By Zephyria 
“Damn it.”
He cursed again and shifted his gaze, only to see Grayson staring at him with wide eyes. He was frozen in place, mid-action of placing bacon and eggs on the bread, only blinking. Embarrassed, Dane scratched his head and muttered,
“Sorry, eat up.”
Grayson finally resumed his actions as Dane awkwardly used tongs to add salad to his plate. Dane stared blankly at Grayson, then tilted his head back to look at the ceiling and sighed. What’s done is done. He could only hope it would quietly fade away.
“Why did that bastard come?”
At Dane’s question, Grayson looked back at him. Dane said patiently,
“Keith Pittman.”
“Ah.”
Grayson soon replied with his usual grinning face.
“Because of the article.”
Just as he had expected. He knew that man wouldn’t just let it slide, but he didn’t expect him to show up in a helicopter.
He must be really pissed.
But thanks to that, things will be resolved quickly. Now that Yeon-woo has been mentioned, he’s definitely not the kind of guy to just sit back and take it.
“He warned us not to get involved with Yeon-woo anymore.”
Just as expected.
Dane just blinked listlessly at Grayson’s grinning remark. It was a natural consequence. This matter would now be concluded like this, but…
The problem was that he was stuck doing unwanted Community service. When Dane first heard about the week off, he thought it was great. He imagined lounging around, swimming in that vast and wonderful outdoor pool, and sunbathing, which naturally made the corners of his mouth lift. But Station Chief set a condition as if he had seen it all.
“Go do Community service during that time.”
The moment he heard those words, Dane, who had been so relaxed until then, felt rage surge from within.
“Station Chief!”
“Go!”
Station Chief shouted as loudly as Dane. Dane paused, overwhelmed by the force, and Station Chief quickly seized the opportunity to continue.
“Do you know how messed up the fire station is because of you two? Everyone’s swarming in, saying they’re here for coverage! And the number of calls we’re getting! Prank calls, obscene calls, emergency calls, they’re all pouring in, and it’s all because of you and Miller! Am I wrong? Huh? Am I wrong!”
Overwhelmed by the barrage, Dane had no choice but to mutter,
“…You’re right.”
“Right?”
Station Chief became emboldened and spewed out the next words.
“I’ll send you the dates and locations by email. Make sure you finish everything and come back, and report to me as soon as you’re done!”
“…Understood.”
Station Chief added to Dane, who replied listlessly.
“Tell Miller exactly what I said. I’ll send Miller’s location separately by email, so tell him to check it.”
Dane paused at those words.
“Are Miller and I, no, Miller, doing Community service separately?”
“Of course! What kind of trouble are you two going to cause if you stick together again! Stay apart! Don’t ever be together again!”
It didn’t end there.
“If I ever see you two together again, I’m docking both of your pay for six months!”
“Station Chief!”
“One year!”
Station Chief immediately hung up the phone. Dane could only stare blankly at his cell phone.
And now.
Dane was deep in thought with a serious expression. Seeing the puppy in front of him blithely talking about honeymoons, it was clear he hadn’t heard the news yet. When does this guy check his email? Surely he doesn’t just not check it at all?
“Haa.”
Dane, who let out a sigh close to a deep breath, looked at Grayson’s face. Now he had to make a bombshell announcement. He was inwardly anxious about how this brightly smiling face would soon change, and he opened his mouth.
“Station Chief sent you an email.”
“Really?”
Seeing his seemingly uninterested face, Dane continued,
“Check it. I’m leaving first.”
“What?”
Leaving him puzzled, Dane quickly cleared the dishes and left the snack bar. Grayson, who was about to get up to follow, realized that the breakfast Dane had made for him was still there and quickly sat back down. After quickly emptying his plate, he cleared the dishes as well and followed Dane into the hallway.
“Dane, where are you going? We should go together.”
Grayson, who had finished getting ready and was coming out, shouted urgently. Dane pretended not to notice him and brushed past him, muttering,
“Check your email.”
“What email…”
He looked back and forth between his cell phone and Dane, then irritably opened his email and froze.
“What is this?”
Ignoring the bewildered shout from behind, Dane hurriedly left the mansion. And before Grayson could chase after him, he quickly started the car and drove towards his destination. By the time Grayson rushed out, Dane’s car had already disappeared without a trace.
Damn it, goddamn it, fucking shit.
Grayson was stepping on the accelerator with a very angry face. After grasping the situation, the first place he headed to was, of course, the fire station. He was going to grab Station Chief, who had issued such an absurd order, and persuade him to withdraw the order, but it was impossible. As Dane had said in the morning, there were numerous reporters and paparazzi camped out in front of the fire station. If he got out of the car, he would be surrounded by them and unable to do anything, let alone meet Station Chief.
Fucking hell.
Grayson slammed his fist on the steering wheel, but there was no other way. Moreover, a special warning was added to the email.
If either of you doesn’t complete the Community service properly, I’m docking both of your pay.
Of course, Grayson didn’t give a damn about the warning. But it was different for Dane. If a pay cut was imposed because of Grayson, Dane might strangle him.
Reluctantly, Grayson gritted his teeth and headed to the first location, and after being tormented all day, he was finally on his way home. This wouldn’t do. He had to come up with a plan with Dane. Let’s think of something. Dane wouldn’t want this either…
“No way.”
But Dane flatly rejected Grayson’s idea.
Thanks to leaving first and heading straight to his destination without doing anything foolish, he had returned early, finished showering, and was having a beer. He opened his mouth in a nonchalant tone to Grayson, who was about to protest immediately.
“Stirring things up will only make the period longer. Not only that, but we might even get a pay cut. Just shut up and do as you’re told, a week will pass quickly.”
“But not together, but separately…”
“Just do it.”
Dane sighed and shook his head.
“Station Chief is stubborn. Once he makes a decision, he never backs down. Talking to him will only backfire.”
He was probably right. But Grayson couldn’t give up so easily. Already less than half of the promised period remained. A week out of that was a huge, fatal blow. If he couldn’t reason with him…
“If we keep our mouths shut and do it for about 3 or 4 days, Station Chief might soften up a bit. Maybe we can talk to him again around then.”
Grayson paused and looked at him. Dane took a sip of his beer and continued.
“If we buy him a drink and talk to him, he’ll come around quickly. The problem is timing.”
He looked at Grayson out of the corner of his eye and raised the corner of his mouth. It was the face of a villain plotting a scheme that anyone could see.
“Just you wait, you damn old geezer. Do you think I’m going to do free Community service for a whole week like this?”
“Dane…!”
As Grayson, moved, clasped his hands together and called out his name,
♬♪♪♩♬♪…….
The sound of the front door bell ringing loudly throughout the house made them both pause. Grayson looked at Dane for a moment, then tilted his head and headed to the hallway. Dane, who was only wearing training pants, shirtless with a towel around his shoulders, wondered and moved to the balcony.
Stretching his body out and looking down, he could see several unfamiliar cars parked in front of the house. The moment he saw people who looked like bodyguards spread out, Dane frowned.
Could it be…
With an unpleasant feeling, he went out to the hallway and strolled down the stairs. And hiding behind the wall and peeking down, he was soon able to know the answer.
Just as he thought.
Dane grimaced and sighed. He saw Koi hugging Grayson and Ashley Miller standing a few steps away.