'Mrs. Kennedy.' Keziah repeated for the hundredth time and I was still looking down at the same list with no additions made. We were getting nowhere since both of us remained distracted for different reasons.

'It has a very nice ring to it.'

'So does Incheon conference and winners of the contract.'

'You know what I've noticed Welsh?'
I didn't and she was going to tell me.

'You've been looking gloomy of late.' She circled a finger in my face.
'Something has been bothering you. I noticed it way before Thomas' arrival.'

I denied it.
'It's all in your mind. I'm perfectly fine.' I even smiled to prove it.

'I'm not buying it.' She types a few words and then looked back at me.
'Uh... you know that you can tell me if anything is wrong.'

The surprise must have clearly visible in my face.
'You know, as a professional... ear?'
Was she asking me? It didn't sound right either way.

'You know, I need you focused on our project so I'll be willing to listen.'

I nodded genuinely smiling now.

'Thank you, I will.'

'Over lunch at 'By the way' BBQ? You owe me.'

'I do?'

'Yes, I haven't forgotten how you almost ruined my proposal.'

'You weren't ready, you said so yourself.'

'And you know this how?'

'I like to I know you a lot better now.' I smiled.

One thing I knew for certain, I knew how to make an exit. The copier sat in the center of the office in the full view of Gu's teammates. I pointedly smiled and avoided their evil eyes. What they thought about me was beneath me, I had a bigger headache to deal with. Several questions all fighting for my sole attention like for one, was Keziah sick?

When I turned I found two people standing behind me.

'Hello, how may I help you?'

'We are sorry, Mr. Welsh.' They took turns saying.

'Our behavior is unexcusable. We have returned to be of help.'

What did they want me to say to them with the two of them just watching me with their little beady eyes?

'I am thankful that you have chosen this time to come to your senses.'

My tone held no warmth, and I kept it that way. Their apologies were ingenuine that even a bat to see right through them. I had been expecting an underhanded ploy from Gu and his people soon enough and true to my suspicions here were the lousy spies they'd sent to gather information about our progress and ideas. Usually, I would have loved to play their little game but not this time around.

'But, It's fine. We managed on our own so far, I'm sure we can go the rest of the way without you.'

'Oh, wow, do you think you are better than us so you do not need our help?'

His split-second reaction took me a second to process with just how fast their attitude seemed to change. I laughed mirthlessly but chose not to walk away.

'I would have loved your help if it had come a week ago when my friend came looking for you. I guess it is a little too late. Why don't you think of this like a vacancy, you didn't take it now we found someone else to fill the position. Goodbye.'

Eun Soon was simply the best and so was Anne. They considerably lessened the workload on Keziah and me.

'Tomorrow, my cousin is available. he can take you sightseeing if you would like. I have emailed the list of possible locations to Keziah.' Eun's voice was clear on the phone.

'And Anne how far with your graphic design friend?' Keziah spoke into her phone.

'He is willing to work with us, for a small fee of course.'

'Tell Don I owe him one, he'll understand.'

'Okay David, but guys I have to go now duty calls.' We thanked Anne before she cut the call.

'Are you two still in the office, it's getting late?' Eun Soon asked.

'No. The wall is developing ears. We are sitting in the car outside a BBQ restaurant that closes in an hour.' Keziah looked at me like it was my fault when we were both to blame for time getting away from us.

'Well, Bon appetite. I'll talk to you two later then.'

'We appreciate you Eun, we won't forget this.'

'It's okay.' she responded ever so sweetly.

Keziah was out of the car in the next minute and was already giving the waiter her order.

'Have you taken your medication?'

The foreignness of my query caused her to slowly reply.

'I forgot actually. But I will.'

'What are they for?'

She stared long before finally deciding to answer.

'I found out I had an asthma gene which was triggered when Claire locked me in the cold storage.'

I regretted asking. The guilt that I had battled into a forced burial resurrected like the zombie. it was wreaking havoc once again in my head and chest. I knew I wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight just like the nights after the incident. Back then, I wondered how it was my fault that she'd gotten locked in the locker but that didn't chase away the feeling and now it was back again because to Keziah and Anne and the rest of the world, I had rewarded the antagonist with a promotion. I was ready to order with no appetite to satisfy.

Keziah expertly grilled the meat and then wrapped it in lettuce as I had seen several times in the television dramas.

'This is so good.'

I was glad she thought so because it tasted like nothing to me.

We managed to wrangle a number of dishes to go when the store closed.

'I'm definitely taking my mother to one of these when we get back to Charlotte after we kick-ass first of course.'

'Does Liz like Thomas?' Yes, there was no correlation from one topic to the other but I had to ask after I dwelled on the thought for a while. Hopefully, Keziah wouldn't notice just how bothered I was by her consideration of the fake proposal.

'I can tell you this since you and my mother are... it pains me to say it ... close.'

When it was just us like this in the car with the driver, unless we were speaking directly to him, we spoke in English at all times.

'And you can tell me this because for the time being while this competition lasts, we are friends.'

'So you keep reminding me.'

That was because I was quickly realizing just how pathetic I was as a person.

'Well, Mama likes him enough. But like you overheard, his schedule doesn't really permit a lot of hangouts and family get-togethers.'

'So she too barely knows him. Can I assume then that Mr. Mills is in the same boat?'

She shook her head.

'I haven't told my father about Thomas yet.'

'Why?'

'I don't need to pressure from him to get married or the disappointment if the relationship doesn't pan out right.'

Her father loosely reminded me of my mother's constant pleading for me to find the right woman and settle down. It was one of the reasons I never seriously dated or gave any of my female acquaintances titles. What was the point in giving either my mother or the lady I was seeing false hope of there being something more between the two of us? It would only waste the time of all the parties involved.

'I get it. So you want to be certain beyond any reasonable doubt that Thomas is the one for you?'

I was spotting a similarity between the two of us.

'I know he is the one. I just need to get the rest of the 10% of me on board.'

'And would that be your head or heart?'

'My head obviously, it is always spoiling the fun.'

This was my chance to maybe start preparing her for the inevitable blow coming her way in a few months. So how do I tell her that her head was right to not fall a hundred percent for the man who 'unintentionally' cheated on a woman he wanted to marry.

'Your brain is probably telling you that you are far too young to get shackled in marriage.'

On our arrival, I took the bags out of the car and set the dining table where we would continue our conversation.

'Maybe. Or maybe I'm being overly cautious for no reason.' She picked at her meal as she uttered her next words.

'I have been burned a few times in my relationships so it makes sense that I want to be cautious. But I don't have to be, not with Tommy.'

She must truly love him. This was why he had hope that they would be able to move past his infidelity and still be together. And just talking about him, the way she smiled. She was happy. Maybe she should stay with Thomas, the truth didn't even need to come out. I was certain I could keep a secret and so could Don. Thomas, I was sure would sew his mouth closed with the right motivation which would hopefully weigh more than his guilt.

'Don't you think so?'

'Huh?' I was unready for the question.

'Don't you think Tommy is good for me?'

No, no he wasn't. 'Yes, he is.'

'I'm not sure if I should be scared or relieved.'

I playfully shrugged, 'Depends on how much you cherish the advice of a peacock.'

She dropped her fork and gasped at my intentional choice of words.

'You were eavesdropping?'

'No, I overheard the conversation. Turns out my door didn't close all the way and you failed to keep your voice down.'

'Oh, so it is my fault?'

I unapologetically nodded.

'Just like the other time.'

She squeezed her face, confused. 'What other time?'

'You forgot to hit the end call button giving me front row seats to Cirque de Mills. I believe you promised to show a Yeti?'

The joy I got from watching her eyes grow wider and her jaw drop lower.

'A Yeti named Welsh.' I continued eating my food.

She covered her face in shame. 'How did you not mention this till now? How did you not fire me?'

'I have a sense of humor too, you know?'

She retained her mortified expression.

'It's water under the bridge, Mills. But you will have to make it up to me someday.'

She looked afraid to ask but she was brave enough to voice the question.

'How?'

'By beating the Koreans on their own turf.'

'Done and done.' she smiled brightly.

'By the way, Miss Mills, did you see that episode of 'Crash Landing into you'?'

'Episode seven? Of course, I did.'

And that was the direction our conversation veered to. Even after we were done eating we sat at the table, just the two of us discussing a TV show as if it were a real-life event and the cast were our best friends. The best part about the whole night was, we talked for hours our conversation bouncing from Korean dramas into some aspects of our personal lives. I was watching barbed walls come down.