Unexpected (15 page)

In spite of being dead tired from the
strenuous rehearsal, Kai wanted nothing more than to see Noel. It had been over
eight hours since she’d been moved to the hotel, but he missed her presence.

Kai nudged G.K. “Would uncle notice if I
just ran away and took Noel with me?”

His cousin grinned. “Probably. He’d more
than likely send detectives to find you.”

 Once inside, they noticed his
uncle and another man with elegant salt and pepper gray hair wearing
understated yet expensive eyeglasses already seated at the head of the table.
The group presented respectful bows to the older men then had their chairs
pulled out for them by the attentive waiters. Thankfully there was an empty
space between Kai and G.K. When Kai looked up his eyes lit up and a silly smile
crossed his face as a very elegant and radiant Noel was escorted the table.

She wore a classic black sheath dress
with elbow-length gloves. A double-strand of pearls encircled her neck and
drops decorated her ears. Even Young’s eyes bugged out.

“You look like a movie star, Noel,” he
gushed like a lovestruck teenage boy.

Noel smiled and blushed prettily. “Thank
you Young. You look nice too. All of you do.”

Kai immediately took Noel’s hand,
ignoring the cold glare in his uncle’s eyes. He placed a kiss on her palm. “You
look beautiful
Jahgi.
I missed you today.”

“I missed you too, but I’ve enjoyed the
hotel,” she teased. “I spent a wonderful day at the fabulous spa. I’ve been
pampered silly, though I think they scrubbed off several layers of skin.”

They were interrupted by a discreet
cough from Kai’s uncle. “Shall we order,” he asked brusquely. He gazed
insolently at Noel. “Would you like some assistance in ordering, Miss Wright? I
realize the menu may not be suited to your tastes.”

Noel returned the insolent gaze with her
own cool stare. “Thank you, but I believe I can manage quite well,” and
proceeded to prove the point when the waiter took her order. Kai mentally
cheered her sass and squeezed her hand under the table.

The other man glanced in Noel’s direction.
“I do believe that introductions are in order.” His smile was welcoming; wisdom
and mirth reflected in his eyes. Unlike Kai’s uncle, this man’s prominence
seemed to float in the air around him.

“My name is Noel, Noel Wright sir.”

“And I am Choi Jin Yung, one of the
owners of Z-Tune. It is a rare pleasure to meet the woman who has turned our
dear Hyunki’s head.” When Noel flushed at his praise, Jin Yung continued
humorously, “I must say that while he has always been a consummate performer,
it seems to me that after having met you, he’s become even more so. I may
perhaps add you to my staff in some capacity as, oh, band support?” The elegant
figure winked.

Despite his uncle’s unpleasantness and
his chagrin, Jin Yung and Noel seemed to get along extremely well. They were in
midst of Jin Yung’s humorous recollections about his time in Las Vegas when the
Kai’s uncle cleared his throat.

“So Noel, what university did you
attend?”

It seemed like an innocuous question, so
Noel replied easily, “I attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas on an
academic scholarship. I majored in education and minored in music studies.”

Jin Yung’s reaction was warm and
infectious. “So, were you planning to become a music teacher perhaps?”

Noel nodded. “I firmly believe the arts
are very important for a well-rounded education. And music is an international
language.”

“It’s one of the ways my family learned
English,” Kwan said. “My parents listened to old Frank Sinatra records.”

Jin Yung was truly interested. “Do you
play an instrument, Miss Wright?”

“I do play piano,” she offered shyly,
“And a little singing as well.”

“Hah,” Kibum joked. “A
little
singing? Noel’s being far too modest. You should have been with us at the
karaoke club. She and Kai should record a duet or something.”

Jin Yung gave her a smile of approval.
“Really? Well, I am always interested in hearing new talent. Hmm, an American
artist under Korean management…”

His response was so over-the-top, Noel
giggled. “I’m afraid my Korean isn’t very good, sir.” She blushed to her toes
when she remembered the words Kai had taught her a few nights before. No
possible way those words could make it into a song, at least not here, she
thought.

“So you wanted to be a music teacher,”
Kai’s uncle asked dismissively after a sip from his water glass. “Pardon me
Miss Wright, but I hardly consider teaching music as valuable as say, math or
science.”

“I have to disagree, sir. As I said
before, a well-rounded education should include music and the arts. Besides,
your very livelihood depends on music instructors and vocal coaches fine-tuning
T4L in their craft, am I correct?”

Jin Yung discreetly coughed into his
linen napkin. It sounded like a chuckle.

The offended man shot his Jin Yung an
evil look as he continued his dinner. Noel simply ignored the man and spent the
rest of the time enjoying the excellent seafood dish she ordered while chatting
animatedly with the guys and flirting with Kai.

“What happened to your plans for
teaching, Miss Wright?” The abrasive questioning cut through the joie de vivre
and Noel stifled her irritation as Kai growled at warning at his uncle.

She dabbed her lips with the napkin.
“Due to all the cuts in education, it was hard to find a steady position.”

“So you now work at a restaurant,” he
oozed disdain. “As a waitress.”

Both Kai and Noel bristled. Kai’s uncle
made waitress sound like ‘prostitute’.

“Uncle that’s enough,” Kai snapped in
Korean. “You are being unforgivably rude.”

Hyung feigned innocence. “No Hyunki, I
am only merely looking into her intentions.”

“My intentions are very simple, sir.
Granted, I don’t make millions working there, but I've been taking care of
myself since the age of eighteen. I’ve relied on no one other than myself. And
I resent your implying that I’m some type of gold-digger. I’ve asked nothing
from your nephew.”

“Then how were you able to afford this
rather expensive vacation on a mere waitress’ salary, Miss Wright?”

G.K. threw his napkin down onto the
table. “Father, that’s quite enough!”

Kwan, Young and Kibum added their voices
to G.K.’s displeasure. “Noel’s a nice girl. You should get to know her.”

Kai shot daggers at his uncle. “I think
you should leave now. If you don’t, I will and Noel comes with me.”

For a minute there was a tense
stalemate. Kai’s uncle and Jin Yung exchanged heated words in Korean, then Jin
Yung snapped out one word and the older man blanched and his eyes fell to his
lap. When they rose, there was what appeared to be apology in them.

“Miss Wright, it seems that I have
indeed forgotten my manners. I do apologize for being overly cautious
concerning my nephew.”

Noel usually accepted apologies, but
Kai’s uncle had rubbed her the wrong way. Still she was willing to be
magnanimous for her lover’s sake.

She bowed her head graciously. “I
understand.”

The rest of dinner went somewhat
smoothly after that, though Kai’s chastened uncle did not contribute much to
the conversation. Kai still shot angry glances in his direction.

It was a little after one in the morning
when the party finally broke up. Much to his uncle’s obvious annoyance, Kai
rose to escort Noel from the now-empty restaurant and to the waiting limo where
James sat patiently listening to music.

The street was deserted at this time of
night, so Kai ran a tender hand along her cheek. “I’m sorry for my uncle’s
behavior
Jahgi
. His manners are usually better than that, or at least
they should be.”

Noel gave him a warm, understanding
smile. “It’s not your fault, baby. I don’t really care if he likes me as long
as you do.”

He placed a soft kiss on her full lips.
“I love you
Jahgi.
Uncle will just have to learn to deal with it. He
can’t have his way all the time.”

Noel winked saucily at him. “I’d like it
if
you
had your way with me.”

“Oh
Jahgi ya,
the things I’m
going to do to you later.” His mouth sought hers and kissed Noel deeply and
passionately. “I’m coming with you to the hotel.”

As much as she wanted him to, she shook
her head. “Your uncle is probably waiting for you upstairs, so go humor him
then sneak out later. I’ll be waiting for you…naked.”

Kai pulled her tight against his body,
his hardness pressed against her thigh. “Give me an hour,
Jahgi
. And I
want you naked and your legs spread wide for me.”

Noel was clad in nothing but a white
bathrobe with the sash barely closed when she heard a knock on the door. He
heart began to race and she was damp and swollen with need. She opened the door
with a sultry smile.

“Good evening Miss Wright. May I come
in?”

Kai’s uncle stood in the hallway,
startling Noel. She tightly gripped the folds of her robe closed, “Why are you
here?”

“May I come in,” he repeated politely
yet firmly. “Just a moment of your time, please?”

She sighed but allowed him entrance.
“Say what you have to, then please leave.”

“You are expecting my nephew I take it
from your attire.”

“That, sir, is none of your business.”

“Then allow me to be perfectly honest,
Miss Wright. I do not approve of this liaison between yourself and my nephew.”

Noel just stood there stone-faced and
grew angry with each passing second.

The older man continued. “Please
understand this is not personal, and I am certain you are a nice girl, but
simply you are not what his fans expect him to be with.”

“Are we going to go through this again?”
Noel sighed petulantly. “You’ve made your feelings quite clear, so is there a
point to this exercise?”

His eyes narrowed with distaste at her
appearance. “Yes there is. I think it would be most beneficial to everyone if
you just went home and forgot all about my nephew.”

Noel stifled a laugh. “You have some
nerve coming over here. Listen, I haven’t tossed you out on your butt because
you are Kai’s uncle and I respect family, but you really need to stay out of
our business.”

“I am Kai’s uncle as well as his manager,
so he
is
my business. I do not know how it is in America, but here
family is all. We respect and honor our elders. Kai will do as he is bid
because I and my son are the only family he has.”

“G.K. accepts me as does the rest of the
group,” Noel pointed out stubbornly. “And this is the twenty-first century.
People of different races marry each other every day.”

“You are not in America,” the older man
growled. “There are few who would accept such a relationship
here
and
all it would do is cause trouble for everyone.”

“You’re just saying that because
you
hate me.”

He looked down at her as if she were a
recalcitrant child. “I do not hate you. I simply care about Hyunki and want
what is best for him.”

“And I take it, I’m not it.”

“No you are not,” he answered bluntly.
“Hyunki may believe he has feelings for you, but he’s never been truly in love.
In fact, my nephew has never dated.”

Shows how well you know Kai, she thought
with satisfaction. “And the point is?”

“The point is, Miss Wright, is that my
nephew would never jeopardize his career or his popularity for you. I will not
allow it.”

“What you
allow
is beside the
point. Kai’s a grown man. He can make his own decisions, and by the way, we’ve
talked about how some people in this country might react when they find out
about me.”

Hyung looked skeptical. “I doubt that,
Miss Wright. Once the novelty of dating you wears off and he’s done with
behaving like a rebellious teenager, he will leave you and find someone more
acceptable.”

Noel’s patience was finally at an end.
“I really think you need to leave. Right
now
!”

Kai’s uncle nodded and moved toward the
door. “When the group begins to lose fans over this, trust me they will resent
your intrusion and they will resent Kai’s selfishness. In short Miss Wright,
T4L will break up and it will be
your
fault.”

Slamming the door behind the retreating
back of Kai’s uncle diffused her anger somewhat, but once he was gone, Noel
swore and paced the luxurious suite, her libido completely gone.

Twenty minutes later, Kai knocked on the
door and reluctantly she let him in. When he tried to sweep her into his arms,
she dodged his body.

Kai looked puzzled. “Are you all right,
Jahgi
?”

“Your uncle came by,” she said quietly
as she watched his eyes darken. “He wanted to talk about our relationship.”

“Our relationship is none of his
business and I told him that.”

Noel pulled away from him. “But it’s not
just about you and me Kai. There’s something bigger going on here, and that’s
your career.”

His eyes widened as she fidgeted under
his gaze. “Your uncle is right about one thing. Will the public accept us as a
couple? I’ve seen and heard some things that indicate they won’t.”

“Such as?”

“The rapper who’s half-black and
half-Korean. Even though she’s super talented, she faced a lot of
discrimination because of who her father was and what she looks like. Some
people even said horrible things about her son because he’s mixed.”

Kai leaned against the sofa. “Yes, we
have some ignorant people here, but they’re not just in Korea. And frankly why
should it matter to us what anyone thinks?”

“Because this is your life we’re talking
about Kai,” she said desperately. “You love performing and I don’t want to get
between that.”

Kai’s eyes narrowed. “What are you
saying, Noel?”

She gulped. Usually he called her
Jahgi
,
and she’d gotten used to that. She dared not meet his eyes or she would lose
her resolve.

“I think it’s best that we—that I…”

“What?”

“I just don’t want to wonder if we’re
doing the right thing. You have your life and as much as we’d like, I don’t fit
in. I’m not Korean and I don’t have anything to offer you.”

“Just yourself,
Jahgi
. That’s
more than enough for me.” His eyes bore into hers.

But Noel was no longer certain it would
be. Her silence spoke volumes as head and heart warred for her happiness.

“Are you trying to walk away from me,
Jahgi
?”
Kai asked slowly, painfully.

Tears began to roll down Noel’s cheeks.
She had to do this. She had to be strong. “I’m not who you need, Kai. And I
love you enough to let you go.”

She didn’t want to see the anguish in
his eyes. She didn’t want to see him walk away.

“This isn’t over
Jahgi
, no matter
what you say. You belong with me and all the excuses in the world will not
change that.” His voice trailed down the corridor as Noel’s heart followed in
his wake.

Was she insane, she thought while
drinking a glass of wine courtesy of the well-stocked mini bar? Or had she done
the right thing in the long run in spite of how much it hurt?

As much as Noel hated to admit defeat,
Kai’s uncle was right. If Kai chose to be with her, she would have to remain a
secret. In the whirlwind of all the overwhelming emotions, they’d never really
talked about their lives if they were seriously going to make a relationship
work. He’d be constantly on the road touring and she’d be where? Would she
continue to work at the diner? What the hell did pop stars’ wives do anyway?
Hell, she wasn’t into all that glitz and glamour and the tabloids would have a
field day with her size. Nor could she see herself on a tour, especially if his
uncle had anything to say about it.

And if she was kept a secret that meant
Kai would be linked in the tabloids to more “acceptable” starlets. He’d be
tempted by the trappings of pop stardom, his uncle would make certain of that.

There would also be no way in hell she’d
let Kai give up his career, what he loved doing, for her sake. It just wouldn’t
work; they were from vastly different worlds. With the last swallow of wine her
mind was made up. In the end she would be saving the both of them from pain.

Kai hadn't slept all night. The scent of
Noel was still in his sheets, a few dark hairs on the pillow beside him. He
stared up at the ceiling.

She loved him, he knew that with a certainty.
The argument was just excuses and instead of walking away, he should have swept
her into his arms and made love to her until she realized he wouldn’t let her
walk out of his life.

Of course his uncle was behind it all.
The man knew how Noel felt about not interfering in his career and played that
insecurity. What the man didn’t know was the company, realizing the worldwide
appeal of T4L had far less problems with the relationship and public relations
had been looking to use it to generate even more interest in the West. Even if
the company was against it, Kai wasn’t going to allow them to dictate his
private life any further.

“You look like death,” G.K. told him the
next morning. Kai awoke tired, grouchy and ready to beat the hell out of something.
He preferred it not be his cousin. Instead he decided to call Noel but
discovered his phone was missing.

“Father took it,” his cousin said
sorrowfully. “He wants to make sure you don’t talk to Noel.”

Kai went cold as rage formed inside of
him. “This time he’s gone too far.”

His cousin’s eyes narrowed. “Oh it gets
better. He’s got bodyguards outside of the apartment as well.”

“Then they’d better kill me, Gi Kwang,
because I am going to Noel and no one had better try to stop me.” Snatching up
his jacket he made for the front door only to be blocked by James and another
bodyguard whom he didn’t know.

He faced them down resolutely. “I know
what my uncle wants, but I am leaving this apartment right now and you will not
stop me.”

The three men stared each other down for
a few moments then James slowly reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew an
envelope. Kai snatched it from him like a starving man would snatch a feast and
ripped it open with shaking hands. His eyes stared unblinking and unbelieving
as her words stabbed right into his soul:

My Dearest Kai,

I’ve come to realize that our
relationship just can’t work. We come from two different worlds and you have a
career to think of. I’m just a waitress, a regular woman, not a glamorous
celebrity or some beautiful model. I do love you very much but as cliché as it
sounds I also love you enough to let you go. By the time you find this I’ll be
on my way back home. I’ll never forget you and thank you for making me feel
like a princess, even if for a little while…

Saranghae, Noel.
Kai's crumpled the short letter and the
paper fluttered to the floor. He walked away from the three men towards the
window overlooking the bright lights of Seoul, then let out a howl of such pain
that G.K. shuddered.

When he faced them again he grabbed
James by his lapel and shook him violently. “Where is she,” he demanded as G.K.
and the other bodyguard extricated James from Kai’s grasp. “Did you take her to
the airport under his orders?”

James remained calm, but his answer held
a sympathetic note. “I think she took a cab. I went to check on her and found
that letter waiting for you.”

“But how the hell did she even get a
return ticket,” Kai asked no one in particular. Then realization slowly dawned
and rage suffused his features.

He looked thunderously at G.K. “I
realize he’s your father and my uncle, but this has nothing to do with family!”
Kai turned his angry eyes on Kwan and James. “I’m going after her!”

He stomped into the bedroom and through
rage-filled eyes threw a bunch of clothes into a suitcase as he called the
airline to make arrangements for the next flight to Las Vegas. No one tried to
stop him as he barged through the door, and the look on his face suggested that
no one dared try. Before his flight however, he would speak with Jin Yung. His
uncle had finally stepped over the line.

The long plane ride back home passed by
in a blur of silent tears hidden by moments of fitful sleep. Noel replayed
those last moments in her letter, hoping Kai would understand that it was all for
the best. He wouldn’t believe a word of it, just as he didn’t buy the lane
excuses she’d presented him with. Truth to tell neither had she. A part of her
wanted to take back the words, to stand by him proudly, but pragmatism reared
its ugly head. There would be no way anyone would accept their relationship and
T4L would suffer because of it. She liked all the guys and didn’t want to be
responsible for destroying their careers. Moreover, how could she and Kai have
any kind of relationship when they lived a world away? When would she ever see
him? Would he have wanted her to move to Seoul? Would he marry her or would she
just remain a secret like his uncle suggested?

Her heart was leaden as she went through
Customs in Las Vegas and she had no idea how she managed to grab a cab and get
home.

The moment she stepped into her
apartment, she dropped her suitcase and her purse, slid to the floor and cried
as her heart and soul bled.

Noel knew she needed to return to work, but
she couldn’t even force herself to leave the comfort of her lonely bed. She had
enough strength to nibble on whatever food she could scrounge from the
refrigerator or and to shower. Her cell phone lay accusing and silent on the
nightstand. When she turned it back on there were thirty-six calls from Kai and
the voicemail indicator was on. She wanted so badly to call Kai, but realized
that she needed to stay strong and do the right thing.

Days went by in a slow crawl and Noel
thought she was going to lose her mind. Her heart refused to heal and every
time she turned on the radio it was like a clear case of Toni Braxton’s
‘Another Sad Love Song’. She needed someone to talk to and immediately thought
of Rachael. They’d been best friends before Kai, and she could use Rachael’s
goofy sense of humor and common sense.

As if by divine intervention, Noel's
home phone rang, she reached out an arm and picked it up. There was a pause
before, as though her mind had conjured her,

“Hey Noel…you okay?” Rachael sounded hesitant.

“Do you care,” Noel said weakly,
remembering Rachael's hurtful words. “If it makes you feel any better, it
didn’t work out.”

“Look, I’m coming over, okay?”

Noel was too tired and too depressed to
argue. “Sure.”

Fifteen minutes later Rachael appeared
at the door carrying a bottle of wine and a large pizza. She seemed truly
shocked by her friend’s demeanor.

“You look like hell.”

Noel’s reply was caustic. “Gee, thanks.
If you’re just here to tell me how shitty I look, you can leave the wine and go
home.”

Rachael sighed, her eyes downcast. “Look
sweetie, I ‘m so sorry for how I acted. Even Kami was riding my butt about
being a bitch to you, and there’s nothing worse than a nosy-ass kid sister who
thinks having a friend who’s dating a famous K-Pop star is cool.”

Noel found herself smiling in spite of
her pain as Rachael reached out and took her hand.

“I admit it Noel, I was jealous. Here I
thought I’d finally found a guy I liked, even though if I were honest I knew
right off that it was
you
Kai wanted. I just lashed out because I kept
making a fool of myself while he was making goo-goo eyes at you.”

Noel laughed. After all the pain it felt
good to laugh, only to remember they were no longer together and the warmth of
their shared laughter turned into that pain again.

“What's wrong, Noel,” her friend asked
seeing the beginnings of tears in Noel’s eyes.

Noel finally let the tears she’d been
holding in flow as she told Rachael everything. When she finished Rachael’s
mouth was set in grim line. “What an asshole!”

Noel gave a watery smile at her
outburst. “Yeah. He was that.”

“But I still don't see why
you
left, Noel. Sounds to me like Kai
really
loves you.”

Noel gave a weary shrug. “That might be true
for now, but what happens when he gets tired of sneaking around or has to
choose his career over me? It’s best for the both of us if I end it now. I
don’t know what I’d do if Kai chose me only to regret it later.”

Rachael looked at her like she’d lost
her ever-loving mind. “So let me get this straight. You’re being all noble and
self-sacrificing over something that hasn’t even
happened
yet? Are you
crazy
,
girlfriend? I told you to stop reading all those bad romance novels where the
stupid chick gives up the man of her dreams for some lame-ass reason and now
look at you.”

Noel tried to explain, “You don't
understand.”

“No
you
don't,” Rachael
interrupted. “You’ve got a man, a smoking hot one I might add, who loves you
and has gone out of his way to show you just how much. Obviously Kai
has
thought of his career or he wouldn’t have started anything with you that he
couldn’t finish.”

“But his uncle…”