In The Arms Of My Idol

Chapter 2

Breakfast ended, but the performance didn't.

Charlie stayed on the floor with Anna for nearly forty minutes, fully committed to her elaborate tea party. The new doll sat in a place of honor. Anna frowned in the concentration, carefully filling each tiny porcelain cup with invisible tea. One shaky hand, with a serious nod. This was an important business, then he offered one to Charlie. He took the tiny cup as if it were priceless. Then blew across the empty rim.

"Careful, Papa. It's very hot," she warned seriously.

"Think it's cool enough now ?" Anna nodded her head. Charlie pretended to sip from the tiny cup, then smiled. "Perfect. Best tea I've had all year."

Anna burst into giggles. "You spilled! Drink it properly or the queen will get mad."

Kim stood in the doorway, his arms wrapped tightly around him. Anna laughed again. Kim flinched. Each burst of laughter scraped against something raw inside him. He couldn't remember the last time she'd smiled this freely — relaxed, bright-eyed, completely at ease with the man we'd spent seven years running from. She wasn't supposed to feel comfortable around Charlie. Yet there she was … smiling. Safe.

He tore his gaze away. If he was going to act. It had to be now.

Charlie laughed as Anna was showing him how to make the perfect tea. Kim used the distraction to slip into the kitchen. He snatched up the house phone. Fingers slipped once. On the second try, he dialed Do-yoon's number. A soft click followed by the sound of breathing.

"Kim? Kim, is that you?" Do-yoon's voice cracked with relief. "Where the hell are you? I've been calling everyone—"

"I don't remember anything," Kim whispered, cupping his hand around the receiver. "The last thing I remember … we were eating outside." Kim swallowed. " After I went back into the house … what happened?"

Do-yoon exhaled shakily. " Right after you went inside, a black SUV rolled through the gate. A man … that musician we saw on tv the other night … wait, what was his name?" "Charlie ?" Kim answered with a cold realization. "Yes, that's the one … We were talking with him and asking for his autograph and, by the time we were done. You disappeared almost immediately and your phone was switched off. Junhoo came thirty seconds later looking pissed. The police came this morning, but I told them you left voluntarily. I didn't know what else to say. I thought you'd come back sooner or later—"

Footsteps.

Kim's hand tightened around the receiver. The line was still open.

Charlie filled the doorway, calm and unhurried. His eyes flicked from Kim's face to the phone.

"Who are you talking to?"

Kim fumbled. "N-no one. Wrong number. I was just—"

Charlie said nothing. He simply stood there, watching. Do-yoon's faint breathing was still audible. After several agonizing seconds, Kim slammed the phone down.

Charlie's expression didn't change. He turned and walked back toward the living room without another word.

Kim followed, legs heavy.

Anna was asleep, curled up in one of the oversized armchairs, her doll tucked beneath one arm. A maid appeared at Charlie's small gesture and carried her upstairs gently.

Kim sat down stiffly opposite him.

A staff member placed a thick stack of files on the low table. Charlie leaned back, one leg crossed over the other. He reached for Anna's orange backpack, resting beside the files, straightened it, then picked it up. Her crayon drawing, he studied it for a moment with a faint smile.

"How's the new apartment?" he asked conversationally.

Kim's stomach dropped.

"Do-yoon picked a nice neighborhood," Charlie continued, almost pleasantly. "Quiet. Good schools nearby." He set the drawing down carefully. "Where is the drive?"

Kim swallowed. "What drive?"

Charlie's brow lifted. "Let's make it simple. Did you meet Junhoo?"

The air left the room. Kim lowered his head, the small confirmation all he could give.

No one spoke.

The last bit of warmth drained from Charlie's eyes.

Kim's voice cracked. "Charlie … Please … Look at me."

Charlie lifted his eyes to Kim. The gentle man who laughed with Anna was gone. In this place was someone cold enough to freeze the room.

"I've spent seven years learning everything about her," he said quietly. He unzipped the backpack and took out a medicine bottle, turning it once in his hand. "She still tries to hide it under her tongue," Charlie said, rolling the bottle between his fingers. "She thinks no one will notice … She scrunches up her nose every single time." Next came a folded drawing. He smoothed it flat on the table. "She left this behind after the preschool art fair."

He set each item down with deliberate care.

"She cries whenever thunderstorms wake her. Before, she still looks under the bed for monsters." Charlie folded the backpack shut. "None of that changes anything … so don't confuse my love for with weakness. I can take it all away, Kim … you know I can." He whispered the last sentence. Kim hit the floor,

Before he could respond, soft footsteps padded down the stairs. Anna appeared at the entrance to the living room, rubbing her eyes, the doll dangling from one hand. The maid hovered a step behind Anna, wringing her hands.

Anna rubbed her eyes. "Papa? …. I woke up and you weren't there …"

Charlie looked up. The tension left his shoulders. The hard line in his mouth softened as he opened his arms to Anna. "Come here, baby."

Anna padded over and climbed into his lap, still half-asleep. Still rubbing her eyes , Anna froze when she spotted Kim on the floor. "Daddy? Why are you on the floor?"

Charlie spared Kim a brief look, then crouched beside Anna with an easy smile. "Nothing, baby. Daddy and I are having a little disagreement. Just a grown-up conversation."

Anna tilted her head. "Again?" Then she looked at Kim with wide, innocent eyes. "Daddy, what have you done this time? Did you break a vase again? You're so clumsy sometimes."

Kim forced a weak smile, his heart shattering. "Oh baby, don't mind. It slipped by mistake. Daddy will clean it up soon, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy." Anna yawned and leaned against Charlie's chest. "Daddy, can I stay?"

Charlie ran his fingers through her hair. "Not this time, sweetheart. I need to talk with Daddy about something important, and it will bore you to death … Nanny Rose will take you somewhere nice, okay?

Anna pouted but nodded. "Okay, Papa. But come back as soon as you're done, promise?"

"I promise."

Kim's chair scraped against the floor. He took one step, desperate to take her himself. The two guards moved at the exact same time, neither spoke, they just stood there. He froze.

The moment Anna disappeared down the hallway, Kim's control snapped.

Kim swallowed hard." Please," his voice trembled. "Please … don't hurt Anna. I'm begging you. Do whatever you want to me, but leave her out of this."

Charlie looked at him for a long moment, genuinely surprised. Then his voice came out cold, calm, and devastatingly steady.

"I would never hurt my daughter." His voice remained perfectly calm. Then his eyes settled on Kim. "You …" A pause. " … I can't promise the same."