by Asher Quinn
“So, he’s smart, and handsome like his papa.”
Again he’s saying I’m handsome. Jack’s heart started the march skyward again. He got up and went and sat at the edge, legs dangling over. Woo-bin joined him.
“Jack?”
“Hmmm?”
“Do you ever think of marrying again?”
“I haven’t really given it much thought. After Nannie’s, my wife’s, death, it just never felt right to date other women. Plus I had Luke to consider. Bringing another woman into his life so soon after his mother’s death….” Are those the real reasons? “Why do you ask?”
“There are many pretty Korean women here on Jeju, and there is Ms. Argent.”
Jack stood and went over to get the knapsack. “Missy, Ms. Argent, is my admin and nothing more.” There was an edge to his voice.
Woo-bin stood as well. “Jack, I didn’t mean any disrespect. I just thought that, well, I just thought that you shouldn’t have to be… lonely.”
Jack took two water bottles from the pack, handing one to Woo-bin. “I’m not lonely, Woo-bin. I have Ms. Argent, Choon-hee, and Byung-soo. And you.”
“Yes. We are your Korean family.” With that, Woo-bin smiled.
He was standing close to Woo-bin. He looked into his eyes. Woo-bin did not look away. “Woo-bin? Are you very close to Cheol-min?”
“He is my friend.”
“You both spend a lot of time together. Are you able to see him now that you are working with the GM?”
“Not at work so much anymore, but we meet often after work to eat or drink together with Eun-seo.”
Jack searched Woo-bin’s eyes for any signs of disappointment. He saw none. “She is very pretty.”
“Jack. She is too young for you.”
He laughed out loud. “I’m not interested in her, Woo-bin. Are you?”
“Me? Oh no. She prefers Cheol-min. They have been together since the first year of the project.”
He felt relieved, and he almost hugged Woo-bin. “Ah. I wondered.”
“You thought I was with Eun-seo?”
“Well, not exactly.”
Woo-bin looked at him, a questioning look in his eyes.
“Not important. I was just wondering about the dynamics between the three of you.”
“Well, we are all friends. You should come and join us on my patio one night and drink with us. Can you sing?”
“Um… no… I don’t have a very good voice. Aren’t I too old to be socializing with the three of you?”
“No. We are friends, Jack, aren’t we?”
“We are. I just thought…. Choon-hee said that only people of the same age socialize with each other here. It’s not like that in the US.”
“Don’t worry, Jack. They like you. It would be fine.”
“Next time I hear your guitar, I’ll come by and bring the soju.”
“I would like that. Very much.”
Jack did it. He reached out and ruffled Woo-bin’s hair. Woo-bin grasped Jack’s shoulder and squeezed it. Jack smiled ear to ear. The sun was setting, and the warmth was replaced by the cooling dampness of the late-afternoon breeze off the water.
“We should head back.”
Woo-bin dropped his hand and picked up the pack, zipping the open pockets closed.
“I’ll carry it back this time. Only fair. You carry coming, and I’ll carry it going back. Yes?”
“Sure, Jack.” Woo-bin handed him the knapsack, and they headed out before the sun had set completely.
THE FRIDAY following, Jack could hear the lilting chords from Woo-bin’s guitar and what he thought were the voices of Cheol-min and Eun-seo, mixed in with the sound of the waves breaking. He was sitting on his own patio as he did every night now in hopes that he would hear just this. Grabbing four bottles of soju, he headed around the house toward the sound of Woo-bin’s voice and laughter. Choon-hee? As he reached the small bank of low hedges that bordered the bricked area covered by a pergola overgrown with lemon bells, he could see, lit warmly by the firelight, Woo-bin’s profile. Next to him were Choon-hee and Cheol-min, and Eun-seo sat opposite. As he approached, Cheol-min stood, bowing, as did Eun-seo. Woo-bin looked up and smiled, standing also. Choon-hee nodded, maintaining her usual matriarchal demeanor.
“Seonsaengnim.” Cheol-min bowed again.
“I hope I’m not intruding.” He held up the four bottles of chilled soju.
“No, Seonsaengnim,” Cheol-min said with a huge grin. Eun-seo pulled at his arm, then spoke to him in Korean.
“Sit, Seonsaengnim.” Woo-bin nodded toward an empty chair by the fire.
“Thank you, Woo-bin.” Jack sat and handed the bottles to Cheol-min, who took them willingly. Several empty beer bottles sat by each of them. Eun-seo batted him on the arm as they sat and again spoke in Korean. Jack’s Korean had improved, but he couldn’t understand some words or phrases.
Woo-bin must have sensed Jack’s discomfort. “Eun-seo is telling Cheol-min that he needs to calm down, that he is looking like a fool.”
“Ah. It’s okay, Cheol-min. Soju gets me pretty excited too.”
Woo-bin sat and began softly playing various chords, seemingly trying to pick out a melody.
Cheol-min retrieved several plastic cups from the cooler by his chair and filled them halfway with soju and passed them around. Tipping his cup he said, “Geonbae (cheers)!”
Jack raised his in return. “Cheers!”
“Ah, cheers!” Cheol-min did his best to pronounce it correctly, but it sounded more like “cheesu.”
Jack laughed, smiling, and repeated the Korean version. “Goonbay!”
Now it was Cheol-min’s turn to laugh, as did everyone else.
Jack felt a warmth that wasn’t due to the soju. “Woo-bin, how about you play something and sing for us.”
Woo-bin dipped his head, smiling shyly, and began picking out a melody. Soon he began to sing in Korean. Cheol-min joined him. Choon-hee rocked back and forth, clapping her hands to the music quietly. Cheol-min’s voice wasn’t bad. He could carry a tune, but Woo-bin’s voice was by far the best. Jack didn’t understand the lyrics, but Woo-bin’s voice carried him through each verse. He made eye contact with Jack as he sang and held his gaze before looking away. At some point he noticed that Eun-seo was staring at him. He looked her way, and she immediately averted her eyes. Can she tell? No. I’m just being paranoid. Woo-bin finished playing, and everyone clapped. Choon-hee excused herself, saying that it was late and that she was old and needed to sleep, that it would be time to begin making breakfast soon. They all stood, bowing. Jack too. An elder was leaving. Respect. They drank a few more rounds of soju, and Woo-bin played a few more old Korean ballads, and then it was time for Cheol-min and Eun-seo to say good night. They nodded to Woo-bin and bowed for Jack, who nodded in return, and then they were gone. There was one bottle of soju left.
“Walk to the beach, maybe. We can finish this there. Better place to see the night sky.” Jack held up the bottle, waggling it.
“Sure.” Woo-bin fell into step beside Jack as they headed toward the dunes.
“So, what was that song about? It was nice.”
“It’s called, ‘Only You.’”
“Maybe you could sing it in English for me sometime.”
Woo-bin nodded. “Maybe,” he said, folding his arms across his chest.
“Are you cold?”
“No.”
“Are you sure? We could stop by my room and get one of my jackets.”
“Thank you, Jack. I’m fine.”
He called me Jack. Heart grin.
They walked shoulder to shoulder until they reached one of the taller dunes and found a spot to sit comfortably.
Jack pointed toward the sky. “The Big Dipper.”
Woo-bin looked to where Jack was pointing. “We call it the Seven Stars of the North. Look, the Pleiades. The fuzzy patch there.”
“Uh-huh.”
Then by chance something streaked across the sky.
> “Whoa.” Woo-bin followed the fiery object to where it disappeared beyond the horizon.
“Did you make a wish?” Jack was scanning the sky to see if there were any more.
“No. It’s not a full moon.”
“What? Don’t you wish on falling stars here?”
“We make wishes when there is a full moon.”
“Hmm. Back home we wish on shooting stars, falling stars, and the first star that comes out at night.”
“So, plenty of chances to make a wish come true.” Woo-bin pulled up his knees, wrapping his arms around them. “Did you make a wish?”
“I did.” For the second time.
“What did you wish for?”
“If I tell you, it won’t come true.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep. Can’t say.”
“Okay. Then I hope you get your wish.”
“Me too.” Jack knocked his shoulder against Woo-bin’s. Woo-bin did the same. They sat shoulder to shoulder, sharing the soju and talking about stars and the night sky until the bottle was empty.
“I should probably head to bed, Jack. I have to be on the property in a few hours.”
“Everything okay at work? He’s not working you too hard, is he?”
“No. They are coming to inspect the kitchens at the main building today.”
“Ah. Then it’s best we get you back.” Jack looked at his cell. It was 3:10 a.m. He stood and extended his hand to Woo-bin, who took it. He pulled him up, and Woo-bin lost his balance. As he fell forward, Jack caught him. Their eyes met. Jack’s heart began pounding. They were so close he could feel Woo-bin’s breath on his lips. Woo-bin did not move, and for a moment they both stood suspended, breathing until Woo-bin pushed against Jack’s chest, standing.
“Sorry, Jack. Must be the soju.”
“Must be.” Jack was warm and just a bit dizzy, but his heart was full.
They walked back humming “Only You” together. When they got to Woo-bin’s patio, he said good night, smiled shyly, and headed in, closing the door quietly. Jack headed back to his room, but he knew he would never get to sleep.
Seventeen
THE PROPERTY had passed all inspections, and now all that was left was the majority of the finish work and the fluff. They were a few weeks ahead of schedule.
“A dinner in the main banquet hall.”
“A dinner. For all the employees?” Jack was leaning against his desk.
“Yes. Very customary here for a business to host an appreciation dinner for the employees to congratulate them on a job well done.” Missy was still standing in the doorway.
“Hmm. All right. I like the idea, actually. Nice work, Miss. I’ll let you handle the arrangements. See if you can borrow Woo-bin to assist you.”
“I don’t think the GM will part with him. They have become like Siamese twins. The GM takes him everywhere.”
“Not what I want to hear. Ugh.” Jack was shaking his head. “Okay, well, then steal his admin and get her to help.” God. Why am I so helpless here. His stomach was in knots.
As Missy was leaving his office, he stopped her. “Miss.”
“Yes, boss?”
“Sit.” He motioned toward a chair in the sitting area in front of the windows that faced the garden. “You know you’ve been, you are, invaluable to me, yes?”
“Jack, I—”
“No. I’d have been lost here without you. Especially those first few months.” He had his hands folded in his lap and was looking at her.
“You would have been fine, Jack. I’ve never met someone with as much strength of character, heart, and resourcefulness since I started in this business.”
“Thanks. I’m giving you a 25 percent raise and a bonus. I don’t mean to be crass using money to show my appreciation, but you are worth every penny. Thank you, Miss. I’m glad you’re on my team.” He smiled warmly.
She returned the smile. “Thank you, Jack. I wasn’t too happy or sure of how this was going to go before I left New York. But I’m glad I decided to take the offer when Rand bailed.” She stood, smoothing her skirt. “Well, I best get busy. Lots of planning.” She turned to leave, then stopped, turning to face him again. “I want to say something, so take it for what it’s worth. Okay?”
“All right.”
“GM Lee is not a good person. And Song Woo-bin knows that.”
“Then why doesn’t he refuse to work for him? He won’t be fired. I would see to that.”
“I’m not sure what hold the GM has over him. Something definitely isn’t right. That’s for sure. Don’t give up on him.”
“I’m not sure what to do at this point.”
“Just don’t.” With that, she turned and left.
He sat there digesting what Missy had just said, and he knew he wouldn’t until he and Woo-bin were together. He wouldn’t.
THAT NIGHT at the house, Jack was heading to the kitchen when he heard Choon-hee talking to Woo-bin.
Most of it was in Korean except for the last interchange.
“That man do everything for you. Why you have no respect for him?”
“I do respect him.”
“Then why you avoid him and make him feel badly?”
“I’m not trying to make him feel badly. Everything I do, I do for him.”
“What you do for him? Coming home sometimes for dinner with him, sometimes ride bike with him, singing for him on patio one time? This doing for him?”
Woo-bin didn’t answer.
“Not spending time with him anymore, not doing. I think it make him sad.”
Jack stood in the shadows of the darkened dining room. Listening. His heart sinking like the Titanic. He turned to head back to his room, and then he stopped.
“You need to make time for him.”
“I can’t, Choon-hee.”
“Why can’t you?”
And then he said something in Korean, and Jack understood one word. A name. Geun.
There was silence. Choon-hee did not reply. He heard Woo-bin leaving the kitchen, and he ducked back into the shadows. The ship disappeared beneath the cold, still water.
As of that night, Woo-bin no longer ate breakfast or any other meals with his Korean family. Jack didn’t see him again until the night of the banquet.
THE HALL was festively decorated. Everyone turned out, including ED Lee Nam-geun. Jack was seated with Missy, GM Lee Yong-geun, his wife—his admin was conveniently seated at another table—the ED and his wife and daughter, and Woo-bin.
“I would not have expected you to think of this, DM Calloway.”
“I didn’t. My admin, Ms. Argent, did.” Credit where due.
“I see. Make sure you keep her.” He nodded at Missy. She nodded back.
“How is Song Woo-bin working out for you, Yong-geun?” The ED glanced at Woo-bin. He shifted in his chair. Jack could tell he was uncomfortable.
“Quite well. He is diligent, strong, and smart.” The GM nodded at Woo-bin. Woo-bin half bowed in his seat.
“A good addition to your staff, then?”
“Yes. I’m very happy to have him.”
Jack fumed, and the GM knew it.
“How is your new admin working out? Where is she? I don’t see her. You didn’t fire this one too, did you?” Jack asked dryly.
“She is at another table.”
Jack was somewhat amused at the sight of the GM’s wife glaring at him. The GM exchanged looks with Jack, his expression dour. Missy kicked Jack under the table. He flinched. He looked at Woo-bin. His expression was unreadable.
To the ED—“We should be early for grand opening. October 1.”
“I am pleased to hear this. Yong-geun told me yesterday. You both will be compensated for all your hard work.”
“I have a favor to ask if I may, ED Lee Nam-geun?”
“Of course.”
“When Woo-bin has finished his duties for GM Lee Yong-geun, I’d like him back on my team. We have definitely felt the loss after he was transferred.”
The ED looked at his nephew. “I’m sure we can work something out, yes?”
“Of course. When things are complete on our end.”
Jack looked at Woo-bin again, trying to catch his eye. I told you I would fix this.
At that, Woo-bin asked to be excused, and Jack did not see him for the remainder of the evening.
On the property the following week, Jack caught glimpses of Woo-bin with the GM, who always seemed to have his hand on Woo-bin’s shoulder. Wednesday of that week, Jack and Missy were crossing the atrium in the lobby when they ran into the GM seated with Woo-bin and his admin. Woo-bin was working on his laptop, and the GM’s arm was once again draped around his shoulder.
“GM Lee.” They were seated in the circular garden sitting area in the sun at the atrium’s center.
The GM nodded to Jack. No bow.
Jack didn’t return the gesture.
Woo-bin and the admin stood and bowed.
“Sit.” They did.
As Woo-bin sat, the GM draped his arm around Woo-bin’s shoulders again. He shrugged it off. This didn’t seem to faze GM Lee, and he laid his arm across his shoulders again, grasping the opposite shoulder firmly.
“I don’t think he is comfortable with that, Yong-geun.”
The GM looked at Jack with defiance.
Jack glared at him. “Let’s not have an issue again with one of your subordinates. Agreed?” Jack’s voice was like steel and ice.
He removed his arm.
Missy cleared her throat. “We should be going. We’re going to be late.” She nodded in the direction of the corridor leading to the conference rooms.
“GM.” With that, they left. Jack needed to keep his mouth shut. He could see that Lee Yong-geun was making Woo-bin uncomfortable, and he wasn’t sure if the GM was treating Woo-bin poorly or not. And I’m sure Yong-geun is doing this to anger me as well. He did know one thing for sure—his own behavior was not helping Woo-bin.
The heat had extended into September. Although the days were a bit shorter, Jack swam almost every night after work. Not in the property’s pool or the pool at the house, but in the ocean. He even talked Missy into joining him one late afternoon after work. She had quite the body. He knew she had ample breasts, and he’d seen Cheol-min eyeing her as did other men on-site, including the GM. She wore a black bikini, striking with her blonde hair and green eyes. Of course, at this point, he realized that his observations were purely aesthetic. She sat wringing out her hair. Jack offered her a beer from the small cooler stocked with fruit as well. She took it and twisted off the cap.