Contemporary

Author's Ramblings: We know that many of you out there have been wondering when the log cabin would make an appearance. Again both Nanu and Klove would like to ask of you to be patient and enjoy the ride: we promise it will be awesome. All that is left for us to do is to thank you and remind you to review after reading.
In a more personal note: if anyone out there has been able to communicate with Pahitmadu please let her know we are worried about her and would very much like if she sent us a message letting us know she is alright. We miss her as much as all of you do!

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Cabin Fever Part I

Eun Soo stuck to her escape plan. Jang Bin and Deo Gi will wait for her with her bag at the back staircase, while she will leave through the front door to avoid any suspicion. Choi Young was supposed to wait outside in the parking lot, not the front, like he originally planned. This trip has been already delayed 2 times. First time Director Gi Cheol threw a load of last minute paperwork into her lap; and after pulling an all-nighter, she managed to finish on time, only to be forced to attend an important business meeting with him. The second time around, the director had her manage the busy ER, while more experienced doctors had to be away at the conference. Although she protested, he stroke her ego with praise and promises to give her recommendation for residency at the best Seoul research hospital, which she coveted ever since the first year of medical school. Choi Young was not very pleased, but patiently accepted the unexpected delay. He warned her though, "Doesn't it seem just a bit suspicious to you, that every time the director comes up with last minute reasons to stop you? Just know, even if he gives the whole hospital to you in order to keep you there, I will not stand for it. We ARE going!" Eun Soo assured him that there was nothing to worry about, but she had a feeling that the director set his sights on her. She decided she would deal with it on her own, and leave Choi Young out of it.

She took the elevator down and exited on the third floor, to pretend like she was going to the intern room. She snuck undetected through the backdoor and onto the stairwell, Jang Bin and Deo Gi stood there, wearing small birthday hats. One was holding a gift and the other a twinkey cake with a candle. "Happy Birthday!"

These two always celebrated with her. Her birthday wasn't today, but tomorrow, but considering her plans for the weekend, she would not be able to keep the tradition this year. Smiling brightly and feeling apologetic, she thanked them. "Quickly blow the candle," said Jang Bin, and offered her a plastic box with more twinkies. "Take them for the trip there."

Deo Gi gave her the gift and urged her to open it. Eun Soo excitedly hurried to rip the paper; she loved presents. "What's this?" A jumbo size box of condoms, extra sensitive. Eun Soo's face paled, as the two of them laughed, she quickly hid it and asked them if they had gone insane.

"Hey, you've got plans. They might come in handy." And Jang Bin gave her another bag, "This is the real gift, the other one was just a joke. But you better hurry, you don't' want Gi Cheol catching you."

Hugging her bag, Eun Soo giggled about her friends' not so subtle encouragement. The door to the elevator opened and smiling she entered it… only to be pushed back in the small space by a man; Director Gi Cheol was smugly staring at her, making her turn away and squirm.

"Going somewhere, doctor?"

"I am actually, those three days I asked for, remember?"

"Ah, yes." He smiled at her. "I have something I need to discuss with you urgently, it will only take a minute. Please join me in my office."

"Sorry, but I'm in a hurry. I will call you from the road."

The elevator stopped on the first floor and as Eun Soo headed for the exit, he blocked it rudely and pressed the button 12. The doors shut in front of her, and with that a sickening feeling was born in her stomach.

"Doctor Yoo, this is not a negotiation, you are still an intern and taking time off is a privilege, not a right."

Eun Soo imagined a sharp scalpel that she would use to cut that smug smile off his face. She was irked by this violent idea and surprised that her mind was capable of going there. She followed the director to his large office, with a room height window overlooking the hospital entrance. She looked longingly outside to the freedom that was in her grasp, feeling like a prisoner in a hospital that she used to love so much.

He noticed where she was looking and pushed her toward the window.

"Look, this is where we will be adding a new wing," and he pointed to the right.

Eun Soo did not hear what he was saying because she noticed a bright spot of a red sports car in the front of the building with a tiny human figure next to it. Choi Young! What is he doing in the front?

"Is not it exciting?" continued self absorbed Gi Cheol, who was too busy listening to the sound of his voice to notice Eun Soo's worried expression.

"Eun Soo-ssi, may I call you that?"

"No."

Please take a sit, and under his stare, she backed into a plush chair next to the round conference table.

"Well, Eun Soo-ssi, I wanted to talk to you about something. Your talent has not been unnoticed. I wanted to ask if you are interested in working as part of a small team I am creating."

Eun Soo pulled out her cellphone and keeping her hands hidden underneath the table texted "Are you crazy? Why are you upfront? He might see you! Wait in the garage. I'm coming." She was an expert in blind texting, she had a lot of practice, texting back and force with Choi Young in college during lectures.

Choi Young was leaning against his car, starting to get cold. His watch read ten after two and the traffic, if they didn't hurry, would be hellish at this point. He sighed, his patience was running out and he was about to call Eun Soo, when his phone chimed with Eun Soo's ring tone. He looked to the front, hoping that she was already on her way, probably to the parking garage, and smiled imagining a look on her face when she would see him waiting for her.

It was only a text. "What the f…?" he was thoroughly pissed. That Gi Cheol is not a simple man, I can feel it in my bones that there is more to this. She does not want him to see me for a reason.

Eun Soo politely, but coldly refused the offer, however, Gi Cheol managed not to hear what he did not like and continued to go on describing who would be on the team, what the focus of their research would be, why he thought Eun Soo would make a fine addition, bla, bla, bla…

She could see Choi Young's angry face and she knew that he would not stay still, he always kept his promises. She was nervously glancing at the door, fearing that he would break through any second and cause chaos.

"Sir, I really must go. I have a friend waiting for me. We will be late."

"A friend? I would love to meet that friend of yours. Maybe she will help me persuade you to joint the research team."

"Director, this is not really…" she did not get to end her sentence.

They heard a knock, and the door opened with Choi Young standing in the doorway.

"Hello, may I come in?"

"Who are you?"

"I'm Choi Young," and he walked confidently toward the director with a pleasant smile and offered his hand for a handshake. Gi Cheol accepted the hand, still wondering who this charming intruder was.

"I apologize for being late, I was caught in a business meeting. You know how it is."

Eun Soo watched him with wide open eyes, stunned.

"I have heard wonderful things about you, director. Doctor Yoo speaks very highly of you, especially about the way you are caring for all of your employees. I'm glad that she has such an understanding boss. Well, I'm talking too much, I'll get to the point. I'm here to pick her up, we are about to leave. I appreciate you giving her the opportunity to take a break, I hope you know how hard she is working and how devoted she is to this hospital and to your department."

"Then you would be glad to hear that I just made her an offer to join a research team. You interrupted out conversation. This is a place of business Mr. Choi, so if you don't mind, I would rather you wait outside till our conversation is finished."

"Not at all", Choi Young flashed another one of his charming smiles. "I understand very well. I'm a businessman myself. That's why I know how precious a good worker is." He turned to Eun Soo, "Eun Soo-ya, are you going to be done soon?"

She just stared at him.

"I'll give you another 5 minutes and then I'm coming back to take her away, you should know the price of time. And I don't like to waste mine. I allocated time for this trip, so did she, and I would like for us not to lose any of it."

And with a respectful bow and turned and strode away.

5 minutes later, Eun Soo came outside, where he was standing by the door, in his usual manner leaning against the wall, one leg bended slightly, pushing at the wall, and another one stretched long, head tilted back, eyes closed.

Gi Cheol followed, "Mr. Choi, it was an interesting meeting. I'm sure I will see more of you in the future."

Choi Young lazily opened his eyes. He straightened his back and taking Eun Soo's bag off her hands, he firmly grabbed her wrist, curtly bowed and walked to the elevator.

"Young-ya," she whimpered, "you should not have done that. You don't want a powerful enemy, like the director."

"I'm not afraid of him, I am frustrated that we wasted another half an hour because of him. Did not I tell you, this time we will have a vacation?"

"You did," she sighed. She liked this strong and assertive Choi Young, a powerful businessman, confident and charismatic. He was SO HOT! She felt the need to open her coat and even fanned herself.

"Are you hot?"

"Not me." You, she thought.

Choi Young asked her to only bring essentials because he planned to take her shopping. They did not have much time, so they had to rush. He quickly rallied the sales staff to help and in 20 minutes they were leaving the store with the bags, filled with shoes and clothes for the outdoors.

They were on the road, and Eun Soo tried to understand what just happened.

"Hiking? I thought it was a trip to that new cabin!"

"We are going to the cabin, but there's also horseback riding and hiking."

"What? Is that why you bought me the tall boots? I thought it's just because they were cute."

"Cute does not hurt, does it?" he smiled at her, pressing the accelerator.

Listening to the music, they were quiet and Eun Soo watched the passing scenery thinking about all those qualities that made Choi Young so attractive. That's why she was worried, because Gi Cheol would immediately see those qualities as well. Who knows, what he might do. He was the type of man who had the power to ruin somebody's future if he wanted to.

"Don't knit your brow, you will have wrinkles. You look worried. Are you thinking about work?"

"Something like that."

"If you are worried about me because of the director, I already told you, don't."

"Are you a mind reader?"

"No, I just know you."

"How much longer?"

"Another hour."

Choi Young put his palm out, inviting Eun Soo's hand. Blushing from the idea of his touch, she placed her palm on his and they continued on holding hands till they arrived.