Chapter 29

Jenny had been crushing on Jiyong so hard. She hasn't been feeling that way ever since and the strong emotions she's having were hard for her to control. In the US, she was so used of making guys go after her and do things at her every whim but not Jiyong. He never texted her or called her even if she told him to. He is not an average guy whom she could control and that irked her a lot.  The way he was treating her made her more determined to get his attention.  

She needed to have a plan to make him notice her. She had been telling her father that the announcement of their arranged marriage must be done soon but her father's been so busy that he could not ask for a meeting with Jiyong's family. She had to take matters into her own hand. 

A naughty smile appeared on her pretty face. She took her phone and dialed a number, " Hello, Lisa! Can you tell some of your mother's  nosiest producers some juicy news for the knetz?" Lisa is a daughter of a big tv network.

Lisa, her bestie laughed on the other line. "Uh-oh! Seems like you are brewing trouble again! What about it?" 

"Just something about a possible merging of two multi-million companies." That naughty smile reappeared. " ...brought about by a matrimonial union of two heirs. Is that juicy enough?" She bit her lip imagining the various news outlet and how they would die for to get an exclusive. 

"I think so. I'll tell my mom about it!" Lisa replied excitedly.

"I'll talk to my Dad's secretary and when someone from your Mom's office would inquire its validity, she could answer on behalf of my dad." 

"Getting impatient, huh! Does your fiance know he is going to be in a limelight soon?" 

"Where is the fun of it if he'd know. I'd love to see his reaction! Would it be possible to have that news on the headline tonight?" Jennie lay down on the bed, wiggling her feet while looking at the ceiling of her pink room. A smile on her face. 

"If I'd tell the right person, then it would definitely be part of the headline! What do I get in return if you'd be on the news tonight?" Lisa's voice was excited! 

"You know I'm a generous person! Remember the perfume you've been asking about?" 

"You mean Symphony by Louis Vuitton?" Too much excitement in Lisa's voice!

"Nah! I've used it already and it's half full. But, I have something more expensive only for you... if you can make my wish come true tonight!" She bit her lip and imagine Lisa's reaction on the other line. She knows just how to make Lisa pull up the strings for her. Give her what she wants! 

"Love Is In the Air by House of Sillage!" She just simply said it but Lisa was already screaming on the other line! 

"I can't believe you are going to give it to me! I've been looking for it online and abroad but I couldn't get one!" Lisa is a perfume enthusiast and expensive ones are her weakness. 

"Of course! You have forgotten I am Jennie Kim!" She laughed teasingly! "Remember the bargain, dear! I'll text you the place where we would hang out tonight for you to send reporters to pry on my not-so-private life. They have to see it to believe it, right? " She hung up the phone after making sure she'd get what she wanted. 

*** 

Dara was over the moon when the HR Department of the Luxury Hotel called her to report for orientation. She has been working as a part-time receptionist in the Luxury Hotel for almost a week already. Her duty starts at six in the evening and ends at ten.  She thought she really got lucky meeting Gray that night. Who she couldn't tell about her encounter with Gray and the new job that he recommended for her was Jiyong. She knew that he was overprotective of her and that she needed to tell him in person so that she could properly address his concerns about her situation and meeting another man who had given him an opportunity to work at a hotel. So, as of the moment, he was blind to her work and her acquaintance with Gray. So for the past seven days, she could barely answer his call at ten o'clock since she was still busy walking to a nearby bus station and she was afraid he could hear the sounds of cars honking and speeding on the street. She knew he would get angry at her but she also knew she couldn't just tell the information to him on the phone since he had gone to another business convention. So, while still on the hotel, she would answer him briefly and then would pretend to have fallen asleep or to do her homework just to get off the phone.

Even though she misses him terribly, all she could tell him was: " I really want to see you so badly, Ji. I have a lot of things to tell you aside from I miss you. I will wait when you get back," which he would reply, "So do, I, baby. I promise when I get back, you are the first person you will know. By all means, I am going to see you on that day."

She knew that he was also busy during conventions because he had to attend various activities even after every session so at times he was also quick with his phone call to her,  just stressing on the essentials such as I love You and I miss you. 

On the other hand, Dara did not see her new friend on the premises of her workplace. She was yet to treat or give him something but he was out of sight. He did not text or call her either.

That night was her seventh day working in the hotel and just like any other usual day, she would still be surprised with the number of famous people she saw for the past days! She was starstruck with Lee Minho and Park Shin Hye when they dined separately on the restaurant which was basically passing on her spot in going to the grandiose area. She was left speechless just looking at them that the old guest who was inquiring about a room guessed she was new on the job and instead of scolding her, just laughed at her reaction. But after getting the hang of it, eventually, she could contain her excitement with a few others who came in after Lee Minho and Shin Hye on other days. Besides, they were strictly oriented that no matter who the guests are, receptionists must be cool about meeting them and act as if they are normal clients just like the other clients they have. Celebrities were just treated normally in the hotel. Only high-profile businessmen and highest-ranked national politicians were treated as VIPs in their hotel or people stipulated on the management memorandums signed by the President of the hotel himself. 

That night started peacefully. She went about her chores of answering calls, booking hotel rooms, and attending to walk-in clients who would inquire about a room, together with three other regular employees, when suddenly she saw the news in the hotel lobby.

Although she could barely hear the news anchor, but she could clearly see the pictures of the two people involved in the headline: Two giant companies merging into one with a future marital union of the two heirs: Kwon Jiyong and Kim Jennie!

She froze on her spot,  couldn't say a word as her body stiffened with what she was seeing. He never said a word to her and the news totally shocked her. She wasn't expecting it and she was really hurt at the moment. But as if the events of the night were playing on her because she noticed two figures dressed formally, personally received and directed by a floor manager of the restaurant, which indicated that the two were known VIPs if treated that way. When the guy glanced her way, Dara pretended to pick up something on the floor just so she could hide herself from the gorgeous couple. She was badly hurt by the news but what she saw hurt her more. The guys hand protectively ushered the lady, placing his hand on her back as they walked together to the dining area. 

I promise when I get back, you are the first person you willl know. By all means, I am going to see you on that day.

Jiyong, did you forget your promise? Why are you having a dinner date with Jennie without even telling me? Why is your engagement already revealed in television and you didn't even g