Chapter 16 #2
“Like what? With all the attention? What’s not to enjoy?” She appears genuinely befuddled at the lack of appeal for me. “You know it would be a million times worse than this with him.”
The rage flares again when she alludes to Sun. “We’re not talking about him.”
“I didn’t know you were into guys,” she comments anyway. “But I guess that explains why you kept turning me down.”
“No, these things are unrelated. I kept telling you no because I wasn’t interested in pursuing something with you, specifically. It had nothing to do with you being a woman,” I snap and I can see immediately it hit just the way I wanted it to.
The smile that spreads across her face is chilly, totally lacking any sort of empathy.
Despite being beautiful, there’s something about her that’s not quite sinister, but definitely a little bit villainous.
“If you’re going to fuck around with a man—with him, of all people—you should be grateful that I’m willing to help you keep your dirty little secret for a while longer. ”
“Grateful?” I grin back at her, nowhere near as conniving, but it’s the best I’ve got. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. If it wasn’t for you, there wouldn’t be any reason for me to worry about what I’m trying to keep to myself.”
She sighs like she’s bored, tired of talking about this. “Don’t be naive, Kija. You need me now. More than I need you, even.”
I don’t respond, instead finally eating a dumpling because I need to chill out.
“I really do like you, you know. I did from the moment we met at that party,” she reminisces as I regret ever attending that particular soiree. “I could really see a future for us together when you’re done with him.”
I chug the rest of the water in my glass before clearing my throat, like that’s going to help what she said make sense. “I can’t have heard that correctly.”
“Sometimes we need to experiment. I know I certainly enjoyed the company of a girl or two when I was at university.” She smirks. “You’re just doing it a little later. That’s fine. I can wait.”
“There’s nothing to wait for. I don’t know how many ways I can tell you that, Chaeji.
” I realize I’m getting nowhere, so maybe I need to take a different approach.
“You are a stunning woman. You’re obviously intelligent and know how to get whatever you’re after.
I’m positive you can do better than trying to drag me into this to accomplish what you want. ”
She does preen at the compliments, but then says, “What I want is you. If I can’t actually have you now, at least you can pretend for a little bit longer.”
“That’s what this is about?” I ask to clarify.
“You want me to show up and have a fake relationship like some trite romance novel plot?” I almost laugh, because I know Sun would be horrified not only at that sort of trope slander, but also the fact that I know enough about them now to make that kind comparison. Twice in one night, even.
“Yes. We have some cute dates, I get the right type of publicity, you can keep sneaking around with your boy toy, and no one will be the wiser.” She holds her hands out like she’s making some magnanimous gesture, providing me with a kind of generosity that should make me thankful.
“What about the photos?” I ask quietly. It’s become very clear to me over the course of this conversation that no matter how livid I am at the situation, I’m going to entertain the idea because I would do anything for Sun. I know that now.
“I delete them,” Chaeji says simply. “Or I’ll let you do it. I’ll hand my phone right over to you, and you can see that they’re gone.”
“How many?”
She carefully rearranges herself in her chair, the candlelight on her green dress making the print look like snakeskin, which seems appropriate. “How many what?”
“Dates.” I hate the way it sounds. Going on dates with her when I can’t even do that with Sun. “Give me a number.”
“That would take all of the romance out of it, don’t you think?” Chaeji simpers. “Let’s just see what happens.”
“No. I need a number,” I argue.
“Are you really in a position to make demands?” She turns her gaze away from me completely, focusing on the nakji-bokkeum she’s been nibbling on, as if she’s giving me time to think and come to the correct conclusion.
I huff, but still reword. “I am requesting more information on the arrangement you’d like to have with me. Please.”
“Is this why you’re so good at your job? You just don’t quit,” she stops and fans herself with her hand. “It’s sexy.”
“Chaeji.”
“I love the way you say my name.” She picks up her phone, swipes to open the calendar, and flicks through a few weeks, considering. “Seven dates. A couple of dinners, a walk by the river or something, maybe a cute couple outfit or…”
“Not going to happen,” I insist, shaking my head. I have to keep a few things for myself, for Sun. I’ll do public, but I won’t do cute. “I’m a grown-ass man, I am not wearing matching clothes. And we will continue to meet at restaurants.”
“Ugh, fine.” She beckons the server back over to the table, asking for them to box up everything we didn’t touch, which is most of it because eating was not the point of this meet up.
“You’ll see, Kija. This is going to be good for both of us.
We’re perfect together on paper; we’ll be even better in real life. ”
“This is hardly real life,” I say. “Coercion does not make a relationship.”
“Hmmmm,” Chaeji hums, grabbing her purse and ignoring me. “‘Walk me to my car, Kija.”
I catch the way her eyes flicker to the crowd of curious eyes still waiting outside.
I guess that’s my cue to put on a good show.
All of a sudden, I can’t help but think that me being the perfect fake boyfriend might be a special kind of terrible for her.
If she really did—does?—want me, wouldn’t it be worse for me to be what she wants when she can’t actually have me?
Smiling, I stand to pull her chair out and wait to take her hand as we exit the restaurant, then angle her just right for the perfect shot when she kisses my cheek. I open the car door and send her off with a wave, and I don’t miss the bewildered look on her face over my sudden change of attitude.
As I make my way back to my own car, I feel like I have a plan.
She might actually be an awful person, someone who has put me in a terrible position.
But I can be everything she thinks she wants for a little while, knowing she’ll never really have it all.
She gets what she needs for now, but not what she wants in the end.
At least not me. Maybe she’ll get the career boost she’s looking for.
I don’t care. I’ll do what I have to in order to make this all go away.
I can still keep Sun safe, and that’s all that matters to me.