Chapter Twenty

SooYun showered and was pampered from head to toe by Mrs. Hung. SooYun's hair was of particular focus. With the black laser-cut marabou feathers and crème satin lotus blossom, Mrs. Hung coiffed SooYun's hair into an elaborate style that rivaled the princesses of the Joseon dynasty! 

SooYun's makeup was more dramatic, focusing on her eyes and mouth. She had never had a heavy hand with her application and tonight was no different. She and Mrs. Hung laughed and talked over her French manicure and then SooYun applied the final seal on her fingernails while Mrs. Hung attended to SooYun's feet. The black sling-back heels would still let her rose-pink toenails peep out. 

On the other side of the panel door that separated LiYul from SooYun, Mr. Hung was attending to his young master. LiYul did not let anyone touch him, so Mr. Hung simply handed the articles to LiYul. Mr. Hung noticed the jewelry box on the dresser and was curious but said nothing. This was more than an evening event – this was an introduction of sorts to society and LiYul was making a very clear and bold statement! Mr. Hung hoped SooYun was receptive to the overture.

Mrs. Hung helped SooYun into her dress and the folds of black taffeta fell around her legs and the bodice fit her body like a glove, Mrs. Hung felt tears prick her eyes. It was just like attending LiYul's mother in the days they entertained and went out to similar events like tonight. SooYun was exquisite! She stepped into the middle of the room and made a very slow turn for Mrs. Hung. She clapped her hands, "So lovely!" 

Mrs. Hung had something of her own she wanted SooYun to carry with her. She opened a long rectangular box and drew out a black lacquered fan. The tassel and wrist strap were bright red silk and knotted in elaborate designs. SooYun watched as Mrs. Hung opened the fan fully and fluttered it in front of her face in a coquettish manner. It made SooYun grin. "When you want to keep someone at bay, you can use it to push the man back." Mrs. Hung said, "If you want to express interest, open your fan halfway and draw it up so only your eyes show, then lower it to reveal your smile!" 

"And if you reject the attentions of a suitor?" SooYun asked.

Mrs. Hung snapped the fan closed and swatted an imaginary suitor on the shoulder. The snap of the fan closing made SooYun jump and then laugh girlishly with Mrs. Hung.

LiYul got to the door and raised his hand to knock when he heard the women giggling over something they were discussing secretly. He smiled and then knocked. 

The knock on the hallway door made Mrs. Hung shoo SooYun behind the dressing screen. She wanted to have SooYun make an entrance! Mrs. Hung went to the door and opened it. LiYul looked a little disappointed to see Mrs. Hung instead of SooYun. "I have something I want SooYun to wear tonight."

Mrs. Hung's eyes fell on the flat jewelry box, and she nodded and stepped away, opening the door wide. "SooYun it's LiYul, come out."

LiYul's eyes found SooYun instantly! She stepped out from behind the dressing screen and stood, eyes cast down almost demurely then her eyes rose to meet his. He drank her in, taking in every detail and then he saw the fan hanging from SooYun's wrist. He cleared his throat lightly and stepped into the room toward her. "I have something I would like you to wear for me tonight, SooYun."

 He presented the jewelry box to her and opened it, revealing the diamond necklace and earrings. SooYun gasped, "Oh, LiYul it's lovely!"

 "Let's see how it looks on you," LiYul said softly. "Come stand in front of the mirror."

 She did and he took the necklace from the box and handed it to SooYun to hold. He brought the necklace around her throat and his fingers brushed the soft skin of her neck, sending shivers down her spine. As he secured the clasp he met her eyes in the mirror. It was made for her! SooYun put the wires of the diamond drop earrings in her ears, and they glittered under the soft lights of the bedroom. Under the lights of the ballroom, they would be like stars! Her hand came up to her throat to lightly touch the stones. She turned away from the mirror to look up at LiYul, "They are absolutely lovely, LiYul!"

 He inclined his head, accepting her compliment with a smile. That was when SooYun noticed the jacket collar was not lying flat. She started to reach up to fix it and froze as she realized what she was doing. She started to draw her hand back, but he caught her wrist in his hand, fingers curling around to rest against the rapid pulse. He stepped closer bringing her hand to rest against his chest. 

 SooYun quickly smoothed the material of his jacket collar down and slid her fingers down both sides of the jacket lapels. "There, perfect and handsome!"

 "Shall we go?" LiYul murmured close to her ear as he leaned in. His breath stirred the tendrils of hair that curled against her cheek and ear. He offered his arm and SooYun slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow. 

 They walked down the hall to the stairs. Mr. Hung was at the foot of the staircase waiting for them. He smiled broadly as he saw them pause at the top of the stairs and then descend together. LiYul took the velvet wrap from Mr. Hung and draped it around SooYun's shoulders. They walked out and LiYul opened the back driver's side door and saw SooYun buckled in. He went around and climbed in next to her snapping his seatbelt in place. 

 Mr. Hung got in and served as the driver for the evening. LiYul was unsure what they should talk about. He found it difficult to do much but admire the woman next to him. It was SooYun who broke the silence. "Mr. Lim said you'd have to say a few words tonight when you accepted recognition for the film Aquila Studios produced for the cultural center."

 "Yes," He replied, his eyes roaming over her face. "They are not expecting a speech, just a thank you and continued pledge of support."

 "I understand," SooYun said. "Your pledge will encourage the others there to match or raise their pledge of support."

 "These events draw wealthy Europeans, Saudis, and many wealthy Korean families to show their support of the cultural arts. You'll probably spot a famous musician or two, actors, artists, and celebrities from all over vying for the spotlight." LiYul commented. "It will be a spectacle that I will fortunately miss."

 "Why?" She asked, looking suddenly concerned that he was experiencing pain.

 He leaned toward her, his shoulder brushing hers lightly. "I will be too busy watching you!"

 SooYun blushed and laughed lightly and employed the fan Mrs. Hung had given her. She opened it halfway and drew it up to hide her smile. She raised her eyes and LiYul's gaze caught and held hers with a sudden fierceness. "There are consequences for the kind of game you play, SooYun!" 

She sputtered and started to laugh. When she looked over at him and tried to stop and be serious, it only made her laugh harder. LiYul grinned at her then he started to laugh too. It was a sound Mr. Hung had never heard before and it brought sudden tears to his eyes. LiYul and SooYun leaned into each other, laughing. SooYun dropped the fan in her lap and caught her breath. "Mrs. Hung said it would work!"

"It did!" LiYul said and as SooYun looked over at him in surprise, they both burst into laughter again. For the first time in his life, he was happy! SooYun demonstrated what Mrs. Hung had told her and he smiled appreciatively at her coquettish demonstrations. He took the fan from her and mimicked the movements of the fan. Seeing him behave boyishly made SooYun giggle. She never realized how close they were sitting or how often he reached out and took her hands in his. The aversion to being touched did not include SooYun, in fact, every time they made contact he felt his heart flutter and his breath catch in a pleasurable way.

They arrived at the venue. There were lines of luxury cars with men and women dressed in a variety of fashionable clothing, furs, and various states of revealing outfits. There were photographers snapping pictures, and reporters with smartphones calling out celebrity names to catch them on camera. LiYul was out of the car and around on SooYun's side to reach in and draw her out. Immediately they were noticed, and the photographers swarmed around him. They were like Yin and Yang. He was dark and already had a fierce expression on his face. SooYun was, however, a beautiful placid lake. He placed his body between the corps of photographers and SooYun, tucking her in close against his side. It was an intimate gesture that photographers immediately focused on and began snapping pictures of the illusive Director Jin of Aquila Studios and the golden-haired foreign woman who seemed to be the center of the Director's attention.

Once inside the venue, a different kind of bombardment began. LiYul felt himself begin to shut down. Being as close to him as SooYun was, she felt the tension turn him into a cold fortress wall. The cultural center fundraisers and board members as well as financial supporters were milling in the wide corridor leading to the ballroom. 

This time SooYun stepped ahead of him. The moment he saw her move into a defensive position to protect him, he rested a possessive hand against the small of her back. Then they passed into the ballroom and the director of the cultural center came up to greet them and escort them to their table. He was a middle-aged man with the kind of eyes that SooYun knew all too well. They were constantly on the move, and he was constantly weighing positions and situations that could be to his advantage. 

LiYul took SooYun's hand and tucked it in the crook of his arm. At the large table were three couples and four single men. At another table were two couples and SooYun and LiYul were seated there. There was a Saudi man with a young woman with auburn hair and bright green eyes directly across from SooYun. There was an older woman with silver hair with brilliant red dyed tips. LiYul held the chair for SooYun, slipped the wrap from her shoulders, and draped it over the back of the chair. He instantly regretted it, because every male at the table and the ones around them were studying SooYun with avid interest. He already knew that together, they created an exotic couple. She was a picture of calm, only her eyes sparkled and that was reserved for LiYul. He could not help but enjoy being the center of her attention. 

The man seated on her left introduced himself. He had a light Italian accent and warm brown eyes that slid slowly over SooYun. LiYul moved his chair closer to SooYun's and laid a casual arm over the back of her chair with his hand curled against her shoulder and upper arm. She turned toward LiYul and gave him her most radiant smile. He felt his body respond in ways that he had never experienced. It was a pleasurable pain that he wanted more of. 

This positioning was not exactly proper, but LiYul was suddenly not even considering proprieties. The gong rang and the first course was served. LiYul noticed for the first time how elegant SooYun was and how at ease she seemed to be among the table full of wolves! When questions came to her about Aquila Studios from the Italian art collector, she answered perfectly. She spoke expertly on art, gave opinions on the latest exhibits in New York, and answered eloquently on her opinions on the newest films and documentaries – Including the film Aquila Studios was being acknowledged for. Conversation with her was monopolized by others at the table. LiYul was a silent and almost menacing presence. The evening was growing increasingly tedious with unattached men making attempts to gain SooYun's attention. The sooner they left, the better he would feel. 

He did enjoy the fact that she had eyes for no one but him. While she was pleasant and polite, she always returned her attention to LiYul. He was enjoying having the envy of every man in his vicinity. 

The ceremony finally began, and introductions were made, awards were acknowledged, and LiYul quickly took the stage, accepted the award, made the briefest comments possible, and still had to contend with a wolf! This was an English wolf, and SooYun was polite, but the moment LiYul returned to his seat beside her, she eased closer to him.

LiYul set his crystal teardrop award with the Aquila Studios' Eagle etched into the surface of it on the table in front of SooYun. Now he had two of them. The English wolf came with a chair and squeezed in between the Italian and SooYun. He smiled and leaned in toward SooYun, "From your accent, you are an American," he said glancing at LiYul, "How did you manage to end up at his film company?" 

SooYun turned stormy blue eyes on the Englishman and gave him a frosty look. "I consider myself very fortunate to have been recruited by Aquila Studios." 

LiYul reached for his wine glass and took a sip. Once again, LiYul draped his arm around the back of her chair his fingertips brushing against the skin of her upper arm. There was another round of applause and a call for the award winners to stand and be acknowledged. SooYun clapped and turned to look up at him as he rose and inclined his head in a curt bow. He sat down with applause still sounding. The noise prevented her from speaking normally, so she leaned in close, and he bent his head toward her, his glare resting on the Englishman. She whispered, "Congratulations, LiYul!" breath warm against his ear and cheek. He smiled. He liked the way her voice and her warm breath spilled ice down his spine! 

Then there were pictures to be taken and SooYun retrieved her wrap to wait for him off to one side as several men and women who were trying to get close to the Director of Aquila Studios closed in around him. SooYun watched as the iron warrior presented himself for pictures. His fierce black gaze searched the area and found SooYun. It was time for him to leave! He disengaged himself from the group that claimed him and moved around them to get to where SooYun waited for him. 

It was then that Chu Min-Ji and her brother Ga-Ram appeared with her entourage of fans trailing the actress. LiYul spotted them a second before SooYun did. She steeled herself for what Min-Ji had planned. 

Ga-Ram paused. It had not expected the foreign woman to be so lovely. He had made a promise to his sister to lead the way in trying to goad LiYul into an altercation. Usually, he had no difficulty in finding a way to annoy his target. When the grey stormy gaze landed on Ga-Ram he regretted what he was about to do. He stepped in front of SooYun, positioned himself close, and smiled at her in a predatory way. "I see what has captured LiYul's attention. You are a very pretty diversion, eh?" He said and glanced at his sister. "She's played her role as escort well this evening hasn't she?"

The group of Min-Ji fans and followers laughed and repeated the word 'escort' in a suggestive way, Ga-Ram grinned like a fox scenting prey. 

"Yes!" Min-Ji cheered and batted her eyelashes dramatically, "She's the one that helped him through his fit!" 

"What did you say?" SooYun asked angrily. 

Min-Ji laughed with the others in her group giggling with her. "The way you act, I would think you were in love with LiYul!" Laughter swirled around them and as it grew quiet, SooYun smiled in a way that caught LiYul's breath and made him stop in his tracks as she looked at Min-Ji. "I am." 

Ga-Ram's carefully crafted look of boredom fell away for a second! She was in love with Jin LiYul! Feelings of intense jealousy flared up in Ga-Ram. 

The affected cheerfulness Min-Ji tried to maintain, slid off her face. LiYul started moving again toward the group. He avoided another group of photographers and ducked around the screen. She loved him! Kang had been right all along! He was not sure what he should do, but he wanted to get to SooYun, and get her as far away from Min-Ji and her brother as possible! He narrowly managed to escape coming in contact with the group of followers.

 He managed to look appropriately disdainful as he inclined his head toward them. He placed a hand possessively at the small of her back and stood next to SooYun. He took her wrap from her and draped it around her shoulders, tucking her against his side. He glanced at Min-Ji, "We were just leaving, the venue is yours."

Min-Ji forced a tight smile. "Of course, your shattered nerves can't take even loud music and lights – too much like lightning and thunder!"

SooYun stiffened against LiYul, and he glanced over to see her stormy blue eyes spark angrily. A scene like this was exactly what Min-Ji could orchestrate to her advantage. Before SooYun could respond, LiYul was leading her out of the ballroom and out into the chill evening air. The photographers were snapping pictures of the departing celebrities. He reached into his jacket and took out his phone, "Mr. Hung, where are you?" he asked then nodded. "No stay there, we're coming to you." 

He hung up and tucked the phone back in his jacket. He looked at SooYun, "Mr. Hung's with car just up the lane."

She nodded and they began the stroll up the narrow walkway. He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. "Thank you,"

She glanced at him, "I meant what I said," SooYun told him.

He was feeling euphoric! He was also feeling awkward. She sensed that she had probably overstepped and moved away from him putting more physical distance between them and looked straight ahead. "Don't feel pressured or obligated to respond. I've felt this way since we began corresponding in emails through Professor Jin." SooYun replied. 

He felt his breath catch and he cleared his throat. What was he going to say? He needed to say something – anything! He reached out, caught her wrist, and stepped in front of her, forcing her to stop and look up at him. "SooYun ---,"

"We don't have to talk about it now," She interrupted. "We both need time. And you still have to help me finish my screenplay!" she added with a light laugh. Then she looked up into the evening skies and shivered slightly.

He still held her wrist and felt her rapid pulse racing against his fingers. He saw Mr. Hung standing by the car. "It's cold," he said. "Let's get in the car and warm up." 

They reached the car and LiYul opened the door for SooYun and said something softly to Mr. Hung. He nodded and got into the car and prepared to drive out of the heritage center. She got in with LiYul climbing in behind her. She started to slide over, but he took hold of her wrist again to prevent her from getting too far away from him. 

LiYul set the crystal award on the floorboard of the car, took a firm hold of her hand, and drew it up to rest on his chest. She could feel his heart thudding against her palm. He caught and held her gaze a very slow smile creeping to his mouth. "Take us home, Mr. Hung!"

"Yes sir!" Mr. Hung responded, glancing at his young master through the rearview mirror. He was happily surprised to see LiYul's smile as he gazed at SooYun. 

SooYun was the one feeling awkward now! She reached to pick up the award with her free hand and examined it closely. "Will it go into a trophy case with all the others?"

"Yes," he murmured. He did not have any interest in talking about the award! He did want to keep talking to her, listening to her voice! "It will join the other one from the cultural heritage center."

"It's crystal," SooYun murmured, "I wonder what note it sings?"

"Crystal sings?" LiYul said. 

She took that moment to slip her hand from his, "Let me borrow your phone for a second," SooYun said. "We'll find out."

LiYul handed his phone over, thumbing it open. He took the crystal award from her, held it in one hand, and leaned closer to study her as she searched through his phone web browser. SooYun quickly searched for a musical scale. When she found it she held the phone near the award. She thumped her finger against the crystal award and as the musical scale played and hit B-flat, the crystal began to hum the same note! She turned the musical scale off and the award continued to hum softly for a few seconds more. "Amazing!" LiYul whispered, "Where did you learn that?"

"My grandfather," SooYun replied smiling in recollection. "He showed me the trick one Thanksgiving when I was about ten. He always played the piano when the family got together. He took one of the crystal wine glasses and set it on the piano then gently tapped it. I played each note until we found the right key and the glass would hum the same note."

"Was it the same note as this award?" LiYul asked.

"What I remember," SooYun replied. "Every glass was a different note, I remember we took every glass off the table to find out, and my grandmother fussed at us!"

"You must have been a very pretty little girl," LiYul murmured. He wanted to have her stay close to him. 

"I was a bit of a tomboy actually," SooYun replied. "I think where we lived was on the edge of a rural area, so I was around horses growing up. I guess that's why I was so horse crazy."

 LiYul leaned toward her, he was not sure what his intention was, but he wanted to continue to feel close to her. He put the award down on the floorboard and took his phone from her. He sent a text message to Jae-Ho. Then slipped his phone into his inside jacket pocket. She looked inquiringly at him. "You texted Mr. Lim?"

He nodded, then turned, and met her gaze. "I let him know that you were safe and would return tomorrow."

She settled back in her seat and glanced over at LiYul. Now that she had confessed her feelings she wondered how her relationship would change with him. What problems would arise because she confessed to Chu Min-Ji? She bit her lip uncertainly and drew in a deep breath before turning to him. "Will there be repercussions from tonight?"

He looked at her worried expression and smiled. "There may be, are you worried?"

"I am for you," SooYun said. "It just popped out, I should have been more disciplined around her."

LiYul laughed lightly. "I was referring to myself." He responded.

"Oh!" SooYun could not read his expression at all! Had he had time to think about what she had said? Was he offended? 

LiYul reached over and took her hand in his and laced his fingers in hers. "Stop thinking, SooYun."

She smiled at his soft-spoken command. "I'll try."