Legal Affairs - Chapter 7
Synopsis: You and Wonho’s dinner date gets crashed
Word count: 2.9k
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You didn’t give Hoseok your bag as you two made your way out of the building to your car in silence. He watched in concern as you rubbed your shoulder before you sat down to drive. Maybe he should’ve offered to drive you two in one of the company cars.
As you drove, Hoseok pulled out his phone to Google some restaurants in the area that might appeal to you.
“Do you want to have dinner tonight? Like a celebratory dinner?” Hoseok asked as you eased onto the main road.
“Sure, I’m free, but what are we celebrating?” You asked nonchalantly even though a part of you was secretly hoping it would be something similar to what happened a few nights ago.
“The case?” Hoseok asked not looking up from his phone. He already had around eight tabs open for possible restaurants.
“The case won’t be over until the courts formally inform us you’re no longer a person of interest. The investigation is still technically ongoing.” You looked over at him when you stopped at a traffic light.
Hoseok turned to meet your gaze and you suddenly found it hard to look him in the eye. “Alright, but let’s go somewhere nice.”
You chewed your lip. Could your bank account handle that? “Will this be like a business dinner? Did you have something you wanted to discuss with me?”
“Well yes, I just want us to have dinner together, we can talk business whenever.”
“So a friendly dinner then?” You asked to clarify.
“Sure, friendly,” Hoseok said, giving a thin lipped smile.
You sighed dejectedly. “Well then, I can’t go somewhere nice because I’ve sort of used up my going out budget for this week.”
Hoseok scoffed. “I asked you to have dinner with me, not pay for my dinner.”
“Hoseok, I don’t even know if I will be able to pay for my own meal if we go somewhere nice. Plus, wouldn’t we need a reservation and stuff?” You said, a little frustratedly.
While you focused on the road again, Hoseok’s eyes roamed over your features that were set in a serious look of focus. “Y/n, just let me take you out to dinner. Anywhere you want.” His voice was quieter this time, almost on par with the aircon, like he was pleading.
You were quiet for a moment. You desperately wanted to say yes to Hoseok, but encouraging his affections? And letting him foot the bill for an expensive dinner? You decided to compromise. “Hoseok,” you began slowly, “how about we go somewhere nice but not expensive? Like maybe a nice pizza joint?”
You glanced quickly at Hoseok to see he didn’t look as offended as you worried he would be. Instead, he had a soft smile on his face. “Sure, if pizza is what you want.”
Jia signed the NDA without so much as a glance at its contents, though this didn’t frighten you because you knew she’d signed multiple NDAs for various lawyers. Obviously, she made her trademark quips.
“You should get her something nice tonight,” Jia said to Hoseok while you put the NDA papers back in your bag.
“Would you believe me if I said I offered to take her out to dinner but she refused?” Hoseok laughed. He got along well with Jia.
“Well you should do something nice because she had a very difficult day, didn’t you y/n?” Jia cooed at you.
“Believe me, I would love to, if only she’d let me,” Hoseok replied to Jia while looking pointedly at you.
“Guys, I am right here.” You looked between them.
Jia affectionately patted your arm and kept talking to Hoseok. “Between you and me, she spent two-point-sev...”
“Jia, shut up. Hoseok, let’s go to dinner,” you said and turned towards the door.
“And that is how it’s done,” Jia laughed. In your desperation to get away from her teasing, you hurried along to dinner, which just so happened to be with Hoseok.
Hoseok also seemed to notice this and smirked as he followed you out.
The restaurant was quiet when you two arrived. You picked a closed off booth to sit in, hoping Hoseok would appreciate the small bit of privacy it gave. He passed the menu on the table to you first. “Take your pick.”
Before ordering, you pulled out your phone to check how much money you’d be allowed to spend before your bank thought your previous spending was fraudulent. “Just gotta check my account....” you trailed off as you unlocked your phone.
Hoseok reached across the table and plucked your phone out of your hands.
“HEY!” you cried out a little too loudly, earning a look from the few workers milling about. “Mr Shin, return my phone, please,” you said quieter this time.
“Don’t worry about the money, it’s my treat, remember?” he said with a grin. He kept your phone in his hand.
After some flicks of the menu, you picked a pizza. Hoseok noticed it was the cheapest pizza available, but didn’t comment.
“I’ll place the order with mine then.” He took the menu from you and walked to the counter. As he walked, he quickly flicked through the menu and found a couple set with desserts, drinks and other sides. Talking to the young boy at the register, he pointed out your pizza and said, “I’d like the couple set please, together with this pizza.”
The dinner cost just a fraction of the ₩3 million you spent, so he made a mental note of how much more he owed you, and returned to the table.
Taking a seat again in front of you, Hoseok returned your phone to you and asked, “So, what do you do with your free time?”
You pocketed your phone away and thought for a minute. “I usually just watch movies with my family, but this week I have just been watching CCTV footage.”
Hoseok chuckled. “Looks like you have me to blame for that. At least tell me the lead actor in the CCTV was hot.”
“Unfortunately I can’t.” Hoseok’s smile faltered for a second when you said that, but you continued. “Too many people to have a main character.”
“Well what did you end up seeing of me then?” Hoseok said with a glint in his eyes.
“Not much… at least, not enough to make a ruling beyond reasonable doubt?” you offered, and you were pleasantly surprised when Hoseok chortled at your lawyer joke.
“You really do love your job huh?"
You laughed along with him for a bit before returning the question. “What do you do in your spare time then?” When Hoseok opened his mouth to speak, you held up a finger to tell him to pause. “Don’t say working out or eating ramen because I already know.”
Hoseok raised his eyebrows at you. “And how did you know that I wonder?"
You gestured vaguely to his body. “It’s obvious?"
Hoseok leaned forward on his elbows. He had a sly smile on his face. “Use your words, y/n, you’re a lawyer. What about my body gave it away?"
You leaned forward and matched his energy. “I knew it the moment I saw you at Useungja.”
“And what did you see?”
“You know to play to your strengths, pun intended. Like today, there’s only so much that a tank top can hide.” If you were being honest, Hoseok could probably wear an astronaut suit and still be handsome, but you weren’t ready to be that honest yet.
Hoseok leaned back on to his seat and folded his arms. He was secretly delighted when he saw your eyes flick to his biceps. “So you’ve been wondering what the rest of my body looks like this whole day?”
You hoped your face didn’t look flustered. “Of course not. I am a professional. And this case is important,” you replied, even though you felt your face growing hotter.
Hoseok was a little disappointed by your reply. How could you sit there not knowing the way you had touched every part of him some nights earlier? Not to mention you sleeping wrapped up in his arms before that as well.
He decided to try a different tactic. “Tell me about the new footage you’ve been watching.”
You were more than happy to answer, and felt the hotness in your cheeks dissipate. “I pulled footage of the party and the stairwell. I want to find the same person I followed from the green rooms to the stairwell. It would be nice if I could identify the voices I heard.”
Hoseok thought for a second, figuring out what to ask about your work. “What will you do if you do identify them?”
“Hand them to the prosecutor on a silver platter probably. Offering a whole other suspect with means and motive is very likely to remove you as a person of interest,” you explained.
Hoseok nodded. “I’m still curious though, how did you end up at the green rooms?”
“Uhhhhhh,” you wavered. You looked down at your lap, sighed and hoped you could evade the question. “I followed somebody there.”
“Your mystery voice?” Hoseok asked, even though he knew EXACTLY who you followed.
“Yeah, pretty much. I thought it was odd that a daytime staff member was there instead of a security guard, so I thought I’d go take a look.” You were glad Hoseok basically answered his own question.
Hoseok couldn’t remember seeing any staff member any time during the party except for when you two were interrupted in the green room. And though he hadn’t considered it before, you had a point in thinking the person was odd.
“Do you want me and the boys to take a look at the footage, and see if we can figure out who she is?” Hoseok offered. It was a brilliant idea. While waiting for you to respond, he added, “You can work out of our dorms and use the TV screen there to blow up the footage.”
So you agreed. “Sure. Let’s do it.”
You two ate silently when the food arrived, gazing around the restaurant. Hoseok noticed your eyes catch sight of something near the checkouts so he turned around to take a look. Hoseok saw the CEO of Useungja, who waved after sensing your gaze, and started walking towards your table.
“Y/n-ah, I didn’t know you’d be here,” he said as he reached out to squeeze one of your shoulders.
“Oh lord, your hands are cold. I can feel it through my clothes,” you shook your head like you were annoyed but then smiled up at the CEO. “How was that last meeting?"
“Finished early actually. By the way, is this new?” The CEO asked as he plucked a piece of hair off your clothes. Hoseok’s lip twitched as he watched the interaction. Bosses usually didn’t pay that sort of attention to their rookies’ clothing.
“Like a few weeks? Technically you paid for it when you gave me my first paycheque.” Hoseok grew even more confused. Rookies could never make those kinds of bold statements.
The CEO then turned to Hoseok. “Are you satisfied with y/n's work?”
“Oh my god...” you groaned, while Hoseok formulated his answer.
Hoseok rolled his shoulders back and sat up straight. “She’s probably the best lawyer I have ever had.”
“Well that’s always good to hear,” the CEO said.
The CEO then turned his body more fully towards you, making it clear he wanted a semi-private conversation with you. He leaned in towards you, and Hoseok started to feel suspicious about this man. Was there a reason the man was so physically close with an intern?
“What’s wrong?” you asked the CEO, not minding his closeness.
“Are you coming home tonight or staying with him?” the CEO asked, so bluntly that Hoseok almost choked on his drink. How did your boss know where you spent the night?
You had the same question. “What makes you think I stayed at Hoseok’s place exactly?” Hoseok realised he wanted to know this too.
The CEO smiled knowingly and looked between you two. Hoseok felt vulnerable under the CEO’s gaze, but you seemed calm when the man spoke. “You came home in yesterday’s clothes and immediately showered.”
“I didn’t realise you saw me come home,” you said, more to yourself than anyone else. “But that still doesn't explain why you think it was specifically Hoseok.”
Hoseok had the additional question of why your CEO kept track of what you wore in and out of your house, but he didn’t say anything.
“If it was a friend’s place, you would’ve showered, eaten, borrowed some clothes and gone to work from there. But that day, you only had your work outfit, so you didn’t have a date or go clubbing, and since I knew you were meeting with Hoseok that day, I put it all together.” The CEO wasn’t smug when he gave his explanation, but Hoseok could sense the man was proud of how well he knew your quirks.
You knew you were caught but you wouldn’t admit it. “Well, I met more people than just Hoseok so maybe reconsider that theory?”
The CEO laughed and agreed. He was quiet for a second before changing the topic. “Now, y/n, what I actually walked over here for was not to interrupt your dinner date, but to ask what pizza your aunt liked. I forgot.”
“Just ask the staff for the spiciest one they have,” you replied.
“Alright, I’ll maybe see you at home then, okay?” The CEO squeezed your shoulder one more time and left.
You knew Hoseok was confused about your uncle, but he might be too polite to ask.
“That was my uncle by the way,” you said breaking the silence.
Hoseok looked up, confused.
“Useungja’s CEO is my uncle. And I live at his house. That’s why he knew all those things about me.”
Hoseok blinked as he registered what you even saying. “Oh right… that does make more sense. It’d be pretty weird if your boss knew those things about you.”
You chuckled. “Except in my case, my boss really does know. It’s also why he knew to call your manager last night.”
“Why didn’t you say anything earlier? Your uncle obviously cares a lot about you,” Hoseok said.
You sighed deeply. “I didn’t want people to think I only got the job because I knew him. I applied to his firm like a normal candidate, I didn’t even tell him I was applying, but nobody is going to consider that.”
“Lots of people get jobs because they know someone though. Plus, people will always have opinions no matter what you do.” Hoseok offered. His words were comforting, so you smiled.
Once you both finished eating, you two walked to your car silently. As you were placing your bag inside, you heard a very melodic voice behind you. “Seokie? is that you??"
You turned around to find a beautiful blonde woman talking to Hoseok. She didn’t seem like an idol, and was dressed like she had just got off work.
“Oh, Yoona?” Hoseok said. “Yeah, hi, it’s me.”
“Well fancy seeing you out here, how long has it been?"
“Uh yeah, a few months,” Hoseok said rubbing the back of his neck. Wait was this an ex?
“And how’s Minhyuk?” the woman asked as her voice took on a more serious and concerned tone.
Hoseok’s tone also changed, but to something much harsher. “Leave him alone, Yoona. You caused enough trouble.”
Trouble? Was this Minhyuk’s ex then?
“C’mon, I was just working on a story. I didn’t want to hurt him or anything. Actually, I’ll be at your next M Countdown performance."
“Well, Minhyuk doesn’t want to see you.” Hoseok said through gritted teeth.
“I’ll make to up to you guys with some good coverage. How about an exclusive or something?”
“We don’t need it. Now please leave, I am busy,” Hoseok opened the door to your car. Not realising you had stood there listening, you did the same.
“Wait, Seokie you didn’t tell me you were seeing someone. Hi there, I am Yoona,” the woman leaned down and called to you from outside the car.
“Hello Yoona,” you said curtly.
“Well girlie, do share how you and Hoseok met,” Yoona seemed like someone that loved gossip, and you didn’t need to feed rumours.
“Yoona, now is not the time for this,” Hoseok said.
“Shh, Hoseok, it’s not like I will reveal my sources or anything,” Yoona giggled.
Sources? “Wait, Yoona, are you a journalist?” You asked.
She seemed surprised by your question. “Close. I write in entertainment columns for several magazines.”
“What kinds of things do you write? Do you cover Monsta X regularly?”
“I cover anything idol related. Wins, scandals, rumours, you name it,” Yoona replied. “But don’t worry, I won’t print anything about you two.”
You eyed Yoona coolly. “I should hope not. You wouldn’t want to write something false.”
“Of course not, it’s a journalist’s duty to be truthful,” Yoona said, dramatically placing a hand on her chest.
“Correct,” you continued with a smug look. “Because as Hoseok’s attorney, if you cause trouble by printing false rumours, I will be calling you to court for libel.”
Yoona’s jaw dropped open at that statement. “Uh yeah of course yeah,” she stuttered out.
“Well we should get going now, so get home safe, Yoona” you said, and closed your car door.