Chapter 8
I managed to escape from my friends’ ceaseless questioning and went straight back to my apartment.
One thing I liked about my apartment was the price was reasonable and it was situated in Gangnam and the night view was just amazing. But on the other hand, the elevators were broken down often, and the parking lot was messed up, it was so hard to handle for us residents. Still, I couldn’t make myself leave this place as I had grown attached to it.
I took off my handbag and jacket and fell onto the bed.
The more I thought about it, the more absurd it was and the more I got annoyed. It was not just my friends who were hyped up by Kwon Lee-Hyun’s sudden appearance, I had to go to each and every person in the restaurant who pointed out their cameras to take pictures of Kwon Lee-Hyun and ask them to delete the photos.
Even though I explained that he was just a client to my friends, the faces of Yoon-Ju and Mi-hee, a lawyer and a financial planner, were full of doubts. The only person who said something nice was Kyung-Hwa, that is because she was unfamiliar with Kwon Lee-Hyun’s face.
I buried my face in the pillow for a while and kicked my feet around the bed to relieve my built-up stress. I ended up grabbing my handbag and dumped the content onto the bed. My wallet, cell phone, lipstick, perfume, some random receipts, and two business cards fell out.
One business card belonged to Haein Joo, the head of the architectural office introduced by CEO Shin, and the other was an arrogant business card belonging to Lee Hyun Kwon, with only his name and phone number written on it.
I picked up Lee Hyun’s business card. After pondering it over several times, I dialled the number. I was lying if I said I was not anxious.
— “Ms Lee Ji-eun.”
Suddenly, a husky voice caressed my ears. His deep voice sent sparks across my skin. For some unknown reason, his voice had an effect on me. I coughed before replying.
“How did you know my number?”
— “How come Ms Ji-Eun doesn’t know my number? Haven’t we already talked on the phone once?”
At that moment, I clenched my phone tightly.
On the day I left for Germany, I remembered I erased his number.
“I don’t keep unknown numbers in my call history, I delete them…”
— “Well, that’s fine. So, how can I help you?”
“I wanted to talk to you, because of you, I was in a bit of trouble.”
— “I got you into trouble?”
He laughed faintly. I could imagine him grinning with only the corners of his mouth drawn up. Perhaps because of his sharp features, it wasn’t difficult to imagine him.
“Yeah. At the restaurant, people took photos of me with you and I had to face my friends’ countless questions. You have to take responsibility if you are all around on social media tomorrow. It’s not just you, I will be there too. You are really childish sometimes, you know?”
— “This is the first time someone called me a child. You don’t have to worry, I’ll take care of it.”
After hearing his reply, I felt relieved. The purpose and reason for making the call became lighter in an instant. Heat rose to my face because I felt as if I contacted him just to argue with him like a child.
I rose from my bed and walked over to the window. When I put my forehead on the cold glass, the heat that had risen to the top of my head seemed to dissipate a little. I let out a long sigh and spoke again.
“By the way, did you really get in touch with my father?”
— “Yes. He called me directly.”
“Mr Kwon Lee-Hyun, to my friends and my colleagues, I’m just an ordinary daughter of a supermarket owner. That day, I came to that date to appease my father because I needed something from him. I know there are many women out there who are far better than me. Can you cancel the next date?”
— “I get you, but it is difficult to cancel. Just like Ms Lee Ji-eun, I have to appease my parents as well.”
what?
I felt impatient by his refusal.
“Mr Lee-Hyun…”
— “Yes.”
“If you cancel the date… I will seriously consider your request.”
Anyway, I didn’t feel like working in that office anymore. I did not want to be led by CEO Shin. Of course, I have to meet Joo Hae-in to judge the man properly for myself, but the situation is no different than downgrading myself. I had nothing to protect but my pride.
He was silent for a moment. From the faint engine noise coming from the background, I guessed he could be in a car.
— “How much alcohol did you drink earlier?”
“Me?”
— “Yes.”
“I guess I drank a little over half a bottle of wine?”
— “How much can you drink normally?”
“One bottle…. Yeah, a bottle of soju and a bottle of wine.”
— “I can’t ask you to drink anymore.”
“Would you like to have a drink with me?”
— “Anything you want. I’m trying to impress Ms Lee Ji-Eun here, so I’ll do anything.”
It was absurd, I burst out laughing. Why the hell is this handsome man trying to impress me? Turning away from the window, I looked up at the clock on the wall. 9 o’clock at night. A time that is ambiguous to say that it is late or early.
After thinking for a moment, I shoved my scattered belongings on the bed into my handbag, and said,
“Then let’s talk. I don’t feel sleepy either. I think I can have a glass or two, where should I meet you?”
“No, I’ll come to you. Tell me your address.”
***
He really came.
Five minutes after hanging up, I got a call saying that he had arrived on the first floor. Maybe he was already headed to where I was from the beginning, thinking that I wouldn’t refuse him?
He was an enigma, no one knew how his mind really worked.
When I went down his car was waiting in front of the apartment, it was an unexpectedly elegant sedan. As I got into the passenger seat, I looked around with doubt. As he had read my thoughts, he said,
“Usually, I drive comfortably. There are no wiretapping devices or cameras, you don’t have to worry.”
“I didn’t suspect any wiretap. It’s just that the car is more classy than I thought. I thought you would come in a sports car or something with just two flashy doors.”
Lee Hyun shook his head with a smirk at my words and started the car.
“Even though I own such cars, I’m not the type to enjoy it. I hate noisy cars.”
I looked around the spotless interior of the car and tightened my seat belt. Unlike me, who was suffocating internally with the awkwardness, he didn’t show the slightest change in his expression. He looked like was familiar with this whole situation. He left my apartment and drove down the road.
He parked the car in an alley and pointed to the red brick house right next door. At the top of the building was a black sign that seemed almost invisible.
“This is a private bar operated on a reservation basis. As of this time right now, we will use it. Fortunately, there were no reservations even though it’s Friday.”
I was to get out of the car, but I stopped after hearing what he said and stared at Lee Hyun’s face.
“I’m quite sceptical, it’s hard to trust what you say. Maybe it’s because I’m a little twisted.”
“Well, believe it or not. It is true that I made a reservation.”
“Okay, I’ll believe so.” I gave a shrug.
As I got out of the car, two men who were guarding the entrance approached us. By now I have got used to their faces, it was his secretaries.
I laughed lightly. It became clear that I had stepped into the trap he had laid down. From the very beginning, this man knew I would come.
I approached Lee-Hyun, who was having a conversation with the secretaries.
“Are these very expensive chauffeurs?”
The tip of his lips curled up to a side smirk. Kwon Lee-Hyun looked down at me with his chiselled eyes and nodded.
“Because I can’t drive drunk.”
“Hmm, that’s true.”
Shaking my head, I opened the bar door first.
As he said, there was no one inside.
This was a place that caught my eye at least once every time I passed by, but I had never decided to check it out myself. The interior of the bar was decorated with luxurious furniture based on the concept of an old abandoned factory.
The manager who stood waiting on the side guided both of us with a nervous expression. Lee-Hyun had chosen a private room on the 2nd floor. The room was decorated in a way that two people can sit together under a gabled roof. The tall furniture in the room created an intimate secretive atmosphere.
“From wine, whiskey, cocktails, beer and soju, everything is here. Since I didn’t know Ms Ji-Eun’s taste, I ordered according to my personal preference.”
Lee Hyun unbuttoned his jacket and sat across from me. I felt a tingling sensation on my skin every time our eyes met, still I managed to respond calmly.
“You can ask about my preference first next time. Don’t order as you like.”
“Okay. Then, next time, I will ask you beforehand.”
His smile was dark and dangerous. It was a smile that didn’t feel sincere. It is a fact that even the darkness of the place couldn’t hide his god-like features. I could feel my mouth start to dry up. What does it mean when you get symptoms of tingly skin and a dry mouth?
Within 30 seconds at most, the drink he ordered came out. One was a whiskey with a name hard to pronounce, but the other was the wine she drank in the evening. It was also a French red wine with the same label.
I raised my head and looked at Lee Hyun with a strange expression. He poured himself a glass and said,
“If you mix them, you will probably get sick. I prepared it based on what I was drinking earlier, so you can choose next time.”
cont
“Are you sure you are in your right senses? My mind is contemplating right now whether you are a dangerous guy or not.”
“Let’s say all of them. I’m not a good person.”
After filling my glass, he poured the whiskey into his own. The music in the background did not interfere with our conversation. As both of us sat drinking, our intoxication level began to rise moderately, softening the boundary between us.
“Earlier at the restaurant, were they your friends?” Lee-Hyun asked.
“Yes. They’re my high school friends. Two of them are getting married next month, so it was a small celebration…”
My words became muffled towards the end as I wiped my wine-drenched lips. Lee-Hyun rolled the glass of whiskey in his hand a few times and lightly sipped from it. It was a classy and refined action. Even if the drink was bitter, he didn’t even frown once, as if he was used to it.
He was immersed in thought and slowly opened his mouth.
“If that was the case, I must have disturbed you. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
He poured another drink. A bite-sized snack made with salmon was served, but I couldn’t eat it properly as I was strangely nervous.
“So, is the client the artist Kim’s granddaughter?”
He put the glass to his lips in response to my question and nodded.
“Yes.”
“You two must be close.”
“Kind of. To be precise, I am paying off my debt.”
“You owe a debt? That doesn’t fit you.”
“…The reason it has to be Ms Lee Ji-Eun is that the client wants it to be you. It is a matter of confidentiality. I will tell you about everything in detail when we sign the contract.”
He stared into my eyes as he spoke. Knowing how burdensome it was, he didn’t look away.
I imagined what it would be like to meet Kwon Lee-Hyun in broad daylight.
He would eat elegantly, and as expected, he would raise his spoon with his left hand. He would savour his tea with a light, minimal movement, just as he did when he drank his whiskey.
It was unlikely that Lee-Hyun found me, as the daughter of Lee Jin-Tae, attractive. Even the idea of it felt stupid. If he just considered me as the person who worked with artist Kim Eung-Soo, then it can be a bit considerable. Even now, it looked like his private life and his business life was strangely entangled.
“Like, I won’t ask anymore. There must be a reason you chose me as a designer. But I also have a lot to lose. Actually, I don’t want to get involved with my father anymore. So there’s a condition…”
He slightly raised his chin at an angle, indicating to me to continue whatever I was to tell him. I took a deep breath and continued to speak even though I really wanted to shrink against his arrogant eyes.
“Please reject me right in front of my father. Then, I’ll accept the job. Please make it seem as real as possible so that my father will be shocked to death.”