Today, Ally finally able to come for work after one week of absent from work.
"Good morning, ladies!"
"Morning, Dr Allison." Susana, the newly assigned dental assistant for Dr Kang, greeted with a smile.
Several patients are already sitting in the waiting hall. The front desk seemed busy with the assistant preparing the patients before their treatments appointment with the dentists. They waved at Ally with a smile and continued with their works. Even the assistants of the neighbouring 'Natur Beauty' Plastic & Cosmetic Clinic are there hanging around waiting for x-ray taking from the x-ray technician. It seemed like there will be another surgery for Woon Young to join in with the Plastic Surgeon, Dr Weng. Ally heaved a relieved sigh at the thought.
This week alone, she never had any contact from her best friend at all. Henri was the only person that came to accompany her whenever he was free, especially after office hours. Life as just turned to greatness. That was all her wishful thinking. Just when her life is starting to set a new leaf, William proposal to Woon Young three months ago had only made her life chaotic.
For the last three months, she had been calling Julian repeatedly. She even left more than a dozen messages to his phone and office, but he never returns her calls. She was planning to apply for a leave to visit Julian urgently, but she surely knew Woon Young would not allow her to go. What exactly happened to those lovers? Another three more months and her best friend going to be another man's wife?!
"That's the last patient we have today, Dr Ally."
"Oh, no more patient for me?" Ally stopped writing the patient's report and glance at her assistant in surprise.
"Sorry. But, Dr Chae..." The assistant is looking at her with an apologetic look.
"Alright. I get it," Ally heaved a sigh, unable to hide her disappointment at Woon Young's way of treating her. "I'll be standby at my office for any walk-in patient then." Ally finished writing the reports on the computer and left the surgery room. It was already past 1 pm. At the time like this, Woon Young should be showing her tired face any second now.
Suddenly, a knock on the door. "Come in." It might not be Woon Young knocking like that.
"Good afternoon, Dr Ally. I'm sorry to disturb you, but someone is looking for you. May I let her in?" Susana asked from the doorway.
"Hi, Dr Ally!" Lisa suddenly appeared behind the receptionist, looking concern worried her. Lisa interrupted the receptionist and went into the office. Ally smiled at her and nodded at Susana.
Lisa is already walking towards the desk, standing there looking down at her.
"Busy day, huh?" Ally looked up at her friend with a smile. "Where have you been? I haven't seen you the whole morning."
"Woon Young asked me to let you know that you need to go back to your hotel now."
"What?" Ally was surprised at her request. "Why? Something tells me that something fishy is going on here."
"I... I can't tell you now, but you need to go," Lisa walks behind the desk in a hurry and grabbed her handbag before pulled Ally up from her seat. "Now."
"Alright," Ally reluctantly gets up from her seat. "I'm going."
"Hello, Dr Allison Grace? I am Madam Chae's assistant, Choo Yoo Na." Another surprise appeared before her. Ally turned at Lisa and the other woman, frowning. The other woman bowed down at them while Lisa looks away distaste. "Madam Chae would like to have a word with you." She faced forward to Ally.
"Tell Madam Chae, Ally is not going to see her," Lisa raised her voice at the other woman, rudely. "I will not allow you to take her to see your boss."
"Why does Madam Chae wants to see me?" Ally confused, looking at them both. "Lisa?"
"You better not going with her, Ally." Lisa grabbed Ally's hand. "Woon Young... She will not be happy to know you go to see her."
Ally well aware of what Lisa was talking about. But, she can't even dare to ignore Madam Chae's calling for her. "I know," Ally smiled at Lisa and gave a light tap on Lisa's hand to reassure her. "Woon Young very much protective of me all these years. But don't worry. I'll go and see what she wants from me." And, Ally left with the other woman towards the chauffeur just outside the clinic. Lisa is standing there from the first-floor balcony of the clinic, looking hopeless at the woman that she was supposed to protect. Her handphone rang.
She knew who's the caller was without looking at her phone Caller ID. "Hello, Woon nee. I'm sorry. I'm unable to stop her in time."
###########
"Welcome to DooDie's Restaurant! May I know how many person?"
"It's alright. I'm supposed to meet a woman here. Has she arrived yet?" Ally looks around looking for her. "By the name Madam Chae."
"Oh, I see. Madam Chae had just arrived a few minutes ago. Let me show you the way," the waitress in-waiting replied, and she seemed to know this person well that her facial expression changes in second upon hearing her name. "This way, please."
Soon, she arrived at the table, outside the restaurant patio with vast greenery and beautiful garden surrounding the courtyard. All of a sudden, the glimpse of the older woman in front of her makes her halted. Her heart was racing with anxiety and discomfort. Ally gulped down her fear in and walked towards the woman.
"Hello, Madam Chae. How do you do?" Ally greeted her in a cheerful tone. Standing in front this close to this woman, Ally didn't dare to take a seat nor taking her eyes off from the woman. Madam didn't even look nor turn to face her and gesture her to take a seat. Ally took the seat in front of the woman, nervously. This woman supposed to be Julian's mother-in-law.
"I must applaud for your daring stunt last week," madam Chae starts with a confusing statement.
"What... what do you mean by that?"
"Don't let me repeat myself," Madam Chae raised voice had her quiet down looking down. "You knew what you have done and you still denying it." Ally still not understand what she was speaking of. "Even if she asked you to do it, you shouldn't have done it in her place."
At that hint, she finally understood what madam Chae meant by her rage. Ally closed her eyes in defeat. She can't get away from this woman fury.
She recalled the memories of that day. She was about to leave when Henri arrived at the boutique and told her to go out with him. Something not right with his invitation. They ended in the argument until he told her the real reason for the invitations. Woon Young asked Henri to make sure Ally stay outside for a night. Ally knew that only mean one thing. The devil has returned.
In the end, she decided to stay out and returned to the pub to have a drink. Henri left.
The next thing she remembered was the headache she had the following day and a guy sleeping beside her in the same bed in a hotel's suite. She doesn't recall anything but looking at her undergarment still on her body; she doubts if they did had sex that night. Ally quietly put on her dried clothes on and went to check on the guy. He looks peaceful and defenceless laying there, sleeping. She might not remember what happened last night, but she knew that she owes him. He looks handsome with his chisel face and his beautiful long hair spreading on the pillow. Ally touches the soft and thick hair admirably. Ally kissed his cheek as a thank you and goodbye before she left the hotel suite.
Only to be saved by another guy the same morning. The memory of being pushed hard from behind at the traffic light junction made her shudder. Takashi. Luckily, Takashi was there, and in a second when the incident happened, she thought that she was going to die. In the same time, she felt her hand being jerk away in a flash from the rushing cars. Her knees weaken at the dying thoughts, and she fainted from shock.