“Here, the soup is getting cold.” He stretched out a spoon to Emily.
Emily opened her eyes at once and stared at the man before her. Was she dreaming? Was the person in front of her the twin brother of the CEO?
“Ppali.” Joel urged.
Emily took the spoon from him hesitantly and slowly scooped the soup in her mouth, stealing glances at the man as she did.
After she was done eating, Joel snapped his fingers and a maid cleared the dish.
“So… tell me, what happened yesterday that made you drink to stupor? He asked, folding his hands on the table.
Recollecting what had happened to her the day before, Emily’s face fell instantly.
“It’s nothing.” She breathed out a gusty sigh.
“Wae?.. you want me to call the industry huh?.” Joel threatened.
He picked up his phone and placed it on his ear.
“Yah .. Ani…” Emily waved her hands in the air.
She hastily walked around the table and snatched the phone from Joel, only then did she know he was faking it.
She puffed out her cheeks and sat down next to Joel.
“So what happened?” Joel asked again.
“Paint.” Emily pouted her mouth.
Joel narrowed his eyes. Being the intelligent person that he was, he easily picked what Emily meant.
“Nugu?” He spat out venom, his eyes darkening.
“Is it Stephanie again?!” He asked.
“Huh?..” Emily stuttered.
But wait, what did he mean by ‘again’? How did he know that she had been bullied by that sunbae before? Emily furrowed her brows.
“CE— Joel ” she hastily corrected herself.
“How did you….” Emily’s voice trailed off.
“What don’t I know? Just answer my question.” Joel breathed out.
“It was the people in the industry .. no one wants me there in the industry because I’m poor.” Emily bowed her head in gloomily.
Joel sighed. He thought it was Stephanie again. But notwithstanding, did those people have death wishes?! Who does that to his woman?! Joel balled up his fists angrily.
“Do you want me to deal with them for you?” He stared keenly at Emily.
“Mbo?..” Emily couldn’t believe her ears.
The CEO was going to deal with them for her?.. No, like for her?-a mere girl. Wow.
“Ani.” Emily shook her head.
Joel’s eyes wavered slightly. She was rejecting his offer… the girl… if anyone in the world had gotten that offer, they’d have jumped at it but she was rejecting his offer …. Wow.
“Wae?” Joel arched up his brows.
“I want to deal with them myself. I want to be able to say ‘yes I did it without anyone’s help’ in the future… I appreciate your efforts Joel but thanks but no thanks.” Emily smiled.
Joel blinked. Was he also part of “anyone”? Wow.
“Okay.” Joel shrugged.
The girl was different and unique, she wasn’t like other girls. She had shortcuts but she still preferred to go through the long way right up to the top… Impressive. Joel smiled inwardly.
“But are you sure you’ll be okay without my help? The industry is not an easy place.” Joel stated.
“Nde.” Emily nodded her head.
Another thing she had learned about the entertainment industry was endurance. If you couldn’t endure, then you shouldn’t be in the industry.
She was ready to endure all hardship. She wasn’t going to give just because they poured paint on her. She had her mum and brother to make proud, and she had her father to show that she was a great child after all.
“Okay, but if you need anything don’t hesitate to tell me,” Joel spoke out calmly.
“Uhn.” Emily nodded her head.
“Good.” Joel nodded his head.
“CEO Joel,” Emily called as something flashed through her eyes.
“Call me by my name,” Joel stated firmly.
Oops! Emily facepalmed herself mentally. She had forgotten.
“Joel.” She called.
“Wae?” Joel pressed his lips.
“You haven’t taught me how to drive yet.” Emily paused.
“It’s stressful taking buses.” She bit her lower lip.
Joel smiled.
“Go and change, let me teach you now.” He clicked his tongue.
“Awwwn, kumawo.” Emily clapped her hands happily and ran up the stairs.
Her headache had vanished.
Within three days, Emily had known how to drive. It was with the help of her manager who had suddenly called her and given her few days off.
What Emily didn’t know was that it was the CEO that had through his personal assistant ordered Maria to give her few days off.
“Uwa! You now know how to drive than I do.” Joel teased as he watched Emily park the car right outside the lounge.
“Jinjja?!” Emily squeaked happily as she stepped out of the car.
“Uhn.” Joel nodded his head.
“Awwnnn,” Emily’s mouth curled up in a sweet smile that almost got the CEO drooling.
“Hmn.” Joel hastily cleared his throat and walked into the lounge.
Emily trailed happily after the CEO. These past few days, she had grown close to the CEO and they almost always did everything together because surprisingly, the CEO had gotten a bit soft towards her.
“Joel!” She chirped happily.
Well since the CEO had told her to always call him by his name, she was going to do just that and she was going to do it perfectly.
“Mwo?” Joel twitched his lips.
“Kumawo.” Emily smiled gratefully.
Joel stopped in his tracks and turned around. He stared at Emily for a while, smiled, and turned back. He dragged his feet lazily towards the stairs.
“Little Pumpkin you’re awake?” Emily screeched immediately she sighted her darling step out of his room.
Little Pumpkin rubbed his puffy eyes, it was obvious he had just awoken. He smiled and walked towards his sweet noona.
Since it was the weekend, he didn’t go to school and had slept almost half of the day.
“My cute darling.” Emily rubbed his fluffy cheeks playfully.
Joel who had almost gotten to the top of the stairway tightened his grip on the banister as he watched the duo.
Damn! He was even jealous of his little nephew.
“Little Pumpkin!” Emily called as something flashed through her eyes.
“Nde, Noona” Little Pumpkin looked up at his beautiful noona.
“Do you want to go somewhere with me?” Emily smiled.
“Nde” Little Pumpkin nodded his head.
“Awwn… Kaja!” Emily ruffled Little Pumpkin’s hair affectionately and carried him to his room.
Joel pouted his lips as he watched the duo, were they going to leave him all alone?… So sad.
He turned around and walked into his room. He sat down on the bed and twitched his mouth to a side… but where were they going?.. he narrowed his eyes.
Joel was still in deep thought when his phone rang. He swiped the answer icon and placed the phone on his left ear.
“Boss we have a meeting right now” Noah scratched his hair as he stared at the tablet.
“Mbo? You told me I didn’t have anything scheduled for this afternoon.” Joel’s face darkened.
“Bu-bu-boss… I’m sorry boss, I think I need to see an optician boss..” Noah swallowed the lump in his throat.
He knew his boss’s eyes were black right now.
“You are a fool!” Joel spat out venom.
“Cough cough cough” Noah choked on his spit as he broke into cold sweats.
Joel would have simply hanged up but since those two pumpkins were leaving him all by himself, he decided to go to the office for the stupid meeting.
“I’ll be there in twenty.” He hanged up, picked his key, walked out of the lounge, and drove out of the villa.
After bathing thoroughly for Little Pumpkin, Emily huffed as he looked through Little Pumpkin’s wardrobe. Why were there only ugly clothes? her darling was cute and was supposed to be wearing cute, cool clothes but all she saw were black shirts, grey shirts, and black trousers all through! Woah!
Since Little Pumpkin never really went anywhere else except school, he didn’t have nice clothes. Only a few hideous clothes were in his wardrobe.
Emily clicked her tongue in annoyance.
“Little Pumpkin, wait here. I’ll be right back.” She smooched Little Pumpkin on his left cheek and rushed out.
Emily carried her handbag upstairs and walked out of the lounge. Since she was only going out to get some clothes for Little Pumpkin, she didn’t bother to change her already wet and dirty clothes.
Emily got in the car and drove out of the villa. She drove for a while and sighted a boutique by the roadside. She parked her car in the parking lot, carried her bag, and walked into the boutique.
“Annyeonghaseyo” she was greeted by one of the salesgirls as she walked in.
“Annyeon, please can you direct me to the kids’ section?” Emily asked politely.
“Nde.” The salesgirls eyed Emily’s dirty clothes but still led her to the kids’ section anyway.
Emily found some colourful nice clothes and shopped them for Little Pumpkin. After she was done, she grinned at the clothes in her hands as she walked over to the cashier, her darling would love the clothes.
Unknowingly, she bumped into someone.
“Mihamni…” Emily was about to apologize when she looked up at the person she bumped into.
STEPHANIE!!!
Emily blinked her eyes consecutively for a few seconds.
“Omo!” Stephanie feigned an exclaim immediately her eyes landed on Emily’s face.
She had also gone shopping and of course, her two ‘slaves’ went with her.
“Look who we have here, Emily you came shopping too?” Stephanie smirked.
She let her eyes roam down from Emily’s face to the clothes in her hands.
“Oh… You came to shop for your kid!” She puckered her mouth in mock amusement.
Nancy and Carmen snickered behind her.
“So you have a kid…” Stephanie smiled.
“She has a kid” she turned to her ‘slaves’ and they laughed.
People around in the boutique were starting to gather around them, including the salespersons.
“Isn’t that the newbie in EWEI?”
“She’s got guts”.
“She is poor, look at her clothes.”.
“How did she even get in EWEI?
“She looks hideous”
“Gosh, she stinks!”
“She dares try to compete with Queen Stephanie?”
Some people brought out their phones to video Emily as Stephanie disgraced her.