Sun Mi sat at the edge of her bed, sipping her coffee and staring out the window. She had been having the strangest dreams ever since she returned to America. Every night, it was the same thing - she would see herself in a different scenario, but the faces of the people around her were always blurry. Except for hers, she could see her own face clearly, but everyone else's was a blur.Jerry walked into the room, carrying a bunch of grocery bags. "Hey, good morning!" He said, setting the bags down on the counter. "I brought breakfast."Sun Mi smiled, she was grateful for the distraction. "Thanks, Jerry. You're a lifesaver."As Jerry started setting the table, he noticed that Sun Mi looked a bit off. "Hey, is everything okay?" he asked, concern marred on his face. "You look like you've lost your last marble."Sun Mi sighed, rubbing her temples. "I don't know, Jerry. I just can't shake off these weird dreams I've been having. And the weirdest part is, I can only see my own face. Everyone
Vince immediately ripped the box open, and they were met with a surprise. Inside, they found a packet of drugs, drips, syringes and a small paper containing instructions on when and how the drugs should be taken."What the hell is this?" Vince asked, puzzled.Bunker shook his head. "I don't know, but I can find the contact of a doctor or nurse, or at least a friend of mine that works in a hospital, they must know what these drugs are used for." He suggested.“Sure let's go with that.” Vince responded.Bunker made himself comfortable on his rusty cushion and picked up his laptop from the side table and turned it on.He scrolled through the laptop a few times before he announced joyfully. “I found someone's contact on the net, but she is not allowed to give out certain information except in crucial situations.” He explained.“So how do we go about this?” Vince asked.“Well, we will just have to put on a good show.” Bunker replied as dialed the number and the person picked up after the t
Vince stepped into Michael's office, with a warm smile."What's good, my man?" Michael asked, flashing a bright smile."Not much, just trying to stay out of trouble," Vince replied, chuckling."Trouble? You? Nah, you're a straight shooter, Vince." Michael said, laughing out loud."Hey, watch it, I can get into some trouble if I want to." Vince jokes."Oh, I'm shakin' in my boots." Michael teased.Vince playfully rolled his eyes. "Anyway, enough about that. I got some serious business to discuss."Michael's expression suddenly became serious. "Okay, what's up?" He asked.Vince took a deep breath and began to narrate the whole story, starting from when he paused his speech to run after Jerry, only to bump into Mrs. Johnson."So, while I was about to give my speech during your grand opening in Seoul. I had seen you run out of the building, obviously annoyed, so I decided to run after you but I got lost in the hallways and I saw someone I never expected.I saw Jerry talking to a strange
Vince stepped into his apartment, greeted by the savory aroma of pizza.Imani sat on the kitchen counter, devouring a family-sized pie."Hey, babe! How was your meeting with Michael?" Imani asked, mouth full of pizza.Vince sighed, taking a seat next to her. "It was a disaster. He refused to listen to me, and now he's in denial."“What happened?" Imani asked, concerned.Vince recounted the entire ordeal, from him informing Michael about Sun Mi's true identity, that her parents were trying so hard to hide to Michael's refusal to believe him."...and then Michael told me to drop it, that I was being paranoid.” Vince concluded.Imani shook her head. "He's just scared, Vince. He'll come around once he realizes the truth."Vince nodded. "I know, but time is running out. Sun Mi's life is at stake and his as well. He might die from depression at this rate. It's been four years already, yet Michael is still grieving this hard.” He explained.Imani placed a hand on Vince's arm. "We'll figure i
He shut the door and dipped his hands into his pocket, admiring our cozy home. I felt a chill run down my spine."I don't understand what's going on. What is he doing here?" I whispered to my friend, trying to make sense of the situation."Let's just hear him out." She replied calmly.I glared at him, who was still grinning at me. "So, this is what you do? Go around saving girls to get into their pants?"He didn't seem surprised by my words, for reasons best known to him."Layla, it's not like that." My friend said, touching my arm, trying to calm me down, but I was having none of it.“You're never going to stop, are you?" He shook his head, turning around to admire our home further."Imani, he has to leave.” I whispered urgently."What? It's raining heavily outside. Where do you want him to go?" She replied, defending him.I was shocked. "No... he can't stay here! I don't want him in this house, and that's final!"Her expression changed, and she lashed out at me. "And what makes you
Lyra's Point of view.The rain is falling heavily, yet Thalia refuses to order the coachman to stop the carriage. We continue riding through the storm."You should tell him to stop the carriage and find a cottage or an inn, Milady." I urged her."I can't do that, Lyra. Xander hates it when people are late or miss appointments. He expects me today, and I must show up today." She replied firmly.Today is the day Thalia begins her training as Xander Blackstorm's Luna. She has spent her whole life learning about Xander's likes, dislikes, hobbies, and preferences in a woman."If Xander is the gentleman you claim he is, he would understand if you were late because of the weather." I explained."I will not hear it, Lyra. Not now." She responded.I picked up a blanket and wrapped it around her, then slumped back into the carriage seat in defeat.I doubt I am cut out to be a wife, having to put my needs last to please a man. I will forever stay Thalia's maid, then become a governess to her chi
Lyra's Point of view.I guess over here in Joaska personal maids are given some kind of edge over regular maids.I was shown to my corner earlier and I realized how much difference a personal maid’s room was from a regular maid’s.There were no bunk beds, although the room was still full of several single beds each maid had their own corner.I made use of a rag to wipe my body clean, I rubbed the perfume Thalia gifted to me a few months ago on my neck, wrists and pits. I wore a petticoat, then a cream coloured gown, made from wool.I wore a linen cap to keep my hair out of the way. I tucked my neck handkerchief into the neckline of the gown then slipped on my stockings and leather shoes.I tried retracing my steps hoping to see a maid along the way then ask about Thalia but I got lost.I kept on roaming around the maze-like corridors until I stumbled upon a double door. Stepping into the library, I was greeted with a large, elegant room filled with tall, wooden shelves packed with l
Lyra's Point of View Xander kept on making his way towards me, while I stepped back. Each time he took a step forward I took two steps backwards.The space between I and the shelf grew narrower at each step. In no time I was stuck between him and a hard shelf.“What are you doing?” I stuttered.“You know, I could have you killed for breaking the laws in my Betroth’s kingdom. I mean you could be a spy for all I know.” Xander said.His hands were placed above my head and beside my waist respectively making it hard for me to escape. He removed his hands from the top of my head and lifted up my jaw to make sure I was looking straight into his eyes.“Why are you so quiet? I love your voice. You should speak more often.” He teased me.‘I wanted to let him know that it was Thalia who taught me how to read. But that will be selfish of me because it will be putting her into trouble with her father.’“I already knew how to read before I stepped into the palace as maid for princess Thalia.” I
He shut the door and dipped his hands into his pocket, admiring our cozy home. I felt a chill run down my spine."I don't understand what's going on. What is he doing here?" I whispered to my friend, trying to make sense of the situation."Let's just hear him out." She replied calmly.I glared at him, who was still grinning at me. "So, this is what you do? Go around saving girls to get into their pants?"He didn't seem surprised by my words, for reasons best known to him."Layla, it's not like that." My friend said, touching my arm, trying to calm me down, but I was having none of it.“You're never going to stop, are you?" He shook his head, turning around to admire our home further."Imani, he has to leave.” I whispered urgently."What? It's raining heavily outside. Where do you want him to go?" She replied, defending him.I was shocked. "No... he can't stay here! I don't want him in this house, and that's final!"Her expression changed, and she lashed out at me. "And what makes you
Vince stepped into his apartment, greeted by the savory aroma of pizza.Imani sat on the kitchen counter, devouring a family-sized pie."Hey, babe! How was your meeting with Michael?" Imani asked, mouth full of pizza.Vince sighed, taking a seat next to her. "It was a disaster. He refused to listen to me, and now he's in denial."“What happened?" Imani asked, concerned.Vince recounted the entire ordeal, from him informing Michael about Sun Mi's true identity, that her parents were trying so hard to hide to Michael's refusal to believe him."...and then Michael told me to drop it, that I was being paranoid.” Vince concluded.Imani shook her head. "He's just scared, Vince. He'll come around once he realizes the truth."Vince nodded. "I know, but time is running out. Sun Mi's life is at stake and his as well. He might die from depression at this rate. It's been four years already, yet Michael is still grieving this hard.” He explained.Imani placed a hand on Vince's arm. "We'll figure i
Vince stepped into Michael's office, with a warm smile."What's good, my man?" Michael asked, flashing a bright smile."Not much, just trying to stay out of trouble," Vince replied, chuckling."Trouble? You? Nah, you're a straight shooter, Vince." Michael said, laughing out loud."Hey, watch it, I can get into some trouble if I want to." Vince jokes."Oh, I'm shakin' in my boots." Michael teased.Vince playfully rolled his eyes. "Anyway, enough about that. I got some serious business to discuss."Michael's expression suddenly became serious. "Okay, what's up?" He asked.Vince took a deep breath and began to narrate the whole story, starting from when he paused his speech to run after Jerry, only to bump into Mrs. Johnson."So, while I was about to give my speech during your grand opening in Seoul. I had seen you run out of the building, obviously annoyed, so I decided to run after you but I got lost in the hallways and I saw someone I never expected.I saw Jerry talking to a strange
Vince immediately ripped the box open, and they were met with a surprise. Inside, they found a packet of drugs, drips, syringes and a small paper containing instructions on when and how the drugs should be taken."What the hell is this?" Vince asked, puzzled.Bunker shook his head. "I don't know, but I can find the contact of a doctor or nurse, or at least a friend of mine that works in a hospital, they must know what these drugs are used for." He suggested.“Sure let's go with that.” Vince responded.Bunker made himself comfortable on his rusty cushion and picked up his laptop from the side table and turned it on.He scrolled through the laptop a few times before he announced joyfully. “I found someone's contact on the net, but she is not allowed to give out certain information except in crucial situations.” He explained.“So how do we go about this?” Vince asked.“Well, we will just have to put on a good show.” Bunker replied as dialed the number and the person picked up after the t
Sun Mi sat at the edge of her bed, sipping her coffee and staring out the window. She had been having the strangest dreams ever since she returned to America. Every night, it was the same thing - she would see herself in a different scenario, but the faces of the people around her were always blurry. Except for hers, she could see her own face clearly, but everyone else's was a blur.Jerry walked into the room, carrying a bunch of grocery bags. "Hey, good morning!" He said, setting the bags down on the counter. "I brought breakfast."Sun Mi smiled, she was grateful for the distraction. "Thanks, Jerry. You're a lifesaver."As Jerry started setting the table, he noticed that Sun Mi looked a bit off. "Hey, is everything okay?" he asked, concern marred on his face. "You look like you've lost your last marble."Sun Mi sighed, rubbing her temples. "I don't know, Jerry. I just can't shake off these weird dreams I've been having. And the weirdest part is, I can only see my own face. Everyone
Sun Mi slept peacefully in her hotel room, her facial mask placed on her face as usual . She was exhausted from the long flight and the events of the day. As she drifted off to sleep, she began to dream.In her dream, she saw two men in a car, speeding down the road. They were laughing and playing loud music, oblivious to the road ahead. Sun Mi's heart raced as she saw herself running into the road, trying to get to the other side. She tried to scream, but her voice was muffled.The car screeched to a halt just inches from her face. Sun Mi's heart skipped a beat as she saw the two men staring at her in shock. One of them looked like he had seen a ghost. The other was grinning from ear to ear."Is she alive?" The second guy whispered."We should take her to the hospital.” The first guy suggested, his eyes fixed on Sun Mi's face.Sun Mi felt a jolt of fear as the first guy approached her. He was handsome, but there was something strange about him. She tried to move away, but her body fe
Vince's mind was racing as he sat back in the airplane seat room, staring at the footage Travis had sent him. The grainy video showed Mrs. Johnson arguing with the masked Sun Mi backstage at a runway show. Vince's eyes narrowed as he watched the video again, this time paying closer attention to the body language of the two women."I think Sun Mi might be Layla.” Vince whispered to Imani, who was sleeping beside him. Imani's eyes snapped open, and she sat up straight, her eyes locking onto Vince's."What? Why do you think that?" Imani asked her with her eyes wide open in shock.Vince showed her the footage, and Imani's eyes widened as she watched."This is getting juicier by the minute," Vince said, his eyes locked onto Imani's. "I think we need to dig deeper."Imani nodded in agreement, then asked . "Are you sure about this?”Vince nodded. “I am not a hundred percent sure that Sun Mi and Layla are one and the same person. It's only a hunch and my intuition is never wrong.” He said, gr
As the plane soared through the skies, Michael, Sun Mi, Carol, Jerry, Imani, Vince, Mrs Brown and other business partners settled into their seats, exhausted from the events of the past few days.In business class, Jerry and Sun Mi chatted quietly, their conversation carrying over to where Michael sat."So, what was it like dancing with Michael?" Jerry asked, his eyes sparkled with curiosity.Sun Mi shrugged. "It was nothing special. Just a dance.”She said with a nonchalant expression.“Are you sure? Your heart did not flutter or skip a beat when he placed his hands on your waist?” He inquired.“Was it meant to?” She clapped back.Michael felt a pang of hurt listening to her words.“Why do I feel this way? I should be happy, this is what I wanted after all.” Michael said, trying so hard to convince himself.He decided to push his emotions aside, trying to focus on preparing for the conference call he would have in a few hours time.IN THE FIRST CLASS:Vince was on a mission, he neede
The event had long ended and every guest had gone to their respective homes or hotel rooms. Michael stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, while he made use of a smaller towel to wipe out the beads of water on his body.When he was done he sat down at the edge of the bed and began to think about everything that went down today during the grand opening. From being rude to Senator Bong Won Yun, because he had belittled Sun Mi. To actually listening to Imani and asking Sun Mi for a dance and finally finding it hard to say that he doesn't care about her.He couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt that had been weighing on him since Imani's words. He couldn't believe he was developing feelings for Sun Mi, especially after being responsible for Layla's death. He started questioning his own morality and wondered why he was capable of loving anyone else.“Michael, you need to forget about the past and move on.” Imani had said, but it was easier said than done.~~