"We must be willing to let go of the life we planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us."
— Joseph Campbell
 

|| The Following Week: Saturday Evening ||

Seo Ara stood in front of her team leader's office, trying to reel in her overflowing frustration. She had just arrived in Seoul less than an hour ago and already, she was asked come in for "pressing matters that just couldn't wait".

"Director Seo, welcome back," Director Nam greeted with a mocking tone as she entered his office, "How was Jeju?"

"It was…an experience," Ara answered with a false smile.

Unable to accommodate Baekhyun's request to come back early, she spent a total of three grueling weeks training interns and inexperienced coordinators about high-end event planning, while simultaneously establishing a functioning relationship with the banquet team, and assisting the sales department with bookings. In simpler terms, it was hell and she was beyond exhausted.

"Perfect. I'm so glad to hear that," the senior catering director replied condescendingly. He was well aware of the hardships opening teams face—especially when training newbies—so he was ecstatic to learn that she suffered as he and his colleagues intended.

Reading the meaning behind his tone, Ara lessened the curve of her lips and cleared . "Anyway, you needed me for something? One that couldn't wait until tomorrow morning?" she continued, almost passive aggressively.  

"Ah yes," Director Nam answered with a telling grin as he slid a BEO across the laminated desk, "The Sales Department requested for you to oversee tonight's promotional event."

Almost instantly, Ara's artificial smile faded. She picked up the banquet events order and set her eyes back on her superior with wrinkled brows and a questioning look. "I'm sorry, but I think there's been a mistake," she explained as politely as she could, "I'm not scheduled to work until tomorrow."

"Well, you know how volatile our department is. Everything is always changing. Why do you think we flew you back in early?" the pompous man countered, lying though his teeth with that fake apologetic smile of his. Of course, their decision wasn't spontaneous—he and his accomplices had meticulously planned this weeks in advance.

Without waiting for a response, Director Nam got up from his seat and collected his suit jacket. "The event starts in twenty. That should be plenty of time to look through the details and get yourself ready," he stated as he made his way out the door, "Have a good night Director Seo." 

|| …………… ||

Having traded her dark jeans, knitted sweater, and slip-on sneakers for an apricot suit and light gray Jimmy Choo pumps, Ara made her way to the Lorien Hall with hurried strides.

She had just finished going over the event's timeline with the banquet staff, and now needed to confirm with her catering team that everything was good to go.

"Make sure to have all guests ushered in and seated at the five minute mark," she ordered the coordinator lightly jogging to keep up with her. "At the minute mark prior to the main doors opening, dim down the lights to 50% and at the thirty second countdown—" she continued, but immediately paused the moment they stepped foot inside decorated space.

Based on the BEO's rough illustration, Ara knew the event space would be decorated differently than their usual arrangement, but she didn’t expect it to be familiar to her. She had seen the exact set up and motif from somewhere, but she couldn't recall exactly where she had seen it from. Her tired mind was too preoccupied and exhausted to ransack her memory at the moment.

"Director Seo…?" the young coordinator interjected as he looked at Ara with rounded questioning eyes.

Pushing the curiosity aside, Ara shook her head lightly and focused her mind back on the event. The guests were continuing to pour in, time was continuing to count down, and she still had a list of last minute orders to give.

"Have the soft spotlight on the runway and make sure it's centered on the ramp," she instructed as she rolled up her sleeves and made her way across the room towards the hors d'ourves table and open bar.

But as she weaved through the traffic of hungry guests coming to and from the appetizer and drinks station, she bumped into someone she didn't anticipate would be there.

"I am so sorry, I—" Ara started, but her apology was cut short by the unexpected.

"Ara!" the guest in blue exclaimed, her lenses bulging from shock.

"Oh—Ji Ah," Ara replied, surprised to see the notorious party girl at a wedding on a Saturday night.

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