Champagne
Choi Yeonhee (Sunday, 20th November)
If I come close, baby, would you like that?
If I give some, would you give it right back?
If I show you…
“Yayyyyyyy!”
A delighted scream erupted beside me as Minji bounced on her toes, wildly waving her lightstick.
A quiet laugh bubbled out of me, not because I was a Babymonster fan or anything close to it, but because seeing Minji smile that brightly made my chest feel warm.
Minji hugged Haa-eun tightly, nearly knocking our little girl over as she laughed and waved her lightstick through the air. Chuckling, I wrapped my arms around both of them and pressed a kiss onto Haa-eun’s head. With my girls beside me, even the loudest places in the world felt a little softer.
***
The concert finally ended at 9 PM after three exhausting hours, and the only reason I sacrificed my peaceful Sunday rest day was because Minji had performed exceptionally well on the CSAT and would be attending Seoul National University this year.
I had watched her study for twelve hours a day for months, surviving on iced americanos, convenience store ramen, and pure academic spite. This was the least I could do for her.
I would’ve loved her just the same even if she hadn’t passed. Probably more, just to make up for how badly she would’ve felt. But thankfully, Minji was frighteningly intelligent and painfully competitive.
“Unnie! Isn’t it so pretty”
Her cheerful voice broke my train of thoughts. I glanced at her as she shoved her phone in front of my face. Her screen was cracked ( I made a mental note to buy her a phone before college). In front of me was a photo of her in which she was grinning holding babymonster lightstick and wearing a t-shirt with ‘baby I’m a monster’ written over it.
“It definitely is, when did you click it?”
“Uhmm” Haa-eun pulled out the popsicle from her mouth. “I clicked it when you went to washroom”
Washroom. Deep brown eyes. Strong arms. Black coffee, cedarwood. I slightly shook my head and pushed the thought aside.
I ruffled Haa-eun’s hair with a smile. “Good job. Let’s head home now.”
“Right.” Minji tossed her phone into her sling bag and pulled Haa-eun between us. “Eunsol Unnie’s going to start a war if we let her food go cold.”
Haa-eun hooked her arm through mine as we walked together toward The Haneul Residency, the city lights glowing softly around us.
***
2 hours Later
I held the bookmark and my notebook opened up to the page ‘Immediate expenses’.
Minji’s University fees.
Haa-eun’s maths tuition fees ( Find a new tutor too)
Yejin’s Taesung Legal Center fees.
Haa-eun’s birthday ( I will make it best for her, after all my baby’s turning 18)
Haa-eun’s school festival dress New shoes for Ha-rin Ha-rin’s daycare payment
New work heels ( Can wait few more months)
I sighed, and stared at how the blue ink on this paper looked beautiful under the lamp but actually it was nerve wrecking.
I can do it. I have to do it.
I switched off the lamp and settled into bed, facing the window as silver moonlight painted the room softly. My girls were never burdens. They were the best parts of my life. I wanted them to study, laugh, fall in love, and chase impossible dreams without worrying about bills or survival.Even so…there were nights when I wished someone would look at me and say, you don’t have to carry everything alone anymore. Sleep found me before the ache in my chest could grow any heavier.
***
(Monday, 21st November)
“Ouch.”
I stumbled slightly on my worn-out heels before quickly steadying myself and hurrying toward the VIP section of The Haneul Hotel, the biggest hotel chain in Korea.
As the VIP Relations Manager, being late was not an option, especially on days like today when the chairman himself was visiting us.
Pushing open the massive wooden doors, I stepped inside the elegant restaurant. Warm golden sunlight spilled across the room from floor to ceiling window while the scent of black coffee and expensive perfume lingered softly in the air.
Bora, one of the bartenders and the only colleague who treated me normally after my promotion, caught sight of me immediately and motioned for me to hurry up.
I straightened my posture as I checked the time.
7:00 AM.
Just in time before the VIP guests began arriving.
“How are you nearly late on chairman-visit day?” Bora muttered beside me while the other members of the VIP hospitality team glanced at me with poorly hidden judgment.
“Ha-rin cries too much every time Eunsol leaves her at daycare so I’ll be dropping her there from today onwards” I whispered back in her ear.
She seemed to question something when the huge brown door opened and a young man wearing silver-rimmed glasses stepped into the restaurant, a black file tucked neatly beneath his arm.
I gestured for Bora to attend to him immediately.
She hurried off, but before she could even reach him, another man walked in behind him.
Before I could look at him completely, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out.
Minji: Unnie! I got a new lip balm. Guess the flavour?
I quickly typed back, strawberry, because she always buys the same flavour and still asks everyone guess it. I smiled, put the phone back in my pocket and looked back at our guest.
The man had moved forward and I could only see his back now. A navy blue suit tailored perfectly across broad shoulders and he was tall…like tall tall. Like someone I met yesterday…I shook my head and threw the memory aside.
It was just one night.
I again looked at the man who was saying something to his secretary who moved quietly beside him, probably his secretary. Bora guided them toward our best table near the window. Working in the VIP lounge, I’d seen my fair share of handsome men. But something about the way he walked, slow and certain, felt different. Like he was used to having things his way.
Yeonhee, focus. You have to get ten VIP clients to sign the membership card and get that extra bonus.
The restaurant slowly filled with more VIP guests as the rest of the hospitality team hurried off to attend them.
I pulled out the membership brochure and plastered a smile on my face…let’s go Yeonhee.
But then…
Crackkk!
A sharp crack echoed through the room as the champagne glass fractured. My eyes traced the noise…oh.
Well. There went my theory about the handsome man being nice. I quickly walked over, mentally preparing myself for the worst.
Bora stood there visibly shaken.
“So this is the service The Haneul offers its guests?” He addressed Bora, calm voice somehow felt colder than shouting.
“ I sincerely apologiz—”
Our eyes met and I halted mid sentence. Same deep brown eyes, but he can’t be the guy I met yesterday? No way.
I recovered “How can I help you sir?”
I don’t know if I imagined it but his gaze softened just for a second before a cold expression covered his face.
“I was served champagne three minutes later than I should have been”
Three minutes?
THREE?
I bowed politely anyway. The smile stayed fixed on my face as I nodded my head “I sincerely apologise for the inconvenience you had to face”
“Time is of value, don’t you know that?”
Then why’re you wasting time arguing with me.
“Yes sir of course, we’re really sorry for your inconvenience. We offer you Jeju Oysters with Yuzu Foam. It will be on us”
He scoffed, meanwhile the secretary sat silent, scribbling something down on his notepad.
Weird.
“You think you can buy my time with food”
What a waste of a beautiful face on such a man.
“Absolutely no sir” I bowed again “it’s an act of our sincerity to show we’re genuinely sorry. Our oysters are number one in South Korea, so we will be pleased if you try it out and give us your valuable feedback”
“Is that so?”
I looked up warily at the sudden amusement in his voice, the irritation from moments ago disappearing like smoke.
I smiled wider “Definitely sir. Bora best Oysters for sir please”
Bora hurried off.
“We appreciate your kindness sir and to offer gratitude from our side I would like to offer you exclusive membership to our VIP lounge”
His fingers tapped once against the table before his lips curved faintly.
He was smirking.
Why was he smirking?
Before I could ponder more, the brown door opened again and the chairman entered.
Oh god. If this man complains, I’m a deadmeat.
The chairman moved towards me, six to eight people walking in sync behind him. My heart beat escalated a notch in sync with the tap of his walking cane on the floor. Clad in a tailored black coat, his dark hair perfectly styled, he exuded the kind of confidence money could never buy.
Mr. Kang Dong-hyun. CEO of The Haneul Hotels.
I bowed immediately. “Good morning, Hoejangnim.”
He gave a small nod, a faint smile touching his lips. “Our star employee is still working hard, I see.”
A nervous laugh escaped me.
“Hoejangnim, won’t you greet me too?”
The man finally stood, slipping his hands into his pockets casually.
My eyes widened. The audacity of men has no boundaries. Talking to the chairman like that?
Chairman Kang merely looked at him with an unreadable expression before taking another step forward.
“Depends…”
He stopped beside him and clapped a hand onto his shoulder.
“…on whether you’ll join me for dinner today.”
The man laughed softly.To my disbelief, the chairman laughed too.
Bora and I exchanged stunned glances.
“So,” Chairman Kang said, turning back toward me, “you’ve met our star employee?”
The man exhaled quietly before his gaze dragged over me once. Slowly. Deliberately.
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
The man exhaled softly.
“Yes…”
his gaze flicked toward me,
“…Harabeoji.
My lips parted and a soft gasp escaped me.
H-h-harabeoji. He’s the grandson of The Chairman.
