CHAPTER 14: First Visit To The Chairman's Mansion
"Good morning Mich!"
Jiyoon walked into Michelle's office only to see her scouring around her desk with a slight frown
"What are you looking for? Dimples"
"Sorry Jiyoon, I'm looking for an important file"
"What type of file?"
"It contains the details about the clients we got in Busan, Can you help me find it?"
"Yeah, Sure"
"Thanks, J.J"
"Seriously, Stop calling me that"
"And you stop calling me dimples"
Jiyoon gave Michelle a 'that's never gonna happen' look which earned her a soft giggle from Michelle.
They looked for the file for an hour and a half but still found nothing.
"Are you sure it's here"
"I'm not sure, My boss asked for it but it's not exactly with me"
"Boss? Forget it, maybe it's with his secretary, Beomgyun"
"You're right, Let's go ask him"
They both went to meet the Secretary to ask about the file.
"The file you are asking for was with me until two weeks ago. The chairman asked for it last week"
"Alright, Thanks Beomgyun"
"You are welcome Michelle"
Michelle was so annoyed, she felt like screaming. She started walking towards Hyunmin's office angrily and Jiyoon followed her.
"Where are you going?"
Jiyoon could see she was angry
"To the chairman's office"
"Calm down Michelle, You….."
"Jiyoon please don't follow me, I have to speak with the chairman"
Michelle turned around and walked away without listening to any of Jiyoon's words.
"I need to speak to you, Boss"
Hyunmin was on the phone, he soon finished the call.
"You can call me by my name when we are alone since we are friends"
"Well, friends don't stress each other out"
Hyunmin could hear the anger in her voice
"What did I do?"
She crossed her arms under her chest
"Why did you ask me to look for the file when it was actually with you"
Hyunmin looked at her in confusion
"What are you talking about Michelle?"
"The file you asked for was with Beomgyun and you took it last week so where is it"
Hyunmin picked up his phone and made a call.
"Ma. Seo can you help me look for a blue file in my study? Alright, call me back if you find it"
The woman on the phone called back after a few minutes
"You found it! Thank you, Ma.Seo"
Michelle sighed and took a seat in front of his desk
"Are you still punishing me for my rudeness when we first met"
Hyunmin smiled at her
"I am not punishing you for anything. I didn't mean to trouble you, It just slipped my mind that the file was with me"
"You finally admit you've got a short memory"
Michelle said in a low voice
"Pardon?"
"It's your fault I spent one hour and a half looking for a file that was never lost like a jobless person"
"Alright, It's my fault and I apologize"
"Apology accepted Hyunmin"
Hyunmin couldn't help but smile,
He liked the way his name sounded when she called it.
"Calling my name sounds better than boss"
Hyunmin realized what he said and quickly rephrased it so Michelle wouldn't misunderstand him.
"I mean it…. Sounds better as friends"
Hyunmin stuttered a bit which made Michelle giggle
"What?"
"Nothing"
"I will just go home and bring it tomorrow since we will be needing it for the meeting on Wednesday"
"Can I come with you?"
"To my house?"
"Yeah, if you don't mind, I heard it's magnificent"
"And where did you hear that?"
"From my friend Jiyoon"
Michelle said proudly, completely forgetting the fact that she confessed her act of gossiping.
"So you have been gossiping about me with your friend"
Michelle waved her hands in the air
"No! No!! I just…. I was…."
"It's alright, You can come with me"
Michelle laughed shyly
"I have to go now and thank you"
Michelle hurriedly left him in embarrassment.
"it is so nice to see Mr.Changhak"
"Likewise Michelle, I have missed you a lot"
"What is this Mr.Changhak? You missed Michelle?"
Michelle is now in Hyunmin's car on the way to his Mansion.
"Of course I did, she is my friend"
"She is my friend too"
Mr. Changhak exclaimed
"What! Since when did you become friends with Michelle"
"A Few weeks ago, during the business trip in Busan"
"Hmm! You sound like a proud kid announcing to everyone that he's got a new friend"
Michelle giggled at Mr. C.hanghak's remark
"That's not true, I was just answering you"
They continued chatting until they finally arrived at the Mansion.
Mr. Changhak drove to the huge garage and parked the car, Michelle aligned the car.
She was greeted by the sights of the most beautiful and expensive set of cars she had ever seen, all different types and colors of sports cars were displayed, There were a total of ten cars and three motorbikes.
Michelle couldn't help but ask Hyunmin.
"Are you the owner of all these cars and the bike too?"
"Yes"
Hyunmin answered nonchalantly and continued walking.
Michelle was amazed "How can one person own this many cars," she thought to herself.
They continued into the Mansion, the door alone was so exquisite that she couldn't help but marvel at it.
"Good Evening Ma.Seo"
Hyunmin greeted, the woman looked around her early sixties and was of average height. She was the chief maid and also Hyunmin's nanny.
She greeted Hyunmin and Michelle with a warm smile.
"Welcome back Dear and Who is this pretty lady we have here"
Michelle flashed her a smile in appreciation of her compliment.
"Ooh! She has a beautiful smile"
"Ma.Seo, this is Michelle Parker. My assistant"
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs.Seo"
"Please come in, Actually this is the first time we have a lady visiting after Yeon Ju"
"Ma.Seo!"
Hyunmin said in a stern voice
"I'm Sorry, well Can I give her a tour of the house? She is your friend right?"
"You always know everything Ma.Seo "
Hyunmin shook his head with a smile
"Yes you can but you know the places off limits"
"Yes!Yes!! And Dinner is almost ready so you should go freshen up"
"Please take her to my study, there is a file she needs to get"
Ma.Seo nodded, Hyunmin turned around and climbed up the stairs to his room.
"Well then, Shall we Dear?"
"Of course, Mrs. Seo"
"Oh please, Just call me Ma. Seo like everyone else"
"Alright, Ma.Seo"
Michelle said with a smile
********************
Michelle was left utterly speechless, all she could do was open her mouth in awe a few times. The exterior of the mansion was already marvelous but the interior was something else; from the kitchen decorated in blue and green to the living room dressed in black, gold, and touches of white, to the exquisite tiles on the floor.
Just when she thought she had seen it all, she looked up and saw the beautiful chandelier hanging from the ceiling, it was decorated with many glass stones that were shaped like diamonds and a yellow light in the middle which made the chandelier shine a light that looked like gold drops. Every inch of the mansion was designed to perfection.
"Hyunmin has good taste"
Ma. Seo said with a light giggle seeing how dumbfounded Michelle looked.
"He sure does"
She replied, still rolling her eyes around in amazement.
They moved to the second floor while Ma. Seo was showing her around, and Michelle's eyes caught something interesting.
"What's in that room with glass doors Ma.Se??"
She pointed towards the room on their left side.
"That's Hyunmin's art studio"
"He can paint?"
"Yes Dear, and he is very good at it, Back when he was in school he always won most of the art competitions he participated in"
Michelle would never have guessed that he had such a talent and she was interested in seeing his work.
"Can I go in to see?"
"No My dear, that place is off limits. Some of Yeon ju's things are in there and he doesn't like it when people enter there"
"You must know him very well"
"I have been taking care of him since he was a baby and when he was about to get married I followed him here. When he was a kid he hated calling me nanny or Mrs.Seo so he decided to call me Ma.Seo and he still calls me that to this day, Silly boy!"
Ma.Seo laughed lightly as memories of Hyunmin's childhood flashed back to her.
"What of his parents, I haven't seen them?"
"They don't live together"
"You mean he lives in this huge mansion alone!"
"He doesn't have a good relationship with his parents, he is a bit close with his mother but he never sees eye to eye on anything with his father. So when he was about to get married he bought this mansion"
Michelle always knew he was rich but she didn't know he was filthy rich, he bought a mansion this gigantic just for himself, she could only imagine how his parent's house would be if he was this big.
"What about you Ma.Seo?"
"Well I have three daughters and I am a widow"
"I'm so sorry Ma...."
"It's alright Dear, it was many years ago and he is resting now"
They both had walked near the stairs and were about to go down when Ma. Seo suddenly held Michelle's hands and turned her so they could stand face to face.
"Hyunmin may come off as rude or arrogant but he is not at all like that. He has just been through a lot and he hates showing his weakness around people. He always acts tough but he is also lonely, Yeon ju's death took the light away from his life and it breaks my heart to see him this way but I have a feeling that you will bring that light back and heal all his wounds"
Michelle could not understand what she was saying and why she was saying it but she always believed old people were wise.
"Ma. Seo Dinner is ready"
A maid suddenly appeared
"Alright inform the Young Master and tell Mina to take Michelle to the study"
The maid bowed a little and turned to Michelle, she looked at Ma. Seo smiled at her before walking away.
***********************
Michelle had already gotten the file and came to say goodbye to Hyunmin in the dining when Ma.Seo called her
"Michelle, Dear please stay for dinner, you must have been tired so eat something before you go"
Michelle couldn't say no to her but she wasn't sure Hyunmin was alright with it.
Ma. Seo saw that Michelle was reluctant.
"Hyunmin won't you ask your assistant to stay for dinner or have you forgotten how to treat your guests"
Hyunmin was about to be served his food, looked up at Ma. Seo to see her glaring daggers at him, he sighed and turned his head towards Michelle.
"Michelle havhasnner before you leave"
"Alright Boss"
Michelle walked to the dining table and took a seat opposite Hyunmin.