Page 26

His expression softens. “I know.”

The warmth in my chest seems to radiate outward.

“That was quick thinking in there,” he says. “Though my sisterreally looks nothing like you.” I recognize the signs that he’s about to tease me, his eyes taking on that mischievous glint. “Not from the front, nor from the back.”

Even with advance warning, I blush.

“Will the scandal affect XOXO?” I say, changing the subject. Even if the timing isn’t as bad as it could have been, since theyjustreturned from a successful world tour, Sun has his drama to promote soon.

“It’ll blow over,” Nathaniel says. “Especially when Joah releases that it was my sister in the photo. It would be a different story if it was about a girl I was dating.”

“Yeah.” I don’t want to examine why my heart stills at the thought of him dating “a girl” that isn’t me.

His gaze trails behind me. I hear the click of my mother’s office door opening—apparently, she couldn’t bring herself to rest. “I think that’s my cue,” he says. “Thanks again, Sori.” He grins. “I can always count on you to save me.”

Eleven

I’m so preoccupied with the scandal and the deal with my mother, I’d completely forgotten that I’d agreed to a meeting with the son of someone important to my father’s political campaign. A taxi drops me off early evening the following day at the Sowon Hotel, the same hotel—and restaurant, for that matter—where I met my parents only a couple of weeks before.

It’s as lovely as I remember it being, with beautiful white oak floors and an abundance of pink and white flowers in decorative pots. The hostess leads me to a table in a different part of the restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows and low tables surrounded by cushioned seats meant for more casual dining and conversation. A boy a few years older than me sits at one of these tables, holding a wineglass in one hand and his phone with the other. He doesn’t look up when I arrive. Inwardly, I sigh—it’s going to be a long evening.

I take the seat opposite him, arranging my skirt around my knees. The chairs are large and cushioned, and I sink into the downy seat.

He’s ordered me a glass of wine, but I ask a hovering waiter for water instead.

“You’re Assemblyman Min’s daughter,” the boy says, glancing up from his phone, “theidoltrainee.” He says the word like its dirt on his Ferragamo loafers.

“Yes, and you are the restaurateur’s son.” I purposefully don’tcall him by his name since he hadn’t bothered to learn mine. Usually, I’m a little more patient with the dates my father sets me up with, but I’m distracted by reactions online to the statement Joah released earlier today, identifying the mysterious girl in the photograph as Nadine.

The reactions have been mostly positive, as Nathaniel is known to have four older sisters. But I’m sure employees at Joah have been deleting the more vitriolic comments, claiming it’s a cover-up for the truth, that Nathaniel is secretly dating another idol, and he’s hurting the other members with his actions and should leave—

“Baek Haneul, second son of Kim Jinyi. My mother owns this restaurant.”

“It’s lovely,” I say, relieved to have a topic that might interest us both. “Where does she import the flowers? The flooring is exquisite—did your mother work closely with a designer?”

He scowls. “How am I supposed to know? When I inherit my share of the restaurant, I’ll have a manager to take care of all those things.”

The waiter returns with my glass of water, and I carefully sip from the top. I wonder if Nadine is having trouble at her university, if reporters are dogging her steps; I hate that I’ve dragged her into this.

“I thought that was you,” a low voice cuts into my thoughts.

I look up to find Sun approaching our table. He’s dressed all in white, his icy-blonde hair swept back from his face.

Haneul stands, showing more excitement for Sun’s arrival than my own. “You’re Oh Sun of TK Group, right?” While Haneul’smother might own this restaurant, Sun’s grandfather, as the president of TK Group, owns this hotel. “Our fathers play golf together.” Haneul holds his right hand out to Sun, his left hand holding his right wrist in respect.

“Ah.” Sun shakes his hand. “And you are...?”

“Baek Haneul, second son of Kim Jinyi. My mother is—”

“Baek-ssi,” Sun interrupts, throwing his arm around Haneul’s neck. I narrow my eyes. His whole demeanor has changed, which immediately alerts me that he’s up to something. “You’re exactly the person I need right now,” Sun says, conspiratorially. “See that woman over there?” Both Haneul and I follow Sun’s gaze across the room to where a young woman sits beside the tall windows.

“I’m supposed to meet her for a blind date. My grandfather—you know, the president of TK Group—set us up. What he doesn’t know is that she and I have already met, and well...” he trails off. “I’m not looking for anything long-term.”

“I see,” Haneul says eagerly, catching on quick. “I’ll go in your place.”

“You’re a lifesaver.” Sun pauses, then adds, “Hyeong.”

Haneul looks like he’s died and gone to heaven, pun intended.