Chapter Text
Junho sighed mutedly, rolling a pencil across his desk as he stared at the mountain of paperwork on his computer. There were at least twelve tabs open; that wasn’t even including the four separate windows that were floating around on his desktop either.
He sighed again. Harder. It wasn’t even that difficult to do, most of these just required a signature before they found their way to the CEO’s email. So why was he struggling so hard to get started?
“Mr. Hwang? You’re not dead in there right? Because I’ve got that coffee you like that really shouldn’t be as expensive as it is.”
Oh, right. That’s why.
The pencil rolled away to land somewhere on his floor as Junho pushed himself up, sitting straight and adjusting his tie. “Not dead,” he called out. “You can come in.”
“Well that’s good, I can’t exactly give you the cup through the door,” Gihun laughed. “But seriously, if I find whoever suggested that price you’ll find me on the news.”
Junho snorted, taking the offered cup with a grin. “If you end up on the news, I’m not paying your bail.”
“Thanks, asshole.”
He hummed good naturedly, taking a long, obnoxiously loud sip. Gihun tutted something about manners and walked away, depositing a few files that Junho really didn’t want to look at into his basket. But at least the thing Junho did want to look at was right in front of him.
Gihun, as always, looked like he had run three blocks through a hurricane just to arrive late for work. His hair was ruffled and fell in tangled curls across his shoulders, some pieces only held back by the sparkly clips his daughter always makes him wear, and his shirt seemed to be permanently wrinkled like he couldn’t be bothered to fix them the night before even though Junho knew for a fact that the man possessed a working iron. His sleeves were always rolled up, the top of his shirt was always unbuttoned, the hems of his pants were always an inch too short, and the soles of his shoes were practically flat. It wasn’t uncommon to find Gihun crashed against some kind of wall or chair because he’d been running on tiles and he’d slipped while turning a corner.
But despite the man’s general… mess, he made a damn good secretary. He was like magic. Whenever Junho needed something, Gihun would pop up over his shoulder— scaring him half to death— with a bright smile and a folder in hand, always saving him at the last minute.
The only bad thing was… Gihun wasn’t his secretary.
There was a heavy knock against his open door that had both men turn up to look.
Gihun’s face brightened with a smile that curled his eyes. “Inho-ssi! Right on time actually, I just confirmed that meeting with Mr. Jeong at Doll Industries. He’ll be your 4’o clock next Friday.” He waltzed over, riffling through the folder he always had on him, and handed Inho the relevant papers. “Here’s the first part of the draft our lawyers are writing up for the meeting; Kiyong-ssi should be contacting you later in the evening with the second part. And here’s a list of what things we can, shouldn’t, and really shouldn’t concede on. Also,” Gihun flicked through his folder again before pulling out his brightly color-coded schedule. “I moved your 6’o clock meeting tonight with Jang Duri to the fifteenth so you and Junho-ah can grab an early dinner— and don’t argue,” Gihun interrupted Inho with a raised eyebrow, “everyone knows you hate that guy. I’m doing the both of you a favor.”
Yeah. Even if he wasn’t his, Gihun made a damn good secretary. There weren’t many people that could boss Inho around like that and get nothing but an amused huff. Hell, even if Junho tried that Inho would probably try to send him to his room like they were still six and twenty-two.
“Oh, and this too.”
Junho didn’t even see Gihun come in with a second coffee, but he must have, because he shoved it into Inho’s hands like he didn’t randomly pull off acts of straight magic every day.
Inho just hummed. “Is it poisoned?” He asked flatly.
“Oh, totally!” Gihun answered brightly, an innocent smile across his face. “I scrapped cat shit into it on my way here!”
Junho burst into cackles and slammed his hand onto his desk so hard that it sent some papers flying. If he’d been drinking from his own cup, his computer would’ve been ruined.
“Wow, thanks,” Inho mumbled around the lid. “I’ll add it to the list of other things you’ve poisoned me with.”
Gihun snickered and looked at Junho conspiratorally. “I’m trying to nab his inheritance. Don’t worry Junho-ah, I’ll make sure you get your cut,” he winked, which just made him laugh harder.
“You’re not even in my will.”
“You don’t know that,” Gihun fired back. “Your lawyers like me way more than you, Inho-ssi. If I were you, I’d be more worried about what they added to it.”
The glare Inho shot his secretary could’ve made a glacier thaw, but it just seemed to make Gihun happier. There were only three people that could force Inho into a corner: their mom, his goddam secretary, and God him-fucking-self. In that order.
With a grumble, Inho walked out the door.
Gihun turned back to him again, a smile greater than sunlight wide across his face. “Remember Junho-ah, early dinner!”
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
Left in silence and feeling like all color had drained away once the door closed, Junho slumped back into his chair with a heavy sigh. He turned toward the large windows against his back, looking down at the streets and the people no larger than ants walking along them.
Four years Gihun had been Inho’s secretary. Four years of frazzled hair and nervous sweats. Four years of a grown man crashing into walls and stumbling over his own feet. Four years of his criminally top-unbuttoned shirts and rolled sleeves that showed off tantalizing teases of his skin. Four years of grins and smiles and comforting hands on his shoulders when the nights stretched too long.
Four years and Junho still hadn’t managed to shake off this crush.
He exhaled around his hand as his eyes slipped shut. It should’ve been over by now, this infatuation. But still, here he was mooning over his older brother’s secretary like he didn’t know exactly how messy something like a workplace relationship could be, or how it could likely ruin everything their company had ever accomplished. The reason for that simply being that if Gihun left, scared off because of Junho’s— admittedly intense— feelings for him, the entire place would be razed to hell in a week. Inho had never had a secretary stay this long, and after Gihun, probably never will.
The computer pinged and Junho had to withhold a groan.
Fucking. Emails.
Perhaps it was a good thing that Gihun had switched Inho’s 6’o clock around— scratch that. It was definitely a good thing. Because that new email that’d wormed its way onto Junho’s computer when the two had left had ended up being bigger than it ever should have gotten and had taken up the entire work day. It’d nearly made him pull out his hair.
Someone— no, multiple someones were definitely being fired for this.
That is to say, the clock had just struck six and Junho was ready to set the building on fire. How did he ever let Inho talk him into accepting the position of CFO? Surely there were other people more qualified to do this than him? People with better patience, for example. But nooo, Inho wanted someone he could trust. Like Inho ever trusted anyone.
He grumbled into his palm, head so low he was practically touching the desk.
Alright, fine. That wasn’t quite fair. Inho had to trust some people, and it really did feel nice that Junho was included among those few. Like their mom. And Gihun. And Moon Kiyong for some reason. That man was a maniac and it was an actual miracle he listened to anyone at all.
He’d already run three background checks on him, but it wouldn’t hurt if he did a fourth, right?
So caught up in his thoughts, Junho didn’t know someone had entered his office until a heavy, familiar manila folder touched down on his head.
He rolled to the side and glanced up, peering straight into Gihun’s vaguely amused eyes as the man brought the manila folder back up into his arms.
“Rough day?” He asked.
Junho groaned, faceplanting back onto his desk. His nose was smooshed against smooth mahogany so when he muttered out a, “fucking terrible man,” it probably sounded like a drunk had decided to talk around a moutful of marshmallows.
Gihun seemed to understand him anyway because he chuckled above his head. “I heard. The risk assessment manager over in advertisement sent the CEO some colorful words because of your involvement, by the way, so I think he’s being fired soon.”
It was terrible of him, but the news made him smile.
“You really are just like your brother,” Gihun snorted. “But I’m not gonna say that the guy didn’t have it coming. Inho said that if you hadn’t caught it so quickly and handled it as you did, the consequences later on would’ve been way worse, so… good thing you did it. But was it really necessary to make the manager cry?”
Even without looking, Junho just knew that Gihun had raised a questioning eyebrow.
“De man’ge wa suh a d—”
“Clearly please, Junho-ah.”
He rolled over with another small groan. “That manager was such a dick though! He made two interns cry, Gihun-ssi. I was just returning the favor,” he harrumphed. “Besides, we’ve had complaints about him before anyway. He had it coming.”
“Alright, alright,” the other man laughed, laying a soothing hand over Junho’s hair. “I get it. Jeez, you Hwangs are all the same.”
“Rude. You’ve met mom. She’s an angel.”
“And the two of you turned out like little devils,” Gihun rolled his eyes playfully. He tugged at his hair, “come on then. I promised that the two of you would be out of here for an early dinner, so get up.”
“I feel like you’re overstepping your boundaries as a secretary, Gihun-ssi,” Junho mumbled but got up anyway.
“Oh please, those boundaries have been long gone the moment I had to pretend to hold back Inho’s hair when he got sick and decided to come into work anyway like an idiot.” Gihun practically skipped over to the door, holding it open for Junho to pass through. “And what have I told you about calling me ‘Gihun-ssi,’ hm? Just call me hyung!”
Junho rolled his eyes, adjusting his coat over his arm with a smile as he leaned over and pressed the elevator button. “Alright, hyung,” he stretched the syllable long, teasing. “Is Inho down in the car?”
“Mhm, waiting for you. I recommended a barbecue place close by, it just opened.” Gihun stepped through the doors as they dinged open. “And please stop ordering drinks, the two of you have shit kidneys, I don’t know why you keep testing it.”
“Fat chance,” Junho snorted. “Hyung, you know it’s my only escape!” He whined.
“Find a better one,” he deadpanned. “I swear, the two of you are gonna get liver cancer. And then who will I work for, huh? I don’t think any other company is going to accept a secretary that consistently brings cats into the building.”
“Yeah, see, whenever you say things like that it makes me believe that March third wasn’t an accident. I don’t even know how you got so many cats into the building.”
The doors dinged open again and the two of them walked out into the parking garage, Gihun wagging a finger in Junho’s face. “Okay, listen, I know how it sounds but that really was an accident Junho-ah! Do you really think I’d bring in so many cats knowing there wasn’t cat food or anything to keep them healthy? That’s so irresponsible!”
He snorted, raising a hand slightly once he spotted Inho, leaning against the car. “Fine, fine, I guess that makes sense.”
“Pfft, you guess. Yah, youth these days. No respect for their elders.”
“Oh, come on Gihun-hyung, you’re not that old.”
The secretary just laughed, patting Junho on the back as the messy curls around his neck bounced. “That line might work on some women, but it won’t work on me kid. No need to try so hard though, you know I already like you!”
Well, that was kind of the problem, wasn’t it?
Inho nodded at them as they neared, keys flicking between his fingers as he straightened up from his lean. “Ready to go?”
Junho nodded back, groaning as he cracked his neck. “More than.”
His hyung merely hummed before switching his attention to his secretary, and it wasn’t Junho’s imagination that his voice had softened. “You sure you don’t want to join us? You are the one that recommended this place.”
Gihun shook his head, his lips slightly upturned as he stretched his arms behind his back. “I’m alright, thanks Inho. I’ve got some things to handle in the morning anyway, so I shouldn’t be up so late.”
“If you’re sure.” Inho unlocked the car. “Drive safe then, Gihun-ssi.”
Already making his way to his own car on the other side, Gihun laughed over his shoulder. “I should be telling you that! Have a good weekend, Inho-ssi. Junho-ah. Oh, and say hi to Geumja for me!”
The place Gihun had recommended was fairly packed. A lot of families out for the night were crowding the booths, and some couples were laughing at the bar with a few drinks in hand. Junho wasn’t even sure they’d be able to get a seat, but the old woman at the counter had taken one look at them and had brightened so quickly Junho nearly checked over his shoulder to see if some celebrity had just arrived.
“You must be the Hwangs!” She grinned, ambling over with surprising dexterity. “Gihun said you’d be coming to visit sometime soon, but I didn’t think it’d happen so quickly!”
Despite knowing the man’s family history, he still wondered if this lady was possibly related to Gihun in some way. Both their smiles were damn infectious and their attitudes too similar to not be.
Inho nodded in his own polite way, voice warm enough now that he was no longer CEO in his big building.
“And you must be miss Geumja. Gihun told us that this place was worth seeing.” He complimented. “Do you usually take reservations?” He asked when the woman— Geumja— began to gently push them towards some empty seats by the window.
She snorted, materializing some menus out of thin air as they took their seats. “No, but Gihun called and said that one of you has the appetite of a large dog and to prepare a table just in case.”
Inho’s eyes twinkled with amusement and Junho had to stifle down a truly undignified snort.
“He said that, did he?”
“Mhm,” Geumja laughed. “And you must be said man with the appetite. Now, why don’t you take a look at the food and I’ll be back with some waters.”
They nodded their thanks as she made her way back to her kitchen.
Junho opened up the menu with a hum, amusement curled in his chest. “I feel like Gihun knows everyone. I wonder what the story is behind that.”
“It’s hard not to like him,” Inho agreed. “But I think we can wheedle that story out from her when she comes back. It’d probably be something embarrassing, right?”
Oh, definitely. It seemed to be a trend.
“Maybe next time. We’ll ask her when he’s here to defend himself.”
Over the menu, Inho raised a brow. “Isn’t the phrase usually, ‘not here to defend himself?’”
“Yeah,” he cackled, “but it’s way funnier when Gihun-hyung is trying to save face. Remember when he poured water all over his friend Junbae just to stop him from telling an embarrassing story?”
Inho snorted loudly, raising a hand to try and muffle the sound. “And then he got too flustered and ran away to hide in a closet.”
They’d had to pick the lock to drag Gihun out, and then Junho had to be subjected to very pointed questions the very same night because Inho wanted to know exactly when he’d learned to do that. He didn’t believe him when he said he thought it’d impress girls. Which then led Inho to ask, “not boys?”
And that had been his coming out.
Damn him. Inho should’ve been a stupid detective instead of a stupid CEO.
When they finally ordered and the food came out, Junho was practically drooling. No wonder there were so many people here. Even the side dishes looked amazing. It was a good thing they ordered so much food too, because Inho had already devoured a full plate in the five minutes it took for Junho to get through half of his.
And despite Inho’s offended glare when Junho interrupted him and got him a juice instead, he was proud to say that no alcohol was consumed that night, which he will definitely brag about come Monday when he sees Gihun next. That’s right, be proud hyung, because he’s pretty sure Inho’s plotting his demise as they eat.
Money spent and stomachs full, Junho leaned against the window and watched the lights blur into a single line of action. It’d been a good day. A great start to the weekend actually, strangely different from their usual hassle that came with Fridays.
Maybe that stray from the norm was why his gut clenched uncomfortably. Today had been too easy.
Inho would probably say to trust his gut if he asked. Gihun would complain about indigestion and offer him a vitamin. His mom would probably do both.
But full of good food and exhausted from the still fairly hectic day he’d had, Junho pushed the niggling feeling far from his mind and closed his eyes.
That will just have to be a problem for future Junho.