He stops the car outside her house. Her friend was already waiting for them outside the house. He steps out of the car.
"She is still asleep. Her condition is stable but she needs care. Please stay with her for a few days." He says to her friend.
"Ok. Sure" she replies looking at him oddly. "She is in the car", he says, pointing towards the car without making an eye-contact. "Ok..Arrre you Zeal?", she asks fumbling, in a low, shy voice.
"Yes… Also, call me when she wakes up. Thank you for your help." He says. The girl shifts her from the car. He sees her closing the house door.
She lays her on the bed. She tucks a pillow underneath her head and sits on the side stool beside her bed.
"Father, stay"….. "Please don't leave us"
"Seri are you okay?" the girl says clutching her hand between hers.
"Father" she repeats in a bleak and meaningless voice.
Though her eyes open, she can't think of why, her heart is pounding, mind empty. She strains into the utter darkness, failing to find words. Her breathing rate becomes steady but her face is still drenched in sweat.
"Wait, I'll bring water for you." The girl helps her to sit and then rushes to fetch water from the kitchen downstairs. She returns after a minute with a glass jug filled with water and a mug. She pours some water and helps Seri to drink it.
"Are you feeling better?"
Seri nods and tries to give a faint smile. "Don't bottle it up. I am your best friend, you can tell me when you want. I am going to prepare some food, clear your thoughts till then.". "Okay. How's Zeal?". "He's fine. I am angry at you not telling me he is your friend, but because you are sick I am letting it go. Call him, he wanted to talk to you"
The girl steps out of the room closing the door behind her.
Ken mansion, South Korea
The house stood on a slight rise, on the edge of the city. Orchids grew on the sides of the winding stone path, which led to the colossal structure. The mansion loomed proudly behind the iron gates, flanked by rows of slender trees crowned in light pink. The guarded gates flew open and the Mercedes made its way to a roundabout with a fountain at the center and then up towards the fantastic sprawling house. It is made from marble decorated with turquoise stones. It was a house that just didn't know where to stop. There are at least a hundred windows on two floors facing the drive. The car stops in front of the marble pillars. Reo gets out of the car and walks towards the open door which led to the wide hallway. Upon the walls are the portraits of the family members, obviously so loved. The parquet floor is symmetrically matted. The roofs hold ornate chandeliers. The end of the hallway leads to a tall galleried room with a silken rug spread out over flagstones and a fireplace big enough to park five cars in. There is a long polished wooden table for eight. On the right side of the room is the kitchen. The left is a little separated and has a large piano. The stairs at the back lead to the upper floor. The stairs have stonework of various tones banded with strips of gaily tiles. At the end of the stairs is a large corridor with square flower tiles, all of which are harmoniously interrelated by patterns of chevrons and prisms. Reo moves towards the second room on the right. Everything in the house looked the same as nine years back, except the person standing in the house, Reo.
A car following the Mercedes stops in front of the iron, Lime crested gates. The detective who steps out is stopped from entering by the State police.
"Suicide of Reo's secretary …Doesn't it seem suspicious? When a secretary is getting a good salary, works in LIME corporation at a nice position, Why would he commit suicide?"The detective asks.
"Fishy but wrap this case" the commander replies in low going to high pitch voice.
"What if secretary knew something we don't know? Reo sure found some papers we [don't know about which is why we still need to investigate the car at the first place.
"Whatever can be. We just returned them the car. You can't."
"What if Reo's father, Mr. Kyong Ken has done it?"
"I don't know. No, hasn't, wasn't there at the time of the crime"
"What's that with that idol, ZEEL"
"It's ZEAL. It's nothing. Wrap up both cases."
YP Entertainment, Seoul
Zeal presses his card on the scanner and walks into the building. He presses the card on the elevator and then presses the button. The lift opens on the twenty-third floor. He walks straight to a large cubicle. He is stopped by the CEO's secretary.
"Let him in"
Zeal stops for a second and then enters the room.
"Nice timing! The contract which you were signing tomorrow got ready early, and you are here too, so let's finish the work." Do Hyun (CEO) says pushing a leather file towards Zeal. "Read it carefully, you have five minutes, ask if you have any questions."
"So, no alcohol, no plastic surgery, no dating, no international visits or going to clubs without your permission and my driver's license would be taken. All these for the next 7 years." Zeal says after a minute.
"Yes, and you'll have to live in the apartment we allot you and also your personal assistant will be changed. Your passport and driving license will be with us. We have the right to trace your messages and calls and confiscate your mobile and laptop. Have you read the consequences of breaking or not signing?"
"If I don't sign I'll have to refund the money which the company spent on me till now, If I sign and break I'll have to refund the money which the company will have spent on me till then with interest."
"Right. Your decision?"
"I don't have any option, do I?" he picks the pen and signs it.
"Very well then, let's start from tomorrow."