Trouble with the Curve

Chapter Two | From One Hell to Another

"I gave your Messenger ID to the Sam son. He wanted to set up a time for dinner but didn't want me to have to worry about the details," I read aloud.

More like he doesn't want a nosy secretary is his business.

Opening the messaging portal, I read the message request from my future husband.

"Hello, Miss Lee. While I was hoping to meet you in person today, I understand the need for some alone time based on what your father told me. I know you're probably busy this week with your job at the hospital, but if you're free, I would very much like the opportunity to take you to dinner or something that would fit your schedule. Let me know. Thanks, Jae."

I accept the request and send him a list of dates I have available before locking my phone and deciding to rest on the park bench for a bit. I stare out at the small water feature in the park and think about the many, many decisions that were appearing before me.

Would I take over the Lee Corporation?

Would I quit my job to run the company?

How would I balance a new relationship invading my life, fake or not?

"What will happen to San Mirae if I leave the hospital?" The scariest question of them all plagues my heart as I think about her sweet face and the courage she had continued to show over the course of her treatment.

Far more courage than the bastards that abandoned her to die alone...

My gut recoils as I think about the people who gave birth to San Mirae, the word 'parents' not seeming to fit well with the picture of the confident little warrior in the hospital. Monsters seemed a better fit.

A beep comes from my phone and I look down to see that the newest contact on my messenger portal has responded to my list of available dates.

"Sooner rather than later works for me. Figure we should meet and discuss our situation without board members dictating our actions or forcing us to pretend to be something we're not. Tomorrow night, 7p.m., would you like to meet at..."

The address is unfamiliar to me and I quickly type it into my phone and am surprised to see a somewhat vacant building appear on my phone as the location. Before I can respond and ask why we were meeting at what can only be described as a serial killer's paradise, another message comes through.

"Sorry for the strange location, I have a meeting with contractors there as I just acquired it for a new business venture. I hope you don't mind seeing a bit of my professional life. I guess it's par for the course given the nature of our situation."

I snort at his comment and shrug my shoulders, unfazed that he was making this somewhat of a business meeting.

"Anything I should bring?"

"Comfy shoes. The ground is still a bit uneven since we don't start construction for another week and heels wouldn't be a good idea."

The thought of wearing heels on purpose, especially to impress my husband-to-be, makes me grimace and I quickly respond back to confirm.

Now filled with a nervous energy, I look back around at my surroundings and decide to do another lap before the anxiety in my soul eats me alive.

You chose this path, now you have to follow it.

***

I had enjoyed the day off from the hospital, enjoying a rare day where I didn't go in at all, not even to check in on San Mirae who was off her chemo cycle for the time being while we waited for results on her last cycle. Instead, I focused on packing up my room at my father's house as he announced that the Sam family had prepared a house for me and my husband-to-be.