Page 32 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
‘Um, Seonbae, what you just said about your mother …’ Hanee mumbles bravely but nervously.
‘Now what did I say? Oh,that! Wait, no. I think you might have it wrong. I only meant to say your mum’s a divine cook while mine is, uh, well, how should I put it … let’s just say it’sbest if she sticks to the basics inside the kitchen and doesn’t get too adventurous!’ Timira is laughing as she speaks.
Hanee looks like a load has been lifted off her shoulders.
‘Watching too many dramas, are we?’ Timira jokes.
Seeing as the air has been cleared, Timira starts to clear away remnants of the lunch and giggles.
Did she actually wonder if I have an ill-fated relationship with my mother?!
Amused, Timira gets up to clear the trash and ruffles Hanee’s hair on the way. Hanee, not entirely convinced, continues to wear a look of confusion.
Dang, I shouldn’t have opened my mouth. Must’ve seemed as though I were prying. But she made such a sorry face. And chose such dramatic words. What was I supposed to do? Aah, I must be more careful about what she says and what she means. Thank God she wasn’t offended. But, oh no! I still have to do the devil’s dirty work and possibly ruin her day.
Between sips of her tall black, Timira is adding sticky notes to her planner. A meeting about her project is scheduled for later in the day.
‘Honey, you’ve got the minutes of every meeting so far, right? I read through the presentations you’d mailed me, but I was unable to find the minutes. Could you bring them to me, please?’
Hanee is on her way back with the printouts when she catches the back of oily Nick Carter’s hair heading into Timira’s cabin. She makes a dash for it, but only manages to catch his last few words as she bursts into the room.
‘… I’m told he’s good friends with one of our directors … Stephanie Jung. Have you met her yet?’ Timira stays silent.
I really couldn’t care less. He is friends with women all over the world. Why should I be surprised that he knows someone here, too?
Mr Choi rightly assumes Timira’s silence as a reply in the negative.
‘Ah, of course you haven’t. You haven’t been here long enough. She’s one of SecondSkin’s directors. I have said that already, haven’t I? She’s married into ajolbufamily. Very smart lady. Used to be a famous model, then went into management studies.’
Timira has little to no interest in learning about Stephanie Jung and does nothing to hide her disinterest.
Mr Choi can sense Timira’s indifference and can’t seem to understand why the new recruit has such little interest in learning about people who matter at her new workplace.
‘She is very close to one of our biggest shareholders. So you can imagine how influential she is around here,’ he adds sheepishly.
Ah, no wonder he kept prattling on and on about her. How does Rod know beautiful, powerful women everywhere?! Was I the only non-starter on his roster? Is that why he cheated on me?
Timira can feel the anger start to stab at her chest and can only manage to smile half-heartedly.
‘Wait a minute, did you not work with Rodrigo at the same football club? Right, right, now that I recall. Ah, yes, of course! What were the odds! I’m sure you’ll agree with Ms Jung’s recommendation. Wow, did you ever think you’d end up working with an old colleague here?Daebak! Are you friends with him? You really are the perfect person for the job!’
Hanee clutches the sheaf of papers close to her chest and stiffens a little.
Well, at least I did not have to break the news. Is she going to break something? Should I drag Bujangnim away? Maybe it was a good thing I didn’t open my mouth …Hanee wonders as she observes Timira nervously.
Timira is now agitatedly clicking the butt of the ballpoint pen. Tucking a few loose strands of hair behind her ear, she looks up and flashes the most artificial smile Hanee has seen on her senior’s usually pleasant countenance.
‘Ah, splendid news! You’re right, Mr Choi, who’d have thought I’d run into him here?Geuremyo, I’m totally on board with the idea!’
‘Yeoksi,this is going to work out great! I’ll leave you be now … you have a meeting with the design team later, right? I just wanted to step in and share the news of this development with you. I hope I haven’t taken up too much of your time,ye?’
‘Of course not, Bujangnim! Thank you for looking out for me. I’ll see you later at the meeting?’
Mr Choi, after nodding his byes, turns to leave and nearly bumps into Hanee, who has to dive on to the sofa to avoid him on his way out.
‘Gwenchanayo? Are you hurt? When did you get here?Uwa!
You’re quiet like a cat. You could be a thief, Hanee-ssi!’
