Page 35 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 13-16

Sevastyan’s fingers trailed away from Damian’s pocket. “For Elli.”

Damian suppressed a shiver. He hummed through his teeth and turned to stare ahead, waiting for the line to keep moving.

Two days.

Jun’s comeback was in four days.

Damian and Jun were in Damian’s office after work hours, two days before the scheduled comeback drop party. Jun was working on lyrics and Damian was furiously trying to keep up with his work when a knock came on the glass door. Jun and Damian looked up together. It was Sevastyan.

Was he alone? Did they need to pretend to not know him? Damian glanced at his phone. Security hadn’t phoned him. “Yes? We’re closed. I’m sorry if the door was open.”

“Believe me, your security doesn’t know I’m here.” Sevastyan slouched into the room and leaned against one of the chest high cabinets where Damian kept his scant few physical papers and significantly more clothes. He crossed his arms. “It’s time. The warrant was delivered to the U.S. today. The Merchari have been informed it will be served in two days. I’m to deliver their demands.”

Damian grimaced “Funny how that lines up with Jun’s comeback.”

Sevastyan’s face twitched. “Yes, funny.”

“So they did that on purpose.” Damian leaned back in his seat. “Will it be served before or after the party?”

“After.”

Jun crossed the room and sat on the edge of Damian’s desk, facing Sevastyan, one foot on the floor, one foot on the edge of Damian’s chair. “So it’s finally happening.”

“Do you have an answer ready?” Sevastyan raised an eyebrow.

Jun looked at Damian. So much trust, so much resolve. Damian nodded, giving Jun the floor. They’d talked it out, between themselves, with Richard and Émeric, even Collin. But in the end it was Jun’s call.

Jun squared his shoulders. “If I didn’t know this was coming, I wouldn’t have an answer right away, unless it was panicked. So no, I don’t have an answer today. Tell them I need to think about the terms. Tell them…” he paused, bracing himself. “Tell them that I’ve been caged before and I’m not entirely opposed to making an honorable exit. I’ll take that over being caged again.”

Sevastyan raised both eyebrows. “They’re not going to like that.”

“No, I expect not.” Jun’s voice deepened. “but neither do I like hearing that I was bought and sold since I was a child. So tell them that. Tell them that I’m angry I was sold, that I don’t feel responsible for Bak Gyeong’s debts, that I’m not inclined to give up the money being returned through legal actions against my father. Tell them I have a life now.”

“They’ll take that as a threat.”

“Will they move preemptively?”

Sevastyan shook his head.

“Tell them I’ll give them an answer in three days, so the day after the comeback party.”

Sevastyan tilted his head in acknowledgement. “Anything else?”

“Yes.” Jun grimaced. “Tell them I’m angry, but I want my career and that I’m not reckless. Tell them I know Bak Gyeong was a terrible businessman, and that I need three days to work out the numbers to see if what they’re asking is even possible.”

“They’ll buy that.” Sevastyan straightened up. “One day delay, that I can deliver.”

“How are preparations on your end?” Damian said.

Sevastyan’s lips thinned. “On schedule. The Residency has exceeded mine and my compatriot’s expectations.”

“I’m glad. We should have a final date shortly.”

Sevastyan nodded, just a short quick jerk of his head, as if the idea was almost too much. “I’ll bring Rei in a few weeks, after Jun has bought us time.”

“We already have space set aside for him.”

“Collin’s father,” Jun said. “When this is over, will he be seeing him?”