Page 134 of Save Me

“Our next honoree didn’t grow up in Williamsport, but he’s given so much to the city he now calls home,” the mayor says.

That’s when I see Dae standing not too far from the mayor’s side. A wide smile spreads my lips, and I clap louder than anyone else as the mayor introduces Dae and lists his work with Spring Days organization.

Dae steps up, shakes the mayor’s hand, and tries to exit after receiving the plaque from the mayor. But the mayor teasingly persuades him to give a speech.

I laugh and applaud with the rest of the audience, knowing my Dae hates this. Yet, he looks so damn good up there. And he absolutely should be recognized for his work.

“He should be proud of himself,” a man says behind me.

I glance to my side as he comes to stand next to me. He’s Asian, about five-ten, and appears harmless overall. But there’s a shiftiness about his eyes that I instantly don’t trust.

He looks from me to Dae and then smiles.

“My apologies, we haven’t met.” He extends his hand. “I’m Daniel Park. Dae and I have known each other for a long time.”

Reluctantly, I shake his hand. “I’m Kennedy,” I introduce.

“You’re Dae’s date for the evening, correct?”

I nod and turn to face the front of the room, where Dae is now naming and thanking the employees at Spring Days. “Yes.”

“He’s come a long way,” the man beside me continues.

There’s also something about his voice. It’s familiar.

“Have we met before?” I ask because my curiosity piques.

He turns to me, squinting. “You do have a familiar look about you …” He trails off and then tosses his hands upwards. “I’m sure I would remember meeting a beautiful woman like you.”

I take a step away.

“I’m sure you would have,” I reply with a phony smile.

My eyes circle the room and then land on Dae, who spots me in the audience at the same time. He glances over and sees the man standing next to me.

Dae’s expression darkens.

Dae makes a beeline for me, ignoring the people around him who wish to extend their congratulations. He reaches me within seconds and wraps an arm around my waist, possessively pulling me into him.

“Dae,” Daniel Park says. “It’s been a long time.” He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

“Don’t fucking speak to me.”

I gasp. Not at the words Dae speaks but at the hard tone in which he says them. He sounds like he’s about to rip Daniel Park’s head off.

I look between the two men. “How do you two know each other?”

Daniel Park looks at me. “Dae hasn’t told you? We’re old school friends. Oh,” Daniel Park says as a woman comes up beside him, “this is my wife, MiSoo Park.”

The woman is about the same as my five-foot-nine height with a willowy frame. Our eyes meet only briefly before she glances away. Her lips form a polite smile as she says a barely audible hello.

“Yes, my wife’s father entrusted me with the entertainment business he inherited years ago in Seoul,” Daniel Park continues. He looks toward Dae. “He always said I was like the son he never had.”

Dae’s arm tightens around my waist, almost to the point of pain. I also notice Daniel’s wife’s head pop up, and her eyes widen as she peers at her husband. But the expression is quickly lost, and that demure air overtakes her again.

Dae steps in between me and Daniel. “Don’t ever speak to my fucking woman again,” he tells him.

Though I don’t get a good vibe from the man, nothing he’s done so far warrants such an aggressive response.

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