Summary (full): Junpyo knew lightening couldn't strike twice. The chance of finding out he had a daughter was
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from this drama.
Note: Jan Di has a signature name (need for later purposes). Just wanted to give you a heads-up notice.
My Thank You's...
Thank You to all of you who have read and reviewed this story. I have been working on it. And as I read back through it - I was unhappy with my work. So I am revamping it up until the new chapter. After the new chapter I will do my best to make sure every chapter is worth being read.
BeGIN & EnJOY
. . .
Chapter Two | HeartBreak
Location: Seoul, Korea
Friday: 12:04:25 PM
. . .
The shrill ring of the phone echoed off of the sage colored walls with cream colored baseboards and crown molding. The flooring was a soft cream colored tile - the click-clack of heels carrying over the floor as the rushed for the phone.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
"Almost there!" She called out as she did her best to reach the phone. Maybe today was not the day to wear high heels and a pencil skirt. A victorious smile covered her features as she reached the phone without falling.
Balance: one. Gravity: zero.
"Good Morning, Mperial King Fashions!" Her voice chipper and warm. "How my I direct your call?" It was a phrase the receptionist knew by heart. "One moment please." The receptionist looked down at her phone as she pressed the hold button then the three buttons to reach the needed office.
"Hello, this is Jae Na, Ms King's secretary, how may I help you?"
The inviting smile she wore colored her voice as she spoke sweetly into the phone. "Hello, there is a call for Ms Geum on line three." She breathed calming, trying to even out her breath from the frantic run moments ago as she listened to the person on the other end.
"Thank you, I will take it." Jae Na replied before transferring phones. "Hello, this is Jae Na, Ms Geum's secretary. How may I help you?"
"I need to speak with Ms Geum."
"Yes ma'am. I understand, though, I am sorry to say that Ms Geum is currently unavailable." She took a small breath. "May I take a message?" Her dark eyes flickered back and forth across her desk as she looked for her steno pad and fountain pen. She jotted down a few things on the yellow colored paper. "No problem, I will make sure she receives the note when she returns." Her voice was poised, doing her absolute best to hide the sheer happiness and joy that suddenly filled her senses - buzzing through her entire body.
"Where are you going?"
She twisted slightly and smiled. "I'm going to see the Jan Di. Will you man the phones Sun Ah?"
Sun Ah smiled softly and nodded affirmatively. "No problem," she started as a bright smile covered her lips. "but Jenna, this means I get to take a break and go get lunch." Her eyes were hidden as she beamed brightly.
Jae Na rolled her eyes. "Sure Suni, that's fine but it also means I chose the food." She grinned triumphantly. Jenna giggled cutely as her heels clicked on the cream colored tiled flooring. She came to a stop in front of the huge double white doors before knocking.
"Enter."
Jenna smiled at the strict authority in the female's voice, simply because she knew how playful the female could really be. She grabbed the door knob, twisting it and pushing the door open. Her head peeked in before the rest of her followed. Her dark eyes trained on the hunched over figure at the desk.
"Oh, hey Jae Na." The female smiled softly. "What'cha need honey?" Her voice was smooth. The nickname rolling off her tongue easily as she focused mainly on the papers before her. Her head drooped slightly as she blindly reached for her coffee. Which reminded her, she needed a refill soon.
"Hey," Jenna smiled at her sweetness. "I think you need a nap Jan Di."
Jan Di smiled tiredly. She let herself relaxed. The once plastic expression gone as exhaustion shined through, circles under her eyes were visible, contrasting with the paleness of her skin. Her voice was rough - from staying up way to late working. Her eyes were lifeless and strained - sleeping, she needed sleep.
"How are they?" Jenna's eyes sparkled as she moved closer towards the huge artist desk. "How are the drawings?" She always loved getting to see the products before they were finished. The woman before her was talented. She'd known it the day they had met - it was one of the reasons she had stuck so close to the girl, besides their deep rooted friendship.
Jan Di smiled, a smile full of exhaustion and strain. "They are good. I think these are my favorite yet." Her nose scrunched slightly.
"But?" Jae Na hummed in reply. She leaned against the back of Jan Di's leather rolling chair. "Pretty, I agree with you. Best yet."
Jan Di scoffed. "But - she says before telling me they are pretty." She wagged a finger in the other woman's direction. "I am on to you." She heaved another sigh and leaned back in her seat. "You tell me beautiful when you really like them."
"True." Her eyes sparkled. "So . . . someone called for you Miss King." Her voice was playful as she used the signature name for the fashion business. They had both agreed that Geum Jan Di just didn't sound sparkly enough to be a designer name. That, and Jan Di had wanted to be able to separate her work life from her private life.
Amara King. It was the perfect name for the fashion world. It means long lasting, honor, courage, royalty, and honesty. It had suited its purpose well, still continuing to do its job.
Jan Di hummed in reply as she listened to her friend. Her eyes never shifting from the paper on the tilted artist desk. Nose scrunched in distaste. She liked, no loved, the concept; however, something wasn't flowing correctly.
"Though," she stared softly - the word falling flippantly from her lips. Jenna's eyes sparkled with mirth. Her lips twitch, a smiling playing with the corners. "They technically they asked for a Geum Jan Di." She waited, eyes sparkling as she tried her best to keep both feat firmly on the ground.
Jan Di shot up, twisting in her rolling leather chair. Her eyes wide like Bambi, jaw slightly open in shock. They had asked for Jan Di? Not Amara? A low buzz form in her ears as they started to ring.
"Yeah," Jae Na laughed as wide eyes greeted her. She couldn't fight the smile that was threatening her. She bounced slightly, only the heels of her feet left the ground. "They did."
Her eyes shimmered. "What?" She needed confirmation. She sat unbelieving.
"Yes," Jenna nodded. "She said her name was Mrs Shin." Her lips pursed as her head tilted to the side in thought. "Is that the . . ." she made a hand gesture of a woman's figure, "lady?" Jenna drew her arms closer and made the gesture of rocking a child back and forth.
She jumped up from her chair still not believing. "Are you sure?" Jan Di mumbled softly under her breath, not possible. But it was, she found herself nodding slowly. "Really?" Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "She really called?"
"It's time." She whispered. Jenna leaned forward and squeezed Jan Di's hands in her own. "It's time for you to bring your baby home." She pulled back with a soft loving smile.
Jan Di giggled happily. Her baby. Her's. Her eyes flickered frantically as she began to gather her things. "I -" She couldn't form complete sentences at the moment. Her mind was moving a mile a second.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
Jae Na looked down at the phone on the side table that was connected to the tilted artist desk. She moved towards it and waited.
Beep. Beep.
Jenna picked up the phone. "Hey." She waited as Sun Ah spoke. "Yeah, go ahead and pass her through." Jenna pulled out a steno pad a pen. "Hello Amara King's office. How can I help you, Mrs Carlson." She smiled sweetly. "I'm good Mrs Carlson. No ma'am. Miss King just left for the day." Jae Na glanced at her quietly spazzing boss and laughed quietly. "No ma'am she will not be back until the following Monday." She giggled softly. "Of course you can leave a message." Jenna bent down and jotted the information down before telling her goodbye.
"Are you sure?" Jan Di questioned. "Till Monday?" Her eyes were wide as she blinked at her long time friend. "That's okay?"
Jae Na rolled her eyes. "Yes till Monday Jan Di." She shook her head. "No buts." She made a soft shooing motion. "Go get your little girl and enjoy the high of being a new mother."
"Okay," she whispered as she took a deep breath. Jan Di smiled. "Komawo."
She smiled. "No prob." Her eyes shimmered with mirth. "And I think I deserve a raise."
"Really," she snorted. Jan Di arched an eyebrow in amusement. "How so?"
Jae Na smiled, beaming brightly. "You see, if I was a new girl. The two different names, for, practically, two different lives - it could get confusing." Jenna grinned impishly. That was a bold face lie.
"Yeah . . ." The other scoffed. "Nope," she popped the p and grinned. "However, I will give you a raise." She stared at her long time friend. "You will need a bigger salary when you start taking control of the material department."
She blinked stupidly for a moment. "Really?" Jae Na's breath caught in her throat. "Aw, that's not fair and you know it." Jenna whined playfully. She wiped at the tears forming. "You can't pull sweet stuff like that over on me and then walk away!"
"Eh, you love me - it's been a long time coming." Jan Di shook her head. "Though, I might have to cut the raise in half." Her eyes glittered brightly."Trying to bribe your boss, it's just not moral." She grinned and winked.
Jenna rolled her eyes. "Just get your crap and get out." She pointed to the door, wide smile in place.
"Really now," Jan Di arched an eyebrow. "Is the secretary kicking the boss out?"
She nodded. "A secretary does what a secretary has to do." Jae Na shrugged and sighed as if she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
"Finally!" Jan Di snorted. "You sound like you actually do something around here."
Jenna scowled playfully. "Funny." She shooed her. "Get lost."
They laughed together as Jan Di left her office. "All right I'll see you later. Don't work to hard."
"Will try." Jenna laughed.
"Call if you need me." Jan Di called out as she waved to the girls.
"Yes, Miss King," they replied in unison before the elevator doors shut.
Friday: 1:09:58
Seoul Children Connects
Adoption Agency: Floor One
Jan Di blew out a shaky breath Her fingers tapped insistently as she waited in the four white walled room.
Two doors stood on the opposite sides. One led to the outside world, while the other led to another segment of the agency. One person chairs sat in rows around the room. The walls seemed to close in around the people - ominous feeling for those who waited in the room.
To the right was a tall half circular desk. A receptionist sat behind the desk. She smiled kindly at everyone who came through the door. And with a slight nod, the woman would buzz in anyone who was supposed to go behind the door to her on her right.
The clock on the wall ticked incessantly from its position on the wall. Time seemed to move slower with every glance Jan Di gave it.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. . . Tick. . . . Tock. . . . . Tick.
She rubbed her clammy hands against her dark denim jeans, for the tenth time in two minutes. She had already been given the 'ok', but still . . . it was nerve racking. Jan Di couldn't wait to meet the little girl she was about to become a mother too. She couldn't wait to hold that beautiful little girl in her arms. Just thinking about her made Jan Di smile.
The door leading to the back suddenly opened. "Ms. Geum?" A lady dressed in a business pants suit asked while looking down at the clipboard in her hands.
Jan Di looked up. Excitement shone brightly on her face. Standing ,she grabbed her purse and made her way to the door.
"Follow me."
Jan Di nodded and did as told. She walked right behind the woman. The door shut with a thud behind her. Jan Di jumped slightly — whether from excitement or fear of the one in front — but continued to follow the woman in front of her. Jan Di had been in this sealed off section of the building many times before. And just like any other time silence filled the air. This thick mass people worked in complete and utter silence.
Well, complete silence if you block out the elevator music, truthfully a pitiful excuse for music in general.
Light grey carpet covered the floor in every direction. A cluster of tight knit cubicles sat in the middle. People in the cubicles filled out paper work and answered phones. The cubicles were surrounded by meeting rooms, which were behind closed doors. Thick bronzed numbers had been nailed on the door that led to each of the meeting rooms. Large oval shaped tables rolling chairs, a small table with glasses and a pitcher of water in one corner, all adorn each and every meeting room.
Jan Di continued to follow the lady in front as she led her into one of the meeting rooms.
"Wait here, Mrs. Shin will be with you shortly."
Nodding her head, Jan Di watched as the other woman left. She turned in the chair looking at the nonexistent decor. She had been in here before so it was nothing new. She turned, in the chair more, to look out of the floor length window. Though there was nothing special in the room - not even a painting - the view from the window was beautiful. Jan Di smiled at the full of life scene from the window.
The woman — Jan Di had been speaking with for the entire process — knocked softly before proceeding in. "Hello Mrs. Geum."
Jan Di nodded, "Mrs. Shin," was her giddy reply.
She sat down across from Jan Di. The black leather binder thudded softly as she put it on the table. She breathed in deeply. A small sad smile shone on her face. "Mrs. Geum . . . I'm . . . sorry."
Jan Di's heart stopped. A hard lump lodged in her throat. Jan Di barely breathed, doing her best to keep from breaking down. She dared not to speak, knowing full well her voice would betray her. She looked away trying to keep tears from falling, but with every second it became harder.
"Again, I'm sorry. Mrs. Kim . . ." She opened her mouth, but the words wouldn't come out. "Sometimes . . ." She heaved another sigh and tried again. "Sometimes, the "mother" becomes attached . . . Even when they think they won't."
Jan Di bit her lower lip to avert her mind from the pain her heart was feeling.
"I am truly sorry. I did not think that this would happen."
Jan Di stood quickly. "I . . ." She didn't try to continue. If she did, she knew she would break down into tears.
Mrs. Shin nodded. "I understand. I know this is hard. I am personally going to . . ." She stopped. Her silver hair shimmered softly under the light as she stood. Making her way around the table, Mrs. Shin leaned over and gave Jan Di a hug. "Hun . . . it will be okay. Don't worry, your time will come." Mrs. Shin rubbed Jan Di's back soothingly. "Will try again . . . but this time I'll find the perfect little girl." She continued to speak softly and do her best to sooth the girl in her arms.
Jan Di shut her eyes tightly as a tear slid down her cheek. All the planning. All the dreaming. The waiting. All the stuff we were going to do. The room I made . . . Her room. Her head slouched forward. All the work had been for nothing..
Mrs. Shin stood. "I will give you some time. Once you have collected your thoughts, Go out the door and take a sharp right the exit door is right there. It will lead you out the back door." She rubbed her back one more time in a soothing manor before making her quiet exit.
Jan Di sat there as her heart sunk lower in her chest if possible. She did the exact thing Mrs. Shin told her not to do. Get her hopes up. Her hand flew up to her mouth as a sob escaped from behind her trembling lips. Tears began to fall. How could a room that was once so cheerful room turned cruel and cold so quickly?
Okay! Hope it was a little better. Fewer errors? Read, Review, Favorite, Follow - all up to you And Thank you to those who have!
