"Jung, bring the budget file for this project and call Hyun inside.." Haneul ordered Jung as he went through some blueprints lying in front of him, "oh and uh Tania had the file for the Busan project, she wa supposed to make the presentation for the meeting today, send her in as well.."
"yes sir.." Jung said as he walked towards the door but then he suddenly stopped, "sir, Tania called in sick today..after what happened yesterday I think she's still not feeling well.." he told Haneul
Haneul nodded, "call her and ask her where the file is..and you make the presentation.."
"uh y-yes sir.." Jung went out, bumping into Ash
"oh Ash! you're here early!"
"I need to talk to Haneul sir.." she said
"he's kind of busy right now, he has a very important meeting in an hour and I need to prepare the presentation for it.." Jung said in a dreaded tone
Ash peeked inside his office and saw him working, "fine..I have a late shift today so I'll go meet Yuna now-"
"but she's not here today.." Jung told Ash
"where did she go?" she asked, looking at the time
"she has gone to her Grandmother's place..she'll be staying there from now on.." Jung told Ash
but before Ash could ask him anything else he ran away and a curious and confused Ash followed him
"Jung! Yuna has a grandmother?" Ash asked, sitting down next to him
"Ash..I really need to work..I have to complete this presentation before the meeting!"
"I'll help you!" she volunteered
Jung looked at her as if he was actually considering the offer but then shook his head when he realized Haneul will kill him
"no no Ash..you should go talk to sir, he'll tell you what're you supposed to do from now on..since Yuna isn't here anymore.." Jung said as he started typing in his laptop
Ash sighed, she didn't want to go talk to Haneul after what she said yesterday..she needed this job for so many reasons, one of those reasons being to open up a school for special children, something she wanted to do ever since she met Somi.
~
"sir..?" Ash whispered as she stepped inside Haneul's office
Haneul stopped typing, looked up and gave a small smirk, "Doc, shall I call the lawyers? to terminate your contract?" he asked
Ash shook her head, "sir, I'm sorry about everything I said yesterday.." Ash took a deep breath, "I was overestimating myself, sir. I do not have the money..please forgive me..and give me one more chance.." Ash bowed
Haneul smiled, it wasn't a smirk, it was a smile of victory, he got up from his seat and buttoned his coat and fixed his tie, looked at his watch and said, "I shall think about your apology, whether to accept it or not..I have a very important meeting to attend, I'll give you my answer after an hour..do you think you can wait till then?"
Ash nodded quickly, "definitely sir..I can definitely wait..you should go attend the meeting..please sir.." Ash said opening the door for Haneul
Haneul nodded and left.
Ash let out a sigh of relief as she sank into the chair and held her head in her hands
~
Ash fell asleep on the chair but woke up suddenly when she heard a click clack of heels, she turned around and had no idea how to react
"Jung Soo..?" she asked, not remembering her name clearly
"Ash.." Jung Soo, a pale complexioned girl with beautiful long black hair, pretty hands, perfect body and beautiful calming voice, standing in front of Ash said, she was equally surprised as Ash.
Ash suddenly let out a breathy laugh, "haha..Jung soo! Haneul's girlfriend! long time!" Ash extended her hand for a handshake
"yes..it has been a while..what are you doing here?" Jung soo asked
Ash pulled a chair for Jung Soo but then hit her head and laughed, "you should sit on Haneul's seat..you're his girlfriend after all.."
Jung soo reluctantly sat on his seat, "you didn't answer my question.." she said
"Oh I work here!" Ash exclaimed, "man..you know how angry Haneul has been for the past few days? I couldn't find the reason why but now I know! you guys probably had a fight..but I'm sure everything's alright now because Haneul smiled today..first time since I came back! You shouldn't fight with him..he takes out his anger on us.." Ash said in one go, but before Jung Soo could say anything Haneul came back
He was smiling, but his smile turned into a frown when he saw Jung Soo, Ash got up quickly and walked to him, "Haneul sir! look your girlfriend came to visit you at the office today!" but Haneul didn't say anything
Jung Soo walked towards them, "Hi Haneul..it has been a while.." she said giving her perfect smile
Ash smiled and nodded until she realized what Jung soo said, "a while? how long have you both been fighting?" she asked Jung soo
"nevermind that Ash..you just said you work here..but this is a construction firm..weren't you a doctor?" Jung Soo asked
Ash looked at Jung soo, "I uh..am still a doctor..I work as or.." she turned to look at Haneul, who had a frown on his face again, "or..worked as Yuna's doctor here.."
Haneul's eyes met with Ash's
"Yuna? what happened to Yuna?" Jung soo asked Haneul but he didn't reply, his eyes were still on Ash
"y-you don't know?" Asha asked, looking away from Haneul, blushing because of that little intimate moment they just had
"but don't you work at a hospital?" Jung soo asked, "why are you actually working here is what I'm asking.."
"I don't work here anymore.." Ash replied, lowering her head
"I'm going to be fi-" Ash was cut off by Haneul
"she doesn't work here as a doctor anymore..she's my personal secretary as Yuna is perfectly fine now and she's staying with our grandmother so Ash is working here as my secretary until her contract doesn't expire.." Haneul said all this while looking at Ash, he gave her a reassuring nod and then turned to look at Jung soo, his expressions hardened again, "what are you doing here is the real question.."
"I..am here as a representative from Jaguar, the event planning company, the shares of which you bought yesterday..you're the second major shareholder after the director..there are some papers you need to sign.." Jung soo explained, taking out some papers from her bag
"You came here knowing that this is my office?" Haneul asked, sitting on his chair, "Ash, bring me my coffee.." he ordered Ash, Ash nodded and went out, still confused about what happened
"why did you come here knowing this is my office?" Haneul asked Jung soo again, this time more sternly
"I wanted to see you.." Jung soo replied, sitting in front of him, " I want to..give us another chance.." Jung soo whispered
Haneul raised an eyebrow and let out a small laugh, "another chance?" he laughed again
"Haneul please..I still love you..I missed you and wanted to see you..I tried hard..for a year Haneul..I tried to love without you but it's hard..and I know you still love me too..that is why you still wear that.." she said pointing towards the wrist watch Haneul was wearing
Haneul looked at the watch, remembering the time when she gave it to him on his birthday
"I wear it..not because I still love you but to remind myself every second not to make the same mistake I made back then. To remind myself not to ever fall in love again..it's an illusion..a lie..every time I look at this watch I'm reminded of what you did to me..how you made me into a person I am today..a person who has his heart locked inside a dungeon..where there's no way for light to pass..that's the only reason I wear this watch Jung soo..I don't love you.."
Ash came inside, "Haneul sir..your coffee..Jung soo ma'am? I brought one for you as well.." Ash put the mug in front of Jung soo and saw her crying, she looked at Haneul who looked perfectly fine, as cool calm and arrogant as ever, working on his laptop
"are you okay ma'am?" Ash asked
Haneul looked up and saw Jung soo crying, he signed the papers she had brought and then turned to Ash, "please show our guest out, doc." Haneul smiled
He smiled. He smiled! He smiled at me..oh my..am I dreaming? Grumpy frowny Seung Haneul smiled at me!! Oh my..wait..what am I doing right now.. Ash hit her head and bowed, "Ma'am.." Ash gestured towards the door, Jung soo pushed her aside and left
"you fought again?" Ash asked casually
Haneul raised an eyebrow, "you might be a doctor with a big degree and a car, a good apartment, you might be better off than most of the employee's here but to me, you're my secretary..don't talk so casually to me..I'm your boss and until your contract expires, you'll have to respect me and also do as I say.." he said
"Haneul sir, just to be clear, doctors and people with big degrees, apartments, cars and good financial and social status also know how to respect others..as a doctor, I've been taught to treat my patients with respect, not just my patients but as a human, I have been taught to give everyone respect..my financial and social status have nothing to do with the way I treat others..and sir, I am very grateful towards you for letting me keep this job..even if you scold me and say rude things to me like you do..you've actually saved one of my dreams from falling apart..hopefully until my contract expires I'll be able to fulfill two of my dreams..thanks to you..and after that, I'll leave..you won't have to deal with me after that.."
Haneul looked into Ash's eyes, her sad eyes were smiling, they didn't look that sad, they were twinkling. He smiled, "you talk a lot, but you said something about a dream?" he asked
"yes, a dream my parents can very easily help me fulfill but I want to do this myself, sir. Even if I have to overwork and deal with you.." Ash replied
Haneul's smile disappeared when he heard the last part, "this coffee tastes horrible! I don't take sugar and arrange those files in that corner, send in Jung and arrange a meeting with the clients and call a meeting for the accounting department in 10 minutes in the conference room-" Haneul looked up
"are you writing all that? what are you waiting for? hurry up! start working!" he clasped his hands together as he relaxed on his seat,
"how am I supposed to do all this at once?" Ash asked
"not my headache doc, go!" Haneul gestured her to leave
"yes sir Mr.Haneul sir!" she said as she marched out of his cabin
Haneul laughed after her, "things are going to be fun from now on..Ash Tuan..welcome to hell."
