Chapter 2

"Jan Di! Really? A fortune teller?" Ga Eul asked exasperatedly. She loved her best friend, but the Geum heiress had a streak of eccentricity that was unsurpassed.

"I'm serious! I've heard that she is really powerful," Jan Di persisted, "I want to know about my love life."

Ga Eul scowled, "What love life?"

"My non-existent one," Jan Di piped cheerfully, "I want to change my relationship status from single to in a hot and steamy relationship."

"And wouldn't logging into a dating site be more helpful than going to some psychic?" Ga Eul wondered.

Jan Di gave Ga Eul an incredulous look, "Do you really think Geum Jan Di, the daughter of the retail king Geum Il Bong would open a profile in a dating site? Won't it cramp my style?"

"And going to a psychic won't?"

"Tch, just come along will you?" Jan Di snapped, "Madam Martel is the real deal. Come on!"

"I'm a softie," Ga Eul muttered begrudgingly as she allowed Jan Di to drag her in. The tiny house was dark, illuminated by soft lights. It was decorated by bead curtains and filled with a flowery fragrance. In short, it was just like Ga Eul had expected it to be.

There were no chairs to be seen anywhere. All Ga Eul could see was a low table and some cushions around it. Jan Di sat down on one and patted the cushion next to her. Ga Eul rolled her eyes and sat down next to her. It was a short wait before a woman who strongly reminded Ga Eul of Madam Trelawney of Harry Potter walked in. The woman draped in numerous shawls and beads and wearing thick glasses shuffled forward and sat on one couch.

"So, what do you want to know?" she asked looking at the two of them.

"Not much of a psychic if she doesn't know that!" Ga Eul muttered behind her breath.

Madam Martel ignored her and looked at Jan Di, "Tell me."

"I want to know about my love life," she replied eagerly, swaying back and forth slightly.

Madam Martel lay her hands palms up and asked Jan Di to put her hands on hers. She studied the palms carefully and said, "You're going to fall in love with a man who is just like you. He'll love you a lot. You'll have a happy life."

"Congrats Jan Di," Ga Eul told her brightly. "That's fantastic isn't it? You should have no problem identifying him, right?"

"And when will I meet him?" she asked.

"Soon, very soon," she replied.

Ga Eul's lips twitched, "Very specific."

"A skeptic I see," Madam Martel said finally turning to her.

Ga Eul grinned, "Aw, what gave it away?"

Madam Martel chuckled, "Give me your hand. I'll do a reading for you as well."

"What? No! I don't want one," Ga Eul scoffed.

"Scared?" the psychic asked.

"You wish!" Ga Eul replied and put her hands on the older woman's who peered at it for a while.

"Interesting," she said with a smile, "You have a very interesting life. Your relationship is going to be very tumultuous. One man is going wreak havoc in your life, turning it upside down. This man has already stepped into your life."

"My relationship?" Ga Eul chuckled heartily, "With whom? Su Pyo? That guy is so timid, there is no way he can turn my life upside down. He cares for me too much to do that."

Madam Martel merely smiled.

Ga Eul stood up, "Anyway I've had enough. I'm leaving. What do you want to do Jan Di?"

Jan Di looked torn for a moment before joining her friend, while throwing an apologetic glance at the psychic.

Soft music emanated from Ji Hoo's skillful fingers as they moved over the violin. Yi Jeong lay on a hammock with his eyes closed, letting the ethereal music wash over him. Woo Bin was standing outside the lounge, talking to someone and Jun Pyo was yet to arrive. Yi Jeong had returned to Seoul after a long time. He had been on an outdoor shoot and his body was exhausted. Nothing relaxed him more than the company of his brothers and so here he was, at the F4 lounge, distressing from an exhausting twenty days long trip full of star tantrums, logistical issues, the director's eccentricities and trying to keep everything in budget. Jun Pyo entered the lounge just as Woo Bin finished his call.

"Oh Yi Jeong!" At the sound of Jun Pyo's voice he cracked open an eye, "I didn't know you were back."

"I just returned," he answered, closing his eye.

"How was the trip my bro?" Woo Bin queried.

"The usual."

The F4 were the group of most celebrated heirs in Seoul. Jun Pyo was the heir of Shinwha Group, a chain of five star hotels that was spread all around south-east Asia and was now slowly expanding further. Ji Hoo came from a family of celebrated politicians. He himself was a talented musician who was making a mark in the International level. Woo Bin was set to inherit the biggest construction business in Seoul as well as the heir to the biggest mafia gang of Seoul.

Jun Pyo slumped himself on a couch and Woo Bin followed suit.

"So how're things in Seoul?" Yi Jeong asked his eyes still closed.

"My mom wants me to meet a girl this weekend," Woo Bin complained, "She wants me to marry her."

"And will you?" Jun Pyo asked.

Woo Bin tsked, "No way. I'm not ready for marriage."

"Meet the girl at least," Yi Jeong said from the hammock, "Who knows, she might be nice."

"I never say no to meeting girls," Woo Bin grinned.

"Dog!" Yi Jeong said, "What about you, Ji Hoo?"

"Same old, same old," came the stoic reply.

Yi Jeong nodded. He hadn't expected anything more from Ji Hoo, "Jun Pyo?"

"I'm working on opening a new hotel in Japan," he replied, "Nothing else is new."

"OH!" he was about to fall asleep when Jun Pyo shouted suddenly making him jump and fall off the hammock.

"OW!" he screamed as he landed on his buttocks, "You ass! What the heck was that for?"

He stood up, massaging his sore behind as his friends collapsed in hysterical laughter.

"Sorry, sorry," Jun Pyo said waving a hand, "Actually I remembered something interesting."

Yi Jeong climbed back on the hammock and sat on it, "What?"

"Guess what, Su Pyo is dating Ga Eul," Jun Pyo finished gleefully.

"Ga Eul who?" Woo Bin wondered.

"Chu Ga Eul, of the Chu Fisheries," Yi Jeong clarified.

"Oh the fire brand princess?" Woo Bin wondered, "That's an odd couple. I mean I wouldn't think that someone like her would go for someone like him."

"I thought so too, but guess we can never truly predict these things. I was the one who introduced the two. I was actually waiting for her to go all ninja on Su Pyo's ass but she was all nice and coy. I mean she was actually flirting! It was oddly nauseating to be honest."

"Why?" this was from Ji Hoo.

Yi Jeong shrugged, "They're a reasonably good looking couple I'll give you that. But something wasn't right. Their personalities are too far apart, if you ask me."

Ji Hoo raised an eyebrow, "Don't opposites attract?"

Jun Pyo nodded, "They do, but I'm with Yi Jeong on this one. I was out for lunch with the two yesterday and I agree it was a little nauseating. Su Pyo is behaving like a puppy. I was waiting for Ga Eul to throw food at him. And this is the Su Pyo who brags that women like Ga Eul need a 'real man' to control them. Bullshit. Their relationship is not even fifteen days old and already that girl has him jumping hoops. I was so disgusted I had to excuse myself right after the lunch."

Yi Jeong chuckled, "Su Pyo won't last long. That girl will gnaw him down to the bone."

"As his cousin, it's your duty to warn the poor hapless idiot," Woo Bin suggested.

"What? And miss out on all this fun?" Yi Jeong asked, "He went into this with his eyes open. He's not a child Woo Bin, let him learn that there's a price to be paid for mistakes like these."

"I agree," Jun Pyo added, "This one's on Su Pyo."

"I'm with Woo Bin on this," Ji Hoo said, "Su Pyo is besotted. He's not seeing things the way we do. We should intervene. That's what we'd do for each other."

Yi Jeong yawned and lay down, "I'm tired and bored of this topic. I'm off to sleep. Wake me if something interesting happens."

Within moments, he was in deep sleep.

Go Ae Cha had irritated him. Yi Jeong would be the first to admit that he had had a fair few affairs. He wouldn't really term himself as a playboy, or equate himself to Woo Bin, but he had had his share of women. If the tabloids were to be believed, he was a man who slept around with anyone who had two hands, two legs and two breasts. In reality though, he had dated less than a quarter of the number of women that the media had linked him with and slept with even less than half of that. He wasn't entirely sure why the media painted him in such promiscuous colors but he didn't really care. Sometimes he would wonder how exactly they thought he managed so many women because he had entered the family business at a very young age and had been very actively involved in it since then. He was also a fairly busy film producer. So where was the time that the media alleged he had?

Go Ae Cha was a rising star in the Korean film industry and Yi Jeong had first met her when she was playing a part on one of his films. He had instantly been attracted to her beauty and they had gone out on a couple of dates but pretty soon Yi Jeong realized that Ae Cha was nothing more than a pretty face. He had never really shown any signs of furthering their relation more than a few dates but apparently his subtle hints had been completely lost on her. She had given an interview on TV stating that she expected Yi Jeong to ask her hand for marriage any day.

It was Woo Bin who had seen the interview and had instantly called Yi Jeong asking if it was true. Yi Jeong who had been in the museum at the time was aghast at the news. Furious he dropped everything and rushed over to the set where Ae Cha was shooting. He was recognized immediately and the message was sent to Ae Cha that Yi Jeong had come to visit her and was waiting for her in the make-up room. The girl came to him almost instantaneously.

"Yi Jeong ah!" she cooed gleefully.

Yi Jeong gave her a cold look, "What was that interview all about Ae Cha?"

She blushed, completely missing Yi Jeong's look of fury, "You heard it? When are you …"

"Shut up!" although he said it quietly, the command was heard loud and clear.

"What?"

"You will retract your statement from the media," Yi Jeong ordered, "This will be the last time we'll see each other."

"Yi Jeong! What are you saying?" she clutched his shirtsleeves desperately, "I love you Yi Jeong and we are …"

"Shut up," he repeated icily, "Who do you think you are? I dated you a couple of times and that's all. Why on Earth would I marry you? Retract your statement or I'll ensure that your career in the film industry is over."

Saying so Yi Jeong spun on his heels and marched away, leaving a stunned Ae Cha behind.

"He did what?" Ga Eul asked wide eyed. Her childhood friend Ae Cha sat in front of her, crying her eyes out.

Ae Cha sobbed as she replied, "He asked me who I thought I was and that he would never marry a girl like me. He says that he doesn't love me and that he was dating me just for fun. Why on Earth would he marry a girl like me? He told me that he is going to destroy my career, Ga Eul, not only will he not marry me, he will also destroy my career! Ga Eul what will I do?"

Ga Eul's eyes narrowed, "You don't have to do a thing. Now I will do what needs to be done!"

Ga Eul's hands shivered slightly as she waited in the Woo Sung Art's Museum's lobby for So Yi Jeong. Shortly the man was there, along with a couple of other people.

"Miss Chu!" he smiled cordially upon spotting her, "What a pleasant surprise! To what do I owe this honor?"

"I want to talk to you," she answered curtly, "Alone."

His face momentarily showed confusion but he nodded, "Let's go to my office then." Excusing himself from his companions, Yi Jeong led Ga Eul through a door marked 'for staff members only' and up a staircase. She had expected the same ethnic grandiose of the museum to be reflected in the offices but they were actually fairly modern and utilitarian. If she hadn't been really angry at So Yi Jeong, she might have actually been impressed by the black marble, glass and steel interiors. He led her through some cubicles to a swank and modern office, done up with abstract furniture and art.

"Please, have a seat," he pointed at a comfortable looking chair and sat down on a matching one, "So, what would you like to drink, tea, coffee or something cold?"

Ga Eul settled down carefully and took a deep breath, "Mr So …"

"Please call me Yi Jeong," he insisted.

"It is Ga Eul then," she replied automatically, "I'm here to ask something from you. I hope you won't refuse."

His grin was downright impish, "I never refuse beautiful women, and you Ga Eul are an exceptionally beautiful woman. I would never say no … unless you ask me to jump from the top floor of this building that is, that I wouldn't do."

Despite herself Ga Eul felt her lips twitch, "No, nothing so drastic, I assure you."

"Please feel free to ask then."

"Reconcile with Ae Cha," she answered flatly.

All humor was gone from his face and his expression became inscrutable, "What?"

Ga Eul strove to explain, "Look, she is in love with you. I agree that she shouldn't have gone and said what she did in the interview, but can you really blame her? She is …"

"Hold on right there Ga Eul," Yi Jeong said coldly, "If you're here to advocate for Ae Cha then you're simply wasting your breath. I will not reconcile with her, period."

"Why not?" Ga Eul demanded hotly, "You must've done something that led her to believe that she's special. Now your refusal has broken her and she's crying. If you're afraid of commitment, then just say so. You didn't have to threaten her with dire consequences. What you've done has devastated her!"

Yi Jeong's eye narrowed "For your information, she isn't crying because of a broken heart but for an injured ego. Besides I don't see why I have to explain my actions to you. I don't give explanations to my family and I barely even know you."

"Ae Cha is crying!" Ga Eul said fiercely, "And you're responsible for it. You'll have to make up for it!"

"I'm not making up for anything and that is final," Yi Jeong said in clipped tones, "If that is all that you have to say, I believe you can show yourself out."

Ga Eul's lips thinned and she stood up, "I'll ensure that you get back with her."

"I'd like to see you try," his reply was staid.

Without a word she turned around and walked away.