Picking an ending is always difficult for me. I could write entire lives given the opportunity. But this fic started out with two people playing fake!married and needed to be about getting two people fighting for something real. I feel as if I’ve accomplished that.
This originally started as an anonymous request. I don’t know who gave me this to play with but thank you. I had a lot of fun and was delighted that so many people enjoyed it too.
<3~
Playing Games: prologue || one || two || three || four || five || six ||seven || eight || nine || ten || eleven || twelve || thirteen || fourteen || fifteen || sixteen|| seventeen || eighteen || nineteen || twenty || twenty-one
(drabbles) one || two || three || four
Heirs Love Letters
=====
It was bright and sunny and early when she opened her eyes. Ye-Sol rolled into the space where her fiancé was supposed to be sleeping and while she found it warm, she also found it empty. Still half asleep, she pouted and sat up.
She could hear Myung-Soo talking on the phone in the living room. He definitely sounded cranky and it made her smile to remember what day it was for them. She slipped out of bed and grabbed one of his shirts before wandering out into the living room.
"Sunbae, you know how to take a picture. I'll set up the cameras for the bridal room and then it is just like filming a movie except you have to press a button at the cute moments." He ran his hand through his hair and it was all a big poof. He didn't notice her until she came up and wrapped her arms around him from behind. He hadn't bothered to put much on after leaving the bed. His skin was warm and she had fun pressing her lips against the back of his neck. He lightly touched her hands but was clearly focused. "Thank you. I will see you in an hour."
He turned around to face her and she got her good morning kiss. "We're getting married today," she said. "And it sounds like things are already falling apart."
"Woo-Jin's wife went into premature labor an hour ago. He's obviously not going to be at the hotel on time. I called a few of my friends but it is too last minute and they are already booked. Sunbae is already coming to the wedding so I begged him to take pictures. I'll do my best not to micromanage." He looked a little frazzled and she kissed him sweetly.
"I want at least five good pictures of us together. Do you need help packing up all your cameras? I get the feeling you will want them all."
"I...ah...packed them last night." His nose went pink. "I didn't want Woo-Jin to forget anything. And so I...It's my day too!" It was adorably defensive and she giggled. He got another kiss because she was just so happy and not nervous at all.
"Let's go back to bed." She pressed a few light kisses to his jaw. She took his phone away from him and tossed it onto the couch. "Just for fifteen minutes. It will relax us before we have to be at the hotel."
"Aren't we supposed to wait to do that until we are officially married?" He started walking her backwards towards the room as he struggled to control his amusement. Ye-Sol trusted him not to steer her into a door so she took a moment to remove his shirt she wore and drop it on the ground. Myung-Soo almost stumbled and she thought it boded well that her fiancé still did double takes when she was naked.
"We are going to be pulled into a million different directions today. Let's do it backwards and get rid of some tension before it makes us cranky." She hit the bed with the back of her legs and giggled when he half lifted her up so he could lay her down. She went so easily and wrapped herself around him. She caught his hand when he reached for the bedside table. "Are you ready?"
Myung-Soo braced himself above her. She waited for him to nod and pull his hand back. "They won't be on the family registry. We have no guarantee my parents will ever recognize us or them."
"It's okay. I want it but I want a family more. I want you more." She curled her fingers in between his and cupped his face with her other hand. "Let's start living."
He grinned and she kissed his dimples. "Alright. Let's live the kind of life where we are late to our own wedding because we're definitely going to make a baby on our honeymoon."
~_~_~
"You are late!" Bo-Na rushed up to her and grabbed her hand. She dragged her across the reception hall and over to the little room that had been set up for Ye-Sol to get ready. She laughed a little bit at Bo-Na's three daughters following her around. Ye-Sol winked at the oldest, a girl of nine, who was clearly in charge of the other two. "What is wrong with your hair?"
"My mother is going to do it. She put these in before I left the apartment." Ye-Sol took off the scarf covering the curlers. Bo-Na looked at her skeptically. "She'll be here soon to help. She owned salons remember? She knows what she's doing."
She was pushed into a chair as Bo-Na yanked on her shirt and put on a smock to keep the makeup off her skin so it wouldn't transfer to the dress later. Bo-Na immediately got to work on her makeup.
Fifteen minutes later Mother arrived to finish her hair. There was a lot of pulling and brushing and curling and hairspray. Bo-Na kept sending her daughters on errands and Ye-Sol thought it was adorable.
Rachel timed her arrival with Ye-Sol's wedding dress perfectly. It took both her and Bo-Na to get her into it because the skirt was incredibly poofy. The front was modest and had a high collar with sleeves that went to her elbows. The back exposed all of her skin--from her shoulders to her waist.
She winced as Bo-Na had to tape her in. Mother kept covering her mouth to hide her laughter at the faces Ye-Sol kept making. Ye-Sol half turned when she caught a camera flash, only to get blinded with the second one.
Myung-Soo stood there grinning before he was shoved out of the dressing area by an irate Bo-Na. Rachel actually looked amused as she put on Ye-Sol's jewelry for her. "There," she said, "Today you are the prettiest girl here."
Ye-Sol stared at herself in the mirror, surrounded by the women in her life that mattered most to her, and almost started to cry. "Don't you dare!" Bo-Na exclaimed, "It says waterproof but you can still smudge it!"
"Where's my phone?" Ye-Sol asked. "We need a picture and Myung-Soo is clearly not allowed."
Rachel pulled out hers and they managed to get the shot Ye-Sol really wanted before they took her to the bridal reception room to greet guests and take the official pictures. It was a long hour as she sat there and smiled at everyone. Myung-Soo was with her though and that was what was important.
Even though he kept telling Hyo-Shin how to take pictures and jumping up to make sure his cameras were doing their job she didn't begrudge him a single moment. Hyo-Shin took it in good humor and only had to push Myung-Soo back onto the bench with her a few times.
She finally took his hand in both of hers and held onto him. "Are you that nervous to promise to be mine forever?"
He wrinkled his nose at her and his cheeks were pink. "Sitting here is boring. I can't wait to get to the food and dancing part of this. Should I read you my vows now? All the paperwork is done and filed."
"Just fifteen more minutes," she promised. "Then you can tell everyone I am the best wife you'll ever have."
Myung-Soo laughed and bent to kiss her cheek when he jerked back. Ye-Sol looked at what made him pale. Standing uncomfortably in the doorway were two very important people. Ye-Sol's heart pounded as Myung-Soo went to go greet his parents. She looked for her own mother and found her standing on the opposite side of the room.
Mother was staring at Ma Jae-Kyung and looked like she wasn't breathing very well. Ma Jae-Kyung stared at Mother and looked a bit stricken. All Ye-Sol could do was hope that this wouldn't fall apart in less than fifteen seconds. She stood and went to go greet Myung-Soo's parents.
She bowed deeply and waited for them to acknowledge her. Myung-Soo had to clear this throat. "Omeoni. Abeoji. You came."
"We were invited," his father said coldly. "You are our son. It would cause us problems with our value if we didn't come."
"I'd hoped it was because you love me," Myung-Soo's face fell just a little before he forced his dimples out. "But I will take what I can get. Let me introduce her again. This is my fiancé, Kang Ye-Sol. We'll be married in about thirty minutes and then she'll be my wife."
"We do love you," Ma Jae-Kyung said softly. "This is not easy, Myung-Soo."
"Please take a picture with us." Ye-Sol met her eyes and smiled as kindly as she could. She wanted to be as welcoming as possible. She needed to prove her words from the last time they spoke. She honestly didn't care about Vice President Jo's grumpy exterior. What mattered was that Myung-Soo's mother was here and that they could begin to heal. It felt like an answer to that small prayer when Ma Jae-Kyung nodded her agreement.
"And please smile, Omeoni," Myung-Soo said lightly as they were arranged into the frame. "All of my pictures and you never smile."
"Such a powerful woman has no need to smile," Hyo-Shin cut in and actually winked at the president of Victory Law. "She carries it in her eyes."
He snapped several pictures before counting out the real one. Myung-Soo held onto Ye-Sol's hand so very tightly the entire time. They stood and bowed as Hyo-Shin announced that he would go check the settings on the cameras set up for the ceremony. Vice President Jo also bowed out of the room, clearly uncomfortable with the Madam of Seoul standing awkwardly in the corner.
Mother waited to be acknowledged. Her eyes were on the ground. Ye-Sol had never seen her so vulnerable before. They’d talked at length about her years with the woman she loved so much and what it meant to give her up. They picked up the pictures from the safety deposit box at the bank after Ye-Sol transferred control of the trust back to the person it belonged to. Mother had so many happy memories with this woman.
Ma Jae-Kyung stared at her with wet eyes.
"Madam Kang," she said roughly. "After our children get married, let's talk. I have some things I need to say to you."
Mother nodded and kept her eyes lowered. "I will listen to all of them, President Ma."
"Walk in with me. I don't want anyone to think you are the reason I don't approve, Chae-Yi. I cannot afford it." The words were hard but Ma Jae-Kyung's voice broke on Mother's name and she had to clear her throat. Ye-Sol watched them walk out of the bridal room and into the reception hall.
"Come look at this," Myung-Soo whispered once they were alone. Ye-Sol walked over to him as he picked up the camera. He held it out to her after pulling up one of the pictures. "She smiled."
"You will need to thank sunbae," she teased. She understood his relief. Ye-Sol kissed him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Now, go in there and wait for me just one more time. I am coming to you now. Let's go make our marriage real."
Playing Games: prologue || one || two || three || four || five || six ||seven || eight || nine || ten || eleven || twelve || thirteen || fourteen || fifteen || sixteen||seventeen || eighteen || nineteen || twenty
(drabbles) one || two || three || four
Heirs Love Letters
=====
"You are too late," Ye-Sol said firmly. She didn't speak to Prosecutor Lee until they were far enough away from the playground. She needed to keep Rachel and her children out of the way. "My mother will be released in a few hours."
"I can have her sent back." He did not sound confident. Ye-Sol was tempted to dig her heel into his very nice leather shoes. She wondered how such a young prosecutor could afford something so expensive. Young-Do wore this brand.
"If you could, you wouldn't have given Yoon Yoo-Rae the memo." It was a shot in the dark. She'd snuck a peek at the article when Myung-Soo and Young-Do were arguing over which outfit to stick So-Young into. "How much does it grate on your nerves that you have absolutely nothing on her now?"
"Give me time. She's sure to slip up again."
Ye-Sol would always be curious as to how he found her in the first place. She'd always wondered why her mother gave up so easily. Ye-Sol believed she had the pull to stay out of jail and continue her business. Now that she knew about Ma Jae-Kyung, it made absolute sense to her why Mother would allow a child to take her down.
"What do you want?"
"In a little under three hours Madam Kang will be released from prison with an exemplary record. She wasn't in a single fight. She was never caught with drugs. I can't even tie her to the judge even though now I'm certain he's on the list." He had probably the saddest frown Ye-Sol had seen in a very long time. His eyes were...melancholy. "Your access will likely change tomorrow. Let's go take your inheritance, Kang Ye-Sol, and end this game."
"I don't know what you're talking about." It was so satisfying to say this to him, to watch his eyes narrow and jaw clench as she smiled up at him sweetly. "My inheritance is contained in a trust that I cannot access until I get married. I'll be returning it to my mother soon. My fiancé wants to take full responsibility for me so I won't be using it. It happens like that when you get married later in life. Are you married, Prosecutor Lee Jae-Kyu?"
"No. I haven't the temperament."
"That is too bad." Ye-Sol stopped walking with him as they came to the farthest edge of the park. It was time to turn around and go back. "I've never been happier to marry my best friend. It feels like such a blessing that my mother will be there."
"And Ma Jae-Kyung? Will she be there as well? I hear she doesn't approve." He still had that confident arrogance. He was putting on a show for her and it made her skin crawl. He was not a good man. He was a lucky asshole who stumbled onto a career maker and was now fighting to keep it. "It's odd, considering she's your mother's favorite lover."
He was wearing a wire.
There was no evidence of it. His clothes lay perfectly and she couldn't see an ear piece but she was certain of it.
It wasn't a recording he meant to give to his superiors. There would be no way he could prove it and the accusation would be used against him so quickly by Victory Law he wouldn't survive. Lee Jae-Kyu was smart. Ye-Sol tried to figure out who he was working for that he would want the list.
There were just so many people.
“Ma Jae-Kyung wants a woman who can handle her legacy. I’m not that woman. That’s why she doesn’t approve.” It didn’t matter who wanted the list or who he was working for. What mattered was that in this tiny, unimportant battle, Ye-Sol had won. “I remember what you said to me the day my home was emptied of all our possessions and our accounts frozen.”
He smiled like he had a bad taste in his mouth. Good. She absolutely wanted him to regret ever approaching her today. It wouldn’t be the worst decision he’d ever made but she wanted him to feel the loss of her.
“I invited you to call me when you got desperate.”
“I didn’t save your number. I burned your card that very night. I knew I would never need it. Tell me, after eight years, have I ever looked desperate?”
“No. It is irritating.” He ran his hand over his face and Ye-Sol delighted in his growing frustration. “The people on that list are horrible people. They deserve to be exposed and punished. Protecting them is a crime, Kang Ye-Sol.”
“Prove it.” They were back in view of the park again and Ye-Sol could see Rachel with her two children. It felt…good when she saw Rachel direct her driver over to them. She was about to be taken back into the fortress of her family. “If these people are as horrible as you believe then you will be able to find proof. My mother hasn’t been in the game for eight years now.”
“I don’t believe that.” His sad smirk was back. “Do you?”
She was saved from answering by Rachel’s driver. He came up to them and bowed. “Manager Kang, Director Yoo is ready to leave. She requires your assistance with the children.”
“Of course. Thank you. I will be there in a moment.” She was absolutely delighted that the driver only took a single step back. She tilted her head at Lee Jae-Kyu and waited for him to bow out of the conversation. He wasn’t going to get a single centimeter from her.
He sighed and reached into her pocket. Once more he offered her a card but this time she didn’t take it. “I am willing to work with her. When she is ready to clear her conscience, I will be here.”
Ye-Sol let it hang awkwardly between them. “I am not your messenger.”
She let the driver come between them and steer her away from the prosecutor. Ye-Sol didn’t look back at him. She was done with him. Not even his appeal to her conscience created any sort of hesitation. Let him go up against her mother a second time and fail so spectacularly it would destroy him. Ye-Sol would be too busy getting married, sleeping well without the stress of the list keeping her up, eating well, and living well.
“I can report him for harassment,” Rachel said once she was within earshot. “I’m getting sick of all these people just showing up around my children.”
“I’m sorry,” Ye-Sol said immediately. She bent down and started helping Rachel gather all the children’s things. Rachel put her hand on her arm and shook her head.
“They are the idiots that aren’t thinking properly. It isn’t your fault. Are you ready? Myung-Soo just called me. They are on their way back.”
Ye-Sol’s heart started to race. “Already? I thought…”
“We might have lied to you.” Rachel didn’t look sorry for a single second. “You were freaking out and we wanted you focused on other things. You were ready to give yourself an aneurism. Let’s go. Min-Jae, hold onto your aunt’s hand.”
There was a lump in her throat as Min-Jae obeyed Rachel and whispered, “Imo,” at her. “Can I play with Eun-Chae now?”
Rachel growled something unhappy at him while they packed the kids up in the car. Ye-Sol tried not to laugh as Min-Jae held her hand the entire car ride and started listing all the reasons why Eun-Chae was his best friend.
“How do you know though?” Ye-Sol tried to be on Rachel’s side for this conversation. “You’ve only met her once.”
“It was all day. We played all day and I didn’t want Eun-Chae to go away. That is best friends.” He said it very loudly and Rachel rolled her eyes. “We took a nap together too.”
“A fact I will regret until the day I die,” she muttered. “You will take plenty of naps with other people and it will mean nothing.”
“You take naps with Appa and it doesn’t mean nothing.” He balled his hand into a fist. “Appa says Omma is his best friend. That’s why you take naps and play together. He said your first nap was the best. Our first nap was the best. I want to play with Eun-Chae!”
Ye-Sol snorted when Rachel’s face went entirely red and she had to stifle her laugh. Rachel shot her a glare with very little heat. “Remember this the first time your toddler walks in on you and Myung-Soo because your beloved husband forgot to lock the door. Do not let him handle the explanation, Ye-Sol. You will regret it. Min-Jae,” she took a deep breath as the car pulled up to Myung-Soo’s apartment, “You cannot play with Eun-Chae today. Today is a family day, remember?”
“Why?”
“Because Appa is waiting for us at home and you skipped your nap.” Rachel pulled Min-Jae’s hand out of Ye-Sol’s when the driver opened the door. “Go. He’ll forget about her in a few days.”
“If I am good and take my nap, can I play with Eun-Chae?”
Ye-Sol slipped out of the car and raised a fist. “Fighting, Rachel!”
Then she ran to the elevator. Myung-Soo’s car was in his space. Her mother was here. Ye-Sol forced herself to wait patiently. Taking the stairs up twenty flights of stairs would not be faster. She nearly hissed at the two other people who made the elevator stop at the lobby and on their floors.
She bolted out of the elevator and ran down the hall. She kicked off her shoes the moment she entered the apartment and rushed into the living room. Myung-Soo sat on the couch with her mother and Ye-Sol stopped short when Mother turned around to look at her.
“Omma!” She flung herself at her and hugged her tightly. Mother’s embrace was just as tight. It almost didn’t feel real. Ye-Sol began to cry. Mother stroked her hair and she could hear the quiet sobs as she joined her. “Omma. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to greet you.”
“My son-in-law explained.”
Ye-Sol squeezed her eyes shut. She had so much to tell her mother. She looked at Myung-Soo over Mother’s shoulders and he gave her one of his pleading, silly faces. She smiled at him and mouthed her thanks. “I want to smack him. I should’ve been here, Omma.”
“Sit down with me. I’m not done looking at all these pictures.” Mother drew her back to the couch. Myung-Soo had spread out his photo books on the coffee table and Ye-Sol felt herself blush. She’d forgotten how many candid pictures he took of her over the years. Mother put her arm around her shoulders as Myung-Soo stood.
“I will give you some privacy. Jangmonim, we’re still in the process of arranging our home, but you are welcome to stay in our guest space for as long as you need.” He gestured to the brand new hole in the wall. Mother laughed and nodded.
“I’ll stay just a few days until I can reorient myself. This is a newlywed home. Parents have no place here.” Ye-Sol almost argued with her as Myung-Soo bowed. He came over and kissed her forehead.
“I have some work to do so I’ll see you for dinner.”
Ye-Sol nodded and grabbed his tie before he could straighten. She wanted more than a forehead kiss. She pressed her lips softly against his and didn’t care that her mother was right next to her. Mother wouldn’t judge her for wanting this.
She watched Myung-Soo go into his studio and close the door. Mother squeezed her arm and Ye-Sol laid her head against her shoulder. “He loves you very much. I’m glad you have him, daughter.”
“I love him.” She held out her hand so Mother could see her ring. “Do you approve?”
“Without a single caveat,” she replied immediately. “I cannot wait to watch you get married. There is no more reason for you to delay. You should set a date tonight.”
Ye-Sol wiped at her eyes. She always trusted that Mother would approve of Myung-Soo, but after the last few weeks, she needed Mother to welcome him with open arms. But right now they needed to talk about realities. “Omma, I gave Ma Jae-Kyung your letter.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you about her. It wasn’t safe and I…” Her voice broke and once more Ye-Sol was relieved they hadn’t been mistaken about Mother’s feelings. “I hope she found someone else while I was gone. Jae-Kyung is a woman who needs pure love and adoration. I always wanted that for her, even if I couldn’t always give it to her myself.”
“I don’t think she has,” Ye-Sol said carefully. “She’s still wearing her ring.”
“My daughter is so smart.” Mother had to wipe at her face and Ye-Sol handed her a handkerchief. “You figured it all out. My letter was an apology. It wasn’t a plea for forgiveness. What I did was unforgiveable. She probably won’t come to your wedding.”
“I know. I will invite her anyway. I will set a place for her anyway.” Mother took her hand and Ye-Sol held on tightly. “What will you do next?”
Her answer didn’t surprise Ye-Sol in the slightest. “Open a new salon.”
Playing Games: prologue || one || two || three || four || five || six || seven || eight || nine || ten || eleven || twelve || thirteen || fourteen || fifteen || sixteen ||seventeen || eighteen || nineteen
(drabbles) one || two || three || four
Heirs Love Letters
======
Ye-Sol felt exhausted and tired the entire drive home but couldn't bring herself to worry. She'd done what she could. She hoped Ma Jae-Kyung would take a step back and leave them all in peace.
Peace.
Yes, that was what she felt. The ride up the elevator was peaceful. Walking into her home was peaceful. The quiet surrounding her was peaceful. Ye-Sol took off her shoes, put on her slippers, and felt weight lift off of her shoulders.
Especially when she found Myung-Soo and Young-Do curled up in bed together with So-Young tucked in between them. Ye-Sol blinked and scrambled for her phone. She covered the speaker to hide the shutter noise and took several pictures. She laughed at Young-Do's shirt and pants on the floor and wondered if he'd put the pajama bottoms on Myung-Soo or woken him up first. He was clearly here to stay.
She texted one of the pictures to Rachel with an apology. I'm too much of a coward to wake him up.
Are you alright?
Ye-Sol smiled and sat down on the couch. She yawned and decided to just lay down here. I am. I did and said what I needed to.
Good. It was so Rachel. Is he okay?
Her smile faded and she glanced at the bedroom door. Not yet. He will be. Myung-Soo is too...Myung-Soo...to linger in heartbreak for long.
That is true. Good luck with my husband. He is a morning person.
That made her laugh quietly. Ye-Sol went and plugged her phone in to charge before grabbing a blanket from the linen closet. She quietly got ready for bed and did her best not to disturb the sleeping men. She had a moment where she thought she might need to take So-Young and make a bed for her elsewhere but the toddler had one fist in her daddy's hair and her head nestled on Myung-Soo's shoulder.
How long would she have to wait? Another year? Then she would have a little girl or boy with Myung-Soo's dimples who loved to cuddle him. She almost went into his studio to grab one of his good cameras except she knew how much he hated other people touching his equipment.
This was her future. Myung-Soo and a little one to call their own. They wouldn't have to play at being parents whenever Young-Do and Rachel needed a babysitter. Ye-Sol wiped at her eyes and left the friends where they were.
She curled up on the couch and fell asleep quickly. She only woke briefly when she felt someone lift her up. "I have a guest room," Myung-Soo gently chided. He kissed her forehead. "And you can kick out Young-Do whenever you want."
Ye-Sol just snuggled sleepily into his arms and pressed her nose against his throat. He gave a quiet yelp. Her nose must be cold. He placed her into bed and she was pleased he joined her. "Young-Do said you left."
"I did. I had to give something to your mother." She pulled his arm tight over her waist and wondered if it were possible to just become a part of him. "We aren't approaching her again. She knows where to come to apologize to us. All that matters is that we are happy."
"Good." He bent and kissed her shoulder. "I almost went after you but Young-Do stuck So-Young in my arms and made it impossible."
Ye-Sol laughed softly and easily turned her head so she could kiss his cheek. "I wondered why he brought her."
"He is ruthless. Go back to sleep. No work for us tomorrow. We are taking the day off."
He got no argument from her. She fell back asleep and felt all the fear and tension ease out of her. Myung-Soo was warm and solid against her. She felt safe. She knew she could rely on him just as she was certain he was right to rely on her.
She was woken up the second time by a little hand patting her shoulder. Ye-Sol opened her eyes to see Min-Jae bending over her. He wrinkled his nose and continued to pat her shoulder. "Wake up. It is time for breakfast."
Ye-Sol slowly sat up and rubbed at her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"It is a family day," he said solemnly. "And Appa forgot So-Young's bag."
Of course he did. Probably because both she and Myung-Soo kept a basket with diapers and wipes for these two kids, just in case. They even had extra clothes for spills. Rachel couldn't bring messy kids into public. The bag was just an excuse.
"Okay. Come talk to me while I wash my face." She climbed out of bed and Min-Jae followed her like a little duckling while she put on clothes appropriate for visiting family. Ye-Sol brushed her hair out and washed her face while Min-Jae complained about not being allowed at the sleepover. So-Young got to have all the fun.
She could hear phones ringing and laughter coming from the living room. A family day. After last night she was just so glad for Rachel and Young-Do coming over to support Myung-Soo. Breakfast with all of them would be fun. She wondered where she put the basket full of toys for the two kids as she and Min-Jae joined the family.
"Oppa," Myung-Soo whined and gave his cutest look at his best friend. He tried to grab something out of Young-Do's hands. It looked like a phone. Rachel was arranging breakfast at the table and there were three food delivery cases on the counter. "Oppa, why are you so mean to me?"
"I'm doing this for your own good, Myung-Seok. Let oppa take care of you. Don't worry your pretty little head about this."
Min-Jae tugged on Ye-Sol's hand and she looked down at him. "I don't understand. Appa isn't an oppa."
"Your father is being ridiculous," Rachel called. The two friends hadn't stopped playing the familiar game and were now in danger of knocking the coffee table over. "Come sit down, Min-Jae."
He gave the heaviest sigh that carried the weight of all three and a half of his years but obediently went over to the table. Ye-Sol intended to go help Rachel when she heard her phone ring. She wrinkled her nose and went to go answer it. Within two seconds she had two very large men scrambling over the couch to stop her.
"Don't answer that!"
Ye-Sol blinked and looked down at the call screen. It wasn't a number she recognized so she sent it to voicemail. She frowned when she saw that she had about twenty missed calls and two voicemails. "Why?"
"It's all reporters. They're calling about a story that broke this morning."
"About Myung-Soo and his mother?" There was something odd about the way exchanged a worried look. A slap didn't seem to warrant blowing up her phone like this. It started ringing again and she was about to swipe her thumb over the screen when Myung-Soo actually took it away from her.
"Come sit down." Her eyebrows went up when Young-Do took the phone away from Myung-Soo and removed the battery. He set it back on the side table and her throat went dry at his expression. It was always uncomfortable when Choi Young-Do lost his disarming smile.
"Now," Rachel said testily. "The food is getting cold."
Myung-Soo forced a smile as he took her hand. They sat down at the table and Rachel put a bowl of rice in front of her, followed by filling another bowl with soup. There was grilled fish and a few side dishes. Ye-Sol swallowed and it hurt.
"What's going on?"
"Last night an intrepid young reporter discovered a memo from an Assemblyman to a parole judge," Rachel said when the men were too busy looking at their own bowls of soup. "It contained the date of release for--"
"My mother." She stopped breathing for a few seconds. "When?"
Her fingers felt numb. A story like this could trap Mother if there was too much time. Sometimes powerful people backtracked when the public was against them. Everything about her mother had been so mixed, especially after the security measure revealed the two assemblymen. One had been very beloved until it was revealed he had been with prostitutes.
The public was not a kind creature.
Ye-Sol licked her lips and looked pleadingly at Myung-Soo to answer her when Rachel hesitated. "When?"
"Today."
She shoved her chair back from the table and Myung-Soo immediately caught her arm and stood with her. "I have to go," she said. "I need to be there to meet her. What time? What if one of those calls is from her? I need to answer my phone."
"I've already spoken to her," he said and she jerked away. He held up his hands and looked apologetic. "I answered your phone when I saw that it was her lawyer. She doesn't want you to come to the prison to pick her up. There is too much press. She doesn't want you caught up in it."
"Why didn't you wake me up?"
"Why didn't you wake me last night?" He smiled tightly and she winced. He was right and she felt it even more when he continued. "I trusted you with my mother. I hope you will trust me with yours because I am allowed to pick her up. I convinced her to come here. It appears that the reporters are camped out at your old apartment and none have realized you are living with me yet."
Ye-Sol crossed her arms over her stomach. "She's letting you pick her up?"
"I'm her son-in-law. It is my privilege." He tentatively took her hands and pressed his forehead against hers. "Sit down and eat. I will be ashamed to show my face knowing I haven't taken proper care of you today."
"You will bring her here?" She was terrified Mother would change her mind once Myung-Soo took her away from the prison. It stung, just a little, she wasn't allowed to meet her when she was released. She didn't care about reporters or lists or fallout. She just wanted her mother to tell her she'd done the right thing. She wanted affirmation to know she'd chosen well.
"Nothing she could say will stop me." He kissed her forehead and drew her back to her food. Young-Do and Rachel fussed with their children and ignored the intimate display. Ye-Sol's hands trembled as she tried to eat her rice and soup. Myung-Soo took the time to separate her fish from the bones for her.
"What time will you leave?"
"She is supposed to be processed by three. I will go and wait as soon as we are finished with breakfast." He placed a few pieces of fish on her rice. He encouraged her with his dimples to eat everything. She loved this about him even as she worried he wasn't processing the slap his mother gave him last night.
Myung-Soo always bounced back in record time. Here she was reeling over this news and he was smiling and making sure she was okay.
"You and I will go to the park with the children for lunch," Rachel said imperially and Ye-Sol was grateful for a plan where she didn't have to think. "It is a nice day and we're waiting for Hyo-Shin to edit the advertisement anyway. It will distract you until then. It will also keep any press who managed to figure out why you aren't at your old apartment away from this building so we can sneak Madam Kang inside."
Ye-Sol nodded and glanced at the clock. It was barely after nine. Seven hours, if she was lucky. She drew in a deep breath and tried to smile back at them.
"Sunbae?" Young-Do sounded mildly surprised. "You didn't mention he was your director for this."
Rachel tilted her head and her brow furrowed. "Are you sure?" She shrugged and held out bite of rice to So-Young. "I'm certain we talked about it. I really liked the work he did adapting that mini-drama."
"You hated that drama. You said the writing was the worst you'd ever seen." It was Ye-Sol and Myung-Soo's turn to exchange looks and fuss with the children. Myung-Soo struggled not to snicker and Ye-Sol was more than happy to observe someone else.
"Yes, but the camera work was fantastic. It is amazing what he can do with a poor concept." She fed her daughter a few more bites and then blinked over at her husband. "What?"
"Trying to decide how much of your shit I should be calling you on." He grinned into soup bowl. "We both know you didn't tell me, just as we both know Cha Eun-Sang wrote that drama and won an award for it. Should I remind you that Lee Eun-Chae is Min-Jae's new best friend?"
Rachel clenched her jaw as Min-Jae perked up at the mention of his new friend. Myung-Soo's eyes went wide and he turned his head and half covered his mouth as he looked at Ye-Sol. Wow!
"Can I play with Eun-Chae today?"
"No," Rachel said firmly and stuck a bite of rice in his mouth. "That was a onetime thing. It won't happen again. You will make other friends."
"But I like Eun-Chae," Min-Jae muttered petulantly around his rice. "She likes coloring together. She's not loud like Yeon-Jae."
"That's the basis for true love if I ever heard it," Young-Do agreed with half a laugh. "I'll call Eun-Sang and arrange a play date."
"He is not even four," Rachel hissed and stood up. She took Young-Do's half eaten rice bowl away from him and began to clear it. Min-Jae just looked dejected at what he didn't understand. "He will meet other girls. No play dates! Do not call her."
Rachel went over to the kitchen area and Young-Do sighed as he stood and went over to his wife. They spoke too low for Ye-Sol and Myung-Soo to overhear. Min-Jae glared at his rice bowl and stabbed at it with his soup spoon. "I want to play with Eun-Chae," he said to the table.
"I'm so glad I'm your first boyfriend," Myung-Soo murmured. "That's an insecurity I don't need."
Ye-Sol meant to roll her eyes at the silliness but ended up leaning against his side. She watched Rachel and felt sad for her. Myung-Soo was right. This was a jealousy he didn't need. Although, she did take a sort of vicious delight each time she showed up to play his wife every other week.
She kissed his cheek and helped Min-Jae and So-Young finish breakfast while they waited for Young-Do and Rachel to work through their little tiff. Ye-Sol took some time getting ready so she could look nice to meet her mother before she and Rachel went to the park to let the kids play.
It is a dream come true for So-Young. She just started walking and was finally allowed to run all over the equipment without anyone stopping her. Rachel did her best not to hover while Min-Jae pulled out his coloring book and crayons. He set up on the blanket next to Rachel and they sat in the shade.
"Is everything okay?" Ye-Sol gathered the courage to ask. "I thought you were trying to spin him up."
"It wasn't the right time." Rachel kept sharp eyes on So-Young's adventures. "I dislike it when he reminds me he's on good terms with her. He thought it was fantastic that our children get along and it just...reminds me she almost had him."
"I thought you said it had nothing to do with the men."
"I lied." Rachel winced when So-Young took a hard tumble. She watched the little girl brush herself off and then go off running again. The next fall had crying so Rachel stood up and went to go take care of her.
Ye-Sol smiled down at Min-Jae when he glared at his mother's back. "I want to play with Eun-Chae," he said for the fifteenth time this morning. "She's the best."
"Someday, sweetie," she promised. "Maybe when Omma’s not feeling hurt by Appa."
"Appa is so stupid," he said sagely. "He should never hurt Omma."
"That is a very good point," Ye-Sol agreed as a shadow came over them. She looked up and paled at their visitor. She took Min-Jae's coloring book and crayons away before she had him stand up. "I need you to go be with Omma," she said calmly. "I need you to run."
Min-Jae obeyed her immediately and for that, Ye-Sol was glad. She watched him run over to Rachel and tug on her skirt until she looked at him. Ye-Sol rose to her feet and didn't bother to hide her disgust.
"Prosecutor Lee Jae-Kyu."
He gave her his awkward smile. "Kang Ye-Sol. It's such a nice day. Would you mind taking a walk with me?"
Playing Games: prologue || one || two || three || four || five || six || seven ||eight||nine||ten || eleven || twelve || thirteen || fourteen || fifteen || sixteen || seventeen || eighteen
(drabbles) one || two || three || four
Heirs Love Letters
(Little bit of a Sexy Things Warning!)
======
"I'm never going to blame you for this." It was the first thing Myung-Soo said to her once they were alone in the car. "So please don't blame yourself. I prepared myself for the worst and this isn't even close."
"What could possibly be worse?" She didn't know how to comfort him. She thought Ma Jae-Kyung would attack her. Ye-Sol could handle anything thrown at her. She was discovering that she couldn't handle Myung-Soo being in pain. Not like this.
She'd worn her mother's dress because she needed to feel her love. She hadn't expected his mother to recognize it as a gift she'd given her lover. It had given an injury Ye-Sol never intended to inflict.
She started crying the moment the driver pulled away from the hotel to bring them home.
"Isn't it obvious?" He smiled down at her. How could he smile in this situation? "Losing you."
"Myung-Soo...How is that worse? She's your mother."
"You are the one person who has always assumed the best about me, Ye-Sol. From the moment we met our first year at Jeguk, you were nice to me. Don't give me some crap about your crush on Young-Do," he said when she clearly intended to argue with him. "If that's all it was, you would've dropped me the moment you understood it was impossible. You always told me how good my pictures were, even when I was clearly just a beginner. You never made me feel like a disappointment."
Ye-Sol looked down at her lap and winced. "I wasn't exactly in the top half of the class either," she muttered. "I was definitely more interested in other things."
"Han Ji-Sun is too smart for me," he said it lightly. Myung-Soo was hurt, sad, but as always, his words, his voice, everything was light and playful. "My mother is too smart for my father. It's probably one of the many reasons she fell in love with Madam Kang. Partners need to be evenly matched to carry each other."
Ye-Sol mockingly narrowed her eyes. "Are you saying that if she engaged you to an average woman like me that you would've considered it?"
"Only because crazy jealous wife is one of my favorite games." He had dimples again as he struggled not to laugh. It was worth it to huff and start to turn her back on him but Myung-Soo was ready as he pulled her back to his side. "Yeobo," he whined cutely as he cupped her cheek. He stroked his thumb over her skin. "Yeobo."
"Say it. Say I'm the only wife, the only woman you need." She meant it to be part of the tease. There must have been a crack in her mask because his eyes softened and she felt the sting of tears leave her eyes. The car came to a stop outside his building and the driver put the car into park.
Young-Do and Rachel had the most professional staff. The driver knew to wait until his charges were ready to exit before opening the door. He stood outside and she was grateful for the partition pretending they had privacy.
"Always, Ye-Sol." He was going to start crying again. "This will blow over. My mother will apologize. It's just going to hurt like hell until she does. I'm sorry I didn't get to dance with you tonight."
"I can fix that." She pulled him out of the car and thanked the driver. She wiped Myung-Soo's eyes when they got in the elevator and just forced her smile whenever he tried to force his. The furniture was still moved out of the way, so Ye-Sol went over to the sound system and pulled out one of her favorite mixes. It had plenty of slow songs to occupy them.
Ye-Sol moved easily into his arms and gently placed her hands on his shoulders. Myung-Soo held her close and she tried to ignore the tears slipping, falling into her hair. She felt the ache of his sobs as the truth of what happened tonight finally settled deep into his chest.
She knew the moment he went from sorrow to desperation because he started to pull the pins out of her hair. He dislodged the simple braid as he kissed her and she was more than willing to comfort him this way. This dress meant a lot to her but she left it in a pile on the floor without a second glance.
She laid down on the bed and held him close as he tried to forget his pain inside her. Ye-Sol constantly wiped at his cheeks whenever he lifted his head from her shoulder. She kissed him whenever he could look at her. She kept her legs tight around his waist until he was finished. She didn't let him put any distance between them. Ye-Sol curled into his side and was grateful he didn't push her away.
"I'm sorry," he said and it took her a moment to realize what he meant. It wasn't until he started to press his fingers between her legs that she blinked. Her own pleasure was the farthest thing from her mind. She caught his wrist and when he looked at her, Ye-Sol shook her head.
"I don't need it right now."
He briefly closed his eyes and let out this broken sound as he moved over her again. "I need to give it to you. I need to not be...I would like to. Please..."
"Alright." She kissed him and expected he would just gently stroke her until she told him it was enough. Her mind raced too much to surrender to the release he wanted to give her. She needed him to fall asleep. She would make love to him as many times as it took to get that to happen.
She should've known better. She couldn't fake anything for Myung-Soo. He was soft and gentle as his lips found the curves of her breasts, his fingers careful with the most sensitive of all her places, and he drew out the truth from her. Ye-Sol ended up panting beside him, both of them spent, and she struggled to stay awake.
"I love you," she whispered once he was finally asleep. She delicately extracted herself and covered him so he didn't get too cold when the sweat dried. She kissed his forehead and found her clothes. She dressed quickly and then found his phone.
The first call was important to her as Myung-Soo's lover. "What's wrong?" Young-Do demanded on the first ring.
"Can you come over? Myung-Soo is sleeping and if he wakes up, I don't want him to be alone. He might panic when he sees I'm not here. Tonight was a bad night."
Young-Do said a quiet but very bad word that was immediately repeated in So-Young's little voice. Ye-Sol almost smiled when she heard Rachel snap at him. "I'll come over. Where are you going?"
"To speak with my future mother-in-law." Fury burned under her skin and fizzed over her cheeks. Not even a good orgasm could kill it. Ye-Sol went over to the coffee table. She removed the glass protecting the top and lifted the lid. Inside was Myung-Soo's safe. She unlocked it and pulled out an envelope. "I'll wait to leave until you get here."
"I'll be there soon." Young-Do hung up and Ye-Sol had to wait. She put the coffee table back where it belonged. She fixed her hair and makeup. He arrived within ten minutes. She was surprised he had So-Young with him. Young-Do was intimidating when he didn't smile. "She slapped him?"
"I assume that means there are pictures?"
"It is the top search right now."
He started to head back into the bedroom but Ye-Sol caught his sleeve. Young-Do's eyebrows went up when she explained. "He's naked. I didn't think you'd bring So-Young."
"Go. It won't be an issue."
Ye-Sol trusted him and left. She took a deep breath once she was out in the hallway. It was time for her second call. Hopefully she'd done enough for this to work. She ignored the pounding of her heart and swallowed several times before pressing the call button.
"Now is not a good time," Han Ji-Sun whispered. "I will talk to you tomorrow."
"Is she at home?"
"Yes." Ji-Sun sounded mildly confused and Ye-Sol didn't blame her.
"Are you there with her?"
"Yes."
"I will need you to let me in." Ye-Sol hung up before Ji-Sun could refuse her. Han Ji-Sun was passionate and vicious in the courtroom. She was nervous and awkward when it came to other people she didn't know. Ye-Sol was still a wild card as far as Ji-Sun's understanding went. Hopefully that meant she would just open the door and let her inside.
Ma Jae-Kyung's home was modest and more importantly, not behind a gate. She was able to drive all the way up to the door. Ye-Sol knew there was security lurking about but it was very discreet. Her driver would wait and she told him to keep the car running.
Ye-Sol walked up to the door and pressed the doorbell. She'd tried not to be obviously relieved when Ji-Sun was the one to open the door before any of the staff. Ji-Sun looked incredibly uncomfortable to be doing this and Ye-Sol hoped it wouldn't cost her everything. She hoped that when it came to everything outside of Ye-Sol's mother, Ma Jae-Kyung would exercise reason and care.
"You should stay out of her sight the rest of the evening," Ye-Sol suggested. She kissed Ji-Sun's cheek and squeezed her hand before asking, "Where is she?"
"Her office. I can show you."
She shook her head. "I know where it is."
Ye-Sol left Ji-Sun behind. She ignored anyone who tried to stop her. There were two servants and one of the senior partners of the firm in her way. No one dared to touch her as she walked into the office.
Inside were a few more people that Ye-Sol didn't care about--especially Myung-Soo's father. Ma Jae-Kyung sat quietly behind her desk while these people argued and chided her. Her eyes were red and her hands clenched as she ignored them. Her thoughts were clearly elsewhere. No one looked up at Ye-Sol's arrival so she had to make her presence known.
"Omeonim."
Silence descended and one by one the men in this room turned to look at her. Ye-Sol waited for Ma Jae-Kyung to acknowledge her.
"You will not call me that," she said quietly. "Yeobo, have her escorted off the property."
There was no warmth in her voice as she addressed her husband and Ye-Sol, as furious as she was at Ma Jae-Kyung, felt too much pity. This woman lived a painful lie because she lived in a world that would not accept her relationship with the Madam of Seoul, let alone the woman who was Ye-Sol's mother. There was no one here to comfort her over losing her son. There was clearly no other person in this room that she trusted to take care of her when she felt vulnerable and weak.
Tonight, Ye-Sol would have to be that person. She would have to be the one to speak truth as gently as she could. She would have to be everything Ma Jae-Kyung loved about her mother. That was it. That was her plan.
"That would be a mistake," she replied and walked up to the desk. Ye-Sol bowed and then placed the envelope addressed to Ma Jae-Kyung on the desk. Myung-Soo's mother stared at it, clearly recognizing her lover's handwriting, and a tear escaped her control.
"Leave us," she said a minute later. The room emptied. Ye-Sol waited for the fury that was sure to break in the wake of this silence between them. "You cannot manipulate me, Kang Ye-Sol. You aren't your mother. She was better at it."
"My mother ran an illegal prostitution ring from the day she turned twenty-two until the day they arrested her. I'm not even close to the manipulator she is but she is in prison and I'm not. I don't need to manipulate you, Omeonim. I don't want to."
Ma Jae-Kyung's eyes hardened as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I have no need to read that. Madam Kang made her feelings quite clear eight years ago. She did not love me. She used me because she wanted to see if she could fool a woman into believing she loved her. I was her greatest game. It wasn't enough she had the most powerful men of Seoul on their knees for her. She needed the only female heir of our generation beholden to her."
Ye-Sol suspected this was the lie her mother told. It was cruel and Ye-Sol was going to make it worse. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a ring very similar to the one she wore. It appeared mother and son had similar tastes when picking out rings. She set it on top of the envelope.
"I found this inside the box containing everything important my mother held dear. Everyone knows the client list is inside a vault under layers and layers of security. What they don't know was it also contained letters you exchanged and so many lovely pictures. It contained mementos of you. I don't have a single memory where she's not wearing this ring."
Ma Jae-Kyung stared at the ring for almost a minute before she reached out with trembling fingers. On her left hand was a very similar ring. She almost picked up the ring when she yanked back her hand and placed it back in her lap.
"Are you finished?"
"Almost." Ye-Sol licked her lips and tried to smile. "I want you to know you are always welcome in our home. If you change your mind at any time, Myung-Soo and I will be here. It doesn't matter if that is tomorrow or decades from now."
She took a deep breath and bowed deeply. "I will send you an invitation to the wedding once we set a date. Please come."
Playing Games: prologue || one || two || three || four || five || six || seven ||eight||nine|| ten || eleven || twelve || thirteen || fourteen || fifteen || sixteen || seventeen
(drabbles) one || two || three || four
Heirs Love Letters
=====
"You have to pick a photographer." Ye-Sol turned his chair away from his computer and made him look at her. Myung-Soo had this way of blinking innocently like he didn’t know what she was talking about. She was onto his game. He was adorable but she had no time for it. “For our wedding.”
“I’ll take the pictures.” She gave him a look that expressed exactly how silly an idea that was. He tried dimpling at her and she climbed into his chair, straddled his lap, and took his face in her hands. She was not going to be innocent during this discussion.
“No. You have to be in the pictures. Pick someone else and let them handle our wedding. You know everyone in the business. I will pay whatever I need to, but you have to pick someone else. You are going to be standing next to me. I’m not going to be a lonely bride on my wedding day no matter how lovely you make me look.”
“You’re not paying for a photographer.” He wrinkled his nose as he wrapped his arms around her. “That would just be an insult to my pride. I can set up--”
“No. You are paying for our home and honeymoon. I am paying for the wedding. That's what we agreed. This is the only time I will ask this of you. It is an important day so pick the next best photographer and I will book them as soon as we have a date.” The weekend she could visit her mother was finally approaching. They would know something after this next visit. “Give me a name, Myung-Soo.”
“I will think about it.” He made it sound like a compromise. “I have a few favors I can pull. Please let me pull them. Have you talked to Rachel about sponsoring your dress? I’m sure Young-Do will let us use the reception hall at Zeus or even Night Sky if we wanted.”
Ye-Sol hesitated to answer and almost climbed off of him. Myung-Soo tightened his hold on her waist and pulled her back. So she looked away and tried to organize her feelings and thoughts because he was only a few seconds away from asking--
“What’s wrong?”
“Are you sure about tonight?”
He reached up and tucked her hair behind her ears. “Are you having second thoughts?”
Ye-Sol shook her head. “Myung-Soo, I can take anything she throws at me. I’m not worried about my ability to survive her wrath. I’ve taken much worse. I’m worried about you. I don’t want to create a scar.”
His smile was so sad and her heart hurt for him. His words were rough and she had to run her fingers through his hair. “I’m never going to bow to her on this. I can’t. It will eventually…be fine. She will calm down. She will accept that this is my life. We will heal even if it does create a scar. It wouldn’t be the first time. I love you, Ye-Sol. Taking you to the Victory Law event as my fiancé tonight is something I’m excited to do.”
“They will take lots of pictures of us. You are still considered their heir.”
Myung-Soo cupped her cheek and softly kissed her. “Then you should probably be wearing this.”
He took her hand and she looked down to find him slipping a ring onto her finger. Ye-Sol blinked and looked down at the lovely design. The stone was a bright sapphire placed far into the setting so it wouldn't catch on anything. The band was simple and she smiled. Myung-Soo knew her well. She didn't like ostentatious jewelry and she could easily wear this every day.
Rachel could only wear her engagement ring at high profile events. Ye-Sol supposed that was normal for the modern equivalent of royalty. She was just an average citizen with her soon to be disowned lord.
"You wear a lot of blue," he mumbled. He ducked his head a looked slightly sheepish.
"I love it," she said and tilted his chin back up. She kissed him deeply. His arms tightened around her waist and she wondered if there was enough time for her to pull him into to their bedroom.
Theirs.
The thought surprised her. She'd called this place home over the years. She felt more comfortable in his space than she did in hers sometimes. But it had always been his bedroom. She pulled back and looked down at him.
"I love you."
Before he could do much more than grin at her, Ye-Sol climbed off his lap and took his hand. She pulled him out of his office and into their bedroom. There was nothing in this room to mark it as theirs. It still had the same comforter, the same dresser, the same bedside tables. There was nothing to really suggest her presence yet but...she didn't know how to explain it.
She was home. She was finally, finally, finally home. It had been eight years since she felt like this.
Ye-Sol felt a little desperate as she pulled at his clothes. Hers quickly followed as she backed him towards the bed. Myung-Soo chuckled when it was clear she wanted--needed to be on top. His lazily drew his hands up and down her sides, her back, before gripping her hips as she climbed over him.
"Look at me." She stopped kissing him just enough to whisper her plea. She linked her fingers behind his neck as she needed to stare into him as they made love. She needed him to see the truth in her eyes. She needed to see the truth in his.
Myung-Soo felt so good against her, inside her, and she curled her fingers in the hair at the nap of his neck. His hands were never just still. It was as if he had to memorize every curve of her body. He had to make her whimper and cry out until she came. Ye-Sol couldn't look away as his eyes darkened and his face tightened.
He whispered her name like a promise and she felt...safe.
Afterwards, he laid next to her, running his fingers along her spine, his lips finding hers every few minutes, each kiss never really enough. "We should get engaged every day if that's what happens."
Ye-Sol smiled and lifted her head from his shoulder. "That means you have to buy me a ring each time then."
Myung-Soo chuckled and kissed her forehead. "I would do it, you know. Buy you as many rings as you want."
She shook her head before sitting up. She smoothed his damp hair away from his forehead. "I have the only one I really need. Come shower with me before I kick you out so I can get ready. No peeking until I'm dressed. Bring your camera. I'm going to battle."
*~*~*
Myung-Soo let out a low whistle when she came out of the bedroom. He actually lowered his camera for half a second before raising it back up and snapping a few pictures of her. Ye-Sol totally ruined his picture when she brought her fingers up and stuck out her tongue.
He huffed at her but struggled to hide his amusement when she offered the cutest pout she possibly could. They went through a couple of poses before she gave him the one he really wanted--a simple smile, a simple head tilt, a simple showcase of her simple blue dress. Yes, she did wear a lot of blue and she liked that he'd noticed.
It was her mother's dress. So much had been ripped out of their home and taken as evidence but Ye-Sol had managed to save a few things. This pale blue dress with a deep indigo lace overlay. It had a poofy skirt and structured bodice with capped sleeves. Ye-Sol wanted to feel her mother's strength surrounding her and this was the only way she knew how.
This was one of the few dresses her mother wore repeatedly.
Myung-Soo took a moment to move the furniture out of the way. "Spin around."
"The lighting is horrible," she laughed but did as directed. "We are going to be late."
"Can I kiss you or will that ruin your makeup?"
"I have the best fiancé," she said and kissed his cheek. She gently took the camera out of his hands and put it carefully on the coffee table. He knew he wasn't allowed to take it with them but he still pouted. "None of the other girls have boys that care about their lipstick."
"I have been in the room when Young-Do has messed up Rachel's work. I have no desire to get my eyes clawed out." He took her hand and helped her step into her shoes. He waited until they were closer to the same height to steal his kiss.
The Victory Law event was being held at one of the nicer hotels in Seoul that didn't belong to Choi Young-Do. It was a private company party meant to celebrate the successes of all the employees. Myung-Soo always went and took pictures for his parents. This year he would be coming as the heir with his fiancé.
As per her new brother-in-law's instruction, they used the car and driver he had provided for Ye-Sol's safety and not the car Ma Jae-Kyung would've provided had Myung-Soo bothered to tell her they were coming. Ye-Sol was mostly certain their arrival wouldn't be a surprise to his mother. She was too smart not to see this coming.
"I would never claw your eyes out." She felt her nerves start to rise. It was entirely possible Ma Jae-Kyung would make a scene tonight. A scene would only hurt Myung-Soo and it twisted her stomach. "You have such pretty eyes."
"Oh good," he teased. Myung-Soo squeezed her hand and kissed her temple. "You noticed. Finally."
"I am not going to take responsibility for missing your longing looks or your drunk whining. I'm only going to take responsibility from the moment we took those pictures until the end of our lives. You will have to settle for that."
"Call."
"Your dimples are going to kill me." The car slowed down as they drove under the hotel's valet canopy. Her stomach twisted and she fought the urge to check her makeup and hair one last time. "That's what it will read in my obituary. Heart stopped by husband's dimples."
It was definitely worth his laughter as he helped her out of the car. His grip on her hand was a little tight as the cameras flashed around them. The press pool was small, this was just a party for lawyers, and wasn't the fashion or music event of the year but he was still uncomfortable to be on film.
Ye-Sol smiled and let him walk them quickly into the hotel. They slowed down once they were inside the hotel. There were a few murmurs when members of Victory Law recognized Myung-Soo. He was all smiles and waves now that they were away from the cameras. Ye-Sol smiled pleasantly but kept her hand in his. She wanted no confusion as to who she was to Jo Myung-Soo.
They approached the head of the reception line. Ma Jae-Kyung and her husband were greeting every employee. Ye-Sol wasn't surprised to see Ji-Sun standing with the higher ranking attorneys. She caught Ji-Sun's eye and waved. Ji-Sun flushed but looked shyly at the ground. That was okay. Ye-Sol didn't expect to be friends in public just yet, especially not at a party where if Ji-Sun didn't do the right thing, she could possibly lose her job.
Ye-Sol caught the moment Ma Jae-Kyung realized they were in line. Her eyes slightly widened as she stared at Myung-Soo. She went a bit pale and she swallowed. It was only a second but she was clearly shaken. She refused to look at Ye-Sol.
She prepared herself for the possibility Ma Jae-Kyung would refuse to acknowledge her. Ye-Sol felt Myung-Soo squeeze her hand when they approached. They both bowed deeply to his parents and when they straightened, Myung-Soo's mother was shaking. Her hands were fists and her jaw clenched.
"Jo Myung-Soo--"
"Omeoni," he interrupted. He spoke just loud enough that his voice would carry to the small crowd surrounding them. "I would like to introduce you to my fiancé, Kang Ye-Sol."
"No," she said. "You may not. She is not welcome here."
"Omeoni--"
"I have demanded exactly one thing out of you." President Ma kept her tone and face carefully controlled. "All I have asked is that you seriously consider Han Ji-Sun in order to protect our legacy. She is a good, capable, and modest woman. You bring me the daughter of a whore and expect me to approve because we are in public. She leaves, Myung-Soo. Now."
Ye-Sol grabbed Myung-Soo's arm with her free hand when he went red in the face at the mention of her mother. She dug her nails into his arm and when he looked down at her, Ye-Sol shook her head. "Don't say something you'll regret. I'm not ashamed of my mother." Ye-Sol dropped her voice to a whisper. "At one point, she wasn't either."
Ma Jae-Kyung heard her anyway. For a moment her face contorted into pure fury before she smoothed it out. "Out."
"If you send me away now, this is the last time we will speak, Omeoni. I don't want to fight you on this. I wanted to bring my fiancé here to support our family."
"Support." Ma Jae-Kyung gave that horribly awful swallow. "She comes here, wearing a dress I gave--that belonged to her mother. Looking like her mother. Everyone knows what her mother is and you think this is support? No. My answer will always be no. Send her away and never speak to her again."
"I can't do that, Omma." He sounded so desperate for a few seconds. "I love her."
Everyone gasped when the president of Victory Law slapped her son.
Cameras flashed and within seconds the entire room was paying attention to them.
"Then leave." There were tears streaming down her face. Ye-Sol's heart ached for her. No one was rushing to comfort the president of Victory Law. She saw exactly what Myung-Soo meant about his father because Vice President Jo didn't reach for his wife. She was alone in her pain. Ye-Sol hated it. She hated that they had to hurt this woman in order to have their own happiness. She didn't know what she could do to fix this without sacrificing what she and Myung-Soo needed to be happy themselves.
"Omma. Omma, please." His cheek was red and he looked so lost for a few seconds before his expression hardened. "I love her. She loves me. What happened isn't her fault."
"If you cannot do this small, simple, little thing for me, you are not my son. Get out."
Playing Games: prologue || one || two || three || four || five || six || seven || eight||nine|| ten || eleven || twelve || thirteen || fourteen || fifteen || sixteen
(drabbles) one || two || three || four
Heirs Love Letters
=====
It took two tries to get the right combination to the lock on the apartment door. Ye-Sol was grateful for the automatic entry lights because she could not have navigated the step after taking off her shoes. Her stockings were slippery on the floor. She was almost to the living room when she realized she forgot her slippers.
The room was spinning, albeit slowly, as she gave up on walking and sat down on the floor. A few moments later she laid down and wondered if it was possible to get to the bedroom if she crawled.
"Ye-Sol?" She smiled at the concern in Myung-Soo's voice. "Are you alright?"
"I think I made a friend," she said happily. Her words were a little bit slurred. He was so warm as he picked her up off the floor. She wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head against his shoulder.
"Are you drunk?"
"Quite." She giggled and nuzzled his throat. He smelled so good and he was so, so, so warm. She reached up and played with his hair as he carried her into the bedroom. "Your mom is going to be so, so, so mad at me."
"Because you got Ji-Sun drunk?" He sounded amused as he set her down on the bed. She tugged on his shoulders when he tried to leave her there. She wanted to smell him again. Her vision was still a little blurry but if he got close enough she probably could manage his buttons.
"Ji-Sun." Ye-Sol narrowed her eyes and looked at him suspiciously. There was too much familiarity in his voice. How well did he know the woman his parents wanted him to marry? Surely not better than he knew her. "Did you sleep with her?"
Myung-Soo's eyes went wide and he appeared taken aback but Ye-Sol wasn't so sure of him. She was drunk and had seen him falsely gape on a bi-monthly basis for years now.
"No. We went to dinner once. It was shortly before I told them I wanted to marry you."
Ye-Sol considered him and then shrugged. She tugged on his hand and got him to lean over her. She kissed him and enjoyed his muffled cry of surprise as she started in on his shirt. "Okay. I believe you."
She liked his amused smile as he kissed her a few times. She did not like the way he caught her wrists and stopped her from removing his shirt. "Yeobo," he teased. "You are drunk. Quite drunk."
"So?" She tried to turn her wrists out of his grip but her hands weren't cooperating. He wasn't even holding her all that tightly. Ye-Sol pouted at him and wanted him to start kissing her again. "I have drunk sex all the time."
"It cannot be that good," he muttered. Myung-Soo bent down and kissed her forehead. He let go of her hands and started to stand but she gave a quiet sound of protest. "I'm not making love to you while you're drunk. Let me get you more comfortable clothes."
"Myung-Soo," she whined and caught his hand. She tugged him back. "Myung-Soo. I want to celebrate. I made a friend!"
"And I can't wait to hear the story." He was still smiling. How could he be smiling if they weren't going to properly celebrate? She continued to pout when he went over the dresser and pulled out her ugliest set of pajamas. She groused at him while he helped her out of her blouse and skirt.
"You're not even going to tell me how pretty I am? Even drunk, I'm still very pretty." She'd left the set wearing the final piece that they shot. It was the pale cream again. Her favorite. It had a shear quality about it once she removed her bra. Watching Myung-Soo swallow was so worth it.
"You are lovely." He kissed her and she thought he was going to give into her because he clearly gave up on the idea of putting her in ugly pajamas when he let them fall on the floor. However he didn't let her wrap herself around him or even get her fingers in his pants. "You're going to have a horrible headache in the morning."
He stood and she let out a frustrated groan. "Jo Myung-Soo!"
She was not pleased when he tucked her under the blankets, mostly because her head was swimming and she felt so tired. She closed her eyes and rolled onto her side so her back was to him. "If you're not going to celebrate with me you can go away."
He just gave that amused laugh and kissed her cheek. "I'll sleep on the couch. Try not to kill me in the morning."
Ye-Sol grumbled herself asleep after she pulled the blankets over her head. The next thing she knew her head was screaming and something was pounding loudly against one of the walls. Ye-Sol bolted up and her stomach almost rebelled while she was still in bed. She thought the pounding was the price of five bottles of soju until she realized someone really was taking a sledge hammer to one of the apartment's walls.
She was going to kill him.
Finding her robe and yanking it on took more work than she cared to do but she wasn't going to burst out of the bedroom in practically nothing. Myung-Soo didn't deserve to see her practically nothing. Not if he was going to allow construction work while she was hung over. What on earth was he thinking?
She tried to recall if he'd warned her about this. From the look of it, he really had slept on the couch. That increased her crankiness. She could respect his insistence not to make love to her while she was drunk in the light of day. That didn't mean he couldn't join her after she was knocked out. His couch was horribly uncomfortable.
Once she was sufficiently unattractive and worked up, Ye-Sol stalked out of the bedroom and went to go find her Myung-Soo and maybe strangle him. He sat at the kitchen table with his tablet and a spread of pictures out in front of him. He looked up and smiled at her.
"Good morning!" He stood and went over to the fridge. He pulled a glass of something horrific looking out. She walked up to him and he thrust it and a few pills into her hands. "I have coffee for you after you drink this."
"What the hell is that?" She pointed at the wall being demolished. "And why is it happening at seven in the morning?"
"After you drink this." He took the pills from her and pressed them against her lips. She huffed. Ye-Sol took the hangover cure and forced the horrid (and disgustingly cold) concoction down her throat. She thrust the empty glass at her boyfriend and glared at him. Myung-Soo just smiled at her and handed her a warm cup of coffee. "Better?"
"No," she lied as her stomach settled and the room stopped spinning. Then she groaned. "I have to be at work in an hour."
"Yes, you do." He pressed his lips together and clearly struggled not to laugh at her. He pulled her over to the table and she was (only a little bit because there was still pounding and breaking going on at the far side of his apartment) touched to see he had made her a full breakfast. "But, I do have some interesting news."
"What kind of news could you get before the sun is in a decent position in the sky?"
"My mother is not a fan of you making friends."
Ye-Sol paused with her spoon partway to her mouth. She didn't know Myung-Soo knew how to make a fantastic seaweed soup but he did so her surprise was inconvenient. "Ji-Sun was more drunk than I was. There is no way she's made a decision, let alone called your mother."
Myung-Soo picked up his phone, swiped through a few screens, and then handed it to her. "I should probably be offended she doesn't trust me to handle my own dates but I'm dying to know what happened between those two pictures."
Ye-Sol swiped through the two screens. The first was when she was on her knees at the restaurant. The second was the norabang they ended up at after the...third bottle of soju? She was impressed Ma Jae-Kyung got the picture.
"We talked," she said and handed him back his phone. She focused on her soup and rice and tofu. This might be the best tofu she ever had. It was the perfect softness and texture. It was mild and definitely going to settle her stomach after the hangover cure. "Woman to woman. She's very nice and not in love with you. Once this all blows over I'm going to take her shopping." She ate a few more bites before she smiled sweetly. "What did your mom say?"
"Make her stop, Myung-Soo." He leaned back in his chair and winced at the pounding on the wall. "I will admit I am a little disappointed. This isn't like her. I never thought she would turn into the kind of mother-in-law you see in dramas. I know I'm not the son she wanted but--"
"Don't ever say that." Ye-Sol set aside her breakfast and came around to his side of the table. She didn't hesitate to place herself in his lap. It was easy to make him look at her, to kiss him softly, and press her forehead against his. "Myung-Soo, never say that. You are a good man. You are excellent at what you do. This is their problem, not yours."
"I envy you," he said quietly. She almost didn't hear it over the pounding construction. "Your mother let you give up her legacy without a second thought. You are so close to her. I've always known... I never tested well. I wasn't as fast as the other kids in school. I know my mother loves me but...I am her greatest disappointment."
He sighed and Ye-Sol felt so sad for him. She didn't know how to comfort him. "Do you want me to back off? I don't want to hurt you in my quest to keep you."
He shook his head. "I told you. Watching you fight for me against my father stole my heart. You are who I want to spend the rest of my life with. My home has been with you from the moment we lived together for that year. I hated it when you moved out and we were just friends then."
"Is that what this is about?" She gestured to the growing hole in the wall.
"In a way." His dimples returned and the tightness in her stomach eased. "The husband's side is responsible for the newlywed apartment. It's on a list somewhere. I thought I'd get a head start."
"How long is this going to take?"
"Couple days. Young-Do says they're the best. If you feel the need to contribute, we can use your key money as the down payment."
Ye-Sol raised an eyebrow. "Need?"
"I never know if you're just going to let me pay for something or if you'll insist on paying me back. We're going to be married so I would like us both to feel like it is our home. Our money. Together." He wrinkled his nose and wouldn't meet her eyes.
"Then we should set a date. We should find a venue and I should pick a dress. The sooner you and I become we, the sooner we won't have to feel sensitive about this." She kissed him and wished they had time to do more than just kissing. She'd become used to what it felt like to be in a relationship. It meant exponentially more sex which was more fantastic than she expected.
It was nice to have a lover she didn’t have to teach. Being with Myung-Soo was fun and effortless. They laughed so much when they were together. She'd never really giggled during sex before. She hated that it took her this long to give into the dream having these kinds of feelings meant.
"When we know when your mother will be released. We'll set it for a month after that." She smiled at him for that and nodded. Myung-Soo drew aside her robe and pressed his lips to her shoulder. Ye-Sol stood and took his hand. The construction crew was loud and they could lock the door.
She decided to be late for work. Rachel would understand.
Playing Games: prologue || one || two || three || four || five || six || seven || eight ||nine|| ten || eleven || twelve || thirteen || fourteen || fifteen
(drabbles) one || two || three || four
Heirs Love Letters
=====
"Hold the elevator!"
Ye-Sol pressed the button to keep the doors open at the sound of Lee Hyo-Shin's plea. He appeared a few seconds later with several camera bags slung over his shoulder and a little girl in his arms. Ye-Sol smiled and then held out her hands. Hyo-Shin deposited his daughter with a sigh of relief.
Children liked Ye-Sol and she liked children. She was so hopeful she would get to add a few to the little pool growing around her friends. She adored the Choi family, but Bo-Na’s daughters had a special place in her heart. She made a mental note to go down to one of the teams managing the elementary school brands and pick something out for the girls.
"Eun-Sang is on set today arguing about the script with the assistant PD and the daycare isn't open on weekends. Rachel said I could bring her. Hopefully she and Min-Jae will get along." He ruffled the little girl's hair. She looked mildly cranky about it as she batted her father's hands away. Then she hid her face in Ye-Sol’s shoulder.
"We have a secure play area set up near the studio. It's got plenty of toys so she’ll be okay. Min-Jae’s been doing well at daycare and he’s a quiet boy most of the time. Rachel's new assistant could use the work out."
"That is what I'm hoping." He looked a bit frazzled as he smiled down at her. "Jo Myung-Soo is supposed to join us? Are you certain you're comfortable with an audience? A film crew is a bit more intense than just a photo shoot.”
Ah. He’d seen all the pictures then. Rachel was right. Just one look and everyone knew.
“Sunbae,” she said lightly. “Are you worried about my tender heart?”
He grinned and innocently shrugged. “My wife hates being on camera and she isn’t tender hearted. I tried to get video of her and Eun-Chae at the beach on our last vacation and she was not pleased with me. Lingerie is different. Jo Myung-Soo is an excellent photographer. He has a way of getting the models very focused in his concept.”
“You’re very good at that too.” She felt her nose go pink as the elevator doors opened. She wasn’t going to argue that point. She tried to be fair even though she was a little bit biased about who was better. She told herself Myung-Soo and Hyo-Shin weren’t competitors. They worked in different mediums. “Are you worried my acting—“
“No.” Hyo-Shin caught her arm and made them pause just outside the elevators. “I’m not worried about that at all. I’m a friend worried about a friend because I know better than most what kind of problems parents can make over the most ridiculous kinds of things. That’s all.”
No wonder all the girls had a crush on him during high school. He managed to say the most serious sorts of things with such playful eyes. Ye-Sol didn’t know a lot about the way his relationship with Rachel ended, only that it happened sometime shortly after Young-Do returned from his enlistment. She’d been too busy and occupied with…other things to pay attention.
But Hyo-Shin had a way of making people feel looked after. It was probably why everyone from high school still called him sunbae.
“My mother won’t be scandalized by this.” She shifted Eun-Chae onto her other hip to hide how touched she was by his concern. “I’m having fun, sunbae. I promise.”
“Then I won’t bring it up again.” He shouldered his equipment and they walked into Rachel’s filming studio. She directed traffic with Min-Jae clinging to her skirt. Hyo-Shin waved at Rachel when she caught sight of them and she actually smiled as she walked up. Her new assistant nervously trailed after her.
Hyo-Shin bent and kissed Rachel’s cheek before taking Eun-Chae from Ye-Sol and setting her down on the ground. She clung to his hand after going around to the other side of Hyo-Shin’s legs. She peeked at Min-Jae shyly. Rachel elegantly knelt down and encouraged Min-Jae to come forward.
“Lee Eun-Chae, this is my son, Choi Min-Jae. Say hello, Min-Jae.”
“Hello.” Min-Jae considered the little girl in front of him and then held out one of his candies. Eun-Chae looked at it for a few seconds. It was clearly a struggle to decide whether or not to leave the safety of her father’s legs for the candy. She slowly shuffled forward and took it from him. She had it in her mouth in less than a few seconds. “I have blocks.”
“Okay.” Eun-Chae took his hand and followed him over to the play area. Rachel stood and jutted her chin at the play area to remind her assistant to keep watch. The girl hurried after the children. Hyo-Shin let out a low breath.
“I have no idea why she’s so shy,” he admitted. “She doesn’t get it from either of us.”
Rachel’s face tightened and she pressed her lips together. “Min-Jae’s really good with So-Young. If she wants to play by herself, he’ll let her alone. I thought the candy would make it easier.”
“As always, I’m in awe of you.”
She rolled her eyes and Ye-Sol tried not to be fascinated by their interaction as Rachel showed Hyo-Shin where to set everything up. The male model was already here and Ye-Sol was taken to the small alcove pretending to be makeup and wardrobe. Tomorrow they would shoot at Night Sky during the day for the first part of the advertisement because nothing was really ever done chronologically.
Ye-Sol found it amusing.
Her makeup and hair were quickly done and she was putting on the first part of her costume when familiar hands settled on her shoulders. She looked into the mirror and smiled at Myung-Soo.
“It is so disappointing you are putting more on right now.” He pressed his lips against her shoulder.
“It is more disappointing that this,” she pointed to the dress that would go over the bright blue corset, “will be taken off by Baek Hyun-Woo and not you. I thought you weren’t showing up for another hour.”
He wrinkled his nose and ducked his head. “My date with Han Ji-Sun was set for tomorrow night. I got…antsy…because I hate this idea and I needed to be near you. Pathetic, yes?”
Ye-Sol turned around and took his face in her hands. “You don’t have to go on the date. You can stay home and work. I will go on the date for you. Then I will come home and we will play a game where you try to guess which set I’m wearing under my clothes.”
She had a plan to get Ma Jae-Kyung to come to her. She would take as many dates for Myung-Soo as she needed until his mother understood that she wasn’t going away. Ye-Sol would have to be careful and use the CCTV system to her advantage just in case this got dirty. But by the end of the month, Ma Jae-Kyung would want another meeting with her.
Doing this without Mother’s advice was terrifying but Ye-Sol couldn’t risk going back to the prison so soon. There were too many people watching her. She just silently hoped that Myung-Soo was right—Mother loved Ma Jae-Kyung enough to burn everything between them to protect her hold on Victory Law.
Ye-Sol had to prove to his mother that she loved Myung-Soo enough and there was nothing that could rip her from his side.
His shoulders relaxed and he let out a little laugh. “Alright. Can I kiss you without ruining your makeup?”
“Yes. It has to hold up under cameras and lights and another man. Completely safe to kiss me.” It was a sweet kiss. It reminded her why her decision to keep him was so important. She’d lived two years without him and she never wanted to be that lonely again.
“Well, I have to make sure you don’t get bored,” he easily teased and kissed her again. When he pulled back his brow was a bit furrowed. “Do we need to talk about the strange way we flirt?”
Ye-Sol smoothed her hands over his shirt and thought about it for a moment. “Do you?”
He shook his head. He reached up to touch her hair before he realized that would be a bad idea. “I just want you to know I trust you. I don’t actually think…”
Ye-Sol rose up on her toes so she could wrap her arms around his neck and hold him close. “I know the difference between games and the truth. I know that you know that difference. I know that you trust me to be professional and that I trust you to handle your own jealousy. I know that how I turn you on is complicated. I know that if it came down to having me or having pictures of me you would choose me.” She kissed him deeply. “How is that for a love confession?”
She got dimples for that. He almost kissed her again but there was a quiet cough. One of her team members was staunchly looking at the floor. “Director Yoo wants to know what’s taking so long.”
“Give me a few minutes and I’ll be dressed. Take him with you or Director Yoo will get so very cranky.”
It was a long two days but by the end of it, her boss was pleased, and the celebratory sex with her boyfriend was fantastic. Ye-Sol and Myung-Soo worked on the print marketing spread together and he detached himself enough to make dinner for her.
She made him promise not to hover or show up to the date with Han Ji-Sun. Zeus Hotels made for a very nice backdrop and given Myung-Soo’s friendship with Choi Young-Do, it wasn’t an unusual choice.
Considering how Rachel and Young-Do were going out of their way to make sure she felt like family, the restaurant felt like the obvious choice. Ye-Sol waited until Ma Jae-Kyung's choice arrived and was seated before she joined her.
After the first glance, Ye-Sol…felt bad for her. Han Ji-Sun had made an effort with her appearance. She clearly wanted this meeting with Myung-Soo to go well but it was obvious to Ye-Sol, after years in the fashion industry, that Han Ji-Sun did not often wear dresses or makeup. Everything Ye-Sol knew about this woman said she was smart, ambitious, and Ma Jae-Kyung’s favorite for good reason.
But she clearly wasn’t a cold or cruel woman. She hadn’t come to this date assuming it was just a formality. She nervously played with her napkin and kept sipping at her water. Ye-Sol remembered a time where she sat on the wrong side of a lunch table and was humiliated. Rachel had long since apologized to her, Ye-Sol had forgiven her, and that lessened the sting, but it was a hard memory to bear. Ye-Sol didn’t want to pass it on. She decided to change her tactic.
She didn’t need to humiliate Han Ji-Sun in order to win.
Ye-Sol softened her expression and went to the table. Han Ji-Sun tensed when she sat down and drew her hands into her lap. "I know I'm not who you were expecting."
"I knew it was too easy but I'd hoped he'd at least have the courage to show up." She started to gather her purse but Ye-Sol reached across the small table and put her hand over hers. Ji-Sun stilled but didn't pull away.
"Let's talk, Attorney Han. You deserve to have all the facts before you wade into this."
Her eyes narrowed but she didn't stand up and leave. "I am already in this, Kang Ye-Sol. I know all about you. More importantly, I know that President Ma will never allow--"
"It is going to get ugly." Ye-Sol kept her expression as soft as possible. Neutral wouldn't work and hard would make Ji-Sun even more defensive. "Myung-Soo cannot be coerced into anything. He waited until he was nearly twenty-seven before he enlisted. His parents tried to pick his college and he dropped out. If he doesn't like a client he will terminate the contract. He will do it gently and kindly but he will do it."
"I am aware how stubborn he is. I have met him before. We went on a date before his enlistment." Ye-Sol didn't know that. Hopefully she kept the surprise off of her face. Han Ji-Sun sighed softly and pressed her lips together. "I'm not opposed to him continuing his relationship with you discreetly."
She was the daughter of the Madam of Seoul. Nothing she did was discreet.
Ye-Sol swallowed and looked down at her hands for a moment in an attempt to show some vulnerability before she straightened and raised her eyes. "There is no such thing as true discretion. More importantly, I don't believe either of us deserves to be caught in the game of wife and mistress."
She got a head tilt and a partial smile for that. "Are you appealing to my sense of self worth?"
"President Ma Jae-Kyung has spent the last six years grooming you to be her daughter-in-law. She needs someone who can continue her legacy. It means she trusts you not only to do well, but to be loyal to her. She chose you because she loves her son and believes you would make a good marriage. You already know why you are here. The only thing you do not have is Myung-Soo's heart."
Han Ji-Sun was quiet and her eyes became just a little too overbright. "Given time, Kang Ye-Sol, I think I could manage it."
Ye-Sol wanted to believe with all of her soul she was wrong.
Instead, Ye-Sol stood and then knelt down on the ground and bowed her head. It caused a little stir from the tables around them. She kept her voice low and her position as submissive as possible. She needed the lawyer off balance.
"I don't intend to give you the opportunity to test that theory. I intend to keep him at my side as my husband and partner. I would rather you surrender now because I will win. There is no need to bloody you in the process. You don't need to be my enemy."
Ye-Sol stayed kneeling and ignored both the attention of the restaurant's guests and Ji-Sun's silence. She decided to let it be awkward for them and wait for Han Ji-Sun's response.
"Please sit back down," she said after a moment. "Let's talk over dinner."
Playing Games: prologue || one || two || three || four || five || six || seven || eight ||nine || ten || eleven || twelve || thirteen || fourteen
(drabbles) one || two || three || four
Heirs Love Letters
=====
Ye-Sol quietly entered Myung-Soo's apartment and made her way towards his studio. She caught sight of his cell phone on the kitchen counter next to what appeared to be an empty takeout box. She picked it up before she went over and lightly knocked on the closed door. She waited patiently for him. The door wasn't locked but she knew better than to create a shadow in the middle of a shot.
His grin was bright and dimply when he opened it to let her in. She held up his phone with a raised eyebrow and he immediately went sheepish. He took her hand and was about to bring her inside when she shook her head.
"We have some things to talk about. Can you let it go for about thirty minutes?" Ye-Sol reached up and ran her fingers through his bangs as he wrinkled his nose. Myung-Soo had a hard time doing anything else when he was focused. "It's important. I met with your mother today. I think I figured out why she won't approve."
Myung-Soo blinked a few times and she waited for his brain to refocus on her. It didn't take him more than a few seconds before he bent down and kissed her gently. "I'll try to be better about my phone."
"It's alright," she said honestly. "I understand how you are and it doesn't bother me. Young-Do was there. Apparently, I have a brother-in-law now. Rachel's practically adopted me."
"It's weird, isn't it? I remember when she adopted me. I think it was when she realized I was ruining men for So-Young." He kissed her again and for a moment Ye-Sol was tempted to take him to bed before getting into the mess that was their mothers. "I'm sorry you couldn't reach me. I'll be better about it."
She took his hand and drew him over to the couch. She sat down and pulled a picture out of her purse. Ye-Sol licked her lips and then handed it to him. It was an old photograph and their mothers were much, much younger. She wondered who took it but the women were at a fair or carnival, smiling, and holding hands as they stood close together. It was clearly a date.
Myung-Soo's smile faded and he swallowed as he took it from her. He stared at it for almost a minute and his eyes got a bit wet. Ye-Sol just waited for him to speak and when he did, he was a bit hoarse and had to clear his throat.
"She told me about this five years ago." His face was tight and his shoulders tense. "It was when I asked for her blessing to date you with the intention of marriage. She's normally so calm and controlled but she lost it. She keeps everything about your mother in a box in her closet. My dad knows too. He's ashamed of her but he's nothing without her so it keeps him quiet...she wanted to defend your mother and keep her out of jail. The Madam of Seoul refused and I think there were threats made. It broke my mother's heart. She hasn't been the same since."
Ye-Sol squeezed her eyes shut and crossed her arms over her stomach. Ma Jae-Kyung wouldn't approve her not because she was the daughter of a prostitute but because she would always be the reminder of losing the love of a lifetime. She didn't realize she was crying until Myung-Soo's arms came around her.
"Hey," he said gently, "Their love story has nothing to do with us. You aren't your mother. I'm not my mother. I'm certain your mother didn't want any stain to touch my mother. I think she did it to protect my mother's legacy."
"And if she didn't?" Her words were wet as her heart pounded painfully in her chest. "If your mother was just another lover she kept on the hook--"
"If that were true, she would've hired Victory Law to defend her. Ma Jae-Kyung is the best criminal defense attorney in the country. She is amazing at what she does. There is a reason my grandfather chose her over my uncles. If anyone found out that she was in love with the Madam of Seoul it would destroy everything she's built."
Ye-Sol wanted to believe it with every part of her heart. She wanted to believe that her mother loved Ma Jae-Kyung so much that she went to jail rather than let her get caught in the crossfire. Her silence just drew more out of him.
"Ye-Sol, I'm certain your mother loved her. Photographs don't lie. There wasn't a single picture that didn't convince me that my mother was wrong about your mother's motive behind breaking contact. She loved her. It was the same way you looked at me in our pictures."
Oh. He'd showed his mother. That's why he wasn't able to calm her down. Ma Jae-Kyung looked at them as proof Ye-Sol would betray him the way she was betrayed.
You think you love him? You've done nothing but use him from the moment you became friends.
"Myung-Soo, what if she is right about me?"
He took her face in his hands and made her look at him. He was so confused as he tilted his head. His brow lowered and he actually frowned. "Right about what?"
"It's barely been two weeks. I've never had a single relationship last this long."
His expression immediately softened and he rolled his eyes. "Friendship aside, which I don't know why you're not counting that, you and I have been playing like we're married for years now. The only thing that's changed is we're having sex. Ye-Sol, we've basically dated all this time. My mother is wrong."
She bowed her forehead to his shoulder and twisted her fingers in his shirt. She needed Ma Jae-Kyung to be wrong about her. She didn't know she needed Myung-Soo to find her insecurities completely ridiculous until he did. Although she almost argued with him about the sex. It was life changing for her. She didn't have to the words to explain the difference.
Ye-Sol didn’t want to go back to her life before.
"I don't know how to make her accept me. I want our children on a family registry. I never had that. I didn't need it because my mother was enough. But I need this. I want it all. I want the rings, the home, the children, to grow old and only have you. It isn't enough to just to live like we have these last few years with the added benefit of sex."
"You want to feel safe." She raised her head and knew she was right to demand all of this from him. He just had this grin that pure happiness. "I'm glad I didn't rush us. I'm not afraid to do everything I can to give that to you. It will happen, Ye-Sol. We will get married. Our children will be legitimate. We will rely on each other."
"You're not the least bit worried I will fail you?"
"I don't accept the premise of the question." He kissed her and she felt some of her anxieties start to fade. Her linked her hands behind his neck and prepared to pull him over her when she remembered he was in the middle of a project with a deadline. Ye-Sol slowed down the kiss before pulling back.
"Okay. I think I can go back to work and focus." She smoothed her fingers over his bangs and fixed the tunnels she'd left behind. "I have a camera test with Lee Hyo-Shin in a few hours. Do you want to be there?"
He shook his head. "Sunbae is amazing. He completely understood my concept when we spoke a few days ago. He doesn't need me hovering. I'll come tomorrow. You'll give a better performance if you think you're making me jealous."
That made her laugh as she stood. He was probably right. Myung-Soo reluctantly let go of her hand and stood as well. "That was my favorite part of our game that night," she admitted as she brushed her fingers over his shoulders. "Knowing you were watching. Apparently, I enjoy showing off for you."
Myung-Soo looked like he nearly swallowed his tongue and she wrinkled her nose.
"Too much truth?"
He quickly shook his head. "No. I...I...I like looking at the pictures of you. That's what's taking me so long right now. I'm spending too much time on each image and can't decide which ones to give Rachel."
Ye-Sol gave him a lingering kiss. "I want you to myself tonight so you should probably work harder. I'll pick up dinner after I stop by my place to pick up a few things." She paused and then said something that she absolutely did not want. "You should schedule a date with--"
"Absolutely not--"
"Hear me out." She took her hands in his. "Just listen. Your mother is angry and terrified you are about to get hurt. We have to get rid of her arguments and discredit her evidence. I will work this my way."
"Only if you interrupt the date." He muttered it petulantly and looked down at the ground. There was a quiet whine to his words and it made her smile. She ducked her head so she could look at his face. Ye-Sol kissed him and he gave a quiet little whimper as he pulled her close. "Tell me that is your plan. Crazy, jealous wife is my favorite game."
"I would like to try reason and honesty first. But…if that doesn’t work…It's been very private so far," she pointed out with her sweetest smile. "Your mother thinks you are an eligible bachelor. Han Ji-Sun needs to understand that you aren't available and reject you. I need your mother to come to me."
Ma Jae-Kyung didn't understand that Kang Ye-Sol had absolutely no shame. She didn't understand what it meant to live a life taking care of a dangerous list meant she had no time for subterfuge. When Ye-Sol went to work for Rachel she was at the bottom of a dark chasm where everyone looked down at her. She had the willpower to take more shit than anyone ever suspected.
Myung-Soo was hers and she would keep him. He’d been her friend, her fake jealous husband, and her lover. He wanted to be hers. He had the patience to wait for her to join him and now that she was ready, she could not wait a second longer.
He deserved to be fought for so she would raise hell to make it happen. Ye-Sol had no legacy to protect. All she had to offer was herself. He'd decided she was enough years ago.
She decided she was enough when she used her key. She hadn't allowed herself a dream. She refused to believe in partners and families and love. She forced herself to be happy with what she had because she didn't let herself dream of more. But now she had and there was no going back.
After work, (and a few reassuring words to Rachel and a successful camera test with sunbae), Ye-Sol carefully packed up her clothes and sundries into all three of her suitcases--
