“Sorry, we’re late” Mrs. Park opening the back door started apologizing.

“ it’s okay” Hyeon turning to teh back age of the two people who got into the back seat with a small smile.

Mrs park and the girl were supposed to meet Hyeon a Jessica at 10:00 a.m.but, not its 10:03. That for Mrs park was very unacceptable. As the two in the backseat started putting their seat belts on. Jessica who has already started the car seriously started back out of the parking lot.

“ you look good” Hyeon turning back complemented the girl that had a two-piece suit on.

“It is Mrs parks she tailored them down for me”

“Isn’t there something you can’t do?” Jessica glanced at the rearview mirror. Mrs park who herself was neatly dressed in her grey two-piece suit gave her a small smile back.

“ We are meeting rich people so we want to look presentable” Mrs park adjected the collar of her overcoat.

The car joined the main street was on its way to their appointment with the company that bought the land, Brand new construction, which to Jessica had sound familiar but she couldn’t quite pinpoint out why. Their conversation about how Mrs. Park always dresses nice and elegant turned into the big game night dinner they had at the shelter over the weekend and how they are convinced Jessica cheated to win it. In between teh laughs Jessica had glanced at her friend once or twice to see teh genius laughter and smiles across Hyeon's face that had light up.

Since teh day they mate Mrs. Park Hyeon's color els sauce has started to slowly warm up and show a hint of liveliness. One reason could be how much Mrs. Parker has been making sure Hyeon eats three meals a day; sometimes homemade food would even be sent to the office to make sure all of them, specially Hyeon was well fed. Jessica had even caught the hidden conversations Mrs. Park and Hyeon have here and there. It was heartwarming to see Hyeon confined and get close to somebody else. Especially somebody as warm and as kind as Mrs park which could fill the maternal figure Hyeon didn’t get to experience much in her life. Mrs park who made sure to go through Hyeon closet when she visited their home for teh first time was just like a mother figure as she criticized Hyeon's whole wore drop, criticized their not so much used kitchen, their unorganized office . . .their not used rooftop which she is slowly turning into a nice hangout place.

Jessica had promised not to say anything as she caught Mrs. Park painting, bringing pants, and doing some work to their roof which Hyeon has never stepped a foot in months. It says a lot about Hyun's busy life that she hasn't noticed the construction going on on the roof of her own house. It will be a nice birthday surprise if she doesn’t see it until then, Mrs. Park had convinced Jessica. Slowly but gradually Mrs park had forced Hyeon to make sure she even got her hair done once every other week. Something Jessica wasn’t able to succeed no matter how much she tried but Mrs park with her commanding voice had dragged Hyeon to her favorite hair salon and made sure Hyeon was on the schedule. Not just for her hair but her manicure and pedicure as well.

“ I told you she was hiding her phone. That's how she cheated '' Mrs park went on explaining how Jessica was able to win the game. Jessica’s smiles were still coming from watching her best friend trying to control her laughter. Hyeon finally caught her friend's eyes in seconds and knew why Jessica was looking at her like she was. Even she was aware of the small but very significant changes teh presence of Mrs park and teh woman had made in her life.

From Jessica cheating the discussion turned into the cold weather outside that did not match teh warm and happy energy inside the car.

“ I hate winter” Jessica's Desitin for anything cold was very obvious in her voice.

“I hate the weather but Xmas time is nice” the girl from the back gave her two centers

“ We try to have a small tree and exchange some gifts. '' Mrs. Park was proud of her Christmas traditions when she started in the shelter. From the secret Santa, decorating the whole house, skating at the park, hot cocoa and movie night . . .It was the best time of the year.

“ If I could I would decorate the whole place and go all out but we live on a budget”

“Well this year we might not do anything cus we have to move to a new location. '' The sadness in the girl's voice was too pure.

“ I know, next year” Mrs park landed her leather gloved hands on the girl's shoulder.

The car was filled with silence as all turned their eyes to teh windows next to them and started taking in the view of all the cars zooming past them and all the zipped and coated people trying to keep their things from flying away with the cold wind. They didn't have to sit in silence for long as five minutes later the car was parking in the visitor section of the parking lot.

“Oh my god,” the girl opening the door and stepping out gawked at the beautiful architectural building in front.

“ aren’t you glad you came?” Jessica gave the girl a small smile.

The girls' enchanted eyes were even more surprised as they walked into the lobby of the building. Nobody would expect anything less from a construction company but teh interior design was something else as even Mrs park was taken aback.

“Can I help you?” the girl behind the front desk based Hyeon and Jessica that were heading her way

“ We are from Hope women's shelter. We have an appointment” Jessica who made the appointment started looking for teh email she received

“Yess. Mr. Kim's office is on the 6th floor” the girl giving all a small bow pointed at the elevator.

“They are rich” the girl’s eyes focused on the chandelier hanging were cute

“She would lose her mind if she saw Jae” Jessica swallowed her own words before Hyeon heard her.

“ let’s go “ Mrs park dragged the girl to the elevator doors that opened up. As they started going up the view of the lobby was getting better and better.

“ good morning” right when the elevator door opened up Mr park's secretary greeted the four women and started leading them to the main office.

“ sir the people from the hope shelter are here” she had to tap on the door again to grab teh manager's attention away from his screen.

“ welcome” he signaled for them to sit as he sent his eyes back to his screen.

“ would you like anything to drink?’ the secretary asked

“I will have some latte '' Jessica having done this job knew offices like these had nice coffee machines if not cafeterias.

“ I will have the same” Mrs park who is not sure about what other options they have just chose to drink whatever latte Jessica was getting.

“ I’ll have coffee if you have it double shot” Hyeon gave the secretary a small smile.

“ She'll have some soft drink” Jessica spoke for the girl who looked way confused about why they were ordering drinks at a meeting.

“I’ll be back” the secretary gave them a small smile as she started heading to the door.

The four women sitting by the other end of the table didn’t get his attention for the next couple of minutes the manager just went on typing into his computer.

“ How long do we wait?” Jessica, now getting a bit irritated, leaned to Hyeon and whispered. As tho, he knew what was being said he closed his laptop and sent his eyes to the four-woman

“ Okay what can I do for you?” he asked as he slid the laptop away

“ We are from the hope women's shelter” Hyeon standing up slid the folder in her hand in his direction. She knew better than to assume these people ready any documents before any meeting. She has worked long enough to have witnessed people who haven’t read a page of a proposal reject it.

As he took his time, the scenery walked in with their orders.

“ right the land” as he opened the folder and saw teh highlighted lines he recalled the reminder his secretary have told him hours ago.

“ yes, we are separating from the city”

“ and you want more money from us” closing the folder he brought his eyes Hyeon's way. She seems to be the one running the show as the other woman were busy enjoying their drinks.

“ The city is only offering us 600,000 for a land that was estimated at 1.2 million” Hyeon tapped on the table to signal at the folder in his hand that has the estimated prices of the land.

“ Well we bought the whole area in one piece for 15 milli