CHAPTER 10

Hana.

Late. Late. Late.

Kris is going to kill me if he shows up in that conference room before I do; I lowered the taxi's window and poked my head out. Of all the days to be stuck in traffic, why does it have to be today when I have to be at a meeting with the company's most prestige people?

Ring. Ring. “Hello?” Damn. I didn't even take a look at the screen.

“Hana-ssi, where are you?” I swallowed hard when I heard Kyungsoo's voice speaking to me from the other line. I poke my head out of the window again “S-sir, I'm kind of stuck in traffic, right now... h-has Mr. Wu arrived yet?” God, why did I even ask such a question? I don't even wanna know the answer. “No, not yet... but he's on his way”

Gulp. “K-Kyungsoo-ssi, erm, sir. Can I call you back?”

“Sure” I put my phone away and grab my bag as well as some folders needed for the meeting before giving the driver some bills and hopped out of the vehicle. I ran to the sidewalk and my eyes lit up when I saw Wu Enterprise building's head in sight. That means it's not that far! Quickly, I take off my heels and make a dash for it.

I'd rather make it there on time, sweating and panting hard than be late and have Kris Wu fire me.

“Excuse me! Coming through!” I accidentally bump on someone “Sorry! In a hurry!” I look back and give a small bow of the head and continue to run. Pant. Pant. Keep running Hana, you're close.

I ran through a 'stop walking' sign and almost got hit by a car;

“Sorry! Running late! Kris Wu's gonna fire me!” I yell my apologies and keep running as slowly, the building gets closer and closer in view. There was just a few more blocks to run and I'll be walking through those doors.

Almost at the finish line, Hana! Keep going!

Kris.

I drum my fingers on the steering wheel, waiting for the light to turn green.

I glace down at my watch and frowned, I was running late and it's all thanks to staying up all night trying to come up with a speech. I wish that today was worth being late but to hell with it, I haven't even written a single word and just fell asleep on the table infront of my laptop.

It was uncomfortable, I'm frustrated and my neck hurts!

Green light. I was about to drive on when all of a sudden, I hit the breaks as a running female pedestrian runs through the 'stop walking' sign and I almost hit her with my car. ! I shot a glare at the pedestrian but soon raise a brow as I hear her yell, still running

“Sorry! Running late! Kris Wu's gonna fire me!”

Tsk. Damn right, I'm gonna fire you! I step on the gas and speed up on the road, eager to reach Wu Enterprise before that running worker. Whoever that was. She almost caused me a hospital bill and a scratch on my name!

Kim Hana smiles as she finally reached the front steps of the building. The screech of tires suddenly coming to a stop made her turn her head and a squeak came out of as she realized who it was. Quickly, she ran up the front steps of the building and came through the doors.

Kris hurriedly got out of his car, an angry look on his face, ready to fire the law breaker. He takes long strides as he walks up the steps leading to the doors of the building when at the corner of his eyes, he sees a rushing shoeless female running up the stairs in a hurry. Found you.

He glared at the person and rushes up the steps as well. The figure walks through the doors and Kris takes quick steps. He pushes through the doors and employees all stop and stare at his mad figure as he looks around. “Yah!”

Hana repeatedly punched the button for the elevator but to no avail, it was taking so long and if she waits any longer, Kris could catch up to her. A gasp escaped her lips when she heard the glass doors open and greetings for Mr. Wu had filled her ears.

“Yah!” Hana froze hearing his voice, she didn't turn around but instead made a dash for the escalator. “Don't you dare run away!” Kris roared but Hana didn't even turn to look at him, she just continued to run “Sorry sir! But you can't fire me unless you know who I am!” she apologized as she continued to run up the escalators. Kris's brows narrowed and he ran after her.

It was a wild goose chase and Hana was the goose.

She ran up another set of escalators and Kris tailed behind her. Damn, he's fast! She kept running and running as did Kris, he was quite impressed with this girl's stamina. Hana took a turn at a hallway and her eyes twinkled when she saw the janitor's closet. Sensing Kris was still some distance away, she hurriedly got inside and quietly closed the door.

Running footsteps came. She clasped a hand over and silently prayed that Kris would just run by. The footsteps slowed down to a stop and from the other side, she heard Kris panting for air.

Just go. Please, just go. She shut her eyes closed.

Faint ringing sounds came from the other side of the door. Kris took out his phone and answered the call “Hello?” Pant. Pant. Pant.

“What's with you?” Xiumin asked him. Kris looked around the empty hall “Early morning work out, is everyone in the conference room?”

“Yup, you're the only one missing from the bunch” Xumin smiled on the other line “I'll be right there... tell Ms. Kim to prepare some coffee for me” Kris began to walk “Isn't she with you?”

“No, I just got here” Kris remarks with a scoff “Well, she's not here yet... I heard from Kyungsoo that she was stuck in traffic” Kris stops and raises a brow. “So, she's going to be late?”

“Apparently so...” Kris closed his eyes.

“Sorry! Running late! Kris Wu's gonna fire me!”

Sigh. “I see... I'll be there in a bit” he hung up on Xiumin and scrolled through his contacts.

PA Kim Hana

He pressed the call button and pressed the phone onto his ear;

Ring. Ring. Gasp. Hana froze when she heard her phone ring and the sound was echoing. “!” she hissed and saw Kris Wu's name flash on the screen.

Kris smirked when he heard faint ringing sounds being emitted. He slowly walked towards one particular door and stopped, his phone still pressed onto his ear. “H-Hello?” Hana answered. “Where are you right now, Ms. Kim?” Hana swallowed hard on the other line “Uh... s-sir...”

“And don't you dare... lie” Hana didn't respond anymore. Kris grabbed the knob of the janitor's closet and opened it; Hana gave him an awkward smile as their eyes met. Kris's brows knitted and he pocketed his phone.

“Good morning, Mr. Wu”

The conference fell quiet when Kris entered with Hana following close behind. He took his seat and Hana began to distribute the folders in her hands; Kai raises a brow at her dim expression but she only gives him a small smile. She continues to pass on the folders. Kyungsoo stole a glance of Kris who didn't seem to be in the mood for jokes. Once Hana was done, she took her place to stand at a distance beside Kris.

Lay casts Chanyeol a playful look. He fishes his phone out of his pocket and sends the latter a text saying: One point.

Chanyeol scoffs at the text and rolls his eyes at Lay. He types a reply: Lovers quarrel. Point should go to me, pabo :P

Suho lets out a breath and clears his throat “So... shall we start?” he turns to Kris who leans back on his leather chair and asks Hana for a cup of coffee. Hana nods and exits the room.

“There will be foreign investors coming in two weeks, two from Rome, two from Taiwan and two from the United States; the chairman expects us to hold a party and as well as presentation of the marketing stocks; give them an impression. Chairman expects us to nail it so we could easily sky rocket our company sales and as well as receive high rate publicity abroad” the door opens and Hana returns with Kris's cup of coffee. She sets it down beside him and timidly takes her place back on his side.

A bothered looks comes across Kai's face. She's so off today.

“So, this party... what about it?” Baekhyun asks, flipping through the next page of the complied papers in the folder in his hand. Kris leans back on his chair, he crosses his legs as he places his hands on the arm rests. “Ms. Kim will handle it...”

Hana's eyes widen “What?!”

Everyone turns to her and Kris gives her a warning look. She bit her lower lip and gave a bow of apology for raising her voice. “Her alone?” Kai questions. “I've arranged a team” Kris looks over at Lay “Yixing, you'll guide her accordingly”

Lay's eyes widen a bit in surprise at Kris's orders but nevertheless, he gave a nod.

“The rest of you know your duties already; work on the respective files and reports we need for the presentation. Base it all on the past year's company rates and files and year end reports... questions?”

Xiumin raised a hand and Kris sighed, turning to him and gesturing him to go on with his question. Xiumin placed his hand down. “Since we only have two weeks to wrap this all up, are we still expected to return to the places you've assigned us for the week? Because if we are then I'm afraid I have to catch a jet in thirty minutes”

Kris closed the folder infront of him and got up from his chair “No, you'll return and get the job done after the party... and keep the folders... now if there are no more questions” he paused and picked up his folder then gave it to Hana and took one sip of his cup of coffee before setting it down “I'll be leaving”

Kris exited the door and Hana quietly followed.

Hana.

It's been awhile since I've felt this kind of scare.

The kind where you wish you could just disappear from the world.

“Ms. Kim...” Gulp. “Sir?” we both waited for the elevator doors to open. “I expect an explanation for this morning's behavior as soon as we reach my office and it better be good, so do your best to pile up your words before we get there, is that understood?” I look down on my two feet and nod my head.

“Good morning, Mr. Wu” I awkwardly smile up at his looming figure.

“Get up and fix yourself Ms. Kim, we're late” he glares down at me.

I quickly complied, I put on my heels, gather my things and fix my hair with my free hand before following him. Awkward.

Ding. The doors open and we both step inside. The ride up was quiet and he hasn't even let me off to my floor to put my things in my office and it only made me more nervous. He's gonna fire me. After his bidding of a party is done, he's gonna fire me. I'm ready to break. I'm only a month into working here and I'm already gonna lose my job.

When we got to the 35th floor, we went inside his office. He walked over to the mini bar on the side of his large space and opened the small fridge, taking out a cold bottle of water and twisted it open. He drank half of it before he walked towards his chair and sat down, placing the bottle on the side of his desk. I stood awkwardly infront of his desk, waiting for him to say something.

Atleast let me sit down. My feet are killing me. I quietly weep inside my mind. Kris finally leans back on his chair and let's out a great breath of relief.

“Begin explaining Ms. Kim” Sorry Hana, looks like you're gonna have to bear with the pain on your feet for awhile. I took a deep breath and break my mouth to speak but I'm left with my mouth hanging open when I realized that I didn't know where to start.

Kris raises an impatient brow at me “Well? Should I just fire you?”

Gasp. Get on with it Hana! Damn you!

“I was stuck in traffic this morning, Mr. Wu and so I decided to run to the office so that I could get here before you; I was afraid you would fire me if I came in late and when I saw you entering the building, I just ran on instinct. I'm really sorry, sir. I really didn't mean to cause you trouble at such an early hour in the morning before an important meeting! I'm sorry for making you chase me, I was just scared” I bow a complete ninety degrees “I just wanted to live up to your expectations of how much I deserve the promotion you've given me; I'm very sorry Mr. Wu”

Silence followed. Please say something.

I heard Kris let out a sigh “Stand up straight, Ms. Kim” he orders and I do so. I look down on my own two feet, avoiding his gaze because it would only terrify me more.

“For you to run away from your boss instead of stopping when he tells you to was very unprofessional, Ms. Kim” I know... please forgive me. “Also, I almost hit you with my car when you ran that 'stop walking' sign earlier”

Gasp. ! You are in deep of trouble Hana! I bit my lower lip as Kris continues to speak “To think you also hid from me; I have every right to fire you Ms. Kim, do you know that?” I nod my head. It's my fault anyway.

Another sigh escaped his lips “But for you to actually go as far as run barefoot just so you would not be late so as you could not disappoint me... I'll let you slide through this one, Ms. Kim” my head shot up at his words and my eyes brimmed with tears. “W-What?”

Kris had a blank look on his face “But this should never happen again and as punishment for involving me in a wild goose chase, you have to pull off the party; I expect you to put together something that would impress the guests and as well as investors... is that understood, Ms. Kim?” my lips quiver and I nod my head, unable to speak.

Kris's brows narrow as he looks at me “Are you going to cry?” he asks; I quickly wipe away my tears as they threatened to fall and put on a bright and thankful smile.

“S-sorry sir, I just thought I was gonna get fired” I explain.

Kris let out a chuckle and my eyes widened in great surprise. A chuckle. Kris Wu let out a chuckle. “Aren't you an interesting bird, Ms. Kim?” I blink my eyes and keep staring at him, the small curve on one corner of his lips disappears “What?”

I swallow hard and give him a smile. “You should really smile some more, sir”

Kris.

I stare back at Kim Hana as she gives me a warm smile. What are you...? Her smile brightens some more and she gives me a bow “Well, I'll be leaving now Mr. Wu; thank you for hearing my explanation and I promise that I won't disappoint you with the party!”

She turns on her heels and heads for the door “If there's anything you need, I'll be in my office, sir”

The door opens and closes.

I swallow the building lump in my throat and one side of my lips curve upward.

"How much more interesting can you get, Kim Hana?"

My crappy sidenotes:

The ransom has been paid and with more than ten comments too, aren't you guys the sweetest? :) kekeke, thank you for the upvotes Baby_June06 and hippotodamax :) also, thank you for the subscriptions, I hope you guys would enjoy this journey

As said, 10 for Chapter 10, here it is. So... how much ransom should I hold chapter 11 for? another 10? KEKEKEKE; Here's a good deal, since I'm feeling happy for receiving upvotes, I'll give chapter 11 for free today and I'll give chapter 12 today as well but for 10 comments. is that okay? kekeke, author-nim is mean, isn't she? :)

On another note: the story has reached 10 chapters and it's receiving quite a good feedback so I guess this will continue on to the end. eh? I've fallen inlove with this too. I feel happy when I write this, it's like writing for the first time again. So... I shall take off the experimental on the title. Kamsa! <3