“Holy shit,” I breathe as my eyes scan over the room. The left wall of the living room’s is covered in cherry blossoms.
In the middle of the floor, there’s only a coffee table with two pillows on either side.
Preston comes out of the bedroom, and when he sees me, he smiles. “What do you think?”
I hear Kingsley snort behind me and glancing over my shoulder, I see Falcon and Mason standing with the girls. “You all just let him do this?”
Mason shrugs. “Payback for the past three days of having to be your bitch.”
“My bitch?”
“Mace, I’m hungry. Mace, I’m bored. Mace, I’m thirsty,” Mason gives a really bad impression of me.
I nod and taking a deep breath, I walk into the empty as fuck space and ask, “What happened to all the furniture?”
“You don’t like it?” Preston asks. His shoulders slump, and he shoves his hands in his pocket. Scrunching his nose, he sniffs.
“I didn’t say that,” I say quickly, and darting forward, I place an arm around his shoulders. “I thought we could add a couple of more things.”
Suddenly Preston looks up and grinning he says, “I’m just fucking with you.”
I shove him away from me, but then rethink it and when I move to slap him upside the head, he ducks and runs toward Mason who’s bending over from all the laughter.
I nod as I stare at my friends. “Well played.”
“Come on, let's get to work,” Layla says with a huge smile on her face.
They all leave me standing in the suite. “Where are you going?”
A moment later, Falcon and Mason carry a study desk in and place it by the window, with Preston bringing the chair.
Ten minutes later, I’m swallowing hard on the lump in my throat as I watch my friends transform the suite into nothing short of an idyllic space.
Indoor plants lend life to the cherry blossom art on the wall. I help move the coffee table and cushions to the side while Falcon and Mason bring in a couch.
“I figure if we leave the cushions on the couch, she can decide whether she wants to move them to the floor if she prefers dining in a more traditional way,” Preston says.
“Huh?” Kingsley asks.
“You know, sitting on the floor at a coffee table,” he explains.
“Oh.” She gives Mason a what-the-hell-is-he-talking-about look.
“Some Koreans also prefer to sleep on the floor as well,” Preston continues.
“By choice?” Kingsley asks, her eyes widening.
“Yes, they actually find it more comfortable.”
“Yeaaahhh…. No way am I giving up my bed for the floor,” she mumbles.
“Last night you seemed fine with the floor,” Mason mumbles under his breath.
When a dark frown settles on Kingsley’s face, I bring a hand to my mouth and pretend to cough, “Run.”
“Run?” Mason asks, and then Kinglsey shoves her fists on her sides and raises an eyebrow at him.
“Seriously? You’re going to tell our friends we bumped uglies on the floor?”
When I suck in a breath to laugh, I choke on a drop of spit flying down the wrong hole, and I’m close to sounding like I’m dying because I can’t stop laughing while almost hacking up a lung.Chapter 4LakeI drive the Bentley to pick up Lee, figuring she’ll have a shitload of luggage.
When I get to the hotel, I expect to meet the Chairman and for the whole process to take a while, but when I walk into the lobby, Lee’s already waiting.
I check the time to make sure I’m not late and seeing I still have fifteen minutes, I let out a relieved breath.
“Hi, why are you waiting down here?” I ask.
A look of confusion flashes over her face. “I was waiting for you. Is that wrong?”
“No.” I tilt my head, then ask, “So I don’t need to meet with your father?”
“The Chairman already left.”
I used to think I’m one of the most patient people on this planet… until I met the Parks.
“What time did he leave?” I ask, already knowing I’m not going to like the answer.
“They left at five O’clock.”
Which means I could’ve come much earlier.
“Do you still need to check out?” I ask, gesturing at the reception area.
“Oh no, we can leave. Secretary Choi took care of that.”
“Is he still here?” I ask, thinking it’s weird he didn’t leave with Mr. Park.
-Lee frowns while shaking her head. “No, he left with the Chairman.”
“Hold on.” I pull at the tie, loosening the damn thing. “Since what time have you been standing in this lobby?”
“Since five O’clock.”
I stare at her until she lowers her eyes because I need a moment to breathe through the anger. Seven fucking hours.
Keep calm, Lake. You can deal with this once she’s settled into her suite.
“You must be exhausted. Where’s your luggage?” I ask, glancing around for any sign of a luggage cart.
“Oh, right here.” She turns around and picks up a suitcase.