Chapter Fifteen

 When SooYun returned to her flat, Warren, Brittany, and Gustav visited. The physician who monitored Warren came at his insistence to change her bandages. He told her to stay off her ankle as much as possible then packed up his medical kit and left. Brittany and Gus were off to work with their mentors and Warren stayed behind with SooYun.

 "So, what the hell happened, Reb?"

 "It was a freak storm that came up and as we were trying to make it to the car, I fell." She told him. "I ended up in the medical clinic and then went to Director Jin's townhouse where his housekeeper took care of me."

 He seemed convinced, but he wagged his finger at her, "You sure you and the Director didn't get cozy, huh?"

 "Hey watch that!" SooYun declared then redirected the conversation to the temple visit. "Master Kang was charming! I did find out that he, the Director, Mr. Lim, and another man were all in high school together. They were an F4 group!"

 "F4? Dammit Reb, you've watched too many K-Dramas!" Then Warren laughed heartily. "Imagine them hanging in a rich kid clique," he paused. "Mr. Lim and the Director both have that look about them."

 "So, what's happening this weekend?" SooYun wanted to know. "I'll be working on my episodes, but what are the rest of you planning?"

 "Not much," Warren replied. "I think we're all going to be working this weekend. Next weekend, there's a wrap party for one of the productions we visited. Brittany got us all invites out of one of the crew members." Warren said then frowned, "If you can't be my plus one, then I'll have to take Gus with me."

 "That will be fun for you, Warren," SooYun told him. "Go as a group and then you don't have to feel pressured."

 "Brittany will be flying solo," Warren muttered. "So, it'll be me and Gus hanging out."

 "Perfect opportunity to network," SooYun advised, "You never know when that right door will open."

 "Yeah, I could pass, and we could binge-watch episodes of Miami Vice," Warren suggested an eyebrow disappearing into the bleached ends of his bangs. 

 "Sounds tempting," SooYun breathed, "To watch Crockett and Tubbs go after the drug cartels in speed boats – overdose on the 80's music – yeah, sounds mighty tempting!"

 "Good Lord," Warren said rolling his eyes dramatically. "You've talked me into the wrap party!"

 She laughed. "Good! You'll have a much better time!"

 He got to his feet and prepared to leave. "You're sure you're okay, Reb? We were worried – I was worried about you."

 "I'm fine." She answered. 

 "You want me to bring you back something? We found a fried chicken and beer joint in town and we're going to get one of the security guys to drive us down." Warren said. 

 "That sounds pretty good to me," SooYun said. "I'll pay you back on the next round."

 He left and SooYun decided to change and look over her sketch diary and make a few notes for tomorrow's work. She slowly made her way upstairs and found a roomy long-sleeved thermal shirt and a pair of yoga pants that were loose enough not to catch in her bandages. She made her way carefully down the stairs and sat at the low desk with a good study light beaming down on her notebook and sketch diary. She had made quite a few notes and sketches. The drawing of Master Kang was especially good, and she smiled as she recalled their conversation. 

 Mr. Hung arrived at LiYul's office door. He was holding an Eagle's Nest ID tag in his hand. LiYul waved him in. "Where was that hiding?" LiYul asked.

 Mr. Hung brought the ID tag over to LiYul. "I found it under the passenger seat," he replied. "It didn't get damaged, only had a little mud on the lanyard. I cleaned it up."

 LiYul took the ID tag and turned it over in his hand, the ID picture of SooYun did not do her justice. The only striking feature was the eyes that seemed to be trying to pierce through the plastic into his chest! "Thank you, Mr. Hung. SooYun will need her ID tag to be able to get into the facility. We'll be taking no chances with a possible security leak."

 "Shall I leave her tag with you?" Mr. Hung wanted to know. "She may not even be aware it is missing."

 "I will make sure she gets it back and make sure that both facilities are secure," LiYul said. "Jae-Ho has enough on his plate right now and needs to enjoy his weekend."

 Mr. Hung nodded, making no further comment. He watched as LiYul picked up his phone, and wallet, and took a second set of car keys from his desk drawer. The black Maserati was being cleaned, so he would be taking the low-slung Porsche Cayman GT4. It was flashier and much faster than his current car crush! As he got in and clipped the seatbelt in place, he wondered if SooYun could also master this vehicle. As he wheeled out of the parking area and onto the road out of the townhouse, he smiled.

 Warren returned with her food and two cans of beer. He had already had two beers with his dinner and pulled the tabs on the two cans he brought in. He sipped his beer as she joined him on a cushion at the low table. They chatted while she ate, and he nursed his can of beer. The Korean beer was much stronger than she was used to, but it went well with the fried chicken. He looked through her sketch diary and tapped the picture of Master Kang, "He looks like a Buddhist warrior monk – like he'd kick your ass if you squashed a cricket!"

 SooYun giggled at the visual that flashed in her mind. "Sounds like an idea for an Anime cartoon!"

 "You're drunk, Reb!" Warren told her grinning at her. "You can't hold your liquor at all!"

 "I'm not drunk!" she protested, "But I might be tipsy!"

 He knocked back the last of his beer and got up. "Okay, Reb. Don't stay up too late. I'll see you at breakfast."

 LiYul walked up to SooYun's flat and spotted the front door standing ajar! Then he heard voices inside. Grisham was preparing to leave. "If it stays much colder, I'm not going to be leaving this door open when I visit you, Reb! It's crazy to hold onto such old-fashioned notions!"

 "You are a despicable character!" SooYun called with a heavy Southern American accent, "And I have my honor to uphold!"

 Warren snorted with laughter. "Frankly, Scarlett I have my honor to think about too, ya know!" He called back over his shoulder to her. "An innocent young man in an older woman's apartment – talk about scandalous!" He shoved his feet into his sneakers and pulled the door open. He came face to face with the Director! "She's inside, and she's tipsy as hell!"

 SooYun continued sipping her beer. She was only mildly tipsy and was feeling comfortable now she was back in her usual surroundings. She heard Warren talking to someone outside her flat. Curious, she got up from her cushion and limped to the entryway to see who was visiting her. She felt her heart stop! It was the Director! 

 He pushed the open wide and looked in. Seeing Warren Grisham coming out of SooYun's flat annoyed LiYul to no end! Of course, he knew Grisham would check on her – they had an odd friendship established because of her kindness and caring. It was exactly what she had created with him! Suddenly the warmth in his chest was being smothered! What was he doing standing in the woman's entryway? 

 "Director Jin!" 

 SooYun saw the dark furious look on his face and wondered what had happened. Why was he back? Why was he so angry looking as he looked up at her? 

 LiYul came in, closed the door, and stood glaring at her. He immediately noticed what Grisham had commented on. She was tipsy! The usual mask of calm she wore was gone, and a completely different woman stood in front of him. She was slightly swaying from the effects of the beer and having to shift her weight off of her sprained ankle. Her hair was loose with tendrils of long shining hair tailing around her face and shoulders. Her cheeks were flushed pink. What struck him most were her sparkling blue eyes! It was as if she held the secrets of the world and she found them ridiculous! 

 LiYul glanced around. It appeared that Grisham had only dropped by and not spent the entire evening with her. While he was not pleased to see that the door had been unlocked and ajar the entire time Grisham was visiting, he liked that she was holding on to proprieties. "Your ID tag was in the car," he told her and held up the tag on its blue lanyard. "The security in the building is being heightened. You'll need it to get into the facility."

 "Has something else happened?" she asked then placed her hands on her hips, "Was it Warren?"

 LiYul's frown turned dark and foreboding. "No, it was not Mr. Grisham!" he stepped up and thrust the ID tag at her. She reached to take it, taking a half step forward, and fell into his arms. She began to struggle to right herself. He tightened his hold, "Stop wiggling!" he commanded.

 She froze and looked up into his now annoyed face. He steered her to the sofa, and she sat down. He looked down at the table where she had been working. It was a scattering of handwritten pages, scraps of paper with hastily written notes, and the sketch diary lay among the creative clutter with larger sketchbooks of more detailed drawings filled with splashes of color. He dropped the ID tag on top of the sketch diary and looked down at her. "Keep your door locked and do not let anyone in that you do not know, understand?"

 "Yes," she answered, she frowned in thought. "The others are going to the wrap party next weekend, have they been told of these extra precautions?"

 "Jae-Ho will be meeting with you all tomorrow." He told her, then gave her an appraising look, "Are you going to this wrap party?"

 "No," she answered, waving off the idea. "I have too much to do."

 "Already working on your rewrites?" LiYul commented then pointed down at her drawings. "Do you have enough to work out episode four?"

 She nodded, glad for the change of subject and his new focus of interest. She pulled her larger sketch of the iron gong from underneath her other drawings, laid it on top, and tapped it with an index finger. "More than enough to keep me busy through the weekend and into next week."

 He leaned over, picked up the drawing, and studied it. "You are a talented artist. I should mentor you with someone from art production."

 "Mr. Lim said my mentor would be returning soon," SooYun said watching him studying her drawing intently. "She's a writer that fits my style of screenwriting."

 "I am rethinking that choice as well," LiYul said and leaned over to pick up another drawing. This was the interior of the inner temple. "What were you working from? Photo or sketch?"

 SooYun flipped back in her sketch diary, "From this. I took no pictures of the inner sanctuary." She turned it around so he could see. He held out his hand for the diary and she passed it up to him. He studied both the rough sketch and the second drawing she was still working on. As he returned both diary and drawing to her he glanced to the side table where there were two spiral-bound sketchbooks. The scene was familiar. He stepped over and picked up the sketchbook. 

 SooYun was not sure if he would feel she was invading his privacy by drawing the pasture and the small group of horses, or if he was just interested. "From what I saw in the photographs, they're fine-looking young Andalusians, how many do you stable?"

 He angled a sharp look at her. Mrs. Hung had related SooYun's story, and he had verified the information from the background information his uncle had provided and what Lim had scoured up during the background check. He had read SooYun's dossier from front to back. He had learned a bit more about her and wanted to know more! "I have two stallions and six mares. I also have three geldings. The horses you saw in the photographs will soon go to their owners. They are nearly three years old and just beginning to show signs of color change."

 "They are splendid," SooYun said. "You must be very proud of them."

 He did not answer her but only nodded slightly, still examining the drawings. The various sketches were sweeping strokes that indicated graceful movement, and others were more detailed renderings. LiYul felt suddenly awkward, as was the case with most encounters with SooYun. He returned the sketchbook to the side table and executed a curt bow, "Be aware of your surroundings for the next few weeks." He turned and walked out, closing the door behind him. He stood outside and did a careful look around the courtyard. The flats looked secure and the pathway to the side entrance to the main facility was well-lit. However, he was not comfortable with the feeling that someone was watching not only his movements but those of SooYun. 

 SooYun was standing in the hallway looking at the door. She felt the edges of annoyance creep into her thoughts. The Director was infuriating to her! He arrived unannounced, tossed commands around, then tried to speak to her in a pleasant tone, then iced over and stormed out again! "What the hell?" she muttered, irritably.

 He got to his car and sat there for a moment studying the area. He was also trying to figure out why she could annoy him and yet soothe him at the same time! He had traveled over an hour to bring her the ID tag that could have waited until the morning! He had wanted to see her. Now he was sitting in his car not wanting to leave. Before he realized what he was doing, he pulled his phone from the inside pocket of his jacket and opened the text app. He pulled up SooYun from his list, "White Lotus" He texted her, "Please change your door passcode."

 SooYun was picking up her dinner box and empty beer cans when her phone buzzed. The name "Korean Titan" popped up on her screen. She thumbed the text app open. He had issued a command for her to change her door passcode and to text it to him. 

 "Right away, Your Highness!" She growled in frustration. She thought for a moment then limped over to the keypad of the security system and changed the text code to: "jeonha". 

 LiYul was about to put his phone away when it chimed. He looked at the phone and saw that SooYun had replied. He opened the text app. He laughed as he looked at her one-word response. She was the only person in his life including his friends from high school that dared to tease him. Jae-Ho came closest, but he knew him well enough to maneuver around LiYul's dark moods.

 He tucked his phone away and drove out of the facility. He laughed to himself in the car. He had teased her as well. He had programmed his contact information in her phone under the name she had printed under her sketch of him! 'Korean Titan' how absurd! Jae-Ho's sketch had nothing like that penned underneath it. He was not necessarily offended by the term but was admittedly stung by the teasing nickname. Still, it was something uniquely their own and he liked it!