I push the paperwork aside to allow one of the twins to slide the sandwich platter on the table between the four of us and smile her way warmly. Watching as the other lays out four glasses of iced soda to help fuel us for a few more hours. Such attentive employees and I already decided with Greta to keep them as full-time staff when we boost the Shack's incoming.
"Thank you. You're a star." I am completely starving after sitting here all morning while we trash out details and plans for the island for the fourth day in a row, and Bryant is taking notes to help draw up the proposal. Jyeon gave him the assignment to work here for two weeks while we do this, and he's not complaining, even if his legal department is without a head and constantly calls for guidance. He's been glued to Greta since he got here and now side by side, facing us; I can tell Greta is happy. She still won't admit they're officially a couple, yet she blooms whenever he's around and dislikes when his attention is not on her somehow. They're weirdly right for each other, and I see deeply relaxed and content energy about her whenever Bryant is here that was never there before.
"This is all giving me a headache. The stuff about the shack becoming a franchise seems overwhelming and more than I can handle. I'm just a food shop owner. I can't do this." Greta pouts her lips at me, nervous about what we intend to do and hasn't grasped how this is a good thing. She's been overthinking her role.
"I told you." I reach out and pat her hand to soothe her. "If you become a franchise under OLO, we will put a manager in here, so you don't have to do anything except train and direct them to help keep the essence of this place. You are getting a lump sum of money invested and can hire as much staff as required. This is your ticket to becoming a boss lady of leisure! You call the shots while retiring to do whatever you want."
"Anything you don't understand, ask me. I will walk you through it all. Answer questions, translate contracts." Bryant leans into her and nudges his shoulder against hers, locking his gaze on her pretty face, and winks at her with a naughtiness, I presume is meant. Smiling sweetly, she seems to melt visibly.
"If the islanders agree to the proposals for a spa resort and a rural adventure site, then the shack will get a huge boost. We can expand and design it exactly how you want it to be as the model for the others we can build nationally. All we'll need from you is design choices." I know she's scared of how big this seems, but I have walked companies through this a million times and set up many successful franchises globally under the OLO umbrella. I can do this with my eyes closed, and she needs to trust that I will take good care of her baby. This place is home to me too, and I would do nothing to jeopardize it.
"Sohla is one of the best at this. Probably thee best. She has taken over and formed franchise brands multiple times, and none have failed under OLO's command. Trust us that we won't screw you over or put you in a position you cannot handle." Jyeon slides his arm along the back of the chair behind me and lounges casually, takes a sandwich with his other hand, and starts tucking in. Breakfast feels like it was a week ago as I'm so hungry I am sure I mustn't have eaten enough, and I follow his example.
"I know this is a good thing, and I can't wait to see this place flourish and become busier, but at the same time, I'm apprehensive about losing our quiet rural life." Greta sinks in her seat, and Bryant slides his arm around her and hugs her.
"If they want to make a living and maintain the village, it can still be both. We plan on developing the parts of the island that are empty and underused. And you have two harbors. The one that caters to commercial ships coming in can be utilized for the spa and resorts to keep traffic minimum."
"He's right. We maintain this side of the island but spruce it up and supply transport from the spa and the adventure grounds. We throw in some major advertising for the services and quaintness for this side, bringing in contracts from more tour boats. And they can dock small vessels here if we extend the harbor to accommodate them."
"I mean, it sounds like a solid plan, and I'm sure the islanders will be on board." Greta sighs, her expression taut, chewing on her inner lip in think mode. She's had many doubts these past few days, and I think it comes down entirely to imposter syndrome. She doesn't feel worthy of owning a business that has the potential to be a national franchise that makes her rich. She's worried about her small hideaway becoming a busy tourist swamped island and how that might change our lifestyle.
I sit back with my tuna mayo sandwich and tuck in, leaning against Jyeons shoulder with a tilted head to have a respite on his muscular form, sinking my weary bones. I forgot how tiring and full-on this job was, and even though I'm enjoying it, I find it exhausting too. Mentally challenging in ways that have been underused and had a couple of headaches. It's been days of research, paperwork, emails, and calls as we gather intel and various reports from OLO experts, and I feel like I haven't stopped.
"Tired, baby?" Jyeon leans over my head and glances down at me, curling up closer to him as I chew on my food and nod with a sigh. My entire body is heavy and achy today, and I guess it doesn't help that we sat up past midnight while going through some budget sheets and planning requirements before bed. It felt like us of old and back in the swing of late-night meetings where we forgot we hated each other to thrash out a problem. Only this time, it was cuddling up on the couch, reading the same files simultaneously, warm cocoa, and a sexy snuggle in bed after.
"Maybe you guys should take the afternoon off while I go through what we have so far and start compiling some of it. There's a couple of areas of the island that might be protected nature reserves, so I have to do some digging and check out our options." Bryant usually would stick to lawyer-related things only, but given this project includes Greta's diner, he has taken on a more hands-on role. He's invested, and it's nice to see that someone I never worked with is pretty competent. Bryant has grown up a lot over the last couple of years, and I'm only really starting to see it now. I guess I am fully on board with them being together if he continues to treat her like the princess she is.
"I can't. I have a call with the tour company that docks in here twice a week. They were already asking to have us set up a loyalty discount for their boats for the hotel, the shack, and the meal cart that sits on the far end of the harbor before we started this." Prices are already cheap, so giving them something like that has to benefit the island. Maybe extra boats coming in to level it out.
"I'll deal with it. You look beat and like you need an afternoon on the couch." Jyeon slides his arm from above me on the back of the bench to down behind me so he can pull me in to cradle me against him. Greta and Bryant have downed pens and eating our cold lunch, and there's a quiet moment.
"The company CEO might not like a change of contact." I point out, eyes growing heavy, and it's insane how worn out I feel today. I thought the café was hard work these past years, but OLO is a whole other challenging level. I swear I wasn't like this yesterday, and I guess late bedtimes, nightly sex, and busy days are taking a toll on my body.
"Let me do it. Let me do something to feel useful. I know the ins and outs of all the arrangements with them, and he knows me." Greta chimes in mid-chew.
"Ordinarily, I would say no, I got this, but I am unbelievably tired. I think I need an afternoon nap."
"There's someplace I want to take you if you could handle a car nap?" Jyeon nudges me and pulls my attention to him as I glance up. Solidifying the fact, Greta will make the call, and we will take time off.
"What? Where?"
"You'll have to wait and see. I have a car to be delivered to the commercial harbor at one, so if Bryant and I take Greta's truck, we can collect it. Means we have our own transport left here for you to use too."
I chew on my lip at the mention of me driving and shake my head. My palms are instantly clammy. Nerves churning up inside and tightening my stomach and lungs in fear on one detail I don't think I have ever mentioned.
"She doesn't drive anymore." Greta chimes in. "Not since the day I scraped her off the road. She just can't get behind a wheel." She shrugs, used to the fact I would never take the truck and make any errand trips to the other side of the island. Not that it's a place I ever want to go back to anyway. I avoid it at all costs, never wishing to see the endless road, the dense forest, or the beach where I woke up. It's one big ball of misery and fear that no amount of talking it out can fix. I don't need to drive ever again, and I don't intend to.
Jyeon frowns down at me before hugging me tightly. His expression straightened out, and a slight furrow to his brow.
"Really? You don't have to drive… whether here or the city, I'll do it, or we can get you a driver."
I nod gratefully, loving him for never making me feel stupid about my scars. He just accommodates and finds a solution without judgment, aware that it's not being in a car itself that's the issue, just my controlling one. I don't want to be in that position again; I lost my courage and still dream of the night I dived off the cliff.
"Is this related to the thing you mentioned yesterday?" Greta seems smugly In the know, and her mild eyebrow wiggle has me guessing this is to do with retaking our vows. I have seen odd moments of them whispering together, and I know he's offloaded some top-secret tasks to Bryant. He's acting like this is a surprise even though I agreed to do it, but it's cute and amusing. He was never invested in our wedding years ago and took nothing to do with the fine details. I like that he's taking the time to plan this and wants it more than I do.
"You know… I've been thinking, and …. about our vows." I break into their subliminal messages, catching Jyeon subtly frowning and shaking his head at Greta not to give the game away. They are both so glaringly apparent that I eyeroll at them. If a job in a secret agency came up, these two would be the worst applicants.
"Hmm?" Jyeon turns to me with a raised brow.
"I know I said it should be the four of us… but….. maybe Mother and Yoonah." I swallow hard as I say it, not believing that after all this time of pushing the entire family away and the complicated mess of our relationships, I am trying to bring us all back as one for a wedding to the same man. I never imagined a few months ago that this would be the reality.
"Really?" He seems surprised, and I shrug as a way of answering. It's not such a huge shock given we are trying to rebond and start over together, all of us.
"I think it might be a healing balm for all of you." Bryant chirps in, sitting mirrored to us with his arm around Greta as she leans on his shoulder to eat her food. He's known everything about us our whole life and knows the Park family well.
"Mom will be touched. Yoonah…. not sure, but he'll come." Jyeon kisses me on top of the head, and I brush down the crumbs from my dress after my sandwich. I sit up, lean over for another and pull my tall glass of soda towards me. I do not want to discuss it further as there's no need.
"If you two are heading across the island for the new car coming in at one, you better get going. I'll clear all this up and put it on the boat and be ready for you coming back. I think a walk in the fresh air will do me good." I point out, stifling a yawn and yet still starving and dumping a few morsels on my plate I intend to down.
"If these two are taking a time out this afternoon, what about us?" Bryant eyes up Greta as she too sits up, and she shrugs cooly. A hint of a smile graces her pretty face, and she slyly side eyes him.
"I thought you had work to be doing." She points out, and I know Greta likes to tease and make this man chase her. Always at arm's length and aloof with him.
"Nothing I can't handle quickly or delay until later. I want some quality time with my girlfriend, seeing as the last few days have been hectic."
"Girlfriend, huh?" She blushes, eyes back on her food, and I shake my head at the stubborn minx. Greta wants Bryant, but she's afraid he'll hurt her and let her down like every other man she's encountered. She needs to put him out of his misery and accept that they are stuck together like glue. She's even told him about her daughter and other things from her past that always chased men away, yet he's still solidly here. She has never trusted a guy to give her a stable and healthy relationship or stick around, and I know it started with her deadbeat dad, but I see a difference in how she's opening up to Bryant.
"What shall I call you then? To me, you're my girlfriend. The woman I intend to spend my life with." Bryant is frank about it anyway, and I smile, amused that my once playboy brother figure has had a personality overhaul. His past reputation is probably also why Greta is being cautious and doesn't help him.
"I don't know. A friend with benefits." She one shoulder shrugs, avoiding looking his way, and I snort-laugh at her response. Knowing that is not what they are. She would throw a hissy fit if he went off with other girls simultaneously.
"As long as I'm the only friend getting those benefits, and you don't intend to end it anytime soon." Bryant is too laid back for his own good and stretches out before ruffling her hair. Not at all deterred or worried over how she is. He seems to know that she's had a tough life, a painful history, and is willing to take it slow and reassure her that he can be what she needs. Break her wall a tiny crumb at a time, which is precisely how he should do it. I guess it's why he wants to be so involved in this project and island. He thinks his future is invested in her, and he wants to root himself firmly in it.
"Grab a few to go, and we will hit the road." Jyeon gestures at the platter of food and shifts me aside gently so he can get up. "Be ready for me coming back, baby. I swear you'll like it." He leans down and kisses me on the mouth with gentle warm grazing of lips, his hand slides down the back of my hair affectionately before sliding out, and Bryant follows. Dipping to kiss his madame on the cheek and ruffles her hair again. Greta packs some sandwiches into napkins for them and hands them over.
I watch the three of them with a sense of contented calm and realize the last few days, working on this, my insecurity and jealousy have begun to calm down. The dreaded tight sensation and the almost depressive black cloud that covered me most of the time it's dispersing. Maybe because I have a focus and we're working together again, doing something I once loved and giving me my sense of purpose back.
It's strange that I ran from the Sohla of old for two years and refused to be dragged back for fear of becoming her again. Yet I now see that significant parts of who I was, like my determination, drive, and fearlessness, came from being the VP of OLO and having the driving force of my career behind me. I think in time, I can find the balance between me of the past and me of now because both sides are necessary for my happiness and mental well-being. I was wrong to run and hide, and I can only fully heal when I accept the past and present and figure out how to keep the changes without sacrificing who I am.