September 28: 11:45am, ‘Hayaley Sung’ Boutique, Sheraton Grande Walkerhill, Seoul

Hayaley carefully arranges the sapphire and diamond pieces on the velvet tray. Every single variation of her ‘Paire de Papillons’ collection is on display. Sold only in pairs or more, this collection is one of her favorite.

Hayaley feels a hand on her waist, “Looks beautiful.”

She smiles. “Thanks!”

“For a special guest?” Ji Hoon asks.

“Maybe...”

He pinches her nose. “Trying to be mysterious, I see. Ready for lunch?”

“Yup.” Hayaley turns to the Manager, “Soo Young-shi, can you lock this away? I’ll be back before my appointments this afternoon.”

“Yes, Director Sung.”

Hayaley grabs her purse and strolls off with Ji Hoon. She knows the hotel staff speculates and whispers about her relationship with Ji Hoon. Unlike the revolving door of female companions he meets or brings to the hotel, she has been a steady fixture in the last six months. It has not escaped her ears that she’s been rumored to be the future Mrs. Lee Ji Hoon. It had not bothered her before but today, she feels a little uneasy. The looks, giggles and whispers seem to really stand out today.                                                                                

People are talkin’…

I hear them whisper, you won’t believe it

They think we’re lovers kept under covers

I just ignore it, but they keep saying…

Bonnie Raitt – “Something To Talk About”

Hayaley orders the set meal with Assorted Seafood as her main course.

“Give me the same set meal but with Beef for main course,” Ji Hoon tells the server. After she walks away, “So, your man is having an event here today.”

“Mm, yeah.”

“Oh, wait. What’s that smile?” He pauses as the server came back with their first course.

Hayaley reaches for her fork and knife, picks up a large serving of beef carpaccio from her plate and sets it on Ji Hoon’s plate. She doesn’t eat too much beef and with so much good food coming up, she doesn’t mind parting with that piece of meat.

“You know this is expensive beef, right?”

“I’m sure, and shouldn’t you be grateful I gave it to you instead of leaving it on the plate?”

He shakes his head. “I can’t win,” he thinks to himself as he shoves some of the beef in his mouth. Temporarily distracted by the wonderful taste of the Hanwoo beef, he doesn’t resume his questioning till the second course. “So, what’s with the light and happy mood I detect?”

Hayaley takes a spoonful of the soup before replying, “Nothing really.”

“Sung Hyun-Jin, out with it. I know something is up….Wait, this has to do with Kim Jae Joong, doesn’t it?” Hayaley immediately kicks him under the table, which made him yelps. “Hey, that hurts.”

“Keep your voice down then.” They were seated away from the other guests but someone could still have heard them.

“So, it does have to do with him,” he whispers. Seeing the twinkle in her eyes, his jaw drops. “Are you two dating?”

Hayaley smiles.

Suddenly, Ji Hoon doesn’t know what to say. He’s happy that she’s happy. It’s been awhile since she has been in a relationship so he should be thrilled to hear this piece of news. But, “You do realize he’s a celebrity, right? I mean, I know you know he’s a celebrity but you do realize what this means, right?”

She nods. A smile almost visible as she chews on her food. The server interrupts him from asking the next question. He looks at the server and says, with more than a touch of annoyance, “Just bring everything on the menu the next time you come back.” This constant interruption is getting on his nerve. He’s usually very patient and likes enjoying his course meals leisurely but today, he needs to get to the bottom of this story quickly.

The server apologizes and quickly retreats. “I think you scared that poor girl.”

“She keeps interrupting my thoughts. See, I don’t remember what I was about to say.”

Hayaley laughs softly. “It still baffles me how you can be the General Manager when you are so easily distracted.”

“I do just fine. Besides, we are supposed to be discussing you and that pretty boy