Serendipity

Chapter 27

Once the door is closed, Ms. Hyun leads us in a brisk walk to the opposite corner of the floor, past several fish tank offices, and two rows of desks facing each other. Each office has a person sitting at their desk working, and they look up, staring as we walk past. The people sitting at the two facing rows of desks don't acknowledge our presence as we walk past to turn right into a short hallway. It's beginning to feel like a crypt in this office, and I think even that would have more life and sound.

Stopping at the last door at the end of the hall, Ms. Hyun gestures for us to enter. When I do, I'm surprised to see a corner office with banks of floor-to-ceiling windows lining the two outer walls, a glass topped metal desk situated across the room to the left with two visitor chairs in front of it, and a large seating area straight in. Ms. Hyun starts speaking in a tight and clipped voice.

"This is your office, Ms. Cho. Please leave your things here and I'll take you around so you can familiarize yourself with the layout of the larger office space."

I walk forward and set my briefcase in the chair behind the desk, pausing to take a cursory glance at the computer and phone. Turning around, I take a moment to look out the window at the view as Anaïse walks slowly around it, checking the area thoroughly, and I wonder where out there the HYBE building is located.

"If you'll follow me..." Ms. Hyun's voice brings me back to where I am at presently.

"Of course," I respond as I look at Anaïse, who has completed her check. She gives me a slight nod, which I return before walking back to the door. We follow Ms. Hyun back down the short hall we just traveled. She explains in short, clipped phrases what each space is as I translate to English for Anaïse. Retracing our steps back to the front where all the pairs of desks are located, I realize we are going in a large circle around the centrally located fish tank offices, which turn out to be all the junior partners. She shows us where the meeting rooms are, along with the senior partners' offices. The largest office space on the floor is where Mr. Wallace and Mr. Wilson, along with an Executive Assistant, work when they spend time in Seoul. My heart lifts when I hear that, knowing I'll see Muriel again at some point. When she shows us where her office is located, I'm glad it's nowhere close to mine. I'm not sure I could handle having her too close to me on a daily basis.

"Ms. LaRoux, if you will follow me, I'll take you to the Security office so you can meet your supervisor and co-workers." Anaïse looks to me and I tell her what Ms. Hyun says.

"Is there someone in the Security office who speaks English? Ms. LaRoux is currently learning Korean, however it's still relatively new to her," I inquire politely, to which I see Ms. Hyun's already dour expression get worse, if that's even possible.

"I'm sure there is. Now please, follow me," she says stiffly, turning on her heel and walking out of my office without looking back. I gesture for Anaïse to go first, and I follow them out. When we reach the Security office door, Ms. Hyun knocks briskly and turns to see both of us standing behind her. "Ms. Cho, your presence is not needed."

"With all due respect, Ms. Hyun, I believe it is," I say in a firm tone, letting out my aura just a tiny bit, and I see her blink rapidly. I turn my gaze back to the door as it opens and a well-built, but short, suit-clad man bids us to enter.

"Captain Paeng, this is Ms. LaRoux and Ms. Cho, the new transfers from America," Ms. Hyun states as we bow with our introductions, and I swear it sounds like she just sucked on something sour when she says the word America. Interesting.

"Welcome to the Seoul office, Ms. LaRoux, Ms. Cho. Please come this way so we can have a short chat. Thank you, Ms. Hyun," he states as he bows to the office manager. Before she turns to go, I speak up.