Prologue

If you ask me what my favorite thing in the world is about five minutes ago, I’d answer without any hesitancy that it’d be my job. I’m not really sure I’d answer the same right now.

“You can pack your things now.” Mr. Wang dismisses me with sad smile.

I just got fired from the job I’ve been assured my self that it’s the best thing that ever happened in my life. Sure I’ve been only working here for a year. Still . . .

“May I ask why Mr. Wang.” I say through my closed throat. In short time, this Chinese man has become my mentor, my fatherly figure and my role model. I still don’t understand why he let me go after he said that I’m an expert in my field. “At least I deserve some explanation.”

He grimaces. “You do, darlin’. I personally think this is your big shot. I told you before that you will work in new place, right? Starting tomorrow.”

“But I love this place. I love working with you.” I protest fiercely, close to tears.

Mr. Wang heaves a frustrated sigh. I hate my self for causing him distress. It’s not like this is his fault if he wants the best for me. Maybe I’m just too dependent on him since this insecure feeling of failure always haunts me. “I’m sorry.” I mumble.

“Sit down my dear. I’ll soon break my neck if you keep towering over me.” He straightens in his chair as if it would make any difference. I stifle another wave of frustrated laugh. His joke timing is worse.

Mr. Wang is short, bald and has potbelly man. First time I saw him, I thought he was someone working in circus hired by the company since our company runs in entertainment industry. I sit down, carefully avoiding his eyes. However, he knows me too well.

“Why don’t you tell me what has troubled you, Yuri?”

Looking down at my hands in my lap, I mutter sullenly. “My insecurities.”

“You sure look down at yourself sometime.” He rubs his chin thoughtfully as if I’m a new interesting case.

It’s like most of the time. “But it’s the truth.”

Mr. Wang snorts. Coming from him, it’s more like a choked sound. “Have you been looking at yourself in the mirror lately?”

What does it have to do with looking at myself in a mirror? This man can be so infuriating when he chooses to be. “And what is your point?”

“Oh darlin’.” He groaned. “Just do me a favor. Try this and if you still don’t like it you can come back to me.”

I look up from my hands. “Promise?”

Waving his hand in the air, he rolls his eyes. “Go.”

And so the next day I stand up in front of eighty one floors building downtown in Seoul. Who would have thought Seoul has high floor building other than tourism building? I’ve printed documents I’m supposed to bring last night. The detail of my job is still unclear until I meet my boss, which is I’m not quite sure how to find him. I just only got his name. Mr. Jung.

Gah!

His name doesn’t ring a bell in my head. I also refused to give him a satisfaction to search his information on the internet. This man has made me fired from my job. I wonder what kind of man threatened Mr. Wang into letting me work with him. Surely he can find someone else to bother considering my limited experience of working.  

I shake my head mentally, determined to defy him at every turn. See if he still wants me.

Clutching my purse in one hand and my laptop bag in the other, I march inside. Holy shi