«I didn’t plan on wearing anything formal,» I chuckled and trudged into my bedroom, which had its own bathroom.
When we moved into this penthouse, IВ chose the smallest room for myself, which now contained only aВ large bed, aВ closet with my clothes and aВ work desk where IВ spent my nights.
Under a stream of warm water in the shower, I felt empty that in the last five days I had not once made time for the business that I had been dreaming about for the past few years. My father taught me to dream and to believe that nothing is impossible for me. And it’s not because he and mom had enough power and money. On the contrary, he taught me discipline, dismissing momentary desires and thoughtfulness in everything that concerned my own life. And for that I was grateful to him. The only thing that he could not overcome in any way in me was my passion for fast driving and for everything that caused an adrenaline rush and an emotional outburst in my mind.
IВ had aВ plan, and IВ was not going toВ let one single person (albeit aВ very influential one) deprive me ofВ the opportunity toВ achieve my goal.
IВ dressed inВ casual pants and aВ wide cotton sweater and dried my hair with aВ hair dryer, finally feeling at home. InВ peace, comfort and peace ofВ mind.
В«You have no idea how much IВ want toВ eat!В» IВ exclaimed and entered the kitchen, after which IВ stopped abruptly and looked at my father inВ confusion.
«I said we’d have guests,» he excused himself with a shrug, then turned his gaze to Cho Hee, who was looking at me with a smug smile on a bar stool behind the kitchen island. He filled his glass with water and pulled it towards him.
В«Hello!В» The young man waved his hand at me inВ greeting.
В«What is he doing here?В» IВ asked my father.
«You’re not a very hospitable hostess,» dad laughed and made an inviting gesture towards a place located next to Cho Hee, who handed me a glass filled with red wine.
«Are you still mad at me about that incident in Itaewon?» With a sweet smile on his face, a young man who looked dazzling even in a simple tracksuit addressed me, «Let’s clear our past misunderstandings. And officially introduce ourselves. I am Min Cho Hee, Min Sung Joon’s younger brother. His assistant, loyal friend and singer for MW Corporation. You don’t have to introduce yourself. I already know everything about you,» he smiled, extending his hand for a handshake.
IВ put my hand inВ his well-groomed hand and shook it weakly inВ response, hardly conscious ofВ what he toldВ me.
В«So guys, dinner will be ready inВ five minutes. You can have aВ little chat,В» the father suggested, enthusiastically stirring the fried rice inВ theВ pan.
В«How do you like working with my older brother? Did he torture you aВ lot?В» Cho Hee continued toВ haveВ fun.
«No. He didn’t torment me at all. Although no, not like that. He tormented me with his indifference. As the person who knows him best, tell me, does he ever eat at all?» I could not resist asking a question related to my immediate duties.
Cho Hee grinned and took aВ leisurely sip ofВ water, and then looked at me point-blank, and his grin suddenly changed into aВ sad smile.
«Honestly, I thought you’d give up on the first day, but… slipping food on him won’t get you anywhere,» he spread his hands out to the side.
«Why? Does he have a special diet?» I was not going to miss the opportunity to unravel Sung Joon’s strange behavior by my standards.
«No. Sung Joon doesn’t eat food that he doesn’t know anything about or gets it from someone he doesn’t trust. I mean, from no one,» he lowered his voice to me, «so you better stop trying to feed him. He and does not drink water if the bottle somehow looks suspicious.
«Don’t you two think it’s not very polite to talk about a person when they’re not here?» Father turned to us and looked at the clock located on the door of our refrigerator. And a moment later, the doorbell rang, «Min Hee, open the door,» the father ordered, arranging the food on plates.
IВ got up from my seat and walked into the hallway, wondering who it could be. But toВ my great dismay, it was Sung Joon who entered our apartment without aВ word, took off his flip flops and went toВ the kitchen. And from his behavior, IВ realized that this was far from the first time he visited our apartment.
В«Song Joonie, come in. Cho Hee, pour him some wine. Min Hee, daughter, where are you?В» My father called me. And IВ was able toВ get out ofВ the stupor byВ closing the front door, after which IВ trudged toВ the kitchen and returned toВ my place. Now between me and Sung Joon was only his little brother, В«ok guys, the food is ready,В» my father announced inВ aВ solemn tone and put plates ofВ fried rice and japchae inВ front ofВ us, as well as spicy chicken legs that he had just finished cooking.
IВ felt my stomach constrict inВ aВ hungry spasm, and, paying no attention toВ anyone present, IВ began toВ eat, enjoying every portion that IВ ate.
В«Have you not been fed for aВ week?В» Cho Hee asked me through laughter, and out ofВ the corner ofВ my eye IВ noticed Sung Joon poking his little brother inВ the side with his elbow.
В«Why are you speaking informally? Min Hee is older than you,В» he grumbled.
«It’s okay. We’re already, you might say, friends,» I tried to defuse the situation, hastily chewing everything that managed to put in my mouth.
В«When did you two become friends?В» Sung Joon asked indignantly and, for the first time today, looked at me point-blank.
IВ was slightly taken aback byВ surprise and could not immediately find an answer, with difficulty swallowing what IВ had already chewed.
В«We have common interests, and we have already met three times inВ the last week inВ the most unexpected places. What is this, if not fate?В» With aВ dreamy look, Cho Hee answered instead ofВ me, after which there was an awkward pause.
My father was watching us with interest all this time. It seems that he was pleased with everything that happened inВ his house.
В«Have you been toВ training?В» Dad asked me when the silence draggedВ on.
В«Uh-huh. First time inВ aВ week IВ went toВ the gym,В» IВ replied and smiled with satisfaction.
В«What sport do you do?В» unexpectedly for all present, Sung Joon askedВ me.
В«Boxing. Since the age ofВ five,В» IВ answered too quickly.
В«Why Boxing?В» he voiced his next question.
В«Mom says that IВ should be able toВ stand up for myself inВ any situation. It was the choice ofВ her and dad, which IВ willingly accepted. Now this sport is an integral part ofВ my life,В» IВ said thoughtfully and drank the rest ofВ the wine inВ my glass, while IВ got aВ notification on my phone, В«sorry, IВ have toВ look. This might be important.В»
IВ looked apologetically at everyone present and picked up my smartphone, which received aВ message from Alex:
«I congratulate you! The customer is delighted! Your work is a real masterpiece. Can’t wait to see what you have in store for my exhibition!»
IВ quickly type out aВ reply thanking my best friend for the words ofВ encouragement. And IВ note with satisfaction that aВ couple ofВ thousand dollars have replenished my bank account.
В«Did something good happen?В» Cho Hee asked, carefully watching my face.
«I’m one step closer to my dream and have successfully completed the work I’ve been working on for the last few weeks,» I proudly replied.
«Are you moonlighting somewhere else? It’s forbidden in the company!» The young man looked at me in fear, «although… your father is the owner, so…»
«…so it doesn’t change anything,» my father announced and looked straight at me. And I saw determination in his eyes.
«It’s not really a job. It’s my hobby,» I said defensively.
В«Min Hee, you must abide byВ the terms ofВ the standard contract,В» the father stated peremptorily.
«So you’re suggesting that I give up my favorite thing?» I asked indignantly, ignoring the guests present in our house.
В«If you care about your future, you must sacrifice something inВ the present,В» the father replied with aВ sageВ air.
В«Dad!В» IВ exclaimed, not finding worthy arguments inВ my defense.
В«Any work or training you have must be consistent with the company. You had toВ read the contract. InВ fact, you do not belong toВ yourself. All your actions, decisions, thoughts and feelings are directly dependent on the company. Your movements, even on weekends, cannot be extended toВ the territory beyond outside ofВ Seoul, unless your immediate duties requireВ it.В»
В«InВ other words, you found aВ way toВ keep me on aВ short leash!В» IВ blurted out angrily.
В«Think about it how you want,В» the father calmly replied with aВ look ofВ Buddha, В«adult life is full ofВ hardships, humiliations and partings. As with people, so with things.В»
«Will you give me back my ’horse’?» I demanded, raising my chin proudly.
В«No, your mom and IВ have decided not toВ return it toВ you just yet. Consider yourself on probation,В» he replied inВ aВ reasonable tone.
В«It belongs entirely toВ me! IВ bought it with hard earned money,В» IВ protested stubbornly.
В«That still needs toВ be checked. Whether they were honestly earned,В» my father continued toВ reason, testing my patience.
В«Is that so? Is that what you really think ofВ me?В» breathing heavily with indignation, IВ asked inВ aВ voice breaking from an overabundance ofВ emotions.
«No need to make a scene in front of guests,» Dad tried to shame me, but I was not going to calm down, because my life’s work was at stake.
«I won’t say anything else. As for the job… you might have asked me earlier how I’ve been making my living all this time!» Barely holding back tears, I opened a program in which I was working on various commercials, music videos and other videos for customers, after which I placed the phone in front of my father and hurried to hide in my room, not paying attention to the fact that there were strangers in the house, and my behavior could not be called the behavior of an accomplished adult.
But I was angry, offended and did not understand why everything in my life turned upside down in an instant. Overnight, I lost my freedom and took on obligations that did not concern me directly. I have to deal with Sung Joon’s contract quickly, otherwise my future will not be as bright as I imagined it to be.
CHAPTERВ 4
If you think that aВ rich person has no worries or troubles, then you are mistaken. The more money you have, the more opportunities you have, the more opportunities, the less free time. The less free time, the less you take care ofВ yourself, which inВ turn is fraught with irritability, nervousness, problems and the development ofВ phobias. InВ addition, you have fewer real friends and those you love. After all, it will seem toВ you that everyone sees inВ you only aВ wallet that can solve any problem.
In addition to my parents’ money, everyone saw me as a Russian girl who, quite unexpectedly, acquired a Korean passport, a name, and a not very rich but promising father who was able to build his own empire.
IВ certainly stood out from the rest ofВ the students at the school. Someone perceived me as something special, while someone, on the contrary, considered me an outcast. IВ changed several schools and, finally, inВ the last school IВ realized that IВ am an individual, and not because IВ differ from the main mass ofВ students, but because, regardless ofВ the opinions ofВ others, IВ was able toВ make decisions and fight for my place. So IВ finished school among the best students with the highest scores inВ mathematics and English. Now IВ was going toВ follow my dream, only on the way toВ it IВ ran into aВ wall called Sung Joon, and IВ could not conquerВ it.
On Saturday morning, I could hardly bring myself to get out of bed at four in the morning. I cleaned myself up, in accordance with the agency’s rules for assistants. My body was supposed to be free of unnecessarily exposed areas (so I opted for simple denim pants and a hoodie), shoes should be comfortable, and make-up should be moderate. I put my long blond hair in a bun, and put on only sunscreen on my face, noting in the mirror how faded my eyes look, which today have taken on a gray-blue tint. I had fair skin, which often caused the envy of others, but right now my appearance was far from enviable.
After aВ short preparation, IВ went down toВ the parking lot ofВ the house, where the driver was waiting for Sung Joon and me. Our В«starВ» was late, and IВ felt like IВ was ready toВ fall asleep, because all last night IВ tried toВ come up with aВ plan byВ which IВ could get Sung Joon toВ eat, drink and not interfere with my work, but also persuade him toВ stay at the agency.
В«We can go,В» the voice ofВ my charge rang out next toВ me, and IВ realized that IВ was starting toВ fall asleep, so IВ straightened up inВ my seat, noting that Sung Joon sat across from me today. He usually took aВ seat inВ the very corner ofВ the minibus, В«what do we have today according toВ the plan?В» he turned toВ me and at the same time looked at point-blank range as if he was waiting for me toВ burst into tears.
«Now we’re going to the agency, there will be shooting for your show. Then dance practice for your new song. After – recording a song for the new album and at the end of the day shooting for the concept of a new song,» I replied without even looking at his schedule, so as I knew him by heart, «about last night…» I broke off and chewed my lips nervously, not looking at him.
В«Your relationship with your father and what is connected with your personal life and free time do not concern me. Obviously, your father decided toВ curb your free soul, and you willingly obeyed. IВ wonder how he lured you? Money? Fame? Opportunities?В» he asked with sincere interest.
В«He promised toВ help me with my studies inВ America,В» IВ replied, aВ little embarrassed.
Sung Joon chuckled and shifted his gaze toВ the window, behind which the sun was rising.
В«He always does that. He paints beautifully what he can give you, but he always asks for something inВ return. Let me guess, you have toВ make me stay at the agency?В» He asked and looked into my eyes. Now there was no makeup on his face, and IВ could see his black bottomless eyes full ofВ sadness and fatigue, В«IВ thought so,В» he chuckled, watching my reaction, В«you can not try, IВ will not stay.В»
«It’s your choice, Mr. Sung Joon. One way or another, I still won’t be able to influence him if you don’t want to,» I replied with exaggerated respect, realizing that I could not immediately break his stubbornness.
В«Why are you suddenly talking toВ me formally?В» He grinned with the left corner ofВ his mouth and began toВ look even more charming.
«I’m more concerned about why you started talking to me all of a sudden, Mr. Sung Joon,» I replied, looking straight at him.
В«IВ need something from you,В» he said without aВ hint ofВ embarrassment, continuing toВ scrutinize me carefully.
В«What is it?В» IВ chuckled.
В«IВ want you toВ show me some moves. IВ mean boxing,В» he clarified after IВ gave him aВ puzzled look.
«Ask the general manager for that. He’ll hire a professional trainer for you and schedule your workouts,» I shrugged indifferently, but he didn’t like that answer.
В«IВ need someone who will be patient and not interfere with my personal space inВ any way,В» he tried toВ explain his request toВ me.
«Why do you think I’m that kind of person?» I asked through a nervous laugh.
В«You have aВ goal that you want toВ achieve with my help. And you did not come here toВ work because ofВ me, which means that you are not interested inВ me at all,В» now it was his turn toВ shrug.
«Well, that’s a perfectly logical reasoning. It’s not a problem for me. I’ll teach you everything I know myself. Find some free time,» I agreed, but instead of answering, Sung Joon just laughed soundlessly.
В«You are very strange,В» he remarked as if he found his discovery charming, В«at the beginning ofВ the dialogue you speak toВ me formally, and at the end as if we were friends,В»
It’s time to decide who we can be for each other. I think if we work and act together, we can achieve great results,» I concluded in a conciliatory tone.
«Then let’s talk to each other informally. We’re neighbors,» he said on an exhalation and got out of the car, «We’ll train in our free time.»
«Who decided that?» I retorted indignantly as I followed him, «I’m not allowed to have side jobs. You heard that yourself yesterday.»
«Yesterday obviously wasn’t your day. But… I won’t pay you, so… technically, it wouldn’t count as a part-time job. Let me repay you with some help of mine, okay?» He asked, but his question was more like a statement, so I left it unanswered.
We entered the agency building and slowly moved toВ one ofВ the elevators. IВ loved spending those early hours inВ the empty agency building. During the day, vanity will dominate here inВ every corner.
We went up toВ the floor where the studio was located, inВ which the entire film crew gathered for the show inВ which Sung Joon had been filming for three years. InВ each episode, he answered questions he received from his fans.
Sometimes he went to places that fans couldn’t afford to visit, and he talked about his experiences in detail and, as a bonus, he always sent an invitation to the same place to the fan who requested Sung Joon to visit such a place. At the same time, the episodes were released much later than the fan visited this place, so there were no spoilers for him.
Today, Sung Joon answered questions and had toВ prepare aВ healthy breakfast for himself.
В«We need toВ decide something about the food meant for you,В» IВ announced toВ Sung Joon as we walked towards the gym where he had aВ dance practice scheduled right after filming.
«Don’t think about it,» he said grimly.
«It’s part of my job,» I said stubbornly after him, striding right behind him (following yet another agency rule that an assistant shouldn’t walk at the same level as his charge).
«There’s no need to waste food. I won’t eat anyway,» he replied in a reasonable tone.
В«Is this aВ protest?В» IВ asked through nervous laughter, feeling like never before IВ was close toВ finding out the reason Sung Joon was refusing toВ eat.
В«Consider that it is,В» he chuckled and entered the dance hall.
«You just ate what you cooked…» I objected, but he left my comment unanswered.
