Page 57 of Idol Lives
Seong Hyeon solemnly nodded. “Indeed, sir.”
Mina let out a choked gasp that echoed through the cramped office. “An inside job?” she whispered, her eyes wide with disbelief and anger. “Someone on our team did this?”
“We don’t know that,” Seong Hyeon replied. “But we can certainly remedy that going forward.”
Mina huffed. “Oh, great. That’ll throw off all our schedules.”
“Don’t forget the venue staff, too,” Yun Seo added.
Seong Hyeon nodded. “We’ve been relying on the venues to police their own staff. Perhaps that should change.”
“No,” Tae Hyun announced, his tone strong and decidedly firm. “That’s too much.”
Jason’s automatic response was to disagree. Nothing that protected Tae Hyun was too much. He couldn’t imagine the violation Tae Hyun must have felt after the attack. Whoever was behind it needed to pay, but not at the expense of Tae Hyun’s peace of mind. He gave Tae Hyun’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
“He’s right,” Jason calmly but firmly agreed. He looked at Tae Hyun with a silent message of understanding. Internally, he wrestled with the decision. He longed tolock Tae Hyun away, shielded from the world’s cruelty. But that wasn’t fair to him or the fans who adored him. They’d find another way to protect him that didn’t compromise the magic of his performances. “We have to draw the line somewhere.”
Tae Hyun lovingly smiled, squeezing Jason’s hand in return. “Thanks, hyung.”
Mina sighed. “Well, I’ll talk to the crew leaders tonight and let them know we’ll be tightening our backstage security, at least for the time being.” She glanced up at the clock. “In fact, I should do that now before it gets too late.” She put a comforting hand on Tae Hyun’s shoulder. “You’re good?”
Tae Hyun nodded. “I am, thank you.”
As Mina made her exit, Jason turned to Seong Hyeon, filled with a quiet urgency. “Handle this as best you can,” he instructed. “I want our security doubled, tripled if you can manage it. But be discreet. No one panics, and no one outside this room knows more than they need to.”
Seong Hyeon frowned. “No one, sir?”
“Nobody that you don’t absolutely trust.”
Seong Hyeon nodded. “Consider it done, sir. I’ll send you back to the hotel with my brother.”
Minutes later, they were whisked away from the bustling Xinyi Dome. Tae Hyun leaned back against the plush leather seat in back of the SUV, his eyes closed, the calm smoothing his features. Jason watched him, his conflicting feelings waging a silent battle inside.
Jason reached out, his fingers lightly tracing the back of Tae Hyun’s hand, a surge of pride warming him. The memory of Tae Hyun commanding the stage, turning a moment of potential disaster into an act of defiant beauty, filled him with awe.
“You were incredible tonight,” Jason murmured. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Tae Hyun opened his eyes, a tired smile on his lips. “Thank you, hyung. I couldn’t have done it without you.” He squeezed Jason’s hand, the simple gesture a powerful affirmation of their love.
Jason returned the squeeze, his thumb gently brushing against Tae Hyun’s skin. “You know I’m always here for you, right?” He meant it with every fiber of his being, ignoring the shadow of unease still lingering at the edges of his mind. Ren’s face, his too-bright smile, his calculated words–they haunted Jason’s thoughts. But Tae Hyun had made it clear that he wanted Ren as a friend. Jason had to find a way to deal with it. He wouldn’t let his jealousy and insecurities jeopardize what they had.
Yet, as Tae Hyun leaned his head against Jason’s shoulder, that unease remained. He wouldn’t voice his doubts when Tae Hyun needed his support. But the seed of suspicion had been planted, a tiny thorn in the otherwise perfect rose of their reunion.
The SUV pulled to a stop at the Xinyi Grand Hotel’s private VIP entrance, and Andre escorted the pair to the penthouse level. The opulence of the penthouse suite, with its panoramic views and luxurious furnishings, felt surprisingly cold and sterile. It was a reminder of the vast gulf between their public personas and the messy reality of their lives.
Tae Hyun led Jason through the sprawling suite to their bedroom, his movements slow and deliberate as if weighed down by the day’s events. He paused at the edge of the bed, concern in his eyes as he began to take off his clothes.
“Hyung,” Tae Hyun began, calm and quiet. “How are youholding up? I feel like today’s been all about me.”
Jason was taken aback but touched by Tae Hyun’s genuine concern for him. He offered a reassuring smile. “I’m fine,” he replied as he undressed. “Just tired.” Not exactly a lie, but definitely not the whole truth.
But Tae Hyun wasn’t fooled. He reached out, grabbing the covers and pulling them back. “Talk to me,” he said as he climbed into bed. “I want to know what’s going on with you, too. We haven’t talked about you or Brightstar at all since you got here.”
Apart from his recent chat with Naomi, Jason had hardly thought of Brightstar since getting the call from Danny Crash. But Tae Hyun’s invitation gently nudged open the door to the worries that had been chewing on him. He hesitated, unsure of how to even begin. But Tae Hyun’s eyes, warm and inviting, held no judgment, only love.
Jason climbed onto the bed, snuggling close to Tae Hyun, who snuck his arm around Jason’s shoulder and pulled him close. It was a reverse of their usual cuddle position, but Jason would’ve been lying to say he didn’t like it.
“It’s a lot,” Jason began. “Boardrooms, contracts, and corporate politics.” He took a deep breath, the words pouring out in a rush. “I never wanted this. I never wanted to be the one making decisions that affect the lives and livelihoods of who knows how many people. I just want to be an actor and tell stories. I just want to be with you.”
