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Nari spent the day with Yoongi working on the proposal.  His junior exec was set to give his presentation on Tuesday.  So Yoongi and Nari developed a plan to present hers to her appa that same day.  She had her proposal completed and typed up before she left Yoongi’s apartment later that evening.

She stood near his door as he embraced her.

“I wish I could bring you home with me tonight.  For dinner.”

Yoongi grimaced.  “I think I would be what’s for dinner if I went with you now.”

She laughed softly.  Then she lifted her face to his and kissed him gently.  

“I love you, Yoongi,” she whispered against his lips.

“Not half as much as I adore you, Nari.”  

His eyes promised delights she could only guess at.  Before his lips showed her a few.  Then she slipped out his door.  And she was gone.  

He turned around.  But the evidence of her was all over his apartment.  His lips spread in a slow smile as he prepared to wash some dishes.

—

Tuesday dawned bright and early.  Nari climbed from her bed to discover a text message waiting for her.

“Today’s the big day.  You’re going to do great!”

Her lips curved in a smile at Yoongi’s show of support.  But her stomach revolted.  She was so nervous.  How would her appa react today?  Would he reject both her and her proposal?  Would he be angry with her for trying to help him? 

She really had no idea what to expect.

She never would have traveled down this path if it hadn’t been for Yoongi.  His faith in her had given her the courage to fight for her dream.  She would repay the favor.  No matter what happened today.

—

What was going on?  She had expected Yoongi to call her into the meeting an hour ago.  She had even come to work an hour early so she could take this hour to present her proposal without compromising her janitorial job.  She had changed clothes for her meeting with her appa.  She’d wanted to look every inch the junior executive.  She stared in the mirror now.

And a sickening thought occurred to her.

What if Yoongi had stolen her proposal and was presenting it as his own idea even now?  What if he had no intention of calling her into the meeting?  What if the last few days had all been a ruse to use her?

But, why?  Maybe to help his appa’s company?  

Nari stared in the mirror as her nausea increased.  Now she wasn’t just nervous about meeting with her appa.  She was beginning to doubt Yoongi again.  And she hated herself for it.  But if he hadn’t betrayed her, what was taking so long?

A few moments later, as she debated putting her uniform back on, her phone suddenly buzzed. 

“Come.  Quickly!  Your appa just spent the last hour blasting the junior exec.  I just informed your appa that I have a proposal prepared for him.  One I worked on.  He had to take a phone call.  He’s going to meet me in the conference room again in five minutes.  But he’s not happy.”

Normally, she would have been terrified to face her appa after reading those words.  But she was so relieved that Yoongi hadn’t betrayed her that she sailed out the door with a gigantic grin on her face.  At least she wouldn’t be facing the lion alone.  She would have Yoongi with her.  And, ultimately, at the end of today, even if her appa rejected her, she would still have Yoongi with her.  She wasn’t alone anymore.  And it just felt so good.

She made a beeline for the conference room.  And found only Yoongi there.  She rushed through the door with her materials and headed for the presenter’s spot at the table.

“You ready?” Yoongi queried.

“An hour ago,” she replied.

“What are you doing here?”  It was her appa’s cold voice.  

She glanced up at him.  Her heart tripped.  But then her eyes traveled to Yoongi, and the expression in his eyes coupled with the smile on his face – and the little thumbs-up sign he shot her – bolstered her courage.

“I’m here to present my proposal to you, sir,” she replied to her father.

“Your proposal?” His eyes flew from her face to Yoongi’s.  “You led me to believe it was your proposal.”

Yoongi shook his head.  “No, sir.  You just assumed that.  I said I had a proposal I’d worked on.  And I did.  I typed it up for Nari when she worked on it on Sunday.”

“Sunday?”  Once again, her appa’s eyes traveled from one to the other.  “You were with Mr. Min on Sunday?”

She nodded.

“Iseul said you spent the night at a friend’s Saturday night.  Is this the friend you were with?”