chapter three

From her white coat that she meticulously buttoned all the way to her breast revealing a black inner top make her appear more sociable, with her brown hair styled into a ponytail and her big round sapphire eyes, Kim Da Hye looked like the gentle fairy in the Nineteenth-twentieth movies.

Her window looked out over the East  Jangpyeong streets. Her office was decorated with an early coca-cola vending machine, a lovely mahogany desk compiling files along with a desktop computer, a plasma TV hanging on the wall and a set of couches.

Operating on her computer, her hand hovered over the keyboard as her gaze flicked from the screen to a file in front of her. Representing her father as the acting CEO of Haewon group of companies, She looks confident and hard-working. 

A blaring sound on her desk stops her hand midway; it was from her phone. Leaning closer to look at the caller, her lip broke into a smile as soon as she saw the name booming on the screen.

It was her boyfriend or more accurately her soon to be boyfriend. She swipes the answer button on the screen, puts it on a loudspeaker, then her hand continues moving on the keyboard.

Her voice was filled with excitement as she answered. "Oppa. I guessed you saw my work. I have helped you get rid of her. You don't have to worry about her anymore."

The voice on the other side of the phone wasn't pleasing at all. With a thunderous voice her boyfriend fired. "You can't do a proper job. I didn't see any hard-work in what you do, rather you ruin thing for me"

Da hye's smile faltered and her hands stopped moving on the keyboard upon hearing the angry voice at the other side of the phone. 

This wasn't what she was expecting. She deserves an appreciation from him for what she had done for him, and not this ungratefulness revealed by him.

A deep frown marred her forehead as she replied. "What do you mean by I ruined things for you?. Didn't you see the news?. Yoo Na Young is involved in an accident. She is dead and I was the one who paid the driver who hit her." 

She explained to him gently, though one can detect a tinge of anger from her voice. 

"Ofcourse I know you are the one behind her accident but your work didn't hold any value because she isn't dead as you claim. She is alive but in a coma. The news is all over the TV." Each word was delivered in a monotone; the disappointment was palpable in his tone and the rage radiating from his voice could be felt by Da hye.

After dropping those words he hung up before Da hye could give him a reply, leaving her completely stunned. 

Silence dwells upon the silence in the room.

Dropping the phone back on the table, she immediately moved closer to the TV and took the remote control on a side table that was situated beside the couch. 

Pressing the start button and the screen displayed a reporter reading out the news

"Yoo Na Young, Seoul Art High school student who was involved in an accident some minutes ago and had died on the spot was found to be alive by the ambulance attendants on their way to the cemetery. She was immediately rushed back to the hospital and after examining her it was confirmed by the doctor that she was alive but had slipped into a coma which is stated by the doctor that she might not be out of it any time soon. This was shocking news to all..."

As she listened to the news, the atmosphere in the room shifted from silence to frigid. She immediately turned off the TV, cutting the reporter off when she couldn't bear listening to the rest of the news.

Yoo Na Young. She wouldn't have heard that name in her life if not for her boyfriend. 

She didn't really have any personal issue against the poor girl but she had to die before she could take her place; at least that's what her boyfriend had told her. 

Out of desperation to make her boyfriend happy and have the man to herself she had hired someone to hit her and she was satisfied when she heard the news of her death. 

But now the table had turned back at her. She is sure an investigation will be going on to know the person who was behind her accident and what if during the police investigation they found out she had something to do with her attempted murder.

At her assumptions fear gripped her instantly. She bit her lip from shaking, as a result of that her lipstick smeared over her mouth.

A scream threatened to escape her lip, but she quickly clasped her hand on her mouth instead a muffled sound emerged from the deep of her throat.

Why did she have to be in a coma anyway and not just die?. No one could have survived such an accident but surprisingly she did. 

What a persistent bitch she is.

The risk of being exposed is heavy to bear. She has a name to protect. Not only that, her family reputation will be at stake. Her father's legacy will be destroyed and they would lose all their social respect.

Even though Yoo Na Young is in a coma, there isn't a guarantee of her waking up anytime soon as the doctors claim. 

What if that persistent girl surprised everyone and woke up unexpectedly

At that moment she knew she needed to act fast. First of all, the person she hired for the job. She needs to shut him up and keep him on a low profile. 

At a great speed she hurried over to her desk and snagged her phone from the table. 

Dialing a number she willed her hand to stop shaking as she placed the phone on her ear, impatiently waiting for the person to pick up.

Her footsteps echoed in the air as she repeatedly tapped them on the marble floor. She hissed in annoyance when the call dropped without anyone picking it up.

Re-dialing the number again she placed the phone back on her ear. The call was on the verge of dropping again, when a deep masculine voice invaded her ear. "Hello"

Her voice trembled with fear and desperation as she answered. "It is me. Let meet tonight, there is something we must discussed"

"Okay" came the short reply from the man at the other end of the phone and immediately the call dropped.

~~~~~

At Sweet Taste Chicken restaurant, the chicken aroma invades the atmosphere.

It was bleaching with lights. The vast hall was sufficient enough to gulp the massive crowd. 

Everything was decorated the way a restaurant of one of the most influential restaurants should be. 

Elegant yet dazzling.

The restaurant was owned by an American woman and surprisingly the business really performed well to many expectations. 

It was frequently patronised by people of both higher class and lower class. One of the higher class people patronizing the Chicken restaurant is Kim Da Hye.

She sat quietly at a dark corner unusual to her regular seat inside the restaurant. 

Kim da hye was the type that likes attention and she had never for once missed the opportunity to show herself no matter where she was. 

But today she wasn't there for any attention nor the chicken. It was a pressing situation.

So she would rather not pray for attention. It was so dark and hidden where she sat and people couldn't recognize her face nor more of her presence. 

Of course that is how it must be.

She is here today for an important meeting and it can never be divulged to anyone, especially the reporter or else she will wake up to a scandal the following morning.

Checking her wristwatch for upteent time she sighed deeply while rolling her eyes at the same time. 

Punctuality is one Kim Da Hye attribute. She hates being kept waiting. But what can she do?. She had no other option than to wait patiently for him till he arrived.

Her head dropped low. She fiddled with her finger on her trouser as different thoughts rampaged her mind, not giving her heart a second peace of mind. 

Her heart wouldn't stop beating so loud that she could vividly hear her heartbeat. She just can't settle since afternoon after hearing the news of Yoo Na Young escaping from death. She can't shake the negative feeling of her waking up from her mind.

Why is God putting her through all this?. That was the question playing in her mind since afternoon

Yoo Na Young should have died and she won't have to go through all this mess. 

Fate must really take joy in playing a game with her; an expensive one at that.

A hand tapping the table in front of her cut her off from her thoughts. She looks up at the intruder and standing in front of him is Zero Nine, the man she was waiting for.

Her gaze bore a hole into the man staring back at her. He was clad in black attire from head to toe and a facecap graced his head, covering his face a bit. She was relieved that she had worn that facecap. At least it would drive attention away from them, beside where she sat was dark so it was quietly not possible for someone to recognize her here.

"Back to earth Barbie doll" Zero Nine called as he waved his hand in front of da hye face. 

The action snapped her out of her daze expression.

Da hye scoffed ridiculously and threw him the most fury glare she could call onto her eyes. She can't imagine she was now being subjected to this kind of humiliation. 

All thanks to Yoo Na Young. If only she had died like it was meant to be, then this bastard here would even have the privilege of sitting this close with her not talking of him now calling her a Barbie doll.

Taking his seat before Da hye, Zero Nine chuckled softly when he met the angry glare he was receiving from the lady sitting before him.

"So what did you want to talk about Barbie doll" he said in a patronizing tone shaped by far too many advanced smirk on his lip.

"Not if you continue to talk to me in that unbearable supercilious tone as though I were some gaudy shrimp you were trying to teach how to cock a gun. I am superior to you, mind the way you talk to me." She grunted, obviously unhappy at the tune of the event.

It was clear he was teasing her which she isn't in for. She hates being patronised and that is exactly what the jerk sitting in front of her was trying to do.

Gazing out to the barbecue restaurant where everyone was busy with their own business. Satisfying enough. No one is paying attention to them.

Zero nine drew in a sharp breath and smirked. He loves the look on Da hye's face and it kind of gives him a tingling feeling of happiness in his body. He chuckled out loud and Da hye threw him a harsh glare gesturing her hand toward the crowd. 

Zero nine shot a sharp glance at the people and shrugged his shoulder in a way of saying 'i don't care'

Not letting her get away with the insult she had passed to him earlier. He retorted back and said. "I am so sorry Miss Superior. Remember you were the one who called for help. when you know you can take care of your business, why get me involved in the first place"

His lip smacked in satisfaction upon seeing the shock that crept into Da hye's face at his word, his eyes narrowed on her

At the bitter little comment. Da hye decided to back out of their bickering as she knew he won't stop and she is short of time to continue arguing with him. She needs to get home, it's getting quite late.

Putting a brown envelope and a ticket on the table, Da hye leaned back in her seat. 

Zero nine shot her a confused glance as he fixed his eyes on the brown envelope on the table."What is this?." he asked.

She breathed carefully and willed her anger to subside before she answered him. "That's a train ticket. Take the first train to Busan earlier tomorrow morning, there is a little cash in the envelope to take care of yourself" she focuses on him, her tone commanding.

"Why?." he asked sharply.

Da hye looked at him and scoffed. 

Is this man naturally dumb or he is just doing this to frustrated her. How can he ask her such ridiculous questions when the reason is clearly looking him in the eyes. She can't believe she was fool enough to give her job to someone like him

Da hye smiled, a weavering smile and leaned forward that their nose was almost touching. 

She whispered to him. "If only you had done your job properly, then this wouldn't have happened. But since it has happened there is nothing I can do than to clean up your mess. The police would have started an investigation by now. would you claim you didn't know that?. If they should find anything suspicious on you during their investigation it will certainly land back on me."

With her face a few inches from his, he is feeling her mild breath on his face which seemed annoying to him at the moment yet he couldn't help but wonder why she is so scared but at the same time he understands what she was trying to say.

Confidently, he is also an expert in this field and knows exactly what to do before and after his work.

"If you are worried about the police finding something suspicious on me then I assure you that they can't. I made sure to delete the CCTV footage of that neighborhood. I know how to do my job Barbie doll''

Da hye slumped back to her seat and breath out in relief; Thank goodness. Atleast he wasn't that dumb to leave a trace behind.

Zero nine takes the envelope from the table and opens it. He scoffed as his eyes came in contact with the currency inside it.

Did she think lowly of him that all she could give her was a little cash as if dashing a kid some money.

Dropping the envelope back on the table he reprimanded. "Add to it. I can't survive with this little change. Money isn't your problem, don't be stingy Barbie"

What kind of problem has she gotten herself into. Yes sincerely money isn't her problem but did he just call the sum of Fifty thousand dollars a little change. 

Did this man take her for a joke?. No matter how wealthy she is, she knows the value of money because she works for it before getting it.

Noticing her hesitation. Zero nine smile "come on. It's not much to ask, right?."

Da hye knows she will just waste her time if she should start another argument with him right now. Surrendering, she gently stood up from her seat and mumbled. "I will transfer it to you"

Dropping that word, she walks out of the restaurant like a gentle soul not giving him a chance to say anything.

Zero nine watched her till he couldn't see her back view again and released a huge sigh. He is crazy; Yes he knows that but he doesn't know why he is doing all this for her.

If only she knows who he really was.