Chapter:4 ( Party )

*At home *

I tossed my bag aside and collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling light, wondering where my dad had disappeared to.

As I lay in bed, I felt something crawling on my chest. I opened my eyes to see a cockroach waving at me. I instantly jumped up and ran around the house in a panic.

“UGHHHH!!!”

The next morning

Co-worker A: “Good morning, guys!”

Co-workers: “Morning, senior.”

I collapsed onto my desk, feeling lifeless. I hadn’t slept well after battling that bug all night, chasing it with insect spray.

*Flashback to last night *

“COME BACK HERE, YOU’RE DONE!”

I ran after it, spray can in hand, but when it flew towards me, I screamed and bolted.

“AHHH!!! NO NO, I’M SORRY!”

I sighed deeply, my face still planted on the desk.

Co-worker A: “Good morning, Joonie.”

He smiled warmly as he greeted me. I turned to him, exhausted, dark circles around my eyes.

“Morning, senior.” I yawned.

He gasped at the sight of my face.

Co-worker A: “Did you not get enough sleep? Look at your eyes!”

“Yeah… I was too busy chasing a bug around my house. I sprayed so much bug spray, I couldn’t sleep.”

Co-worker A: “Oh no, poor you.”

He reached out to pat my head, but then our boss, Gunho, approached. He stared at Co-worker A’s hand on my head with an annoyed look, making Co-worker flee to a safe distance.

Gunho: “Ms. Yim, see me in my office before you leave today.”

I immediately stood up straight and answered.

“Yes, sir.”

Why does he want to see me? I didn’t think too much of it and got back to work.

After finishing the day’s tasks, it was time to leave.

Co-worker B: “Hey, eonni! We’re going for drinks. Wanna come?”

(eonni \= Big sister or Nuna \= Big sister)

“Ah, yea—”

Wait, I have to meet the boss in his office.

“Um, sorry, guys. I can’t today, but maybe another time.”

I smiled awkwardly and rubbed the back of my head.

Co-worker B: “Oh, okay! See you tomorrow, then.”

“Okay, bye! Enjoy your night!”

After they left, I packed up my things and headed to the boss’s office. I knocked on the door.

*Knock knock *

“It’s Joonie, sir.”

Gunho: “Come in.”

The room felt calm and peaceful as I saw him standing by the window, one hand in his pocket, looking out.

“Um, sir? Why did you summon me?”

Gunho: “Tonight, I have a family business party.”

That still doesn’t explain why you need me here, though.

Gunho: “You’re coming with me.”

My jaw dropped. Did I hear him right? Me? Go with him?

“Eh, sir, I think I misheard you. You want me to go… with you?”

He turned to face me, his expression intense.

Gunho: “Are you busy?”

“Well, now that you ask, sir, yes, I’m a very busy woman.”

Gunho: “Busy with what?”

He gave me a look that said he knew I had no good excuse.

“W-w-with… my bug.”

The awkward silence was suffocating. It was true, I was busy chasing that stupid bug last night, but still. I wanted to crawl into a hole.

Gunho: “I’ll pick you up at 8 p.m. Text me your location.”

“N-no, it’s okay, I’ll just—”

He gave me that look again—the look that said he wasn’t taking no for an answer.

“Hah… okay.”

After giving him my location, he told me to wear a black dress. I told him I didn’t own one. Without a word, he took me shopping. I just stood there like a statue while he bought everything.

Gunho: “Take them all.”

“No, wait! I can’t accept all this. Are you my sugar daddy or something?”

Gunho: “What? So sugar daddies do this? Interesting… maybe I really am.”

What the heck? This guy has seriously lost it… he’s going full sugar daddy on me out of nowhere. I nearly cried in disbelief.

When I got home, I laid the new sparkly black dress on my bed. I held it up to my body and looked at myself in the mirror.

“Is this… really me?”

I couldn’t believe how beautiful I looked in that dress. I mean, I always knew I was pretty, but this was a whole new level.

*At the party*

Mr. Chae (the host): “Haha! Hello, CEO Gunho! I knew you’d attend tonight.”

Mr. Chae, in his mid-50s, is a sharp, experienced businessman, well-respected for his leadership and mentorship.

Guests: “Ohh, look! She’s so pretty, like a goddess.”

Guests: “Who’s that?”

Guests: “Are you from overseas or something? That’s the famous supermodel, Lee Yoon An!”

Yoon An stepped out of her car, cameras flashing from all angles as she walked down the red carpet. Spotting Gunho standing next to Mr. Chae, she hurried over and latched onto his arm.

Yoon An: “Mr. Gunho\~! I’m so happy to see you here. You look so handsome tonight\~.”

Gunho, looking disgusted, removed her hand from his arm.

Gunho: “Mind your manners.”

Yoon An was clearly furious and embarrassed, but before she could react, another car pulled up.

Time for my grand entrance.As I stepped out of the car, all eyes turned to me. I panicked, overwhelmed by the attention. But then, Gunho reached out his hand, offering it to me as I stepped forward, holding my dress up with my other hand.

“I’m not late, am I?”

He smiled, looking at me with soft, loving eyes.

Gunho: “You’re very late.”

“Wha—but I checked the time before I got here!”

I looked at him, frustrated and confused, while he maintained his poker face, staying silent.

In the background, Yoon An glared at me, her hands clenched in fury.

Yoon An: “You again, you bitc.”*

Her anger quickly turned into a sinister smirk as she plotted her next move.

To be continued…

Joonie Yim.

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