✓ TOO REAL TO DENY | SUNGHOON

37 - For Better Or Worse

SUNGHOON'S POV

Being a chairman is a responsibility that sucks the life out of me. Countless meetings with the board members and the constant negotiations with stakeholders leave me drained, both physically and emotionally. Not to mention my uncle breathing down my neck, waiting for the perfect moment to take his revenge and make me regret ever stepping into my father's shoes.

I'm still thinking of Kim's threats and if, by some unfortunate turn of events, he manages to gather enough support to oust me from the company, I know it won't be just me who suffers. The whole company and my family will be at the mercy of his ambitions, and I can't let that happen. This is the reason why I never wanted to take the company and did my best to stay away, I'm not one for the cutthroat world of corporate politics. What's worse is that I'm not one to give up either. 

"Mr. Park is here." My assistant, previously my father's, says as he opens the door slightly. I nod, acknowledging his words, and he steps aside to allow Jay to enter. Man, I really missed him. He still had that stylish hairstyle of his he always pulled off effortlessly. His smile instantly eased some of the tension in the room. Despite my current predicament, seeing Jay was like a breath of fresh air. 

"What's up? When you called me and asked for my help, it didn't sound like that time when you asked me to help you find a new restaurant to try."

"Straight to the fucking point," I scoff, shaking his hand as he extends it towards me. "I wish it was just about finding a new restaurant but this time it's much more serious." He sits across from me, crosses his legs, and waits for me to elaborate. "First of all, I'm the chairman while my father recovers and I have a shit ton of responsibilities on my plate right now. But on top of that, Seoyoung's father is breathing down my neck for refusing to go back to his daughter after she called off our engagement because, apparently, she loved someone else. And then there's... her."

"Lee Y/N." He says and my blood runs cold. "Word travels faster than you think, Sunghoon. So, she's your weakness now?"

"She's not a weakness," My voice comes sharper than I intended, though I know Jay means well. Gosh, thinking of Y/N as a weakness must be a crime. She's the one thing that keeps me sane in this insane world. She's the one good thing in this chaotic life. I'd rest my head on her lap and all my worries would melt away. Y/N is not my weakness; she's my greatest ally.

"You love her." When Jay mutters the words, I know I don't have to explain further. He has someone he loves too, I'm sure he understands that if anything were to happen to Y/N because of me, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. "I do," I admit, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "And that's exactly why I need your help. I need you to make her work in your company, working here will be obvious and she'll know I'm the one who recommended her, I don't want her to feel indebted to me or think that I'm trying to control her life. But if she works at your company, it'll be less suspicious, and she won't suspect a thing. Kim will not think of harming her if she works for you, Jay."

He nods thoughtfully, absorbing my words. "I understand that you're worried, but are you sure she won't be hurt or a little uncomfortable if she finds out later that you were behind her getting the job? I'm pretty sure she won't appreciate feeling like she was manipulated into it."

"I know," I sigh, feeling the weight of my decisions bearing down on me. I hadn't thought about how she might feel if she found out later. I don't want her to feel like her choices were taken away from her or that she was used. That's the last thing I want. "But this is the only way I can think of to keep her safe without directly involving her in the mess with Seoyoung's father and my uncle. Please, Jay, I'm trusting you with this."