Fashion isn't something to mess around with when a show is just around the corner. Things need to be done right the first time. There is no room for mistakes. Especially the huge ones that could possibly get you fired or end your whole career. Today was not the day for those mistakes. Byeong-ho was stressing about the mock fashion show they were having in the early evening. As of right now, he only had five hours to perfect the piece he was working on.
Distractions were the least of his problems. The most important investors would be coming to the trial. If he messed up now, how would he explain to his company he failed at impressing another company? They were counting on him. Any new investments would give him the power to take his clothing line to America.
"How far have you gotten, sir?" his temporary secretary, Nicolette, asked suddenly.
"What do you mean?" he muttered around the pin in his mouth.
"The design...sir." She sighed.
"...Oh, I'm not as far as I hoped I'd be today. I'm too tired for this." Byeong-ho took the pin out of his mouth and sighed. "Makes me want to just...take a quick nap on the desk."
"Sir, Monsieur Délon won't allow laziness," she reminded him.
"I'm not being lazy. It's called prendre soin de mon corps."
"Pas de repos pour ton corps..."
"How was I supposed to do well on this?"
"Concentrate harder."
Thirty minutes seemed like hours to Byeong-ho. He couldn't think straight at some point and ended up having to unravel a piece of his work. It wasn't much, but it forced him to slow down and pay attention. HIs secretary was watching all this and taking notes. Of course, she had to report back to her real boss. He needed to know how his fashion designers worked under pressure. It wasn't anything bad, but it was something worth knowing.
"Nicolette, you can go now. Free to leave. I have everything under control," Byeong-ho said.
"Are you sure, Monsieur?" She smiled at him from behind his work. "I could help with anything else if you need it."
"I'm sure. I'll take a little break anyway. I'll tell my parents you said hi."
"Merci Monsieur."
Lee Young-ho stood in front of the mannequin and sighed. His design wasn't going as planned. Ever since he found out about the mock fashion show, he was rushing about to make changes to the dresses he had on hand. It was harder than he thought, so it took some time unraveling the half finished dress to his desired length. He could say he was doing much better than Byeong-ho.
He hissed as he pricked his finger. Of course, something like this would happen when he was in a rush. If any blood got on the fabric, he'd be done for.
"Nicolette, I need a bandage," Young-ho called out. "Hurry! I haven't all day."
"Magic word, Monsieur Lee," Nicolette purred. "Monsieur Kim has better manners than you."
"I'm not Byeong-ho, now am I?"
"No, Monsieur Lee."
"Then get me a bandage, Nicolette."
The woman pouted, but went to get her boss what he asked for. It wasn't boring or hard to work with three of South Korea's greatest designers. It was stressful. They hadn't even been in France for a whole week and she was being sent out on last minute errands. With the fashion trial just around the corner, Nicolette was ready to call in sick to get some rest.
"Monsieur Park!" Nicolette exclaimed. "Where are you coming from?"
"Nowhere." Dae-jung squinted at the woman. "Is that for Young-ho? Did he prick himself again?"
"Oui. I shall get back to him now. He seemed angry that I tried to make him say please."
"I'll take it to him. How about you tell Monsieur Michaels by the runway that the tech crew wants him to check the lighting."
Nicolette handed the first-aid kit to Dae-jung and flounced away. A smile slowly graced his face as he watched her. He could genuinely say that she was the only person in the building who never had a change in mood. She was always happy to help others and often did things she didn't have to do.
It amazed him at times how she could be like this and work the schedule she had. He doubted Nicolette had any kids, but everyone deserves some time to themselves. Dae-jung found Young-ho staring angrily at his wound. He silently handed him the kit and waited while Young-ho carefully wrapped his finger.
"Are you finished now?" he asked.
"With work or with this?" Young-ho pointed to his finger. "I still have so much to do if you're speaking of work."
"Really? Byeong-ho is taking his break right about now. You want to come? We're going to Le Cinq."
"But that's so far."
"Great! I was hoping you'd say that. I'll be a minute though. I have to make sure everything will be running smoothly before we come back."
Young-ho openly protested this idea, but Dae-jung had already left.
"Dae-jung! We only have three hours left. I won't finish this in time."
He turned back to the dress and sighed. This was going to be harder than he thought.
Park Dae-jung was excited for this outing. They had spent the night in the office instead of in a comfy bed. Breakfast consisted of breakroom coffee and bagels. It wasn't ideal, but it was quick and the men could get back to work.
Dae-jung walked up and down the runway looking for anything that could possibly make the models fall. He'd seen many mishaps happen over the past couple of years and it never ended well. The women were good models, but he couldn't risk any of them getting hurt before the real show.
"Qu'a dit Young-ho?" Byeong-ho asked as he walked up to his younger friend.
"No," Dae-jung said absentmindedly.
"So...he's coming?"
"Of course, he is. I wouldn't have it any other way. Le Cinq, right?"
"Of course. Nicolette wants to come, too."
"As always. You know what you're ordering?"
Dae-jung smiled and turned to his friend. He didn't know what he was ordering. Some say once you've gone to a restaurant a couple hundred times you know the menu, but that wasn't the case for Dae-jung. Remembering his favorite dish was like him remembering his own birthday. Not a high probability he'd remember either.
"By the way, Monsieur Délon wants us back in time for the trial. It shouldn't take us long to eat, right?" Dae-jung asked.
"Of course not," Byeong-ho said. "We might want to leave now. You know how Young-ho gets when he's work deprived."
Lunch was fun for Dae-jung. Nicolette was telling stories about what they missed while they were away in Korea. Young-ho was especially interested since both his parents were French and he didn't have much time to visit them while in Korea.
"How's your lobster?" Young-ho asked Nicolette.
"It's fine, Monsieur." She beamed.
"You don't have to call me that outside of work. Any of us for that matter."
"I couldn't, Monsieur. It's my duty to stay formal."
"It's my duty to complain if I don't like something..."
Byeong-ho held back a laugh. He wasn't used to anyone but his parents and his designer companions calling him by his name. Having Nicolette, little Nicolette who listened to everything he told her to do, call him Byeong-ho was new. He could feel her hesitate in calling any of them by their name. It would take time.
"Ooh, it's almost time to go back."
"Already?" Dae-jung pouted. "It feels like we just left."
"Time flies when you have things to do. Just eat. We'll leave in thirty minutes."