Viola (비올라)

Chapter 1 - Stuck

No trigger warnings this chapter

Hannah's POV

Note: Base language is English. All Korean translated within brackets

"What do you mean I can't get back into the country?!" Hannah could feel a weight start to settle onto her shoulder as the phone call continued. She massaged her shoulder as she tucked the phone under her chin.

"Yes. I mean I knew there was a possibility but how is it America can't get it's shit together. Sorry, I'm just frustrated." The HR representative on the phone continued about how the international policies were in flux and that the company would continue to pay for all expenses since this was an emergency trip.

"Mhm. Thank you. Yes, please keep me informed as to when the guidelines change. Yes yes. I'll give you a call back about that. Please send a copy of this conversation to my email and cc Leo. Yes kkeu-neulgeyo [I'm hanging up]". Hannah sighed as she plopped down on a corner of the hotel bed. Her shoulders were killing her. She didn't normally mind long flights, but because the flight was so last minute, and the number of flights so restricted due to the pandemic, she had gotten an economy seat and couldn't get comfortable. It probably had something to do with the thought of the air circulating in the plane or how much more likely it'd be for her to catch COVID for this ridiculous meeting, among other things.

A week ago Hannah walked into Naegi International Solutions (NIS) downtown NYC office to utter chaos. Apparently their company was being merged with another and the hire-ups needed to attend in person transition meetings in Korea. Corporate mergers were fairly common with international companies, Hannah had been through a couple but none since she'd been promoted to Executive Assistant of the NYC, United States headquarters of NIS (a contracting firm out of South Korea). The new parent company, Usuhan Enterprise, had seized the pandemic as an opportunity to negotiate a better deal. There had of course been whispers in the administrative office, but with everything being so crazy during the shutdown, Hannah hadn't taken them seriously.

Hannah wasn't the senior executive assistant, so she was a little surprised to find herself being addressed during the meeting later that morning. She had been taking notes for her manager, who was still in quarantine recovering from a (thankfully) mild case of COVID, when,

"Ms. Bryant. We're going to need you to join Ken at the office operations meetings." Hannah didn't drop a beat even as her insides started to turn. 

"I'll clear my schedule". She didn't need to say more. Hannah and the Chief administrative Officer Ken Gardner were on their way to Seoul that evening. Ken had been given a first class seat.

The week was meeting after meeting and Hannah's nose itched profusely during most of them. Even with the mask, it always took a little to get used to the smell of a new city. It wasn't even as bad as usual, most places seemed clearer even as the pandemic put a small dent in the urban pollution. Now it seemed she'd be here even longer.

Hannah sighed and took off her shoes and cardigan. She had been on her way out of the door to the airport when the phone call came. She knew there had been a risk coming on this trip, not of getting COVID because chances were frankly higher in NYC at this point, but of being temporarily stranded. Her nose continued to itch. COVID tests felt like an unwanted brain massage.

Welp. I got that test for nothing I guess she said to herself. After a few minutes she picked up her personal phone and called her older sister Shelly. It was still a little early in the United States but she knew Shelly would already be up with the kids.

"Hey. Sis! Why are you calling with What'sUp? You usually only..." Hannah interrupted to explain the situation. There was a possibility the travel band could go on for days or weeks, everything was in flux.