Lily sat behind the desk in her office, the Seoul city skyline behind her. Sunlight poured through the Crittall windows, casting criss cross shadows across the floor and the desk.
The room was spacious and barely occupied, save for the grey mahogany bookcase in the corner of the room, the closet and mini office encased in clear glass where Lalia worked and a large mat sprawled infront of Lily's desk.
Potted plastic plants were positioned intentionally at specific places in the room so as to give the room a little life.
Lily looked up from her laptop–a sleek high-functioning computer with a sleek silver finish–and stared absent-mindedly at the supplies on her desk.
A black pen-holder held three to five black ink pens because that was the only ink she used, an empty letter tray and a tiny velvet box that housed a small, asscher signet ring.
Lily snapped open the the velvet box, revealing the white plush cradling a delicate gold band that gleamed against the white.
She picked the ring up, trailing her finger over the engraved initial. She was about to slip the ring on when a knock shook her out of her amusement.
She quickly returned the ring to its position and shuffled herself into position.
"Come in."
The door gently clicked open, revealing a slender lady, clad in a sleek grey suit, her hair, dark and pin straight. She wore rectangular frames that sat awkwardly on the almost flat bridge of her nose.
"I was asked to present the papers that contained information of the agreement and previous meeting. You are to sign it, give a copy to the artist and another to the boss. It also contains information of the artist's assigned concept and theme, budget, schedules and everything the production aims to achieve with him." The lady said in one breath.
"Drop it on my desk." Lily responded, her voice even, cold.
Lily glanced at the lady briefly then looked back at the papers that had just been delivered.
"I'll take my leave then."
Lily nodded then turned back to her computer until the soft click of the door shutting filled the air.
Lalia who had watched the whole interaction emerged out of her office and within seconds was infront of Lily.
"Don't you think it's odd?" Lalia asked, her eyes trailing after the women who'd just left, as if expecting her to reappear.
"What?" Lily said calmly, her hands working rapidly on her keyboard.
"That of all the people in the company, Nicki chose you...and the new rule." Lalia mumbled the last part.
Lily's typing paused, she shot up an eyebrow, staring at Lalia with a questioning gaze.
"No, of course, you are just as capable–even more qualified. But Jang Bleu was right there. Usually those trainees... they'd kill to have her."
Lalia tilted her head slightly as if a new angle would give her an answer.
"Really?" Lily was fully looking up now.
"Yes! And come to think of it, it's a little suspicious how all of a sudden this rule comes up when Nicki is getting signed. Don't you think the boss favours him a little more than the others."
"Aish, Lalia! " Lily sighed, pressing a hand against her forehead.
Lalia giggled.
The telephone in Lalia's office rang, interrupting their conversation. She quickly excused herself and hurried to answer the phone.
Lily picked up the documents that had just been delivered. She skimmed through them, highlighting important information and those she'd revisit.
The packet was thick and heavy, and she had to at least go through half of it before lunch break, in thirty minutes.
She felt a creeping headache behind her temples but she simply rubbed it, hoping to ease it.
Lalia returned to Lily, the traces of playfulness morphed into seriousness.
"Who was it?" Lily, said barely looking up from the stacks of paper.
"Nicki's mom."
Lily turned to look at her.
"She wanted to talk to you but I said you were busy. She... requested to have dinner with you tonight."
Lily sighed, both her and Lalia's gaze dropping to the stack of papers on her desk.
"She said she was grateful to you for accepting to work with her son and as a thank you, dinner is on her." Lalia quickly added as if wanting to convince Lily to push aside work and say yes.
Lily looked skeptical. Why did Lalia want her to have dinner with Mrs Hwang anyways?
"And... what did you tell her?" Lily asked, expecting Lalia to have given her an excuse or something.
"That you'd be happy to." Lalia smiled nervously.
Lily groaned.
"I'm sorry but she really seemed appreciative and besides why would you turn down a poor woman." Lalia rushed out, as if to tone down the consequences of her actions.
"When is it?"
"T-Today. 8pm. Ha- haneul Sikdang." Lily sputtered.
"Fine." Lily grumbled.
"Really? Eunnie, take me with you?" Lalia pouted, her eyes widening expectantly.
"Sure. But, you're helping me finish this." Lily gestured to the booklet in front of her, "It's your fault I don't get to finish it tonight."
Lalia broke into a deep bow then skipped back to her mini-office.
Lily smiled gently then turned back to the finish the page.
---------------
Lalia peeked out of her office at five. It was closing time and half of the staff had already left.
"I fixed up your schedule for the rest of the week, when we're done reviewing the documents regarding Nicki, I can move things around. For today, you only have the dinner tonight and the preparation for the appointment with Song Bird."
"Good. Thanks. I'll see you later." Lily gave her a warm smile.
"Don't stay here too long." Lalia said.
With that, she was gone. Lily was alone in the office the sun had dimmed since it was evening. It peeked a little from behind the clouds and painted the sky with different hues.
Cars swooshed down below, though the noises couldn't penetrate through the soundproofed windows.
Some of the city lights were on. They dotted the view below like twinkling diamonds.
Lily got up from her desk to stretch, she walked about then walked to the glass pane behind her.
She stared, hard. One hand in her pocket caressing the velvet box.
A shadow of a smile crossed her face and then morphed into angst.
----
She stepped into the marble floored restaurant at precisely 7:55 p.m. The hostess glanced up from the podium and gave her a slight nod, a polite smile plastered on her face.
"Reservation under Madam Hwang?"
"Yes." Lily said, slightly adjusting the hem of her top.
"Right this way, madam." A sharply dressed waitstaff appeared, offering a courteous bow before leading her towards the glass-walled dining room.
The waitstaff led her pass a reflecting pool lit from below, where frangipani floated like whispers. Velvet chairs and marble tables stood between a canopy of glass, Framing the Seoul skyline like a painting. A pianist played softly in the corner, so that it felt more intimate than formal.
Madam Hwang's plump frame shifted as soon as she saw Lily.
"Right on time." She smiled.
Lily smiled back.
The waitstaff drew Lily's chair for her, one of the velvet seats tucked behind a gold-lined marble table.
"I'm so glad you could make it. My son will be joining us soon." Mrs Hwang's face gleamed with excitement.
This was the kind of restaurant that seemed Instagrammable. Those that had three tiered cocktails with names that sounded like a full spell.
Lily noticed the pendant lighting that hang above them on the high ceilings, the orbs positioned a few feet away from them and the sconces that hang on the walls beside each table.
"This place is beautiful. You have very good taste, Madam Hwang." Lily complimented her.
Madam Hwnag smiled gracefully accepting the compliment.
"Where's your assistant?" Madam Hwang asked, a slight crease forming in between her eyebrows, "I had hoped she would join us, that girl, she's very smart."
Lily hummed in response.
"Hello, Umma!" Lalia's familiar voice punctuated the conversation.
As if their conversation had magically conjured her presence.
Lalia went over and hugged Madam Hwang, she handed her a gift, a small box wrapped in a red gift wrap.
Madam Hwang thanked her profusely, hugged her once more after telling her she shouldn't have bothered before Lalia finally settled down.
Nicki emerged soon after, his expression grim. His eyes looked distant as though his soul was somewhere else and only his body was left.
"Well since everyone is here, we shall begin the feast!" Mrs Hwang announced.
Everyone placed they're orders, bulgogi tartare for Nicki, rice cakes and Makgeolli cocktail but his mom smacked him and told him he wasn't allowed alcohol in her presence, so he changed it to omija tonic.
Lalia ordered kimchi risotto and bingsu. Mrs Hwang; champagne, a red velvet cake, jeonbokjuk and mulhoe. Lily ordered a simple kimchi fried rice, hwachae for desert and Yuja tea.
Their orders arrived in no time as the group broke in laughter and chatter.
"I'm so happy Nicki made it here and even more grateful to Miss Song for agreeing to work with my baby, thank you so much." Mrs Hwang announced over the desert.
"To Nicki and to success!" She rose a toast and popped the champagne.
The group shouted in response. Smiles glowing on everyone's face.
The foamy spillage of champagne erupted from the bottle, splashing softly on Lalia and Mrs Hwang.
Lalia excused herself to the bathroom and when Madam Hwang rushed to apologize, she only told her it was nothing.
In the washroom, Lalia had finished drying up the spillage on her clothes. It had only left a faint stain that blended seamlessly with the colour of her pants. It was nothing, really.
She stood in front of the washroom mirror, touching up her mascara when her phone vibrated.
She groaned.
She was sure she put it on silent so as to not interrupt the evening. She was having too much fun to be bothered with work.
She reached into the purse she'd set on the sink and fished out her phone.
The buzzing stopped immediately she found it.
She scrunched up her face and look at the caller ID—unknown number.
Almost immediately the phone vibrated again, she picked it up this time. It was from the same number.
"Lalia Jung." The voice on the other end said. Cold, brutal, distorted.
"Hello? Who am I speaking to?"
The caller when silent for a few seconds allowing tension to form over the silence.
"That doesn't matter. You have something I want."
"Something you want?" Lalia's voice caught in her throat, she broke into a cold sweat trying to calm down.
"We all have secrets, Lalia, some are lies, some are buried reputations, other are...", He paused allowing the panic he'd instilled in Lalia to grow even more, "past mistakes."
He sounded proud of himself, as if the he'd been practicing the speech for hours, unsure how it'd sound and now that he'd finally said it, had gone the way he'd planned.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about. Who are you? W-what do you w-ant!" Lalia yelled.
"Good question. Help me trail Lily. Be a spy. Tell me her whereabouts, her ins and outs, plans schedules, everything." The voice rumbled.
"Why would I do that?" Anger pierced her voice, her fist now curled tightly by her side.
"It's good enough that I keep your little secret, but I'm a generous person so I'll compensate you. Five hundred million won." The voice taunted.
"What secret? I don't know what you're talking about and if you don't let me be, I will report you for blackmail."
A pause.
Then laughter. Deep, rumbling laughter on the other side.
"Your past... it's never really gone, you know."
Lalia wiped the sweat off her forehead, a shiver racked her body despite the coolness of the air conditioner.
"Umma? Can I stay with ajusshi? He's so nice! He even brought me chocolate!" A little boy's voice trailed over the phone.
Lalia burst into small, silent sobs.
"You have three days to give me an answer."
And then the line cut.
Lalia wanted to call back, to yell at the man and threaten him to let the boy go, that she would never betray Lily like that but she didn't. She just sobbed on the bathroom sink.
Three days, or her life was ruined, for good this time.