"No, no way!" Lisa stared incredibly at the 50 year old middle-aged man.
"My daughter, don't be so unfeeling." The middle-aged man begged.
He is Lisa's biological father, Marco.
"How am I unfeeling? Do you even know what you're asking? Your only daughter finally managed to graduate University and enter society. Instead of being happy, you ask her to infiltrate a hotel as a spy to steal other people's private information?!" The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
This morning, the school had just held the graduation ceremony, signaling her turn from student into adulthood. She had planned to stay in Thailand a few more days before returning home, but didn't expect her Dad to come knocking at her door. He informed her there were important matters he needed to discuss with her, so they both rushed back home overnight to Korea.
Marco has always had an easy-going personality about everything. To see him so insistent this time really startled Lisa, so she immediately bought the tickets for the ride home. Who knew her Dad's so-called "big" problem was actually such an outrageous plan.
"Dad knows this kind of thing is wrong, but you have to think about my situation. I also have difficulties!" If he hadn't been so desperate, then he wouldn't have involved his daughter at all.
"Don't mention difficulties to me!" Lisa rolled up her sleeves, ready to fire back. "You said before that during the holiday's it will be hard to find a room. So why not open a B & B and take advantage of the situation. It would be an easy business venture, you said. But how come we are in so much debt?"
That evening, when they arrived home, there was a sumptuous dinner waiting for her. This was the so-called "feast" her Dad so anxiously rushed her home for. She secretly surmised something was up. Indeed, not long after dinner, her Dad suddenly revealed he carried one hundred and fifty million Won debts. She almost choked to death on the rice upon hearing the news.
"Oh, well it's a long story..." Marco began hesitantly.
"You have that kind of money to lend to others?" Lisa narrowed her eyes.
"No no no." Marco hurried to explain, "This time I have absolutely no money to lend. I just helped co-signed for some people... Oh, no!"
Marco could only cover his mouth after realizing his gaffe.
"Co-sign?!" Sure enough, after realizing what her Dad did, she went on a rage. "Didn't I tell you not to lend your friends any more money? This time you even co-signed?! Such an important thing, why didn't you talk to me first? I am really mad at you!"
"If I talked to you first, you would've stopped me." Marco says innocently.
"Exactly!" Lisa bellowed.
Her Dad doesn't smoke, drink, or gamble. His only shortcoming was his gullibility, which will be the death of him.
Having lived this long, but still getting swindled by people who are so-called friends. They would shamelessly beg him for money until he relented. Disregarding their own situation, he would still hand over the money. She really doesn't know if her Dad is a savior or a fool?
Lisa really admired her gentle and beautiful Mom, who is in heaven, who was able to put up with this man for so many years. She struggled so much throughout their marriage, but was still in love with him until she died.
"Oh, yes, you don't really know. This uncle is really poor. He went to Jeju to do business but it failed. He came back and said he wanted to try fishing, but had no ship or equipment. Those who have, will make a lot of money he said. But he didn't expect that the first time out, the ship got damaged..."
"Good! I don't want to know how poor this uncle is. I only know that the world's poorest person is probably me!" Lisa gave her Dad a murderous look. Marco pleaded, "But what is the uncle to do?"
He owed the bad debts, what does that have anything to do with them? They've been neighbors for so many years, how could he?
"Ah... I don't know, he could be in Seoul..." Marco had gone to their home several times already, but the wife does not know anything, and keeps apologizing to him. He saw that they were really poor, and didn't have the heart to pressure them.
"Seoul? Do you mean he's run away?" Oh my God!
"I think so..." Looking at her increasingly livid face, cold sweat formed on his forehead.
"The one hundred and fifty million Won, how did you even get it?" Although the business was good, but her Dad always lent out money, so they never had any savings.
"That's why I hope you would help ah..." Marco looked guiltily at his daughter.
"Help? How am I supposed to help by infiltrating a hotel and stealing someone's personal information?"
"Our B & B is pretty well-known in Gimhae, Ulsan, and other tourist cities. We've built up a good reputation over the years. If we sell it at a good price, we should be able to return the money..."
"Wait a minute! You mean... You want to sell our B & B?" Lisa didn't want to live anymore.
Although her dream is to open a coffee shop and she wasn't interested in running the B & B, but she knew that both her Mom and Dad built that B & B from the ground up. Whether they had to sell it or not, she will feel very reluctant.
"Yes, I've thought about this a long time. We can definitely raise the money right way."
"But, is this alright? The B & B, we've had this business for so many years..."
Seeing his daughter's hesitation, Marco waved his hand.
"Oh, life is short and unpredictable. We should address the present difficulties first... Ah, yes, I haven't finished. Do you know the five star hotel chain "Emerald Plaza"? I recently heard they intend to develop business in Busan, and is also very active in acquiring a B & B. I would say this is a good opportunity. If they are willing to purchase our B & B, then we wouldn't have to worry about the debt. I have to find ways to convince them. Do you have any suggestions?"
Lisa shook her head.
"Their general manager doesn't want to purchase our B & B!" Marco couldn't help but fume.
"I asked the general manager directly why they didn't want to purchase our B & B. He said that he didn't think our B & B design was any good, and the location is poor. Compared to other places, the value is too low. What...what is he talking about ah?! He didn't even bother to send someone to inquire about our guests ah! The general manager must have a psychological problem. He must be a profiteer, trying to pressure us into lowering the price so we lose everything. We mustn't let him succeed, right?"
"Alright, don't get too excited. You're getting older, you should worry about your hypertension ah." Lisa tried to soothe her Dad.
"Lalice-ah, just help your Dad steal some secrets to blackmail their company into purchasing our B & B. You just have to get close to the general manager. Even if he caught you red handed, we could still use that as a bargaining chip to force him into buying our B & B. What do you say?"
"This..." Lisa creased her brows.
After her initial rage, she has had time to cool down. What's important now is to find a solution out of this dilemma. But to become a spy is rather farfetched.
"Oh, ever since your Mom passed away. I've been nothing but sorry towards you. I..."
"Ok, stop it." Lisa quickly stopped her Dad.
She's most afraid when he resorts to "recalling the past" whenever he's desperate. Watching him tear up when he recalls how difficult it was for him to bring her up alone... She immediately relented, surrendering on the spot.
"Will you do this for me?" Seeing imminent victory, Marco wipes away his tears.
"Okay." After all, he's her Dad. Did he really think she was going to leave him with the debt alone?
"Uh...I'm so touched. Dad really didn't want to put you in this position. You are a worthy daughter." Marco pulls Lisa into his arms.
"Wait a minute, don't get too excited." Lisa pushed him away. "I'll help you, but you have to promise me one thing, that from now on..."
"I know, I'll no longer lend money to others. And I won't co-sign anything either, okay?"
"It's good, you know." Lisa is still pained.
"You can trust me. I promise you, I'll never do it again, really!" Marco knew this time he had really angered his daughter.
Lisa sighed.
She's heard this many times before. She hopes this really is the last time.
Lisa studied restaurant management in University and in her last semester, she even spent time getting a chef's license. According to Marco's friend, it would be easy for her to get into Emerald Plaza as a kitchen assistant.
She was getting ready to enter the Busan headquarters. They reasoned, the chances of meeting with the general manager here would be easier.
As a new member of society, the first job is always nerve racking, even more when she had an ulterior motive.
She arrived at Emerald Plaza at six in the morning. Hotel staffs were entering one by one through the back door entrance. It seems, there is a wedding ceremony happening at noon today. The entire hotel kitchen staffs were too busy to notice her.
"Eight o'clock..." Lisa glanced at the clock.
Lisa thought nobody would ever leave the kitchen. Suddenly, a young woman entered from outside.
Lisa thought someone was finally coming to greet her, so she nervously jumped from her chair. She stood for a while, but still no one came. Curious, she walked into the staff lounge to see who she was.
The staff lounge was a small office filled with all kinds of utility tools, Lisa saw the woman through the open door crouching down looking for something.
"What are you looking for? Can I help?" Lisa leaned against the door. She was bored anyway, might as well find something to do.
The woman turned to look back at the door in surprise. She hadn't expected there to be anyone else in the room.
The woman didn't reply to Lisa, and didn't inquire to who she was either. She silently eyed the girl wearing the hotel uniform. Her eyes gave off a distinguished feel. If one did not carefully observed however, that distinguished feeling could also be interpreted as a little censure.
"Who are you? And why are you here?" When the woman spoke, her tone was flat and restrained, not giving away is thoughts.
"I'm new to the kitchen staff, but it seems everyone is busy so there is no one to take me around. I didn't know what to do and I didn't want to hinder anyone, so I stayed in the room." Lisa shrugged helplessly.
The woman watched her just as Lisa was watching her.
Lisa speculated that the woman was around twenty-eight years old. A little older than her. Judging from her age and her familiarity with the equipment in the room, the woman must be an electrical apprentice at the hotel.
She was good looking with an impressive physique, but the only drawback was she was too dirty.
Even electrical apprentices should pay attention to their appearances, right? Looking at her crumpled shirt, even the buttons were misbuttoned, and when was the last time she washed her hair?
"No, I'll find it." The woman didn't continue to inquire about Lisa's identity and even declined her kindness.
"Are you underestimating me? You don't think I'll know what you're looking for? Come on, tell me what you're looking for, and I'll find it for you." Lisa didn't give up.
Thanks to her family's B & B business, she grew up watching her Dad repair everything, making Lisa more knowledgeable than others.
The electrician was quite busy today, so she didn't have time to come inspect the shower head. She was also in a hurry, so she'll just have to believe in this new staff.
"I'm looking for a six angle wrench." She didn't stop rummaging through the equipment, and her voice didn't hold too much confidence in Lisa.
"No wonder you can't find it in this box. What you're looking for is a screwdriver, not a six angle wrench... Hmm, I'll find it for you." Lisa picked up a screwdriver and thrust it into the woman's hand. "Here, this is what you're looking for."
The woman paused. She hadn't expected the woman staff to understand.
"Thanks." The woman expressed her gratitude, then hurried away.
"Hey, wait a minute." Lisa stopped her.
"What's wrong?" The woman stopped and frowned. She seemed a little annoyed to be sidetracked from her task.
"Is today your first day too?"
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w/n: B & B : Bed & Breakfast
Hello, this is my 7th.