"I had asked you to deliver the metallic silver decorations, not grey! Listen- I..please send them right away..yes, thank you!" Ash put her phone in her pocket and then ran to the other corner of the hall,
"no! no! give this to me..you're supposed to do it.." Ash said taking the curtain, "like this.." demonstrating the workers how to put the curtains on
Everybody was working around and Ash was not only supervising but also doing a lot of work..
It was 5:30 in the afternoon and Ash still had an hour and a half before the party started at 7 pm.
"QUICKLY QUICKLY! COME ON!" she shouted on the top of her lungs but obviously it wasn't loud enough as she was very soft spoken..except when she was angry.
~
"Tania..did you go to the hotel where Ash is?" Haneul asked while going through some files
"uh no sir..I was at a construction site till now..I'm sure Ash will do well.." Tania replied
Haneul nodded in doubt, "I hope she does..it's a very imp-" his phone started ringing before he could finish his sentence
"hello?" he asked, "yes..yes no problem at all..I'm looking forward to meet you..yes, indeed.." Haneul looked at the time, he tried calling someone but by judging by his expressions it seemed like the call wasn't going through, he clenched his jaws,
"Tania..I need you to inform Ash that the guests will be arriving at 6:30, so she should wind up everything before that..quickly! I need to attend a meeting..we'll meet at the party then.." Tania nodded and Haneul left.
Tania smiled a mischievous smile, "Yeri..? it's time.." she said to her assistant.
~
It was 6:20 when Haneul reached the hall where the party was to be conducted, the first thing he saw when he entered the hall was Ash on a ladder, decorating a big leafless tree in the centre of the hall.
Haneul looked at her from there, it seemed like time had slowed down and there was a soft breeze as well..her hair was flowing, he saw her slowly blink and flutter her eyes open..and then he saw how she was hanging at the corner of the ladder trying to reach the highest branch of the tree and with a sudden move he ran to her and saved her from falling, she fell in his arms and when she opened her eyes she saw Haneul staring back her,
"sir..I'm alright now.." she whispered which made Haneul come back to his senses and he let her down.
"uh..you should be careful.." Haneul fixed his clothes
"thank you sir.." Ash whispered
Haneul nodded and looked around and suddenly anger took over him
"what is this!?" he shouted
Ash jumped a little, looking around, "what?" she asked
"why haven't you completed the decoration?! why are there still workers running around here!?" he asked
Ash was confused, "Haneul sir..we have about half an hour before the guests come..the decoration will be complete by then.." she replied, that's when the office staff came, they were taken aback seeing Haneul angry,
"The guests are going to be here in less than 10 minutes! Did you not get the message?!" he shouted
Ash looked towards the office staff and the workers who were staring at her, "no sir..I didn't get any message..no one informed me.." she replied weakly
"That's because you weren't picking up your phone! I asked Tania to inform you!" he turned to look at Tania
"uh SH..I couldn't reach her so I called the hotel and informed them..did they not tell you, Ash?" Tania asked
Ash shook her head, "Haneul sir..I really didn't know..no one tol-"
"That's it Ash!" Haneul said, raising his hand gesturing her to stop, he wasn't even looking at her
"sir, I'll finish the decorations quic-"
"I said stop! How are you going to finish this work in less than 10 minutes when you couldn't do it in 3 days?!" Haneul said in a grave calm tone
Ash blinked back her tears..
"SH, don't worry, I'll do it..you should relax..everything would be complete before the guests arrive..don't worry.." Tania said, holding his arm and patting his shoulder
Haneul nodded, anger still visible on his face, "make it quick.." he said, walking towards the door
"and you! go change into something else!" he said to Ash without looking at her.
Ash wiped the tear that she failed to keep from falling and went to the room which had been booked for the office staff to get ready.
Ash had asked Jung to bring her dress but he hadn't returned yet and it was almost time for the guests to come. She was sitting on the bed, biting her lips nervously when someone knocked the door, it was Yeri, "Yeri..?" Ash asked
"I was asked to bring this to you! it's from Haneul sir!" she said, abruptly handing a shopping bag to Ash and leaving
Ash looked inside the bag, "Haneul sir sent this for me..? why would he do that?" she thought as she went to the bathroom to change into it anyways.
Ash looked at herself in the mirror, she wasn't too sure about this but thinking Haneul sent it she decided to wear it.
~
The party had started, Ash peeked inside the hall and saw Haneul standing with the clients and talking to them, she looked at the others, everyone was busy in their own talk and she thought no one would notice her if she steps in now so she took slow and steady steps and entered the room.
But she was wrong, everybody was looking at her, it was because she was way too overdressed for the occasion, while everybody else was wearing sleek short dresses Ash was wearing a silver lace, long sleeved, see through formal evening dress.
She was already inside and she couldn't run away now, so she decided to not be bothered by the people whispering things about her.
When Haneul saw all the commotion he got curious too, as to what was everyone talking about, he followed their gaze and his eyes fell on Ash
He forgot to blink when he saw her, Ash's eyes met with his, she seemed nervous and scared, they were pleading for help,
"wow!" someone behind Haneul exclaimed which made Haneul return to his senses he turned and saw that it was the CEO of their clients company, he was young, 27 years old.
Haneul narrowed his eyes at him,
"Haneul sir.." Ash whispered and Haneul turned to look at her, he took a deep breath when he looked at her up close..he looked into her sparkling nervous eyes, his eyes drifted to her light red lips and then back at her eyes
"Mr. Haneul.." Ji young, the CEO said, "who might this beautiful lady be? Introduce us please.." he said looking at Ash from head to toe
Haneul frowned at seeing him scan Ash like that, he cleared his throat, "this is my secretary, Ash.." Haneul said, glancing at Ash, the frown still there.
"Ash..wow..your beauty has burned my heart to Ashes..Miss.Ash..I am Ji Young, the CEO of the company you'll be dealing with quite a lot from now on.." Ji young said, extending his hand for a handshake
Haneul looked at him in anger, he clenched his jaws tightly
Ash smiled and shook hands with him, which Haneul obviously didn't like because he was staring at their hands, clenching his fists tight.
Ash pulled her hand away because Ji young had no plans to..
"we should uh have dinner now!" Haneul suggested, standing in between Ji young and Ash, pushing Ash away
Ash shook her head, not understanding haneul's rude behaviour and walking to Jung and the others
"wow Ash..you look incredible.." Jung complimented
Ash rubbed the back of her neck, "isn't this dress too much..? it's see through on top of everything!" she said looking down at it
"it's only your stomach that we see so you shouldn't eat much or we'll ahem..figure out.." Jung teased
"ASH!" Haneul shouted from behind, Ash ran towards him
"yes sir?" she asked, not understanding why was he shouting,
"what is wrong with you? I thought I told you to order Thai and Italian but what is this? mac and cheese and fast food?!" Haneul said lifting the lids off the dishes
"I..but Haneul sir..I ordered Thai and Italian..I swear!" Ash replied
"Mr. Haneul..this is such a high class party but the food is extremely low class.." Ji young said
Haneul took a deep breath, "I'm extremely sorry..I'll fix this.." Haneul said
"SH..don't worry..I have a friend working in this hotel and I just talked to him..Thai and Italian food will be here in no time..till then..why don't we hit the dance floor?" Tania suggested as music started
The guests liked the idea, "that's a good idea..let's do that.."
Haneul glared at Ash, who was standing quietly waiting to be scolded, tears forming in her eyes because it wasn't her fault, she did order Thai and Italian..
"come with me!" Haneul said pulling her on the dance floor with him, he still had knitted eyebrows and anger in his eyes, he held her hand in one hand and put his other hand on her waist, pulling her closer so that their bodies were touching,
"we need to talk.." Haneul whispered
Ash gulped, she nodded reluctantly, they started dancing and it was automatic dancing because neither of them knew how to dance, yet they danced.
They didn't look away from each other and none of them spoke a word. The music stopped and Ash took the first chance to get off the dance floor but Haneul held her hand and pulled her back, "Ash.." he whispered ever so softly, "we still need to talk..I brought you to the dance floor to talk about what you did today..I don't want to say something to you in front of the clients..now tell me..why did you do it?" haneul asked
"Haneul sir..I didn't do it..I-" she was interrupted as Haneuls phone started ringing, he excused himself and left the Hall to take the call
Ash was standing in the middle of the room, awkwardly waiting for Haneul when suddenly someone stepped on her dress and dragged it under their foot, Ash turned to see who it was but the lights suddenly switched off and the spotlight shined on Ash and with a sudden move that person tore Ash's dress till just above her knees, Ash gasped as she looked at her torn dress and while she was doing that someone tore the back as well, Ash was too embarrassed to move, tears fell from her eyes as she tried covering herself, everybody was staring at her, they were talking about her but no one was coming to help her.
"you look better this way..would you like dancing with me?" Ji young whispered from behind which scared Ash and she was too scared to move
Haneul came back inside and since the spotlight was on Ash he saw her quickly and his eyes widened in surprise when he saw pieces of her dress on the floor, he walked towards her and saw her crying. He quickly took his coat off and put it around her waist and walked her out of the room.
~
Ash kept crying, she couldn't stop, Haneul looked into her eyes, "Ash..where are your other clothes? Tell me, I'll bring them.." he said
" they're at the reception.." Ash managed to say, Haneul nodded and ran
After about 5 minutes he was back with her clothes and a card key, "here..change your clothes..I booked a room for you.." he said handing her the card key and her clothes
Ash took them and walked towards the door, but she was reluctant, "Ash..don't be afraid..I'm right here..go inside and change.." Haneul reassured, Ash nodded and went inside.
He waited for Ash outside her room, his phone kept ringing but he didn't answer it.
Ash came out, wearing her regular shirt and jeans, her hair tied up and her puffy eyes
"Ash..I'll drop you off.." Haneul said
"I'll go myself.." she replied, "I should learn to take care of myself..I'm.." she broke down again
Haneul pulled her towards him and hugged her, "don't cry..don't cry Ash.." he whispered as he caressed her hair gently
"thank you for..saving me tonight..even though I know I should've left the room but I kept standing there..I was too scared and too embarrassed to move..I was helpless..thank you for protecting me..but... I'll go home myself.." Ash broke the hug, bowed and walked away, but Haneul followed her, he made sure she got a cab and followed the cab to her place. When she got off the cab and entered the building, he waited till the lights of her apartment turned on, when they did, he sighed in relief, then he took his phone out, "Hello? Mr. David? I'm calling to inform you that I will call this deal off if Ji young will work on this project as well..if you want the deal, take him off. Yes, thank you." he threw his phone on the seat and pressed on the fuel, he was angry, how could something like this happen to one of his office staff right under his nose.
