Once in their rooms, Ilana & Suzy plopped down on their beds in relief. The meeting had gone well. Thankfully, Ilana's marketing degree and research experience spoke for itself.  She was able to answer every question posed to her with professionalism and eloquence. The two companies catered to different clients.  It was obvious by the Shinhwa Group monogrammed everything in the room, from the bedding to the towels to the curtains had the logo embroidered; it wasn't a name you'd forget anytime soon.

 - "Ilana-ssi, Suzy-ah, would you care to tour the resort now?" Jung Min knocked on their door. The guys had the adjoining room and were giving their roles as bodyguards their full attention.

 - "Should we change?” Suzy asked.

 - "You can, if you want, I'm comfortable." Ilana wore simple dress chinos, white button-down shirt, blue paisley scarf, and sandals.  Suzy wore a yellow mini dress and red shoes.

 - "I'm good; I'm stuck in a uniform all the time. I like wearing dresses."

 - "And JungMin likes to see you in dresses," Ilana teased.

 - "Princess!"  There was another knock on the door. "We're hungry," HyungJun complained.

 - "Kaja, before they break the door down," Ilana said.

They unanimously chose Pizza, for lunch, ordering six different personal pizzas so that they could all share.

 - "Mal, you and Suzy should have ordered spaghetti to share. You know like in 'Lady and the Tramp'. You can steal a kiss."

 - "Yah, Maknae," JungMin glared at HyungJun. "Who are you calling Tramp?!"

 - "Ilana-ssi, what is it you Americans say?  If the shoe fits....?" KyuJong couldn't resist joining in on the bullying.

 - "JungMin-ssi is a bit of a rogue," Suzy said, hiding her giggling behind her hand.

 - "Oh!!  Ditzed by your own girlfriend!"  YoungSaeng, KyuJong, and HyungJun all shouted at once.

 - "Shh! Keep it down! People are starting to stare." Ilana shushed the raucous.

 - "Besides, it’s quite evident that Suzy resembles 'Lady', the cute cocker spaniel, more than you do. And Lady did civilize the Tramp..."  More laughter erupted.

 - "I don't need spaghetti to steal a kiss and Lady fell for the Tramp before he was civilized,” Jung Min planted a kiss on Suzy's surprised face. A look passed between the other three guys and they all stood up and clapped. Ilana had to admit, each day she became more attached to this bunch of nuts. What was she to do without them?

After lunch, everyone wanted to go shopping.

 - "I think I'm just going to walk around and take in some of the sights. Even though JungMin knows how much it will pain me to miss out on a shopping day,” Ilana said sarcastically.

 - "Mmm, it's stabbing her with a knife over and over."

 - "But Princess, you’re going to go off without your bodyguards?"  HyungJun mocked.

 - "I think I'll survive," she smiled at him.  “I'm not that important."

 - "Cinderella is important to us," YoungSaeng ruffled her hair and laughed at her glare while trying to finger comb it back into place.

 - "Let's meet back at the rooms at six," KyuJong called the meeting back to order.

 - "I'll make dinner reservations while I'm out. You may all enjoy an afternoon off.  You are dismissed."  Everyone laughed at the joke.

Having minored in architecture, she was enjoying the design of the building itself as much as all the amenities it offered. Kike and she had surprised Nana with a trip to Rome some years ago, but they didn't venture any further. The replicas were textbook identical to the real thing. Having recently studied all about Shinhwa Group, she knew money was no object and they expected and hired only the best.  Excited to see a See's Candies store, she had purchased a large assortment of chocolates for everyone to share later. She had also come across Morton's steakhouse earlier; she made dinner reservations for everyone. It would be her treat, she wanted to pay back some of the kindness they had shown her.  Morton's and Sees were a bittersweet taste of home for Ilana.  Antonio always brought her dark chocolate from See's and they would occasionally have dinner at Morton’s.  She really hoped Antonio was not too angry with her; he had been a good ally against her cousin and in a way a good friend as well.

She was deep in thought and memories when Mr. Jeong came upon her and surprised her back to the present.

 - "Miss Contreras?"  Mr. Jeong bowed to her after she had jumped slightly.  "Forgive me for having startled you."

 - "Oh! It's no trouble at all. I was enjoying the scenery and was not paying attention to my surroundings."

 - "You found your rooms to your liking?"

 - "Very much so."  Ilana could tell they were being treated with a small level of importance:  not the most expensive rooms, yet not the least.  "They are very comfortable and very beautiful.  Your guests come here, expecting a certain level of excellence and I can tell you deliver that and more each time. Please let your CEO know, I am very much enthralled by his resort, it is everything I've studied about and then some." Ilana continued to amaze Mr. Jeong with her knowledge of architecture and marketing techniques.

 - "Have you been to Venice yourself, Miss Contreras?"

 - "Sadly, no, only Rome but I can tell that your architect and design team has."

 - "Do you have an interest in Venetian architecture?"

 - "I minored in architecture. When you stand to take over a business of commercial and residential dwellings, it behooves a person to know the design side of the business as well. That way you cut out the middleman" Mr. Jeong couldn't help but be impressed.

 - "Where is your staff this afternoon?"  He asked, curious.

 - "They have the afternoon free. This is a pleasure first, business second trip. I don't require watching over Mr. Jeong."  She made it clear with that speech; she wasn't here to steal trade secrets. "I'm quite sure that even if you and your CEO have heard of my Fathers Company, you didn't know who I was until a representative from my company contacted you." Mr. Jeong was surprised at her words, which were completely true.  She was not the face of her company, unlike Madam Kang who never traveled alone; much less gave her staff free time.

 - "I see.  Enjoy your evening then. You've made dinner reservations?"

 - "Yes, I'm surprising my staff with dinner at Morton's."

 - "I hope you enjoy your dinner." He bowed to her and went on his way, thinking her quite the oddity.  She was the complete opposite of Madam Kang and her son. He would make his report that all was as it seemed.

 - "I will continue to observe Miss Contreras, but I believe she truly is a casual observer and here to enjoy herself. You would be surprised to know she is an intelligent and astute young woman." He sent a text message to his boss.

 - "Good, let me know if anything changes," Gu JunPyo texted back.

While Ilana wandered around enjoying the scenery, the others were having fun going into all the shops.

 - "I want to go into Max store," Suzy pointed at the mall directory.

 - "Hajiman na want to go to the Atrium and look at watches," JungMin said.

 - "Oh, can we go over here?" HyungJun pointed to a store that carried masques.

 - "Arasseo, kaja," Suzy who was directing the shopping outing agreed.

Once in the store, they lost all track of time. After they had tried and seen what seemed like every masque in the store, they all chose one to commemorate their first visit to Shiinhwa Hotel.

 - "We need to pick one for Ilana before we check out," Suzy suggested and they all agreed.

 - "This one is a gift, can you please wrap it?" YoungSaeng asked the cashier once they had all made their individual purchases.

After their adventures with the masques, they still had enough time before dinner to hit all the other stores on their list.  Ilana and friends met back at their rooms to dress for dinner. She surprised everyone with reservations for a private room at Morton's. The guys could be as loud as they wanted.

 - "What’s that Princess?" HyungJun asked, referring to the bag she carried.  She had placed the chocolates in a plain bag in order to avoid nosey eyes.

 - "What is Suzy carrying?" She asked HyungJun.

 - "Na asked Princess, first."

 - "Never mind, nosey, you'll find out later."

 - "Princess will find out later, too."

 - "Na have no problem waiting," she challenged.

 - "Na du," he counter challenged.

 - "Maknae and Cinderella, stop arguing and walk.  We'll be late for dinner." YoungSaeng called to them, the rest of the party was several yards ahead.

Ilana was glad the private rooms at the restaurant came with a set menu. Everyone still had a hard time choosing from the entrees available. It was finally decided they would repeat what they did for lunch. They each order something different so they could all try everything. Although Ilana didn't drink, everyone else did. Once several bottles of wine were added to the mix, the laughter and teasing never stopped. HyungJun took plenty of pictures for later. After dinner,they wandered along the canal.

 - "I want a Gondola ride, jagiya, juseyo?!"  Suzy gave JungMin her aegyo.

 - "Anything, for you."

 - "Nado, kaja!"  HyungJun interjected, beginning to walk after the couple.

KyuJong grabbed him back.  "Na think they want to be alone, Maknae," he broke the news to him gently.

 - "The rest of us can go on the next one, right Cinderella?" YoungSaeng turned to Ilana.

 - "Sure…guerae, I'd love to." The two groups were about to separate when she remembered her other surprise. "Oh wait, Jung Min-ah, Suzy-ah...take this." She handed them each a small box of chocolate. "I bought a box for each of us."

 - "Gomawo!" Everyone said excitedly.

 - "We have a gift for you too." Suzy handed Ilana the gift bag she carried. Inside was a beautiful white peacock masque.

 - "It's beautiful, thank you! Kansamnida!  I love it." Ilana was extremely touched by the gift.

 - "We all bought one, we'll show you when we get back to the rooms."

 - "Kaja." Jung Min started to pull Suzy toward a Gondola.

They had a great time on the Gondola ride. Ilana was almost fluent in Italian and was able to translate what the Gondolier was singing. After a little while, she forgot about translating and the guys forgot to ask her what the gondolier was singing.  They just relaxed, enjoyed the ride and the scenery. It would be late before they returned to their rooms. A limo would take them back to the ferry to Hong Kong in the morning after breakfast.

If Macau was opulent, Ilana could describe Hong Kong as vibrant, from the rich colors of everything to the hustle and bustle of its people. The smell of the flower market would stay with her always, just like a candy store. She and Suzy bought bouquets for their rooms on the ship. JungMin haggled in the jade shops like a fish monger.  Ilana purchased a pendant to send ia as a thank you for her involvement in the Macau scheme.  Making the trip official, she emailed her old marketing team a few of the things she had observed.  She wanted to cover her bases in case Shinhwa Group decided to contact them for some odd reason. JungMin bought a very lovely jade bracelet for Suzy. The rest of the guys couldn't wait to get to the food stalls, but Ilana happened upon some men’s Jewelry.

 - "Oppa, what do you think of these?" Ilana asked YoungSaeng, pointing to the jade cuff links in front of her.

 - "That depends, Cinderella, who are they for?"

 - "I want to get something for my other brother, Kike."

 - "Na see how it is; you love him more than you do us." He crossed his arms and put on a mock angry face.

 - "I don't love him better; I've just loved him longer."  She gave him a teasing smiled and opened her arms to hug him.  "Sarangheyo, Oppa."

 - "Ah! Oppa can't resist when you do that." Instead of stepping into the hug, he ruffled her hair.

 - "Yah! Why do guys always do that?"

 - "Because, it’s fun," he laughed at her. "So...you want to become an Imo soon?"

 - "Huh?"

 - "Jade for a man is not only for protection but also for fertility. So I asked if you wanted to be an Aunt soon."  He grinned.

Ilana blushed at first, but then an idea formed in her head.  She covered in amusement and her eyes opened wide in delight.  "Oh!  I'm so getting them. I would prefer a sister in law first to go with the whole aunt thing, though.  I'll get something jade for all of you, too!"  She said delightedly with this piece of information.

 - "Aniyo, kwenchanayo!  Mollah if we need help in that department, yet."

 - "I'd make a good aunty!  Na promise to spoil the kids rotten!"

 - "Begopayo!" HyungJun complained to Ilana and his Hyeong. "Princess, let’s go eat.  Wae do you look like the bird that swallowed the cat?"  Ilana was giggling silently behind her hand; face red from trying to stifle the laughter.

 - "It's the cat that swallowed the canary, pabo." YoungSaeng saved Ilana from having to respond. "Let’s go eat; we'll have to make our way back to the ship soon." They walked to join the others, but poor Ilana had a horrible case of the giggles.

 - "What’s with her?"  KyuJong asked. "Ilana are you not feeling well?" Tears were forming in Ilana's eyes from trying to control the giggling.

 - "Princess?  Are you laughing?  You never laugh?”  HyungJun and the others were all shocked.  Other than her smile and the occasional quiet chuckle, a true laugh had never been heard from her since before her parents’ accident.  "Hyeong, something's is seriously wrong with her," he turned to KyuJong.

 - "I think she needs to get out of the sun and eat something."  Ilana couldn't look at the guys without endless mirth. "It's making her a little Pabo."  YoungSaeng swung his arm around her shoulders and led the way to the nearest food stall.