"Did you hear that our company had just been taken over by some young CEOs?" A young receptionist spoke out in a nearly empty hall.
"Where did you hear that?!" Another receptionist eyed around the area with caution. Only a man has been sitting there quite a while now. He looks like a foreigner with a common shabby attire. His only personal things are only the camera placed on the table and a saddlebag. He looks busy working with his laptop ignoring them talking. Maybe he was waiting for someone from the company or they need to ask him to leave the building.
"You know the guy from the finance department told me," the first woman whispered shyly making the other woman curious about their relationship and glared at her disbelieve. "Or, do you think he just bluffing to get my attention?"
"So, you did go on a date with him after all." The other woman still staring at the man ignoring her. She heard about the rumours but not sure if it was legit or not. But if the source came from the finance department, then the information might be true. The question now is if the current takeover will include the reductions of the workers or not. This is not new info anymore that every company stay alert about their own company before the young CEOs targeting their company. Rumours have it that they even takeover multiple companies at the same time since a few years ago. Some of the company were shut down permanently and some were prosperous that their stocks went up after the takeovers. How could they be that ruthless? Is their company the next target? What will become of their jobs?
Suddenly a group of people rush into the hall. They're dressed in formal attire and looks intimidating as they continue towards the man that has been sitting there. They bowed with respect at the man before one of them step forward and spoke in Japanese which neither of them could understand any words they uttered. A woman from the group approached the reception.
"Good morning, ladies. Your chairman is expecting us." The woman smiled at the ladies receptionist with sharp eyes. She looks foreign too but her Korean were fluent as local.
"Yes." the other woman nervously reply and nodded to her other friend to call up the meeting room through the intercom.
"Hello Manager Kim, there are a group of people.."
"Let them come in. We're expecting them." He cuts her off and hangs up the call soon after. His voice tone gives out his nervousness.
"Alright, Manager Kim. We will send them up momentarily," The other woman frown at tone but managed to compose herself professionally. "Let me send you all up please." So they're were expected by the chairman to come for the annual shareholder meeting. As a receptionist, they were the last person to know the whole story and she refused to let that happened.
Soon the group follows her up including the shabby guy from earlier. She steals a peek at the shabby guy only blushing till the tip of her ears when he looks back at her and smile. He was the tallest than the rest of the group makes him more obvious of being more attractive than the rest of the men. He looks more good looking than any guy she ever met. His smile was mesmerising yet his left dimple makes him more unbelievably dashing.
"Thanks. We've appreciated it." A formal looking man with glasses stands beside her. The receptionist didn't even realise they already arrived at the meeting room entrance. She embarrassedly bowed down to them as they walk past her into the meeting room. "Ah, excuse me, miss. There will be another person joining us later. Please show him in."
"I will do so, sir."
The other man nodded with a satisfied smile on him. "Thank you."
"Welcome! Please join our meeting. Thank you for coming, Kunihiko san!"
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"Where have you been?!" Lisa rushed to Ally as she walks into the surgery and hugs her tightly. Her shaky hands were visible and her eyes were red from the weeping she had a moment ago. "Don't you ever scare me like that!" Lisa stare dagger at her.
Ally didn't dare to respond to Lisa. She just let her hug her fiercely there. Did Lisa know anything about her plan? Ally feels helpless and sorrows watching at her. Her tighten fists soften at that realisation. She resolute her feelings to hold on her tears not to cry out. She touched Lisa head lightly as she looks up trying to find courage. 'I'm sorry.'
They were hugging each other for another ten minutes before Lisa pull herself away. "Alright. I am good now." Lisa wipes off her tears with the back of her palm, blinks a few times before look at Ally's face. Ally just continues to stares at Lisa weird behaviour as she smiles bitterly at her friend. "Henri was here looking for you during the lunch break."
"Hmm... I know," Ally deviate her eyes away from Lisa and walks to her cubicle and start to tidy up her working space. "Thank you for driving him away for me, Lisa." silent stares from Lisa. She trying to gauge Ally's emotion and behaviours but Ally was way too calm to suggest she's going to leave them soon. "But...," Ally's hands continue to works yet her words halt halfway. "You do not need to do that anymore."
"What are you doing?" Lisa looking at her hopelessly and agitatedly as Ally working her other area of the surgery room before walk out of the surgery and head to her office.
"I am going home, Lisa." It gave Lisa ten seconds to realise Ally was only meant to go home to her hometown not the other kind of home.
"But, why?" Lisa followed Ally behind like a chick follows her mother around. "I thought you love here. Please stay with us."
"There's nothing for me here." Ally's voice was shaky. Ally finally finished her works and ready to leave the office when Lisa gasps at the realisation. She didn't pack anything with her. Not luggage. No briefcase. No nothing. The whole time she was tidying her office and surgery rooms were only as a last gesture and respect she has for the clinic! She is planning to join her dead son after all! What to do? What to do now? Woon Young already went home with William. Then, something crossed her view and she suddenly got an idea. She grabs on the thing lying on the sofa and rushes out to catch up with Ally.
"Ally! Wait for me. Henri san just called me. He asked me to tell you to bring this coat to his office today." Ally standing at the taxi stand ready to hail a taxi when Lisa running breathless to get to her.
"Why me? Shouldn't other staff send it to him? I... I'm busy. I rather not go." Ally refused and hailed a taxi but Lisa pulled her harder to aside before another woman gets into the taxi.
"Please just this once. You knew the new address, right. He is there today for a long meeting. He needs the coat for his formal meeting with the CEOs." Ally was confused at Lisa's action. It's not really Lisa to be that pushy and determine to let her handle the coat for Henri.
"Alright. I get it. I will send it to him." Ally gives up and agreed to help. She owes Henri some proper farewell too. Lisa looks relieved at her acceptance and smiled at her nervously before she hugs her again. 'God, please let this woman live!' Ally pulled away from Lisa reluctantly and hailed another taxi. Lisa continues to watch the taxi took Ally to leave until it disappears at the corner of the block.