That Dog, Young Jae - 4. Chapter 4

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If you can’t get rid

Of the skeleton in your closet,

You’d best teach it to dance.

George Bernard Shaw

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4

“She’s insane.” Min glared at the slender elegant woman on the television. How could she go on live television and promise to support striking Hanje factory workers? He grabbed the remote and switched the screen off just as Young Jae walked into his bedroom.

“You need to talk to her.” Young Jae dropped a bunch of magazines on the bed. “She’s giving interviews to anyone who is willing to talk to her. She’s going to destroy your father’s reputation.”

“I can’t talk to her.” Min refused to look at the magazines and concentrated on cuffing his gray shirt. “I won’t get in between my parents.”

“You won’t be getting between them. Their stability ties into the company image. We can’t afford a scandal. Your father has left for Osaka, which makes you acting head of your family.” Young Jae pulled out a white envelope from his inside jacket pocket and held it out. “Your mother is hosting a gala tonight; you should show up and try talking to her.”

“You are so cold-hearted, Young Jae.” Min took the envelope and threw it on the bed with the magazines. “I’m not getting in between their non-marriage.”

“I don’t think you have a choice.” Young Jae sighed and closed the distance between them. He placed a gentle hand on Min’s shoulder. “Look, I realize you’re trying to protect your mother, but she’s gone too far.”

Min shrugged Young Jae’s hand from his shoulder and reached for his suit jacket. His day was filled with annoying appointments with the various directors of Hanje. He couldn’t imagine adding his mother on to the list.

“Min,” Young Jae prompted when he walked to the desk by the large windows showing off the garden. “They’re going to pull you in to this sooner or later.”

Min scoffed. “We share DNA, Young Jae, understate much?”

He grabbed up his wallet and phone. “We should get going. Mr. Rio doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

Young Jae sighed. “We can’t ignore your mother’s antics any longer. She has to be stopped.”

“She’s a Jun; she can do whatever she pleases.” Min shrugged and hurried out of his bedroom.

A frustrated Young Jae followed him downstairs to the dining room where breakfast waited. Min grabbed up the newspaper hoping if he buried his attention into the daily news, Young Jae might quit. He found his mother’s smiling face on the front page promising financial support to protesting workers at the Hanje factories. He folded the newspaper and put it on the table with a sigh.

“We’ll swing by her house before we head to Mr. Rio’s residence. I’ll call ahead.” Young Jae stated, picking up his cup of coffee.

Min looked up and met his gaze. “Are you enjoying this?”

“What?” Young Jae asked sipping his coffee.

Min shook his head and stared into his untouched coffee. The week had been full of incidences that needed his attention. A supermarket manager who’d run away with a day’s worth of sales. It had been followed by one of the warehouses owned by Hanje malls burning to the ground. Thankfully no one died in the fire. Two days ago, the Hanje shoes factory workers had gone on strike. One incident after another leading to multiple complains from the board of directors. He’d scheduled a meeting with Mr. Rio in the morning to find a way to sort out the complaints.

He rubbed at his left temple and got up from his chair. “Let’s go, we’re wasting time.”

“You should eat something.” Young Jae urged quietly. “Starving yourself won’t fix your problems.”

Min glared at the annoying man. “I’ll be in the car when you’re done stuffing yourself.”

He turned on his heel, ready to leave, but Young Jae grabbed his elbow. Angry words at the tip of his tongue, he turned to yell but Young Jae stopped him with a hard punishing kiss. He reached up, grabbing at Young Jae’s upper arm, but the punishing kiss turned soft against his lips. A cajoling demand on his lips, that had him frozen as Young Jae’s fingers slipped into his hair, the other around his waist to pull him closer. He closed his eyes and sighed as he opened his mouth to allow Young Jae’s seeking tongue. The soft teasing exploration left him breathless and clinging to Young Jae’s upper arms.

He buried his face into Young Jae’s shoulder when they broke the kiss. His heart racing a mile a minute in his chest unsure what to say at this exact moment.

“You need to keep calm.” Young Jae stroked his hair gently with his right hand. “Things are only going to get worse from here.”

“I suppose you think kissing me is the way to make me calm.” Min tried to step back but Young Jae refused to let him go.

“I kiss you because you annoy me so much. I find it’s the best way to shut you up.” Young Jae tightened his hold, giving him a tight hug. “You’re doing fine.”

“Let go,” Min said quietly. He didn’t want the warmth in this hug. He wanted to cling to the heat he’d found in Shin’s arms instead of this smoldering fire raging between him and Young Jae. He wanted nothing to do with it. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”

“There is nothing stopping us.” Young Jae ran a hand over Min’s back gently.

Min shook his head, and took a step back. He brought his hands up and pushed against Young Jae’s chest. “Don’t touch me,” he ordered keeping his tone hard. “I don’t like it.”

“Who are you lying to, me or you?” Young Jae chuckled. “Your face is flushed, your cock filling from arousal, and your lips are swollen.”

Min glared at him for a moment before he stalked out of the dining room and headed straight for the bathroom to wash his face. His cheeks flaming hot he wished for a reprieve.

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Young Jae chuckled when Min hurried out of the dining room. It was fun getting a rise out of Min. He loved how Min’s eyes flashed at him with anger. He couldn’t help imagining the thrilling sight of watching Min’s eyes burn with passion. He turned to look at the newspaper Min had left at the table. His thoughts settled on Min’s mother and her recent campaign against Hanje Group.

The opposition against Min was immense. The factory workers being incited by Min’s Uncle, the fire at the warehouse, the board members, he frowned. Min was keeping it together but he was stressed. It was time to pick a side, he thought.

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“Omma,” Min tried to keep his tone as calm as possible. “Can’t you stop making trouble for Hanje Group? I’ll give you whatever you want. Tell me what you’re after.”

“If you came to push your father’s agenda, you better leave, Min.” Yuna sat back in her armchair and took up a regal stance. “I thought you came to see your mother.”

Min sighed. He fought off irritation and studied his mother. He didn’t understand her. She kept a slim figure, and thanks to a few visits to her plastic surgeon, she could pass for later thirties instead of the late forties she was. She was always in designer clothes. He’d never seen her dressed casually.

She’d separated from his father when he’d turned ten. She’d left for New York and hadn’t returned until his eighteenth birthday. She’d come back with a daughter six years his junior. Six years having her in Seoul, and he still hadn’t found common ground.

She broke the silence first. “Your sister needs a date for the gala tonight. Will you do it?”

“You mean, that crazy girl and me,” Min blurted out. He shuddered at the thought of the eighteen year old brat Yuna liked to call his little sister. Lara, as she preferred to be called was a she-devil disguised as an eighteen year old woman. “No way,” he said firmly.

“Min, she’s your sister.” Yuna insisted with a severe expression. “You should help her enter the social circle. Introduce her to Shin, Jihu and Kaori.”

“They’re abroad,” Min said glad his friends weren’t in Seoul for the first time since they had flown out.

“Min, try and get Lara into your social circle.”

“I won’t do it.” Min shook his head hating the thought of letting Lara lose on unsuspecting people. “You’re being unfair. You want something from me, but you can’t promise to let go of the spotlight. It must mean you’re eager to expose Lara’s reputation to the circus you’re running.”

He picked up the newspaper lying on the coffee table and held it out to her. “My name is printed beside yours every five sentences in this article. Is that the life you want for Lara?”

“You’re like your father.” Yuna accused glaring at him. “Is this how he taught you to treat your elders?”

“Omma,” Min shouted in irritation. “Make a choice! I have an appointment in minutes.”

“You don’t have time for your mother.” She complained shaking her head in disappointment. “What’s wrong with my name appearing besides yours? I’m your mother, Min.”

“You’re making life difficult for me.” He stood up and adjusted his suit jacket. It was obvious they weren’t going to reach an agreement. “I’m begging you, please, stop giving interviews to anyone who’ll talk to you. As for Lara, she can show up at the gala alone. She doesn’t need a date, she has the name.”

He gave her the bow of respect she was craving and turned to leave the living room. This was why he hated dealing with issues do with his parents. Issues got blurred. He always ended up having to choose a side.

“Oppa,” Lara called just as he reached the door. He froze, a grimace twisting his face for a moment. He turned to look at her. She stood at the top of the stairs with a wide smile. She was dressed for a game of tennis, her long hair in a ponytail. “Were you leaving without saying hello to me?”

She rushed to the bottom of the stairs and he was wrapped in a tight hug. She stepped back with a happy giggle. “You’re always so busy. Come play tennis with me.”

“I’m sorry, I need to go.” He smiled stiffly.

“You always say that.” She pouted. “Did you fight with Omma?”

“Lara, please, I have an important appointment. I don’t want to disappoint this man.”

“It’s fine to disappoint me, then,” she replied, tears filling her eyes. “I thought we’re family. I know I’m just your half-sister, but, don’t you think of me as your dongsaeng?”

“You see the way you’re acting right now?” Min pointed to the tears and the stupid pout she was wearing. “I don’t have time for your antics. I’m leaving, see you.”

“Oppa,” Lara exclaimed as he escaped out of the house and into the waiting car in the parking lot.

Young Jae gave him an in inquisitive glance as he settled in his seat. He sighed and shook his head.

“She won’t do it. I told you she won’t stop.”

“We’ll see what happens at the gala.” Young Jae decided.

“I’m not going to the gala. Lara will be there.” Min shuddered at the thought. “I can’t go through a party with her.”

“Lara is a sweet girl,” Young Jae protested gently. His tone toward Lara surprised Min. “What did she ever do to you?”

“She’s manipulative and full of theatrical antics. There’s nothing ‘sweet’ in Lara.” Min shook his head. His mother had spoiled the girl rotten.

“If you gave her the time of day, you’d find out she’s just lonely like you. She’s more than a manipulative brat.” Young Jae pointed out as the car turned into traffic. “Take it from a person who knows.”

“What do you mean?” Min turned to Young Jae confused.

“You were a spoiled brat as far as I was concerned a couple of weeks ago. I couldn’t stand the sight of you.” Young Jae confessed with a slight smile. “Look at me now.”

em>Oppa - means older brother, used only by girls to their older brothers or older boys close to the family...
Omma - means 'mom' in korean
dongsaeng- younger sibling....  more to learn just for you Carrie :)