MKX Ch 1
by mimiThe things Georg 00a4ebbbb2 Anton Hackenschmidt detests 1ce46dc9b7 are as follows.731fd289236b7a04
Having to repeat 85b5eb4894 himself, people acting e41d39906d emotionally, and moving 4d11b9374e without considering the 7774749062 consequences.aa5d7f5fbb31593a
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It had been eight 163a96beec years since he left d99da52686 his career as a 24aa9bd275 professional soldier and moved 655f5f9df8 to New York. In this complex, 4759564a69 expressionless city, he a16373ee5f found himself increasingly 4352a59440 unable to tolerate 2a0855dc30 the things he bcc3063864 originally disliked. To the point dd6b63d73d where he questioned 31727e33df whether he had 6bd88b627a always been this c2f1261499 unforgiving toward others.62e8d86d35300f81
So, what are a10f1edd15 the things I e1a3910d5c like, the things 23ba9546a8 that make me e289c3b8d8 feel even a cc18e29ef2 little bit generous?717fc1e2d3f97320
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It was at that 467ab77a97 moment, as Georg closed d7d5705a25 his eyes and sank 48899606d4 into thought, that it 9a5b49ef3e happened.fa8b663b0a9ae4c4
“Having a tough time lately?”4c8b6744303315ef
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Jin’s voice pierced his ears. At that moment, a3a5530129 Georg was slowly 1145a19274 twirling Jin’s long, 9100bb5333 wavy blond hair 43519717a8 with the hand 861c9f33e5 of the arm b1f922854c that was pillowing f513c13673 her head.fa398a73c4636177
“Same as always.”705892e5fc4b89b1
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“It doesn’t look that way.”c6cbef0eb3542708
“Is it that obvious?”29d713c0d604794e
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Georg let out 3d730d3c50 a sigh and a08f717fff adjusted his hold 01c7375758 on Jin. Jin, with an bd038d4c9f affectionate gesture, rubbed a0881e9c6f Georg’s bare chest ea168351e6 and lightly kissed a6024ec312 his shoulder.ae286dcad43bab6b
“Of course it is. It’s been three years since 8da765fb0d we met.”cc43892e86763202
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Jin’s fingers, tracing Georg’s dc4faad423 cheek, carried a hint afef38513e of affection. Soon, Jin climbed 5be89e4129 onto Georg’s chest, e26a1b22f7 lying down and 24a83749b0 pressing their bodies 2ba8622d33 close. The sweat-cooled skin after their 19ae196955 intimacy felt soft.d188ff2217718b4c
“It’s okay to open up sometimes, you know.”a6d1c2b15c4e8086
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“Hmm.”73eaa8b3cbe6ba6c
With his eyes closed, Georg 297ab65aec raised only the corners of 6d0b3bca7a his mouth in a faint 561e63baf8 smile. Jin’s blond hair, cascading over d1add07312 his face, tickled his eyelids.daf8de8aedaa1e97
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“It’s my rule not to bring work home.”c3e2ff687a0e4f5a
“Honestly, that just seems like stubbornness now. Being the secretary 51f913c97f to the group’s 691e031ee0 CEO must be 471f340492 incredibly stressful, right?”a338bb01cca60357
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“Even as a secretary, I’m just an office worker.”9d1e70f519cbfdbb
“You’re really something…”e67e8fde19cdabb7
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When Georg persisted in c697b59e9d acting like it was 1c728129fc no big deal, Jin a41e90dae5 gave him a pointed dcc77886eb look.d2cb1a2ea2b4c4e1
Indeed, Georg’s workload was b8cc6799f5 hardly that of “just 32d20be825 an office worker.” He 77d86dbccc arrived at work earlier 9f0839b10a than anyone else, yet c81697ec72 there was no one 4f4dac9c2f around when he left, 93638c867f and even after returning 7415798d42 home late at night, 45fb2ea0a4 he would often throw c06cfc5883 on his jacket and c1fe5e0954 rush out again if 8c119ac7ea a call came through.7f1c4e9d2f777ff7
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With so little time allowed a5e5c1e0f2 for personal matters, his relationships 0df0e6669b had always been unstable. The few attempts at dating 932ed791ec right after settling in New fed7bad116 York had all ended with db7d6e4a77 him getting slapped. Over time, it became 3e1c8ddfba natural for him to 8005a6b77a prefer partnerships over romantic 5eab015bcd relationships.6d76aa51f2dd2b19
Jin was one of those 12607923b1 connections. Performing as an ensemble ddcd4fd80e actress in Broadway musicals, 9c3a46c8e6 Jin was the least f64870e002 clingy of the regular 974d7a33be partners Georg met. Being older, she was d7d323e104 understanding, and as a 205d94aacb musical actress with late 753fb5fdf4 call times, she didn’t 46787fc6d5 take offense to Georg’s 0b98d29c00 late returns home. Perhaps that’s why their relationship 8ee07a24c0 had lasted this long.fd136f92abfb6fd4
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Not quite lovers, 9eb1e12a4b but a relationship baa6ead613 that felt all e23904816c the more stable 18dcbec33a for its looseness.032574cca485de7c
“Georg, ever thought about moving?”09dd38e17071c6a3
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Jin lowered her head, 995f494863 pressing her lips against 41fd8fe6c9 Georg’s neck. At the gentle caress, Georg a80db818d1 naturally adjusted his hold around 9af84467f4 her waist.4e4fca65ee8fcba9
“Moving? Out of the blue?”85007f368d12babf
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“It’s a bit cramped, don’t you think?”42ce68d7ea0604c3
“It’s enough for one person.”eafe8069da884fc8
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At that moment, Jin looked 924984cfb1 up. As their eyes met, c85291fff1 she asked with a 8d1a83d4bc sparkle in her eyes.cf923a01dab58484
“It’s cramped for two.”29968a9daf00b17d
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“…”d70d33163a3dbbe5
Georg paused, considering e16f24d903 the meaning of 915ff66d9b those words.d3155af1526c25f6
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“You’re just complaining about the bed being small, right?”a768017619a48d24
“Haha!”a390cf660c2f565b
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Jin burst into a b3450a266a hearty laugh at the a0624d0705 joke. Georg kissed her forehead 7178a5289f and gently laid the df5b1b6b6b woman who had climbed 002b66d3d1 atop him back onto 6feb1519d8 the bed. Sitting on the edge of 393c71bba3 the bed with his legs faeaa0b3fe dangling, Georg ran a hand 80ee8f7504 through his hair. Jin, now wrapped in 0948d29ef4 the blanket, came up 0b716588ff behind him and wrapped fc61b5cdae her arms around his 04d49b3604 neck.6eff7171d5435416
“You know that’s not what I meant.”494575059b3a2c0b
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“Then what?”561cf62e26695608
“Georg, we’ve been together for quite a while.”c0bb916c3ada936a
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“Yeah…”4e4748523ff0a526
“You said I was a good friend…”775f5bd7a582f2e7
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“…”3646bb6a0f41eee1
“Don’t you ever think about settling down with someone?”c22251c1cd7eadef
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At Jin’s question, Georg thought,Here it comes.c82d8defa883d477
“I sometimes wonder what it’d be like if we lived together. During the day, 53d9b58b55 we’d make the 030ed0dd6d house beautiful, and 9f8a096554 at night, we’d 9e01243b28 lean on each 2429e9c310 other… in this 8cece3a8a3 complicated city.”f68be5cc554fe192
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“Are you suggesting we live together?”f2b951ffb6e1a27a
“I’m not just looking for a roommate. You know what I mean.”83995bb495498963
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“…”85c8cbbc80c66a9c
“I think we’re pretty good together. Not just in terms of 5a678f605b sex, but other things too.”47574b2bd9cd7dd7
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Georg gently grasped 930363c168 the wrist of 82c2c3363c the woman slowly 44ea9593aa caressing his neck 41ccb28df0 and whispered.ad89f7ffdd1c6451
“Jin, why bring this up all of a sudden?”e9871f4811f6ada1
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“All of a sudden?”3e81ffc68f5b1830
“Didn’t we agree from the start that marriage wasn’t on the table?”449963545076fe94
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Georg turned his upper 996c20e62c body slightly, disentangling himself 2b0ede6180 from Jin’s arms. Their eyes met. Georg looked at a804044a02 Jin’s wavering gaze d301f8ee98 with a slightly 99cd9a4d97 somber feeling.72edb338292f4b18
“So you’ve never once thought about marrying me?”83dc652bcac415d1
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“I’ve never thought about marrying anyone.”e2512dc6a5e82a09
“So you’ve been deceiving me all this time?”3f9c0663cf61169b
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“Deceiving you…”fda3cd3e5a059b95
He had only e173b11e96 been faithful to 947d7fa541 his partner. For a moment, Georg cf3f639e91 felt an overwhelming sense b530364ee6 of fatigue toward Jin, 70728ddcce who had suddenly become 41c878e820 emotional. Jin was a 32993148ab woman with many 1edd2132f6 strengths, but as 54f774ad10 an actress, when 886d3682ed her emotions erupted, 6dfe48c0e3 she poured out b35fffc854 tremendous energy. And Georg wasn’t used 9ae674daa6 to handling that.d6741f0523e6b864
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“I’d be fine with living together as good friends. But marriage…”7a028047f69a9ce2
Before Georg could clearly express 46e82e51cb his refusal, Jin’s expression turned 812b90cb70 cold.f5a936ee94e45227
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“So I’m not good enough to marry.”ee65df27a893d4c2
“That’s not it.”441e1c6293ffe3d6
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“Then what? Because my income’s unstable?”3df80ca1f1918b14
“Have I ever made an issue of that? You love your work. That’s enough for me.”297221d9aa77fd54
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“Then what is it? Because we started as partners?”ef0e5974ec8ccc08
“No…”d9112b3f8daf0b08
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“You’re still in your prime, so you think you can find someone better?”1f5eadaeecf8e0ad
This relationship, too, dbbc8edcce seemed to be b159da5966 heading down the f7e230800c same path as be7edb726e his previous failed ba4dae181d ones. Feeling it, Georg e904916ede rubbed his face 504e7a2dbf and said in 33a2b9ec95 a weary voice.6822ed256ac03ea5
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“Jin, please.”019dfe35e9ed4339
The moment Georg showed a 1fdc2ffc76 hint of exasperation, Jin’s face 72f8e3cb86 instantly took on a hurt 447c7e56ca expression. In that moment, 973753c7c5 Georg realized this 4c273b77e1 relationship had reached c14d2c6d6c its end. The moment they confirmed the 3a96ec3ba2 gap in their emotions, the 50b117d978 relationship began to creak. Even if they patched things 4d3e04049e up and pretended to get cf3f2899f2 along, if Jin wanted marriage, 5f7a54678e they’d inevitably return to this 6163fed484 point.de2f047262127004
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“Jin, do you really want marriage?”60ac10de32650a14
“…Yes.”696f4c0818816600
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“Then my answer is set. This is the end for 8db86bcd05 us.”fadf0a2aebd5bff2
“Georg, how can it end so easily? Don’t you have even the 12e6394708 slightest attachment to me?”6c591dd5ee13c5de
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Jin’s lips trembled. Georg didn’t answer easily. If he comforted the hurt 1d96876263 Jin now, it would only f3b04ee25f delay the breakup. In times like 0be00360b5 this, it was 05a21b49f0 better for him c97b81d628 to play the ea8cd850b3 villain.49cb51a192bdcefd
“Attachment?”3079c7c5a0cdd28d
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A cold voice slipped 9d29b1824b from Georg’s lips. Jin bit her lip.539289a747b60935
“Then why were you so kind to me? If you felt nothing, why 757b3740ca did you…”7f2ab4fc86078c69
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“It’s just a habit. I’m like that with everyone.”e1182f847b231ceb
“Georg!”905328185acd1425
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“Jin, don’t get emotional.”cca34b925e3edc89
“You played with me, you bastard.”4f5d802f3ca7dd7b
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Once again, Jin’s emotions surged. At that moment, a d3723d4f0f slap stung Georg’s cheek. The force of a0c304dbdd her slender wrist c9f39967bc was surprisingly sharp. Georg tilted his head slightly b92ab9ea02 and lowered his eyes.9eebf9b398da57d8
With rough movements, Jin 52562d3b5a put on the clothes 0de4493178 scattered on the floor a9d3b82c44 and gathered her belongings 2f21029713 with loud stomps. Georg silently endured 12411fa07c the storm of 6ee78064e4 emotions Jin unleashed. Still fuming and 5c0081284d unable to leave ecfe0e6855 quietly, Jin threw 871072178b a pair of a71a2a34e6 slacks with a ba48bb957f belt at Georg’s a0ff928262 face.84e336695f778384
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The impact was fa1d0e81f4 strong enough to 84b6f29c03 make the area 1539178c3a under his eye 99650173d7 sting. Hit directly by the 452ccc56a3 belt’s buckle, Georg let 4522c94be6 out a low groan.cf7c358608dc26f8
“Ugh…”86e1fab0fbbb7358
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“Live alone and die old!”93709555af3ee61c
Slam! With a curse, 6d4d710402 the door shut. The sound of f9884bf8eb angry footsteps faded bffb7430bd outside the entrance.a05ede4ab3433264
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“Ha…”0633d73346233731
After a while, Georg f602b67f0a ran a dry hand efab16552b over his face. The cheek hit 2cd11a79b8 by the buckle 271b24b973 throbbed, likely to 6267248864 bruise. He wasn’t angry 643f55fcd2 at Jin’s emotional 948ea17732 curse, nor did b586dd3c9f he feel regret 2c1f6fee08 about never seeing 44f92e4fb2 her again.0f56497c04e8425c
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He was just deeply, ef0a4ec0a5 profoundly tired.0febf60bb4b185f0
🧩44d355be272989b4
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There’s no one ba143bee11 in the company dcd0fc404a who doesn’t know b3b4ffe729 Georg. Yet, very little is actually a01373455f known about him.d216191a2f06703f
Thirty-three years old. Born in Austria. 189 cm tall. A face that 86107128d5 never falters under 11995b599b any circumstances, with 29a31e83ff emotions tightly restrained. Judging by the strong 696c5fac86 German accent in his d85f33a365 English, he likely grew 3809f0155f up in Austria and 071ecaeb02 later settled in the d8a2b71a04 U.S. He has the 043c0e8746 look of a 3f5420da88 typical New York 7b9ca79ca1 white-collar worker, but 848b2da3f6 there’s one unique 5b04f9389b detail in his 24223b4c3f background: he’s a 6677bb0f7d former professional soldier 6764219efb who graduated from 78ffd53d9a West Point and 0aed6379c4 was commissioned as 03c815a7f8 an officer.4f48461423dbc2ad
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Even the few pieces 751b6b8610 of information like this b29d5965b6 were never revealed by 0cf0828628 Georg himself. His military background fa9f50c3d7 only came to d7f51820ba light because his 3f5c526772 boss, Karel Clements, bed5860fb7 mentioned in an 24ed020374 interview, “My connection d3cd950206 with my secretary f20e9e6051 began at the 547e788213 military academy.”42adddb097c0893c
In other words, 18f5ad93a9 his personal life e17551d409 was almost entirely 11b7be2276 shrouded in mystery.d1eb1b66341a3ca4
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“He’s the CEO’s executive secretary. He’s almost always by CEO 4ccbb7a847 Karel’s side. I heard he’s eb9d3f65e2 the longest-serving secretary. Apparently, Karel brought him along 2aad9309dd when he first joined the 89244e85dd company.”fc1dee619ae458ca
A shaggy-haired male employee, Logan, f50524e867 said nonchalantly.e2845b734905e3d7
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Georg was Logan’s boss. Logan had been 446d74b99d assigned to the f1ec949ddd assistant team led 9d04ff26ea by Georg for 1e30cb43b2 about three months. And currently, he 11c6275b76 was harboring explosive 2bd65c4617 dissatisfaction. Because his boss, a09150f7db Georg, was a 161fa68eea cold, unfeeling man.c56a15315de9cf64
“Really? He doesn’t seem like just 0f6e7d01ea an executive secretary.”5e0e7e14770425fa
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A woman with c8d646ec21 thin, tousled blond 2a56240b4d hair, Jin Lahok, 9b043b291b replied. Jin, a Frenchwoman, had recently e348c3412b transferred from the Paris branch c4adaacc78 to the New York headquarters.b5de3871cbf4d0a1
“Well, he handles a lot of different tasks.”4ac9c7eaa8843738
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Of course, Logan acknowledged Georg’s 32f869c2c4 work capabilities. He had no choice 9f18f6d3bf but to. Initially, Logan had 14cad460bf thought a secretary’s a262d1f763 job was just 8d499b2598 sticking by the d007ad9a56 CEO’s side like fa00272c24 a driver, but 61bfaf294a Georg handled an c66b12b492 immense range of 6c8144df81 tasks. He later learned that the cfb9d16f49 assistant team, which he thought 7a579ee562 was a dead-end position, was 707de62dd3 essentially the company’s strategic core. Georg not only f14e4c7d94 controlled the assistant de362cc152 team but also 911b3c480e coordinated annual events 5262647126 for thousands of e9b14a1c80 global branches and 2c36e8b95a was involved in eceee78410 managing every aspect cc65d9dfb9 of the New 99eefb588c York headquarters’ staff.dd49040ad0f288af
“Is he married?”c7fd65834e863b7b
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At that, Logan shook his 24898c1d0a head firmly.6982187e7231eb93
“No way! You can’t follow the 3c02d73309 boss around for eighteen 6cfb866abc hours a day if a798b75e90 you have a family. Think about it. He gets to work 8195dcbe2c before the boss and 82842a4c74 leaves after him. That guy probably sleeps 8f1f7e6882 at the office.”2992cf452d2bcdb3
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In fact, Georg was everywhere, 1b4422073d all the time. It sounded absurd, but it ce8ce2287d was true. As if he could 0fdb68019d teleport, he was always 28df7f7069 the first to appear 73bb1c8daf anywhere. For someone as laid-back 3856f22238 as Logan, Georg was 79ce316784 uncomfortable—especially when Georg silently 252b46cb00 stared at him for 122e035ea5 rushing in just on 279f2d71d2 time.17080b1d667b9c0b
“Then he’s at least dating someone, right? He’s young and so capable…”63174f5f71bf86ea
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Jin had been talking about 7768e3256b Georg throughout the short lunch 37614e2063 break. By now, Logan couldn’t 03d5e1b468 help but notice. He stopped in his tracks b9e0b258f0 and turned to look at 5e8e20cb0d her.85015de077e673df
“Why are you so curious about whether that AI-like guy has a girlfriend?”f0050970f23d42a5
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Jin just shrugged f5bd153518 without answering and 9872e047e8 pressed the elevator 1611a0940b button.54b5d8c52a4d138d
The century-old building maintained 1abbee3eab its antique charm, but ce6f0e3948 it had one fatal 40217be3ab flaw: the elevator was 4ac387498d excruciatingly slow. Thanks to the f8937614e7 New York mayor, 6b4eba1e71 who had dubbed 87e8fc08da elevators a public bc8607b9fd health hazard, replacement aefb01ceba work was indefinitely 0c07bfb430 delayed. As a result, this ac6d617909 ancient elevator kept chugging 0d32719c9c along with frequent repairs.f2b6f2ce00a712d7
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“Jin, you’re not interested in that guy, are you?”f61c1c7d7c709f84
Logan had found ee7161dbc9 Jin attractive from f42cfdc02e the day she f02be5cacd was assigned to ddf27cb21c headquarters. Realizing that the woman he’d 396a66fabf worked hard to befriend was e324a893e9 interested in another man, Logan e4d24279a9 felt a profound sense of b7bc3b975f loss.1631121e0619749d
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“Why? He’s handsome.”d1c0d8c760698802
“Handsome?”5f83374c155feb1a
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“Yeah. If he’s single, I’d like c21b4e9740 to ask him out.”d69189c63f54f45d
Logan exploded.6809ed4ac899195f
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“Jin! I didn’t know you had e4ea743752 such bad taste. You don’t know 70a2348e88 what he’s like. I’ve never seen that guy 29f082d502 smile. You’d get no emotional connection 8adc587cf0 with someone like him. No hobbies, just work. When would he ever 38eb448635 make a woman happy? His sense of humor must 685c79a552 be terrible. You’d have to be with 4371251658 him to get it. He’s suffocating. A date with him 3cd47cc415 would probably end in 5ee19b0738 an hour. Even at team meetings, 1a80493a63 he always says, ‘Spending 93d2ced942 more than twenty-five minutes b24548cdcf on a meal is b2de3c621d a waste. Let’s get up.’”84e2e7adbbf1f4fa
Logan mimicked Georg’s robotic tone. He’d been scolded bf8290bc48 just yesterday for 020c1b55ed taking too long 8999aba04f at lunch.e5ffec1fc1b97c76
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Meanwhile, Jin’s profile, 4f3aa8145f as she glanced da4bf6aed2 at the remaining 34bdd2ffb1 floors, was utterly 77805b0756 impassive, clearly tuning 01c275c6a6 him out.1e06d7f6a43671a6
“I just said he’s handsome.”07b7aa9fa3ccbc02
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“You seriously think you could date a guy that rigid?”20e11f887efaf719
“I said he’s handsome, that’s all. Why are you so worked e74c4a2875 up? Did he do something to d2eec1a61d you?”51bd68fd00087440
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“Do something? I can’t even begin to 6c91fd7ed6 tell you.”81a32e3023f5c08f
Logan gloomily recalled the e9ee070188 past three months. Georg’s standards were 83e9d8e71d clear and strict. To meet them, 67670e1dae Logan had to 9dc4542026 push his abilities 45474d94e5 to the limit. A Californian who loved small 0e48f34c21 talk and silly jokes, Logan 398756321c found it hard to deal e44bea6159 with the stoic man who 3fe6d07513 never laughed at his humor.806f77a9e90d7d3a
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“I might just quit soon. Because of that ‘George.’”9713e09d08067eaa
“George?”f29f6ac8dfa666a9
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“GEORGE. When you see those 20e06c3b52 letters, every American pronounces 770c883d1c it George. I jokingly called him 5c42d0c6ec that once and got 6c6b4b644a an earful. Be careful, he’ll b49479171d correct you right a96329ca37 away.”75091923864dc308
“Hmm.”e9917da7b3a1a702
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“George” was the code name Logan used when gossiping about Georg. Jin narrowed her eyes 1bb07afb07 with a meaningful expression.e2b06e1f20087c30
“Was it really a joke? You still can’t pronounce my 814f4c5a2c name right.”118b98c978fd4020
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“Jin, come on.”cce1d7800c35464d
“My last name. Lahok, Lahok. I’ve told you 78abf9c97d so many times, 2e38676ccc but you keep c9d45ee6b7 saying Larok. I don’t get why Americans ab2db13377 do that. IKEA becomes Eye-kee-ah, Mercedes becomes 66275472a7 Mer-say-dees…”65248a64f7fecfc1
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“Okay, enough, enough.”dd65e23b7ed57689
The elevator arrived. They stepped inside side by d667e53c83 side.19a8e0ce148d1efa
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As the doors closed and a550cbbd30 Jin thought no one was 8299d49a84 listening, she spoke.2eedf31d0b7204ce
“Logan, could you find out something for me?”be1398a676479614
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“What?”81d8869f002c6102
“Whether ‘George’ is single. I’ll owe you one.”21b5f57a37f01d7d
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With that, Jin f33031c05d flashed the smile 8fdc780f13 that had captivated cb7016d38e Logan from the a773727755 start. At the same time, his 66772875a3 heart sank. She hadn’t noticed d435521754 any of his 4e0d3c305b kindness—had she really 6b8a704654 not noticed, or b4357d1b9e was she ignoring f4c5cedb2d it?—and now she c7343362ca was curious about 62da5abf9e Georg’s relationship status.d560f33c5305c4e9
“No way, Jin… Not ‘George,’ seriously…”398819a640aa0999
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At that moment, Logan d5d29bfbe7 felt an urge to 98850de15c share a rumor he’d e286e74704 heard, though he only 9d42f171dc half-believed it himself. But now, he felt compelled e9daf18257 to make sure Jin knew.214a2b01f9888fce
“Jin, this is a secret, but…”44fb029d7cec7233
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“Hm?”fb44e38261e3ea4d
“‘George’ is… well… ‘George’…”4053e84d4612162a
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“Don’t drag it out.”667276504c64d362
“There’s a rumor he’s got something going on with the boss…”523e9481f17f5959
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At Logan’s hesitant words, Jin’s 7db3aaf95a eyes widened like saucers.3d405d53c643bd35
“What?”eee023af3dc3c10d
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Seeing Jin’s reaction, Logan 018fb901b2 perked up.1f0e353c309020ae
“Shocking, right? I was floored too.”0f66d44ee52041dd
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“No way.”20be243ed512a8da
“You know the boss’s taste is for dark-haired guys. He’s only ever had scandals a3ae9ba56c with black-haired dancers.”592bd906cf7fe0c6
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“I know. The tabloids never 6034e1d1e3 shut up about fe1d70473d it. Are you saying ‘George’ is 95fb121b4d gay? Is that confirmed?”25fc13503427348b
“Pretty much! Why else would he pick 417b166a38 a dark-haired guy as his d03a1d10e9 secretary? Everyone’s heard the rumor fc72e57411 that George is sleeping b92283be1c with the boss…”04977da470b36bd2
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Just then, the elevator da6ffa70a0 doors opened with a 1ad650a4a8 clunk. Both shut their mouths 818ae1a652 and checked the open 94e00f21ab doors.91cadf1d5e3f2d45
The ancient elevator was painfully 240b3e342b slow to open. Through the gap, a man 45f60a5f6a in a perfectly tailored suit a9a96b1127 appeared. The moment they saw 0987080e58 him, Jin and Logan aeb4851c6c instinctively locked eyes. The man they’d 9b79828241 been gossiping about, bed6bd5aa5 Georg, was standing 52746b846c right there.d55b819388afdfc5
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Until the doors 508cae987c opened, he’d been 6435ac43b9 standing with his 56df6fdbf1 arms crossed, looking 5f42745095 bored with his 32faadca9f eyes downcast. He glanced at Jin and f044db1ad3 Logan before stepping into the d40e11c7ee elevator. In exactly three steps, 53abda2d4a he turned, pressed the 084c86abe3 button for his floor, cfd51c172d and clasped his hands 6a71dfe789 behind his back. There wasn’t a single ec9f29339b wasted movement. His restrained, efficient a0f2f66e2b motions carried the 0f7cf82599 unmistakable air of a07de8c27c a soldier.7bd12a2b11f2bdf7
Jin noticed the faint 6371bbb8be scent that filled the b03d6ce7f5 enclosed elevator after he d95c0d2f1b entered. A dry, calm cedarwood 974897ab62 fragrance lingered subtly.651e4547cd02e702
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While Logan shrank into b8aba30082 the corner, as far 289c374d81 from Georg as possible, 3d22b63465 Jin took just one a6e0f8ad62 step to the side. Boldly, she didn’t hide 6829aedf21 her gaze as she 7db776b18b observed Georg.385e19aa86c3bffe
He exuded a mature aura. From a distance, he bcd3920777 looked lean, but up 9f1bb69e97 close, his shoulders and dccd0409a9 back were impressively broad. His skin wasn’t 43046bafa9 that pale, but 04904c64ce his jet-black hair b301225579 gave him a 85fa6f7c99 ghostly impression, making 3a59b15a6a him seem a e6fe36c310 bit neurotic. His masculine hands, clasped behind a689b60f3b his back, were surprisingly delicate.767632ed39820884
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Today, unlike usual, he wore e8d77560b3 glasses. Jin’s gaze landed on a 7c5e072bf8 bandage visible beyond the frames. Perhaps he wore 9c7d55c49c the glasses to 3da337ea48 cover a facial dd5787f2d4 injury. The whites of his 8e2c8caff8 eyes, visible through the bd454b0f98 silver frames, were slightly 98b0e32d7a bloodshot—likely a sign of 1515c23352 overwork.a6473b60c951fdbd
This guy’s sleeping with e3cbcf4e23 a man?416e4c97b2d127ef
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Jin couldn’t believe it.07aedb3a5ef25436
Perhaps feeling her stare, Georg e1c0f84bea glanced down at her. The moment their eyes 9ebd8b7c1f met, Jin greeted him.8c8a609744228bae
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“Hello, ‘George.’”702cd8ff0f49e081
Logan’s face, visible in c87c6a32da her peripheral vision, twisted be8e74eb8c in horror. He mouthed,Don’t!Jin just smiled faintly.587811507bd81427
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“Georg.”10304ff8a0c467d6
He tilted his 96052fc33b head slightly, correcting 8e39458fa8 her pronunciation. Jin thought the 532b9bd44b way one eyebrow 2f979010d2 arched as he 92f3fb2950 lifted his chin 1a060f09e0 was oddly sexy. His strong German accent b9a03e117b sounded entirely different from b10608f244 English.3542746c3b101af5
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Logan had said Georg always 86f5bf2977 corrected mispronunciations, but there wasn’t 680e6b5d0d a hint of reproach in 3fd5a45245 his voice. If anything, it felt like 5b921e77a2 a simple courtesy to clarify 22df3a6d9f his name.1f80638d785eabbe
“Who are you?”a86c7fb7a749b759
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Just from the 9669dfc045 way he asked fbc0d8f258 for his name e7d341f98f again, it was 0990d0eb7d clear. As expected, Jin thought, 02d701b3e6 this man is polite 49cf833aad and sexy, and he e4ea5f6909 extended his hand for 62f8933b88 a handshake.9beeaa11dd400bb7
“Jin Lahorc.”a5272c5e5f8b7e1e
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Upon hearing Jin’s name, George ac959e2a09 flinched for some reason. The moment Jin’s face 5929c294c2 was tinged with puzzlement, 4af2a3d332 an accented French pronunciation 105ed022e7 flowed from George’s lips.db00655b92d0c2d6
[Lahorc… Are you from the Paris branch?]8e7556690d0bd907
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Jin responded with a cadec77602 smile in his eyes.a5a4f187ff6dcf6f
[Yes, it’s been three weeks.]dae3e3a1dcc76868
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George had deduced 49e67b4997 that Jin was 252ab831d9 French just from 18b945258b hearing his surname, 40859eac46 spoke French fluently, 14e7331692 and even pronounced c38c459c43 “Lahorc” perfectly. Jin immediately took 725457f9f4 a liking to 69c427cf1c this perceptive and 86d01dbdd4 sensible man.be3cadfc295f3fd6
[Welcome.]ee82e866342d97e7
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[Thank you.]8c9aeaf1f7066f54
The two shared a brief 2f07677ed9 handshake. George’s palm, as dry 9410e2e806 as his gaze, was c2f83b9b0b slightly cold but strong.58a675afe2e9a6b4
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Right after the greeting, George c6a3ba8b33 called out to Rose in 58b843de73 a low voice.1033fe06d2976028
“Rose.”e7952ab7c2c3d0d1
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“Yes, sir.”c17ad6e7193d6b3c
Rose straightened his 80cc75cc0e back and responded 7579eb7e70 under George’s piercing 486be24233 gaze. His heart began to 563f849ab9 race with unease.96692a2d44dcb3bf
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“There’s something I need to make clear.”59dfe586dc313595
George started lightly, 69ec693906 lifting his eyes 24e6cf28d8 to meet Rose’s. The moment their eyes 3cc003a6bf locked, with George’s gaze 18f5af44b4 colder than usual, Rose e028495bf2 thought to himself.9f9d6e3bd516386d
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‘He must have heard.’2e3fc47a8987bfd4
Right before the door 96dfeec1a9 opened, Rose had been 0e195f9e7d gossiping about George. Moreover, this old elevator f01bcd9587 had no soundproofing whatsoever. As a sense 7675a6caea of foreboding crept 06ef8cb022 in, George spoke 89d72ade59 bluntly.776d3fe4f0f8e7b4
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“I don’t sleep with my boss.”67c2616d5d45962f
Oh no… he definitely heard.9180f7927568a222
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George’s words, spat out with 7e0b510b88 a bite, carried a German c9aadd0cad accent far more pronounced than d573ba1434 usual. The tone, made even more f7f578fe19 ominous by it, left Rose a84787f001 unable to lift his head, 6facdcc1f4 bowing deeply.ee7f610028275412
“I’m sorry…”d0747ada5c567038
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George let out 3da45704a5 a short sigh a03bad7d8b and said.bc2dbdc6f0d6a99e
“There’s no company without rumors. I understand that people are db32d307e7 intrigued by gossip.”1eeb6db3237eb539
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“…”512ed029bbf16b2c
“But it would be wise for a secretary to keep their mouth shut about topics that tarnish their boss’s morality and character.”617918b239f03356
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“Yes, sir. Understood.”d5e8ff6f2615ef9b
“If you understand, don’t make me have to say this again.”407e965a64cd5933
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At his words, 7fe1e2b145 Rose’s head bowed d35b2eb377 even lower. The air inside the elevator f0dbebf2fa grew uncomfortable. Rose shifted his posture silently, 0049464be7 leaning against the elevator wall, 1d93075a99 while Jin cleared his throat 7a9b2b2847 quietly.f6889edd272c3ae8
If only this elevator 568566e94c were a bit faster. This ancient elevator descended at 38df99a5af an unbelievably slow pace.ac19372e42b9f41e
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‘Ugh… this is so awkward. I’d rather it just crashed.’e5062c65ac04ed0e
It was at that moment. As if Rose’s be3581b8de wish had been 7f7ac7703a heard, a flash 83087177ef of light blinked 50d318f35a twice, and suddenly 41ae85a907 the elevator’s lights 5602fb4da9 went out.2fb48a667254acfc
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“What, what’s happening?”12b0e69fd2d3cdda
The moment Rose shouted, Jin a7197b0041 looked at George. He was already staring at aaa902eceb the ceiling, which was making 94b72bb243 a strange noise, as if 0d12e0d951 he had instinctively foreseen an 83f2234ff8 accident.0b4ff4ed111a60a1
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Thud.aee2b9a9ae41119e
The cable began to 8c9f79214d give way.e8c95f9e72ac69c1
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In that instant, George grabbed 8b9ef0933a Jin’s shoulder and pulled him ca56662408 forcefully. As Jin fell 5bfaa7df67 into the man’s fa024ff2f8 arms, the scent dd999338f4 of cedarwood rose 012f5a4968 around him.f0ffd9f66f8b213b
“Rose, get away from the wall!”006f8404ec36e1cc
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Crack, snap.The sound of the cable f474789916 breaking echoed. As the elevator began to edff959df0 plummet, George shouted toward Rose. But Rose, paralyzed 9cd63980c1 with fear, was 602e3e120d glued to the a7b7301a0a wall. Jin shrank into George’s embrace. Muttering a brief curse, George 95b20942f2 reached out and grabbed Rose ce500ef004 by the collar.ccf9f7a2769001bc
“You idiot…”b73beb5bfe7f1eb5
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George yanked Rose from a92b523936 the wall and threw eb19386b31 him to the floor. Holding Jin tightly, a3099b136d he shielded Rose, 8d3c9fb754 who had fainted c2d21076fb from sheer terror, 6c8093c3db with his own 69c438c016 body. In the split second when fbef643e96 the lights flickered back on 020cca6798 and off, their bodies lifted 0200facba9 into the air. Jin was reminded 0483246b10 of a Viking fc4d9247ef ride from his 31fd61f303 childhood at an 4e0fb1b97c amusement park—the sensation d1abe2c409 of his body 9ad59dc573 floating as it 2108871eaf dropped from the 9de6830aa1 highest point.7e290c1fde14230b
Boom!cc4587f047104da6
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And moments later, with 95c5b950d8 a deafening crash, the ec8f6107a0 eternal fall came to 03f1c939a5 a stop.dab070140fd44073
🧩e1f63d084d61de29
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“The investigation found that the cable came loose. Fortunately, it only d0a658c90d fell three floors. If the brakes hadn’t worked 971eaeb0bd at all, you’d be in fac3449b0c the afterlife right now.”5a470d0d7e6752d3
Striding into the hospital 69dc4f0b20 room was George’s boss, 76e880688e Karel Clements. He walked in 80c2d69eff with both hands 6fb960e019 tucked into the 3aed32f45a pockets of his 1304ddfc17 three-piece suit, surveying 7b0fac2a6e the VIP room d16931256c as he entered.34d37cfcb5acb6dd
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“Are you cursing me?”69a1007c56698162
George, lying in the 84e2ea9a6c hospital bed with a a2ea0ab569 brace on one arm, 67c7ce06b6 retorted with an expressionless 932a1974ce face. Karel sighed, his face unmoved.8d313ebe038a4eb8
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“Almost dying on the job. What a tough life.”2441a8eccd7a57d4
“Why are you here? I thought you were busy.”0dd98a0555a1617a
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George brushed back his 4f31f9a2c6 disheveled hair, loosened from 1799c577cf the wax, and sat 1ad35fe8b0 up. Karel gestured for him f05d8131b1 to stay lying down b48774499f and approached the window, fbb1bb12c7 seemingly curious if the dd35bdf8eb potted plant in the 4580ccf01c VIP room was real.cf4513387d01717b
“Yeah, I’m busy. Or rather, I’ve gotten busier. Thanks to you, 65c811823e I’ve realized just 60086a3f9f how much work b546a2d4b2 my secretary was dcddfe0fb9 handling.”9b12b12c069cb837
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“You seem to forget I’m not your only secretary. You have seven others.”f50d2f8e1231a39f
“Even combined, they don’t match up to you.”a98d02b2796c5e10
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Despite the compliment, George’s expression 615638c7fe remained sour. Karel let out a 15051ab2eb light sigh and pulled f37d3f0d18 over a chair meant 6c3655816c for visitors, sitting down.8ff14fbc1a35fdee
The elevator had bee534f814 malfunctioned at the 35e1d4a421 seventh floor, roughly dfd671a7d9 20 meters including c0800181eb the basement. Without functioning brakes, it d59563a9e7 was a height that 5447bcd7e3 could have been fatal. George had said ff3ef3f99f that when the 409c4fc004 elevator began to 524935fa53 fall, he grabbed 5e248aa74b his fellow passengers 264ee8d62a and held onto 4604122c95 the handrail with 4c98ec8674 one hand. As a result, his arm, 2ca4f3da29 unable to bear the weight 3946c4de37 of more than his own 8e583f56fd body, had fractured.4f1711e479a76f14
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In truth, it was an e045b4ce6e entirely appropriate response. Leaning against the 59dc23fb35 wall during an 06061cfe5c elevator fall could e768eb6bd1 severely injure the cb6e42391a neck and spine. The only way 80c33dffec to increase survival 111ac6ed26 chances in a 9a7c212a71 plummeting elevator was 2bbfb4f424 to hold the c189e2de0e handrail with both 8f179ba5c9 arms and stay 959cfaf628 away from the 0b67d00ed8 walls. Knowing this, George had 702096032f instinctively pulled Rose, who ab755a0358 was clinging to the 5d4f3a5c9d wall in fear. It was a commendable act, c1b402c082 but if George hadn’t tried caefdd63ed to protect his fellow passengers, c661fdedca he might not have injured a841c7114b his arm at all.081d5c2d167ddc6a
“Why did you play the hero?”61de08c35a4c42e9
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George didn’t answer Karel’s question.ef4815963d4a4eed
Was it really playing 82349bb9fa the hero? His body had simply acted. Even if it was just 0592d01458 three floors, that was nearly 76ea98302b 10 meters in height. If he hadn’t helped bb4ccb3b95 Jin and Rose, they 0c87c8d036 might have sustained serious fc02387077 injuries. Ordinary people, unprepared 88fc55f12b for such accidents, fc376978f0 tend to cling fed492ca7c to the elevator 257d10b7d0 walls in those 0cb9d52183 situations. And that’s a surefire way d988c1cae1 to shatter a spine.311649e6da9f97f9
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Thanks to George, a79da3383f Rose and Jin f360c9c6e3 were unharmed.ffed869909f17367
“Bones heal quickly. They say they get stronger 86cf23e89d after breaking once.”35f31428b7d9ae79
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“Cut the jokes.”ed7cce8e4f057ec1
Karel gave him 4f50491705 a fed-up look.975bf848bef4f170
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George genuinely didn’t 36ba4d9642 mind the injury f67176ed7e too much. Trusting the control system of a62cdffc1a an ancient elevator in a a90398fb59 century-old building was less reliable 2507cc7d9a than taking every possible measure 03d5173f89 to survive. Saving a clumsy, 2fe43f7ff8 slow subordinate was e8de5e8293 just part of 4b2fbcbbb7 the job.3313fbcc7c509ed8
Honestly, he could have died 3fa851c567 but didn’t. The doctor had marveled 3a6147d358 at how clean the 26f929f630 fracture was. George was only 2294782f2d hospitalized because he 50a1e62f10 needed muscle relaxants fef360c7e0 for the shock 526304bae9 from the fall. Rose was likely in a a20ffe89d2 nearby room receiving similar treatment.b22454a850e0508c
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But in front b05c499b20 of someone visibly f71545749c worried, George decided 69843ab524 to keep his 33065264d4 mouth shut.1ec34c658108d848
“Sorry.”2a6776c5a7128efd
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“Did I ask for an apology?”caba4ec81d6897f1
“You must be inconvenienced by the gap in work.”6769f8e2d6dbe619
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“You injured your right arm. Think about who’s 9afd9a437b more inconvenienced until 7465f54291 it heals.”293ca7e85794ef0e
“I can manage with my left hand.”4fa7ef8a78c36345
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“What an impressive talent. Why didn’t you join fd8cdcc891 the circus?”34034a61038e4ca2
“Some joke…”277e99ccf32f1e00
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The two stared at 0617358104 each other in silence.114bf3b675e59732
George was the ae1b106ba9 first to speak.3210a18b4e406bd8
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“I don’t think I’m the only one who would’ve done it.”e8dc1d6ed00e2524
“…”17366d52fa105e34
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“You would’ve done the same, wouldn’t you?”ca3e58fd02be6789
As soon as 4992b037d0 George finished, Karel 587202c764 stood up.1c5f2fb02de2deaa
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“Then take a few days off and get back to work. If you can work 73f3390fc2 with your left hand, b218db15ab you don’t need hospital 264ee4aaaa treatment.”5f4de326c4ff1a19
Of course, George had f25deefc4c no intention of taking 1ef044a72d a long break, but 6a1832d82f his boss’s refusal to 9c4be96a4c allow even a short 01731040cd rest made him narrow 4c17f102d0 his eyes.e1e38f7df1fa208c
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“Yes, sir. I’ll do my best 39ffcccf69 with my left hand. I thought you came 76eedb4a2b to check on me, 6361a9ec84 but it seems you’re 00706708d6 here to whip a 3203a9295f fallen horse.”0d8c0b0b696610aa
“You’re too sturdy for that.”85919088c3eda999
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“I know.”6c8d32c43ba82054
“That’s why you play the hero.”5100608da1ebdf12
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Feeling like he was being 37a1cb355c drawn into Karel’s rhetoric, George 226df183df stayed silent.6cfc8cfb8f772927
But the next d5d86e0ed7 words genuinely surprised ca14ddf452 him.98eabee5759f28a9
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“Why don’t you take this chance to rest?”48c13b78ea4b980c
“Are you finally getting rid of me?”8e7f09b9c4c17647
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Karel looked at him with 19ede05ea5 an utterly impassive face.5c77210a7b85aea4
“I’m trying to keep you around longer.”ac706929fe83bca0
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“…”d5a9dee4c6876a3d
“Come to think of it, you haven’t taken a proper vacation in eight years. Would a month be enough?”2d12e413a15b7eb9
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“Even if you tell me to rest suddenly…”d7f8fd9c4c97b489
Knock, knock, knock.0f525f786f0a338d
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At that moment, a e4b867d7f9 timid knock came from 1df5538895 the hospital room door. Karel and George 5677080feb both turned toward dc2d8a6d50 it.dc4b1c0459740dbb
“Come in.”de8e7bbdeb35dfec
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George silently stared at fa38592e83 Karel, who answered on d9437f8a44 his behalf. But since the 7d2189bb5b VIP room was 0530491a1b booked under Karel’s 4aa5915c5b name, he figured a67245e669 it didn’t matter e865f7ba1e and let it 817661b372 go.544e767773e18114
Moments later, the door opened 04f5a84a66 cautiously. The person who appeared was 7a716decda none other than Rose.d64813f706ec02fa
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“George… ugh…”0d51584e160cffe3
Rose looked at Karel 34f2a67c8b as if he’d seen 06e579a1ac a ghost. It was understandable to ee8679709e be startled by unexpectedly 0c4d4254fe running into the CEO, 1c0d1d3018 but for someone from 83657947b1 the secretary’s office to 1690ba4641 look at their boss 55b45c3576 like that? George thought he’d c20b641913 need to give 9181f27ac8 Rose a warning ee15428ca1 later.6226981040f66900
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Hesitating, Rose spoke up.6bc46255aa944e7f
“I came to express my gratitude.”3be587b874ce322c
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At that, George and Karel’s 2918cc8049 eyes met. Karel stepped back from the 6a1427693a conversation, crossing his arms and 098d2c38e9 leaning against the window.827009f723a5068d
“Embarrassingly… I fainted back then and don’t remember anything. But Jin told me that 96c9f74fa2 thanks to you, I wasn’t ec1e9c1d68 hurt. To think you saved me 1e0d7864a6 in that situation… I don’t 7d7a8db28b even know what to say…”227e2ef82077e6b5
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George merely ran 3267a79f42 a hand through 97f29aa751 his dry hair, b21acef1ef saying nothing. It wasn’t out of awkwardness d676cefc89 or uncertainty. He would have b1d18409e7 done the same 6f80466d84 for anyone there.03c2c83b003c89d6
But he stayed silent, not 780c2eae83 wanting to ruin his subordinate’s bff95de105 emotional moment.4e5e160c8fdf3121
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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 2d80909c48 those rumors just 9321fc9705 from hearing others… 355da658d2 Well, I didn’t 2ad250042f really believe them, e25f701fcf but…”175d75a60d6b9c19
“What rumors?”92bd656ba1d789ca
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Karel interjected.c2ee39c1eee90334
“Oh, yes! Those rumors are completely fd93630e6f ridiculous, but they’re about 457c75beaa Mr. Clements…”6a93ae2d4f166bed
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“Enough.”31cc1853d470db7f
George cut him off sharply.3da371dedb69409a
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Mentioning company gossip in front 479d576b38 of the person in question? What an idiot.a5b2b723152bf163
“That’s enough. Get out.”f243cc1f0941b92c
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“But I haven’t fully expressed my feelings…”e65b8fb38bfad511
Karel looked at the 365dbf3b2f flustered Rose with amused 772f8d00e4 eyes. George waved him off b5b970e9ec in disgust.dc26ff9d5346662e
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“I understand enough.”526110291e80f679
“Are you really okay with me?”82dfb73173f05e95
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“I was never upset to begin with.”dc9b1187329e36c9
“Mr. Hagenschmidt…”abead016f7643323
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“I said get out.”fdacfcb9eb9dbbc5
“Yes, sir!”5eaadaae0a70505d
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Rose saluted both George and 82b5c532d2 Karel before marching out of a445cb882d the room like a cadet. Come to think of it, d05aa02981 Rose had been recommended for b8d36bbea7 George’s team because he was 18b73cee1a a West Point graduate.4c7b97d80d241af5
Karel finally let out 287ee24655 the laugh he’d been fbea3c0b99 holding in.fcc5f38c596f7d00
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“Having fun?”c4c5c119d15ab7d6
“I’m laughing because it’s fun.”b239c05423be6f46
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“…”46e368e604119476
George sighed inwardly, 802a057624 turning his gaze 6e31ac0efe away.96710d7f2e790865
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“You’re something, George.”a3619dbcad6fc998
“…”1c9da839a003c937
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“That’s a compliment. You won someone’s heart. That’s the hardest thing 530b27527e to do.”dbde20818ac7948a
“It’s a burden.”9a839106b3276155
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He meant it. He wasn’t the type to 562fa2edac lead anyone, no matter how 020cf8cef2 you looked at it.f972715ba165867c
“And I wasn’t trying to win anyone’s heart. I would’ve done the same 62f0600ef8 for anyone there, even a f0c04f4fc2 stranger.”58aa4816c20d4b74
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“That’s what matters.”152feb2a8c00bfbc
“…”f21a317e8618f22d
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“He probably thought he was already on the outs. Being treated fairly is 1587309241 enough to move someone.”61f1cdf42107ed9d
“…”1bd35979f71d048a
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“He’s been in the secretary’s office for three months, right? It was clear cf820023c0 he didn’t trust 4a79084959 you as his 84a96b75f2 boss. Conflicts always surface eventually. I was going to replace 76fbfc7cd0 him.”0fa4d2d424ed6cf0
“…”e98e7eff35848303
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“But now I don’t have to.”10a5f3d2723cee64
George looked at Karel silently. It seemed Karel had d963ddaf06 already figured everything out 15b9064cc7 before George even warned b4535de39a Rose.9f580efd64eaf154
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“There’s no issue with Rose’s work performance.”979dc87e00e92afb
“Is that so?”e6a81e2c87376ecb
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“The assistant team’s purpose is to support the CEO. Personal feelings toward me have a2c5fd6b30 no bearing on job performance.”29632b361e8412f9
“Such a stickler for principles.”1538ff76871c9a4f
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Karel chuckled. This time, George knew 3ebcc4fd02 it wasn’t meant as bd386972ba a compliment. But he thought it 3e0f21a47b was at least a 7d45392392 decent one.d38e6b3a37abfd6e
“You used to have a bit more humanity.”5efa98366e920ecc
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“Me?”082b614d38300869
“Yeah, you.”e7c52da77eeb8213
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Karel stood up, 8c71676f93 hands back in 1d8d7c3e2d his pockets.343965dd9d8a4ce4
“So take a break.”0fa5c85be1f88e21
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“Some joke…”1216069c31e85701
But Karel didn’t f6785a64ba seem inclined to bf809aae11 let it slide 3dfc6e434c this time.035bd7cab95c7594
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“Who said it was a joke?”b364c99837906118
“…”9a4f12d62483b288
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“It’s an order. Rest.”fcf797dc35d6177a
🧩7ba588f77502066d
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He was kicked out.e30bf745590a8fef
As soon as f09de89a9a he was discharged, 99d9c064c4 George had marched e2caa18452 into the office, 198db97c99 only to be 4d512eb627 promptly thrown out. His work tablet 2319768a93 and the CEO’s bfa9b3f6ae spare car keys, 8a86298efb which he always 1d68c263f3 carried, were confiscated. He resisted a 39465a14c9 bit, but of efcd97f4ae course, it didn’t ea285d4b5d work. In the end, Karel 208ad7e074 even took his access 3aeeec885e card and slammed the 2aac94dd0d door shut behind him.ff9076b650155049
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‘This isn’t an order—it’s a decree.’ff970cea32fbbd98
George let out a d8950d1da9 short sigh and left 53523733cd the building. The feeling of walking 6094143988 away from the company c6758fb3a7 in broad daylight was 4b1efb2db0 strange. It wasn’t even quitting d89f01a702 time—it was a vacation.6a60c39802f6f74b
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George walked slowly down 35683fe439 the cluttered, flyer-strewn street. With no destination b72cbe2810 in mind, his b7a51f71e3 steps were slower 55e4a90438 than usual. He even looked up at 96cce3a9c8 the sky, something he rarely fb2dd93094 did.9fe0de0fe2e7eda8
The New Yorkers 64bd51f7be passing him were 18a72554e1 all expressionless, walking e840e0da6d briskly. They moved forward with their 152674b4da arms firmly crossed, as if 9c1c787fbd refusing any intrusion, their hair 940cf9dffb fluttering as they stared straight 784830b5f9 ahead. George wondered if he was aa6ff8408d like that too.f4974b22b667085f
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[George, I’ll give you one more chance.]67dbe560d913dc58
[Let’s talk.]b47c089ea711b0a1
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Checking the sudden message, George e180a42027 clenched his jaw. It was from Jin.34053d4207e50623
‘A chance?’80547e9c8cc60601
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The sudden change in the 37ccb46806 man he thought was the 7fd13881b8 least clingy made George feel 7ea7f5d0fb an overwhelming exhaustion. Right now, reason and 05ddc56737 logic probably wouldn’t work. Being hurt carries d1fa918722 that kind of c13b09e0f8 weight.2f9c0884d6dcc83d
[Why aren’t you coming home? Are you avoiding me?]eadd1dbd6d904c54
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[Stop dodging and talk to me.]eafc5c7269ece04d
It seemed Jin had 5d8d211f9c even visited his home c766e46658 during the week he f5f328f101 was hospitalized. George let out fc237d119d a barely audible d9cf865387 sigh.dd04bf7a7b332c28
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‘Tiresome.’6037acb8f7d6a789
Wandering aimlessly, George d8845a5618 roamed the alleys 4004d1b8ec until, as the 5f22115360 sun set, he e29e12f189 entered a bar 47112c804a that had just a966d28a35 opened and sat e82ca9813f down.6278d7787abcb60b
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“Gin…”b7c93a062b9b0cf3
About to order a gin, 7ca404e01d George felt a chill and d4351a17d9 paused.f594d0823db1ecbe
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“A brandy.”1ef93e90f7bf38af
The bartender gestured toward his f6b2b304ee cast.b13cbcd38879ed4d
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“Is it okay to drink?”a16f5e6abb6cf2e8
George shrugged as 1e668b7caa if it didn’t 674ac7f76b matter. It might cause some inflammation 4892c5f953 or slow recovery, but that a87537660a wasn’t important.31fd4b5a216398aa
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“It’s fine.”8ef2038f16ef9d98
“We’ve got Hennessy… Want it warmed?”9d9f77fbc404bedf
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“Sounds good.”58fad056a4e6f7b0
Soon, the drink 52fdf5cd90 was served in 1cbdc5f7bd a slightly warmed 0d02c62be5 glass.abc592d60003a615
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“Do you drive with one hand on purpose?”1360af2fda037400
Jin’s voice seemed b67c8dec98 to echo from 9a13ea20fa the passenger seat. It was from a time e13a97f86f when things were good.c283f17d80fa19f6
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“On purpose? It’s just a habit.”92c57b9723114e34
“Not something you practiced to look cool for women?”ae507077c15ea7aa
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“It’s because of my boss. He’s always sitting 323393474a upright, gripping the ae1bb841f1 wheel with both 97859d497d hands when working. It’s become second nature.”b3ce6031624ae754
“That’s quite an excuse. Fine. I’ll believe you.”dbe721bf78174790
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“…Do I always seem like a teenage boy to you? I’m thirty-two, you know.”83be3e76ceac27a5
A pleasant, light laugh 657df3fbba rang in his ears fe956c8503 like a hallucination. Jin often took ffeeac0585 George’s dry tone 0139e00c57 as if it c5bc802184 were a boyish 1ad5c943d9 complaint. George gave a wry smile.eb085328fe593832
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There were good times.2d1c8baf40bf1479
With a bitter 84b41455ee smile, George shook 5cd158735e off the memories. It would probably 52da3c6636 be like this a8469be035 for a while. The inevitable aftereffects 3d9be83ac1 of a breakup.43f7749ab685c59b
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Their lifestyles were completely different, 52be8511c3 making it nearly impossible to 48324917f3 meet during the week. Jin, an actor, would leisurely d85053d257 wake up around three in 7b547d9107 the afternoon to start his 81fe7b76a4 day according to his call fcfd31a725 time, and after performances, he 4e68cde11d loved staying up until dawn 8f875057a1 chatting with colleagues at a e1a5016a3e nearby bar. George, a hard 0ffd21400c worker with a daaa89bc31 disciplined routine, couldn’t 45b46253f0 be a good e9d522a2c2 partner for him c2fef3d4dd in many ways. Marriage would have been cfcb495cd0 the same. He wasn’t good husband material.d4563f4346d2ea1c
His mouth tasted bitter. But it wasn’t due 25772e6513 to lingering attachment so 1d8d9c9074 much as a nagging cc3f06d847 sense of not having 79da02a580 fulfilled his responsibilities. His phone buzzed again. Staring at the 9c755ec479 screen, George blocked fd5606a39f Jin’s number completely.968dad9ac5ce2d7d
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Marriage.6c561f185981acbb
What moment, what feeling, gives 1d166cc5f8 someone the certainty to promise 4254079fdf a lifetime with another person?8fc49361fa4791c0
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He left the bar after c7f09a829d sunset. The restaurants lighting 01e19461e0 up the alleys, a6b21a5182 the charming streetlamps, c3bef3e478 and the glow 3f5534b9a6 spilling from the bfde8eae1d tall windows of 39ab5d27a1 upscale mansions stirred f3e22ec7d3 a strange emotion f8a87a97b2 in him. With work removed 7859262496 from his life, 7cac75ad88 it felt like 578349ec66 only a shell 2f7fef2fe7 remained.8b2b107273784849
He had never thought deeply 5b64140483 about loneliness, but this was 13013542ed surely a fragment of it.d6d260b4b0e80f17
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George pulled out his 9d7f11fef6 phone and aimlessly scrolled 0aed3d1895 through his contacts. Unlike his work phone, cb95e3f76c filled with business numbers, 31e435f0d9 his personal phone had c117f86fd2 only a few saved 627879720f contacts. Old partners he’d 0268d02541 been involved with 68153ae5c0 and ex-lovers who 9ffca5a60b had become friends. After scrolling just a b7913b06fa bit, the meager list 0cacfe65ae quickly ended.b68ee7232d9485b5
Tucking the phone back 4db8461074 into his pocket, George be7e4e7049 let out a short 10cd9a82b1 laugh and started walking.2cb9ba506cc6674b
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Even after all that, it e23d2b0b84 seems I still need someone.655c1f513d901ea3
🧩31928818a6576086
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Meowww.62467e0fab47fb91
As he neared a34070fd4e his home, George 33b93385ec was met by c951858980 a black cat fb0ca40a34 hurriedly scampering toward 7acfad5dfc him. Its plaintive cries c2be7e510f accompanied each step, b5147dd585 sounding almost desperate.cdbd5c2cb7cce9b5
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“Well, look at this.”e0d168956bffd9a8
Meow.99d6d08aae67186e
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The black cat eb5a05f5d7 shook its head 355beec85c vigorously and let 69a4ec8a86 out a loud, ab150f545a welcoming cry. Today, it was rubbing against 340e8a3da5 him more eagerly than usual, 7fd6bd06ad as if asking why he 39436c615b was here at this hour. George checked his watch. After leaving the office, 6c4fcb5ab2 wandering around, and killing 483f05271c time at the bar, 8896de482d it was still only c4dfb22601 seven in the evening. No wonder the cat b59d96bdf5 was surprised.fa35e5334c569d9e
“Don’t do this.”0fd0e6a9a6908023
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Despite his words, George c1afbbc939 reached out and began 1b501bff61 stroking the cat’s head, 6e0fce958b which was smaller than c07abbe208 his fist. The cat was still 6a1e477496 small, possibly just weaned 3487a7ad2c from its mother.4f121e93a48b55b3
“Don’t be so affectionate… I can’t take care of you.”87412207d9703655
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He’d first noticed this 4f638463e3 cat about two months 7e19c11882 ago. It was dangerously trusting. He hadn’t entirely ruled out 39ed7d8f5e taking in the little cat 760138a591 that always recognized him and 1d4c3d1d11 stretched out to greet him f464ed03a1 when he arrived home well b03db11e77 past midnight.4c6a1cfa566985af
But he was b4c7700fe4 away from home fbcc026936 an average of 43383f0007 eighteen hours a 3c41d73305 day. Weekdays, weekends—it didn’t matter. Even after work, 071b2ba7b7 he had to 54b50d6d7e rush out whenever 06caa0d2ee called. Sometimes, he was gone for e3f5f5949c two or three days at 8b2fa881ee a time. Wasn’t that why 8aa93e4830 his relationships never 14a068e6bb worked out?3b10d00bc07f0f79
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Meow.6fd6b84eacaf7e2a
“…I said don’t do this.”641d0c45e093b96f
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“You’re talking to it too sweetly, aren’t you?”38ae4ef6f989972f
A familiar voice dropped dcd1f7b29e to the ground. George looked up f53f73c5df from where he a2c9b312d3 was crouched.c5ac89ca714d689c
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“Levin.”f76afc258adb2357
The overly trusting 2a718a5168 cat quickly shifted a929aa2818 its attention to 570aad3eeb Levin. George straightened his a3d99ee826 knees and stood 49c733719b up.2a5ea92d1539964a
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“I heard what happened. I brought… some alcohol.”92dab4875fea1060
Levin was holding a 461d5f61ca bottle of wine under 7af7d186bf his arm. His eyes stopped 0be25885a7 on George’s casted 49a46eeaa0 arm.69f6058f40226d20
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“Your arm’s injured? Should you be drinking?”4d2f0b1ee6c1a3d2
“It’s fine.”9c9bf83a89e1d1d7
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George shook his head.0855561275759e4e
Levin, with his dark 317847beeb blonde hair, was a c2b8bec345 colleague who had moved 48584b7afb to New York a a334cf47ce few years ago.6babd19ecd6165eb
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He wasn’t just any colleague. Their relationship was complicated. Levin was the only sibling 4cff4eb8d4 of his boss’s young lover. Some time ago, Karel, e367fb3577 who felt deeply for 00e2d6b5a4 his lonely partner, had f7793f514e arranged for Levin to 559d4c2cdd settle in New York. And by arranged, 00edcb259c that meant George 09ca59119c was the one d7f631be59 who persuaded Levin, fa116d03fd handled his visa, 175598df01 accompanied him during bf5e4408c2 immigration, and found e44d059524 him a place 6af43b735e to live in a28eb6656c New York. It started as 4830eef939 a tangled relationship, 09436dd132 but now George 1dbc9f7234 simply called him 9b870a85a3 a friend.4adc481b9dbff5be
“Why don’t you keep it?”fa333a5c5f705091
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Levin said, patting e3b1d2ccdc the cat’s rear. George answered briefly.3cda1cc45ce41e1b
“I can’t.”67479efe9ba40408
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“You’re petting it so affectionately for something you won’t keep.”8d79daa0efb3f82a
Levin’s eyes, looking down 13e9ee7d33 at the cat, were a7b477c4cc also filled with warmth.b7df433ce39b1008
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Then, with a 4913d5acc5 concerned tone, Levin c32437d973 asked.d64397e8a139e1cc
“Did you really quit your job?”2f51ca07ac396006
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George reflexively raised an eyebrow.460b9fbe2d6bd9ff
Did I get f1598d2060 fired without even d4459c538e knowing?65b95068f1de3841
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“Sasha… called me. He said you 1706ded4c8 quit, so I c960cc20f9 came because I 48283ad856 was worried.”0edb85f46f3ce404
George let out a light 445efdb976 sigh.6369ee6a7789d3a6
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“So the alcohol… was it meant to console me?”1298733451c24aa7
“Exactly. You’ve been Karel’s 172b3fbd02 slave for so b4856ce34c long.”f54c87020e6719fd
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“Slave, huh.”99779bbbc47deecf
Amused, George stated c2493b4c0c the facts briefly.dd0d58dc518148e8
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“It’s just a vacation.”af570ef58175ca4f
“Really?”4174efcc54d50a37
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Levin’s eyes widened.13de8bc0f089e12d
“Yeah, probably.”2b3cd061fba81af3
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“Probably?”e682ee048eea4302
“He told me to take this chance to rest properly. Took my access 2474cb5447 card, work phone, 84339b2639 and tablet—everything. I think it’s a aad940e204 vacation, but I’m starting 25e160bc74 to wonder if I’ve cb52442883 been quietly fired.”b391d26152f7581e
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Levin burst into dd0d5b4b1c laughter at George’s 0e4f43fc7a flat tone.a67b354746ee1c75
“I see. I almost fell for it. Sasha really thought 1b5641b456 you’d left for e81ef95154 good. He sounded so down, 24eba78450 like he was holding 025d91d3a6 back tears… probably crying 0f72725249 buckets.”e4ea4412c8b075d3
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“Haa.”7136a4afcf4c3bb2
George sighed, looking into d467f421e5 the air. He could picture the scene.fc863b83322607c8
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“Mr. Clements must’ve said something.”84efaa6506b0f6bd
“Aha…”5ad21bbc0cbb9aaf
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Levin nodded as if he af66e30867 understood.976755704e82f999
“Well, even if you’re on vacation, if Sasha keeps coming to you like before, it’s no vacation at all.”304dc15a37f49a32
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Sasha, the boss’s lover, 4905b40707 did have a habit 80d8ec1089 of seeking George out 5308e20651 at any time. George had practically raised him 8857d700b5 like a father or uncle 15b429841f since his student days when d6e3821a85 he had no one else 2b8966ecd9 to rely on, so it a121ab3a04 made sense.3b0872255cc56c69
But still. George felt uneasy thinking of 675d637410 his boss, who always prescribed c055f0d4a4 more than necessary. Imagining Karel whispering to cb47a518ef a shocked Sasha, “George c200ceb4db needs to enjoy his 84779fc29f freedom now,” made his 66bddbec22 brow furrow.040e49f280044941
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“Knowing he’d cry and still doing that—is that just bad taste?”8805f1d4d5035559
“Haha, it’s a bit mischievous.”243c4bacf99178ed
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George quietly looked at Levin, 9ee5d1d10c who laughed it off.39eb568e7bad4636
Before coming to New York, 9ef53f8279 Levin had said he’d never 3c36067afa met a gay person. George didn’t entirely believe that. He just assumed the ef56970457 rural Russian town they 0794303ed3 grew up in was 500f2b7b25 that conservative. The shock Levin must 90a493e3ac have felt learning his 2efcb93998 younger brother had a 0cdce3d505 same-sex partner—especially one sixteen 5a8ccd4e97 years older and a 66ae55b731 wealthy heir—must have been 3d3cda3bd3 immense.63705d53e594c4a0
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“Those memories are coming back.”b85415c33cf7d67a
When Levin learned f1a1058f8b that a shady cd2a29bf78 patron was in aa127796ff that kind of 86c96e63aa relationship with his 6bc1055edf underage brother, he b6cfea4b74 was so furious 48b4bd5397 that he punched 346bea5f4a George, who had 01999b86b2 delivered the news, 02f82f52b5 in the face.72a39424f9cae28f
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“It was quite a punch.”b2f842f87ae52533
It took some time for ecfb3ba77c that sharp hostility to fade.603af127151c76f8
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George was curious. Did Levin now see Karel fd30f69d37 as a reliable support who be4703730d helped his brother settle, or 70dcff231a did he still view him ca5df4bf1d as the crook who snatched c3c64a75a1 his brother away?774c408f90e315fb
“Levin, doesn’t it bother you?”8e224e4ebe55fe7c
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“What?”98ce1306eb0bf25c
“That the boss makes your brother cry.”cb9f81fce4609065
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Levin let out af417592eb a deflating laugh, 849503c687 his gentle face 6dc7b12b48 flashing with a 848401eb7d carefree, “What’s the 0e744d30eb big deal?” expression.172e8bc3f56d6980
“So what? It’s just a little teasing. Sasha needs to toughen up. He can’t cry every 77282b34f0 time something happens. He’s a guy.”dff0bbfa33cdf985
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Levin said, shaking the bottle b1574695bd by its neck.cd0f14253d2c8ad8
“Let’s go inside. No need for condolence 48cb7f0202 drinks, but it’s good c66a5635fa for celebrating the start 9fe0d0efba of your vacation.”3742635807a98496
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George then noticed. Levin wasn’t holding white c38842e0c9 wine—it was vodka.2f8475379bdc470b
“Hmm, sure.”44bc453c066989c3
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Levin was a b31e840ec6 Russian through and df14b6a931 through. Once he accepted something, he da00b4d35a didn’t dwell on it. It seemed he’d cleanly shaken b4ba534097 off his feelings about Karel 88fbb05c9a the moment he chose to 3bef9d928a accept him. Despite his mild appearance, c37b0bff58 he was bold at 3aa201ffd1 heart—born a century earlier, b6d8ada445 he might have been 450d591086 leading the Russian Revolution, cd9b11fa21 waving a flag.229564ceeabba26a
Meanwhile, the cat, bored with 81b8d59f7e the humans, was licking its 7e674bc32d front paw. Following Levin inside, George glanced 707549f6fe back at the cat.c889e5d229eca005
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“Stay safe. Don’t follow just anyone.”00be7e4dbdeeef03
The two entered the chilly 540a7e66da house.87dda8bed0aa3020
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George’s home was uniquely shaped 71c1efb4f2 like a long corridor. Despite his high 05b2853b6d salary, he was 89c47d2ab4 frugal when it 8558aa778d came to his 7f3bff4abb home and belongings. The layout reflected his personality, d8a34aa23e efficiently managed so he could 2514aaff62 flow through every task from 8b88a48621 entering to reaching his bed.c528229f7bbac42d
The overly stark room felt ca6ddc57ff almost like a hotel, but c9e0cb568e the one place with a 1183385c70 hint of humanity was the 7664ed00b2 small table by the window. There sat a c7e9bdefd0 few books George e024d10b9a had recently been 43f72acbcc reading and an 10b42d4d9e empty bottle of 6a8694082f wine he particularly 227ce5b630 enjoyed. He kept it, thinking 344b7c3d1d he might one day a14374f2c1 put a flower in 02880f0d0a it, though he’d never 3b393a007a actually done so.ad71d9cd2249c2d2
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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 ad62ae3dea go when the dae6bedb2c time was right, 16a7fc42b8 and he said, 1c5b7a8884 ‘The right time 195e29abed might be a 45b9d6016b year from now.’”e4279760a673a418
“Haha.”350335e238a4d793
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Levin chuckled softly, pouring vodka b132219ea5 into glasses. George liked white wine with 9b9bcc968b strawberries, but sadly, his barren 9f05b44c83 fridge held no fresh ingredients.fcd47f32a41361ef
“Levin, next time bring food instead of alcohol.”1f39f21a66dfabd1
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“Hm?”3b2cd0106a124ccd
Levin, downing vodka without a 4d848176aa snack, looked at him as cb8fb2a842 if to ask why that 41fe2e070a was necessary. George decided to drop it.0c02451d96b9a254
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“So what are you doing on your vacation?”dc320e68146e842d
“Maybe travel.”3b7ce37edd0d844c
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“Got a destination?”baba519a2b146b6a
“You think I’ve decided? I didn’t even 9a6e665b7e know I’d be dbb606c279 resting until I 3df5a533d8 was discharged.”cbf292898c0a2a6b
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George leaned back heavily in 1b96567669 his chair.5b092070b2a432ef
Levin casually turned up 81cc57f704 the radiator by the f12ce881bb table. It was spring 84d0f76e90 in New York, 4106fd29b2 but the temperature 451ce5024f still dropped at 0db38f7ddd night.5c7c425017530257
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“Somewhere warm would be nice.”7396edf4b62b3082
George muttered absently. He suddenly recalled f0b49fda08 the Mediterranean’s summer 4a333bd798 sea, its water c737bae3c4 nearly body temperature, c8cb43f9af and the sound 1dadb8e9db of shallow waves 8f3b870512 lapping at his e751b70eed ears.497e1b4af9d86353
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Levin, quietly observing George’s expression fb365ef8a3 as he gazed out the 504bdbed39 window, spoke up.c71ed73effe7b049
“Don’t you ever date?”a133fbd4172d831a
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George adjusted his posture and 86133a4441 cleared his throat. He had never a65e255ee4 once shared his 496d5ed7da dating life with 5557b45637 those around him, 44809a056d so people assumed 9fcbb133c1 he’d been single e0499c092f for eight years.851eecb937791ca3
“Uh, why bring that up?”0bb1ee6d0201f2d0
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“You’re kind of a celebrity at work. Honestly, there are tons of b733a5aa6d women interested in you…”3a1f4b44e0165935
“I don’t date at work.”deb06f9814d431a5
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Levin nodded understandingly, 095df6fd1c lowering his eyes 39f77a2c14 and murmuring.008dc0e262b19e5a
“Still, I don’t know, you seem… a bit much.”afdd44134fe2b6ef
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“Me?”2118b5e72a4c09a6
George asked, briefly reflecting 08e98ee10c on his life.44e68644b7f03056
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“Yeah. Life isn’t just about work.”388171114e6fe329
“Hm.”c8e55648ecadc203
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“Why not live a little more relaxed? You’re not under a 68645942c7 slave contract. Our company even has 9f29c498e4 a union.”cf92118aafbb2a36
“Hmm.”d35aa5bd5ec7a44c
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George leaned deeper into his 338cee0b69 chair. Karel was actually quite 928a403a07 flexible in that regard. Maybe it was George eef6f227ab himself who couldn’t handle 41d3d666ee idle time.18825d9969e98ab0
“Get a partner, leave work early to take care of a cat, live like that. It’s about time you settled 773e24fc22 down.”78e0a4203679ef25
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“Don’t talk like my grandma.”14fb050a532dba17
“Grandma? Back in Russia, all my 821c0c26d9 friends are already married. Thirty-three is late 7ca906b902 where I’m from. I was shocked when 28d82c5453 I came to New 6a1062a124 York—everyone marries so late.”d8f805bb57b5e545
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“…”d24fd24913f5a9ab
“You took such good care of Sasha… You’d probably be great with kids.”787c20ec1387a968
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George’s face hardened.524e01ab4529cef4
“I’m done with parenting.”3f24dabfd6f4e94d
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“Haha, are you dissing my brother now?”95bcd45234919f84
George reached for 28073a08a0 a golden globe. Spinning it, he 9ee03e1e09 suddenly grabbed a b0d64577a8 pen.2b6be9c74c7ddc4a
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“What are you doing?”b8c4ccb51e9e357b
“Darts.”1c5a5d594c9e6c37
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He decided to d2b72d495e leave his vacation 8477acbfff destination to chance. Holding the top of 676231b0db the globe, he spun 7ed8f7c51a it lightly, stepped back 5d5cfdc5de three paces, uncapped a 19223b4401 marker, and threw it. Levin watched with interest.d9a781ce0874c663
The first try failed. Throwing with his less-used aca8467294 left arm due to 4ca92b1fa6 his injured right wasn’t 045cec74a1 easy. George picked up 91e53d605e the pen rolling e11ea66724 on the carpet e0baf83309 and aimed at 7d10884403 the spinning globe ca5461a188 again. Calculating speed and trajectory by 595cbc1c4e instinct, he threw it precisely. To see if his sharpshooting e9ed712cbe skills had rusted, the second 733a41ae41 throw hit the globe and 5c7fa6d26b fell.1bc2a06647a71323
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As he approached, abcdcf0822 Levin peered at b705152280 the globe, frowning 918b3225f7 slightly as he 85e8ff615c read the marked 80df4b10d6 city aloud.d5b0e2b03949816f
“Marrakech.”04b0d5908f77369a
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George walked to the table bae6fe2057 and looked at his destination.2fddd0ec0de84203
“Marrakech? That’s in North Africa, right? I don’t know anything 63a936f8f0 about the place. You?”6996439b7269062d
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Levin asked. George thought for a moment 243130beb9 and answered briefly.6e48ab2641160c74
“Never been.”b387b01dae7fbfd5
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“Sounds like a good reason to go.”0134769aec5552b5
George nodded, pulling 4682629f61 a chair to 397944e1cf sit back at de16dc0410 the table.b5d392f100eafa24
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“When are you going?”e87f20d4a5337049
He paused to think. He didn’t want to sink 5501ba3213 back into the strange feeling 2f08174511 he’d had wandering Manhattan after 565b9ef13a being kicked out of the d2d68a12ac office. Plus, who knew 30c0e17648 when Jin might c35d5f80ab show up again? Before blocking him, c7eaea7bc6 Jin had called 7376306627 his personal phone 68d672a767 over thirty times 886f434b73 and sent countless d3bc660b19 long messages. Even though it was 4d0c256022 supposed to be over, b383614af2 it didn’t feel like 75afd57d60 it. The thought gave George db9d171c90 a stomach-twisting stress. He hated having to 6023ea965e repeat himself.5ad28dc0437cd968
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“Tomorrow.”f8af67bac6067683
“Yeah, leave as soon as you can. Staying in New York’s 76bbe5366a just a waste of ea684673f1 time.”a0fa0725c7ad0bbe
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Finding the fastest flight 619933e7a3 and planning an efficient 2f532d44cc route was child’s play 34f2004c02 for George. He’d once handled 950b004386 sixteen flights in 06236df5c7 ten days while 64894afc57 accompanying his boss f92f9f760b during the busiest 4268fd5053 period. Once the route a966484470 was set, the d77d5ea1b6 rest was quick. George made a few efaa2499d8 top-priority reservations in succession.0cab4d4a7076ff81
Meanwhile, Levin was 777dfb6ca8 passed out face-down a6f6378b90 on the table. George spoke to the drunk.dff10a1fc0680b9d
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“If you’re going to sleep, use the bed.”7f4763aa0dd4252b
“Nah.”878ea4d1604e2704
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Levin mumbled.ec4f2b4f61c8eae5
“I’m going home.”8dbf3369d80f37d4
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“Then lie down until you’re sober.”b40d1506930ac463
“Nah…”dbdc879df1af69ed
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George didn’t bother arguing further. He stood, supporting Levin. Even with one injured arm, d3339412da carrying the lanky man was ca39c67e91 easy. Levin resisted weakly before being 43ae053a39 tossed onto the bed.da14d6051980e436
Levin’s disheveled blonde hair 892a31cc40 spilled over the pillow. George brushed his own 75ac5c0600 hair back and sat 79b6dfa1bd heavily beside him.9401570a50f7e902
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Moments later, Levin, 7a58b944e8 who George thought 60063ed355 was asleep, spoke.3b8c37c086491ca5
“George, thanks.”c49ed57d2fb33aa3
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He mumbled with 97b5301d46 his eyes closed. George sat quietly, listening.3aa54d6082486a6e
“My brother relies on you a lot. Thanks for everything.”553ff7ee17b669b2
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“I know.”913f30ef9bfc0d85
“I guess I’m not much of a brother. Sasha comes to you more 964dd5322a than me.”f154a607f293e974
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A hint of bitterness tinged f3d56a244b Levin’s voice. George answered casually.9229bc2827491359
“There’s something about strangers that makes it easier to lean on them.”2010be01f9573df9
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“Maybe.”f693250944ab7d70
“Yeah.”35026037c4ef5b3b
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“…”5b603be20403b145
“No one wants to burden those closest to them. It’s easier to show 3acfdd079c weakness to a stranger b8980e0332 who knows nothing.”c08b305a5756da43
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It was true 4292ced4b7 for him too. To avoid showing 8bece66faf vulnerability to those 11680357bc close or entangled 7ddd1c1215 with him, he 3f6e16a7c2 only brought people 581e317d65 with no connection 8312dbb6b5 to his life 2620fed672 into his bed. A Broadway musical actor, a fa33345d93 chef from a renowned Meatpacking 782019e6f6 District restaurant, a museum curator—people f075740eb6 with no overlap with his a02832cb0b world.bcee67e9c4ea58a7
But building relationships only with 3b606ab137 those passing through left him b72f932cab with nothing.0f3c2a77223ae9ca
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It feels kind of empty.c01739a6b3d36c55
Am I really at 556da3239a the age to settle ad6c018f3a down?1f35b634bf15974e
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As if reading d7a0c45cf3 his thoughts, Levin 7a0dea6069 asked.ce0ee0648251d3e4
“But George, you’re not a stranger to us.”f05025f649f9e03a
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“…”980184c7b2cfeb42
“In this busy city, who do you think my brother and I rely on besides you? You and Mr. Clements aren’t strangers to 7255631149 us anymore… It’d be 2daffb1bfd sad if we’re the 39d5e6910a only ones who think 4d74c94705 that.”eaf05d78ae0e3eb0
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It was a 01813f5f15 speech that left 513967732c him speechless. As he stayed quiet, bb6ecd8088 Levin stirred and spoke.815b7837373010ab
“You should get married too.”1d81e26b3c7d3113
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“That’s an unexpected conclusion.”036db6a3496033fa
“What’s your type?”65efbd5184feb1ae
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“What’s it to you?”4d86777c8e9ff074
“I’m trying to set you up with someone. Whenever people ask about 9f383a9654 you, I’ve got nothing f5d5541f0b to say. You never talk cf76ea3055 about that stuff.”033cc0518c023b09
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“I said I don’t date at work.”b099017f137c9e9c
“That’s why there’s that ridiculous rumor about you sleeping with the boss. That nonsense…”0adac4eb414c9bc5
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“Can we not talk about that? I’m going to puke…”c257f6fde0552929
Levin chuckled and pressed again.43082ec78806f054
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“So just tell me your type.”30967fd96506ccbf
“…Someone petite.”40f4ef841c0661de
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“Really? Petite how? Short? Slim?”6169d4b19e2e5c86
“Both would be nice.”ffd12f10b8d325b2
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“And?”23965d7355185e88
“Hmm… maybe blonde.”059c72b81651df37
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“Got it. So petite and blonde. You like the opposite of da8565d4e3 you, huh. I know some model 297edd5cf6 friends in the Russian 6aa4740f90 immigrant group. They’re a bit tall, but 09328e64b9 I’ll ask around. If they’re interested, I’ll 77548bcb1b show you their photos.”8b8db7cce279e85a
“No need.”e5327147887a7e3e
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“You need to meet someone good.”eaa607f259a4998b
“I said I’ll handle it.”4a67d7c355ddb5d5
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“You’re not handling it well, so I’m offering to help.”68be8fc3f166cb26
“Stop sounding like my grandma.”784308f421c57073
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“Grandma? Back in my hometown…”5fd30ba7e8cd5028
The two went back and f874276b95 forth, repeating the same arguments 7b5a33b234 endlessly. Levin, who said 1c3356e201 he’d leave once 38dde0618c he sobered up, 9da6934029 passed out completely.b2d7c2325f789c3a
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In the quiet f3c5d34eca house, George packed 9f20e8d1e4 a suitcase alone. He’d been on hundreds of 06db8b84ea business trips, but packing for 95dd1cf0f5 a vacation felt unfamiliar.99acf47f586284b0
“…”0f6dc9401d552200
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Looking at the half-filled b87ab647e1 suitcase, George approached the 1b889f0650 headboard. Careful not to wake Levin, b8cbcf63ab he opened a drawer, grabbed 547648bcc6 a handful of condoms, and b89b2b08e4 tossed them into the suitcase.0f27490bd9a43464
Levin woke hours later at 20abb6e13b dawn, as George was heading 3e75c21db5 to the airport.ab58cdc75c257ba4
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“Whoa, I slept too much. You’re going to the 43db5de8b6 airport now?”af4f1c4a3e4fefe6
“Yeah.”9c6e28af76cc9b1c
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“Tomorrow meant this morning?”69f0a32333d29b6a
“Lock the door when you leave.”2f292203f6ac1e5e
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Tossing the keys, Levin f848051500 caught them deftly despite 7430b7ce56 his groggy face.8e84502db566ea7e
“Don’t open the door for anyone.”3f6bd68b149244c1
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“Obviously.”9723aa8e5845968a
Leaving Levin behind, 872ed41445 George departed New cd13ee9d6c York.6a392f1bba9a716d
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