The rain gently fell on the windshield of a black luxury sedan pulling into traffic. The driver looked ahead as red taillights of other cars reflected on the wet street before her.

 "How was your meeting, Yoo SangHoon seonsaengnim?" she politely asked.

 The elderly gentleman looked at her from the back seat through the rearview mirror and smiled.

 "Long, Nari," he chuckled wearily. "I feel I've become too old for this nonsense. I'm ready to turn it over to the younger generation."

 "More arguing, seonsaengnim?" she asked sympathetically.

 It was a concern she'd heard him speaking more of as their professional relationship grew more casual.

 "It seems all they do is bicker these days," he replied. "I've called for my grandson to return and take over his father's position, but he's off somewhere following his dreams. Blowing along through life wherever each gust of wind carries you has replaced familial responsibility." He sighed. "Perhaps the elders must learn to let go of such novelties as honor and heritage."

 She glanced back at him from the rearview mirror and watched him look through his window with sadness. She looked back to the road and thought of their conversations.

 He was wary at first to trust her. Not only because she was a young woman with her own driving business, but because she was a foreigner. If not for her godfather, a South Korean native, she wouldn't have had any business at all. She certainly wouldn't have met the CEO for one of Seoul's most prestigious law firms, much less become his personal driver.

 He wasn't her only client, but he was the most important in terms of social status and financial worth. He was the most important person to her, in general, for personal reasons.

 He could have chosen an exclusive driver working only for him, one who fit his criteria of being a South Korean male with long local ancestry. She never understood why he agreed to her godfather's suggestion of hiring her, but their business relationship had become a precious friendship for them both.

 She'd been his driver for three years, and in that time, she had watched his health deteriorate. The growing crime, cases that had more blurred lines than black and white, and internal fighting were taking their toll on him, body and mind, and she worried about him like a granddaughter would a beloved grandfather.

 "I can't pretend to know your situation, seonsaengnim," she told him, "but I believe you've done your best and it's been good enough so far.

 This bickering sounds like a battle of egos more than concern for the progress of the firm. They know it's doing well. You've yet to even slip from the tower you've created. Everyone knows the name of Yoo Law Firm. Your symbol of a willow tree shows your friends and enemies you know how to acclimate to the changing world without breaking or losing ground.

 They can try to whittle away what they wish. You aren't going anywhere. Am I wrong, seonsaengnim?"

 Yoo SangHoon looked at her through the mirror and smiled broadly at her clever grin. He chuckled and shook his head.

 "Your uncle always told me you were the source for his best decisions," he praised her. "I'll be forever grateful he brought you here when your parents passed. It was a tragedy, to be certain, and I'm terribly sorry for that.

 You've done well here for an American. It hasn't been easy, I know. Ahn Ji-U taught you well and prepared you for the many challenges you'd face. I only wish he were still here for you. It isn't right for a lovely young woman to be all alone in the world, especially one with a heart as golden as yours. You should have a man to look after you, to provide for you, to love you."

 She smiled and laughed quietly to herself. He always found a way to bring a conversation around to her marital status. She knew he only meant well, and in truth, it was what she desired most.

 She was tired of being alone. She was tired of doing everything on her own without even a shoulder to rest her head on at the end of a long and stressful day. She was mostly tired of not having strong arms around her to hold her when she cried for her parents and most recently, her godfather -- who everyone referred to as her uncle.

 She was tired of being strong. Even if only for a moment, she just needed to be vulnerable and let someone else carry her burdens so she could breathe.

 "I'm having my annual birthday celebration at the end of next month," he was saying as she forced herself not to cry. The task was becoming increasingly difficult. "I would like for you to go this year. I know you don't like large crowds, but this is a masquerade. Everyone will be in masks. If you have a problem paying for a formal gown, I'll give you my card. The only important thing is that you'll be there for me."

 "Seonsaengnim," she started to protest, but he held his hand up to stop her.

 "Nari, I don't believe I will have another birthday," he said softly. "I feel it. My heart is no longer with my work. It's no longer alive like it used to be. My family won't even help me fill it with joy. You're the closest person I have. I would never tell them the things I've disclosed to you. I wouldn't trust my own blood with these ramblings admitting my weaknesses.

 If you don't want to come, I won't insist. I'm only asking if you'll strongly consider it. Please."

 She pulled the car to the gates of a large manor and waited to be buzzed inside. She drove up the drive to a grand, exquisitely carved door and put it in park. Opening her door, she quickly left the vehicle and went around to help him out.

 As he stepped from the car, he held her hand and patted it. She nodded and squeezed his hand with her other.

 "I'll go," she agreed.

 She was fearful as her anxiety already began burning her cheeks, but he was sad and desperate. She couldn't hurt him.

 He squeezed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. "I'll have Do-Yun send you an invitation. Don't lose it. You'll need it to enter."

 "I'll look forward to it," she said with a forced smile.

 It wasn't obvious as she had learned well how to hide her true emotions.

 Although her social anxiety was burning her alive from inside at the mere thought of going to such an event, being there for him at his request meant a lot to her. She wouldn't let him down. 

 With a final squeeze of her hands, he gave her a gentle bow and followed his assistant inside.