A/N: You know, I almost forgot to update today. My brain has been…Beyond mush lately. My eyes are burning. I'm tired as hell. Caffeine isn't working. Mood swings are a bitch. I am fried, my friends. And if you'll excuse me…

One of those weird benefits of working for Jumin? I never had to leave the office for anything. I mean, that's any time I have Saeran working with me. But working for Jumin was a special case. Especially when Saeran and I are in the middle of still painting this room (which, I wasn't expecting to take this long. Dear God, Jumin. Must you have high ceilings and huge walls?) and a knock echoes through his penthouse.

"I got it," I climbed down my ladder and ran for the door. It was getting to be that time of day again. And just like yesterday, a man stood on the other side of the door, "Hi."

"Lunch for you, Miss MC," he smiled politely, bringing his cart in for me. Bless you, Jumin. I've never had a client treat me as well as what Jumin does, but then again, it's also Jumin. We're friends. He's going to have me taken care of.

"Thank you," I melted a little inside, "Saeran! Lunch is here!"

"Ok!" I heard the pitter patter of Saeran's feet climbing down the ladder and then, across the floor. His eyes widened in amazement as lunch was laid out on the table, "Holy shit, MC…Was it like this yesterday, too?"

"For the most part," I nodded, sending the man out again, "Thank you!"

"You're welcome," he gave me a little bow, "My pleasure."

"I'm going to be honest here," Saeran drooled, "This looks amazing. The light charring on the Kobe beef is absolutely beautiful. And I wasn't expecting sushi. That was nice."

"Alright, alright," I knew this was going to happen. Any time Saeran and I had nice food in front of us, he couldn't help himself. He was going to pick it apart layer by layer. But at the same time, I knew how this boy worked, "You need to be careful."

"What did I do?" he whined, making himself comfortable at the table.

"I know how you are, Saeran." This wasn't my first time working with him, "Your eyes will be bigger than your stomach, you'll eat too much, and then, you'll want to clock out for a while. I need you today more than I ever have before. I can't have you taking an afternoon nap."

"Fine, fine," Saeran promised, "I won't overdo it."

"Thank you." But I knew better. Between the sushi, the Kobe beef (that I didn't have the heart to eat. I couldn't do it. I know how Kobe beef is raised. Once I found that out, it wasn't going in my mouth. I had the same thing about veal.), and the beautiful assortment of pastries that Saeran loses any and all impulse control around, he, in fact, overdoes it. I wasn't surprised. I knew this was going to happen. Dammit, Jumin. Why must you take good care of us?

"You know, MC," Saeran let out a heavy sigh of pure satisfaction, "We really should work for Uncle Pennybags more often."

"Saeran…" I wasn't in much better shape. Jumin knew the way to my heart was through aesthetically pleasing food. And…Well…I was screwed.

"Fine," he corrected himself, "We should work for Jumin more often."

"Let me guess," I shut my eyes for half a second, "You overdid it, didn't you?"

"I might have," Saeran admitted, "If I say yes, does that mean I'm fired?"

"No," I promised him, "Like I said, I need you. I'm not going to fire you over something so petty and trivial."

"Then, I might have overdone it just a little," he let out a little yawn, "Maybe a quick power nap?"

"Saeran…" I groaned, "This is exactly why I told you not to overdo it."

"I know, I know," Saeran grumbled, "And I really was trying to pace myself, but…Look at what he gave us, MC. There's no way in hell I'm going to be able to turn that down. It's almost like a professional curiosity."

"I know," I rolled my eyes, "But…I really do need you."

"I know you do," he pushed himself up from the table, "So, caffeine and power through?"

"If it's not too much to ask," I begged, "Please?"

"Fine," Saeran started walking toward the door, "I'm going to the corner store. You want anything?"

"Green tea," I asked, just as in need of the boost as what he was.

"Bottle, can, or fountain?" he pushed the door open.

"Fountain," I ordered, "And a big ass fountain, too."

"I know," Saeran waved to me, "I'll be right back."

"Ok," I trusted him. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if he's back in half an hour, despite the corner store only being a few minutes away on foot. That gave him five minutes to get there, five minutes to get back, and twenty minutes to catch some sleep somewhere. I really do love Saeran dearly, but I wish eating didn't tire him out so quickly.

But while he's gone, I suppose I could get started on the curtains. Besides, the walls need to dry a little before I go and put another coat on them. Damn this paint for needing multiple coats and for Jumin having too high walls! But that can wait for when Saeran comes back. Then, we can go back to painting together. Until then, I can get started on the curtains.

For a brief moment, I can pretend Elizabeth is a sophisticated young lady. She's a cat, but I know how Jumin sees her. He sees her as a high class, sophisticated young lady. I don't ask questions I don't want the answers to. At the same time, I still needed to take into account that Elizabeth is still a cat, no matter what Jumin says. I'm sure she's bound to claw something up. And the curtains are no exception.

That's why I got thick ass canvas for her curtains. I'm still in slight awe that I'm putting this much effort into a room for a cat, but I digress. Maybe if I try hard enough, I can sneak a way of turning this into the occasional guest room, but I doubt it. Jumin's too picky and dammit, if his little girl didn't deserve the best. And to make it even better, I can still throw sheers over them. They're a light, cream colored canvas, so the cat hair won't show as much either.

Although, because God forbid MC ever did anything simple. There really isn't much going on with these curtains. They're just plain, blank, canvas curtains. Color me tempted. Saeran hasn't come back yet and the craft store isn't too far away. He can make a quick run for me because he loves me, right? And I am kind of paying him for this, so I know he won't complain. Where did I put my phone?

"Hello?" Saeran answered. God bless him.

"Hi, Saeran," I chirped, "I need a favor while you're out."

"Alright," he sighed out, "What else do you need?"

"I need you to make a run by the craft store," I bit my lip, "Pick me up two big ass embroidery hoops, light blue and light purple embroidery floss, a fabric marker, and a set of embroidery needles."

"Embroidery shit?" Saeran wondered, "What do you need that for? You know damn well the cat's just going to tear it up somehow."

"Not my embroidery work," I beamed, "Please?"

"Pay me back when I get there?"

"Deal."

"I'll be back soon," he promised, "Maybe another ten minutes?"

"Thank you." I love him. Everyone should have at least one Saeran in their lives. Because damn, he comes in handy.

I grabbed a mini sketch book out of my bag and started designing some more. I wanted to put a few little paws in the corners of Elizabeth's curtains. That'd be adorable as hell and I already love it. It's been a long time since I've done any embroidery work on anything and I think I'm due. If I'm not careful, I'll end up throwing together a cross stitch pattern for the house, too…I wonder what home sweet home in binary code is. Because that would be fitting.

I was debating whether to go more realistic with the pawprints or more cute and rounded. What do you think, Elizabeth? Cute and round? Kind of like you? I'm thinking cute and round. There is a strange sense of whimsy in this room. Because it's a full sized people room intended for a cat. Because that's where I am in my design career. But again, my eyes were still on the prize. I had Jumin Han on my client list. And as a personal friend. I couldn't complain either way.

"MC!" Saeran called from the front door. He poked his head back into the room, "I come baring your green tea and your embroidery shit. I didn't know if you wanted the glitter floss or the solid floss, so I got you both."

"And you were right to do that," I threw my arms around him, "Thank you, Saeran. Do you think you could finish the painting without me?"

"I have to go back to painting?" he whined.

"Unless you want to start doing a mural," I bargained, "Anything you want. I trust your judgment. As long as it goes with the room."

"Wait…" Saeran gasped, "You're serious?"

"I won't stop you," I allowed, "But like I said, it has to go with the room. And nothing too overly morbid. And not too big of a statement either."

"Damn, MC," he pouted, "Just squelch my creativity. Morbid statements are kind of my thing. That's my art style in a nutshell."

"Actually," I thought it over, "Do you think you could do a portrait of Elizabeth?"

"Like those portraits people have done of their pets that make them look like people?"

"Exactly!" I squeaked, "Can you do something like that?"

"It'd take me a while," Saeran mulled it over, "But I could try. And I'd need to make another run to the craft store for paint."

"If you could make Elizabeth III dressed like Elizabeth II," I gushed, "That would send Jumin to a different plane of existence and I'm sure we'd be paid a little more handsomely."

"The shit I do for you, MC," he groaned, "Do you have a sketch book with you? I need something to go from. There's no way I'm going into this totally blind."

"I understand," I nudged him my sketch book and tossed him my pencil, "Go nuts."

"Awesome," Saeran picked a cozy, secluded corner of the room and got to work. Meanwhile, I tightened up my embroidery hoops and did the same. I knew bringing Saeran with me would've been a good idea. I'm getting a portrait of Elizabeth on the wall. I might be making a mistake by getting back into embroidery again. There's a chance I could stab myself with the needle today and bleed onto the curtains. No. I had faith in my abilities. And I'm excited to see what Saeran comes up with.

A little while later, though, my hand cramps started to hit. And hit bad. And fortunately, I wasn't alone. It sucks they're here at all, but hey. Misery loves company. Saeran flopped down on the floor, "MC…"

"Yes, Saeran…" I wasn't much better. The pain shooting through my little hands made me tired.

"Can we be done yet?" he whined, "I don't know if we have a certain clock out time, but my ass wants to clock out. I'm exhausted."

"We're almost done for the day," I assured him, "We can push through."

"You can push through," Saeran threw in the towel, "Screw that. The sun was up when we got here. It's not up anymore."

"You're right," I looked out the window and took in the view over the city. It was daytime when I last looked out there, "We'll take off when Jumin gets home."

"Doesn't Jumin get off at six?" Saeran thought, "I'm pretty sure he gets off around six."

"Jumin is running kind of late," I agreed. Under any other circumstances, I'd be able to leave this alone. I wouldn't be nervous, but given that I'm so close to Jumin right now, I'm worried about him. He should be home by now. It's damn near seven-thirty. Fortunately, I knew who to call.

"Jaehee Kang," Jaehee answered her phone.

"Hi, Jaehee," I melted a little inside. That poor woman deserved a month of paid vacation and stock options.

"Hello, MC," Jaehee chimed, "How are you?"

"It's been a long day," I giggled, "That's for sure."

"I can't agree with you more," she cringed, "Because I'm bound by contract not to."

"And look at that," I jabbed, "We've both had our asses worked off by the same guy."

Jaehee laughed with me, "You're not wrong. Perhaps we need to call Vanderwood again and meet up."

"Not tonight," I shot her down, "But I appreciate it. Speaking of the guy we're both working for these days, you wouldn't happen to know where Jumin is, would you?"

"Not off hand," she thought, "But I know he's out getting drinks with V. Fortunately, he didn't take the roadhouse from us."

"Ok," I could breathe a little easier, "Good. I was starting to worry about him."

"No need to, MC," Jaehee assured me, "Wherever Mr. Han is, he's in a controlled environment. And he's with V. He's not going to get too stupid. I hope I could ease your mind a little."

"You did," I nodded, "Thank you, Jaehee. If Jumin does something silly like drunk dial you, feel free to forward the call my way."

"You're too kind," she awed, "But I think I can handle it. Although, if you need me for the rest of the night, I'll be at the roadhouse."

"Don't go in there to pick a fight," I joked, knowing that despite Jaehee's black belt, she's a gentle lamb.

"I may do just that," she figured, "But chances are, one drink and then, I go home."

"Have one for me, too," I threw my phone back in my bag. Jaehee really does deserve the world, but we're lucky if she takes a single piece of white bread and a glass of water, "Ok, Saeran. We can go home. Jumin's off throwing a few back with V. I'm calling out day done."

"Thank…God…"