Pay With Your Heart
Chapter 303 - Help

Dan-Han's office

Dan-Han lolled on his seat as he read the report Tae-Ho had sent to him about Ji-Tae. There was nothing out of the ordinary. He had not met anyone, or done anything suspicious. But he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. He didn't want to be suspicious of the boy, but he just couldn't help it. Ji-Tae has proven time and again that he was up to no good, and a clean record such as this made it even more suspicious.

"Sir, do you really think it's right to keep Ji-Tae here?" Secretary Chang-wok asked while Dan-Han looked out the window before staring at him.

"I don't know. But he's still family." He replied and sighed.

Family? Secretary Chang-wok almost scoffed. That guy was too sly to be anyone's family member, but he couldn't say that out to President Lee.

"What about Miss Nara? Are you also going to let her stay and invest in the project? She's-" He swallowed back his words when Dan-Han stared back at him. He wasn't trying to lecture his boss, but he was concerned. He had been surprised when Dan-Han asked him to cancel his meeting with Kwon-Nara. That meant he was letting her invest in the project, right? He wondered what had changed.

Dan-Han looked away from Chang-wok, his eyes falling deep into thought. "We'll keep her close, for now." He said. But his tone and look told Chang-wok what he actually meant. It was probably a case of keeping your friends, and your enemies, closer. He didn't know what the big boss was up to, but he could tell there was something going through his mind.

Dan-Han was certain there was someone helping Kwon-Nara. someone other than Ji-Tae, who had secretly brought her back into the country without alerting him, and he thinks he had an idea who it might be. He didn't send Nara away because she hurt him due to her stupid greed of wanting him, but because she used his mother for her evil scheme and she broke his trust. He didn't want her around him, but if she's up to something bad again, he wouldn't waste his time by sending her away, he'll put an end to her for good. His mother wouldn't be here to stop him this time.

Dan-Han and Chang-wok's eyes fell on his phone when it suddenly rang and a familiar face displayed on the screen. Chang-wok closely observed his boss countenance till the call ended.

"Sir, why don't you talk to her?" Secretary Chang-wok asked. He knew what was going on between the boss and his woman, and he could see how it was affecting them both, most especially Eun-sun. He had gotten used to seeing the boss behave more human than he once did, and he thinks he liked that better. He was certain whatever might have happened between them was probably her fault, and must have hurt Dan-Han a lot, but it was obvious Dan-Han clearly misses her as well. He'd wish they could get past it, and move on.

"I'd rather work." He coldly replied without staring at Chang-wok, and from how cold his Voice had turned, Chang-wok knew that was his cue to leave. He paused on his way out when he remembered Dan-Han's next meeting.

"Sir, your next meeting is-"

"I know. Get the car ready." He said.

Dan-Han's eyes darted towards his phone again and he sighed. Talk to her? And say what? Hear another apology? He wouldn't lie that he doesn't miss her, heaven knows he does. But she had hurt him and cost him something he couldn't get back. All he wanted from her was her love, trust and loyalty. Was that too much to ask?

Now he understood why they said, 'it is those you love that cause you the greatest harm.'

.....

Eun-sun longingly stared at her phone hoping, just maybe Dan-Han would pick up or return her call this time, but who was she kidding? Even after several calls and several days of hoping and wishing, he still hasn't called her, and she was still being hopeful. She had to.

Somedays it gets hard, really hard but she tells herself she deserved it and more. She deserved every ill treatment he gave her, but other times she could see whatever little hope she had dwindle and thoughts of going away comes to her mind. She had nowhere to go, but maybe the distance might help them both.

Well, she didn't know.

She had promised Mrs Lee that she'd look after him, so this wasn't about her anymore. She had promised so she must keep her words, and honestly she didn't want to give up as well. She couldn't give up on him. She didn't know how long it would take before he forgives her, but she would wait. She would wait and beg till he took her back. Even if he refuses to love her again, she would love him for the them both.

She deeply sighed as she looked outside the huge window of the company's cafeteria, while her mind kept pondering about a lot of things. Good time memories came through her mind. She thought about the good days when he taunted her with her debt, and chased her to no end. How had she lost something like that?

Tears stung her eyes but she quickly wiped them away before she attracted curious eyes to herself. She was sitting in the cafeteria for Pete's sake.

"Hey," She suddenly heard someone say, and she turned to the source of the voice. Her brows furrowed when she observed the unfamiliar face standing in front of her. She looked around her to ensure she was the one she wanted to talk to, and that was when she noticed the attention the girl carried with her. All eyes were glued to her, most especially the guys.

Her eyes looked her over from head to toes. She reeked of class and elegance, and she looked she was a bit younger than her, but Eun-sun was sure she had never met her before. She didn't know who she was, and she didn't need anyone to bother her, but she politely greeted back.

"Hey,"

The girl revealed a blinding smile and her eyes twinkled. "My name is Lee Ni-Na." She stretched out her hand for a hand shake. Eun-sun was slightly taken aback when she heard the girl's name. Lee Ni-Na? The only girl of the Lee family? She had heard Mother Lee fondly talk about her in the past.

Eun-sun accepted her hand and introduced herself. "My name is Eun-sun, but I guess you already know that." She said while Ni-Na nodded, smilingly.

"I went to your office but they said you'll be here." She smiled. "Can I?" She gestured to the seat, while Eun-sun nodded. Eun-sun didn't know the reason for this sudden and awkward visit but she could already guess. She shifted uncomfortably when Ni-Na's scrutinizing gaze fell on her.

"You're pretty." Ni-Na said making Eun-sun feel slightly embarrassed. She awkwardly cleared her throat and muttered a thank you. "You're beautiful too." She also complimented her. If she was honest, Lee Ni-Na was way above pretty. She was far prettier than most supermodels she had seen. The Lee lineage was purely made of beautiful women and men, even the weirdly acting ones were also good looking. Speaking of which, her eyes slightly widened when she realized the young lady sitting in front of her was probably Ji-Tae's younger sister. She hoped she had not come because of the nonsense her weird brother had said the other day?

Ni-Na dropped her bag as she placed her intent gaze on Eun-sun. "I know you're older than me and I probably shouldn't be here, but I can't help it. So please don't feel respected." She Said. "Aunty said you're a good person and I'm sure you are, else aunty would never approve of you, and my brother would never fall for you." She paused and continued.

"I'm quite close to big brother and I was excited to hear he finally found himself a woman, but I'm more surprised to come see my brother this way, alone and broken when his woman should be giving all the comfort as he grives his loss. So please don't be offended. Can you tell me what happened to him? Why is he shutting everyone out, and I know this is more than aunty's death. I hate seeing brother Dan-Han like this. Can you please tell me, so I can help you." She said. Eun-sun could see the sincerity and concern for her brother. She felt small seeing how she was worried for Dan-Han, when she herself had failed to put him first.

A wry derisive scoff escaped her lips making Ni-Na to look at her with surprise. 

"I don't think you can help me." Eun-sun outrightly told her. 

"You don't know that for sure. Even if I can't, I can atleast try." She pressed while Eun-sun looked at her too. She didn't think she understood. She was sure if she told her she might even hate her more than her brother does right now. But Seeing the adamant look on her face, Eun-sun decided to tell her.

"I kept a secret from him." She said. She saw the way Ni-Na's brows slightly narrowed at her as if wondering if it was a secret big enough to break them apart. And before she could say anything, Eun-sun continued. "I kept a secret about his mother's illness, your aunt's for months." She emphasized on the word aunt.

"I kept it a secret even when I knew he might lose her, and he did. I deprived him a good fight for keeping his mother alive, and I deprived him the time he could have spent with her. He never got the time to say goodbye to her and that's my sin against your brother." 

A bitter smile crossed her lips when she saw the shocked reaction on Ni-Na's face. She chuckled slightly as she picked up her phone.

"Now you know you can't help me, Lee Ni-Na. What I did wasn't just against Dan-Han, but against the entire Lee family. And I don't know where to ask for forgiveness. But maybe I can start with you." She said as she rose to her feet while Ni-Na watched her.. Eun-sun sighed before deeply bowing to Ni-Na.