I give her a thin smile. She’s just doing her job. “I haven’t.”
“But if you need anything—”
“I’ll most definitely let both of you know. Until then, you can assume that I don’t.” I make sure to add some wattage to my smile.
The drive is quiet. Not even the navigation directions are audible, because Mr. Choi has an earpiece. When we arrive at Declan’s mansion, Mr. Choi opens the door for me. I step out and turn to Mom’s spies.
“Why don’t you two go hang out at a nearby café or something?”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” Ms. Kim says.
“We need to keep you safe.” Mr. Choi smiles and bows.
“You don’t see Eugene’s bodyguard tagging around after him at his office. You know why? Because it’s safe inside.” I gesture behind me. “Just like I’m safe inside that mansion.”
Ms. Kim looks pained. “But you are not your brother.”
I shoot her a look that says how dare she contradict me. “Don’t be a sexist, Ms. Kim.”
“But it’s true. We can’t have you be alone with a man,” Mr. Choi adds in an impassive tone, like it’s the most logical thing in the world.
“What do you think this is? The Joseon era?” I shoot back, referring to a particularly female-unfriendly Korean dynasty that started in the fourteenth century. The founders were in love with Confucius and said boys and girls shouldn’t be in the same room together if they were over the age of seven. Those old-fashioned fools would have a stroke if they saw a modern elementary school.
Mr. Choi and Ms. Kim both look back at me blandly. Which means they aren’t budging.
“If you don’t stop, I’m sending you both to internal audit.” This is stooping shamefully low, but it’s the best threat in my arsenal.
“If we don’t go in there with you, Lady Min will be exiling both of us to internal audit. Forever,” Ms. Kim says.
Damn it. Mom neutralized my most effective weapon. If it’s me or Mom, Dad will choose Mom because he values his marriage too much. And he has to live with her. He hasn’t stayed in charge of a multibillion-dollar conglomerate by being stupid.
“You won’t even notice we’re there,” Mr. Choi says.
Yeah, right, because his death glare is so subtle. But I sigh and march into the mansion with the two tagging along behind me.
Declan starts to wave from the kitchen, then stops when he notices my entourage. “Oh. I didn’t realize they were coming.”
“My mother’s orders.” I mouth, Sorry.
Declan gives them an “I wasn’t expecting you, but welcome anyway” smile and gestures at the fridge. “Do you want anything for breakfast?”
I want to tell him not to offer them anything, although it would be petty as hell. And very un-Korean to be stingy with food. Mom would be embarrassed.
But I’m resentful, and how else am I going to express my displeasure?
“No, thank you,” Ms. Kim and Mr. Choi decline in stereo sound. They move to the living room and take a couch, turning so they can see me and Declan more clearly. Who needs video surveillance when you have these two?
“They’re going to be here until…?” Declan asks in a low voice.
“Until Benedict comes back. Which is ridiculous, and I’m really sorry. But they promised they won’t get in the way.”
He leans closer. “They’re already in the way because I can’t give you a good-morning kiss.”
Aww. I go warm all over thinking about it. “Same here. I’ll find a way to get us some privacy.”
“Deal.”
Thankfully, Mr. Choi and Ms. Kim do stay fairly unobtrusive. But it still drives me crazy, because the most Declan and I can do is brush hands and exchange glances while we work through the morning mail.