Two months flew by so fast, Oh Jaehyun felt a little worn out with all that they've been doing at the company. He almost always had to stay at one of the executive rooms at the hotel since Chung Ji-Eun traveled a lot for work and completed her wedding preparations with a flurry that could beat an Energizer bunny.
The both of them had just returned from Japan the night before to close a deal with a merchandising company and only had a half day's rest. Oh Jaehyun made it so that her schedule's being cut to a quarter every day, so she can maybe get some rest or get some form of exercise as per Anita's requests.
"I've cleared your schedule for the afternoon, Ji-Eun," he said in a loud voice, moving around the suite quickly, rearranging the documents on his boss' work desk and re-directing the hotel staff who brought their breakfast towards the lavish dining table. "The Song family is visiting your home tonight to make good with the final leg of the preparations."
He heard a groan and something rather large and heavy hitting the carpeted floor. He immediately thanked the staff for his help, waited until he was out of the door, strode over to the bedroom, and knocked on her tightly shut door.
"Ji-Eun?" He waited for her to answer. "You alright in there?"
"No," she said in a fit of anger and panic. "Help me. Damn it, who put this here?"
He opened the door and came face to face with another scene he never thought he would see in his lifetime.
Ji-Eun, red-faced and spouting expletives, lay on the carpeted floor, half her body hidden underneath a pile of faceless mannequins. He saw that she was still wearing her oversized white tee, so that meant she had just woken up and had tried to make her way to the ensuite bathroom. In her half-awake state, she obviously tried to maneuver her way around a number of dressed mannequins and magnificently failed.
"Help me up," he heard her groan.
"Right," smiling, he approached her and grabbed her arms, hoisting her up.
"Thanks," she said. "And you can laugh. I know you've been dying to."
"Oh, Ji-Eun," he guffawed and she visibly relaxed.
"Who put these here?" Ji-Eun moved to pick up the heavy mannequins. "I guess the staff came in while I was sleeping?"
"Anita and two of her staff had access. They always make sure your clothes are here before you wake up," Jaehyun moved to the other side to help out too. "I guess they did bring them in the early morning. I didn't see them when I arrived."
When the mannequins were upright, they both saw the outline of the finished dresses.
Ji-Eun sighed. "I guess the alterations are done, so they put them up here."
'Done, huh?' Jaehyun glanced at her and saw her blank expression.
"Are you okay?" He asked. "Are you having doubts now?"
Ji-Eun smiled ruefully as she proceeded to touch the skirt of one of the dresses.
"I want to believe that I'm cut out for this," Ji-Eun sighed. "I really do."
"But?" Jaehyun watched her carefully.
"I don't know," Ji-Eun said, throwing her hands up. "This is my biggest gamble, you know. I've never gambled using myself before."
"You still have a month to decide whether you're going through with this or not," Jaehyun ruffled her hair. "But as I've known you for a few good years now, you rarely change your mind, so..."
He crossed over the room and towards the en-suite bathroom.
"You're going to be late if you don't start moving now," he took a fresh bathrobe out and handed it over to her. "Go on."
Ji-Eun smiled at him and walked away.
"Shower fast," he said as he walked out of her room and closed the door. "Breakfast is here."
Jaehyun finished clearing her work desk and taking a few calls for work. Before he could sit down at the breakfast table, a call came from the main reception of the hotel.
"Secretary Oh, good morning," Soo-ah's voice sounded through the line.
"Good morning," he replied. "Is there a message for the lady?"
"Ah, yes," he heard the girl shuffling through some papers as she spoke through the phone. "CEO Song is here to see her."
'CEO Song?' Jaehyun grabbed the tablet off of her desk and checked her calendar yet again. 'There's nothing in schedule for him here, but...'
"Song Hyun-Shik, right?" Jaehyun made sure he heard the girl correctly before closing the calendar.
"Yes, Secretary Oh," the girl said. "Should I send him up?"
Jaehyun ran a hand through his hair. "No, I'll go and greet him first," he said. "I'll take him up to see the lady."
He hung up and stared at the phone for a minute before moving to Ji-Eun's bedroom door. He knocked twice.
"Ji-Eun-ah," he called. "Song Hyun-Shik's at the hotel. I'm going down to receive him, okay?"
He heard a muffled reply, but he wasn't able to make out the words.
"I'll be back in a bit," he said. "Let me know if you need something while I'm out."
He quickly moved to put on his suit jacket and went out of Ji-Eun's suite. Going down the private elevator, he checked his reflection on the mirrored doors.
'I should make arrangements for this person to have some form of access here,' he thought to himself. 'Or not. I'll consult Ji-Eun first.'
Several staff members bowed as he passed by them on the halls. Going through the lobby, he saw the tall, lean figure of the Song heir waiting near the hotel's guest lounge.
He quickened his pace and approached him.
"CEO Song," he called to catch his attention.
Song Hyun-Shik turned to face him and he bowed in turn.
"The lady is just getting ready," he said smoothly. "I'll take you up to see her."
Song Hyun-Shik looked at him carefully before greeting him back. "Secretary Oh, it's been a while," he said.
Oh Jaehyun nodded and was just about to walk away when he heard him say, "I'm glad you came down for me, Secretary Oh. I've been meaning to talk to you about something."
'Oh?' Jaehyun turned to acknowledge him.
"Alright," Jaehyun said. "What can I do for you, CEO Song?"