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Dishonest Won’t look convincing Unethical

 

That’s a few from millions reason that Shin Hye mostly think why a fake ring is a bad idea.

 

Nevertheless, there she is in Jongno Street at ten the following morning. She’s wandering along, trying to hide the fact that her eyes are on stalks. She never been to Jongno Street before. Actually she didn’t even know it existed. A whole street of jewellers.

There are more diamonds here than she have ever seen in her lifetime. Sighs everywhere are boasting best prices, highest carats, superb value and bespoke design. Obviously this is engagement-ring city. Couples are wandering along and girls are pointing in through the windows and the men are smiling but all look slightly sick wherever their girlfriend turn away.

She never ever been into a jewellery shop. Not a grown-up, proper one like these. The only jewellery she ever had has come from markets and Topshop. Such places like that. Her parents gave her a pair of pearl studs for her thirteenth birthday, but she didn’t go into the shop with them. Jewellery shops have been places she walked past, thinking they’re for other people. But now, since she’s here, she can’t help having a good old look.

“Who would buy this?” She shriek in lower voice, disbelief as she see a brooch made out of yellow diamonds in the shape of spider for USD 17 700. “That’s so . . .” She convert the price to Korean won.

Min Ho friend’s shop is called KB Designs. It has a lots of diamonds set in a platinum bands, and a sign saying:

‘Free Champagne for engaged couples. Make you ring-choosing experience a special one.’

 

Shin Hye didn’t find anything about replicas or fakes, and she start to feel nervous.

‘What if Min Ho misunderstood?’

‘What if I end up buying a real emerald ring out of embarrassment?’

She imagining how she has to spend the rest of her life paying it off. She instantly shakes her head. “Relax Shin Hye. Be positive!” She say to herself before look up and wandering around. “Where is he?” She look at her watch. He promised to pop along and introduce her to his friend. Apparently he works just round the corner – though he didn’t reveal exactly where.

She turn and survey the street. She feel a kind of weird that they never met properly, face to face.

Just then, there’s a man, taller, walking briskly on the other side of the road and for a brief moment she think perhaps that’s him. But then a deep voice says – “Shin Hye? I mean Park Shin Hye?”

She turn, and of course, that’s him – the taller guy with combed up hair striding towards her. He’s taller than she remember from her glimpse of him in the hotel lobby, but has the same distinctive thick eyebrows and sharp-deep pair of eyes. He’s wearing a dark suit and immaculate white shirt and a charcoal tie. He flashes a brief smile and she notice that his teeth are very white and even – means they won’t be for much longer if he doesn’t go to the dentist.

“Hi. Shin Hye.” As he approaches he hesitates, then extends a hand. “Good to meet you properly.”

“Hi.” She smile back tentatively and they shake hands. ‘A nice handshake. Warm and positive.’ She can’t deny the fact as their hands meet.

“So, Jessica definitely staying with us.” Min Ho tilts his head. “Thanks again for your insight.”

“No problem!” She shrug awkwardly. “It was nothing.”

“Seriously. I appreciate it.”

 

Shin Hye take it as odd, talking face to face. She distracted by seeing his deep eye and his hair rippling in the breeze. She feel it’s easier by text. She wonder if he feels the same way.

“So.” He gestures at the jewellery shop. “Shall we?”

 

The shop is seriously cool and expensive. She wonder if he and Chae Won came to choose their ring here. ‘They must have done.’ She answer silently, although the truth is she almost tempted to ask him. It’s because she feel like she know far too much about them.

Most couples, we meet at the pub or at their house, where you talk about relaxing stuff. But with these two, she feel as she has been pitched straight into some fly-on-the-wall documentary and they don’t even know.

She found an old email last night from Chae Won which just said:

Do you know how much pain you have caused me, Min Ho? Quite apart from all the ing Brazilians!!

Which is something she really wish she hadn’t read. If she ever meet her, that’s the only thing she’s going to be able to think about. Brazilians.

 

Min Ho has pressed the buzzer and is ushering her into the smart, dimly lit shop. At once a girl in a dove-grey suit comes up.

“Hello, may I help?” She has a soft, honey-like voice which completely suits the muted décor of the shop.

“We’re here to see Mr. Kim Bum.” Min Ho says. “It’s me Lee Min Ho.”

“That’s right.” Another girl in dove-grey nods. “He’s waiting for you. Take them through.” She tell the first girl.

“May I get you a glass of champagne?” Says the girl, giving Shin Hye a knowing smile as they walk along. “Sir? Champagne?”

“No thanks.” Min Ho say says.

“Me neither.” Shin Hye chime in.

“Are you sure?” The girl twinkles at her. “It’s a big moment for the two of you. Just a little glass to take care of the nerves.”

‘Oh my God!’ Shin Hye scream in silent. Her eyes widen as she heard. She clearly understand now. ‘She thinks we’re engaged couple?’

She glance at Min Ho for help, but he’s typing something on his phone. And, there’s no way she’s launching into the story of losing her priceless heirloom ring in front of a bunch of strangers, and hearing all the gasps of horror.

“I’m fine honestly.” She smile awkwardly to the girl. “It’s not . . . I mean, we’re not - - “

“That’s a wonderful watch, sir!” The girl attention has been distracted. “Is that vintage Cartier? I’ve never seen one quite like it.”

“Thanks.” Min Ho nods. “Got it at an auction in Paris.”

Shin Hye pay attention to his watch. The watch is quite amazing. It’s got an old leather strap and the dull-gold dial has the staining of another age. ‘He got it in Paris. That’s cool!’ She glances at the watch again.

“Goodness.” As they walk, the girl takes Shin Hye arm and leans in, lowering her voice, girl to girl. “He has exquisite taste. Lucky you! You can’t say the same of all the men who come in here. Some of them go for absolute horrors. But a man who buys himself vintage Cartier has got to be on the right track!”

Shin Hye blink her eyes as she look at the girl with blank expression. ‘What should I say?’

She smiles. “Err… right.” She mumble, staring at the floor.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to embarrass you.” the girl say charmingly. “Please let me know if you change your mind about the champagne. Have a wonderful session with Mr. Kim.” She ushers them into a large back room with a concrete floor, lined with metal-fronted cabinets. A guy in jeans and spectacle gets up from a trestle table and greet Min Ho warmly.

“Hey, Min Ho! Been too long!”

“Kim Bum! How are you doing?” Min Ho claps Kim Bum on the back, then steps aside. “This is Park Shin Hye.”

“Good to meet you Miss Park Shin Hye.” Kim Bum shakes her heand.

“Shin Hye. Just call me that.”

Kim Bum smile warmly as he look at her. “OK Shin Hye, so I understand you need a replica ring.”

 

Shin Hye feel an immediate lurch of paranoia and guilt. ‘Did he have to say it out loud like that?’

“Just very temporarily.” She reply, keep her voice almost to a whisper. “Just while I find the real thing. Which I will, really, really soon.” She explains as to overcome her guilt.

“Understood.” Kim Bum nods. “Useful to have a replica anyway. We do a lot of replacements for travel and so forth. Normally we only make replicas of jewellery we’ve designed ourselves, but we can make the odd exception for friends.” Kim Bum winks at Min Ho. “Although we do try to be a little discreet about it. Don’t want to undermine our core business.”

“Yes.” Shin Hye say quickly. “Of course. I want to be discreet too. Very much so.”

“Do you have a picture? Photo?”

“Here.” She haul out a photo which she printed off her computer this morning. It’s of her and Soo Hyun at the restaurant where he proposed. They got the couple at the next table to take a picture of them. She’s holding up her left hand proudly, with the ring clearly visible. She look absolutely giddy – is how her feeling on that time.

Kim Bum and Min Ho stare at it in silence.

 

“So, that’s the guy you’re marrying.” Says Min Ho at last. “The Scrabble Beast.”

Shin Hye turn to him, there’s something in his tone which makes her feel defensive. But, she have no idea why. “Yes.” She reply shortly. “His name is Kim Soo Hyun.”

“Isn’t he the academic?” Min Ho frowning at the photo. “Had the TV series?”

“Yes.” She feel a flash of pride. “Exactly.”

“That’s a four-carat emerald, I’d guess?” Kim Bum looks up from squinting at the photo.

“Maybe.” She say helplessly. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know how many carats your engagement ring is?” Both men shoot her an odd look.

“What?” She feel herself flush. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know I’d lose it.”

“That’s very sweet.” Says Kim Bum with a wry little smile. “Most girls know it down to the nearest decimal. Then they round up.”

“Oh, well.” She shrug to cover her embarrassment. “It’s a family ring. We didn’t really talk about it.”

“We have a lot of mounts in stock. Let me look . . .” Kim Bum pushes his chair away and starts searching through the metal drawers.

“So he still doesn’t know you’ve lost it?” Min Ho jerks a thumb at the picture of Soo Hyun.

“Not yet.” Shin Hye bite her lip. “I’m hoping it’ll turn up and . . .”

“He’ll never have to know you ever lost it.” Min Ho finishes for her. “You’ll keep the secret safe till your deathbed.”

She look away, feeling twingey with guilt. She don’t like this. She don’t like having secrets from Soo Hyun. She don’t like being the kind of person who has assignations behind their fiance’s back. But she have no other way.

 

“So, I’m still getting Seol Hyun’s emails on this.” She gesture at him with the phone, to distract herself. “I thought the technical people were sorting it out.”

“So did I.”

“Well, you’ve got some new ones. You’ve been asked about the Fun Run four times, now.”

“Hmm.” He barely nods.

“Aren’t you going to answer? And what about your hotel room for this conference in Jeju? Do you need it for one night or two?”

“I’ll see. Not sure yet.” Min Ho seems unmoved, she feel a stab of frustration.

 

“Don’t you answer your emails?”

“I prioritize.” He calmly taps at his screen.

“Oh, it’s Miss Kim Hye Jin birthday!” She’s reading it. “She’s in marketing. Do you want to say Happy Birthday to her?”

“No, I do not.” He sounds so adamant. She feel a bit upset.

“What’s wrong with saying Happy Birthday to a colleague?”

“I don’t know her.”

“Yes, you do! You work with her.”

“I work with 243 people.”

“But isn’t she the girl who came up with that website strategy document the other day?” She say suddenly remembering an old email correspondence. “Weren’t you all really pleased?”

“Yes.” He says blankly. “What’s that got to do with this?”

 

She narrow her eyes on him. ‘God! He’s stubborn!’ She pursed her lips before look down on the phone again, scroll down to the next email.

“Ji Sung Joon has finalized the Korean Air deal. He wants to give you his full report on Monday straight after the team meeting. Is that OK?”

“Fine.” Min Ho barely glances up. “Just forward it. Thanks.”

She rolls her eye secretly. ‘If I forward them all, I’m sure you’ll just let it sit there in the in-box all day out, without answering.’

“Why don’t I reply?” She suddenly offer. “Since you’re here and I’ve got the email open? It’ll only take a minute.”

“Oh.” He seems surprised. “Thanks. Just say ‘Yes’.”

“Yes.” She carefully type. “Anything else?”

“Put ‘LMH’”

She stare at the screen, dissatisfied. “Yes, LMH.”

It looks so bare, so curt. She don’t like it. “What about adding something like, ‘Well done’?” She suggest. “Or ‘You did it!’ Or just ‘Best Wishes’ and thanks for everything.”

Min Ho looks up at her. Unimpressed. “‘Yes, Sam’ will be plenty.”

Her brow furrows as she keep her eye on him before she look away. “Typical!” She mutter under her breath.

“Excuse me?” He reply.

She bite her tongue before look up. “Nothing.” She say nonchalantly.

Min Ho keep her eye on her as telling her to say it loudly.

“OK fine. I think you’re so abrupt. Your emails are so short! They’re awful.” She say at last. Her voice turn down towards the end. Frustrated with what she said, but she can’t stop herself.

 

He keeps his eyes on her, with a long pause of silence. He looks as flabbergasted as if the chair had started to speak.

She feels uncomfortable under his stares. “Sorry.” She helplessly say, giving an awkward shrug. “But it’s just true?”

 

“OK.” He say at last. “Let’s just get the things straight. In the first place, borrowing this phone does not give you a license to read and critiques my email. He hesitates. “In the second place, short is good!”

She pursed her lips as she heard. She’s regretting having spoken, but she can’t back down now. “Not that short.” She retort. “And you ignore most people completely. It’s rude.”

She finally say all it out.

Min Ho is glaring at her. “Like I said, I prioritize. Now, since your ring situation is sorted, maybe you’d like to hand the phone back and my emails won’t have to bother you anymore.” He hold out his hand.

She’s disbelief with what he say just now as she hold her gaze on him before drop to his hand. ‘Oh God! Is that the reason he’s helping me? So I’ll give the phone back?’

“No.” She clutch the phone. “I mean . . . please. I still need it. The hotel might phone me any minute, Miss Min Ha Ri will have this number . . .”

She pause as her mind can’t think properly. She know it’s irrational, but she feel the moment she give the phone up, it’s like she’s saying goodbye to any chance of finding the ring. She put it behind her back for good measure and gaze pleadingly at him.

“This is ridiculous.” Min Ho sighs nastily. “I’m interviewing for a new PA this afternoon. That’s a company phone. You can’t just keep it!”

“I won’t! But can I have it just few more days? I won’t critiques your emails anymore.” She add tamely. “Promise.” She instantly pull her hand up, gesturing the Brownie’s honour together with her pleading face.

OK guys!” Kim Bum interrupts them. Both of them turn to him. “Good news. I’ve found a mount. Now I’ll select some stones for you to look at. Excuse me for a moment . . .” He smiles warmly.

 

As he heads out of the room, her phone bleeps with a new text.

“It’s from Moon Chae Won.” She say, glancing down. “Look.” She gesture at her hands. “Forwarding. Not passing any comment. None at all.” She try hard to prove it to him.

“Hrrmm.” Min Ho gives the same noncommittal growl her gave before when she mentioned Chae Won.

There’s an odd little pause between them.

‘What should I ask him? Should I ask how they meet? Or when they’re getting married?’ She glances at him. ‘No! I can’t go there. It’s crossing the border. I can’t simply ask him about his life’

She glance once again. She know he can be growly and curt, but she still can’t see him with a self-obsessed, like Chae Won. Especially now she has met him in the flesh. ‘She must be really, really, really attractive.’ She decide as she imagining it. ‘Like a supermodel. And her dazzling looks have blinded him to everything else about her.’

She inhales softly, before clear her throats as to fill the silence. “Loads of people are replying to the email about Miss Kim’s birthday.” She observe. ‘They obviously don’t have a problem with it.’

“Round-robin emails are the work of the devil.” Min Ho barely misses a beat. “I’d rather shoot myself than reply to one.”

Her lips curl a tiny smirk. ‘Well, such a nice attitude of you LMH!’

This Hye Jin is obviously popular. Every twenty seconds some fresh, ‘Reply All’ message arrives on the screen, like ‘Happy Birthday Hye Jin! Have a wonderful celebration, whatever are you doing.’ The phone keeps buzzing and flashing. It’s like a party in there.

‘And only this LMH is refusing to join it.’ She continue nags in silent. But the more she look at the phone the more she can’t stand for not wishing for the birthday.

“Erm . . . Can’t I write ‘Happy Birthday?’ from you?” She kind of begging him. “Go on. You don’t have to do anything. I’ll type it.”

“’s sake!” Min Ho looks up from his own phone. “OK! Whatever. Say Happy Birthday. But no smiley faces or kisses.” He adds warningly. “Just ‘Happy Birthday. LMH.’”

He says in stern voice.

At fast as that, Shin Hye type:

Happy Birthday Miss Kim Hye Jin! Hope you’re having a great time today. Well done again on that website strategy, it was awesome. Best wishes, LMH.

And she hurriedly send it, before he can wonder why she’s typing so much. She glances at him after successfully send it. Smiling silently, happy with what she’s done.

“What about the dentist?” She decide to push her luck.

“What about the dentist?” He repeats. Like he doesn’t know what she’s talking about or genuinely forgotten.

She suddenly feel an almighty surge of frustration.

 

“Here we are!” The door opens and Kim Bum reappears, holding out a dark blue velvet tray.
These are our simulated emeralds.”

“Wow.” Shin Hye breathe, her attention torn away from the phone. In front of her ate ten rows of gleaming emeralds. Even though they’re not real but quite frankly, she can’t tell the difference.

“Is there any stone which strike you as having