A line of employees wearing black suits and nametags stood in front of a sleek office building in the middle of Seoul. The current CEO was scheduled to leave for a lunch appointment.
The Lobby was pristine, filled with high end office furniture, tight security, and was empty at the moment. The elevator doors whooshed open presenting the CEO of Lucid Global Advertising Company Kim Hoseok.
His visage alone kept most of his employees going on stressful days, there was something energizing about his humble and modest persona. He was not an overly expressive person, or even expressive at all but he was firm, reliable and fair. His over 3000 employees all over the world trusted him and hence worked exceptionally well for a company that was started only within the decade.
The achievements of his company as a whole were many and he was very proud of them, only in his early thirties he had amassed a lot of wealth and respect.
He was also exceptionally attractive, naturally neat and well dressed. Yet he was oblivious to how he polarised those around him both men and women.
However, the CEO in the time the employees had known him, even the oldest ones at the company, had never seen him in a romantic relationship with anyone. In short pursuing a man like him was hopeless.
He was renowned as the ‘monk prince’ and by renowned that meant it was a nickname only used during idle company gossip.
Hoseok strode through the lobby in a dark blue suit whilst talking on the phone absentmindedly. The sliding doors opened for him and the employees lined up on either side of the walkway bowing at him.
Hoseok slowed slightly at this but kept talking on the phone barely concealing his confusion.
One of the female employees whispered to her friend beside her as they straightened.
“He’s forgotten.” She chuckled. Her friend did the same while nodding.
A convoy of cars pulled up along the driveway and Hoseok’s frown deepened. The cars came up halfway, a shiny red Italian sports car pulled up in front of him, and in the driver’s seat,
“Son!!!” His mother shouted excitedly for him, she wore bright colors that were reflecting light ostentatiously on the sleek red paint and bouncing right into Hoseok’s eyes.
“Mother…” Hoseok agonized, squinting his eyes at her.
“Come on, enter.” His mother said, smiling happily at him and motioning with her hands for him.
Hoseok glared at the man beside him, his secretary. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
His secretary replied, unmoved, “ I did, you forgot.”
Hoseok sighed, Secretary Choi was probably right, he entered the bright red monstrosity and didn't hide his discomfort for the flashiness it exuded.
They drove to a luxurious hotel for lunch, probably one his mother owned; he never kept track of her businesses.
Along the way they received odd looks from everyone who saw them and a few pictures here and there from those that knew of them. Hoseok wanted to sink into the chair and just disappear, he was actually physically trying to. His mother however beamed at the attention.
Once in the restaurant Hoseok could finally breathe, or so he thought.
The table was already set so he pulled out his mother’s chair and then went to take his own seat.
The spread was colorful and the room was private, his mother took the opportunity to begin speaking. "You forgot didn’t you?”
Hoseok didn’t respond immediately, “I didn't?” He ventured.
“I’ve finally retired Seok-ah, I can finally leave this town and move to the countryside like I've always wanted.”
Hoseok chuckled at the thought of his worldly mother on a farm, preposterous.
“What are you laughing at, you ungrateful child. This wasn’t always my life, or did you forget that as well.”
“How can I forget when you never stop reminding me. I was there too, Mother.”
“Yeah well not as long as me, and for as long as you’ve had me, I’ve protected you from the many shocks of this life, but I won’t be able to do that anymore.” His mother continued.
“It’s why you came all the way out here, you might as well just say it.”
“I want you to get married before I leave. It will put me at ease knowing someone is taking care of you.” His mother said to him,
Hoseok couldn’t lift his chopsticks to his mouth, his fists tightening around them slightly as his face became serious.
“And you’ve already decided, haven't you?” Hoseok pressed out.
This overbearing nature of his mother, even as a grown man there was no escaping it. The harder he resisted the more difficult she would make this for him so he always ended up humoring her.
She motioned for her secretary to show him a picture and the picture of the girl was placed in front of him within an envelope. He didn’t look at it, he didn’t have to.
“Let me guess, she’s from a wealthy family, the daughter of one of your business partners and she has good genes, is what you’re about to say.” Hoseok said blankly.
His mother smiled knowingly. “Meet her, I know you’ll like her.”
His mother wouldn’t know his favourite food, let alone the type of woman he likes.
“ Ms Kang Yuri?” The secretary said in a hushed tone, “A phone call.”
His mother took it and answered, Hoseok just focused on his food in the meantime. When the phone call was over, his mother stood from the chair.
“I’m not even a day retired and they still treat me like I'm in charge. I have to finalise some paperwork at the orphanage.”
Hoseok just nodded. She came to his side and hugged the side of his face placing a kiss on top of his head.
“I’ve already made arrangements for you to meet her when she returns from London. Do try to seem happy about it on the day.”
And she was gone.
Hoseok quickly pulled out his tablet and set it up to get some work done as he was eating.
A female figure walked past the room he sat in on her way out of the hotel, the clear doors being opened for her and a car pulled up in the front, different from last night’s jeep.
Hana stepped out of the car to open the door for Asa, today she was in a burgundy loose fitting pants suit and white pointed toe heels, giving her a sharp air around her but calmer than usual.
Asa was in a cinched at the waist light pink flowing dress which made her look like a seasonal flower, she had curls in her short hair and light lipstick adorning her naturally dark lips.
“Did you have breakfast in the hotel or should we go get some first.” Hana asked Asa while she ambled into the car.
Asa shook her head animatedly before saying, “I’m fine.”
Hana closed the door and went around the car to the driver’s seat. They drove off and Hana started to explain what she had gotten up to.
“I’ve gotten you an apartment since you might be here for a while, but before I take you there’s someone you have to meet.”
“If it’s someone I need on my side again, why don’t you tell me in advance this time.” Asa sniped.
Hana sighed, “I already told you I didn’t know he was a shareholder, but it wouldn’t hurt you to listen to me once in a while cause I'm always right.” Hana said in an all around manner which wasn’t arrogance but just stating facts.
Asa huffed but didn’t respond.
“ You’re meeting the head of the surgical department at Kang Hospital. That’s where you’ll be working for the meantime. I've made some arrangements for a special patient to come in and I want you to be as close to them as possible.”
“So you’re going to work on getting her in the hospital and I should handle the rest?”
Hana nodded, “Be very, inconspicuous.”
“What of the son?” Asa asked.
“Your real estate company called in Lucid Global Advertising to set up an appointment. We’ll preposition them to advertise the new building under construction and you’ll have an opportunity to meet one on one, the rest is up to you.” Hana said.
“It won’t be difficult, most old me are the same, easily distracted by young women.” Asa commented offhandedly.
Hana curled a brow, “Old?” Hana had a sneaking suspicion Asa had never seen the Chairwoman’s son.
It wasn’t wrong for her to assume the Chairwoman’s only son would be middle aged considering how old the chairwoman was but Hana had done her research and knew exactly what he looked like and who he was, she thought Asa was being too cocky and refrained from correcting her. Most importantly, Asa was being unusually sloppy.
“Are you okay? Did you visit the doctor again after your last review?” Hana asked abruptly.
Asa hesitated, “I was travelling so I missed it.”
“We’ll get you checked up at the hospital when we get there.”
In the Doctor’s office
“Have you been experiencing headaches lately?” Dr Bo asked Asa. Asa shook her head.
A nurse came into the consultation room that Asa and the doctor were alone in. She handed Dr Bo an envelope, Asa could tell what it was by it's size.
Asa was 28 years old and a surgeon herself, she’d worked in many hospitals but none for very long as she attended to organisation business mostly, her patients as well were high profile organisation members who for illegal reasons didn’t need their medical histories on record, or nameless criminals the organisation hired and had to secretly treat without putting them on record. She was that person for them.
However she could never for the life of her get used to being on the other side of the table. She tried to feel numb but anxiety always creeped it’s way through her facade.
Dr Bo opened the envelope of her file and past medical history. Then he put on display on his monitor the brain scan they had just carried out adjacent to her older ones.
He sighed and put his hands folded on the table. Asa didn’t flinch and instead kept looking at him.
“I’m sure you already got a diagnosis, that's why you're on medication right?”
Asa nodded.
“I wish I had good news for you, however, it seems like the medicine isn’t working and the tumor has grown by 2cm since the last time you did a scan.” Dr Bo said, “If it keeps on growing, you’ll soon be needing surgery but that won’t guarantee no consequences because of where the tumor is located.”
“I might lose my mind.” Asa said.
“ I wouldn’t say it like that.” Dr Bo responded.
“But it’s what you mean. I’m a doctor too, you don’t need to sugar coat it.”
“As much as you are a doctor, right now you are my patient and no matter who you are, bad news is bad news.” Dr Bo said, “You don’t need to neglect how you feel about it.”
“How long?” Asa interrupted.
“How, long?” Dr Bo repeated.
“Until I,” Asa started out strong but the words suddenly couldn’t leave her mouth, she looked at her hands and they were trembling. She could feel a lump in her throat but she pushed it down and sighed.
Dr Bo looked at her and said, “With treatment you can live long enough.”
Asa asked, “Yes, but if I don’t get the surgery that will make me lose my mind.”
“You won’t lose your mind.”
“How long?!” Asa burst out.
“A year, at most.” Dr Bo replied, “If you are considering not getting the surgery, I strongly advise against it, some faculties may be lost yes but the growth could be stopped and metastasis prevented.”
“It’s only probable.”
“It’s a likely probability.”
“And how long is recovery?” Asa asked.
“A month or more.”
“I don’t have time for that.” Asa whispered frantically.
“What is more important than your health?!” Dr Bo shouted.
“That doesn’t matter to me.” Asa replied without thinking, slowly standing out of her seat, “What I’m doing does.” She finished in a shaky voice and rushed out of the office.
She brushed past Hana who was standing outside waiting, Asa rushed to avoid her questions, she walked a few quick steps down the hall and froze and twirled around her eyes widening when she saw Hana speaking with the doctor.
Asa trotted over the slippery hospital floor in her heels risking a concussion and grabbed Hana by the hand when she reached them, bowed at the doctor and unceremoniously dragged Hana away with her.
Asa dragged her around for a while, not having a clue where she was going and Hana just quietly followed her lead. When they were thoroughly lost Asa took a seat on a bench still holding the standing Hana’s wrist, then she slowly let go of it.
It was quiet for a bit then Hana spoke.
“Here.” Hana pushed a bag into Asa’s hands, it smelled delicious and Asa looked up at Hana in confusion.
Hana began to explain, “Breakfast, eat it.” She turned away and went back to being quiet.
Asa ate bite after bite of the savoury food that was in a plastic container. Hana knew Asa disliked sweet things so the food was very much to Asa’s liking and she smiled happily for the first time that day.
Hana seeing Asa eat happily made a warmth spread through her that almost threatened a smile but it never came.
Asa finished and looked energized, “Okay let’s go meet the Head of the surgery Department.” Asa said.
“Do you really not want to talk about it?”
All genuine happiness got wiped from Asa’s face instantly, instead she replaced it with an exaggeratedly cheerful laugh and patted Hana’s shoulder and said.
“He said I was fine, as long as I'm taking my medicine I’ll be fine.”
“You’re lying.” Hana stated.
“As long as I get my job done my health should be of no concern to you. Don’t overstep.” Asa said in a hard tone but something about it sounded pleading.
Hana’s eyes widened, was Asa scared? Of course, anyone would be, but, Asa didn’t have anyone to rely on to comfort her or tell, and have them actually prioritise her. She was scared. What could she do with her fear except hide it or distract herself from it, the last thing she wanted to do was to address it, and let alone to her subordinate.
Hana clenched her fists from those thoughts alone, wasn’t she more than that by now? she cursed internally but did not let it show.
“You’re right, it’s not my place.” Hana turned and started walking, “Come on, we’ll be late for your meeting.”
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