Chapter 14 - Her Sin (2/2)

The phone rang once more and Jae fished the receiver immediately, her hands snatching the notepad and pen nearby in preparation. ”Hello, good afternoon. President Kang Jinho's Office, how may I help you?” she answered in practiced politeness, and she jotted down notes, instructions on a piece of paper.

The call ended and she stood up and marched towards her superior's inner office. Swallowing hard, she tried to fix her clothing, and then raised her hand to knock.

At the president's ȧssent, she opened the door and saw Jinho busy at work with several documents on his table – the very same documents that she should have been working on, and the secretary felt guilty for her ineptness again.

”Yes?” Kang Jinho inquired as he watched her cross the room with the note on hand. ”What's that?”

”Ehrm…Mr. Park of Avia Corporation called. He said he had an emergency and couldn't come for your dinner meeting today,” she informed him as she reached out to place the note on his table, and almost jumped back when her boss's hand suddenly grabbed her wrist and used the other to take and inspect the note without letting her go.

Yunjae bit her lip as she watched him look at the paper, noting his serious and unsmiling face. Her heart, like years ago constricted in her ċhėst, but this time, not with tenderness but with pain. Seeing Jinho now like this hurt a lot.

”I see,” the president commented as he placed the note haphazardly on the table and turned his cold eyes on her. Their gazes locked for a few seconds until she couldn't bear it anymore, she turned away. ”M-my hand…” she murmured, and she was surprised when the other easily let go.

”Here,” her boss commanded, and when she looked, her boss was handing her a keycard. ”What's this?” she asked as she took it in her hands, though she already had an idea what it meant.

Ignoring her question, Jinho eyed her cruelly, and Yunjae flinched as he spoke. ”Tell your husband you wouldn't be coming home tonight. You have some work to do,” Jinho commanded with a sneer. ”Go,” he ordered and she clenched her hand hard, the key digging into the skin of her palm before placing it in her pocket as she walked out of her boss' office.

Back on her table, Yunjae had taken the receiver with trembling hands just as Jinho came out of his office, ready to leave. The secretary clumsily dialed her home phone number and she swallowed hard before she spoke.

”Hi. I can't go home today,” she said breathily and she paused to listen to the other end. ”I'm sorry about this. It was sudden,” she continued as she glanced at her boss who watched her with a disgusted look on his face, making her nervous. ”Y-yes, I'm sorry. I-I'll come home as soon as I c-can,” she promised, her voice cracking, almost in tears.

Jinho might have found the scene really revolting as he turned away and left without a backward glance.

With him gone, Jae let the tears in her eyes fall freely, her nose turning red as she controlled her sobs regardless that she felt like weeping out loud. ”Are you okay?” the voice asked on the other end, and she nodded in spite the other not seeing her.

”Y-yeah…” she answered in false lightheartedness which made her feel all the more like crying. ”I'm okay. Just tired. I had so many things to do,” she continued and she listened to the other end for a while. ”Yes, yes, please give it to him,” she agreed, and in a few seconds, she heard the voice of the one she loved with all her might.

Hearing his voice, it didn't matter anymore to Yunjae that she had been hurting just a while ago. The person talking to her in his soothing tone was enough to put a balm over the wounds in her heart. ”I'm going now Yuan. I love you,” she whispered as she ended the call.

Wiping her tears, Yunjae gathered her belongings and marched towards the parking lot. Getting into her car, she took the key her boss gave her from her pocket and held it in front of her.

With a silent prayer, she started the engine and pressed on the gas, maneuvering her way out onto the streets. She knew just where she was asked to go and she went without procrastination.

In a few minutes, she drove into a five star hotel, handed her car keys to the waiting valet and marched towards the elevators. With the key in her hand, Yunjae trudged down the hall on the fortieth floor towards the room indicated on the piece of metal in her hand.

Soon, she reached the huge suite bearing the same number as the key. Using the latter, she opened the room and stepped inside with all the grace of a condemned woman.

”I'm here,” she called softly as she marched directly towards the shower where she knew she'd find him.

”Come in,” was the curt reply, and Jae didn't think anymore as she pushed open the door.

”I'm here,” she called again as soon as she stepped in, her eyes widening upon the sight that welcomed her.

Kang Jinho, in all his nȧkėd glory had his back on Yunjae. His sinewy arms spread wide, his hands pushing against the tiled wall as he leaned over with his head bowed. The warm spray of water from the silvery shower cascaded down his broad back and she was reminded again of the magnificent buŧŧerfly in the pool years ago.

Yes, she, Kim Yunjae was the one who had caused the scar. She was the one who destroyed the wings of the very same magnificent buŧŧerfly she loved and admired. Because of this, she, Yunjae would continue to pay for her sins even though it meant she would have to keep on sinning.