Wonwoo's Protection / SVT Idol Series #2

21. Pillars of strength

After making sure that his wife left with Sarang and FeiFei, Wonwoo made his way towards Ayat's apartment, which was next to Seventeen's dorm. The door was opened by the girl Ayat had hired as her son's nanny.

"Hey Hana, is Ayat inside?" Wonwoo asked her, smiling.

And before Hana could answer, Ayat's voice rang from inside. "Oh, Wonwoo-ya, come in. I didn't know you were coming today," Ayat said, as she put her son on her shoulder to make him burp after feeding him.

"I hope I am not intruding on your quality time with the little one", Wonwoo said, sitting on the couch.

"No, no, it's okay, Habibi. Tell me, what's up? Where is Inha?" She asked him, not really understanding Wonwoo's purpose in visiting her suddenly.

"Inha has gone to Pilates class with Sarang and FeiFei," Wonwoo said.

"Aah! I see"

"Actually, Ayat, I have a favour to ask of you," Wonwoo said, finally getting to the point. "Can we talk somewhere private?" He asked her. Now realising the gravity of the situation, Ayat gave her son to Hana to watch over him as she happily scooped up the infant from Ayat and went towards his nursery.

"Come, let's talk in my study", Ayat then ushered him into her office and locked the door behind him. She then asked him to sit on the couch as she took a seat herself.

"What's happening, Wonwoo? Gwaenchana?" She asked him, now concerned. Wonwoo then went on to tell her about the problems surrounding Inha, and Ayat listened to him in complete silence as she processed the sufferings that Inha might have gone through because of her family.

"And that's why I want you to look into KN Pharmaceuticals for me, Ayat," Wonwoo said, appealing to their Chief Creative Producer in front of him.

"I'll talk to my grandmother. She might be able to help us find something. I'll visit the Embassy residence tonight." Ayat said with conviction.

Ayat's maternal grandmother was Princess Ghaida Bint Al-Amin of Dubai, a lady of noble birth from the United Arab Emirates. She was married to a fellow royal, Prince Idris Bin Waraqah, who currently holds the post of Diplomatic Ambassador from the UAE to South Korea. Ghaida Amin was known to have her claws deep down in elite circles both in the UAE and South Korea. If there is anyone who could discreetly check the ins and outs of a company, it is her. When Mingyu suggested to Wonwoo that Ayat might be able to dig around deeper to find any weakness that Inha's stepmother might possess, it was through the invincible Ghaida Amin.

"I hope I am not causing an inconvenience to you and your family, Ayat", Wonwoo said, remembering the royal status her family possessed.

"Habibi! This is nothing. What's the use of having a royal title and resources if I can't help a friend?" She said, placing her hand upon his as a sign of promise to help him.

"I sometimes forget that you are a Princess too," Wonwoo said, chuckling.

"That's because I consider myself more of an American citizen than an Emirati", Ayat laughed at that statement. "Trust me when I say my parents and I possess zero skills in living like a royal," she said. "My grandmother, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. She thrives in it, so she's the best person for the job. My Jaddah loves snooping around other people's lives, you know," Ayat said jokingly in a whisper.

"That's good to hear", Wonwoo laughed at Ayat's description of her grandmother.

"I'll let you know if I come to know something. Meanwhile, don't fret. Everything will be fine. Just be a good and supportive husband to Inha. Okay?"

"Yes, I will. I will try my best. Okay, I'll take my leave then. I don't want to take much of your time away from your son," Wonwoo said, and Ayat smiled at the good-natured man in front of her. She said goodbye and immediately got to work by calling her grandmother and letting her know that she would be visiting her for dinner.