“Where is Sehunah?” Song Minah asked as September tucked her into bed.

“The Directors at Finite for a meeting with the other heirs Chairlady.” September brought the covers up just under her chin, the way she liked it. When she looked up she found the Chairlady staring at her.

“Massage my feet,” Minah demanded. September pulled up a chair to the foot of the bed and rubbed her hands to warm them before massaging one foot and then the next. “You have good hands. Just like Ren,” Song Minah commented.

September smiled at this. Ren had taught her how to massage the Chairlady’s feet. She’d practised on Ren every one of the sixty -five days she’d been under her tutelage.  This was a nightly ritual unless she was called away on business by the President. One of her main duties was to take care of the Chairlady who grew more demanding every day.

“Where is my sweet tea?” Minah demanded, “You’re getting slack child.”

“Right away Chairlady.” September stood

“Don’t stop massaging!” she whacked September’s head with her stick. That stick, beside her like a constant companion. She chuckled gleefully. 

“Here we go,” Sehun entered his grandmother’s room with a tray. He set it on a side table and poured out the sweetened milk tea with nutmeg into two dainty teacups. “One for my favourite grandmother and the other for me,” Sehun sat beside his grandmother and carefully handed her the tea. Song Minah blushed under her grandson’s praise. September rolled her eyes. the Director had the Chairlady wrapped around his finger.

“Isa put a movie on. Agassi what shall we watch?” he teased his grandmother like this, but she loved it. Song Minah never wanted to age but September thought she looked lovely. Regal in her old age.

September started to stand. Song Minah raised her stick, “Don’t…” Sehun gently caught the stick, “I think it’s time to let Isa go for the night, don’t you agassi.”

Song Minah mumbled. “Come here child,” she reached out her hand and September approached, “I want to have strawberries and pancakes for breakfast tomorrow. Tell Mari. He will forget.”

“I will Chairlady,” September bowed.

“And the girl who brushes my hair is too rough. I want you to do it.”

“As you wish Chairlady.”

‘And…”

“And if you don’t let Isa go then we can’t watch this movie,” Sehun shooed September away.

Finally free! September heaved herself up onto the kitchen table where Mari worked on next week’s menu.

September accepted the cup of sweet tea that Ima handed her. “This is becoming a bad habit.”
“Who would have thought condensed milk in tea would become a thing?” Ima sipped on hers. Even Haida seemed to be enjoying a cup with his dinner.

“You have not eaten yet,” Mari scolded, “Our pretty HM is losing too much weight.”
“I forgot!” September smacked her forehead.

“What would you like?” Mari handed her the menu.

“I know this off by heart,”

“But isn’t it fun ordering off a menu!” Mari grabbed her hand and pulled her to the small round table by the window where some of the kitchen aids were also enjoying sweet tea. Seemed like the entire estate was now obsessed with the Chairlady’s nightcap.

“Now,” Mari clapped his hands, “What will it be Madame?” he hovered at her shoulder like the butlers did. The girls giggled.

September studied the menu, “To start I’ll have the tomato soup but no bread. And for the main…fried chicken with all the sides and sweet tea for dessert.”

“As Madame wishes,” Mari took the menu away with a flourish of his apron and started to plate her food.

“House Master, will you join us for some wine after we knock off?” Ima asked. “It’s little Eun-ji’s birthday…”

“Ahem,” Sehun entered the kitchen. Everyone stood.

“How can we help you Master Sehun?” Haida stepped forward.

“Are you hungry?” Mari asked.

“No thank you. I ate at Finite.” Sehun found September amongst the many faces and crooked his finger. “Goodnight,” he smiled around the room and then left.

“You should eat quickly,” Ima urged as September followed Sehun.

“Later. Mari leave a plate in the oven for me.”

“Some things never change,” Mari sighed, “She’ll sta