Matching Set (필연) Chapter 16 (열여섯)

Valerie didn’t have the mental capacity to think about the fact the shoes she was strapping her feet back into were two grand, all she could think about was how amazing of a kisser 종현 was and how well they matched each other’s … enthusiasm.

His lips were dangerous. They sent shivers up her and down her spine, goosebumps all over her body and started a fire just below her belly. He devoured her like a man starved for years and she was his first meal. When his hands cupped her cheeks, they were warm, soft, inviting.

The first kiss was a shock to her system. Something she wasn’t expecting but once felt she knew she wouldn’t be able to get enough of. The second kiss though. That kiss was every desire she had begun to feel for 종현in the past month coming to a head. She had gone blind in passion, she forgot the kids were standing around them. It was only when she heard 종현’s mother shout at him that she snapped back to reality.

She wanted to get out of there, back home so she could struggle with her feelings alone. Because while those kisses did not help her growing affection, 종현 seemed unphased, and that bothered her.

Maybe that was how he could be a ruthless businessman. He had no set feelings. He rolled with the punches and if the punches called for him to be a doting boyfriend, he adapted and became the perfect specimen.

“I’ll make this speech quick so we can get out of here. My speech usually is the item to begin the end of the party.” He explained as he put out his hand for her to take.

“Great because I don’t think my feet will last in these heels much longer.” She laughed as she placed her hand in his. “I think I only have another twenty minutes before I’m limping.”

“I’ll carry you.” He smirked and lead them back into the ballroom where all eyes were on them, and bulbs flashed as photos were being taken. They walked to the side of the stage and he let go of her to go on stage and give his speech.

She watched as his demeanor went right into rigid businessman. No emotion, stating facts, mentioning donating to the cause and thanking the people for coming to the gala. There were loud claps and cheers from all around the room as he bowed and waved to the crowd before exiting the stage and coming right up to Val.

She was about to compliment his speech when he squatted down and with no time to react, her feet were off the ground.

“What are you doing?” she wrapped her arms around his neck to stabilize herself.

“You said you had twenty minutes before you would be limping.” He started “My speech was twenty-two.”

“You would know how long your speeches are.” She rolled her eyes.

“Speak fast enough to get it done quickly but slow enough for them to understand. Maximizes efficiency.” He smirked as he explained.

“I’m ok though. I can walk back to the car.” She tried to shimmy out of his hold.

“Nope.” She could feel his grip strengthen even through all the tule of the skirt. “I’m not going to risk it and get an earful tomorrow from you or Ms. Seung about how I injured a designer.”

They smiled at each other, and he made his way out of the ballroom bowing to the executives and doctors he needed to. Once at the car he still refused to put her down and only allowed her to open the door so he could slide her into the backseat.

~*~

As his driver hit the streets, she once again noticed the direction in which they were being taken wasn’t her place.

“종현,” she turned to see he was already looking at her. He didn’t hide the fact he had been caught either, but a blush rose to her cheeks as she continued. “Why are we going to yours?”

He glanced past her to the view out of the window and was surprised to see the direction the car was going and turned to the driver.

“The press are following us 대표님.” The driver said as he peaked through his rear-view mirror.

They both turned to see several vans behind them, and when the streetlight shown on them, Val was able to catch a glimpse of a man in the passenger seat of the van holding a large camera directed at their car.

“Your apartment is safer than hers.” The driver continued.

“But my hair—” she cut herself off knowing neither man would understand her predicament. She touched her head and hair immediately thinking it needed a deep condition after the hell she put it through to get it straight.

“We need to make sure everything is secure at yours.” 종현 explained. “If they’re following us, there are probably already reporters at your place and mine. But like he said, my apartment is more secure. I will send over my assistant to check on yours and if we get the go ahead, I will drive you back myself.”

He tried to reassure her before getting on his phone to make the arrangements. She knew he was doing what was best. What was safest. But she was exhausted and all she wanted to do was get out of the painful heels, tight dress, and have her hair wrapped and prepped for the best night sleep.

Twenty minutes later they pulled up to his apartment building there was a swarm of cameras and reporters and the reality of being seen with 종현 was settling in. Their dates had never been followed. They were to help his cover story to his mother. She should’ve known walking in on his arm, and him carrying out of the gala would raise some eyebrows and turn a lot of heads.

He turned towards her. As if he could sense her nerves he grabbed her hands. Using his thumb to rub the top. The soft pad of his thumb was able to calm her anxiety.

“저 믿으세요?” He asked.

His eyes roamed her face but it didn’t go unnoticed that they lingered on her lips longer than what was appropriate. She brought her bottom lip between her teeth and gave a small nod to let him know she trusted whatever he was about to do.

He released her hands and climbed out of the car and put out his hand for her to take as his driver came around to help make a path for them to get into his apartment’s front door. 

“I’m here Valerie. I got you.” 종현 assured.

She grabbed his hand, slid out of the car, and he wrapped his arm around her waist to keep her against him as they made their way to the front lobby of his building. Her imagination of what was under his clothing was running wild. She had felt the strength of his arm muscles as he carried her out of the venue, but feeling his chest flex as he pushed people away to make room for their walk, she realized how safe she felt in his arms.

Her heart continued to race as they finally got through the door to the lobby. Once the door closed the shouting from outside was almost completely muted. 

“I’ll stay down here to make sure no one gets in.” The driver explained.

“Thank you. My assistant should be here soon, so please make sure he gets in safely.” 종현 responded with a nod and gently pulled Val to follow him to the elevator.

“Is my apartment safe for me to go back to?”

“네?” He asked.

“You said your assistant was going to check on my apartment before.” She started “But you just said he is on his way here. Does that mean I can go home?”

“미안 Valerie. But I don’t think it’s smart for you to go back to your apartment tonight.” he said but before she could protest the elevator dinged its arrival and the doors slid open.

“I need to go home 종현. You may not understand but it’s important I —”

“I understand Valerie.” He cut her off. “It’s not safe ok? I’m not trying to be an asshole about this. I’m trying to protect you. And we’re also going to work on our story now that a lot more than just my mother’s eyes are on us.”

He was right about that. That still didn’t make up for the fact her hair needed a deep condition or her scalp was about to be a painful mess of irritated skin. She pushed herself out of his hold on her waist and she watched as his hand flexed open and closed in the empty space. She saw his face looked unsettled. Like he was questioning his own reaction, but he said nothing and shoved his hand into his pant pocket.

The elevator climbed and they stood in silence. All she could think about was how badly she wanted to get out of the shoes, the dress, and be able to get her hair into it’s silk bonnet for the night. She would have to settle with only getting the first two.

When the elevator arrived on his floor they stepped out and he immediately walked into his bedroom, leaving her alone in the foyer. She had been their countless times obviously, but that night felt a lot different. And that’s when she was alone with her thoughts. And they went right to 종현’s lips on hers. How for a man who claimed such dispassion for affection, he was remarkably able to make her body come alive with a lustful hunger for it.

“여기.” his voice came from her side.

She turned to see him offering her clothes.

“This is the second time I’ve had to borrow clothes from you. I promise to return them all.” She bowed grabbing the plush sweat suit set.

“No need. That’s yours.” He shrugged before continuing, “You know where the guest bathroom is. I’m gonna get out of this tux and grab a quick shower.”

“What do you mean by this is mine?” She understood the words, but she needed time to comprehend.

“You’re the one who said we should add a women’s section in my closet. The last few times we’ve seen each other I made note of the styles you like and had my assistant purchase similar items.” Another shrug of no concern, “They’re all yours once this is over so it might as well be items you’ll like and can keep.”

Dammit 종현. Stop being such a great boyfriend! She scolded.

She bowed her thanks as he walked back towards his bedroom to change. She walked to the guest bathroom and was happy to see several of the facial cleaners she purchased sat on the double sink vanity. At least she would be able to clean her face of all the make-up. She scolded herself for not thinking about shower necessities. It was the fine details that would help keep his mother’s questioning at bay and she mentally made a note to purchase hair care to drop off at his place. 

~*~

After getting out of the dress and cleaning her face, she felt somewhat fresh and clean. And when she slid the sweat set on she relaxed into the soft fuzzy texture of the fabric. Taking a deep breath she walked out to face 종현 in her most casual form.

What she didn’t expect was to see him stood at his elevator door receiving a large paper bag, dressed in his own set of sweats, his hair damp and hung low covering most of his forehead, a towel wrapped around his neck.

Val was probably one of very few who had seen him in such relaxed clothing and holy shit was it hot. Jaw dropping really.

He dipped his head and the elevator doors closed and he turned to walk towards her and upon seeing her, he gave a kind half smile.

“I just got you some haircare products.” He came closer putting the bag out for her to take.

“네?” She grabbed the bag, “You didn’t have to—”

She cut herself off when she opened the bag to see a lot of products she used as well as higher end products she had always wanted to try.

“How did you know?”

“Google is a hell of a thing.” He joked. “I also sent my assistant to your apartment building. He may’ve convinced your landlord to let him into your apartment to find what you usually use as well.”

“종현…” She didn’t know what to say. All she wanted to do was kiss him and let him know how meaningful it was to her that he even took the time to do the research.

“도와줄까?” He asked nervously. “I’m not sure how I can really help but when I was scrolling through some tutorials it seemed like—”

“Tutorials? When did you have time to…” She trailed off remembering he had been staring at his phone for most of the car ride. “In the car?”

He nodded his head as if his actions were normal. Nothing about 종현 was normal. And Val was realizing how hard it was going to be to walk away from such an amazing man.

Holding back tears as well as trying to take deep breaths to keep her heart from bursting out of her chest she cleared her throat and responded, “Actually, could you? It’ll help me get it done a lot faster with four hands.”

They smiled awkwardly at each other and walked back to the bathroom. That’s when she realized–

“Crap.” She said out loud.

“무슨—” He began.

“Turn around.” She spoke panicked and without question he turned away from her. She searched for a towel. Finding one hanging by the shower she pulled the sweater off and wrapped the towel tightly around her chest. She held it even tighter to make sure there was no way it would come loose. She walked to the large white freestanding tub.

“Alright you can look.” She said.

He turned back around and she caught his eyes goes wide before trying to glance at everything else but her.

“What’s first?” He asked.

“Shampoo. Twice.”

~*~

They were sitting side by side as her deep conditioner sat in her hair. He had been the biggest help when he started to brush out her hair as he massaged the conditioner into her scalp after finished each side of her head.

“If your business ever goes under, you might have a job in the salon world.” She joked which caused him to laugh.

“I always wondered what I would be doing if I weren’t born and bred to be a CEO.” He retorted. “Honestly the fact you do this every night…I would be exhausted.”

“Luckily it’s not every night.” She explained. “Only when I put it up in certain styles. My mom tried to learn but since my parents were older when they got me, she could only help until I was a teenager.”

“Got you?” He asked.

“Oh, yeah. I was adopted. Probably should know that if it ever comes up in conversation.” She said. “I was adopted at birth. My parents couldn’t have kids but they always wanted children. My mom was a teacher in high school and one of her students came crying to her about being pregnant and how she couldn’t take care of a child while still being one herself.”

“My mom talked to my dad and so they spoke to the young mother’s parents and got all the papers properly filed and when I was born, I was theirs. I’ve met my birth mom a few times, but it was tough.” Val hadn’t expected to unload all that on him but he seemed to be interested in what she was saying and so she continued.

“She went off to college, got married, and started a whole new family.” Her breath was becoming ragged her throat burned. “I was invited to her other kid’s birthday parties and all I could think was ‘Why couldn’t she keep me? Why couldn’t I have that with her?’ And I know that’s irrational. She was so young when she had me. I wouldn’t have the same kind of life. Neither would she. And I love my adoptive parents. They’re my real family, but sometimes I just wonder how my life would be different.”

Tears fell from her eyes but they barely made it down her cheeks as 종현’s hands cupped her face and his thumbs brushed her tears away.

“You would still be the brilliant, charismatic, talented, beautiful woman you are today. I have no doubt about that.” His eyes stared straight into hers never lingering anywhere else.

“You don’t know that.” She cracked smile but it only caused more tears to fall a choked out laugh to pass her lips.

“You’re right, I don’t, but neither do you. You can imagine all day the ‘What if’s’ but all that will do is make you sad for what you don’t have and you never did.” His thumbs continued to stroke her cheeks. “Your birth mother made her choices. Your mother made hers. And you’re going to make yours. All you can do is see how your life unfolds because of all those choices made.”

They sat in silence. Just staring at each other. She started to take deep breaths again, her tears dissipated, and her eyes stayed on his not wanting to miss a second of his care.

When she finally felt she could speak again she smiled, her cheeks getting scrunched in his hold, “When you find yourself a real girlfriend, you’ve got the consolation thing down pat.”

He smiled back and she saw the warmth and care leave his eyes as he dropped his hands from her cheeks and rubbed them on his sweats and moved to stand.

“Should we get this conditioner out of your hair?” He asked walking back around to the shower head connected to the tub.

As he helped wash the conditioner out of her hair and massaged her scalp all she could think about was how she could get used to him helping her wash and style her hair, how he listened and took her on dates to places she had mentioned in passing, how he thought about her enough to buy her clothes she would like.

It was that moment she realized it wasn’t just a crush. She was falling in love with 종현.