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Fort Estienne, the villa prepared for Laura, was a well constructed modern design incorporating top notch security. A two story edifice, it had a long winding pathway from the gate to the house, a meticulously kept garden with knee high hedges, a ten foot high wall with CCTVs all around and even a fingerprint and retinal scanning system for entry. Laura felt a little like she was entering a high security vault and doubted she would come out of it any time soon.
"Fort Estienne... the 'fort' part I get, what with all the security, but why the French name for crown?" she asked Andrew.
"Mr. Talavera picked the name. Since you're the - ahem, heiress, he decided crown would be a good name." he replied. Laura almost sighed in disbelief at that. "You'll be safe here, all your things have been shifted here and the staff has had triple background checks." Andrew continued.
"Staff?" Laura asked.
"The cook, cleaner and gardener. They'll come during the day only, so only Ji Hoon will be around at night. Felix will also be on-hand if you ever need to run any errands or go out. Ji Hoon of course will be guarding you twenty four seven." Andrew said. Laura felt more uncomfortable at that last bit of information.
"Doesn't he even get a day off? I won't need personal protection if I'm inside the house, right?" she asked.
"Mr. Talavera doesn't want to take any chances. He doesn't want to fence you in so you're still free to go outside. Only with Ji Hoon." Andrew explained. Laura sighed inwardly. Not that she minded Ji Hoon; she just wasn't used to having a shadow. This would be hard to get used to.
"Here we are. Home sweet home." Andrew said as they entered the house. "There are two bedrooms upstairs with connecting bathrooms, a kitchen, living room, dining room and a study. Your room is in the west wing and Ji Hoon's in the east."
"We're on the same floor?" she asked, glancing at Ji Hoon in apprehension. He had been quiet so far although she suspected he was as uncomfortable as she was about the arrangement and was probably trying to hide his own opinion.
"Just in case..." Andrew trailed off, "Is that the time? I have to get back to work; those reporters must've made their way to Talavera Group by now. Oh, but before I go, Ji Hoon? There's one more task on the checklist." He gave Ji Hoon a meaningful look.
"Now? But she just got here. Shouldn't I stay to make sure everything's secure?" he asked reluctantly.
"No can't do, Mr. Talavera wants to meet you and -" Andrew eyed Ji Hoon's outfit, "You need to get ready for it." Laura wondered what they meant.
"This had better be quick." Ji Hoon said gruffly. He turned to Laura.
"I'll be back soon okay? Give me a call if anything unusual happens." He said.
"Okay..." Laura complied and watched the two head out. She went over to the couch, wincing a little as her ribs hurt. That short trip from the hospital had tired her out; after making sure her phone was near her, she turned on some classical music and dozed off.
Ji Hoon meanwhile had been whisked away to a clothing store to be fitted for his work wear - afterwards he was made to get a haircut. But when he saw the store, he halted with a dull look of incredulity.
"This is a joke, right?" he asked Andrew in Korean.
"No, Hugo Boss makes the best suits around here and that's the level of professionalism Mr. Talavera expects." He replied. Ji Hoon clicked his tongue.
"Aish, why did I agree to wearing stuffy suits? Overalls were better." He mumbled. Andrew dragged him in and launched him into full try-out mode. Ji Hoon tried on several suits but his main black and white shirt and coat suit was his daily wear. The thin black tie matched with perfection, somehow enhancing his height. Paired with the Bolvaint shoes Andrew bought, he looked exceptionally flawless.
"Daebak, everything looks good on you." Andrew said with his jaw open. "Your height helps too. Lucky. My girlfriend made me try on six brands before she let me buy something." Ji Hoon smirked and did a twirl on his heels, pulling his shirt collar edges out with attitude.
"When you got it, you got it." he said. He put on the sunglasses Andrew gave him, completing the look.
"Your friend looks amazing, if I may say so." The saleswoman said with an appreciative smile. "Very James Bond."
"Heh, heh." Andrew said with a tinge of jealousy. "Don't forget the glasses are smart glasses and have access to practically everything on the web - communication, computer access and even the Talavera Group security mainframe." He said in a lower voice.
"You know I've done this before, right?" Ji Hoon asked condescendingly. Andrew rolled his eyes.
"Right, trying to teach the expert ABC... now that the outfits are set, on to the hair." Ji Hoon gave a miffed look at Andrew before following him out.
The hairdresser had a good few compliments to share as well. Ji Hoon's oval face with naturally well-shaped features gave her the perfect idea for his hair and she gave him a sleek combed back side part cut, his bangs smoothed back with mousse.
"Anything I should know about the boss?" he asked while the hairdresser worked.
"He's - well he likes to get his own way but he's not short-tempered. He might not look like he's smart enough to run a million dollar company but underestimating him is a mistake only his enemies would make."
"And his relationship with Laura?"
"Stable."
"Nothing else?"
"Miss Laura doesn't have a good rapport with him since she doesn't share his idea of a lifestyle. Since she moved out she's barely spoken to him. Mr. Talavera doesn't mind; he'd let her have her own way as long as she's safe. Truthfully, she was forced to stay with him by her mother; she believed Laura would have a better life since her stepfather seemed to care so much about her."
"If she hadn't stayed with her step father, she wouldn't be in this mess." Ji Hoon observed. Andrew remained silent at that.
"She'd have been safe with her mother if she hadn't been an heiress... Love is a dangerous thing." Ji Hoon said in a quiet voice.
"Yes, it is. Which is why I should give you a warning. She's the boss's daughter; I hope you don't get any other ideas." Ji Hoon gave a fake smile.
"Spies don't get too close to anyone." He said, staring at himself in the mirror. Andrew watched him intently for a moment.
"Et voila! C'est fini! He looks fit to be in Vogue, oui?" the hairdresser asked, eyeing him, impressed when she had finished. Ji Hoon stood up and Andrew nodded.
"Much better. Now you don't look like a tramp picked you up from the countryside." He said with a smirk. Ji Hoon punched him.
"Mind your manners punk, you're younger than me." he said in Korean. "Where to next?"
"Let's get you a smart watch and the rest of your equipment; then it's time to meet the boss." Andrew said.
Laura had had a good nap and woke feeling refreshed. She checked the time and saw it had been three hours since Ji Hoon left. It was well past lunchtime and she went to the kitchen.
"Would you like to eat now, miss? I made a chicken salad and risotto with pudding for dessert." The cook asked.
"No thanks, I should wait till Ji Hoon comes. It feels rude to eat without him." Laura said.
"I've also prepared some rolls and chili for dinner. Is there anything else you'd like me to make before I leave? I clock off at three."
"Er, no thanks. You've done a lot today Mrs. Kowalski." Laura said, smiling gratefully.
"Then I'll take my leave. The risotto is in the oven. It doesn't need to be heated up for too long before eating." Mrs. Kowalski said and left. Laura was left alone in the kitchen.
"Ji Hoon might not like Western food..." she thought aloud. She pulled out her phone and began browsing some Korean recipes.
It was almost six by the time Ji Hoon returned. Andrew dropped him off before returning home after their meeting with Mr. Talavera. Ji Hoon went over his words in his head - he had appealed to him with quiet gravity, impressing on him how much Laura's safety meant to him in a few words.
"She means everything to me," Mr. Talavera said, "I have no other family members and she is my only heir. But more than that, she's like my own daughter. Now that I've met the man who will be responsible for her life, I feel more at peace. I'm counting on you, Mr. Kim. Keep her safe." Ji Hoon rubbed his lower lip with his finger as he sometimes did when he was engrossed in thought. That's what he had committed to - protecting Laura. He had no qualms about that. Still - something made him uneasy.
He entered the house, his first quest looking for Laura. The warm aroma of freshly cooked rice hit his nose and he blinked.
"Strange... that smells like..." he trailed off walking towards the kitchen. Laura came out just then wearing an apron and caught sight of him.
"Oh, you're back I didn't -" she stopped on taking in his appearance. Her mouth parted and she forgot what she was going to say.
Laura had seen thousands of men in suits. But until she saw Ji Hoon, it had never occurred to her how good a suit looks - or how mesmerizingly good he looked in it. Even his hairstyle... Laura felt her heartbeat speed up and warmth crept to her cheeks. She was shocked. She hadn't felt like this since high school - swooning over a good-looking guy.
"W-wow... you look different. I-I mean, really good." She stammered. She half turned away to hide her hot cheeks. Ji Hoon looked at his clothes as though just remembering they weren't what he wore earlier and gave a nervous laugh.
"Ah, Andrew took me shopping. You could say I'm finally in uniform. What do you think - do I pass for a bodyguard now?" he asked, spreading out his arms. Laura nodded, privately thinking he'd pass for a heartbreakingly hot model as well, his muscular arms stretched taut in his coat sleeves made her mouth water. She noticed a holster strapped to his chest just hidden under his suit and bit her lip. The reality of the danger she was in hit her; Ji Hoon even had to carry a gun.
"So, er - were you cooking?" he asked.
"Hm? Oh yes, I made chogye guksu. Did I pronounce that right? Mrs. Kowalski made rolls and beans but I didn't think you'd be into Western food so..."
"Wait, wait. You made a Korean dish?" Ji Hoon asked with wide eyes. "Why?"
"Well - it was getting late and I thought you might enjoy something homey."
"But why?" Ji Hoon persisted. "You just came back from the hospital and you're supposed to be resting, not cooking for me! And I can take care of my own meals." Laura's face fell.
"I just wanted to do something for you... You did so much for me at the hospital. And you're working really hard to protect me..." she said with waning confidence. Ji Hoon came close to her.
"Look, I appreciate the gesture but you're not supposed to worry about me. That's my job. But since you took a lot of trouble, I'll eat it well." He said gently. Laura's face lifted.
"Really? Oh good! I made enough for both of us. It might not be authentic enough since I used regular noodles instead of soba, but I hope you'll like it anyway." She said. They sat down at the table she set and Ji Hoon took a spoonful of the noodle soup.
"Is it alright?" Laura asked anxiously. "The recipe said it should be cold but I thought hot would taste better. Is it salty?" Ji Hoon did his best to hide his facial expression; the soup was definitely too salty and the vinegar was a tad too much. But he smiled.
"It's quite good. Is this your first time cooking Korean?" he asked.
"Uh-huh. But I've made noodles and pasta dozens of times. Hang on, there's some cucumber salad to go with it." she said getting up and going to the kitchen. Ji Hoon quickly took the jug of water in front of him and poured half a cup of water into the soup. He'd replaced it before she came back, acting natural.
"I read online that kimchi's a better side but I'll have to pick that up later." She said. She sipped the soup before Ji Hoon could warn her.
"Hmm... Oh!" she said, dropping the spoon. "It's too salty! And I think I added too much vinegar and lemon juice..."
"Heh. I guess you're not used to the Korean flavor." He said with a smile. "Add some water, it'll cut the flavor." He poured the water for her.
"I should practice more next time." She said as they continued eating.
"You don't have to cook for me next time." Ji Hoon said with his spoon in mid-air.
"But I want to." Laura said, meeting his gaze. "The thing is, I prefer to make my own food. I'm not used to having a chef. My mom used to cook for me and she taught me to fend for myself. That's why I made this."
"But I can cook for myself."
"Can't we share? I've never had a roommate before and it's nice to cook for someone else. I can improve with practice..." Laura said, spooning her bowl. Ji Hoon sighed.
"Alright, since it means so much to you. But only after you get better. Let Mrs. Kowalski do the cooking for now." He said.
"Deal."
"By the way, I don't mind Western food. I've lived here for some time now and I'm used to it. But it was nice of you to make something closer to home for me." he said.
"Oh, you don't... I've seen Andrew ordering Chinese a lot so I thought..." she gave a little giggle. "Anyway, that's good to know." It really was, Laura thought, for now she learned one more thing about the enigma that is Kim Ji Hoon.