A/N: I had family matters yesterday so I wasn't able to post an update. Thank you to ricci (binjinareclowns) for the photo inspiration for this part!
I will be posting another update tonight! But for now, I hope you like this! To those who will be watching HB's fan meet later, have fun!!!
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"So we've lifted the embargo on shiny things?"
Mr. Hong watched as his boss perused the rack of gowns prepared by the designers for Yoon Se-Ri.
Se-Ri had never seen this many sequins in her life. There were long gowns, short dresses, spaghetti straps, off-shoulder, scalloped neckline, sweetheart neck, right slit, back slit... all in sequins. Some of the pieces were in full sequins, some used the shiny discs sporadically in the garment.
She had to admit, most of the pieces provided to her were made very well with fits that would be flattering on her. Still, 15 minutes in, she had a headache. How Kim Joo Won could last seeing all of this is something she would never understand.
"Mr. Hong, could you place a cover over this for a second? I feel a migraine coming on," Se-Ri said, taking a seat and massaging her temples. "Did Kim Joo Won's team send us photos of what he's planning to wear for our engagement party?"
"No, Ms. Yoon. They contacted us just to tell us that Mr. Kim wants to keep it as a surprise. They also said that if you wish to tell them the color of your gown, they could find something suitable to match," Mr. Hong replied.
"Nothing?! How would I know he won't arrive at the dinner looking like a fashion victim?!" Yoon Se-Ri complained.
Mr. Hong shifted his weight uncomfortably. "Well, they did send a photo of his choices."
"Let. Me. See."
Se-Ri almost collapsed.
Mr. Hong said, "They told us that they would appreciate if you could them which you prefer? The gold, the blue or the red?"
***
Im Jong-soo stared at the suits Kim Joo Won was searching from. "This is for your engagement party?"
"Yes," Joo Won replied without looking at his friend.
"To the heiress that is the head of her own FASHION empire?" Im Jong-soo continued.
"Yes," Joo Won said, still going through the suits. Pulling one out, he asked, "How about this one?"
Im Jong-soo flinched.
"The stitching is done well. I've actually complimented the tailor when he sent this over," Kim Joo Won shared the information to his friend, who has not gotten over the fact that Joo Won actually owned this many shining suits.
When Kim Joo Won wore the gold blazer, "Let's call Se-Ri and check if it works for with whatever she will wear."
Once the video call connected, Kim Joo Won gave Yoon Se-Ri a wide smile and asked, "Good, right? Gold is such a versatile color!"
"You look like the awards they give out to actors," Se-Ri commented, rolling her eyes. "Not the actor receiving it. The actual trophy."
Im Jong-soo snorted at Se-Ri's reaction, earning him a glare from Kim Joo Won.
"Psssshhhh. Sometimes, I doubt how you were able to build your business in fashion when you have no sense at all!" Kim Joo Won returned.
"Me?! I'm the one with no fashion sense?!" she shrieked. Taking a deep breath, Se-Ri tried to 'reason' with him. "I have an app here where I can simulate what you would look like in different suits. I tried one for you, I'm sending it now. Please look at it and consider?"
"Hold on," Kim Joo Won pulled up his email to check the photo.
"Black suit, black tie and black undershirt?! Am I going to a funeral?!" Kim Joo Won complained.
Se-Ri narrowed her eyes at him. "Yes. My funeral. My career's funeral."
Im Jong-soo snorted again. It was getting more and more difficult for him to keep his chuckles down.
"Why are you being so difficult?" Kim Joo Won asked Se-Ri. "I thought we were trying to be nice to each other? Should I reject your offer to rent the space?!"
"Hey! That's blackmail," Se-Ri pointed out.
"No, it's a sound business decision," Kim Joon Won said. "That floor was meant for the high-end international fashion brands that can bring in sales for the store. Your taste makes me doubt that my mall would earn from it."
Se-Ri glared at him. "Fine. Just don't wear gold! I'm wearing gold."
"Yah! I don't want to look like I'm marrying a rapper. Keep your bling in check," Kim Joo Won warned.
"You... uuuuuggggh! Fine, BYE!"
Once the call was disconnected, Im Jong-soo reminded Kim Joo Won, "Remember that your father said to make nice with the Yoons, especially your fiancée."
"I am nice," Kim Joo Won said. "I'm actually thinking of following her request and go with a black suit! Nice, right?"
Taking out his selection, Im Jong-soo couldn't help but roll his eyes. It still had a spattering of black sequins but was much more toned down than the others he initially picked.
"I want to do something, though."
Im Jong-soo looked at his friend questioningly.
"Could you ask my staff and bodyguards to come in? I have just the right outfit for them for my party," Kim Joo Won said.
***
"Isn't this a little too much for an engagement party?"
Yoon Se-Ri sat in her car, waiting for the event planners to tell her that it was time for her entrance, and stared at the guests who were now arriving at the venue. There were colleagues, relatives, big celebrities arriving in their best attire and this wasn't even their wedding yet. Add to that, there were reporters and photographers covering the event.
"Your father and Mr. Kim's father insisted to make it this grand because they will also be announcing the merger tonight," Mr. Hong replied.
Yoon Se-Ri just took in the information, not feeling happy or sad about it. It was a business deal. That's all.
Doing a final check of her makeup, the car pulled up by the red carpet and her bodyguard opened her door for her. They had been told by the event planner that Se-Ri would be arriving before Kim Joo Won.
The crowd around fell silent when Yoon Se-Ri alighted the car before the photographers went into a frenzy trying to capture the vision that she was.
"Oh my god, she's so beautiful!"
"Sexy!"
"That dress looks amazing on her!"
"Can she marry me instead?"
Se-Ri basked in the compliments thrown her way. Surprisingly, at the back of her mind, she couldn't help but think, I hope Kim Joo Won won't be too mad that I wore his trademark.
But, whatever concern she had for her fiancé's feelings were quickly forgotten, when she saw him arrive.
Kim Joo Won was in a gorgeous black suit, with his blazer still with sequins but beautifully placed. However, when he got down from his car, he was quickly surrounded by an entourage who wore matching blue sequinned track suits.