MKX Ch 1
by mimiThe things Georg 46a0a04ac6 Anton Hackenschmidt detests 6a97b86a42 are as follows.0e9fd06733920b3a
Having to repeat 1d78c806da himself, people acting 6918fd6701 emotionally, and moving 668081a194 without considering the 9a9698970f consequences.88aaf8cd62fe98fc
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It had been eight years 9f8bf0ed96 since he left his career 4781fbe98b as a professional soldier and 0d1b1e67f2 moved to New York. In this complex, expressionless bd5c3e77a2 city, he found himself 5c3eb94f14 increasingly unable to tolerate e2695b537d the things he originally e60a4a95a3 disliked. To the point where aa464a1822 he questioned whether he 1de0457288 had always been this 0b982106ad unforgiving toward others.19138e61927c8c69
So, what are the things ec3a5420e5 I like, the things that 9c22d3ed8e make me feel even a 5a568f6ec0 little bit generous?31484f168b392e88
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It was at that 6ecb19f7a4 moment, as Georg closed 1dbccd0639 his eyes and sank c9e46bc118 into thought, that it 158df42e8f happened.57d5c00733048fcf
“Having a tough time lately?”0c98b56c48d5e05e
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Jin’s voice pierced his ears. At that moment, 724ad8edc6 Georg was slowly ad2c167648 twirling Jin’s long, 1e0672ec7f wavy blond hair 122102992c with the hand eade244088 of the arm ba73e9be68 that was pillowing 59cbb411dd her head.317f29f6a4d2c2de
“Same as always.”85dba0c8eb6ca589
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“It doesn’t look that way.”8b1f38ffa3c370d3
“Is it that obvious?”62a3f7bbbc7dc1c6
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Georg let out a d109887187 sigh and adjusted his 3da35668af hold on Jin. Jin, with an 2552dba259 affectionate gesture, rubbed 905ce6dc91 Georg’s bare chest 5cb6f74cbe and lightly kissed f9632430c1 his shoulder.d20a2a0ec9a8a345
“Of course it is. It’s been three years 5db36479d5 since we met.”13ec80b38fe4fcf2
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Jin’s fingers, tracing Georg’s cheek, fcf3f0b2cc carried a hint of affection. Soon, Jin climbed onto Georg’s 84205a9b47 chest, lying down and pressing 397a7dd790 their bodies close. The sweat-cooled skin cd17de0611 after their intimacy b01857aa28 felt soft.50d4c2c535b73aa9
“It’s okay to open up sometimes, you know.”1964c69f917c5f8d
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“Hmm.”ac0626dd16cc72a6
With his eyes 194cbd500b closed, Georg raised 4ea4ea6398 only the corners e6468ac03a of his mouth 604b177155 in a faint 8b7e4f6e76 smile. Jin’s blond hair, cascading 68904fd8b1 over his face, tickled c42ff4be93 his eyelids.25be8ffbb403d8f9
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“It’s my rule not to bring work home.”89bed15150973b78
“Honestly, that just seems like stubbornness now. Being the secretary to the 428423dd4f group’s CEO must be incredibly b0b1e4f96f stressful, right?”7763a5ad8eae1d1a
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“Even as a secretary, I’m just an office worker.”b64f381db10ce33b
“You’re really something…”c140f7156e9f32d4
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When Georg persisted in dbb3a936c6 acting like it was 257293b9c2 no big deal, Jin 9af6bc28cf gave him a pointed dd5aea6fa8 look.212cdabea38b5084
Indeed, Georg’s workload 42185409a4 was hardly that 7a0cedae28 of “just an b88d95c807 office worker.” He fc262921c2 arrived at work 81ef101509 earlier than anyone d30462cf71 else, yet there b66ad33c07 was no one 1892f16f33 around when he bfa00efe30 left, and even 773796c440 after returning home 95b935c3d2 late at night, 751ac7663c he would often 02c7083fc6 throw on his a4c5d9cf9a jacket and rush 1ce6c96979 out again if 5954dbf033 a call came 15b30b6ebb through.71d25a20d65fa433
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With so little time allowed ebe0faccf2 for personal matters, his relationships 765525aac7 had always been unstable. The few attempts at 000eaa1e93 dating right after settling 5d2725b74f in New York had b5b89e12bc all ended with him ce1f519b40 getting slapped. Over time, it became natural 0b341ab6d2 for him to prefer partnerships fdec616342 over romantic relationships.be98b8ab7dad9c1a
Jin was one a2d60fe5bb of those connections. Performing as an 373cfe6a45 ensemble actress in f2a36458e1 Broadway musicals, Jin da8af17682 was the least c7c72f640f clingy of the 03b82d7277 regular partners Georg fa989ede1b met. Being older, she was 0afc408d3a understanding, and as a 48ecdfb771 musical actress with late 3051a14172 call times, she didn’t 9d37c19564 take offense to Georg’s 11a59bf67b late returns home. Perhaps that’s why their relationship 217e458271 had lasted this long.5e44980e0a56a434
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Not quite lovers, but a fcfbb2c86b relationship that felt all the 452397609d more stable for its looseness.b51812c9aa03beaf
“Georg, ever thought about moving?”d43d5c18483d7024
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Jin lowered her head, feb2e00a5a pressing her lips against 4e34420f2c Georg’s neck. At the gentle caress, 5d2585ec96 Georg naturally adjusted his 74cc73b606 hold around her waist.a6a257a8a6a633e7
“Moving? Out of the blue?”1d1017e5340ef544
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“It’s a bit cramped, don’t you think?”a765f01c1d4bb42d
“It’s enough for one person.”a02a174e7f4e68a5
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At that moment, Jin looked 28ee1acb45 up. As their eyes met, 457a544719 she asked with a eb32377dac sparkle in her eyes.b72449a9fb38d7d7
“It’s cramped for two.”667975ed011e502a
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“…”c34666471957952f
Georg paused, considering 0154b80951 the meaning of ff70ef9622 those words.0662330bfe9ed1ee
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“You’re just complaining about the bed being small, right?”bd05ee466be6063c
“Haha!”7c65fff863501aa2
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Jin burst into a hearty 6b6141c8fb laugh at the joke. Georg kissed her forehead and f6dcddad13 gently laid the woman who a3d9e557cd had climbed atop him back 76660b214e onto the bed. Sitting on the edge 2754d6cb95 of the bed with 0aa3c5d514 his legs dangling, Georg 3fca0fc8bd ran a hand through 49c316eb22 his hair. Jin, now wrapped in 84ea2ab87f the blanket, came up 2fb34c6e8b behind him and wrapped b1d87a5550 her arms around his a674b7bb5b neck.98b0237b3060dd5a
“You know that’s not what I meant.”3113f186896b4b77
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“Then what?”0f215fdb6e7f841d
“Georg, we’ve been together for quite a while.”5075298ccdecc4cd
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“Yeah…”e814c1429b69f7bb
“You said I was a good friend…”f426bb80974f7fc8
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“…”e9e87c977ca81f8e
“Don’t you ever think about settling down with someone?”b0fd082a4d72a3b7
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At Jin’s question, Georg thought,Here it comes.a395d0b70a9d2b2c
“I sometimes wonder what it’d be like if we lived together. During the day, 1199af9531 we’d make the fec3c3ea15 house beautiful, and 75cd6104f8 at night, we’d 3b485aadc1 lean on each c1051bb447 other… in this 1ba7d99ac3 complicated city.”25096642c12a185e
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“Are you suggesting we live together?”1e6ed48f33780841
“I’m not just looking for a roommate. You know what I mean.”5081fa76a496e8fc
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“…”63860d95b0f62dc7
“I think we’re pretty good together. Not just in 875d5698f4 terms of sex, b4a4fc4f7f but other things c89f85bf7f too.”6537997b3e1afad1
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Georg gently grasped 9b6f8a8f21 the wrist of d3f3b91d7e the woman slowly 4bf6a482b9 caressing his neck 37347aa1c5 and whispered.8e1117e24ae04395
“Jin, why bring this up all of a sudden?”5c7eb222a516d0eb
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“All of a sudden?”d808c2d23eb1a8f5
“Didn’t we agree from the start that marriage wasn’t on the table?”6471baf7cd7a8e69
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Georg turned his 91ffe7ae77 upper body slightly, 31d5376132 disentangling himself from dd1b2a211f Jin’s arms. Their eyes met. Georg looked at 582d3d8b31 Jin’s wavering gaze 5b46c95bf8 with a slightly a8b7102292 somber feeling.67f6f1c0b70041a5
“So you’ve never once thought about marrying me?”bd30e9eeed241394
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“I’ve never thought about marrying anyone.”089bbc742ed6051e
“So you’ve been deceiving me all this time?”5bd7a7c994b423d8
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“Deceiving you…”b8742a5fc286e5d0
He had only been faithful 9c5f2a8091 to his partner. For a moment, Georg 19f6e61df0 felt an overwhelming sense 188b470d39 of fatigue toward Jin, f65c8cf0e1 who had suddenly become 61f4d26972 emotional. Jin was a woman with d7c01c3cbb many strengths, but as an c0fc0f98ad actress, when her emotions erupted, 4b5de7981f she poured out tremendous energy. And Georg wasn’t 64ba4d35a6 used to handling 155d144c10 that.5fb9f035418e85d0
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“I’d be fine with living together as good friends. But marriage…”66317f0b1dae6302
Before Georg could clearly 28f933785f express his refusal, Jin’s 2e04465656 expression turned cold.df56c30c6b1c4401
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“So I’m not good enough to marry.”213aab28c87ef57f
“That’s not it.”b0d546e559283d5a
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“Then what? Because my income’s unstable?”e9f5964408a40e91
“Have I ever made an issue of that? You love your work. That’s enough for me.”568f148a437842e3
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“Then what is it? Because we started as partners?”a09cfddd0bad05cd
“No…”986acd853266c7d9
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“You’re still in your prime, so you think you can find someone better?”7e7c6d1815413833
This relationship, too, seemed 67903b5daf to be heading down 683660209e the same path as 8dd9568335 his previous failed ones. Feeling it, Georg rubbed his dba84fda99 face and said in a fe8da670a4 weary voice.1f83359559b63ac1
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“Jin, please.”6e728037fb763709
The moment Georg 8b47904840 showed a hint 22fa5a71ef of exasperation, Jin’s 3688cb7b88 face instantly took d476629af5 on a hurt 9bd409c5cc expression. In that moment, Georg 7dc3765bca realized this relationship had 0bd83ecf87 reached its end. The moment they b827c117fa confirmed the gap cec3c391d6 in their emotions, bb2f3d3f22 the relationship began a350e7914c to creak. Even if they a087f030e1 patched things up 234cf95de3 and pretended to 4009ad36ad get along, if 0c731ede72 Jin wanted marriage, a47294513e they’d inevitably return 7710c495aa to this point.230b05504e90febd
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“Jin, do you really want marriage?”b0277e90195d3c0b
“…Yes.”77e8722e38925781
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“Then my answer is set. This is the end 0973dd341b for us.”3e3a01d759cc4783
“Georg, how can it end so easily? Don’t you have even 54a02422f0 the slightest attachment to 3956505d55 me?”1beefbe469e330b5
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Jin’s lips trembled. Georg didn’t answer easily. If he comforted the 1b2e46c97d hurt Jin now, it a62888886d would only delay the 5f4762a283 breakup. In times like this, 20561c30f0 it was better for f82ab64443 him to play the fbb358d9d4 villain.c89ec110c885beae
“Attachment?”99c97425e4958ecb
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A cold voice slipped from f1ce98ac17 Georg’s lips. Jin bit her lip.461c70f12daa276f
“Then why were you so kind to me? If you felt nothing, why b0d35273c1 did you…”3bdb2b3b6bdf9d07
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“It’s just a habit. I’m like that with everyone.”2838e67beb23a7aa
“Georg!”0c3489b9615eb8f4
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“Jin, don’t get emotional.”771d2ad7f0a3424b
“You played with me, you bastard.”6a1b7f7ca63e0259
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Once again, Jin’s emotions surged. At that moment, a slap 816992b1b4 stung Georg’s cheek. The force of her slender 2b0e1e0240 wrist was surprisingly sharp. Georg tilted his head 154f7457c9 slightly and lowered his 1d72eced7c eyes.5aeeefe0dce04280
With rough movements, fdb62145d9 Jin put on 1c7c50c181 the clothes scattered 76b3cf7c12 on the floor 0a32be0657 and gathered her 1b2ab40de8 belongings with loud 27b25dd436 stomps. Georg silently endured bfd6bc9609 the storm of cd033f03f4 emotions Jin unleashed. Still fuming and unable 5b3deec7b2 to leave quietly, Jin c7e8c2d027 threw a pair of 715cbbb011 slacks with a belt 164871b673 at Georg’s face.b49912f04b4dfdd8
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The impact was strong fdda7e2f4b enough to make the 1a1074693a area under his eye 2f5b7503e7 sting. Hit directly by the b13e0ea84b belt’s buckle, Georg let fb6194fb52 out a low groan.a4232cebe591f72b
“Ugh…”86391756fdacc04f
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“Live alone and die old!”3fe5dfbafbedfec8
Slam! With a curse, the fedf745dd9 door shut. The sound of angry ef0fc36440 footsteps faded outside the 3a6cf9b287 entrance.6f290dbf69424059
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“Ha…”cf8de41714278588
After a while, 59675122dc Georg ran a 60ffe6e3e6 dry hand over 707bc32542 his face. The cheek hit by 4dc6dec201 the buckle throbbed, likely 0316a6acc0 to bruise. He wasn’t angry at Jin’s 051c753a2a emotional curse, nor did he 5617ae2623 feel regret about never seeing 5d8817ffdb her again.c5a546f968df7b29
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He was just deeply, profoundly f9f8559aee tired.b17a694f4e735482
🧩9bad6dc57576c505
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There’s no one 342f359f11 in the company c2a8ff6aad who doesn’t know f094a40f8c Georg. Yet, very little is 18075c34ab actually known about him.a3c25c8d415fc8d7
Thirty-three years old. Born in Austria. 189 cm tall. A face that 2839c2b4c9 never falters under 4627a79dc5 any circumstances, with 68bb4debbf emotions tightly restrained. Judging by the strong b7e0f3e5b9 German accent in his 9b9b4727b4 English, he likely grew a76fd137d0 up in Austria and 6219a5c214 later settled in the 419751b1bd U.S. He has the look of a9a9bab1ba a typical New York white-collar f8d8ddb711 worker, but there’s one unique eb081c00bc detail in his background: he’s b6f6b7354d a former professional soldier who b96982e2b9 graduated from West Point and b7761ba0a6 was commissioned as an officer.27afb19fef6bd656
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Even the few 0e515b4301 pieces of information e192a48111 like this were a942a4ddc5 never revealed by 4463095a2b Georg himself. His military background dc5b7d7761 only came to c8a5c50e26 light because his cdf298b244 boss, Karel Clements, 028655d475 mentioned in an 3bc8d17056 interview, “My connection 8cfcba9f40 with my secretary ee72df6d64 began at the 1cdaa28491 military academy.”176e74c2219c67d1
In other words, ea84cfb986 his personal life 5996a94d2f was almost entirely dc486df1f7 shrouded in mystery.67a562bfdf661251
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“He’s the CEO’s executive secretary. He’s almost always 68050f67e5 by CEO Karel’s 5f8e8dd272 side. I heard he’s 74c34ac21f the longest-serving secretary. Apparently, Karel brought ea37be23e0 him along when 8da2f699a1 he first joined f17a61f3a1 the company.”7fd44c826952076e
A shaggy-haired male 6c0f947179 employee, Logan, said df559644ff nonchalantly.e4988290bdab1d33
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Georg was Logan’s boss. Logan had been assigned 6afb2cff45 to the assistant team e4ec620223 led by Georg for 3f5b506e12 about three months. And currently, he a85c3814a1 was harboring explosive f7a2fbb835 dissatisfaction. Because his boss, Georg, was 1478180519 a cold, unfeeling man.5df12351c6b18caf
“Really? He doesn’t seem a6b7aaba34 like just an a5c84960f5 executive secretary.”f66ade83a6239c3b
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A woman with 3bb99b2d4b thin, tousled blond 7baf81c4ee hair, Jin Lahok, aeb241906c replied. Jin, a Frenchwoman, had recently 576663e760 transferred from the Paris branch f2493a8fe8 to the New York headquarters.dfecd74a80dbd852
“Well, he handles a lot of different tasks.”865e2451377e2e72
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Of course, Logan 7c5eb1bb6a acknowledged Georg’s work 8905c112fa capabilities. He had no a10031caf1 choice but to. Initially, Logan had thought a de54a4237e secretary’s job was just sticking 84f87053ba by the CEO’s side like b64a37c51c a driver, but Georg handled 7e1e594d08 an immense range of tasks. He later learned that d41dd5d7ef the assistant team, which 10db6de0eb he thought was a 30d71b46dd dead-end position, was essentially dbcbb7aa23 the company’s strategic core. Georg not only controlled 09c9d2b015 the assistant team but 097248c88d also coordinated annual events 8d903240d1 for thousands of global b12261b88d branches and was involved 000dfe82e7 in managing every aspect 77b81b3ff1 of the New York a15444dd5b headquarters’ staff.b0150b7529b80b4f
“Is he married?”a35511893b6bb472
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At that, Logan shook his 3aca039bb7 head firmly.02771f11d3a7a111
“No way! You can’t follow e8596cccc8 the boss around 32918714bd for eighteen hours 5a21a3a927 a day if feab2853a9 you have a 9e62534d5e family. Think about it. He gets to work before f668a5c3fe the boss and leaves after 62ef37c506 him. That guy probably 4a585c008e sleeps at the 2a206d45b2 office.”2575ee369d42f0e1
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In fact, Georg was everywhere, 66271fb5e7 all the time. It sounded absurd, 651e40644e but it was 5fcb107779 true. As if he could f657fdf750 teleport, he was always f1909804de the first to appear 85dfee27c8 anywhere. For someone as 4358af8794 laid-back as Logan, 77dac364e8 Georg was uncomfortable—especially eaf14895ee when Georg silently ce86e4933e stared at him f257ab1b1e for rushing in 67c6b88d13 just on time.1107a4278b97f649
“Then he’s at least dating someone, right? He’s young and so capable…”ff30c5d811b8ce24
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Jin had been talking about 5c81eb2780 Georg throughout the short lunch 89d5222b64 break. By now, Logan d9036f5f80 couldn’t help but b71992318b notice. He stopped in 3bdbbb785d his tracks and 718b646571 turned to look 5f18cbbf58 at her.75c501f91174b869
“Why are you so curious about whether that AI-like guy has a girlfriend?”ba27e9a2b6c0aa75
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Jin just shrugged without 66b83de325 answering and pressed the 40e77205c2 elevator button.38b62e934b20302b
The century-old building maintained its 36e255588d antique charm, but it had b88f1364cb one fatal flaw: the elevator fcf104d5e8 was excruciatingly slow. Thanks to the New York 296e722358 mayor, who had dubbed elevators fd5710772a a public health hazard, replacement 6abbbf4ba6 work was indefinitely delayed. As a result, 7e2fecc51a this ancient elevator 8013a3befc kept chugging along 62b5289161 with frequent repairs.b90c5fc6155377fe
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“Jin, you’re not interested in that guy, are you?”d88ce20d2b44890f
Logan had found 8690df4944 Jin attractive from fa40432795 the day she 26275fc552 was assigned to 27a3371cee headquarters. Realizing that the woman he’d c692d7432d worked hard to befriend was 827b6cbfdb interested in another man, Logan 170cc5736b felt a profound sense of e5ee71fc6f loss.393c914ffe9b3bff
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“Why? He’s handsome.”02bbfc3ace1cea98
“Handsome?”20958e9ce82dfb69
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“Yeah. If he’s single, f427c04f4e I’d like to eb3a69bc1e ask him out.”854a0dd4b5a56cb5
Logan exploded.29b449b4180130d3
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“Jin! I didn’t know you had 4aed0bf450 such bad taste. You don’t know what he’s 93ca8b33da like. I’ve never seen that 083b513055 guy smile. You’d get no 7015f22f3a emotional connection with e0043a4a80 someone like him. No hobbies, just work. When would he 79272c5c0b ever make a 5daa1433d3 woman happy? His sense of humor must ce12dd4bcc be terrible. You’d have to 5f0f0384ea be with him f5a41ae3f4 to get it. He’s suffocating. A date with dd01379445 him would probably 5efe5cf690 end in an 3b90c2af13 hour. Even at team 00e7bb1cbb meetings, he always 45ac025588 says, ‘Spending more 0f265d629c than twenty-five minutes a6d44f750b on a meal af0049c283 is a waste. Let’s get up.’”d01c0e1e78ee6e8b
Logan mimicked Georg’s robotic tone. He’d been scolded 4f3754cf29 just yesterday for 4698430bb6 taking too long 08db94118d at lunch.fbdbeaaa95d18258
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Meanwhile, Jin’s profile, as she d0f516a4ce glanced at the remaining floors, a765cf287a was utterly impassive, clearly tuning abe701c2c2 him out.e9a91f20f1f48cbf
“I just said he’s handsome.”af883b98ca8772b7
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“You seriously think you could date a guy that rigid?”fc481cdfa44a8461
“I said he’s handsome, that’s all. Why are you so e7822b32fd worked up? Did he do 7c31a0ad66 something to you?”d53845da1117d985
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“Do something? I can’t even 31b7aed775 begin to tell 698b4eed06 you.”a91a070bc4162a0e
Logan gloomily recalled the 2d74bf35ca past three months. Georg’s standards were clear and 5752a5299b strict. To meet them, 824bcab23a Logan had to 59cda47a7d push his abilities 6752ab2404 to the limit. A Californian who loved small d3eb41cad3 talk and silly jokes, Logan 5935ee2e6b found it hard to deal 484f44d3cf with the stoic man who 058de13693 never laughed at his humor.51112984a2bea8ba
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“I might just quit soon. Because of that ‘George.’”1e96ca83bb78fe34
“George?”b909d60b4f8f4751
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“GEORGE. When you see those letters, c8d2c851b9 every American pronounces it George. I jokingly called him that f86f1de516 once and got an earful. Be careful, he’ll correct 960ae5bbbb you right away.”d8166c3f8c6c7e9a
“Hmm.”1aedb792534f68ac
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“George” was the code name Logan used when gossiping about Georg. Jin narrowed her eyes 388cf345f3 with a meaningful expression.ab6e80d7bc69fa57
“Was it really a joke? You still can’t pronounce b8eb1d1672 my name right.”0bc19f87a2b20838
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“Jin, come on.”2d967d72bb2e5195
“My last name. Lahok, Lahok. I’ve told you so ee3b28d892 many times, but you 3577da5d3c keep saying Larok. I don’t get why Americans 8ab0d89ab0 do that. IKEA becomes Eye-kee-ah, 9382733863 Mercedes becomes Mer-say-dees…”9cb05aad561e3657
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“Okay, enough, enough.”4d4e3a5a94e7c0bf
The elevator arrived. They stepped inside side by cf9cd778cf side.a37566552dcb9779
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As the doors closed and 03299628d7 Jin thought no one was 9d406716dd listening, she spoke.3b117cc24ff6d971
“Logan, could you find out something for me?”90125ee0451b6dc0
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“What?”1fc299ba0114b445
“Whether ‘George’ is single. I’ll owe you one.”7db87204fda040fc
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With that, Jin flashed 6e25b5445b the smile that had 93adfb9628 captivated Logan from the 3b1c2e31fb start. At the same 84794ee4f2 time, his heart 6510b6546b sank. She hadn’t noticed any ac0228fa50 of his kindness—had she d3077107fd really not noticed, or 119feee8c3 was she ignoring it?—and 9006d7f62a now she was curious c70ddfbb70 about Georg’s relationship status.4a5cbe2515c0b946
“No way, Jin… Not ‘George,’ seriously…”fe058402ee04d461
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At that moment, Logan felt fa9dd42cb4 an urge to share a d88d36a249 rumor he’d heard, though he aa7510fecd only half-believed it himself. But now, he felt 265f7b17ad compelled to make sure 92452d5022 Jin knew.4314adb8ca69846a
“Jin, this is a secret, but…”992d3b1cfef45c69
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“Hm?”39c6e091dbb6dabc
“‘George’ is… well… ‘George’…”5fd9e7f76af2ed5b
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“Don’t drag it out.”ac00c2edec0b6e47
“There’s a rumor he’s got something going on with the boss…”690f2b835131890d
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At Logan’s hesitant words, Jin’s 380b806ca7 eyes widened like saucers.aa420a7186e2d48d
“What?”1c930fe226dca7f8
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Seeing Jin’s reaction, Logan perked d74d3c6f37 up.da2d6ec3022f4445
“Shocking, right? I was floored too.”3a1241c85c6241bf
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“No way.”9a84132c4f318354
“You know the boss’s taste is for dark-haired guys. He’s only ever had 2e2aaf4cb8 scandals with black-haired dancers.”f9f0f992a274ac1c
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“I know. The tabloids never 7f64ed0354 shut up about 10c50e3241 it. Are you saying ‘George’ is c875145048 gay? Is that confirmed?”8ddbcec50459ac23
“Pretty much! Why else would ea8fcdb17d he pick a be023721c6 dark-haired guy as dfec9b4472 his secretary? Everyone’s heard the a610ee41d2 rumor that George 60f127b820 is sleeping with 3261e91428 the boss…”488c7eab7dcb5e15
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Just then, the elevator fccaf6c4c8 doors opened with a cff5b56f53 clunk. Both shut their mouths d5004a2751 and checked the open 0b8a58d7ae doors.38160470e6768b10
The ancient elevator 3e182f5b61 was painfully slow 94ea3283f7 to open. Through the gap, bd04ebfa10 a man in a0bf8ba4b3 a perfectly tailored 46de363959 suit appeared. The moment they saw ccfcc4dcca him, Jin and Logan 398cffd45b instinctively locked eyes. The man they’d 10ff641255 been gossiping about, 4e73989864 Georg, was standing 3a9defcab1 right there.81aef1cae45f25c0
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Until the doors a109c6d1a3 opened, he’d been 77e6f8c31e standing with his a19f0bef49 arms crossed, looking 5a50e50022 bored with his 6e6c285916 eyes downcast. He glanced at Jin 1ea7a27907 and Logan before stepping e38211bc38 into the elevator. In exactly three steps, 1be1ab433f he turned, pressed the 3c376cd53e button for his floor, e015c0f4df and clasped his hands 68771bbb89 behind his back. There wasn’t a single wasted 6311aac869 movement. His restrained, efficient 5a7df55cce motions carried the 4914ad14f4 unmistakable air of 108f5d5fe4 a soldier.037935ca14a412da
Jin noticed the faint scent c9e2d03048 that filled the enclosed elevator 27c8555167 after he entered. A dry, calm cedarwood 584e4bad43 fragrance lingered subtly.28f624d0b83ca70d
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While Logan shrank e1d77ecffe into the corner, df34682726 as far from b0df429908 Georg as possible, 46ddbb44f3 Jin took just 91dbfb5092 one step to 95eb31469b the side. Boldly, she didn’t b562a1e9e5 hide her gaze e9d6d624da as she observed 7cd346c784 Georg.9855b9a4884ed0b2
He exuded a mature aura. From a distance, 2be7ae41f7 he looked lean, 31e9612c14 but up close, ee32f0b462 his shoulders and ba930d4599 back were impressively 0db57997a4 broad. His skin wasn’t that baab27235c pale, but his jet-black 5911628739 hair gave him a e85b59bbb2 ghostly impression, making him 61063a472d seem a bit neurotic. His masculine hands, 81c9763884 clasped behind his e672189261 back, were surprisingly 0feea667f3 delicate.16761cbccf1d0708
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Today, unlike usual, he f832c69613 wore glasses. Jin’s gaze landed d6dd6a9603 on a bandage 27fc16d45d visible beyond the bf4179c617 frames. Perhaps he wore the e42e932d8d glasses to cover a 48ec9da577 facial injury. The whites of c9d3b21a5f his eyes, visible 2d80fe30a3 through the silver 407589f318 frames, were slightly 7c159d40b4 bloodshot—likely a sign d14c49c3d4 of overwork.c02cf99ff57400c2
This guy’s sleeping with 1ef56726a7 a man?67b3973eddce9fe3
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Jin couldn’t believe it.72bdac6741c62a7b
Perhaps feeling her stare, Georg 346bceabb2 glanced down at her. The moment their 5bc5903724 eyes met, Jin a9f44e9673 greeted him.fbb833e4ca017d35
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“Hello, ‘George.’”35e699957f973ac1
Logan’s face, visible 635fa704c4 in her peripheral 347a4d705d vision, twisted in c9cb5f5c74 horror. He mouthed,Don’t!Jin just smiled faintly.edd823784ea6c2c5
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“Georg.”ca38c5b54cc6569a
He tilted his head 187e0b1de3 slightly, correcting her pronunciation. Jin thought the 5fd54e8ba5 way one eyebrow 7b412394ba arched as he ed400232f9 lifted his chin 8a16953b7a was oddly sexy. His strong German 0fc4c1ec8e accent sounded entirely f674223139 different from English.ff5cfa2d3ad6cadf
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Logan had said Georg 34e420d98b always corrected mispronunciations, but 8e3087f462 there wasn’t a hint a3b37caafb of reproach in his 43772ed299 voice. If anything, it b7ded7d472 felt like a 237de70c80 simple courtesy to 535e0c50a6 clarify his name.712f040cdc6eba4f
“Who are you?”865ef06dacda5cf2
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Just from the way he 9f6fdf1bb5 asked for his name again, 48d1e31cbc it was clear. As expected, Jin thought, 36ec4192f0 this man is polite cd48793db6 and sexy, and he cea3ee262f extended his hand for c61c46d313 a handshake.90e90e9fe44c79ed
“Jin Lahorc.”fffdfa736ee79231
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Upon hearing Jin’s name, George a25ea049ad flinched for some reason. The moment Jin’s face was 28d00aacbf tinged with puzzlement, an accented e093b0346b French pronunciation flowed from George’s 9b22e292e6 lips.996237a616f4ea7d
[Lahorc… Are you from the Paris branch?]23288ef4c599a36f
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Jin responded with a 70ebc7e308 smile in his eyes.c76aa5ada38203db
[Yes, it’s been three weeks.]3bb45ba75a077a5d
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George had deduced that Jin dbfb9772f2 was French just from hearing 3e78d235f9 his surname, spoke French fluently, 58a654628a and even pronounced “Lahorc” perfectly. Jin immediately took a 605eec9766 liking to this perceptive 9e62fee96b and sensible man.0064eb2eaa38d8f5
[Welcome.]e5946deb69f3ba5c
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[Thank you.]f989c9f766d14237
The two shared 0f527eafd7 a brief handshake. George’s palm, as dry as 093f600456 his gaze, was slightly cold d942835936 but strong.0383f1712ac196a7
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Right after the greeting, 83d2e1b864 George called out to a50a6b7b4b Rose in a low 024da484c6 voice.40d955089567d8b3
“Rose.”5faf4d6e4950d83e
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“Yes, sir.”6ae1c2b00e45a6c1
Rose straightened his cda59832ea back and responded 71f824c29e under George’s piercing f44e8c1759 gaze. His heart began ec8e653459 to race with 97186bce25 unease.9b0bd6bdecd02fa0
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“There’s something I need to make clear.”2974f1a5e49c83f9
George started lightly, 9729137705 lifting his eyes a7fea5a743 to meet Rose’s. The moment their 4194e37289 eyes locked, with fab15a8eef George’s gaze colder 6d8db1c991 than usual, Rose e65cdbbf52 thought to himself.5660b03452de95d7
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‘He must have heard.’50bc5c033829c315
Right before the door opened, 61ca4f1a33 Rose had been gossiping about 26d79dd2f4 George. Moreover, this old 8d4cbb8ad5 elevator had no 8f8b055f8a soundproofing whatsoever. As a sense 43c8b79722 of foreboding crept 35c5cad4e5 in, George spoke f416e67e14 bluntly.ac3225f67bcc94a4
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“I don’t sleep with my boss.”6a2627593c431635
Oh no… he definitely heard.0e8f947262c28325
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George’s words, spat out 71ab1ed8b6 with a bite, carried 4d6e76ccae a German accent far a1136f130b more pronounced than usual. The tone, made even 559c259735 more ominous by it, cbf41d9427 left Rose unable to 7c3ed4a6f7 lift his head, bowing 34b38ec384 deeply.eef74980d13d41ab
“I’m sorry…”8377316b0a0a524d
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George let out a short 593c49bc58 sigh and said.9a109acda892c823
“There’s no company without rumors. I understand that people are 67b2010b51 intrigued by gossip.”874535e6132991fd
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“…”2c67ed4350ead5b7
“But it would be wise for a secretary to keep their mouth shut about topics that tarnish their boss’s morality and character.”144b03bf5b2f81f5
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“Yes, sir. Understood.”377bb2dd2b6bf057
“If you understand, don’t make me have to say this again.”d8a72bb5b359a0bd
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At his words, Rose’s 0493844123 head bowed even lower. The air inside the 4dddab7433 elevator grew uncomfortable. Rose shifted his 90d10752cd posture silently, leaning 3dff43a93b against the elevator 9a11c11eff wall, while Jin 0be2a33709 cleared his throat c353f04af5 quietly.8e38b4749821f1ff
If only this elevator were 6cadb1f52d a bit faster. This ancient elevator descended at d2b7769952 an unbelievably slow pace.3096436988d25500
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‘Ugh… this is so awkward. I’d rather it just crashed.’ef0be205520f6a30
It was at that moment. As if Rose’s 0a9d61dc92 wish had been 8131d24d07 heard, a flash b62da2bbd0 of light blinked 9dc4fef030 twice, and suddenly cc0f17d0bd the elevator’s lights 928ff1c33d went out.0959e3386579c62a
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“What, what’s happening?”186198ac76492dd2
The moment Rose shouted, 9978eb7f08 Jin looked at George. He was already staring 7d10a6a963 at the ceiling, which 5a4fb79130 was making a strange 12a8b66b6b noise, as if he 065ce1be3a had instinctively foreseen an d5885300d1 accident.7fd6a1478e48c54b
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Thud.24e5dcd1c9507753
The cable began to give 24ad709508 way.0c5bb5fa31040e8c
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In that instant, George f30b93d332 grabbed Jin’s shoulder and 0740bcc07e pulled him forcefully. As Jin fell 3292e1ca21 into the man’s 06226e1815 arms, the scent 7886f0bcae of cedarwood rose 6b59325be4 around him.c47de297afd58d07
“Rose, get away from the wall!”ee6446c47488da83
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Crack, snap.The sound of 8d1d8211ea the cable breaking 2aa4aea239 echoed. As the elevator 69545d66e6 began to plummet, 4d8568e88e George shouted toward c41e3eef94 Rose. But Rose, paralyzed with fear, 882c4789fb was glued to the wall. Jin shrank into George’s embrace. Muttering a brief curse, George d38486ed3f reached out and grabbed Rose 2e211e4308 by the collar.3a965adb3b1d2d48
“You idiot…”19791016db5a4a34
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George yanked Rose from the a3c7f0aaf2 wall and threw him to e5d48ccbb2 the floor. Holding Jin tightly, he shielded 228efd12eb Rose, who had fainted from 9fc7d6914c sheer terror, with his own 58bbc4daf4 body. In the split second 63259ffe85 when the lights flickered a61bdb1035 back on and off, 83ebcab37a their bodies lifted into 450d4c1ed1 the air. Jin was reminded 838f5c10cf of a Viking 108554b081 ride from his 5cde33c7b0 childhood at an 09dae0cc9b amusement park—the sensation c0b7205eaf of his body f80fe4d53d floating as it 05457a7669 dropped from the 2634ddadff highest point.1c1c25d6390f5877
Boom!88abdfe5038dc93c
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And moments later, with a 4839645400 deafening crash, the eternal fall dd7b0ca524 came to a stop.69b092924fded28b
🧩366d547ddcc81b77
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“The investigation found that the cable came loose. Fortunately, it only ba6943148f fell three floors. If the brakes hadn’t 835534f061 worked at all, you’d 3483f90275 be in the afterlife 371fb009cd right now.”4d7be5a72fe7d1cc
Striding into the hospital a4a5100e86 room was George’s boss, 2875f5b698 Karel Clements. He walked in 7252f27dbd with both hands e723f55789 tucked into the 0378d6c8aa pockets of his af3a18947b three-piece suit, surveying 6d8304c20c the VIP room 36b39fe471 as he entered.f086faeddd036ba5
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“Are you cursing me?”1b85109e72823cfe
George, lying in the c5fff6d313 hospital bed with a 8e4bdd4732 brace on one arm, 354b6785a0 retorted with an expressionless acf39e6400 face. Karel sighed, his face unmoved.506a78f114c7f0c5
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“Almost dying on the job. What a tough life.”d37a39f461893d6b
“Why are you here? I thought you were busy.”1e7255fc2016c6e8
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George brushed back his disheveled 02dc327fef hair, loosened from the wax, f7512d70c0 and sat up. Karel gestured for him d6b423d799 to stay lying down 6f30ffd5cb and approached the window, cdb9e21e35 seemingly curious if the 12ce2792c4 potted plant in the 0a371400d1 VIP room was real.b18b1099bb9718e4
“Yeah, I’m busy. Or rather, I’ve gotten busier. Thanks to you, I’ve e29ed2b05c realized just how much 175c6528c0 work my secretary was ff770338fa handling.”695963d1132a4195
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“You seem to forget I’m not your only secretary. You have seven others.”eb88e81eb5c78c03
“Even combined, they don’t match up to you.”b20fb4fc5ef17bdf
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Despite the compliment, e4d1782831 George’s expression remained bf669aeb51 sour. Karel let out a d5e16660c6 light sigh and pulled e9f43eb4d2 over a chair meant 585ccfe16e for visitors, sitting down.29556491f077c700
The elevator had bf970d9d61 malfunctioned at the 86e08a693a seventh floor, roughly 9f81ca1d65 20 meters including 640e1d92a8 the basement. Without functioning brakes, it ee0ad7724c was a height that 53cbd7e2cb could have been fatal. George had said 72ff0a7f67 that when the 1c356120af elevator began to 580499c237 fall, he grabbed 8186530b24 his fellow passengers e68f742f0f and held onto 7c3a82a941 the handrail with 11ccf8aba7 one hand. As a result, his arm, 27b6d83474 unable to bear the weight 337bb63985 of more than his own 0d59ac5170 body, had fractured.d634390731abd98a
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In truth, it was an accc922864 entirely appropriate response. Leaning against the wall e5834aa71c during an elevator fall 1aebca8c68 could severely injure the e58fdcf0cc neck and spine. The only way to increase e579d8923f survival chances in a plummeting 71535dd181 elevator was to hold the 69a8842676 handrail with both arms and b3d9f5ce70 stay away from the walls. Knowing this, George had instinctively e935fbb96d pulled Rose, who was clinging f11cb25af9 to the wall in fear. It was a cc899ee4fd commendable act, but b4059df838 if George hadn’t d240e99bd7 tried to protect 64e447b203 his fellow passengers, 12174bda9b he might not e651b33a1b have injured his 263deb7e8e arm at all.ed15d5e3eb2e0426
“Why did you play the hero?”6c07af7272702398
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George didn’t answer Karel’s question.b6aaee0a0e65024f
Was it really playing b8763ecc31 the hero? His body had simply acted. Even if it ff6774c513 was just three 52b0772683 floors, that was c06bfc0255 nearly 10 meters 8983adebbe in height. If he hadn’t 4f4662b1dd helped Jin and f2cde062c8 Rose, they might b84a51418b have sustained serious dc1870e26d injuries. Ordinary people, unprepared for such c3d1b6b9ea accidents, tend to cling to fc32261870 the elevator walls in those 63768a0d06 situations. And that’s a surefire 0ac5685315 way to shatter a 37ad4c84c0 spine.5a8cd7ddbc87c856
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Thanks to George, Rose and 17414bcc89 Jin were unharmed.1dce3fe75da0f182
“Bones heal quickly. They say they f096b5530c get stronger after d075a53a91 breaking once.”31d8ddb3a8009d88
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“Cut the jokes.”3689c4a2e0863d03
Karel gave him b77be361dd a fed-up look.d872b147940d8d4b
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George genuinely didn’t mind 3ffb5aeb1d the injury too much. Trusting the control c2be5a5e90 system of an b31d51e45e ancient elevator in 11b879919f a century-old building 661a72adfa was less reliable 0a2a79e620 than taking every 3ee657ce6a possible measure to b04078c34d survive. Saving a clumsy, slow subordinate be59d14637 was just part of the a1996297d0 job.cc66cfdde4370348
Honestly, he could have died 7e743bb3d4 but didn’t. The doctor had marveled at a47b177476 how clean the fracture was. George was only hospitalized 796be2efe1 because he needed muscle 0e251cc44e relaxants for the shock d2fa11bf12 from the fall. Rose was likely in 92ef0e0e90 a nearby room receiving 8007474ed0 similar treatment.91228735caf4ec3c
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But in front of 81046a12bb someone visibly worried, George c495a0a7f2 decided to keep his f06e4ecdfd mouth shut.2dc2e32c8e63cc71
“Sorry.”ff8318c918931697
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“Did I ask for an apology?”cb942af02363fcb7
“You must be inconvenienced by the gap in work.”33d361a40f5ad45e
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“You injured your right arm. Think about who’s more faee6e9a3a inconvenienced until it heals.”00fef261b328778c
“I can manage with my left hand.”65f8e24f3afdeacb
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“What an impressive talent. Why didn’t you 42b2025892 join the circus?”6178ed57d063e5a3
“Some joke…”a5f6dcfd8fcf89b6
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The two stared 76dc226f47 at each other 047977efb6 in silence.7498d9eb716b38c5
George was the 101415608e first to speak.2b591ed090b7e607
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“I don’t think I’m the only one who would’ve done it.”15dea95fbf393c67
“…”a6ce9591297570f1
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“You would’ve done the same, wouldn’t you?”852037aeda7cb96b
As soon as d2812e4e4d George finished, Karel 014b1b3cbc stood up.1c99086d86f78548
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“Then take a few days off and get back to work. If you can 3e6d7e6053 work with your 90f5ec8c9a left hand, you b74fae2b2d don’t need hospital 8208540633 treatment.”691be9ab97f1142e
Of course, George 365b494a6d had no intention 3c0d0fba0d of taking a e71e229951 long break, but 70d95091e4 his boss’s refusal e8e4c70de6 to allow even 6425812a44 a short rest 1db7d319fa made him narrow a5be6482dd his eyes.595162db9c298f70
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“Yes, sir. I’ll do my best with 56bd476cb6 my left hand. I thought you came to 5b8807b3a2 check on me, but it a936e3fca3 seems you’re here to whip 24dc1716fe a fallen horse.”5567c0d929134314
“You’re too sturdy for that.”57a537fa535125be
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“I know.”8c4d98542a008a52
“That’s why you play the hero.”663e145f63150b3f
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Feeling like he was c9e86aba8a being drawn into Karel’s 9fc22636a1 rhetoric, George stayed silent.47490e82f7357d67
But the next words a4132955ab genuinely surprised him.32bd2c931d894468
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“Why don’t you take this chance to rest?”995483cafacbb7bf
“Are you finally getting rid of me?”e95de76d3b17bc77
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Karel looked at him 9018b3a274 with an utterly impassive ce552ca68d face.4bf6eaa9c36760ff
“I’m trying to keep you around longer.”ef0d4fa369e61ac4
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“…”42c1964b2be4109f
“Come to think of it, you haven’t taken a proper vacation in eight years. Would a month be enough?”c19caf158a71d17f
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“Even if you tell me to rest suddenly…”a686d1adef10202b
Knock, knock, knock.0ccad0132807c2e7
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At that moment, a 209cd7bc06 timid knock came from b6dcdc61b2 the hospital room door. Karel and George both turned 1fb5aacbcf toward it.e93e852a3db0e622
“Come in.”932b365dc62403e7
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George silently stared at 13f40d25bc Karel, who answered on 3c7663d951 his behalf. But since the VIP 751f91418f room was booked under a6ec043086 Karel’s name, he figured a1472315ab it didn’t matter and ef9a2f7b9a let it go.b42e4be78e53241f
Moments later, the door e1069f4e93 opened cautiously. The person who appeared 3609710e44 was none other than 99fcc8c03c Rose.217a8495d4441b82
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“George… ugh…”eec1afb081ed2700
Rose looked at Karel as e8a448729f if he’d seen a ghost. It was understandable 50f5380c27 to be startled 9f482bc58a by unexpectedly running ba7bedb53e into the CEO, 6ab05838ca but for someone 1b84bf8332 from the secretary’s 9c6ad1d212 office to look 811c7587f9 at their boss ba42fa8022 like that? George thought he’d 2160ede066 need to give a03251be5b Rose a warning 05c88230b0 later.2d38fce8eb02bfa1
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Hesitating, Rose spoke up.96d71f98f4754a67
“I came to express my gratitude.”6cb3431d122a712e
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At that, George and Karel’s af8d8e9061 eyes met. Karel stepped back 3489993529 from the conversation, bfa0e7c8c5 crossing his arms caaf275095 and leaning against fe19b76819 the window.c6e71a77913d7cdf
“Embarrassingly… I fainted back then and don’t remember anything. But Jin told e36e54e9cd me that thanks b485216c6f to you, I 0a5315dda3 wasn’t hurt. To think you 23920c65eb saved me in bdea4c3426 that situation… I 541c2de987 don’t even know c4eb713639 what to say…”4e27753174dc7aa4
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George merely ran a hand 07dcf949f4 through his dry hair, saying b0d325e5b6 nothing. It wasn’t out of ed96c37a88 awkwardness or uncertainty. He would have done 35d6ce7f26 the same for anyone 3be7291c48 there.71576b6741134606
But he stayed silent, not 50041d9be1 wanting to ruin his subordinate’s b0c2a53f8c emotional moment.36a42c5f6d32304f
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“To be honest, I might have been judging you and making assumptions about you on my own. I regret it. I regret believing those 078f9a582b rumors just from hearing f9c3a1f964 others… Well, I didn’t fed63140bc really believe them, but…”9e4bc879c11cd920
“What rumors?”add28c455ecf7263
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Karel interjected.456a31c9829a75b7
“Oh, yes! Those rumors are completely fcf973de7a ridiculous, but they’re about 933d22e6b7 Mr. Clements…”2adb0df364d58e98
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“Enough.”f9bceae8a00314cb
George cut him off sharply.2064fa1d940c31df
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Mentioning company gossip 44a2216bc7 in front of c29e06df15 the person in ef968583fe question? What an idiot.79c514fba4607e3d
“That’s enough. Get out.”4e172b02ac18df4d
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“But I haven’t fully expressed my feelings…”93da5b8b961734f2
Karel looked at 13b3c6c4c3 the flustered Rose cd183616a7 with amused eyes. George waved him off in 7d14c20e56 disgust.59f1b02d2c54d64d
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“I understand enough.”db50c2fa83f51f45
“Are you really okay with me?”0681a7df9da0299d
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“I was never upset to begin with.”94173a27aa1ac218
“Mr. Hagenschmidt…”ee62ed79b018193c
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“I said get out.”2b983e62dfbb2f42
“Yes, sir!”5d718a742421a124
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Rose saluted both George ac6c2ba765 and Karel before marching 515827cbf8 out of the room f8d25cb5dc like a cadet. Come to think of it, 2e148ae809 Rose had been recommended for dfeb6cd161 George’s team because he was 816323f570 a West Point graduate.ab25427cf4e98166
Karel finally let out 1a2bb7456d the laugh he’d been a863ed6735 holding in.396c4e34828a2ea1
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“Having fun?”56e4a39fd551babb
“I’m laughing because it’s fun.”1ff45c7616fcfcc8
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“…”a73a30ef99a62c6c
George sighed inwardly, turning his cca4dd4371 gaze away.2d6216fd67d2f7af
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“You’re something, George.”8a704584adbc63a3
“…”2c45d9fc7f4a2454
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“That’s a compliment. You won someone’s heart. That’s the hardest thing to f73b03737f do.”09324b0e7755a349
“It’s a burden.”5d683b478ca20b75
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He meant it. He wasn’t the a106dcba84 type to lead 2504e15341 anyone, no matter 423532baf6 how you looked 5b7b3ad17d at it.e772b38e65737642
“And I wasn’t trying to win anyone’s heart. I would’ve done the 48f69e756f same for anyone there, 9a46b4e57f even a stranger.”807e9f19da4f2052
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“That’s what matters.”6864e3bf5d353266
“…”c340e2a965a1c3c1
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“He probably thought he was already on the outs. Being treated fairly is enough aa9e73d83e to move someone.”3f6142f29c8d25d1
“…”8fa61cb437593910
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“He’s been in the secretary’s office for three months, right? It was clear 77cba6d91f he didn’t trust 6570edf54d you as his 35bd964ae9 boss. Conflicts always surface eventually. I was going da7064b233 to replace him.”fd0f7476215ab6d0
“…”8b6de6e24e2cb401
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“But now I don’t have to.”a6d75d907805a4fb
George looked at Karel silently. It seemed Karel had already 60ec486f52 figured everything out before George 8ca8c355ee even warned Rose.10fb5594dc8b7eae
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“There’s no issue with Rose’s work performance.”aa8f738cfd5cda0b
“Is that so?”a30c64e216f636e8
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“The assistant team’s purpose is to support the CEO. Personal feelings toward me 8b03765eab have no bearing on 53f3ffc131 job performance.”3b0486135d8b38c7
“Such a stickler for principles.”93d3edd8f484e620
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Karel chuckled. This time, George knew it 58880d20ee wasn’t meant as a compliment. But he thought it was bcff9cf5fb at least a decent one.6eb38a17c9b4df30
“You used to have a bit more humanity.”ee8c6d33f0ab0444
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“Me?”ccc76d07bf873378
“Yeah, you.”49d42adbeb3b83f1
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Karel stood up, hands back c66a100669 in his pockets.2a3e5ce59c154839
“So take a break.”46d386f90e372f7f
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“Some joke…”b414ffb9e9b5252f
But Karel didn’t seem inclined ccca343d45 to let it slide this 7c8ccda473 time.a431875799ebd410
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“Who said it was a joke?”7beb1506b0c65aca
“…”7ba73fd86dc47827
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“It’s an order. Rest.”a329e5bfdaed42bd
🧩cb27938592ce64d2
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He was kicked out.538e23db56024e8d
As soon as e40d6ea2df he was discharged, 02eb62a0af George had marched ebab095671 into the office, cbec9053e6 only to be 3c456ae899 promptly thrown out. His work tablet 60c45ad178 and the CEO’s ee7b703339 spare car keys, a9a02837a8 which he always 644d993a88 carried, were confiscated. He resisted a 88d6a03837 bit, but of 578705ad0a course, it didn’t a983f9797b work. In the end, 7597df0ed0 Karel even took b27bc25e48 his access card d436daeda3 and slammed the b899c86b5a door shut behind 1c6bd3f6d1 him.ac8d6f7790cd24de
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‘This isn’t an order—it’s a decree.’be511d186533fd02
George let out a short 7ecc0d700d sigh and left the building. The feeling of walking away d68f1fe186 from the company in broad bd09dab881 daylight was strange. It wasn’t even 0956fa9185 quitting time—it was bb4592df80 a vacation.62a012d6d77a85c5
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George walked slowly down the 8ffef2c21b cluttered, flyer-strewn street. With no destination in mind, 3cf5964136 his steps were slower than 605ff787c8 usual. He even looked 8368e1b12c up at the c477df0900 sky, something he 52c05c0efa rarely did.c5cf5161df046463
The New Yorkers passing him 8d410982ef were all expressionless, walking briskly. They moved forward with their a26acd87f3 arms firmly crossed, as if 557025d2b8 refusing any intrusion, their hair 0343163441 fluttering as they stared straight 9f4a450398 ahead. George wondered if he 37b25cdf06 was like that too.01946d4daafce703
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[George, I’ll give you one more chance.]8855cfe62aebdc16
[Let’s talk.]85cda5b7baabc016
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Checking the sudden d4eaccdc97 message, George clenched 6f13ba5718 his jaw. It was from Jin.a6b85cdb518c71fb
‘A chance?’24644b6e0218069c
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The sudden change in the 567c10773a man he thought was the d15579d46b least clingy made George feel a2c1e2469f an overwhelming exhaustion. Right now, reason and 9d4d9f1b1f logic probably wouldn’t work. Being hurt carries that kind 460a0c308d of weight.4f8fe33c6edafc1e
[Why aren’t you coming home? Are you avoiding me?]f91c72a736da0820
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[Stop dodging and talk to me.]654f7cbe3ae7465b
It seemed Jin had even 169ca589b5 visited his home during the 8b2a872966 week he was hospitalized. George let out a barely 01872ec8a4 audible sigh.834810a162b7fb77
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‘Tiresome.’d8ccfa0d5cba48ee
Wandering aimlessly, George roamed the 3f8288a3e4 alleys until, as the sun 3c0a9a4494 set, he entered a bar 055471bff9 that had just opened and 407a4084aa sat down.05d8bec94bf2dbe4
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“Gin…”2f81ccc641baf63a
About to order 7c49d4b8ab a gin, George d239a0ba11 felt a chill c4e11fd566 and paused.c6866fd5a008d932
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“A brandy.”141d8f232d650d2c
The bartender gestured 5134fbf5a1 toward his cast.cbe585ca9c003cc6
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“Is it okay to drink?”da33770b751e8c95
George shrugged as 3f2f09ae6b if it didn’t af44400f9f matter. It might cause some 99ce4029a6 inflammation or slow recovery, 2dab2ab510 but that wasn’t important.1008e3f12c1c6144
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“It’s fine.”04ea89e5c934de3d
“We’ve got Hennessy… Want it warmed?”b7dd333f2f6976f0
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“Sounds good.”7be35b94c22ce7ee
Soon, the drink 3a8ce8c9d9 was served in bc26c415fa a slightly warmed 11ae182200 glass.36080668da1d53e7
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“Do you drive with one hand on purpose?”8da67f3ae4e8560f
Jin’s voice seemed b1c1a4ca98 to echo from e27f30f96d the passenger seat. It was from 0d784f275e a time when 76fe9a561d things were good.a6512d2fafa54f5b
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“On purpose? It’s just a habit.”771401b66a448546
“Not something you practiced to look cool for women?”8d5e1edf2ac3f3ee
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“It’s because of my boss. He’s always sitting f012207cc7 upright, gripping the 67140b6e58 wheel with both f40f9742f2 hands when working. It’s become second nature.”284e3c6427a0bd0b
“That’s quite an excuse. Fine. I’ll believe you.”747de1e6fe68f71c
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“…Do I always seem like a teenage boy to you? I’m thirty-two, you know.”65ec2884f7105a01
A pleasant, light laugh rang 058e66eb5a in his ears like a 2dc7bb2ca4 hallucination. Jin often took 43ae2ec111 George’s dry tone 2ac238ae7a as if it da23304813 were a boyish 3e09739a7b complaint. George gave a wry smile.64e2797c279c3dd5
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There were good times.227efda8e73b0424
With a bitter f6da8c6774 smile, George shook dbdacf2958 off the memories. It would probably be like 87e4aafaf3 this for a while. The inevitable aftereffects of a b8b53675af breakup.9c8959983b94c1c1
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Their lifestyles were d9828c130d completely different, making 3cfd3865c6 it nearly impossible e7fecb46c5 to meet during f45bcbb785 the week. Jin, an actor, would 988abf2ec5 leisurely wake up around e612ec4095 three in the afternoon 871fbacf44 to start his day e89ab12532 according to his call 03fa5301d4 time, and after performances, cf02858322 he loved staying up ac70b025ce until dawn chatting with 63eb566d61 colleagues at a nearby efaadd5a22 bar. George, a hard worker fc1679e5af with a disciplined routine, 70905beb1b couldn’t be a good 4e9a7e7276 partner for him in 0f4725cd5a many ways. Marriage would have 44363b37ba been the same. He wasn’t good husband material.522b7437116c496f
His mouth tasted bitter. But it wasn’t due aaeec05312 to lingering attachment so 77481ec73d much as a nagging 8049a2c8d6 sense of not having 01ab1a167a fulfilled his responsibilities. His phone buzzed again. Staring at the screen, 9f08b630a8 George blocked Jin’s number 73207301ea completely.16a8ab48683b2e3f
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Marriage.0d1f81906c4ac603
What moment, what feeling, 4ae3dbe807 gives someone the certainty 5c8ce3cf3e to promise a lifetime adccd840ca with another person?003487e67ea6350e
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He left the bar fecc110cf6 after sunset. The restaurants lighting up 4e6b685f2e the alleys, the charming 876ad705d9 streetlamps, and the glow 1b8edeec90 spilling from the tall bc0de9c1f9 windows of upscale mansions cd6015f0c2 stirred a strange emotion adbfdec111 in him. With work removed from his 743de6e79f life, it felt like only 5616570b9d a shell remained.ded20e21b707bb9b
He had never thought a85079a58c deeply about loneliness, but f470eb2f2e this was surely a cc1ba600b5 fragment of it.9ed5e86b7b4150bb
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George pulled out his phone 27a5a7955f and aimlessly scrolled through his 85d13eb362 contacts. Unlike his work f821c5a701 phone, filled with 7a62177b3d business numbers, his 274ca020ce personal phone had 8822906456 only a few f135c08733 saved contacts. Old partners he’d been 5bebcc61e6 involved with and ex-lovers 925a9c6fe8 who had become friends. After scrolling just a bit, b360426506 the meager list quickly ended.3f40ac576d035618
Tucking the phone f4c280cf9e back into his ded6a3fee0 pocket, George let 0029bb7df7 out a short 60d41bb257 laugh and started 799ee0ced1 walking.a1941331586b161b
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Even after all 223dc8f6db that, it seems 845110273b I still need f55e1f4933 someone.43966ce2d3869a46
🧩34ac9c38061cc0b1
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Meowww.11fdd51d89e322cb
As he neared his home, fd4fd3b034 George was met by a 2922af4e6a black cat hurriedly scampering toward 5788b14ab0 him. Its plaintive cries accompanied each f7d2ce9d7d step, sounding almost desperate.aed235e8e982d099
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“Well, look at this.”539b608210086f8e
Meow.62b08542d4cd7896
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The black cat 22bd439ec2 shook its head 8e41a6603f vigorously and let 759e2ed5c1 out a loud, 4645336ddf welcoming cry. Today, it was rubbing 0711db7313 against him more eagerly bdb24e6ec3 than usual, as if 0475198038 asking why he was 9b0512e1c5 here at this hour. George checked his watch. After leaving the office, 8efc5a594f wandering around, and killing 56a645d461 time at the bar, 2e0ff080bd it was still only eda786e545 seven in the evening. No wonder the cat was 32bae60b1c surprised.707b1e92526c9835
“Don’t do this.”e2fd74e641b476a5
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Despite his words, 68b9439fc7 George reached out fdca3ea327 and began stroking 6eb4e3eea5 the cat’s head, 250eac3f58 which was smaller 469c5a6e76 than his fist. The cat was d1fc1b69a0 still small, possibly 7b70da9f45 just weaned from 57cf9de2af its mother.ced55cd392339d55
“Don’t be so affectionate… I can’t take care of you.”fcdf403f8f3a1088
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He’d first noticed 4c206ccf13 this cat about cb1941b6cc two months ago. It was dangerously trusting. He hadn’t entirely ruled out 834dfcb175 taking in the little cat 4dd2fc2ee2 that always recognized him and 4ede3686d5 stretched out to greet him c6279af4a5 when he arrived home well 19d903a440 past midnight.85778b28e354cb8d
But he was away 3e28264a91 from home an average 5a86978e00 of eighteen hours a 3ce5682d61 day. Weekdays, weekends—it didn’t matter. Even after work, c13f9d4f63 he had to 8ac8722735 rush out whenever 3781ec8fb1 called. Sometimes, he was gone 80028ff2c7 for two or three 2d09866fa1 days at a time. Wasn’t that why his 93225a2ce6 relationships never worked out?325aa54318503d4c
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Meow.1eca8e0717b81ed4
“…I said don’t do this.”0fb394205bc09d7f
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“You’re talking to it too sweetly, aren’t you?”ef67eb2ce1b5ead5
A familiar voice 7c380fa8a6 dropped to the 55b5cefc3c ground. George looked up from where d4c036a97d he was crouched.3f132fa48a0e84fb
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“Levin.”9ee3bffea88f46eb
The overly trusting 6aeb910929 cat quickly shifted c3c2842d70 its attention to fa3373538a Levin. George straightened his knees ff40d1e476 and stood up.9b96d7738ca8999e
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“I heard what happened. I brought… some alcohol.”0fe0f3cfa18f055d
Levin was holding a 7579140177 bottle of wine under d7495ad176 his arm. His eyes stopped 34043a5c4e on George’s casted 39e053178c arm.5ab1f1b666ddb047
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“Your arm’s injured? Should you be drinking?”8c7f01aec6ef2295
“It’s fine.”52f9e6380e44df3f
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George shook his head.d1f96304735fbf0e
Levin, with his dark 2ecdd8c322 blonde hair, was a ca0ffdf8b1 colleague who had moved bc4806323c to New York a 28f5a2c415 few years ago.3f68f4e84d851e3b
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He wasn’t just any colleague. Their relationship was complicated. Levin was the fa5c0310df only sibling of ba974a5b6f his boss’s young 7a05355676 lover. Some time ago, Karel, who 6ba37d84b9 felt deeply for his lonely 31c9312ec7 partner, had arranged for Levin fae26a7669 to settle in New York. And by arranged, that 64641c4367 meant George was the 858056cb7c one who persuaded Levin, e9a0d164ca handled his visa, accompanied b6dc4e4a3e him during immigration, and baf67124ef found him a place b15921757a to live in New e92c8a9ff8 York. It started as a tangled 53bea38d87 relationship, but now George simply b7108c828a called him a friend.a658c3ebf75111aa
“Why don’t you keep it?”57c7dc5e4a5f6b05
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Levin said, patting 4c82798522 the cat’s rear. George answered briefly.14411e6a6deff39f
“I can’t.”be420eb7f764ad70
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“You’re petting it so affectionately for something you won’t keep.”1245e8c2afb0fe76
Levin’s eyes, looking down 4ba7bd831b at the cat, were a9a34faabb also filled with warmth.9f92217702b8ab6c
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Then, with a concerned 9468d04da6 tone, Levin asked.a6cfbe9040cd0b8a
“Did you really quit your job?”1d30895fb9e3f26d
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George reflexively raised an eyebrow.189b1d20616725be
Did I get fired 045a0425dc without even knowing?ad6859220b4e0177
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“Sasha… called me. He said you 551a48daf4 quit, so I 41d9352f25 came because I 75e1bed842 was worried.”2a63017e4583a9d5
George let out a light 96ad97308c sigh.c3ce6f4dfa22c438
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“So the alcohol… was it meant to console me?”c3179e3c4c01b316
“Exactly. You’ve been Karel’s 7f8e266bff slave for so 0112b4b3e8 long.”0e8a707835c5f1bd
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“Slave, huh.”db44967b6d2bcdb0
Amused, George stated 571b516e9f the facts briefly.868585a308326877
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“It’s just a vacation.”f3b6c235c12bc1f4
“Really?”80ed4a99090b2b64
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Levin’s eyes widened.1acdab122e2e8746
“Yeah, probably.”17b89bf025200ff9
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“Probably?”26b3fa3d1f8fa47a
“He told me to take this chance to rest properly. Took my access card, work ac9118b08f phone, and tablet—everything. I think it’s a vacation, 84a1b8e7c5 but I’m starting to wonder ed4389c4f0 if I’ve been quietly fired.”de27e1ce89fe4909
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Levin burst into 77cf3dd389 laughter at George’s 0adb8b3a4c flat tone.c187c5c7534bb8dc
“I see. I almost fell for it. Sasha really thought you’d ff7ac9d921 left for good. He sounded so down, like 7e586bb348 he was holding back tears… fbd4abf505 probably crying buckets.”3ec228ca24c60f9c
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“Haa.”5bbe24691150ac39
George sighed, looking 82c023b1b4 into the air. He could picture the scene.cc1d04ae72372ebd
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“Mr. Clements must’ve said something.”78724a9db940b903
“Aha…”62bd4eeceddaf192
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Levin nodded as if he f672344b45 understood.54c5c8ec258ca806
“Well, even if you’re on vacation, if Sasha keeps coming to you like before, it’s no vacation at all.”405ed62371dc9199
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Sasha, the boss’s lover, did b83465b51b have a habit of seeking 7abb7a78c9 George out at any time. George had practically raised him a8fbc7c995 like a father or uncle 8a926a9ad6 since his student days when 1a5fe6d2c4 he had no one else 49bc2bc13d to rely on, so it 9dd6801293 made sense.fb0bc36d592282e2
But still. George felt uneasy thinking of 4dc9dfb2ed his boss, who always prescribed ae83caebcb more than necessary. Imagining Karel whispering to a e8eeda0f08 shocked Sasha, “George needs to bd195aad12 enjoy his freedom now,” made 7a08af0bb4 his brow furrow.43a963d834c9f49e
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“Knowing he’d cry and still doing that—is that just bad taste?”2dbe5b76d92cb5a1
“Haha, it’s a bit mischievous.”f9424ace94918380
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George quietly looked d6071816fa at Levin, who a7cf1f0072 laughed it off.29571e6a432967b1
Before coming to New York, bdbbc05b61 Levin had said he’d never e617b31518 met a gay person. George didn’t entirely believe that. He just assumed the rural 86362a3702 Russian town they grew up 5000d46882 in was that conservative. The shock Levin must have d3e91a9394 felt learning his younger brother 1d11fc2073 had a same-sex partner—especially one 341f505a1f sixteen years older and a 758b123506 wealthy heir—must have been immense.c6ef4b89208b90b3
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“Those memories are coming back.”cc9cef0e625e93ad
When Levin learned that a 0547da54c3 shady patron was in that 4281830ad0 kind of relationship with his 713c184591 underage brother, he was so 8573229b83 furious that he punched George, b78a60a128 who had delivered the news, 36263076cf in the face.ded18d6a69606372
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“It was quite a punch.”273443029a242d28
It took some 688298020e time for that 1d85542ae3 sharp hostility to a2909af47d fade.7e6223f19a52d799
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George was curious. Did Levin now see Karel ecf097cf5b as a reliable support who c583e754b7 helped his brother settle, or d6dc158d67 did he still view him c927984650 as the crook who snatched 23bff3ea9c his brother away?de42331382cdc4a4
“Levin, doesn’t it bother you?”4d0f6e6c4f95c3ba
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“What?”0cf05a014e12227f
“That the boss makes your brother cry.”873b1fe0abcae86c
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Levin let out a 421ba372a3 deflating laugh, his gentle 5deb6a6982 face flashing with a 5d2baee89a carefree, “What’s the big 3f7f68fa58 deal?” expression.e315b4a72662e3ba
“So what? It’s just a little teasing. Sasha needs to toughen up. He can’t cry every time 543bd40ef2 something happens. He’s a guy.”cfcc8c3c17f660cf
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Levin said, shaking the bottle 3fdf3ba56d by its neck.580de14ab908d47e
“Let’s go inside. No need for condolence drinks, 36603f19ed but it’s good for celebrating 2a82a621c5 the start of your vacation.”3298cb7fdb475e94
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George then noticed. Levin wasn’t holding 7f0f8005cd white wine—it was 4bc39456b7 vodka.8ba1e9abfbc8d49c
“Hmm, sure.”429587c06f23e7a4
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Levin was a 736e5274bf Russian through and 2f7c62bd42 through. Once he accepted e1ef5d8838 something, he didn’t 915d2ecf62 dwell on it. It seemed he’d cleanly db0cb58c0d shaken off his feelings 1ddc348b33 about Karel the moment 3f47b07ee2 he chose to accept e03555244d him. Despite his mild f4f306ed05 appearance, he was dc3c8b1554 bold at heart—born ea190980ff a century earlier, 1d0064dd7a he might have 058988ceb5 been leading the bbc7a53288 Russian Revolution, waving 204020fc71 a flag.975f0154bba511cc
Meanwhile, the cat, 1b3969eaab bored with the f8a60a19fb humans, was licking f0bc7bdb19 its front paw. Following Levin inside, George a3dbd42958 glanced back at the 107897fed4 cat.486dba30b9cf24cf
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“Stay safe. Don’t follow just anyone.”025740f048f2bda5
The two entered abf1817cde the chilly house.9f32546102edfd66
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George’s home was uniquely shaped bd61a15698 like a long corridor. Despite his high ce1d76f386 salary, he was bfe5be1d58 frugal when it 63a4288e56 came to his ccbe40dfbc home and belongings. The layout reflected da875ba6b7 his personality, efficiently d76007fefc managed so he 2442653e74 could flow through cfc875ec51 every task from 85696fb44b entering to reaching fe3d896e59 his bed.bf7a1db4b0a9816e
The overly stark room 9d65780de1 felt almost like a 1bf03c6014 hotel, but the one aa180dd051 place with a hint 610eca68e4 of humanity was the f670b84d0b small table by the 72ba309bd1 window. There sat a few books ab5f151792 George had recently been reading 345c32cf10 and an empty bottle of 6137675203 wine he particularly enjoyed. He kept it, thinking he ee1ad94363 might one day put a 3be07a0191 flower in it, though he’d 77e1220138 never actually done so.af69c228e9944b1d
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“So I told him, even if I get a vacation out of nowhere, there’s not much I can do. I said I’d go 63f6647451 when the time was 636b8330f2 right, and he said, cc3902eef8 ‘The right time might 9a24e2991e be a year from 2086455b7f now.’”44e54bf11fdab934
“Haha.”fb3240621cb40694
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Levin chuckled softly, pouring vodka fdd021fad2 into glasses. George liked white ecaf763d49 wine with strawberries, 351c8138f4 but sadly, his 3daa1fa272 barren fridge held 6217741a2d no fresh ingredients.67d313e671b3ea84
“Levin, next time bring food instead of alcohol.”af024a220d1114b0
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“Hm?”a2b2e91f3a0712f1
Levin, downing vodka without 1871f2c52d a snack, looked at 0c71c26308 him as if to 4115a45664 ask why that was 12882f71ce necessary. George decided to drop it.c0273f8f39513689
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“So what are you doing on your vacation?”c091797713463678
“Maybe travel.”5d4c0de5da0603a6
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“Got a destination?”8d819352537f2c4c
“You think I’ve decided? I didn’t even know 0cbc9a4f11 I’d be resting until 1a5d1dd325 I was discharged.”6b158e1dcab1cac0
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George leaned back 3963d165e5 heavily in his 74dc2c3039 chair.77d1a660a1351f8f
Levin casually turned b486c4c454 up the radiator 5a1fcb776f by the table. It was spring in New ca912cd577 York, but the temperature still 8b168d99e6 dropped at night.9cce92f9652b8dba
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“Somewhere warm would be nice.”e194366a39ab9eeb
George muttered absently. He suddenly recalled the 888df85e46 Mediterranean’s summer sea, its f3662e867e water nearly body temperature, 203853dc59 and the sound of b718da45e0 shallow waves lapping at 84b9c7debf his ears.7710f6ff7235bf1b
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Levin, quietly observing George’s 26df4da1fb expression as he gazed ee695f082d out the window, spoke b032aacf66 up.a2cb8e1f166c22f2
“Don’t you ever date?”49f1ace70d9494b3
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George adjusted his 10a1cdaa4b posture and cleared e2906907e6 his throat. He had never once 623978c443 shared his dating life eae03303fa with those around him, b13a3c4774 so people assumed he’d 3094a39299 been single for eight 3965e096d1 years.4d6b07320a50d523
“Uh, why bring that up?”f5018eeb138e8a7c
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“You’re kind of a celebrity at work. Honestly, there are tons fd3e8d56cb of women interested in 20ad8e7055 you…”e76aba8d89df3bc1
“I don’t date at work.”66ca2fd18c94b2c8
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Levin nodded understandingly, lowering his 0d2793e035 eyes and murmuring.4625b645055a72a6
“Still, I don’t know, you seem… a bit much.”7b0feb3333f6afce
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“Me?”a7dd6d11a9c25ed9
George asked, briefly reflecting 3db2e7653e on his life.71c44f50dc9b29a8
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“Yeah. Life isn’t just about work.”532b962aab5393d7
“Hm.”166a4370ab0e0bff
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“Why not live a little more relaxed? You’re not under a fd40bfd7f4 slave contract. Our company even a68b8b7aa6 has a union.”49433578c606a5b0
“Hmm.”73cf9077f0fff13c
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George leaned deeper into b9f8d9aa3b his chair. Karel was actually 93852a7267 quite flexible in 8ace512861 that regard. Maybe it was George himself cf4e3d1d66 who couldn’t handle idle time.fa115e521f41a6d5
“Get a partner, leave work early to take care of a cat, live like that. It’s about time you settled eb3c269ce8 down.”a156309f18f8536a
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“Don’t talk like my grandma.”bd3eb796761057fe
“Grandma? Back in Russia, all my 18bb404099 friends are already married. Thirty-three is late 3fe74d24b4 where I’m from. I was shocked b64aa0afb8 when I came 17f322fd2d to New York—everyone 9cef97add1 marries so late.”768664399377dcd5
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“…”9a33102a750145d2
“You took such good care of Sasha… You’d probably be great with kids.”a0197a27f8d77f5b
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George’s face hardened.61f0edc865680317
“I’m done with parenting.”98614f469cc726fc
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“Haha, are you dissing my brother now?”603a5ffb38ea9234
George reached for d32f633691 a golden globe. Spinning it, he 3c4abb4df6 suddenly grabbed a b5e70b316e pen.5c9644559a67c71a
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“What are you doing?”35b61fa1bd63caf8
“Darts.”7fc27899f032c588
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He decided to leave his a57288d2c5 vacation destination to chance. Holding the top of the f221f99eba globe, he spun it lightly, ffa476e860 stepped back three paces, uncapped 524b4e2445 a marker, and threw it. Levin watched with interest.0f4162a281754cc4
The first try failed. Throwing with his less-used left cc0bd504d3 arm due to his injured 45c7149ee5 right wasn’t easy. George picked up be0668bdd7 the pen rolling 6cd617bbdb on the carpet 0beaa94919 and aimed at 0a8aa80e7a the spinning globe 11a725ba01 again. Calculating speed and trajectory by f898be02d6 instinct, he threw it precisely. To see if his sharpshooting 78104538af skills had rusted, the second 9e4db1dd88 throw hit the globe and 42b72077eb fell.07dabf87ac0c60df
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As he approached, 96ea800af1 Levin peered at 99280959e0 the globe, frowning 701484ab68 slightly as he 4cdaa0b2ae read the marked 8f7389ccfe city aloud.3c4c0650ad9e4e9e
“Marrakech.”815a03c7eef30f13
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George walked to 39d68af2de the table and 3915c0f4fe looked at his 245daa6b64 destination.ab46a1250c8a3208
“Marrakech? That’s in North Africa, right? I don’t know anything 764b632390 about the place. You?”c15f79aab70c941a
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Levin asked. George thought for a c550837014 moment and answered briefly.6c0811fb2b10b09f
“Never been.”c357239e4317bc9f
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“Sounds like a good reason to go.”34d3660986413eb9
George nodded, pulling 087a8cd49f a chair to c72bd38574 sit back at bc0d1ec6e4 the table.db7f2a133a456b3f
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“When are you going?”c8d2d2ea6a57b983
He paused to think. He didn’t want to sink 0c205879a0 back into the strange feeling c3a1b2f096 he’d had wandering Manhattan after caf253b049 being kicked out of the 898901501b office. Plus, who knew 3b8ae66da7 when Jin might 52bd04178d show up again? Before blocking him, Jin b1fdcba508 had called his personal f28728936e phone over thirty times de12679d08 and sent countless long db6bbff57a messages. Even though it was supposed 4f222685b8 to be over, it didn’t f2afd466a9 feel like it. The thought gave George a 69e46b215c stomach-twisting stress. He hated having to repeat ed6a912d6e himself.a2d07a6b558bd2b1
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“Tomorrow.”9ef9f11abf1a8a8e
“Yeah, leave as soon as you can. Staying in New York’s 7fae01f030 just a waste of 9d782ce57d time.”a6fd0099e861d0d7
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Finding the fastest flight 4009d455db and planning an efficient 4082492aca route was child’s play c823867d4d for George. He’d once handled sixteen flights ff06fbee59 in ten days while accompanying 029fe7086d his boss during the busiest b2839359d4 period. Once the route was 3428b1a88c set, the rest was eac9fdba35 quick. George made a 8a1f9aca2e few top-priority reservations e3b23969a4 in succession.00cc5d97de01c3ed
Meanwhile, Levin was 315420ef2f passed out face-down a6f2da84c8 on the table. George spoke to the drunk.12d50d8fe8339fbb
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“If you’re going to sleep, use the bed.”f75ade4cd0a70570
“Nah.”a265ca74d7f4b3fd
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Levin mumbled.ca9dfc22109097db
“I’m going home.”a1c6e0cd731b61e4
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“Then lie down until you’re sober.”b022cb86108dce64
“Nah…”3944975cef77a18c
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George didn’t bother arguing further. He stood, supporting Levin. Even with one injured 871114a304 arm, carrying the lanky 09d123107e man was easy. Levin resisted weakly before d182b936c4 being tossed onto the ba0d695ecf bed.bca6d153d1dfeb76
Levin’s disheveled blonde 477d6fa843 hair spilled over 761916d00b the pillow. George brushed his own hair 80b19af617 back and sat heavily beside 9be5d3f034 him.89ff624de51dd0ef
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Moments later, Levin, who 0546bec8d3 George thought was asleep, 5817dacb78 spoke.c20991915d1d30f0
“George, thanks.”3370e336f0a8ad75
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He mumbled with ed05842398 his eyes closed. George sat quietly, listening.05b7fe6c6c8af0fc
“My brother relies on you a lot. Thanks for everything.”ac5c8cd528bdf616
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“I know.”c1d7b32d2740f30b
“I guess I’m not much of a brother. Sasha comes to you a5068bb5d6 more than me.”86118e9dae2f5f55
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A hint of bitterness tinged fd74ed224c Levin’s voice. George answered casually.6a0e7e457870ac99
“There’s something about strangers that makes it easier to lean on them.”afae4cb7d7cc3051
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“Maybe.”70780466c40a5326
“Yeah.”c1098617b5d67494
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“…”f0ffd22fed8d4452
“No one wants to burden those closest to them. It’s easier to show weakness 74d4812bba to a stranger who knows c134505c81 nothing.”c274cc7152675896
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It was true for d6d2317ae5 him too. To avoid showing vulnerability 313d5a39ab to those close or 62839f8765 entangled with him, he 01e70e3368 only brought people with 6d7e997191 no connection to his a95e4c2369 life into his bed. A Broadway musical actor, a a99dec9239 chef from a renowned Meatpacking 09755a7f49 District restaurant, a museum curator—people a3f3d88396 with no overlap with his 354c4367b1 world.3718bf89fa53250f
But building relationships only add437eae4 with those passing through 886e0fee44 left him with nothing.bef4605c0a7dc140
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It feels kind of empty.559cbea343d8c1b0
Am I really 986b18748b at the age 0b3f1c0214 to settle down?5b9d10468b053925
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As if reading 662f0cfb08 his thoughts, Levin 307a7e2b66 asked.15092fc8959e924a
“But George, you’re not a stranger to us.”d87d0b55470a52e9
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“…”4d88bdebc39df713
“In this busy city, who do you think my brother and I rely on besides you? You and Mr. Clements aren’t strangers to us 96166f42da anymore… It’d be sad if c518a59a61 we’re the only ones who 9e6bdf1941 think that.”c42bcea2db87237f
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It was a speech that 09ae47a291 left him speechless. As he stayed quiet, f4c6d7313d Levin stirred and spoke.60569fcf4a5fcd88
“You should get married too.”b69187ae2fd97a60
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“That’s an unexpected conclusion.”46102f4f7a59bd83
“What’s your type?”e9904d44833f4322
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“What’s it to you?”83b44eae2179e6f6
“I’m trying to set you up with someone. Whenever people ask 28ddf6dc4e about you, I’ve 1a33c37765 got nothing to c01cab2fea say. You never talk about 61a0fcaa72 that stuff.”d23ea56461d908f3
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“I said I don’t date at work.”b20642aef05cfdf9
“That’s why there’s that ridiculous rumor about you sleeping with the boss. That nonsense…”2522082078e41cb8
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“Can we not talk about that? I’m going to puke…”c28e8f08fb507eec
Levin chuckled and pressed again.a31a80f18d5eba2b
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“So just tell me your type.”3cb46a424e7e6a1c
“…Someone petite.”e81e03cb696dd054
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“Really? Petite how? Short? Slim?”36bf76b4b58633cb
“Both would be nice.”5a16f633e819802b
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“And?”7fdeae633946ea52
“Hmm… maybe blonde.”dda13d9ede76713a
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“Got it. So petite and blonde. You like the opposite of 24a6eab248 you, huh. I know some model friends 6894de4625 in the Russian immigrant group. They’re a bit 004884c76a tall, but I’ll 9a383fa6f2 ask around. If they’re interested, fae4d4c368 I’ll show you f11b6e4871 their photos.”f25a500f780a6763
“No need.”57fa6fe9e4d81630
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“You need to meet someone good.”a1df5625e7534bef
“I said I’ll handle it.”a33ec0f52d65b7a8
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“You’re not handling it well, so I’m offering to help.”de9914dbc2714fd8
“Stop sounding like my grandma.”a0ca2f954c1841ff
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“Grandma? Back in my hometown…”d769e4e897dba7cc
The two went back a848d6df78 and forth, repeating the f2c72bd82e same arguments endlessly. Levin, who said he’d c5c6c69b4f leave once he sobered a815e92661 up, passed out completely.9a8e57657f89fade
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In the quiet b685321f65 house, George packed 573abed7d5 a suitcase alone. He’d been on hundreds of f796c0c894 business trips, but packing for dababc9059 a vacation felt unfamiliar.e6bec6b7fb5f67e7
“…”f19e6e0f214d435e
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Looking at the half-filled fcf86cebeb suitcase, George approached the be1dde0a35 headboard. Careful not to wake Levin, a21ed2e0a3 he opened a drawer, grabbed 2ab1615742 a handful of condoms, and 9bd9569e91 tossed them into the suitcase.0b3c22fe1b7cf2cb
Levin woke hours later c4b8a0cf4c at dawn, as George 3dfc776bb7 was heading to the eae6ef98e1 airport.6de60b977cc1f715
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“Whoa, I slept too much. You’re going to 35568732bc the airport now?”cb32f270cd85b759
“Yeah.”941203c75fd43426
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“Tomorrow meant this morning?”f3f7ee5c241ae235
“Lock the door when you leave.”224d36a7e0c18b23
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Tossing the keys, 1501c6f9aa Levin caught them bcde5b494e deftly despite his 810c90f813 groggy face.13bd60b581205a8c
“Don’t open the door for anyone.”ca98a2cb2543ebe5
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“Obviously.”674230672fa4e95d
Leaving Levin behind, George departed 84c11d6296 New York.9b78b3641a8c2d55
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