Please Believe That I Truly Love You (Jenlisa) (Complete)

Chapter Five:

Lalisa Pranpriya Manoban, CEO and President of LM Group of Companies looked up from reading documents when her right-hand woman and best friend Kim Jisoo entered the room.

"Lisa, I'm just reminding you that the assessor of Four Seasons Hotel will come to meet you about the evaluation procedure she will conduct." She said. "I have assigned someone and then a room for her."

The assessor she refers to is the person who will decide based on the study and direct observation if the operations of the LM Group of Companies are qualified to operate the hotel franchise that LM Group of Companies wants to build here in Korea. Four Seasons Hotel chain is one of the most famous luxury hotels in the world. It has franchises in major vacation capitals of countries in Europe, USA and Asia. LM Group of Companies has sent an intent to buy a franchise and therefore be able to set up a branch here in Korea.

Because they want to maintain the quality and prestige of the hotel, the selection of those who are allowed to own it is very strict. The first step is to send a person to the buying company to study based on the existing operations the company has the capacity to acquire a prestigious hotel.

"Yes I know. He's coming at ten o'clock, right? Do you think we can finish before twelve?"

"She." Her best friend corrected her.

"What?"

Jisoo explained what she meant. "The assessor is a she."

Lisa frowned slightly. "I thought the feeler said that they are sending a guy named Mr. Evan Peters?"

"Oh. But I sent you a memo. They're sending someone else. Last minute changes."

She didn't remember the memo she sent to her office. "I haven't seen.. Never mind. Ms. Tzu-yu is still sick and the temporary secretary they sent this week is useless. That's why I'm looking for a sensible replacement in HDR. Anyway, it doesn't really matter whom they send to evaluate. We are more than ready. What's the name of this woman, anyway?"

Jisoo looked at the notes in her hand. "She is a Korean, apparently. But.. wow! Look at her credentials. Ivy League school graduate with honors. Her name is Jennie Ruby Jane Kim. Oh, we even have the same family name."

Her jaw clenched. That was the one name in the whole world that she never wanted to hear in her entire life. She said the first reaction in her brain. "Send her back. I don't want to see her."

Jisoo was surprised by the anger on her best friend's face. Lisa was usually very reserved about her emotions. Also, what she said is impossible. The assessor is already in Korea. If they do what she said, they will probably lose hope of acquiring the hotel franchise. "But, Lisa.."

An expression set on the company president's face. When she's in this mood, no one wants to argue with her. "No buts. I-"

She didn't finish what she had to say because her temporary secretary, Momo, came in, followed by the woman she never wanted to see in her whole life.

"Good morning, Miss Manoban." A polite smile accompanied that greeting from the assessor of the Four Seasons Hotel.

There was no response from her to that formal greeting. Only Jisoo moved. Her gaze went back and forth from the woman who entered and to Lisa.

The woman was beautiful and dressed in a suit only seen in Hollywood movies. Her face was carefully composed. Too carefully composed, in fact, so Jisoo feels that she is missing something in the situation.

As for Lisa, she looked downright hostile.

The woman stepped forward. "Miss Jennie Ruby Jane Kim, I am Kim Jisoo, operations manager for LM Group of Companies." She extended her hand to the assessor to introduce herself. Her jaw almost dropped when Jennie smiled at her. Her face was beautiful in repose but when she smiled, she was breathtaking.

"And this is our President, Miss Lalisa Pranpriya Manoban." Jisoo introduced the woman to her boss who was still looking intently at Jennie.

"I know Miss Kim." She said regaining her composure. She was too surprised by the arrival of her ex-fiancé. She would admit, adding to her discomfiture was the fact that Jennie was even more beautiful than she remembered, than the image she had carried in her mind for so long. She was so goddamned beautiful that she almost forgot herself. But she reminded herself that she knew what the woman was. Behind her beautiful face was the hollow little brat she waited at the altar to marry.

She was so angry because the mere sight of her reminds her of how she felt that day. Her mother was dying in embarrassment but she was just plain dying. Far from her mind was the embarrassment or the regret of the preparation.

But that is in the past. She was no longer a lovesick twenty-four-year-old. She had built her own business without relying on her family's money or influence and now her own business is bigger and more diversified than theirs. She has faced people and situations more shocking than an ex-lovers walking into her office. Not a woman like Jennie could affect her now.

"Sit down, Miss Kim. Let's get this started. The sooner we start, the sooner we finish and the sooner you can leave."

Jennie's smile disappeared. "Of course, Miss Manoban." She felt sad. She gave back the freedom to choose to this woman nine years ago. And now she still hasn't forgiven her for not showing up to their wedding.

She put down the documents she was carrying while praying that no one would notice that her hand was shaking. Seeing Lisa for the first time after a long time felt like someone was punching her in the chest.

She is now thirty-three and her face has matured more than she remembers. But that's still what she looked for in every face of the women she met and had a relationship with in America.

She was afraid of what she felt when she was in front of her. Everything that she thought was over for her came back to her at that moment. Se tried to find courage in the familiar work routine. Professionally discusses the evaluation/assessment process that will be done during the two to three weeks she will stay at that company.

She found the confidence of her voice while resisting the familiar lines. If there's anything she can brag about to Lisa or anyone else, it's her expertise in the line of work. There was comfort in that knowledge, too.

"It's really a simple procedure." She finished. "Don't worry, Miss Manoban, I will try not to see you much during the three weeks I work here if I make you uncomfortable."

The woman replied sarcastically. "I don't care one way or another, really. Don't flatter yourself, Miss Kim. You don't have any effect on me whatsoever."

Jennie wanted to cry when she heard that because she knew it was true. And she didn't expect to be hurt by that fact.

"Sure. I think I'd go now. Goodbye." She lifted her chin as she out of the room and went straight to the rest room to compose herself. She was thankful that it was vacant.

"I thought too, Lisa, I could tell you that. I would love to tell you that you have no effect on me whatsoever. But then, I would be lying." She said to the white tiles of the empty rest room.