07
The Los Angeles sky bled from vibrant orange to bruised purple as Jason’s brand new, glossy black Berthold Meridian SUV crawled along with the sluggish Melrose traffic. A low, frustrated growl rumbled in his throat. Seong Hyeon, sitting behind the wheel, maintained his usual impassive facade. Beside him, a handsome, broad-shouldered, young Black man with a neatly shaved head silently surveyed his surroundings. His intense gaze flicked from the rearview mirror to Jason, his posture straight and alert. Former military, obviously. He’d introduced himself as Andre. Based on the bone-crushing strength of his handshake, Jason knew he wouldn’t soon forget the name.
Silence stretched between them, punctuated by squawking car horns and the rhythmic whoosh of tires on asphalt. Jason tapped a restless rhythm on his knee, his newfound anxiety a constant hum beneath the surface. A lifetime of reckless abandon had been replaced by a simmering worry–both for Tae Hyun and the overwhelming responsibility of Brightstar looming on the horizon. There were moments he longed for the simpler days of backlots and bar fights. Life had a brutal kind of predictability back then. These days, juggling his stress about the takeover with Tae Hyun being an ocean away in Tokyo was a relentless current threatening to pull him under.
Seong Hyeon finally pulled up to the curb next to Kalbi Fuego, the trendy Korean-Mexican fusion restaurant Seong Woo had chosen. Jason straightened his tie, a moment of anticipation pushing back on the constant hum of worry. While he’d spoken with Seong Woo at the funeral, it was all routine condolences and scene setting. Jason had yet to catch up with him for real. He saw their dinner as the chance to correct that.
“Paps, boss,” Andre announced, his voice and expression equally tight. “Lemme get your door.” A burst of noise shattered the relative silence as Andre opened his door and climbed from his seat.
“He’s okay, right?” Jason asked as he waited for Andre to open his door.
Seong Hyeon offered a single nod. “Absolutely, sir. I vetted Andre myself.” A flash of pride lit up his usually impassive face. Running Brightstar’s security gave him so many more options than he was used to. He had to be in security heaven.
Jason plastered on his Best Actor-winning smile before stepping out of his seat. He flashed it as he mindlessly waved to the swarm of photographers shouting their questions and demands for photos. It wasn’t until he crossed the sidewalk that he noticed the velvet rope corralling a lineup of hopeful diners awaiting their turn to enter the exclusive establishment.
But the noise abruptly vanished as Jason followed Andre inside the restaurant. He was immediately struck by the decor–all minimalist lines and elegant curves echoing its Korean inspiration, punctuated by splashes of bold color and vibrant Mexican artwork, a perfect reflection of its innovative cuisine. An achingly gorgeous hostess–probably one more runway show away from becoming a supermodel–offered a curt nod.
“Good evening, Mr. Park. Mr. Cho is waiting for you.” There was no smile, only professional courtesy. She gestured toward a handsome young host beside her, his silk tie impeccably knotted. “Paulo will show you to your table.”
Jason glanced at Andre, who nodded and discreetly took up a position where he could keep watch. Jason then followed Paulo’s perfectly round ass to the corner table on the dining room’s far side where Seong Woo waited, bathed in warm, golden light. He looked magazine-cover sharp in a rich brown, double-breasted, herringbone suit and textured navy knit tie. But Jason looked better, dressed in his bespoke, charcoal wool suit and subtly patterned black silk tie from up-and-coming Korean fashion house Harvey Sol.
Seong Woo greeted him with a dazzling smile. “Jason, my friend!” He quickly rose, taking Jason’s hand in a respectful, double-handed grip, and bowed his head. “My deepest condolences again on the loss of your parents.”
“Thanks.” Jason wryly grinned as Paulo smoothly pulled out his chair. “And thanks for meeting with me.”
Seong Woo chuckled, sliding back into his seat. “Meeting with you? And here I thought this was just a friendly dinner. Oh, how the tables have turned.”
“It’s not all business.” Jason flashed a genuine smile. “I’m actually happy to see you. These last couple of weeks have been a lot.” He caught Paulo’s eye before he walked away. “Can I get a Kingston, neat?”
Paulo nodded. “Right away, Mr. Park.”
Seong Woo’s eyes flashed with amusement. “Still getting name dropped, I see.”
“It’s only gotten worse.” Jason snorted. “I mean, people talked about me before. But now they’re really talking.”
Seong Woo raised an eyebrow. “The overnight billionaire routine tends to do that.” He chuckled. “Not that I’d know from personal experience. Even combining my finances with Yoo Mi’s, we’re somewhat more humble.”
“Humble’s probably the last fucking thing I’d ever call Yoo Mi,” Jason teased. “Speaking of the wife, how is she?”
“As lovely and headstrong as ever. She’s filming in Busan right now.” Seong Woo absently frowned. “I miss her when she’s away. But it only makes me more certain that marrying her was the right choice.”
A whisper of longing poked at Jason’s thoughts. “I hear you. I should be in Tokyo with Tae Hyun right now, but I’m stuck here instead.”
Seong Woo leaned in, his voice lowered. “You’re hardly stuck. You grabbed a table here on one day’s notice. This place has a six-month waitlist.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Jason bitterly rolled his eyes. “Like I ever cared about that shit. And it doesn’t make me miss Tae Hyun any less.”
Seong Woo offered him a genuinely sympathetic frown. “Sorry. I wasn’t trying to imply that.”
“Don’t you start with that shit, too.” Jason quietly scoffed but without any malice. “I’ve had so many people up my ass lately. I’m surprised Tae Hyun isn’t jealous.” He chuckled, hoping to mask the melancholy behind his humor. “But I’m still me. I don’t need you bowing and scraping just because I’m richer than you now.”
“Richer?” Seong Woo snorted. “I’d offer to have you thrown out just for old time’s sake, but they’d probably toss me out if I tried.”
Jason quietly groaned. “I might take you up on that. It would be a nice change of pace.”
“Heavy is the head, eh?”
Jason lightly scoffed. “If you’d told me even a month ago that my perfect life was about to magically transform into a boardroom drama, I would’ve laughed in your face. But here we are. Which leads me to what I wanted to talk about.”
“Back to business then? Okay.” Seong Woo grinned. “Let’s have it.”
But their server arrived with Jason’s bourbon instead, placing it on the table before asking for their orders. Seong Woo ordered for the both of them, choosing the Bibimbap de Pato, a deconstructed bibimbap with seared duck breast, seasoned vegetables, a fried egg, and a gochujang salsa, for himself, and the Kalbi Asada, a Kalbi-marinated grilled skirt steak served with kimchi fried rice, roasted vegetables, and a doenjang chimichurri for Jason. Seong Woo raised his glass in a toast after their server departed. “To friendship.”
“To friendship,” Jason toasted.
Seong Woo sipped from his glass and set it on the table. “So, what’s on your mind? You want me to ditch the Imperative Group and become Brightstar’s new CEO?”
Jason laughed. “Maybe. Did you bring your resume?” Then he shook his head. “But, no. Although that’s not far off the mark. I think most people would agree that I’m not even remotely qualified to run Brightstar. Myself included. Even if I had the head for business, which I absolutely don’t–”
“Don’t sell yourself so short,” Seong Woo interjected. “You’re better at it than you give yourself credit for. ”
Jason half-frowned, unsure if Seong Woo was blowing smoke up his ass. “That still doesn’t change the fact that it’s Gerald Park’s business we’re talking about. I’d last a day behind his desk before they ate me alive.”
“So, what do you plan to do about it?”
Jason took a generous swallow of his drink, relishing in the spicy warmth as it coated his throat. “I hired Naomi to do it instead.”
Seong Woo’s eyebrows shot upward. “Are you serious?”
“Completely. And that’s part of why I wanted to talk with you. Was that impulsive and reckless, or did I make the right call?”
Seong Woo generously smiled as he nodded. “Oh, you absolutely made the right call.”
Jason frowned, still unsure if Seong Woo was being genuine. “Do you really think so, or are you just humoring me?”
Seong Woo leaned forward, his expression becoming stern. “I’m completely serious. I’ve worked with Naomi for a while now, remember? She’s sharp, capable, and driven. She’s perfect for the job.”
Jason slowly nodded, not entirely convinced. “Okay, but–”
“But, what?” Seong Woo sighed, anticipating Jason’s next worry. “Alright. Yeah, you’ll get a lot of shit for hiring a Black woman for what many–maybe most–still consider to be a white man’s job.” He wryly chuckled. “I can only imagine what my father will say when he finds out. But that’s not your problem. You don’t have any investors or creditors to appease. Your primary concern should be whether or not you trust her.”
“I absolutely do.”
Seong Woo shrugged and smiled. “There you go. Her job will mostly be making the big calls and delegating the rest. And the rest were all hired by your father, right?”
Jason frowned. “Yeah. About that–”
Seong Woo’s eyes narrowed. “David Soh?”
“Did you dig anything up on him?”
Seong Woo chuckled. “There was hardly any digging involved. Honestly, I just asked my father. Turns out Gerald Park and David Soh Sr. have a long history.” He paused, weighing his words. “Let’s just say they were competitors. Both immigrants. Both found success in the American market. The usual story—until they had a falling out.”
Jason sat forward, an uneasy tension in his shoulders. “Competitors as in rivals ?”
Seong Woo slowly nodded. “Seems that way. My father didn’t share specifics, but I got the impression Soh felt slighted. Maybe even cheated.” He shrugged. “Who knows the real story, right? It’s old corporate gossip by now.”
“But if he felt cheated by my father–” Jason trailed off, the implication clear. David Sr. had taken a position at Brightstar despite whatever had happened between him and Gerald Park. And he’d done well enough that Jason’s father had hired David Jr. to replace him when he retired. That should’ve meant David Jr. was the right person for the job. Gerald Park didn’t believe in handouts for anyone who wasn’t his son. But, the more he thought about it, the more David Jr.’s rapid rise still felt off somehow.
Seong Woo toyed with a napkin, his expression thoughtful. “Maybe he wanted to prove something. Even if it meant working for your father, taking a job at Brightstar could’ve been a way to establish himself and ensure his family was secure. ”
“But why would my father hire a guy he clearly had history with?”
“Who’s to say?” Seong Woo reached for his glass, swirling the amber liquid before taking a sip. “But a man like Gerald Park would’ve understood the value of keeping your enemies close. Maybe he saw Soh as a threat and wanted him where he could control him.” He chuckled, but there was a hint of unease in it. “Then again, maybe he recognized a skilled rival and respected him enough despite their past.”
Jason could see the truth in both possibilities. “What do you know about Soh’s son, David Jr.?”
Seong Woo raised an eyebrow. “Well, that’s the interesting part. We actually went to grad school together.”
Jason snorted. “Of course.” It would’ve been too big of a coincidence had both men not come from families of means. There were only a handful of schools where someone like Seong Woo would get his MBA. “So, you know him.”
“I know of him,” Seong Woo corrected. “We were never in the same social circle, but our circles definitely intersected. He’s at Brightstar, too. Right?”
Jason nodded. “He’s Brightstar’s Chief Counsel now.” He paused, sipping his drink to calm his nerves. “He took the position after his father retired.”
Seong Woo frowned. “Yeah, I heard that. Word was that several senior members of Brightstar’s legal team walked out after that. They claimed they were passed over when the position opened up.”
Jason frowned, openly skeptical. “How’d you hear that?”
“One of them works for the Imperative Group now.”
Jason huffed. “That figures. Nepotism seems to be a Brightstar tradition. ”
Seong Woo waved off Jason’s complaint. “It happens everywhere. Legacy is a powerful motivator for men like our fathers.” He swallowed the last of his drink, setting the empty glass on the table. “But that’s not the most interesting part.”
Jason raised an eyebrow. “Interesting?”
Seong Woo nodded. “Well, you know how your father was in bed with Kbr?”
“Yeah.” Jason scowled, recalling that disastrous episode.
“That was right around the time Soh Sr. stepped down,” Seong Woo continued. “Apparently, it was David Jr. who went to Seoul and brokered the whole deal.”
Jason’s mouth dropped open. “Him? He was there?”
Seong Woo nodded. “That’s what I heard. Of course, I didn’t learn any of this until after everything went down with Choo Ji Hoon.”
Jason angrily frowned. “If you knew about that, why didn’t you tell me?”
“I assumed you already knew.”
Jason’s sigh was deep and heavy. That meant David Jr. knew much more about him than he’d let on. What else did he know? “I guess it doesn’t matter. I know now. So, why’d his father step down?”
Seong Woo shrugged. “I don’t know for sure, but I heard it was for health reasons.”
“Think you could find out?”
“I could ask around. But why don’t you just ask David Jr?”
Why indeed? Jason hadn’t exactly been looking for a reason not to trust David Soh Jr., but he’d certainly found one. “I don’t think I trust him.”
Seong Woo frowned. “Has he given you any trouble? ”
“No, not a bit.” Jason quietly huffed. “If anything, he’s been extra helpful. He even reviewed and approved my contract with Naomi.”
“But you don’t trust him.” It wasn’t a question.
Jason shrugged. “I hardly know him. But my father must have. What about you? I know you don’t know him, but–”
“I’ve never heard anything concrete, but there were rumors. Typical law school stuff–ambitious, cutthroat, would sell his own mother to the devil to get ahead.”
Jason chuckled. “It would be more surprising to hear he wasn’t like that.”
“Yeah.” Seong Woo nodded. “And it’s not like we don’t have any skeletons in our closets, either.”
Jason loudly snorted. “Speak for yourself. My skeletons have been keeping gossip bloggers in business for years.”
Seong Woo knowingly laughed. He’d also seen his name in the gossip blogs more than once. “Touché. Even so, I wouldn’t say you can trust him. It’s always worth watching your back.”
“Yeah.” Jason quietly sighed as the weight of everything settled on his shoulders. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”
When their dinner arrived, Jason forced himself to focus on the meal, shifting the conversation to lighter topics. He didn’t want Seong Woo to think business was the only reason he’d asked him to dinner. But his thoughts were buzzing. He’d already learned more than enough to keep him up that night. After paying for their dinner and drinks, Jason thanked Seong Woo, adding a parting reminder to check on David Soh Sr.’s retirement.
Jason struggled with a tangled mess of emotions on the ride home. His real home. He hadn’t slept in the mansion yet and wasn’t sure he ever would. Too many ghosts of his past lingered there for it to be comfortable. Alone in his empty house, he reached for a beer but grabbed the bourbon bottle instead. But there were ghosts at home, too. Sprawling on the couch, TV flickering in the darkness, Tae Hyun’s absence haunted him. Jason missed his warmth. His touch. He ached to hear Tae Hyun’s voice.
The late hour meant nothing. Despite the time in LA–or whatever time it was in Tokyo–Jason grabbed his phone. He nervously waited for the connection, stewing in a cocktail of worry and longing.
Tae Hyun’s voice finally broke the silence. “Hyung?”
“Hi.” Jason exhaled with relief. “Sorry if I woke you.”
Tae Hyun chuckled, the warm sound soothing Jason’s ragged nerves. “It’s afternoon here, hyung.”
“Oh.” Jason snorted. “Sorry. I was never very good with time zones.”
“It’s fine. I was actually about to call you, too. I miss you.”
Jason sank deeper into the couch cushions, Tae Hyun’s voice soothing his aching heart. “I miss you, too. How are you? How’s everything going?”
“Except for a little power hiccup at the arena, everything’s great so far. The sound check went well otherwise, and it felt so good to be dancing again. And Harajuku is close by, so Ren showed me around a bit. It was so much fun! I think you’d really like him.”
“Ren?”
“Yoshida Ren, Sweet Beast ’s leader.”
“Oh, yeah. So, you two are getting along?”
“More than that,” Tae Hyun excitedly assured him. “He’s charming and funny and has great energy. And we’ve both experienced a lot of the same drama, so he gets it. He gets me. I think we’re friends now.”
Jason quietly huffed, suddenly overcome with jealousy. Not that he worried about Tae Hyun cheating on him. But someone besides him was getting Tae Hyun’s time, smiles, and laughter anyway. “I’m happy for you. And maybe a little jealous.”
“Hyung, it’s not–”
“No, not like that,” Jason assured him. “I’m glad you found a friend. I just miss you.”
“Yeah.” Tae Hyun sighed. “I think about you all the time, hyung. I can’t wait to see you again. Speaking of which, how’s all that going?”
Jason hesitated. He didn’t want to dump his worries on Tae Hyun right before his show. “I think it’s going well. I signed the contract with Naomi after Brightstar’s lawyer okayed it. Once she’s got a handle on things, I’ll be free to come out there.”
“Really? I’m so proud of you for doing that for her. She deserves it.”
Hearing that, Jason practically beamed. “For sure. I mean, she’s hauled my ass out of the fire more times than I can count. Except for you, she’s probably the person I trust most in the world. Even Seong Woo thought it was a good idea.”
“You talked to him about it?”
“Yeah, he’s in town while Yoo Mi is filming in Busan. We had dinner tonight.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re not moping around the house like a sad ghost.”
Jason laughed. “When have I ever done that?”
Tae Hyun playfully snorted. “There’s always a first time.”
Jason sharply inhaled. Speaking of first times– “Are you alone?”
“What?” Tae Hyun snorted. “Of course I am. I’m in my hotel room. Why?”
Jason softly chuckled. “I’m alone, too. I’m in the living room sitting on the couch.” He shoved his free hand under the waistband of his sweatpants, softly groaning as he grabbed his growing erection. “And I’m so hard right now.” He groaned again, louder and more urgent. “Are you hard, Tae Hyun?”
“I am now, hyung,” Tae Hyun moaned. “Just thinking about your cock makes me so horny. The way it smells. The way it tastes.”
Jason quickly switched the call to speaker, setting the phone beside him before he tugged his sweatpants down. His cock sprang free, stiff and throbbing. He grabbed it again. “What does it smell like?”
Tae Hyun chuckled. “It smells like warm hoppang, earthy and sweet.”
Jason slowly stroked himself, moaning as he pushed his foreskin over the head, collecting the leaking precum into a glistening drop. “What does it taste like?”
Tae Hyun’s soft breath caught before he pushed out a halting groan. “Like fresh-picked dallae in the early spring.” He urgently moaned. “I want to run my tongue along your cock, hyung. I want it in my mouth.”
Jason’s breath quickened, keeping pace with his rapid heartbeat. “Swallow it. Swallow my cock while you play with your nipples.”
“Oh! I’m playing with my nipples now, hyung.” Tae Hyun gasped. “I’m pinching and twisting them just like you would.”
“Yeah, do that.” Jason squeezed a little harder as he stroked himself, tentatively exploring his nipples with his free hand. He imagined Tae Hyun lying on him, running his hands over his smooth, tight body. His chest flushed with a ghostly warmth as if somehow Tae Hyun was really there on top of him. “I’m playing with mine now, too. I can feel you licking and blowing on them.”
“Yes, hyung!” Tae Hyun’s words wavered with his panting breath. “Let me lick them. Let me lick you.”
“Lick me,” Jason breathed. “Lick me while I swallow your cock.”
“Oh, hyung,” Tae Hyun cried out. “I’m about to cum!”
The pressure built as Jason’s own climax neared. “Me, too,” he breathlessly replied. “I’m gonna cum soon.”
“Do it, hyung! Cover me with our cum.”
Jason shouted as he came, the sound echoing off the ceiling as he splattered his sweatshirt and the couch cushion behind him. Tae Hyun’s fevered cries blasted from Jason’s phone, sitting beside him with a fresh blob of his cum on the screen. Panting and out of breath, Jason relaxed into the couch, his earlier jealousy erased in a pleasant afterglow. “Shit. That was amazing.”
Tae Hyun let out an equally contented sigh. “I’m glad you started it, hyung.”
“I haven’t done phone sex like that since I was trapped on a Hungarian movie set in the middle of nowhere,” Jason admitted. “I’m glad to know I haven’t lost my touch.”
Tae Hyun lightly chuckled. “Ah. Well, Chang Min and I used to do it when we couldn’t be alone together.” He snorted. “Although I think I probably enjoyed it more than he did.”
“Well, I enjoyed it a lot.” Jason lifted his sweatshirt off, careful not to let any cum escape. Then he wadded it and used it to wipe up the worst of his spray. “Almost as much as the real thing.”
Tae Hyun laughed. “You’re such a liar. But I love you anyway.”
Jason soundlessly smirked. “I love you, too.”
“I can’t wait to see you again, hyung.”
“Soon, Tae Hyun.” Jason smiled. “Soon.”