Chapter 22

 

Part 2

 

 

Torch Song

 

What a time to pick a fight
The world is full of those tonight
I looked to you 
You stole my life
but here it is the simple task

Save me...
Save me...
Save me...

 

-Shady Bard; From The Ground Up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“What is it?” I ask in an irritated manner as I bring my ringing phone to my ear, my other hand busy shuffling papers that are needed to be signed yet the voice on the other line made me stop.

 

 

“I believed that I’ve instilled good manners in all of my children and grandchildren as they were growing up.  Now what is this kind of greeting I hear from you, young man?”

 

 

“Halmoni!”  I almost choke on my words as I straighten up, checking and re-checking the caller id on my hand phone.  Cursing to myself, I decided to begin my sincerest apologies.

 

 

“Jiyong-ah, I know that you’ve been busy with work and all but I and your grandfather expect at least a pleasant five minute call,”

 

 

“I’m so sorry, halmoni.  I really intended on calling you this weekend but I’ve been taking business trips and… I’m really sorry,” I finally breathe out, mentally scolding myself for even trying to make-up a bunch of excuses.

 

 

Growing up a Kwon, we are taught that there are no excuses when it comes to family.

 

 

“Aigoo, that’s what Chaerin-nie has been telling us.  It’s good thing that my future granddaughter in-law is very understanding and calls us in behalf of you.  If I had a boyfriend like you I would have kicked you somewhere you wouldn’t like!” I leaned back in my seat cringing at the thought before shaking my head, a smile on my face.

 

 

My grandmother certainly has ways to make you bend and obey to her.  As funny as her threats sounds, I bet all my property that she’s only half kidding.  

 

 

Chaerin

 

 

I stand up, slowly walking to the sofa as I listen to my grandmother reminding me of my parent’s upcoming anniversary on Saturday.  But then, even with all her lecturing on taking care of my health I couldn’t help but smile at her earlier reference to my Chaerin.  I knew she still calls my grandparents every now and then and this itself adds up to my list of things I appreciate about her.  None of my past girlfriends were this close to my family.

 

 

Family

 

 

Someday, Chaerin and I would build our own and I would be the happ—

 

 

“Are you listening to me?” my grandmother’s voice brings me back down to earth as I clear my throat and answer a quick yes.

 

 

“Good, now I and your haraboji want to see our Chaerin-nie as well so you must bring her.  If she isn’t by your side then don’t bother coming at all,” she sternly reminds me as I assure her in the sincerest way I could possibly muster. 

 

 

“And by the way, when are you getting married?  Why haven’t you even proposed to Chaerin yet?  And don’t tell me you still aren’t ready!  You are already 30 years old!  My life here on earth is already numbered and I’ve yet to see a great-grandchild from you,” I sigh and groan at her words especially at the last part. 

 

 

The truth is, ever since Chaerin and I got together, my grandparents had wanted nothing more but to seal the deal.  They love my Chae-roo too much that wanting to make her a part of the family has already been decided maybe even before we got together.  I guess her first visit to my hometown provided the largest impact on that decision.   I may have not been open to my affections about her that time yet my whole family has already sensed of the secret attraction going on between us.

 

 

Mind you, it’s not only my family that is in favor of our future marriage.   My future mother in-law can’t seem to wait as well.

 

 

“Don’t give that excuse that she is too young either because I’m not buying it anymore.  I’ve had your father when I was nineteen so I don’t know what’s stopping you,” she pointed out and now I had to carry the weight of my head with my free hand as I listen to the similar conversation we had a month ago.

 

 

“I am taking no other granddaughter in-law but Chaerin.  Remember that!” she says in a threatening tone and I could hear my grandfather yell out a ridiculous ‘Did they break-up?! Let me give that boy a piece of my mind!’

 

 

I hear my grandmother hush him to silence before getting back on her favorite topic.

 

 

“You are not getting any younger either, Jiyong-ah,” she starts in a more solemn tone. 

 

 

“You need a wife to be by your side, take care of you and stop your careless behavior when it comes to your health.  Do you know how lovely it is to come home to someone who you can share your life with?” she goes on as I hear my grandfather comment a ‘a perfect combination of paradise and hell!” followed by his chuckles.

 

 

“It’s not always perfect, Jiyong but that’s all part of life.  Arguments and misunderstandings are sometimes there to test how strong your relationship is but once you get past that you’ll find out in the end that these are all just instruments to strengthen your bond more than ever,”

 

 

“Besides, haven’t you two been stuck together ever since?   Surely, marriage won’t be a shock to both of you,”

 

 

As our phone call ended, with a thousand of reminders from halmoni, I found myself wondering and thinking about the things she told me.  Truthfully, I’m not afraid of marriage.  I was, but with Chaerin all those fears seem to not have existed at all. 

 

 

What I feared the most now?

 

 

Her answer

 

 

What if she’s still not ready yet?

 

 

I know she’s way past the legal age of eighteen but twenty-two is still generally considered an early age to be married.  Then there are these complications with the company and my background.  Even though I hold a respectable position in the Lee Group, I couldn’t help but feel a bit inferior when the public finally scrutinizes my history.  Once, our relationship becomes out in the open, they’ll soon find out that I was ‘GD’ or better yet, ‘Lee Chaerin’s personal butler’

 

 

It was a relief that our bittersweet goodbye 4 years ago remained to be a big question mark.  Even though our pictures were up on the internet that night the identity of Lee Chaerin’s secret lover has been hidden due to the fact that the cameras installed at the airport which could have captured a better look on my face had mysteriously malfunctioned.   Meanwhile, the photos that have been captured by passersby were also suddenly deleted.  There’s only one answer in my mind.

 

 

Lee Sajang-nim

 

 

Who else could it have been? 

 

 

Who else would have that kind of power?

 

 

I sigh heavily, staring into space as I contemplated more on the future.  It would definitely be as lovely as my grandmother had said and I could definitely see that coming for us but then we haven’t really talked about it yet.  I do know my Chae-roo would love to have a family and has had a soft spot for children ever since but still…

 

 

Would she say yes?

 

 

Or…

 

 

This is suddenly making me nervous.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“What’s this?” she questions me in a rather icy tone, sitting with her arms crossed and probably still annoyed at my actions earlier.   Her eyes narrow down at my apologetic smile, my lame attempt to appease her, and the empty plastic containers I laid out on the table in front of her. 

 

 

“My lunch?” I answer, patting my stomach to signify where all of the food went.   Her silence makes me uncomfortable while her eyes flicker deadly from me and at the empty containers where not a single grain of rice is to be seen.  In short, I it clean.

 

 

“It was so delicious!  It tasted like heaven!  It got me my strength back and I got to focus better on my work because of it,” I supplied further, giving her my infamous killer smile yet her cold gaze cuts me off that I almost coughed up my next words.

 

 

Well, office hours are done 30 minutes ago and we aren’t at the company anymore so I can’t play boss in front of her at the moment and wriggle my way out of this one.

 

 

“My Hunchae, are you still mad at oppa?” and yet as I stare back in to that icy gaze I immediately shift to her side so now we are sitting next to each other, reaching out to hold her hand.  I could see her eyes land at anything but me and I know I had a lot more ‘perfect romantic boyfriend Jiyong mode’ to do.

 

 

“You know that I was babbling nonsense back at the elevator.  I didn’t mean it when I said you were vain.  It’s just because you are already perfect to me, my queen,” I lift her hand up to my right cheek, pressing soft kisses on her open palm. 

 

 

However, she retracts her hand and turns her head to me, again giving me the icy stare.

 

 

“That isn’t what this is about, Jingyo,” she finally speaks as my brow furrows in confusion.  Wasn’t her coldness all because of that incident?

 

 

“You shouldn’t forget to eat on time, you keep working like a robot but then even machines need fuel to go on.  You skipped lunch last week as well.  Are you trying to get yourself sick?  I know you get less sleep nowadays so at least eat,” she says and I could see the visible worry in her eyes. 

 

 

I was guilty with what she had said.  I’ve been too focused at work, trying to perfect everything and finishing everything earlier than the deadline. 

 

 

Her concern about my health has me feeling different, different but good.  This is probably what halmoni talked about, to have someone care about you, worry about your health, look for you when you are missing and making sure you are safe. 

 

 

It all feels… really good.

 

 

“I know… I’ve been neglecting my health trying to focus so much on work.  I should be more mindful of the time and I’m sorry for making you and appa worried,” I breathed out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

 

 

“You know I hate seeing you being careless like that and if I don’t point it out this way then you might not take it seriously,” she tells me in a softer tone.  I hold her hand and this time she holds mine back.

 

 

“I promise it’s not going to happen again.  I’ll eat on time, drink all those vitamins you keep trying to feed me and try to relax once in awhile, okay?” I assure her in the sincerest tone possible, slowly leaning my head against hers.  We stay like this for a while in comforting silence knowing that all is well. 

 

 

“You’re not doing this just to see the curves you love so much, are you?” she suddenly questions in an incredulous tone, backing away a bit to look me in the eye.

 

 

“No… but…well,” I lean closer once more to whisper. 

 

 

“That’s part of it,” I smirk as she tries to slap my arm yet fails as I catch her wrist in time, pulling her closer by the waist with my other arm.

 

 

“Time to fulfill your end of the bargain, Hunchae,”

 

 

A familiar tug pulls me as my eyes land on her beautiful feline eyes and down on her lightly parted lips. 

 

 

How about a little taste of my favorite drug

 

 

I could have sworn that I had her soft lips on mine yet the next thing I felt was her fingers forming a barrier between us.  I felt her body shift a bit father from me and if I wasn’t quick enough to tighten my hold on her waist she would have successfully escaped from my arms.

 

 

“What’s wrong?” I ask in surprise, unable to hide a tiny bit of hurt from her actions, never has she declined any of my affectionate gestures.

 

 

Does she hate it already?  Was I being too touchy?  Doesn’t she like me calling her Hunchae?

 

 

She then lightly rests her head on my shoulder.  I feel a smile curving on her lips at the crook of my neck, my earlier fears and doubts ebbing away with her words.

 

 

“We’re not alone,” I hear her let out a light laugh while a realization dawns on my face, my mouth curving into an ‘Ah, right’ before suddenly turning my head towards the open door and out to the huge living room where I believe a noisy group was supposed to be well, noisy and not…

 

 

Nosey

 

 

What meets my annoyed look are six curious pairs of eyes which all turned wide in shock as I caught them all in the act.  A smiling Daesung, one of Chaerin’s friends immediately grabs a giggling and whistling Seungri by the door, the dirty rat as Chaerin would call him, Daesung drags him far away with choking sounds along with ‘Eww! Didn’t know grumpy cat can be so mushy,’ being heard from the other side, Bom suddenly flusters over her boyfriend Seunghyun’s tie although it seems perfectly done already, they seem to be concerned with every inch of the furniture of this hotel, Dara who is sitting at the sofa suddenly seems to be thirsty as she swipes the glass of water off the waiter’s tray while her boyfriend Youngbae is err… seriously looking at me straight in the eye and giving me a thumbs up?  Dara was surely quick to notice as she pulls his hand down and seems to be threatening him with something.

 

 

I guess it can’t be helped.  This would mark as one of the rare moments where they would get a glimpse of me and my Chaerin together like this.  Nevertheless, I’m happy that they are my Chaerin’s friends.  The loyalty they have for each other is tight, built and strengthened through the years.  

 

 

This concludes that not all born rich are selfish and rude. 

 

 

A knock sounds at the door as I look back once more, in a much nicer way than before, seeing a glamorous looking Dara at the door giving us a sheepish smile.

 

 

“Chaerin-ah, sorry to cut your time short but it’s your turn to be styled,” she reminds us as I focus my attention back on my Hunchae, giving her a defeated sigh.  She smiles and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek, squeezing my hand a bit before getting up and heading where she is needed.  Along the way I hear her give Seungri a kick as he yelps and then laughs like crazy.

 

 

Her mother’s gallery has opened today and the various beautiful collections from Mrs. Lee are the main stars of the event.  Tonight would be the most anticipated celebration party, the highlight of the event and it will start in about an hour.  We might be a little behind schedule but it’s alright since we have all just come from work. 

 

 

It’s a good thing that the hotel owned by the Lee’s is nearby to let us get ready for the event, an army of stylists and fashion people have all gathered here to give us all a quick make-over.  In less than five minutes my hair is being sprayed and styled impressively, my well-ironed suit already waiting for me at the rack.

 

 

“So, tell me what are your plans for our best friend’s future?” Park Bom asks me as I find myself flanked by her and Dara after I come out of the room, completely dressed for the event.  Her brow arches perfectly yet the playful look on her eyes tells me she wasn’t really seriously threatening me.

 

 

“A lot,” I answer, a smile slowly creeping in my lips.

 

 

“Would you care to enumerate those plans, Mr. Kwon? And there better be marriage in it“ this time it’s Dara who speaks, her hands crossed in front of her chest as she gives me a look of a very intimidating investigator.

 

 

“Of course, I plan to propose to her, marry her, take her far away from all of you, lock her up in my castle so you’ll never see her again, I’ll have her only for myself and there we will live happily with all our children,” I say with an air of confidence, forcing myself to maintain a straight face as I watch their faces slowly darken with every word I say.

 

“Bommie,” I hear Dara say, giving Bom a side-glance.

 

 

“Yes, Dara,” she answers and they exchange knowing looks and somehow I find myself gulping.  At this point I feel like I should take my le—

 

 

“JINGYO BEAR!!” two ear-splitting squeals fill up the room as two pair of arms grab around me to keep me in place.  It took me a few seconds to realize it was the dirty rat and Daesung yet before I could pull out one of my defensive moves Bom and Dara’s tickle and cheek-pinching combination distract me.  Everything seems planned as Seunghyun rushes to our side with a phone in hand aiming it all of us to capture the embarrassing moment, for my part that is.  Even Youngbae joined in on the group photo but not before placing some sort of pink bear ears on top of my head.

 

 

Sigh

 

 

I take back what I said about rich people

 

 

“What’s going on here?” my Hunchae’s voice slices through the teasing, on their part and protesting, on my part.  It was enough to silence everybody in the room.  I could even feel the arms keeping me in place stiffen while everyone’s eyes land on the goddess standing in the middle of the living room.  Even I froze with what I saw.

 

 

The mini dress that didn’t do much to cover most of her thighs is enough to drive me mad.  As if the detestable pencil skirt did nothing to keep me calm all day, this time her black and gold strapless bodice hugged all her curves perfectly, enhancing one’s perception of how gifted her hidden assets are.  My eyes lingered longer than normal on her exposed collar bones down to the valley in between her…

 

 

Why the hell is she wearing that dress?

 

 

Can’t wait to rip those stockings off later though
 

 

 

Maybe it was the distraction of her beautiful face and very revealing dress that I didn’t notice the new shade of her hair.

 

 

Blonde

 

 

“Ah we’re just… playing and bonding with Jingyo… bear,” Dara laughs nervously before they all scamper out the door leaving comments like, ‘Oh look at the time,’, ‘Aunty would hate us for being late,’ ‘I need to go to the lobby’s bathroom,’, and ‘I’m hungry! Let’s eat first,’

 

 

“Here’s your teddy bear, grumpy cat,” Seungri quickly says and I feel myself getting pushed towards my Chaerin. 

 

 

She takes in my state, probably relieved to see that my gold designed black shirt and black overcoat weren’t crumpled.  However, when her eyes scan my head, seeing the pink bear ears I forgot to take off, her eyes light up and a smile graces her lips.

 

 

“It’s not funny,” I immediately say seeing her shoulders starting to shudder with the impending laughter coming.  My scowl deepens as she hinders me from taking off the stupid bear ears.   Taking out her own phone she aims it at us, giving me a quick peck on my cheek to ease up my dark look before snapping a photo.  I give a small groan of protest yet her smile melts all my complaints away.

 

 

“You’re friends are all crazy,” I mutter as she snakes her arms around my waist, resting her head on my shoulder.

 

 

“You dealt with all my craziness well though so this shouldn’t be new to you,” she laughs lightly as I plant a kiss at the side of her head.   A silence passes between us until a thought suddenly bothers me.

 

 

“Hunchae, you have a super huge jacket for this dress you are wearing, right?” she looks up at me with squinting eyes trying to burn me alive.  I know how she hates it when I inquire about her fashion.

 

 

“I have one… but it’s not big,” she answers, pointing towards the rack hanging near the door.  The fabric to my estimation should cover her shoulders down to her waist.  It’s not enough, if you ask me.

 

 

“Okay… you are going to zip that up, right?” I ask, more seriously than I intended.

 

 

“Jingyo!”

 

 

“Chae-roo, I’ve seen your curves now and I am very happy but I didn’t say that other people should see them too,” I could see her lips opening and closing, wanting to protest with every word I say.

 

 

“It’s just a little tiny bit of skin, Kwon,”

 

 

“I think I’ll just hug you the whole time just to be safe and by the way, I love how you call me these days, very refreshing and y,” I pull out a playful grin as I tighten my hold on her.  I could feel her trying to break away and strings of protest are sure to follow.

 

 

“Don’t change the subject.  I’m comfortable with this dress and we definitely cannot go together like this!”

 

 

“Let’s not go then, my Hunchae.  It’s chilly outside anyway, maybe we could stay and keep ourselves warm,” I murmur against her hair, my head dipping down to press my lips against the skin of her neck.  Her movements started to lessen and I can’t help but smile at the effect.  My lips part as I travel down the smooth soft expanse of exposed skin before lingering longer on her shoulders, any form of resistance on her part vanishes immediately.

 

 

Yes.  Just as I—

 

 

Knock

 

 

Knock

 

 

“Guys we should… go…” Dara’s voice breaks in and falters awkwardly as Chaerin pushes me away quickly and jumps out of my arms, giving me an apologetic smile before agreeing with Dara.

 

 

Not again

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The hushed whispers fill my ears as the white double doors of the grand event open as I enter, my hand squeezing unconsciously on the arm guiding me inside.  

 

 

“Chin up, my queen.  You’re the star of the night,” Jingyo’s low voice drifts in my ear creating a sense of security and comfort.   It must have been the cameras aiming at my face that has suddenly made me want to create a wall around me and hide for a while.  If it wasn’t for Jingyo by my side then I would have done just that.

 

 

This is just like any other event so, the cause of my discomfort?

 

 

Well, there are just those times when I’m just not in the mood to plaster a fake smile on my face and chat with people.  And tonight is that time.   In addition to that, given that my mother has created this event doubles my worries that I might not get to slip away unnoticed, possibly with Jingyo, later.         My daily habit of escaping the cameras and answering unwanted interviews has been the reason why the local media has labeled me as ‘the elusive heiress’.

 

 

Seeing those disappointed faces when they couldn’t find me anymore… he he he.

 

 

“What’s so funny?” Oppa whispers next to me as I suddenly gulp down the giggles trying to escape my lips, my face relaxing in to a calm state.

 

 

“I just remembered how you look wearing those teddy bear ears,” I replied as people around us make a clear pathway for us.   I could hear gossips and comments about me everywhere.  If somebody told me that I have a sign plastered behind my back saying: ‘Lee Chaerin: Lee Han Gun and Park Hye In’s daughter, heiress of the Lee Group of Companies’ then I might just believe it.

 

 

Jingyo shakes his head, smiling as we continued on to the front where my parents were, standing proud despite the spotlight on them. 

 

 

Somehow, my thoughts get hold of my focus once more and I suddenly remembered the day Jingyo walked me down the steps of my high school’s Spring Ball, to think that we even wore the same gold and black theme then made it even more ironic.  I couldn’t believe how long it has been since that happened.  It dawned on me that this would be the first time in a long time that he has escorted me in an event and the nostalgia I feel made me hold him closer.

 

 

And now we’ve become more than what we were before

 

 

Taking a few more steps, we finally catch my father’s full attention as he pauses from his conversation with another associate to look at us, my mother already seeming to sense our presence ever since we stepped in.  The picture of my parents standing side by side suddenly made me pause and think.

 

 

Will I also be standing in front of parties and welcoming guests beside the man I am destined to until I die?

 

 

My gaze drifts to the back of Jingyo’s head, his proud stance making me feel the need to trust and depend on him while his warm hands provide the comfort I need at the moment. 

 

 

What would it feel like? 

 

 

An image of Jingyo being a doting husband and father suddenly enters my mind.  It left as quickly as it came, I don’t think this is the time to be thinking white picket fences and all.   Shaking my head a bit and wondering what came on to me, I focused on my mother’s warm hug, she then opens her arms and does the same to Jingyo.

 

 

“Thank god, you brought her here on time, Jiyong.  Without you I’m sure she’d be coming up with those ridiculous excuses to avoid the media and sleep,” my mother says, narrowing her eyes towards me.  Oppa laughs lightly in agreement while I give out a heavy sigh.  Unintentionally my gaze catches another presence as I find Sung Woo coming up to my father as they exchange pleasantries.  And before I could turn away he glances in my direction, giving me one of his so-called “killer smiles”.

 

 

I don’t know what it is or why but I just can’t shake this bad feeling?

 

 

This is going to be one long night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“A pleasant evening to all!  It is a great honor for me to be the host of such a beautiful occasion,” our company’s Vice president for Marketing who also happens to be a good family friend says as he stands in front of the audience.  Well, I’m betting that half the people here are business associates or company heads.   Take it to my father to always turn any event, in this case an art gallery event, in to a strategic business party.  I bet we’d be talking all about the company’s future plans later and securing new connections for upcoming projects.

 

I watch as he is called to speak, the attention turning to him while he calmly faces all of the guests, his aura never ceasing to intimidate anyone.  His stance commanded respect and everyone is bound to listen intently to his words.

 

 

Show ‘em appa.  Show ‘em how the Lee swag is done!

 

 

“I’ve always loved her passion for art and I am proud of her,” he says of my mother who stands next to us, smiling meaningfully back at him.   She stands on my left while on my right, Jingyo finally positions himself next to me, handing me my glass of champagne.   I was about to talk to oppa when I suddenly hear my name loud and clear.

 

 

“My daughter, Chaerin shares the same appreciation for art and I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate her and our whole advertising team with the leadership of one of our best, Director Kwon Jiyong.  Their astounding presentation earlier is chosen to be the overall theme of our company’s new collaboration project.  This makes me believe that the future of Lee Group is in good hands,” he then looks our way, holding up the champagne he has been holding towards us, his smile directed towards me.  A sense of pride swells inside me.  I have always wanted to earn his respect, always wanted to make him proud of what I could do despite what other people say.  

 

 

Tonight, I finally felt like I could have the confidence to carry the huge responsibility my father will soon entrust me with.

 

 

“To the success of this event, to the bright future of Lee Group and to family,” he says before taking a sip of his own champagne and giving the floor back to the event’s emcee who naturally gave compliments and words of appreciation for my father.  The program went on and before I could start plotting escape routes the second to the last speaker was being introduced, last being my mother.

 

 

“Unfortunately, our most-respected art director and head of the H.I. Gallery, Park Hyun-Il could not make it today, thus, his grandson is here today in behalf of him,” I finally tuned in as soon as my ears catch the name of the art director of the gallery my mother has chosen to hang her exhibits at.  Park Hyun-Il was known all over South Korea as a respectable man who has sponsored and owned most of our country’s most prestigious art and music cultural centers and theaters.  I met the arrogant old man once, he wore his expensive suits at every occasion and his hair, which I am pretty sure is dyed black given his age, seems to be stuck in its place, clean and neatly styled.   I was scared of him when I saw him for the first time at one of my mother’s events.  He never smiled. 

 

 

His grandson, however, I’ve met a thousand times shared the same arrogance and air of aristocracy.   And even though the younger Park knew how to throw a smile, I’m still not impressed.

 

 

“Ladies and gentlemen, Lee group’s director of human resources, Mr. Park Sung Woo,” the crowd gives an applause while cameras instinctively flash to capture the moment.  Meanwhile, I was already itching to go home.

 

 

With Jingyo

 

 

Just a little bit more and this is all over with.

 

 

My eyes scan the room as Sung Woo begins his introductions about his grandfather’s work.   I could see Bom and Seunghyun looking over at the buffet, possibly debating about how that particular dish can be improved.  Not far away from them, Dara and Youngbae also doesn’t seem to care about the speaker as they take turns whispering in to each other’s ears like they always do.  On a corner of the room I mentally roll my eyes and shake my head as I see dirty rat flirting with the female server while Daesung seems to be the only one interested with whatever Seung Woo’s words of inspiration were.  Everything seemed normal… or maybe not.

 

 

I turn my head back to the front and surprisingly Sung Woo is now looking my way, his outstretched arm pointing at my direction.  My mind must have wondered too much that I almost didn’t get to absorb the words he had just said nor did I notice the sudden tension in the air, the murmurs going around us and the cameras now aiming our way. 

 

 

It was only after a couple of seconds when I realized that he was actually motioning over to Jingyo, the unpredictable words he begins to throw out ring on my ears like an alarm going off.  My body begins to freeze and my mind begins to go blank before a huge imaginary wave crashes right at me.

 

 

“My grandfather always used to say that success doesn’t just come easy.  We all need to start from the bottom.  I do believe a good friend of mine, Mr. Kwon Jiyong will agree to this.  Just like my grandfather, you are an inspiration to many.  Who knew that a small country boy, a simple butler can become a well-respected director and now a strong candidate for the vice-president’s position?”

 

 

“Am I right, butler Kwon?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A.N

Uh-oh, uh-oh, oh oh oh ohhh~ I love Beyonce forever, bless her for doing that Crazy in Love super y remix.  Anyways, uh-oh somebody is in trouble.  Ladies and gents, the secret is out and I'm going to leave you with that because I'm evil and I make people suffer :)))) 
 

Wedding bells? A very sly y Kwon and a Lee who couldn't resist him at all are both thinking of marriage although, our Chae-roo seems a bit... oh well, so tell me what you lovely readers think? 

 

I'M FINALLY ON TIME! 

 

THANK YOU TO  to 392 subscribers, silent readers, those who posted their comments and upvoters       

 

Time for me to sleep.

 

Have a happy monday,

Jia