My Possessive Secret Lover

Chapter Five: A Secret

The next Saturday morning he returns to the reserve, and the Saturday after that. Soon it becomes almost something of a routine and he looks forward to their time together more and more.

“You should see them,” Nick quips one Saturday night, after having joined both him and Ian for the day, “I’ve never seen Jihyun so obedient with anyone. Like, he’ll flirt and tease and just be an all around sleaze but she goes ‘Jihyun, stop’ and he does.”

“I’ve never once seen him make a pass at her,” Ian adds, “It’s a miracle.”

Jihyun sits in his seat, ears bright red and heated as his body flushes in embarrassment. He knows he’s slowly on his way to becoming whipped for this girl he isn’t even with, he doesn’t need his friends to oust him to the rest of his family.

“He’s even stopped having s*x with Sam in the stables, it’s like he’s a changed man,” Ian adds.

“Sam?” Soran asks with a furrow of his brows, “Who’s Sam?”

“That stripper Jihyun always f***s at Tempest. She volunteers as well. Her name is Sam, she’s actually really cool. She has this little kid who’s the cutest child I have ever seen and she’s like hot as hell but also a great mom.”

“Ian is enamored,” Jihyun comments, “I think he just wants to adopt the kid.”

“What happened to the cute bodyguard?” Jin asks with a disgruntled expression.

“Please don’t mention him,” Ian squeaks out in a strangled tone.

Jihyun smirks mischievously, ready for his revenge when he launches into his story, “Ian’s terrified of the bodyguard because he showed up once to help and he took off his shirt. And man, is he built. So Ian’s now terrified of the cute bodyguard with scary hot muscles. He basically dies every time Lucas so much as glances towards him.”

“I don’t know why I bother working with you people,” Soran scoffs, “A bunch of children, the whole lot of you. You’re a bunch of killers, murderers, drug lords and you’re messing around like you’re in some cheesy high school drama.”

“You have no right to speak,” Jin narrows his eyes at the grumpy man, “I’ve seen Sola sneak out of your room one too many times to count.”

Soran stares at him with wide disbelieving eyes, shocked at being exposed.

“Don’t think I don’t know what goes on in this house,” Jin adds in a chastising motherly tone, “If you want to have secret relationships, buy your own apartment.”

“He can’t,” Jae chuckles, “He’s too paranoid that if he leaves, someone will attack you.”

“You save a man’s life once, and suddenly he never wants to leave you alone,” Jin rolls his eyes, sending Soran a playful wink. The man blushes, glancing down and grumbling as he pushes the vegetables in his plate around.

That night Jihyun leaves their family manor in favour of his apartment in the city. The drive is quiet, almost contemplative, and when he reaches the building, Jihyun is on edge from trying to keep his thoughts at bay.

He hates how quickly this naïve girl has tamed him, how she manages to brush him off so nonchalantly but still managing to entice him further. Above all, he hates how she looks at him, with big innocently rounded eyes devoid of all judgment like he’s not the sleazy scumbag he really is. He hates it because it makes him crave that look, makes him want to make sure she doesn’t find out about the horrible things he does if that means she keeps looking at him like that. He’s not used to craving anything, is used to getting what he wants at the snap of his fingers and these strange emotions Aria stirs up in him are driving him slowly insane.

He makes his way to the elevator, sighing tiredly as he steps in and pushes the penthouse floor. He’s exhausted beyond belief, not used to physical labour that didn’t involve guns.

When he reaches his apartment, he keys in the pass code and steps into the darkened lounge. He doesn’t bother flicking on the lights, simply makes his way over to his bedroom where he strips into an old pair of track pants.

It’s still too early for him to even contemplate sleeping so he switches on the TV and flicks through channels mindlessly as he searches for something that catches his attention.

Jihyun’s finger pauses over the button when he sees a familiar smile, stopping on some news channel to find Aria and Cedric’s face plastered over the front screen. The news anchor rambles on but he hardly pays attention, only catching something about Aria’s fiancé making a handsome donation to the reserve as an engagement present.

The video on the screen shows them both interlinking hands as the man announces his endeavor and Jihyun scoffs at the haughtiness in his voice.

If he really cared, he’d be there at the reserve helping her out, Jihyun thinks to himself bitterly, switching the TV off when Aria rewards her fiancé with a peck on the cheek.

The following Saturday, Jihyun doesn’t make it to the reserve. Nick, having caught wind of the person selling their information to smaller gangs, employs him and Soran to entice a bit of information from him.

The process is long and winded, involving a lot of blood and teeth pulling and by the time they’re done, it’s well into an early Saturday morning and Jihyun just wants to sleep.

He’s stained yet another one of his shirts, so he throws it into the trash to be burned before stepping into the bathroom for a quick shower. Jihyun doesn’t bother returning to his apartment, simply crashes on the bed in his old room and sleeps until well into the late evening.

It’s Nick that wakes him up later that night, shoving his shoulder lightly and whining until Jihyun pops open an eyelid to halfheartedly glare at the younger man.

“We’re all going out,” Nick tells him, “Go put on one of those shiny shirts you like and meet us downstairs in an hour.”

Jihyun simply rolls over and tosses the blanket back over his head. However, when Nick leaves he contemplates for a moment before sighing and heaving himself off of the bed and scrounging around in his old closet for something suitable to wear.

He strides downstairs an hour later, hair styled to perfection and Jin rolls his eyes at the way Jihyun runs a hand through the soft strands.

“Don’t you look dashing,” Jin smirks, eyeing the low cut shirt Jihyun sports.

“Is that an actual compliment or are you just being a sarcastic asshole?” Jihyun quips.

“Both,” Jin cackles. His husband rolls his eyes from where he’s standing next to Jin, an arm loosely slung around his waist.

It’s only the younger ones going out this time, Jin, Soran and Jae staying behind to tend to some business logistics.

“You’re just going to sit in front of the TV with a glass of wine, watching Friends, aren’t you?” Jihyun asks his older brother.

Jae replies with a sheepish grin and his eyes flit over to Jin, “Yeah, probably.”

Jihyun scoffs and rolls his eyes, but follows the younger two out the door. The manor guards give them all envious looks and Jihyun pats the back of one of the familiar faces, “Next time, bud. For now, just make sure no one kills them.”

When they get to the club, they make their way to their usual table and Jihyun is pleasantly surprised to find Sam sitting there with a few other women. He’s been high strung over the past few days, overworked and driven crazy by his thoughts so he’s more than welcoming when the women bat their eyelashes and eye the low dip of his shirt.

He’s seated with his arm slung around Sam’s waist, fingers slowly sinking underneath the little skirt she’s wearing, when he hears a familiar voice from behind. He turns to face the front of the booth, hoping his ears are deceiving him, only for his stomach to fill with dread when he sees Aria and Lucas standing in front of their table.

“Ria!” Sam yells happily, immediately pulling herself away from Jihyun’s grip and rushing to the anxious looking girl and flinging her arms around her.

“Hi,” he hears Aria mumble from underneath Sam’s hold. She turns to the rest of their table to greet everyone and Jihyun doesn’t miss the way her eyes stare at him apprehensively for a moment before flitting away.

“It’s her birthday today and her family are all too busy to spoil her, so I invited her out so that we could spoil her,” Sam informs the group and the other two women rush up from the table to squeal happy birthday wishes into Aria’s ears and demanding celebratory shots.

Jihyun’s completely taken aback by the new bit of information that he doesn’t immediately respond. The only thing running through his head is how she must think he’s the sleaziest lowlife who didn’t know anything about her.

It’s Ian throwing his arms around the smaller girl and completely engulfing her into a tight hug that pulls Jihyun out of his head. He doesn’t like the swell of possessive jealousy he feels, especially when that anger is directed at someone he considers a little brother.

Ian is chanting a horrible off-tune rendition of Happy Birthday as he squishes Aria’s face between his hands and Jihyun wonders when they’d gotten close enough that she doesn’t seem bothered in the slightest, simply giggling at the taller male.

“You should probably stop looking at them like they killed your cat,” Nick mutters into Jihyun’s ear, “You literally had your hands up Sam’s skirt a moment ago, you have no right to be jealous.”

Jihyun’s expression sours at his words but he quickly school’s his face when Aria finally pulls away from Ian long enough for her eyes to rest on him.

He stands and shifts over to the front of her, a soft “Happy birthday,” leaving his lips. He’s overcome with the urge to pull her into his arms but he doesn’t know where they stand currently, so he settles for patting the top of her head.

Aria stares at him with wide eyes for a moment before she bursts out into laughter, followed by Ian and Nick, “Gee, thanks, grandpa,” she teases him with a chuckle and Jihyun rolls his eyes.

“Shut up,” he scoffs, flicking her forehead softly. She yowls exaggeratedly and complains to Lucas, who simple rolls his eyes and takes a seat next to Ian.

“Aren’t you supposed to, you know, kill anyone that tries to hurt me?” Aria mumbles with a petulant whine, lips jutting out into a pout.

“Jihyun isn’t going to hurt you,” Lucas scoffs in reply and Jihyun actually feels a swell of pride at his words, “If he did, he wouldn’t be able to see that elephant he’s so fond of.”

“Elephant?” Nick asks with a raised brow and Ian squeals in delight.

“There’s this baby elephant at the reserve and Jihyun’s basically adopted her. I have some pictures, lemme find them,” Ian trails off with a mumble, pulling out his phone and scrolling for a moment before he offers it to Nick.

“This is adorable and completely out of character,” Nick gasps, “Jihyun, who are you?”

“A better man,” Sam offers as she walks towards the table with a tray of drinks in her hands.

“Let me help you,” Aria immediately gets up from her seat next to Jihyun but Sam waves her off.

“You sit down, babe, it’s your birthday,” Sam declines, handing out the shots of drinks to everyone seated at the table.

Jihyun and Lucas decline, both taking up the mantle of sober driver, which has Nick perk up in interest. Once everyone’s dissolved into conversations, he mutters into Jihyun’s ear, “I thought I was the sober driver?” Jihyun shrugs and sips on the glass of soda he’d ordered for himself.

The night passes along with more and more drinks piling up and most of the table have long since passed sobriety, save for Jihyun, Lucas and Sam. Nick and Ian had left for the dance floor with the other two girls whose names Jihyun can’t remember.

In the span of two hours, Jihyun has learnt that Aria is a really affectionate drunk, clinging to Sam’s waist like a life support and burrowing her face into the juncture of the older woman’s neck.

Jihyun’s a little ashamed at the sliver of envy that creeps up his neck as he watches Sam run her fingers through Aria’s hair soothingly. He huffs quietly and his eyes slide over to Lucas who seems to be smirking in his direction.

“What?” Jihyun asks with a raised brow.

“Nothing,” Lucas replies with a shrug, picking up his glass of water and sipping from it casually, only it feels condescending to Jihyun and it only further worsens his mood.

“So where’s your Prince Charming?” Jihyun asks Aria, trying to hide the bitter edge to his tone.

She looks at him in confusion, eyebrows and nose scrunched cutely as though she’s intensely analyzing his words.

Lucas sighs, “He means, Cedric, you i***t,” he says, tone affectionate.

“Oh!” she exclaims in recognition, “Ced’s working late tonight.”

“Oh,” Jihyun replies with a raised brow, “He couldn’t take off to spend one of the most important nights with his fiancée?” He knows he’s being petty but he can’t find it in himself to stop.

Only, Aria looks at him with the saddest eyes, half-hearted smile on her lips as she shrugs, “I guess not.”

And suddenly he realizes why she’s felt off and reserved all night; because she’s sad. Downing drink after drink and pretending to enjoy the loud music was all to try and hide the fact that none of her family and friends could spend time with her today.

Angered, Jihyun can’t stop himself from replying, “I would never let anything keep me from spending time with you.”

She glances up at him with shy eyes, the smile on her lips more genuine than before and it stirs the feelings roiling inside Jihyun, satisfaction filling his chest. Lucas rolls his eyes from where he’s sitting watching the exchange and Sam glances between them curiously.

“You know what,” Jihyun begins, “Screw your friends and family. I’ll take you out tomorrow,” he offers. Lucas doesn’t protest when Jihyun asks for Aria’s phone nor when the less than sober girl offers it to him.

Keying in his number, Jihyun instructs Lucas to take her home so that she gets a good night’s rest and to inform her that she’s to be ready by twelve the next morning.

The bodyguard stares at him for a moment, eyes devoid of emotion before he informs Aria that they’re leaving. Jihyun assumes that’s Lucas agreeing to the date.

Aria gives both he and Sam a quick goodbye before Lucas ushers her out the club. Their table is silent for a moment before Sam takes a deep breath, “We should stop sleeping together.”

“Why?” Jihyun asks, tone surprised.

“She likes you,” Sam sighs tiredly small smile on her lips, “Sober Aria may be able to hide her feelings well but drunk Aria’s an open book and she definitely likes you,” she tells him with guarded eyes.

The rush of excitement that stirs in Jihyun’s gut surprises even himself but it’s quickly followed by a rushing wave of guilt, “You have feelings for her, too,” Sam adds after a moment of silence.

Jihyun doesn’t consolidate her words but she takes his silence as confirmation, “And if you want my advice,” Sam begins, “You should man up before that good for nothing fiancé steals her from you permanently.”

“You don’t like Lancaster? I thought everyone liked Lancaster?” Jihyun asks, eyes widened in surprise.

“Anyone with eyes can see that he’s a total snake,” Sam scoffs, “Well everyone but Aria and her family but I blame that on them growing up together.”

“What do you mean?”

Sam glances at him from the corners of her eyes, contemplative, “I’m trusting you not to use what I’m about to tell you for selfish reasons, Jihyun,” she begins after a moment. Jihyun nods and waits for her to continue, “He’s a frequent client at Tempest. And he’s, uh, had relations with a lot of the girls even after they announced their engagement.”

“He’s been cheating on her?” Jihyun snarls harshly, gritting his teeth in anger.

“Yeah,” Sam sighs sadly, “I’m not allowed to tell her because I’ll lose my job and he’s already threatened Jonathan so I can’t risk it-”

“He threatened your kid?” Jihyun asks, voice low and when Sam nods hesitantly he adds, “I’ll kill him. Someone like him doesn’t deserve to live.”

“You will do no such thing,” Sam scolds him, “If the Lancasters so much as suspect that I told you anything, they’d kill me and my son. And you, too, probably. I’m telling you this so you can save one of the only good people in my life from a lifetime of manipulation. Aria doesn’t deserve someone like Cedric. Please, Jihyun, if anyone can save her from him, it’s you.”

“How’re you so sure?”

“Because as much as you hate yourself, you’re actually a good person underneath all of the bullshit,” she smirks, “I’ve known you long enough to know that the sleaze who keeps sticking his hands into my panties isn’t who you really are.”

Jihyun rolls his eyes but remains silent.

“Another thing,” Sam adds, glancing around them before lowering her head to his ear. She drapes herself around him so that it looks as though she’s simply kissing his neck as she whispers into his ear, “Some of our girls are going missing. I think the Lancasters have something to do with it.”

Jihyun stills for a moment before wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling his lips up towards her ear, hiding his face within her hair, “Tempest is under our protection. If the Lancasters are messing with our businesses, it could mean a war.”

Sam simply pulls away, expression grave as she stares at him.