You cast a wary glance at the drink the man had placed before you, leaving it untouched on the table.
"It's not poisoned, I assure you," he informed, settling into his leather chair. The office ambience was feeling heavy. He had summoned you here, announcing to everyone that he'd found his cleaning staff to be in charge of his office, leaving the others to sort out the other positions by themselves.
"I don't know you well enough to trust you, sir. I don't even know your name," You replied, maintaining a frosty demeanour. This man's interactions had been nothing but a mystery so far so it was only normal for you to be cautious.
"You're right, my lady. My apologies for the oversight. I hope you'll forgive me," he said, rising from his seat and extending his hand toward you.
"Lee Jong Suk. Enchanted by your presence, my lady," he introduced himself. You hesitated for a moment before accepting his hand for a handshake. But instead of a firm grip, he leaned in and brushed your knuckles with a gentle kiss, catching you off guard.
His behaviour made you alarmed. For beneath the veneer of politeness and gentlemanly charm lay you couldn't tell what was he concealing.
No man who would kidnap someone on another's behalf could be innocent, after all.
"I'm sorry, but I can't say the same" you retorted, earning a smirk from him. Your cold behaviour seemed to amuse him.
"Well, that's a shame. I thought I was captivating enough for anyone to find me at least pleasant," he teased, his gaze lingering on you.
"Mr. Lee," you began, determined to assert yourself, "I didn't come here to apply for a job. I merely sought information about the available positions. If I had known that you would be—"
He cut you off, his voice low and insistent. "Our first encounter may not have been pleasant, but there's no reason to decline this opportunity, Y/N."
His words hung in the air, as the man's eyes bore into yours, awaiting your reply. You couldn't deny the truth. You needed a better-paying job, and this opportunity certainly was too good. But trust was a fragile commodity, especially when dealing with someone who had partially kidnapped you once and handed you over to Mr Jeon.
"We'll sign a contract, and your payment will be punctual," he assured you. "The job itself isn't overly complicated. The office you see before you—that's your primary domain." You glanced around the spacious room, imagining the routine of keeping it clean.
"But there's more," he continued, his voice lowering. "You'll tend to my private room within the hotel, ensuring it remains spotless. And my suits—they'll be in your care. Oh, and coffee, of course. Black, two spoonfuls of sugar, no milk."
His words flowed as if the decision had already been made as if your acceptance was a foregone conclusion. You opened your mouth to voice your reservations, but he continued cutting you off.
"Room 2125. My secretary will provide the keys and give you a tour. You start promptly at 8:30 every morning. I'll see you tomorrow," he declared, rising unexpectedly from his seat. You stood still, however, caught off guard by his sudden departure.
"One more thing," he added, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "When we're alone, drop the formality, Y/N. 'Mr. Lee' makes me feel ancient." With that enigmatic smile, he strolled out of the office, leaving you bewildered and wondering just how much had you messed up by getting involved in this.
He is smooth. He knew I would protest so he didn't let me speak at all. Damn.
As you gathered your belongings and stepped out of the office, the thought that you'd likely be visiting this place more often from now on, lingered in your head.
Still pondering whether accepting this job was the right move, you stepped into the elevator. And as soon as its doors closed, your phone buzzed, demanding your attention.
"Grandma!" you exclaimed, answering the call as her ID flashed on your screen. Her voice echoed through the line, and you smiled, feeling a rush of warmth.
"How is it going, my dear?" Her joyfully voice reached your ears. "I'm doing great, Granny. Don't worry," you reassured her—the same response you gave every time she called.
You chatted with her during the walk from the office building to the bus stop. Catching up about everything from her side and yours. As the bus approached, however, you had to reluctantly end the call.
"It was nice hearing from you, Grandma. I'll send you the money tomorrow. Take care," you reassured her before hanging up. Your mind shifting to her health.
No one remains young forever; that's a universal truth. Your grandmother had been unwell for a long time, and you worked tirelessly to send her money so she would have enough to live comfortably and buy her medicine. Surgery was her only hope, but you had yet to gather all the money needed for that. It was a chance for her to avoid being bedridden for the rest of her days.
But the mere thought of surgery sent shivers down your spine. She was your last remaining family, and losing her would reopen wounds you'd rather keep closed. So even when you gather all the needed money, it was gonna be a difficult thing to go through. Hence you preferred not thinking about it often.
---Time skip ---
Jungkook sat across from his girlfriend at a cosy coffee table, passing together this brief break he had between his morning job and his work at the restaurant.
"This coffee is almost as good as our usual spot," she remarked, sipping her caramel macchiato happily. However, as her gaze lingered on Jungkook's unusually sombre expression, SaeRi couldn't help but realize that something was on his mind.
"Is something bothering you, babe?" Concern etching her features, as she decided to address the issue.
"Have you heard anything about my father's condition?" Jungkook's blurred out his thoughts as from the moment she had called him to meet up, he had agreed with that question in mind. He needed to know more, he was being eaten alive, by the silence and the lack of news he had about his father and someone like her, should be able to give him at least something. He had asked her after all, to find out more about his father's condition.
"I'm sorry. My father tried to visit him at the hospital, but they wouldn't let him see him. They did say that they would move him home by tonight, however." SaeRi shared all she had gotten to know from her father, while her words set off a whirlwind of thoughts in Jungkook's mind.
He couldn't understand why his uncle wouldn't let others see his father. Why the secrecy? Why was his uncle going to such lengths?
It felt odd. It made his gut feeling alert and as he stood there silent, he knew that he had to do something about this.
His determination to visit his father was growing stronger. Now that he knew his father had been moved home, he could guess that they most likely would be having him staying in his room so he had to try—even if bypassing his uncle's guards wouldn't be easy. It was his childhood home, no one knew it better than he did. He certainly had a chance.
So Jungkook was gonna give it a shot and try to sneak in. Everything for the sake of seeing his father one more time.
---To be continued...
YOU ARE READING
An Arrogant Beggar // Jungkook FF
Fanfiction"In prosperity, our friends know us, in adversity, we know our friends." Jeon Jungkook. A boy who had it all in his life is about to learn what it means to feed yourself and to survive without the warm shoulders of your rich family having your back...
