Chapter 8.2

Sitting at her desk, she emailed the data and then promptly got a short response.

[Move forward with the evening meeting. Deputy Director, you need to attend to answer practical details.]

It was absurd. It wasn’t an important meeting to win a contract with a foreign client. It was just an extension of his personal management style with her… There was no reason for TK Prince Tae Yi-seop to prepare any practical answers or bring any support staff to a meeting with the son of their law firm’s CEO, with whom he was becoming friends. It was only for the satisfaction of not allowing Min-kyung to get any rest.

[All right, Executive Director.]

Min-kyung texted a clear answer, then put down her phone. Resting her elbows on her desk, she clasped her hands and leaned her forehead against them. Is there something caught in her throat? Her chest tightened.

*      *      *

“Se-ah… Yeah, Sorry… We can’t get dinner together tonight… Yeah, the Executive Director called me; he wants me to come to a meeting this evening.” 

As Min-kyung was stumbling through an apology, Se-ah, who was reading a book on the sofa, turned to her quickly, her eyes bright.

“Executive Director? Oh Tae Yi-seop?!”

“Huh? Oh no, it’s not how you’re imagining, he’s just making me work over the weekend.”

“Okay, okay, bad executive director! But why did you come back home?”

“The meeting isn’t at the office, it’s closer to here, at M Hotel.” 

After saying the hotel’s name, Min-kyung realized it was the same hotel where all that commotion of that fake date occurred. Min-kyung walked into her room, and Se-ah quickly followed behind.

“Min-kyung…”

“Don’t say anything strange.”

“I won’t, I’m sober right now,” Se-ah responded cheerfully and took out the purse that his mom had given Min-kyung. “Last night, I was so busy looking at the trench coat that I didn’t even examine this purse.” 

The purse was unusual but unique. It had a round handle at the top and a body folded in half like an envelope. Its bright orange color also made it stand out.

Se-ah looked at the bag thoroughly as she held it up and said, “Ah, it’s gorgeous. This style is quite difficult to get.”

“Se-ah, do you want it?”

“No, it’s your gift. But why did she give you this?”

“The Executive Director’s mother gave it to me, but I didn’t ask for it. It was a thank-you gift since she provided sweets that suited the Executive Director’s picky taste and herbal medicine for me to give him… Ah, she told me to wear it while working with him.” Min-kyung smiled, slightly embarrassed by the suggestion that had been given to her. “I guess I seemed like I wasn’t fancy enough to carry out my duties alongside the Executive Director.”

Se-ah opened her eyes wide at the statement, looked at the bag, then looked at Min-kyung. “Well, she may not have meant it that way when she gave it to you. You can wear it tonight, it’s an external meeting where you’ll meet other people. Take this bag, and we’ll apply some toner… and lip gloss. Ah, this perfume you bought on the business trip is too simple…” Se-ah hummed as she took out all the cosmetics in the dressing table. 

“I only gave you one drawer full of makeup I got from my company sponsors?… Ah, a scarf! Is this the scarf I gave you as a birthday present? Packed away just like everything else, huh?” Se-ah took out the long, narrow silk printed scarf and spread it out next to the purse. “It’s perfect together and suits you perfectly, right?”

Now that Min-kyung thought about it, she had given up trying to wear the scarf. It had an intricate pattern in blue and orange, and she felt awkward no matter how she tied it… but it did look really good with the purse.