“… My girlfriend” Woo-hyuk tightened his grip on Clara’s hand as he moved her behind him, blocking her from view.

Clara just stared at Woo-hyuk’s back, with her jaw slacked open. What did he say?! Was he insane? Clara wanted to object, but a peek at the woman across from them, made her stay mum. She did not want to get involved in a fight with her. Clara gulped as she hid behind Woo-hyuk, scared out of her wits. Why is this happening to me?! First the deputy manager and now this?! Argh!, she thought as she panicked behind Woo-hyuk. Woo-hyuk was definitely bad luck…!

“… What? I’m your fiancé, how do you have a girlfriend?” the woman asked, seething with rage.

“We are not engaged, I don’t know why you would think that?”  Woo-hyuk's face darkened, enraged at her ridiculous response.

“Oppa, you can’t be serious…” the woman glared, her voice rising in anger.

“Erm… Woo-hyuk? I’m sorry for interrupting, but I need to get going…” Clara interrupted meekly, as she tugged on Woo-hyuk’s arm, still hiding from the woman.

“Oh! Come on, let’s go babe.” Woo-hyuk said with a smile as he quickly dragged Clara away from his ‘fiancé’.

The woman stared at Clara with anger, while Woo-hyuk shielded her from view. He glowered at the woman before he turned away from her, leading Clara away from the enraged woman. They made their way towards the elevator, while the woman stayed behind, scowling at Woo-hyuk, her hands clenched into a tight fist.

“… What the heck was that?! Babe? Girlfriend?!” Clara whispered as she huddled near Woo-hyuk, too scared to get away from him.

“Sorry, I didn’t have a choice… I apologize, you must have been uncomfortable.” he apologized, with a grimace.

“… Ha… Just make sure I don’t get burnt by her intense jealousy please… I’m already having to deal with all that crap from the deputy manager…” Clara grumbled as she wiggled her hand out of his.

“Will do. So, where are you headed? I can wait for you to finish your business.” Woo-hyuk suggested as the elevator dinged open to the third floor.

“Er, no, I’m okay. I’m just going to head over to meet a family friend really quick…” Clara said as she pointed at Richard’s jewelry store.

“I think we should stick together… Unless you want her to come find you?” Woo-hyuk chuckled, with a slight smile on his face.

“… On second thought, let’s leave together. I’ll be right—actually, you want to come in? I’m just going to drop something off.”

“May I? Well, don’t mind if I do.” Woo-hyuk said as he followed her inside the luxurious, but quaint jewelry store.

“Richard! I’m here~!*” Clara sang out, with a bright smile on her face.

“Clara! So nice to see you again! It’s been years since I’ve last met you! Oh, you brought someone with you?” Richard greeted her with a warm and inviting hug. He nodded at Woo-hyuk who nodded back, saying hello.

“Here’s the ring I told you about… Can you look into it for me, please?” Clara requested, as she handed him a velvet jewelry box.

“Of course! Leave it to me! Now, off you go on your date!” he said winking at Clara.

“Wha—It’s not like that—”

“We will, it was nice meeting you, sir.”  Woo-hyuk interjected, extending his hand for a handshake.

“It’s my pleasure! Please take good care of Clara!” Richard said enthusiastically, as the two men completely ignored Clara’s protests.

Clara sighed, staring at Woo-hyuk in disapproval as they left Richard’s shop, with Richard smiling wildly, waving goodbye at the pair. Woo-hyuk chuckled. It was fun to tease her. They arrived at the garage floor and passed by the area where they last saw the woman, with Clara glancing around, anxious at the thought of meeting her again. Woo-hyuk shook his head as he tugged on Clara’s arm to his car. Clara held her breath until they climbed into his car, letting out a long breath.

“… You could have breathed, you know.” Woo-hyuk commented, as he pressed on the engine button.

“Did you not see how she was glaring at me??? What if she was hiding and was waiting to attack me?!”, Clara exclaimed, with a small frown on her face.

“What are you so scared of? I’m right here.” Woo-hyuk replied, glancing over at Clara who rolled her eyes at him.

“… That is precisely why I’m scared—because I’m with you. Oh, can you just drop me off at my place? I need to change for the event.” she requested, as she stared down at her clothes.

“Sure, just input your address into my phone.”

“… Can I ask you a personal question?” Clara asked while typing her address on the navigation app.

“What is it?”

“Why are you always so moody? And also, how do you deal with women making googly eyes around you? Isn’t it unnerving???” she looked over at Woo-hyuk, who burst out laughing.

“Haha, first off, that’s three questions… Second, I’m moody? How am I moody?” he griped with a confused expression.

“Well, you’re nice in one moment, then the next, you’re the most cold and reserved person I’ve ever met! I can never know what you’re thinking.” Clara answered as she stared out the window, enjoying the warm sun on her face.

“… Isn’t that what makes me charming?” Woo-hyuk joked, as he smiled slightly.

“Ew. This is what women are pining for? Ugh.” Clara teased as she shook her head in disgust.

“Ew? Geez, I don’t think you’re one to talk about me being moody.”

“Right. Oh, you can drop me off here. Thanks for the ride. I’ll see you later at the event.” Clara said as she gathered her things.

Clara waved goodbye as she walked into her apartment complex. Woo-hyuk waved back, before shaking his head. She really was entertaining to watch. He chuckled as he drove off back to the company. Just as he was rounding the corner to the entrance of SONGHWA Hotel, Woo-hyuk sighed, looking at the incoming call. It was Cha Jung-hyun, the daughter of GK Group. He contemplated whether or not he should answer but decided that he had already caused trouble, might as well go through with it.

“Hello?”

“Oppa! I just talked to your mother. She says you don’t have a girlfriend! Who was that woman earlier? Don’t play that type of joke on me! It’s seriously not funny. Also, the event later—”

“Of course, my mother doesn’t know. I never told her. Also, I’m not attending the event to party, I’m going to be working, so don’t bother showing up. If that’s all you wanted to talk about, I’m hanging up.”, Woo-hyuk interjected as he reached to hang up the phone.

“Wait! Are you seriously dating her? If you’re acting out like this because you feel guilty towards my missing sister—”

“… This has nothing to do with Soo-hyun. Don’t just casually mention her every time I reject your advances—you look pathetic. I’m hanging up.” he snapped, turning his phone off, speeding into the company's parking lot.

Woo-hyuk screeched to a halt as he parked his car. He sighed as he leaned against his car seat. He felt drained… Just how long did he have to amuse her? Woo-hyuk massaged his temples while he texted his mother to prevent Jung-hyun from attending the event that afternoon. It was just one more week… Then he would have an excuse to not see her again.

“I can’t deal with her anymore… I need to get out of this as soon as possible…” he muttered as he got out of his car and headed towards the banquet hall to help with the preparation.

~~~

Clara and the rest of the team members busily got ready for the event as they added the finishing touches. The deputy manager looked disheartened as she stared at the neatly stacked gift bags on the table, near the entrance of the banquet hall. Clara rolled her eyes, how original. She smiled brightly, greeting the VIP guests who started to trickle in, into the building. One by one, the gift bags she and Woo-hyuk assembled earlier left the table as she handed them a pamphlet for the event as well. As the event started, Clara stood at the back with the rest of her team members, listening to Chairman Kim Sang-joon of HANSUNG Group give a speech, welcoming the guests for the promotional event of their new hotel. His last sentences caught Clara’s attention as she perked right up, listening intently.

“… Unfortunately, my son was unable to attend today’s event. He will become the official new CEO of SONGHWA Hotel in a week. It is my utmost wish that he will work hard to continue to establish SONGHWA Hotel as the leading pioneer in the hotel industry. Now…”

A week?, Clara thought as she gaped at the Chairman’s words. Was he not already working here as the CEO? Clara frowned as she quietly stepped out of the room to text one of her informants. She had been informed that the heir of HANSUNG Group was already working as the CEO—there was also the notice he had sent to all the employees! She waited for a response, but growing impatient, she decided to call her informant.

“Hey, did you get my text?” she asked once he picked up.

“Yeah, I did. He’s there at the event. I double-checked—his secretary is at the event so, he should be there… It’s possible he might be undercover.” he replied with a yawn.

“Why didn’t I think of that? Can you try to find out who it is?” she pleaded, smacking her forehead. How did she not think of that?!

“Girl, we don’t even know what he looks like, how am I going to do that? Also, there’s word that GK Group has contacted Elizabeth Tan for a meeting… I think they’re trying to start a hotel venture again.”

“With Mrs. Tan?... Can you schedule a meeting with her for me too?”

“All right, I’ll look into it.”

“Thanks, let me know if you get a response!” Clara said as she hung up.

Clara quickly entered the room again, ignoring the deputy manager’s stare of disapproval. After a few hours, the event ended without a hitch, the guests seemed to be enthusiastic about the new hotel. Clara stretched her tired legs as she and the rest of her co-workers cheered, relieved to finish the event. Clara was putting away the rest of the pamphlets and decorations, when her phone pinged. The former lawyer rummaged around her purse, finding her phone stashed into one of the compartments. It was a text from her informant:

“We’re in! :)”

Clara smiled as she locked her phone, humming happily. She turned off the lights and locked the office before making her way downstairs. Clara was taking out her transportation card from her purse when she bumped into someone in front of her. She stepped back and apologized as she looked up from the floor. She froze as she stared at the woman, she had met a few hours ago.

“So, you’re the girl he’s seeing?”

SIDE NOTE:

*: Dialogue is in English

 **NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.**