The Quiet Contract

Quiet Agreement

Jennie POV

Sitting in my office, pen in hand and papers spread out in front of me, I tried to focus on the endless contracts and reports that required my attention. But, as much as I willed myself to concentrate, thoughts of the situation with Lisa kept creeping in, persistent and irritating.

Maybe it was the way my father had spoken to me this morning, or Jisoo's relentless teasing, but something about this whole marriage situation was pressing on my mind, demanding a resolution. I wasn't one to leave things hanging, especially things that affected my life and career.

I pressed the intercom button on my desk. "Mina, can you come in?"

My secretary, Mina, stepped in promptly, her usual calm demeanor in place.

"Yes, Miss Kim?" she asked politely.

"Get me Lisa Manoban's contact information," I instructed, already regretting the decision but knowing it had to be done. "I need to speak with her. And keep this between us."

She nodded, unfazed. "I'll get that for you right away, Miss Kim."

Hours passed, and I finally managed to immerse myself in work, almost forgetting about my request. But as the afternoon sun cast shadows across my desk, Mina returned, slipping a small piece of paper with Lisa's number onto my desk.

"Here's her contact, Miss Kim," Mina said, quietly taking her leave.

I stared at the number for a moment, hesitating. But then, before I could overthink, I picked up my phone and dialed. It rang a few times before I heard a soft voice on the other end.

"H-Hello?"

"Lisa? It's Jennie Kim." I kept my tone brisk and professional, even as I sensed her awkward hesitation. "I think we need to meet. There are things we need to discuss in person."

"Oh, um, sure... okay," she replied, clearly taken aback. "When... when were you thinking?"

"Meet me at the coffee shop near my building. In an hour," I said, giving her little room for negotiation. "It shouldn't take long. Just enough time for us to be on the same page."

There was a pause before she answered, sounding as though she was gathering herself. "Okay. I'll be there."

I hung up, feeling a strange sense of both dread and determination. It was time to get to the bottom of this once and for all.

I checked my watch as I finally stepped out of the elevator. I was late—thirty minutes late, to be exact. Usually, I was never late to anything, but I'd told myself this was different. Letting Lisa wait was almost... strategic. I wanted her to understand where we stood—that I wasn't thrilled about this situation, and she'd just have to deal with it.

When I arrived at the coffee shop, I spotted her immediately. Lisa sat in a corner booth by the window, fiddling with her phone and glancing up every so often. She looked slightly out of place, awkward in her own skin, her expression a mix of worry and concentration.

Taking a breath, I walked over, feeling her eyes lift to me as I approached. She stood up almost instinctively, giving me a small, hesitant smile.

"Sorry for the delay," I said, not really meaning it, as I slid into the seat across from her.

"Oh, it's fine," she mumbled, sitting down quickly, her gaze flickering between her hands and the table. I noticed she had already ordered a coffee, and there was a cup waiting for me as well.