"I'm sorry, Okuichi-Sama. It's for you." Kunihiko looked up at his secretary with an annoyance glare. Something that shouldn't be happening during his lunch meeting with their potential client. But, on this particular lunch meeting; how grateful of him for the interruption to occur. Kunihiko turned to the person sitting in front of him and smiled apologetically before taking the phone call.
"Don't mind me, Okuichi-Sama. It might be an important phone call...," before the client even finished his words, Kunihiko already flees from the table with the phone. The secretary smiled awkwardly at him as he bowed to the important person that he had his assistant set up the meeting. This client's reason for the meet up was he solely wanted to meet the most eligible promising CEO for four consecutive years in IT & Gaming Software programming in South Korea. Only just recently does his name was up for acquiring other small company in South Korea with another big name in Japan, who is another successful young CEO of Security & Surveillance company, Kakeru Robert Yamaguchi.
The client looks away with embarrassment while under the table, clenching his palm painfully, trying to cope with his frustration. Not far from where he was sitting, he stares at the man on the phone with disgust.
"Am I disturbing your lunch meeting?" Yamato concerned. Laughter on the background over the phone indicates that there were not only a person but the whole group. Kunihiko let out a realisation sigh at their banters. 'I almost forgot about their meet up at the club today.' He slapped his forehead for missing out the meetup. "I knew it."
"So we decide to crash landing at your lunch meeting?" Daisuke loud voice echoes on the back followed by another laughter and banter between them.
"Argh.. I refused to follow," Takashi's rough voice among them. "I'm hungry."
"Where are you?" Kunihiko worriedly looks around for them. "I'm finishing soon."
"Just around the corner," Yamato reply. "No worries. We'll let you work. Besides the guys are hungry." This will be the third time he missed out the meeting with the guys due to his work. He leans on the wall not far from his table and closes to the entrance of the restaurant.
He is not himself ever since the photograph session at Hana's Bridal Boutique. He clenches his teeth, and his jaw hardens with anger every time he recalled that day with the strange woman. He doesn't want to have anything to do or see her anyway. He tried real hard to forget the petit woman by making himself occupied, but the more he tried to hate and forget about her. She seemed to be appearing everywhere he went.
"Well, see you soon," Kunihiko glanced at the client. Yamato hangs up the call. He heaved a long sigh. His secretary chatting with the client comically.
Not far from where Kunihiko was leaning there watching the duo, the front door chiming bell rang as a customer just got into the restaurant.
"Annyeonghaseyo. How many people?"
Ally bowed slightly at the waiter on the front. "I came to meet a woman. Madam Chae?"
"Oh, I see." the waiter looked confused at first before another older man appears from the inside and disrupt them. He immediately dismissed the young waiter. The waiter bowed slightly at the newcomer and leave. His attire resembles someone with a higher rank than the young waiter.
"You must be Dr Allyson. I am the manager of this restaurant. Kim Yuk San. Call me Manager Kim," the newcomer introduces himself with a respectful bow. "Madam Chae is indeed waiting for you. Let me show you the way." Ally followed the manager to the table where Madam Chea is seated.
Woon Young always took her to such a fine dining restaurant but never this restaurant before. The ambience for the restaurant has a soothing feeling of elegance & sophisticated, which at the same time formality. Each of the tables inside the restaurant already been occupied except the terrace area whereby a thick crimson velvet rope was placed with a sign 'Strickly for Executive Customer only'. Ally frown at the signs. She never heard of such restriction before. But, all her life with Woon Young so far; she always avoids anything that has the connections with Madam Chae. Something might have happened that causing their wedding to be cancelled and Julian disappeared. He never returned home.
The smell of sweet & warm dessert makes her mouth watery. The exterior decorations were even breathtaking, but Ally can't appreciate it. Those decorations suppose to be calming her nerves, but yet her heart is not calm at all.
Not far from terrace entrance, Manager Kim stopped and slightly bowed to her before leaving. Leaving Ally walking the rest of the way towards the table where Madam Chae was sitting with her slim legs crossed. It has been two years since the last time she saw Madam Chae and her beauty never seemed to be faded. Yet a few soft fine lines on the corner of her eyes. A financial magazine on her hands. Maybe because she was an influential international Korean accountant makes her acting arrogant and selfish.
"Hello, Auntie Chae." That was what she once been calling her when they first met and befriended her daughter, Woon Young. In Singapore. No reactions. "Ma... Madam Chae."
Madam Chae looked up immediately at the calling. "Oh, you here. Have a seat." she put away her magazine looking deadly serious. There was no warm smile from her nor gestures. Ally gulped down her saliva to gather her strength as she takes the seat in front of Woon Young's mother. "I'm hoping that you're aware of the reason why I requested your presence here today."
"I am not sure what do you mean by that, Madam Chae." Ally frown at her remarks.
"I WANT you to leave my daughter before their wedding date."
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"That poor woman.."
"That Ajumma such a wicked woman," another person commented. "I'm sure that must be her mother in law."
"Who's that poor I heard?" another waiter stopped at the secluded area of the kitchen. He turned to the table that they were observing. "No. You're wrong."
"Oh? So you think that Ajumma is meeting the husband's mistress?" older waitress glared at the young man.
"Hey, don't look at me like that alright. It could be possible, you know."
"But still. I feel sorry for the young woman though." the fourth person commented with pity look on her face. "You see how arrogant is that Ajumma. She must be a rich woman."
Kunihiko overheard their conversations letting out another annoying sigh of disgust. Those people never learn manners not to gossip in the working place. Speculating each other about an older woman confronting the mistress. 'That's obviously common thing happened here. What do you expect?' Kunihiko refuses to listen any more of the domestic household problems as Yamato haven't shared enough of his own story about those cheating housewives or husband ever since Yamato took the job here at the University of S.
Strangely, Kunihiko thought of glancing at those speculated duos before leaving the area. All he saw was the back of the woman sitting on the front of the fierce-looking older woman. 'Well, that older woman has the arrogant aura of a lady.'
"I'm sorry, Han Taek Gu Ssi." Kunihiko has returned to his seat. Only to heard another harsh comment of the Ajumma to the young woman. Han Taek Gu ignored him while his focus was on the duos. He looks displeased watching them. Somehow he was looking hostile towards them or to be more precise towards the older woman.
"The women over there," Kunihiko asked. "You seemed to know them, huh."
"Oh, no. I just feel distaste those women who are fighting over some shithead man," Han Taek Gu laugh off dryly. His face blushed and avoid eye contact with Kunihiko. "Well, then. I guess that we're finished here. I very much appreciate that you're willing to hand help with your expertise to us, Kunihiko-Sama." He stands up hastily and extends his hand for a handshake.
"But, I didn't remember promising you to give you a hand? Yet." Kunihiko still seated refuse to handshake him. This man is stupidly stubborn. "In the future, maybe you can negotiate with Luke Kang." Kunihiko ignored him and waved his secretary.
Han Taek Gu was about to argue but stopped by the secretary. "I'll show you the way out Han Taek Gu Ssi. About the details, I'm sorry to tell you. Our CEO refuses to lend a hand on this government matters. Have a good day!" The secretary bowed slightly and made way for him to leave. Kunihiko doesn't care what or who he is. What matters now, he just heard another argument form the older woman.
"We'll see about that." Han Taek Gu left in frustration.
"You know what to do Suzuki san," Kunihiko warned his assistant without even glancing to him. "I don't expect the same mistake." He doesn't want to meet any government people. So much trouble & headache. He didn't expect this kind of mistake happened.
"Yes, Kunihiko san. It won't happen again." Suzuki bowed apologetically at his boss. No response from the boss. "If nothing else, I'll be excusing myself to return to the office."
"CRASH!!"
A loud crash sound echoes throughout the restaurant. Everyone stopped doing or talking and turned at the sources of the scene in questions.
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"Enough!" Ally hissing, hurriedly stands up. "You can humiliate me as much as you want. But never humiliate my brother!" Her pounding headache return as a shock to her. The expensive teacup crash to the ground as she grabbed the table for support.
Dry and ugly giggling derived from the woman that she once respected makes Ally wanna cry. What happened to the wonderful, caring mother for her child & her playmate a long time ago? The woman doesn't even afraid nor hurt after saying that to her.
"Stop BS me." Madam Chae crossed her arms in a proud look. "You should know what you did to your own brother's wedding," she sneered at Ally. Ally was dumbfounded. 'Is it really her fault?' Ally recalled Woon Young's plea... 'You owe me!' She barely heard anything but her painful headache. The thinking job giving her even weaken her resolve.
Madam Chae has been watching her reactions the whole time realised this silly woman didn't even realise it? She looks away from Ally. "Save your fake surprise to others. Now leave Woon Young apartment in a week. The sooner, the better. You're a jinx," she continued. "It really was shameless indeed. I am warning you. My baby is finally getting married. I refuse you to be part of it in any way."
All Ally heard before she has fainted was 'Mother! What do you think you're doing.' and shrieking of shocking voice. Someone... Someone with a familiar scent catches her before she hit hard to the ground.