“I feel ignored.” Chaerin announced from Seri’s desk, the young lawyer looked up from the couch.

“What?” She absentmindedly answered as she perused another set of documents before her, she frowned before putting them down. Seri used to work for a law firm two years ago, but after months and months for her family’s nagging she finally caved in and joined the family’s business. Never in her whole life did she see herself as JLL Korea’s corporate lawyer, but now she was. Her family had always remained quiet and low-key, Seri was never sure if it was because their clan was involved in politics or, was it because of their other side of the business.

“I came here with the purpose to see you, you know to chat and gossip and all, but you’re making me look at these….drawings.” Chaerin muttered as she eyed the blueprints and other industrial plans before her.

“I told you not to come too early.” Seri sighed and she stood up, Chaerin rolled her eyes and leaned back on the chair.

“So, polo this weekend.” Seri said as she sat down across her friend.

“I know, I heard it’s this event our alma mater arranged, it’s an event to raise money for a local zoo somewhere.” Chaerin trailed off, her phone buzzed.

“You playing?”

“No. But Soojin were here, I know she’d force all of us to.”

Seri chuckled and shook her head, her brows went up briefly.

“So, about…this weekend, I called the club and asked to add another seat to our table.” She carefully said, Chaerin rolled her eyes in reply.

“Why would you have to call for her? That’s oppa’s business.” She grumbled, Seri shook her head at the girl.

“I meant that I’m bringing…someone.”

Chaerin paused, her eyes going wide and then Seri saw how a teasing smile started to form on her cheeks.

“Please be an adult about~”

“Oh my god! Is this the mysterious boyfriend finally making a debut?” Chaerin shrieked, Seri shushed the girl, worried that her secretary might hear.

“Keep it down!” Seri hissed, Chaerin chuckled and leaned forward, her elbows pressed on the glass desk.

“We’re finally meeting him. Exciting.”

“Please don’t do anything embarrassing.” The lawyer groaned while Chaerin continued grinning at her.

“Maybe the new addition will distract me that other dreadful presence.”

“Dude, grow up. She’s actually quite nice.” Seri murmured, knowing well who Chaerin was talking about. Son Hyunwoo’s younger cousin never got around to liking his girlfriend, at this point Seri knew it was pointless to even try.

“Nice? Sure, a pet raccoon would be nice too.”

“Hey.”

Chaerin rolled her eyes again and grabbed her phone.

“I’m telling Soo!”

“I wasn’t expecting to see you today.” Ara beamed as she stepped out behind the counter, Changkyun smiled and stretched one arm to her.

“One of my meetings got cancelled, and I figured I’d drop to say hi.” He mused before planting a soft kiss on her cheek, Ara blushed and swatted him away, her two employees giggled. The girl ran a flower shop in downtown Seoul.

“And I have coffee, cupcakes too.” He announced as he set the bags on the desk.

“Perfect, I was just thinking of ordering something to eat.”

“Right, I tried calling noona the other day, but it would push through. Have you spoken to her?”

“We did exchange messages, but that was last week. She wanted to know if I wanted to some cheese. I think she’s sending some over.” Ara continued, Changkyun couldn’t help but smile, his older sister and his girlfriend clicked so well.

“And she says hi too.”

“I’m glad to know that she says hi to me through you.”

Ara grew sheepish and started eating, Changkyun pulled his coffee closer to him.

“My parents are actually flying out next month, and they have this layover flight in Switzerland, unnie said she’d see them and show them around.”

“That sounds great, how are they doing?”

“They did tell me to invite you to lunch over at our house next week, well,” Ara said as she stretched her cupcake to him, Changkyun took a bite.

“I’ll be there.” He replied, Ara started chewing, her eyes on the male beside her. Then she sighed and nudged his knee with hers.

“What’s wrong? I know something’s bothering you.”

“It’s…not really a big deal, but…I don’t know if noona’s already aware of father’s…plans.” He carefully said as he fiddled with the lid of his cup, Ara chewed on the insides of her cheeks.

“And, I’m thinking that maybe that’s why she’s been really quiet and unreachable lately. Maybe she found out and would rather not be involved, or she’s pissed at me for not telling her.”

“But you didn’t know your father was planning to marry her.”

Changkyun scrunched his nose and leaned his forehead against her arm, Ara smiled and kissed the top of his head.

“I know, but I worry about her. She’s been away for so long.”

“You know she’d hear you out if you talk to her.”

“It’s her freedom, it’s something she’s always yearned for.” He murmured before pulling away and finishing his coffee.

“Or, you can ask Shownu oppa to butter her up for you.” Ara jokingly added, Changkyun chuckled and shook his head.

“I wouldn’t bet on that, he spoils her too much.”

“True, but, come to think of it,” She crossed her legs and finished her cupcake, Changkyun brushed the bits of frosting from her lips.

“We haven’t seen how Soo unnie would be around oppa and Jisoo unnie.”

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe it’s because I’ve been so used as seeing as your sister and Shownu oppa as a tandem, but I wonder how him having a serious girlfriend would change the dynamics.” Ara hummed to herself with a smile.

“We don’t have to worry about that, I think Jisoo noona should watch out for Mrs. Chae Hyungwon instead, Chaerin noona hates her on a personal level.” Changkyun mused, Ara grimaced and nodded in reply.

“I know, I checked the schedule.” Shownu replied as he looked at the folder’s contents before him, he was at his office, joined by three department heads. They were discussing the dealings with some financial institutions and other contract signings that he had to prepare for.

“Can you check with GukJe again? I spoke with chairman Chae last week, it’s a go from their side. How come we don’t have the necessary documents yet?” He queried.

“Yes, we will be having them by today, sir. I just needed to have it checked by our legal team.”

Shownu nodded along, his secretary stood beside him, it was a slightly hectic day for his boss and they were in quite a strict time schedule.

“Good, about~”

The doors slowly opened, Shownu looked up from the table, his secretary was about to move, wondering why someone was allowed to even be near the doors when a female appeared. She was dressed nicely, a black tweed midi dress and a pair of white leather flats.

“Is this a bad time?” She casually asked, the managing heads couldn’t help but stare, the secretary stepped back and smiled. Shownu met her gaze and nodded for her to come in. She put her purse down and went to take a seat on their boss’s desk.

The men started murmuring to themselves, Shownu slowly put down the folder.

“Also, please do a follow up with JT Tech, I don’t think we should be holding onto them for long.”

“Yes, sir.”

Shownu gave them a polite smile before dismissing them, Soojin watched as the males left.

“It’s good to see you, ma’am.” Shownu’s secretary greeted her with a warm smile.

“Same here, I’m quite surprised you’re still with this grump.” She grinned; the male excused himself before leaving the room.

“What’s up?” Shownu asked as he loosened his tie and stood up.

“I was looking at office spaces, and I found this perfect floor in Gangnam.” She said to him, Shownu took the seat across her and nodded.

“It’s YooMin’s. Can I rent it?” She pulled out her phone and showed the picture to him, Shownu peered over at the screen and nodded.

“Yes. I’ll have the contract sent to you by tomorrow. Have you eaten?”

“I had late breakfast, but I can go with you to eat. And,”

“Still haven’t called Chankgyun?” He asked, the girl stood up and picked up his suit jacket, Shownu buttoned his vest.

“I’m going to let him stew first.” She replied as Shownu let her help him with his clothes, the latter grinned.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m going to see how long before he calls to tell me about the wedding.”

“You’re evil.” He muttered, she chuckled and patted his shoulders.

“I try to be consistent.” Soojin offered as they left the office, Shownu snorted and slung one arm around her shoulder.

“Busy day? I had a feeling you were with the way your staff glared at me when I entered.” She mused, Shownu shrugged.

“Just..a lot of meetings.”

“I hear Loen’s being a headache and Samsung’s being a .” She said to him.

“Hyunwoo, you really have to cut them off when you have to and be strict with Samsung right now. With the market’s situation~”

“I know, I know. Let’s talk about it after eating.”

“You do know Loen’s not doing well right now, right?” She asked him, being serious. They entered the elevator together and Shownu smiled.

“I know.” He replied, Soojin never fails to send their friend group insider info regarding companies on a weekly basis, Seri says that was Samantha Im’s love language.

“So, what do you want?” Hyunwoo asked as they stepped out of the elevator, the two friends crossed the lobby.

“What do you mean? I just wanted to see your office.”

Shownu remained quiet, he dropped his hand to his side as his car arrived, then Soojin sighed and turned to him.

“I flew here without fixing my cards first, so, I don’t have access to my bank. And I must make a personal appearance to my banks here, but it’s by appointment only, and I don’t want to call my brother yet. And! I have no~”

“Hmm.” Shownu hummed in reply as he took out his wallet and handed one of his credit cards.

“I knew befriending you would come in handy one day~ Oh, I got you that for your birthday.” She said as a black Maybach EQS rolled in.

“Yes, befriending you did become handy for me too.” Shownu replied with a chuckle as he opened the door for her, Soojin scoffed before getting in.

“Soojin called me today.” Hyungwon announced as they got off the escalator, Chaerin looked up to meet his gaze.

“Really?”

“She asked if I knew the Ceylon Ahns. And if I could set a meeting for her.” He continued as they strolled into a Dior boutique.

“The name’s familiar. Tech?”

“I think, maybe communications too. But I’m not so sure. I asked the office to check.” Hyungwon continued as the girl held onto his hand.

“It’s probably work.”

“She said her boss wants her to approach some companies here in the country and offer them a membership of some sort.” He continued as Chaerin eyed the display of dresses, two sales assistants were already following them.

“Are we going to the wedding?”

“Do you think we should?” His wife replied with a grimace, Hyungwon chuckled and tugged her to his side.

“I’m sure Soojin would be fine with it.”

“I don’t know, it feels like I’m betraying my best friend, attending her father’s wedding ceremony where the bride is only a couple of years older than her.” She raised two fingers, Hyungwon shook his head and pulled her towards the dresses.

“Wasn’t she the one who first found out about them?”

“Yeah, she was in Lake Como and came across them.” Chaerin shuddered, recalling how Im Soojin called them at two in the morning (local South Korean time) just to spill the tea and rant about what she saw. Apparently, the girlfriend was wearing the flimsiest bikini she ever saw.

“Do you think she’ll fly home? I think KangSan’s BOD would want to hear from her, the chairman’s new wife may start some….questions.”

“They’d want the legitimate heirs to say a few words, true.” Chaerin picked out a couple of dresses and some pants.

“If she does come home though, that would be refreshing. She hasn’t been home in a while.” Hyungwon continued on.

“I know. But,…I don’t know how to explain this, but, I have a feeling like,” She trailed off, trying to come up with the right words. Hyungwon smiled and nodded along, waiting for her to continue.

“I have a feeling that this wedding really might bring her home, and, you know having her here for a while might work in my favor.”

“Your favor?”

“Maybe she can talk some sense into Son Hyunwoo.”

“Chaerin-ah,” Hyungwon sighed at her, but really, he never did talk her out her dislike for Jisoo.

“Something’s not right here, husband.”

“But your cousin seems happy.” Hyungwon mused as they reached the shoe display, Chaerin proceeded to check some of the designs for men.

“No matter how much I explain it, you’ll never understand.” She grumbled as she picked out a pair of sneakers for him.

“I get it, you’re protective over your cousin.” He mused before leaning down to briefly press his nose against her hair.

“It’s not that, it’s…just her, okay? I don’t hate her, but I’d rather she be far away from him. From us.”

“I’m loving the logic, baby.”

“Just..pay for the items.” She grumbled back, Hyungwon chuckled and walked to the counter.

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