This was the place? It wasn't to his taste at all, nothing he wanted any part of, but V had swore it would work out, that he'd find someone willing to help with his current predicament here, but the very idea felt so objectionable. Of course, this was V's establishment, it had his hands all over it with the showy lights and colors on the outside of the building alone. He trusted his judgment, but still, what was to really gain by being here?
She sat still while the hairdresser pinned her hair up elaborately, though her attention was on the man next to her.
"Isn't this a bit much? I still don't understand why they chose this role for me? And the price...does V really think anyone will pay this much for a little time with a girl? I mean I get that people are lonely, but it feels sad." she mumbled.
"Seiko, I don't like it much either, the way people look at you, but just remember the reason, alright? I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Now. No more complaints, open up." he told her.
Seiko heaved a sigh, her mouth parting on his instruction, a little irritated that it came down to having to be fed by someone else, but it was critical she not ruin the garments, she was in enough debt with her father's poor habits, adding in the cost of such lavish clothes would only mean increasing her hours that much more, nevermind that she might need to take a second job. She scarcely got in more than a few bites before an excited blonde rushed in.
"Ah. Yoosung, what's wrong?" she asked.
"Zen, you'll need to be ready for this too, it's big news. Seiko...someone's here to see you!" he huffed out, trying to catch his breath.
"That's not funny, Yoosung." she scolded.
The hairdresser gave her a sign that she had finished, and she rose from her seat, her legs aching from sitting so long. She frowned as she moved to a more ornate seat, Zen and Yoosung taking hold of either side. V was the one who decided the roles here, and after her initial interview, when she first landed the job, there had been an interview. Lots of personal questions, but he swore it was for a good reason. The role she had pulled didn't suit her at all in her opinion, but he insisted her looks lent themselves well to it. The Princess, a rare and delicate butterfly, completely ignoring her feelings on expensive things. Not to mention, the prohibitively high cost meant she rarely had work. To make up for that, she sometimes ended up sitting behind the counter, serving drinks.
It did nothing to relieve the high debts her father's gambling had accrued, and the men he owed swore every time she tried to pay any of it down that she had merely covered the interest, so the original debt was still there, incurring more.
"Don't look so nervous. I won't let anything bad happen to you, and you know Seven will be watching the security cameras in the back, if anything weird happens, he'll let V know, and he'll handle it." Zen assured her.
He had looked over the strange list they handed him, a list of women, but without actual names. It was frustrating, but if it helped, even a bit, it might be worth the trouble. In the end, he settled on the most expensive girl, surely that was indicative that she was elegant and classy. If she accepted his proposal, that would be better, but for now, it was enough to see this girl for himself and decide. Two men helped her from her seat, leading her to his table like she really was royalty. Too much for his taste, she was probably just another woman who wanted a better life than her station allowed, but a temporary arrangement was more favorable than the permanent one his father was suggesting.
Ugh. He of course had money, not just anyone could afford the price tag on her time. Not bad, in fact, very good looking, but rich people had this way about them that they felt like the world owed them everything. She was already not looking forward to spending any time with him, but she wanted to keep her job, better to just act as she was meant to.
"My lord, how kind of you to join me tonight. I've waited so long for you…" she told him.
"E...xcuse me?" he asked.
Ah. He had never been to a place like this. She could see the masked confusion in his eyes, that sense of being lost. It might be trouble, but the least she could do would be to explain it a little.
"Oh. My apologies, I'm supposed to greet people in such a way." she clarified for him.
"I'd prefer if you could talk as a regular person, it will make this go much more smoothly. Let's start with a name, if you would." he asked.
Her name? She wasn't supposed to give out personal information like that, but really...this guy was high class, what could he possibly intend to do with just her name?
"Seiko Ahn. It's...unusual, I admit." she sighed finally.
"That would explain the outfit. You must have seen me in magazines and papers before, but I will introduce myself anyway. I am Jumin Han." he told her.
Jumin Han...it did sound familiar, the heir to a big corporation? Maybe that wasn't right...either way, what was such a prominent man doing in a place like this?
"It's nice to meet you." she was being polite.
If it had been up to her, she would have already left. She wanted nothing to do with a spoiled rich guy like him.
"Of course. It must be, I don't imagine you get many clients." he said, pausing to straighten his sleeves. "I spoke on the phone with V, and he tells me you might be able to assist me with a private matter."
"What? How could you even insinuate such a thing! That's completely against the rules, and inappropriate, besides!" she hissed quietly over the table.
His eyes widened in surprise, and for the first time, she actually bothered to look at them. Dark, very dark, and it pissed her off more that he actually was so handsome.
"Oh. You misunderstand my meaning. Anyway, I'm told you'd be a good candidate for what I need. Am I to understand you have money troubles?" he asked.
He said it so casually that it got to her. As if her problems were a simple matter of not being able to cover a bill, or having to eat a little less to make sure they could have food on the table nightly. No, her father's problems were the type that if things went badly, lives could be in danger, and he treated it so casually! Granted, he probably didn't know how stressful the situation was, but he still showed no concern about it.
"That isn't exactly wrong…" she admitted, still trying to be polite.
Jumin leaned back in his seat, a hand raised to his chin in thought. This had to be worth her time to consider such a request, but she didn't seem receptive yet. Maybe this was a bad idea after all.
"How much is the debt?" he asked.
How much? What kind of a thing was that to ask someone you've only just met? More importantly, she could handle it herself, even if she had to take several jobs and give up sleep just to do it. Whatever it took, she didn't want to rely on anyone else to pay it off. Still though, even though her mood was getting worse by the second, she had to do well, she couldn't risk losing this job.
"750,000." she mumbled quietly.
Less than he thought anyone, but for someone like her, it was probably a lot. Still, he had to at least explain what he was offering before she closed him out completely. Women were usually very easy to persuade, at least in business, why was she so difficult? Women were all the same, he knew they all wanted money, so shouldn't it have been no trouble to talk her into this?
"I'll pay it. Completely. Not for nothing though." he paused, reaching for her hand, forcing a gentle smile. This was usually enough, and it was taxing enough. "My father means to marry me off to some woman. Wants me to buy out her failing company, and he's too blind to see that it's all a trap." he stopped again, hating that he was telling such personal things to a stranger. "All I want from you is to pretend to be my fiance long enough for him to let go of the foolish notion that I intend to do as he asks. There will of course, be a contract, I wouldn't dream of not defining the precise terms of the arrangement."
His request startled her enough that she had forgotten how familiarly he was holding onto her hand. God, why hadn't Seven sent someone to relieve her from him? Wasn't this dangerous? Was he too busy eating chips again to pay attention to the footage? Maybe if she acted like she might consider it, he would leave?
"I need time to think about this, asking me something like this so suddenly, I do hope you understand." she said.
Jumin let go of her hand, reaching for something inside the breast of his suit. Leaning over the table, he wrote something on the back of the card he pulled out, sliding it across the table to her.
"I have to get back to work, here is my private number, ignore the one on the front. Whatever you decide, call and let me know. I look forward to your favorable response." he told her.
She watched him walk out, heaving a sigh of relief, glad she didn't have to hang around him any longer. Though technically, he didn't use up all the time he had paid for, though she was pleased he didn't. It was hard to control her emotions in such a situation, already so upset that he would bring up such a personal matter and treat it like it was no big deal. Rich people pissed her off, and she knew he had to be the kind of man who always got what he wanted and didn't think of anyone but himself. She stood up, ready to go back to the waiting room, and hopefully finish her dinner, prepared to walk back until Yoosung and Zen came back out to fetch her. When she got back to the room, she stretched out on the couch, reaching back to untie her sash, the elegant dress slipping a little as she did.
"Ahh! N...not here, that's...isn't it a little weird with us here?" Yoosung stammered.
He was still so innocent, working here had hardly changed him at all. If it had been a request from someone more like him, she might have considered it more seriously, at least then she'd be sure that no matter how long the terms were set for, she'd at least be worthy of some measure of concern for her own feelings. She laid the sash to the side, the fabric slipping open, Yoosung looking away frantically, until Zen tapped his shoulder.
"You didn't really think she'd be so casual about undressing like that, did you?" he asked with a laugh.
He hesitantly glanced back, to see she was wearing clothes under it. He put a hand to his chest with a sigh, smiling. "I was so nervous. Oh...but isn't it very hot with extra clothes on under those layers?"
"I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine, really." she assured him.
"So...that rich jerk, what did he want? He looked like he was really involved in whatever it was…" Zen asked.
She snuck around him to retrieve her dinner, plopping down with a shrug. "Asked me to pretend to be engaged to him. Said he'd make it worth my while, but I don't plan on accepting."
"Good, don't. That sounds like trouble, and it's enough that your situation is already dangerous. Jerks like that don't care about anyone but themselves." Zen huffed irritably.
"You're right...I'll refuse then." she mumbled between bites.