She exhaled slowly, forcing herself to remain calm. "If you think this childish stunt will help you, you're mistaken."
Junho leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Oh, but it already has. My father is now questioning your integrity. And as for Logan…" his smirk widened "... well he's fuming. What's the matter? Is Kingsley losing his temper because people think he actually wants you?"
Jean refused to let him get under her skin. "You're pathetic."
Junho clicked his tongue. "Now, now. That's not very nice." He set his drink down on the table beside him. "But I'll be generous, Jean. I'll offer you a way out."
She narrowed her eyes. "I'm not interested in whatever slimy deal you're about to propose."
"Are you sure?" Junho leaned back, spreading his arms along the chair. "You haven't even heard it yet."
Jean didn't respond, just stared at him icily, waiting.
He grinned. "Drop the act. Stop trying to win my father's favor. It's a waste of your time… and honestly, it's getting a little embarrassing." He shrugged. "If you take a step back, maybe, just maybe, I'll consider fixing the mess you're in."
Jean scoffed, shaking her head. "You want me to surrender?"
Junho smirked. "Think of it as knowing when you're outmatched."
Jean's lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. "If you think this will stop me, Junho, then you don't know me at all."
She turned on her heel and walked away, not giving him the satisfaction of another word.
Logan leaned back in his seat, but his irritation only grew stronger. Jean had been gone for far too long. His fingers tapped against the table as he scanned the room, his jaw tightening.
Where the hell was she?
His mind flashed back to their earlier argument, the way she had looked so confused when he accused her. Was it possible she was off somewhere scheming something new? Or worse, was she actually trying to fix whatever mess she had caused?
Logan exhaled sharply and stood up. He needed a drink.
As he made his way toward the bar counter, he spotted Emma ordering a martini. She had her back to him, but he knew she had noticed his approach.
Logan wasn't one for small talk, especially not with Jean's team, but he had a feeling Emma would have answers.
He leaned against the bar, signaling the bartender for a whiskey. Without looking at her, he asked casually, "Where's your boss?"
Emma turned slightly, giving him a wary glance. "Why do you care?"
Logan smirked. "I don't. Just curious if she finally fell overboard."
Emma rolled her eyes. "She was here a while ago. Said she was going to talk to Mr. Kim." She turned back to see the hall and frowned, scanning the room. "But I don't see her anywhere."
Logan's grip tightened around his glass. She was supposed to be here to win over Mr. Kim, yet she was missing. Is she even serious about business or was she just her to spoil his? Something wasn't right.
Just then, a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Mr. Kingsley."
He turned to see Farah standing there, composed as ever.
"Mr. Junho Kim wishes to have a word with you," she said smoothly.
Logan raised an eyebrow. "Now?"
"Yes. He's waiting for you on the private deck."
Logan was already suspicious, but he wasn't about to decline. If Junho had something to say, he wanted to hear it firsthand.
As he made his way toward the deck, Logan suddenly noticed another figure ahead of him.
Jean.
She was walking out from the same opposite direction, clearly which led there to the private deck as well.
Logan's eyes narrowed. So this was Junho's and Jean's game.
Jean turned her head slightly, her own expression shifting when she saw him.
Logan's steps faltered when he spotted a familiar figure emerging from the direction of Junho's private deck.
Jean.
His breath hitched for a second, not in admiration, but in disbelief.
She wasn't supposed to be here.
Yet there she was, walking toward him, her brows furrowed in confusion.
His jaw clenched, his heart pounding for reasons he didn't want to acknowledge. What the hell was she doing there?
The moment their eyes met, Logan's expression darkened.
Jean opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, he took a step forward, voice sharp.
"Are you seriously working with him now?"
Jean blinked, taken aback. "What?"
Logan scoffed, his lips curling in irritation. "Don't act clueless, Adams. First the rumors, and now you're sneaking out of Junho's private deck? How much lower can you go?"
Jean's eyes widened, then narrowed dangerously. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me." Logan stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I knew you were desperate, but I didn't think you'd crawl into bed with him just to win this deal."
A sharp sting of anger shot through Jean's veins. "You have no idea what you're talking about," she bit back.
"Don't I?" Logan's eyes flickered with something unreadable, but before Jean could snap at him again, a slow clap echoed from behind.
Both of them froze.
Junho.
He leaned against the doorway, his smirk widening as he watched them. "Now, now," he drawled, swirling the champagne in his glass. "I didn't expect my plan to work this well."
Jean stiffened, realization dawning.
Logan's accusing gaze snapped toward Junho, his hands curling into fists.
Jean exhaled, gritting her teeth. "You set this up."
Junho tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Oh, come now. I only invited you both for a chat." His lips curled into something far more devious. "It's not my fault people are already talking about how close you two have gotten."
Jean's stomach dropped.
Logan's fury ignited.
Junho just smirked wider, watching the chaos unfold exactly as he planned.
Jean's pulse pounded in her ears.
She knew Junho was trouble, but this… this was calculated.
Logan's jaw tightened as Junho took a lazy sip of his drink, his smirk never faltering. Then, with a satisfied hum, he turned slightly and called out, "Farah."
From behind the sleek wooden panels of the deck, Farah stepped forward, heels clicking against the floor. She held her phone up, her lips curving into a knowing smirk.
"I got it," she said, turning the screen toward Junho.
Jean felt her stomach drop when she caught a glimpse. It was a picture of her and Logan, standing close, mid-argument. But the angle… the lighting… It painted a completely different story.