Chapter One

            Hankyung walked into the tall building, he was scared this was his first interview after getting out of college, and he didn’t know if he could do it. He took a deep breath and walked out to the main desk.

            “Hello, I’m Hankyung, I’m here for the—“, he was cut off.

            “I need those papers, NOW! Mr. Choi is getting mad and if doesn’t get the papers on his desk in ten minutes, someone is going get fired,” a man from across the hall.

            “Yes, I’m sorry, can I help you?” The lady turned her attention to Hankyung.

            “Ahh, yes… well, I have an interview with Mr. Choi Siwon, at three,” Hankyung played with his papers as the lady looked at her computer.

            “I’m sorry, that interview was moved to two, didn’t you get a call?”

            “What? No… I didn’t, no one called me,” Hankyung started stuttering, mixing his Chinese and his Korean together.

            “Well, I’m sorry, there’s nothing I can do, unless you would like to schedule for another time,” she looked at his with a sorry expression.

            “Oh okay, another time then,” Hankyung looked at his papers, and sighed.

            “Okay, let’s see,” she turned back to the computer and the phone rang. “Hello, Choi Empire—. Yes, he’s here.” She looked at Hankyung and smiled, “I’ll send him right up then.” She hung up and turned her complete attention to Hankyung. “It’s your lucky day, even if he’s angry. Mr. Choi would like to see you now. His office is the entire top floor, you can’t miss it.”

            Hankyung smiled, “Thank you.” He ran to the elevator, and pressed for the 32^nd floor. He was shaking, shaking for nervousness and excitement. On the 15^th floor someone had gotten on, with his arms full.

            “Could you press the 20^th floor for me?” He looked at Hankyung. Hankyung nodded and pressed the button. After the man got off, it was quiet, all but for Hankyung’s breathing and the elevator music.

DING

            Hankyung got off and looked around the floor, there was a desk before a set of double doors. He walked up to the desk, “Umm—, I’m here for the interview.”

            “Hankyung, right?” the man questioned, not even looking at Hankyung’s face.

            “Yes,” Hankyung answered slowly hoping he didn’t do anything wrong.

            “I’m Donghae, Siwon’s secretary,” he smiled, and handed Hankyung some papers. “He’s waiting for these, and for you, quickly.” He picked up the phone, “Sir, the papers and Hankyung are coming in now.” He hung up and nodded at Hankyung, “good luck.”

            Hankyung nodded and knocked on the door, waiting for an answer. When he heard a quiet ‘come in’, Hankyung opened the doors, and let himself in.

            “Close the doors behind you,” a low, quiet, but had a hint of angriness in the voice ordered.

            Hankyung turned and closed the doors behind him; he slowly walked to the desk and placed the papers on his desk. He stepped backwards, and waited for Siwon to turn around.

            “Sit,” he turned around and Hankyung gasped. There in front of him, sat a well-groomed man, with a slightly built figure, and expressionless face, even if he was mad. He looked at Hankyung before holding his hand out for his papers. Hankyung fumbled with the envelope before taking out the papers and handing them to Siwon. Siwon took the papers and began reading over them; every now and then he would look up from his papers, before going back to them. Five minutes of the dreaded silence, was the longest five minutes Hankyung had ever experienced in his life so far. “It says here that you are from China,” he began. “I do business with Chinese people, so I’ll need you to be there, I’ll see if you deserve the extra pay when I see you in action. It also says here that you graduated top of your class,” Siwon looked up from the papers.

            “Yes,” Hankyung nodded,

            “Perfect score also,” Siwon looked back at the papers. “Such a perfect student,” Siwon praised him. “This will be your first job, out of college?” Hankyung nodded. “You can cook?” Siwon looked at Hankyung, who had a questioned face.

            “It’s a hobby—“, Hankyung was cut off.

            “I don’t care,” Siwon brushed it off. “For someone who was at the top of the class, you sure did do a lot: basketball, dancing, cooking, three jobs, etc. etc, what did you do as your three jobs?”

            “I was a dance teacher, a waiter,” Hankyung didn’t dare to look up at Siwon’s eyes; they seemed to bore deep in his soul, making all his secrets bare.

            “I see,” Siwon looked at the papers again, “You start tomorrow.” He got up, and Hankyung hasty followed in suit. “I want you to have a decent suit, you seem not to have one,” Siwon looked at Hankyung attire, “we’ll go get that now. You will move out of your low-cut apartment and move in with me. At home, you will cook, clean, and work there if you get sick. You’ll also help me and take care of my dog. You’ll do the grocery shopping, I’ll decide how much pay you get after I see how good you work.”

            Hankyung stood there in shock, everything slowly sinking into his head. He forced a smile onto his face, “Thank you” He bowed at Siwon.

            “Whatever,” he opened his door, and called Donghae.

            “Yes sir?” Donghae stood in front of Siwon.

            “I want you to push anything I have today to tomorrow and get the car ready,” Siwon grabbed his jacket.

            “Yes sir, but Leeteuk just called, he won’t be able to make it to the meeting tomorrow, but he’s sending his information to you,” Donghae looked at Hankyung and gave him a thumbs' up.

            “I see,” Siwon looked at Hankyung. “Don’t just stand there like an idiot.”

            Hankyung looked at Siwon and followed him quickly, as they were in the elevator, no one dared to get on. Hankyung looked at Siwon, he was so young looking, yet he was already CEO of his own company and it was at its highest peak, and growing. Siwon got off the elevator and Hankyung followed, as Siwon walked everyone cleared a path, and when he walked by everyone bowed. Hankyung looked at them strangely, before quickly walking to catch up with Siwon. Hankyung looked around as he walked, he didn’t get to see the beautiful architect of the building when he first came in. Then he suddenly hit someone’s back and fell backwards.

            “Sorry,” Hankyung mumbled as he looked up, and saw Siwon looking down at him.

            Siwon sighed and turned back around, he had an on-coming headache and the Chinese boy was helping it.

            “Sir, the car is ready,” the driver bowed to Siwon. Siwon looked back and gestured Hankyung to follow him. Hankyung looked back at the building before rushing to the car, before the driver decided to leave him there. Once in the limo, Hankyung was taken away by the interior. There was various buttons, and he had a dying urge to press them all. He looked at Siwon who was looking at him. Hankyung blushed and quickly turned for the window. Slowly as time went by, Hankyung fell asleep, and Siwon was reading papers for an upcoming meeting.

            Minutes passed, and the car was silence, until the driver informed him that they had arrived at the tailor. Siwon looked over at Hankyung and shook his shoulder, “Hey, wake up, we’re here.”

            Hankyung woke up and rubbed his eyes, and looked around. The door suddenly opened and Hankyung jumped back. “Please,” the driver bowed, smirking as Hankyung came out slowly. Siwon shook his head and dismissed the driver, telling he would call when they were done.

            Siwon turned to Hankyung, “we need to get your tailor for your suits, and then I’ll treat you to dinner.”

            “How many suits am I getting?” Hankyung looked at Siwon with curiously in his eyes. Siwon, however, ignored him and walked into the shop. Hankyung stuck his tongue out at Siwon’s back, pouted, before following the man into the shop. When he walked in he felt uncomfortable, like he didn’t belong to this world of suits and designer fashions.

            “I want you to fit in for five suits, I want then delivered to the house, along with three dress shoes, socks, and button down shirts.” Siwon instructed the man, who pulled Hankyung to the center of the shop and told him to stand still while he measured. Hankyung twitched every time the old man touched him. He looked out of the corner of his eyes; Siwon was going over papers again.

            “All done,” the old man turned to Siwon, “his suits should be in by…Thursday at the latest.”

            Siwon nodded, “I’ll pay you then.” He stood up and gestured Hankyung to follow him. Once outside the shop, Hankyung let out a sigh, Siwon looked at him, “uncomfortable?”

            “Just a bit,” Hankyung mumbled in Chinese. He was nervous and didn’t feel right, at these times, he spoke in Chinese.

            Siwon raised an eyebrow and let it go, “Come on, I had Donghae get us reservations at Olive Garden.” Hankyung’s eyes lit up, and waited with Siwon for the car to come get them. Once the car came Hankyung went in first, and there were all the buttons tempting him again. He gulped and looked out the window. Again, Hankyung fell asleep and Siwon was yet, again, looking over documents.

            “Sir, we have arrived,” the driver looked back at the two men in the seats and smiled when he saw Hankyung sleeping on Siwon’s shoulder.

            “Thank you,” he looked at Hankyung and waited the driver to come open the door. Once the door was open, Siwon got out, letting Hankyung fall. Before his face came in contact with the seat, Hankyung had woke up and looked around. “Hurry up,” Siwon looked at Hankyung with an annoyed look on his face and waited.

            “Sorry,” Hankyung got out and bowed a bit to Siwon. Siwon was quiet and he walked into Olive Garden with Hankyung in tow, who was looking at the décor. Italian was his favorite, next to Chinese and Korean. Siwon talked with the lady, and Hankyung simply followed. Once the menus were handed, Hankyung looked at the beautiful pictures.

            “Order something,” Siwon snapped Hankyung out of his gaze. Hankyung mumbled a sorry and began looking over the menu.

            “What would you like, gentlemen” the waiter asked Hankyung and Siwon, and waited for them to order.

            Siwon ordered first, followed by Hankyung, who simply pointed at the pictures. After the waiter left, Siwon looked at Hankyung. “You can’t read Korean?”

            Hankyung embarrassed, shook his head and put his head down. Siwon looked at him, “you’ll have to go to classes, after work. Meaning you’ll have to work twice as work for you, I don’t want you slacking off just because you’re tired.”

            Hankyung nodded and looked to the side; in his head he cursed some colorful Chinese words. What did he do to deserve such a coldhearted boss?