Hilary's POV

Next Saturday was the Anniversary of ShinHwa Group.  EVERYONE was invited to the anniversary dinner.  This would be the first time SeungHyun, JiYong and I to appear at the same event after almost 3 weeks since I last saw JiYong.  JiYong and I did exchange messages from time to time during the past 3 weeks; but he was being all discreet in his texts.  He didn't talk much, just usual greetings and work.  The distance between us has somehow become greater and greater.

Mother has been bombing me with texts everyday lately since she wanted me to attend the dinner with SeungHyun as my date but I still haven't made up my mind yet.  Not that I had someone else in mind to go with.  I just wasn't sure if it was a good idea to appear with SeungHyun in an event like this too soon, especially JiYong and his family would be there.  I didn't want to offend or embarrass anyone whatsoever.  I simply ignored mother's text, so she just decided to send me at least 10 messages a day everyday.

"GOD!  Can you just cut her mobile service or something?" I said while deleting mother's messages.

DaeSung Oppa laughed softly, "I think that will be a little difficult to do."

I let out a heavy sigh, "She sent me at least 10 messages this morning.  I mean, why does she care so much who I'm going with?  Can I not just go by myself?  Does the invitation require our guests to attend with a partner?  Oppa, why don't you be my partner?"

DaeSung looked at me with wide-eyes and uttered, "I...  arh....  am..."

I rolled my eyes and said, "I know.  You are going with Minzy.  I'm just kidding, Oppa!"  DaeSung shrugged with a smile.

I leaned back on my chair and threw my hands behind my head, "Oppa has Dara.  You have Minzy.  Mother has Grandpa.  Do I really have to go with someone?  I mean, I'll be the only one without a partner.  How unique!"

DaeSung picked up the files which I have just approved and said, "I don't know why you can't just go with Choi Jonmu."

I looked up at him and said, "Do you think it's a good idea to go with him?  I mean, JiYong and his family will be there.  I..."

"I know what you are worrying about.  But sooner or later, everyone will know.  You just can't hide."

I sighed, "I know.  I just don't want to embarrass JiYong or offend his mother.  You know how my mother can be."

DaeSung sighed as well, "Well, if you really need me to go with you, I'll go with you."

I looked at him and smiled, "Nahhh....  Minzy will kill me.  But Oppa, thank you."  He winked at me and said, "OK!  Just let me know if I can be in any assistance.  I'll be outside."

"Mmm..."  I smiled.

Just when DaeSung stepped out of my office, my phone rang.  I looked at the caller ID and couldn't help but smile.

"Hey!" I said.

"What are you doing tonight?  Free to have dinner with me?" SeungHyun sounded pretty happy on the other side of the phone.

"Any good thing happened today?"

He laughed, "I realize I have found myself a clever girlfriend.  Is it a good thing or bad thing?"

I rolled my eyes, "Well, you tell me!"

"Good when I want her to know what I think without the need of telling her myself.  Bad when I don't want her to know something but she can smell it out herself."

"Ha.  Ha.  Ha."

"What's that 'ha-ha-ha' for?" He asked.

"Anything you don't want me to know?  Mind giving me some examples?  Women, maybe?" I teased.

He laughed out loud at the other end, "Women?  Me?"

"Or MEN?"

"What did you just say?" He asked in disbelief.

I laughed out loud this time, "Just tell me what we are celebrating tonight!"

"Who says anything about celebrating?"

"I'm the smart girlfriend, remember?"

He laughed a little and said, "Dad's making me CEO."

"OH MY GOD!" I literally screamed to the phone.

"Hilary!"

I laughed, "I'm sorry!  Congratulations!  We have to celebrate.  Wait!  I have to go.  Call me later."

"What?  Where are you going?"

"Just call me later.  Or text me the restaurant address.  Or...  Why don't we celebrate at my suite?  I can cook.  Yes, let's do that.  Come at 7:30p.m.  I really have to go.  See you tonight!"

I hung up on him before he could say another word.  I called DaeSung Oppa via the intercom, "Oppa, let's go shopping!"

*  *  *

I dragged DaeSung Oppa out for shopping.  I wanted to get SeungHyun a present and I needed to buy some food for dinner tonight as well.

"What do you have in mind?  Tie?  Wallet?  Pen?" DaeSung asked with his brows drawn together.  We have been to YSL, Valentino, Versace, Louis Vuitton and Cartier.  I still couldn't decide what to get for SeungHyun.

I looked at the watches in the showcase and said, "I don't know.  He has basically everything.  How do I know what to get him?"

DaeSung sighed, "I thought you didn't realize that."

I looked up at him and asked, "What do you mean?"

"If you know he has basically everything, why are you still looking for something here?  What in here that he can't buy himself?"

He had a point.  But what could I get SeungHyun then?  I could paint for him but I didn't have enough time to do that by tonight.

DaeSung sighed again, "Kim EunHi, this is really the first time you are in love with someone, huh?  I thought Minzy was lying all this time."

"OPPA!" I scowled at him.

He laughed softly, "Think of something meaningful.  It doesn't have to be expensive.  It doesn't have to be brand named.  It just has to be meaningful."

Meaningful.  Yes.  I thought of ONE.

I dragged DaeSung out of the shop and said, "We go to supermarket now."

"From Cartier to Supermarket?" DaeSung asked.

I rolled my eyes, "I need to get some food for tonight's dinner.  OK?"

"You are cooking?"

I gave him a proud nod.  He looked at me in disbelief, "And you cook?"

"OF COURSE!  I lived alone since I was 18.  If I didn't know how to cook, I would probably starve to death.  Well, not quite.  Coz I did have the money to dine out.  Oh well, I just know how to cook."

"Are you sure whatever you cook would be eatable?" DaeSung asked suspiciously.

I hit him on the arm and said, "Yahh...  I never once put myself in the hospital after eating what I cooked."

He laughed out loud as he opened the car door for me.  I threw him a sharp stare before I got into the car.

*  *  *

SeungHyun's POV

I arrived at Hilary's hotel at 7:30p.m.  DaeSung was already at the entrance waiting for me.

"Congratulations, Choi Jonmu Nim!" DaeSung bowed to me politely.

I smiled embarrassedly, "Thank you, DaeSung!"

He gave out his hand and said, "This way please!"

I followed him into the hotel lobby and asked, "Aren't we going to the hotel restaurant?"

DaeSung held his steps and said, "No.  We are heading to Kim Isa Nim's suite."

"Huh?"

"Didn't Kim Isa Nim tell you she'll cook?" He asked.

I looked at him and said, "I thought she was joking."

He smiled, "She was definitely not joking.  She went for grocery shopping this morning after you called.  She has been preparing for the dinner since she came back from the supermarket."

"Are you serious?" I asked in disbelief.

"I most certainly am, Choi Jonmu Nim." DaeSung bowed his head and said with a serious face.

I chuckled before I stepped into the elevator, "You are not coming?"

DaeSung shook his head with a smile, "Of course not, Choi Jonmu Nim.  Kim Isa Nim is waiting upstairs.  Enjoy your evening!"

The elevator doors were about to close and I saw DaeSung smirked at me.  I blocked the doors immediately and asked, "Why are you smirking?  You look like SOMETHING is waiting for me upstairs."

DaeSung clenched his lips to keep himself from laughing.  I asked, "What is it?"

He gulped, "Kim Isa Nim is waiting for you upstairs."

I rolled my eyes, "I know.  Anything else?"

He chuckled and took out a tiny bottle from his pocket, "Here!  This is for you."

I took the bottle from him and looked at it.  It was a bottle of pills.  I asked, "What are these?"

"For digestion."

I looked at him with my eyes wide-opened.  I wanted to say something but the door closed.

*  *  *

I put the bottle into my pocket.  I couldn't help but think of the look on DaeSung's face.  It seemed he was trying to warn me about Hilary's cooking.  But then, Hilary has been living in Paris alone for many years.  She must have learned to cook a few things.  It should not be that bad.  I took a deep breath before I rang the door bell.  I didn't know why but my heartbeats started to quicken somehow.

The door opened.

"Welcome, Choi Sajang Nim!" Hilary said with a sweet smile.  She looked stunning in the pale pink sleeveless slash neck chiffon one piece dres