s something that you wouldn’t know about..”
“Well all that doesn’t matter. Giselle, why didn’t you get Kun to do Oprah?”
“He didn’t want to do it-“
“You never called him, did you?”
“No, I-“
“I got Kun to do Oprah.”
“Impossible, He refused-“
“Nope, Giselle really quick.. You’re fired. I’ll give you two weeks so you can find another job to support your newly financed French antique. But Good luck with the rest of your editing career.”
“Let’s go Jeno, We have actual work to do.”
Chenle doesn’t wait and exits the room. Jeno follows behind him not wanting to stay in Giselles ex office.
“What is she doing?”
Jeno turns to peak back at her, she look so angry.
“She looks like she’s going to blow her top.” Jeno rushes.
“Well if she knows what’s good for her she won’t do it. Don’t do it Giselle, hold your-“
“Chenle!”
“Welp there she goes..”
Chenle stops walking and turns back into her direction entertaining what she has to say.
“Chenle, you are nothing but a conniving bitch, You only want to fire me because you’re jealous of me and my success-“
“Is that right?” Chenle crosses his arms.
“Yes exactly, You hate that I succeed, you’re threatened by me. You think I’m going to steal your job? Maybe if you weren’t such an asshole you’d realize that no one here likes you.. In fact they’re all scared to tell you these thing. But I’m not.”
Chenle takes a step forward, “Giselle, you want to know the real reason I fired you?”
Jeno places his hand into his face terrified of what was about to come out of his bosses mouth.
“I fired you because you couldn’t do something as simple as getting Kun on Oprah, You’re nothing but lazy and entitled. You do realize the only reason you have this job is because Daddy made a few calls. Maybe if you were more focused on your Job and not getting into your associates pants you could’ve gotten Kun to do it. But instead you’re sitting here wasting my time calling me childish names. Now if you’ll excuse me. I have some manuscripts to edit.”
Chenle left them standing there, mouths gaping in shock.
Luckily for Jeno the phone started to ring, he sped towards it picking it up,
“Zhong Chenle’s office…”
Jeno speeds to Chenle’s office, not bothering to knock that time.
“Hey, the executives want to talk to you..”
Chenle looks up from his manuscript, “Right now?” Jeno nods, “Ok, come and get me in like 15 minutes, just say something like Taeyong is on the phone asking about finalization. We’ve got too much work to do today for this..”
Chenle walked down the Long hallway to the executives office, the lovely assistant greeted him at the door, but Chenle just blew past them.
“Hi, you wanted to see me?” Chenle speaks shutting the door behind himself.
“Yes, We did.”
“We got a call from the Immigration office and-“
“Oh that, don’t worry about that, It was probably just an update about my visa.”
“No.. Chenle.. your visa has been denied.. You’re going to be deported..”
“You’re kidding right? Deported? That’s not even fair, this system is rigged, you do know it’s harder for me to be approved? This country has a bias against Asians, neverless Chinese people..”
The executive frowns, “I know.. this sucks, but there’s nothing that we can do.”
Chenle sighs, “Well, I can apply for a temporary visa for the time being until my other one is accepted, we could telecom from Shanghai..”
The taller man clears his throat, “Actually if you are deported from America you can no longer work for an American company..”
“With that being said, we’d have to give your position to the next best person, Giselle”
“Giselle? The person I just fired?”
“I know, again if there was anything that We could do-“
They were cut off by Jeno knocking on the door, He waits a few beats before peaking his head in.
“Hey, so sorry to interpret but Taeyong is on the phone asking about finalizations and normally I would just wait but, he sounds urgent..”
Seeing Jeno sent a lightbulb off in Chenle’s head.
“No, no you’re ok.. Actually honey, please come in here.”
Jeno tries to hide his initial shock walking into the room standing feet behind Chenle.
“Jeno, love, don’t be shy..” Chenle reaches behind himself pulling Jeno to stand where he was standing,
“Actually gentlemen, there is a solution.. I just wish it wasn’t this soon.. Jeno and I are actually engaged..”
Jeno chokes. “We are?”
“Yes Jeno.. They know babe you don’t have to pretend..” Chenle grabs Jeno’s hand intertwining their fingers.
“We were going to get married later, but.. given our circumstances it seems we have to do it sooner than anticipated.”
“You and Jeno?”
“But he’s your assistant?”
Chenle nods, wrapping their arms around Jeno’s waist, “Yup, it wouldn’t be the first time someone in this office fell for their assistant..”
“All of those late nights at the office, weekend book fairs, business trips, coffee runs, you know things happen.. We just couldn’t fight a love like ours.. Are you happy? Because.. We. We are happy..”
“Well that’s good news, you two just need to make it legal.”
“Of course, We’re going to head straight to the immigration office.. To get this all fixed.”
“Make sure you do it as soon as possible.. Congratulations to you two!”
Chenle nods, dragging them out of the office.. The two of them walk down the hallway and are met with the entire office staring at them,
“Stay right here, I’ll be back in a few after I grab all of my stuff..”
Chenle leaves Jeno standing there,
Jisung was the first to speak up out of all of his coworkers,
“Married to Chenle? Really? Makes sense I guess..”
Jeno couldn’t even retaliate back as Chenle came back out of his office, leading them out of the office and down the elevator.
“Chenle..”
Chenle kept walking phone in hand,
“Chenle!”
Chenle stops in his tracks, “Yes Jeno, come on we can’t be late.”
“I don’t understand what’s happening.. Please explain..”
“Jeno.. They were going to make Giselle editor and chief, I couldn’t let that happen..”
“So your first thought is for me to marry you?” Jeno tightens his coat around his waist, the afternoon air was brutal today.
“And what’s so wrong about marrying me? You couldn’t possibly be saving yourself for someone special?”
Jeno scoffs, “And what if I was? You don’t even know if I’m gay! And thats besides the point, It’s Illegal.”
“They’re looking for data hackers, not for book publishers” Chenle whips out his sunglasses covering his eyes.
“Chenle.”
Chenle responds with a hum,
“I’m not going to marry you.”
This time Chenle scoffs, “Sure you are, because if you don’t marry me.. Your dream of touching the lives of millions with the written word are dead. Giselle is going to fire you the second that I’m gone, that means all the late night coffee runs, taking my clothes to the dry cleaners, walking daegal every day, would have been for nothing and all of your dreams of being an editor are gone.”
Chenle steps into Jeno’s personal bubble, “Don’t you worry, I will make sure that we are only married for the allotted amount of time, so we can have a quicky divorce and you’ll be done with me. But until then, whether you like it or not, your wedding cans are tied to my tesla. Now.. Let’s go.”
Chenle starts again in the direction of the immigration office and Jeno follows behind him silently.