Yes, Miss Manoban

CHAPTER 09

Astrid wasn't buying it. This secretary looked really sketchy and oddly familiar. She was supposed to ask him something but seeing as how pale the poor secretary looked, she decided otherwise and avert her brother's attention towards her.

"So, this is how JHS turned out," she said smirking as her fingers played with her sunglasses and her eyes looking around. It did not escape her line of sight how a petite woman eyed her from her head down to her toes. The woman even grew wide-eyed when she saw the bag that she was carrying. She placed her gaze back towards her brother ignoring everyone else's rather confused expressions. "I rather like how it looks."

"Thanks, Assie," Asher replied. "It wasn't easy to turn that small building into this—"

"Um, excuse moi?" The girl standing beside Astrid's brother interrupted. Clearly, she did not look impressed as her arms were folded and she had a scowl plastered on her face. Astrid couldn't help but secretly chuckle. "Who the hell are you? And... what are you doing here? Do you even have any business here?"

She turned towards the brunette and smiled. Then back at her own brother.

"I'm disappointed, oppa," she said with emphasis on the “oppa”. "I can't believe you didn't tell them who I am. Am I not that important to you? After everything we've been through?"

Her tone implied something else which made the girl's eyes grow bigger. Clearly, she took it in a manner she was expecting her to. Her brother, however, seemed to have caught on her teasing and decided to play along.

"Don't take it in that way, baby," he said stepping a bit closer to her. And to add salt to injury, he trailed his knuckles gently on her cheek. "You know I don't like sharing you to other people. You're only mine, remember?"

Astrid's lips morphed into a sly smirk and she bridged the distance between them. His arms wrapped around her shoulder and she fit perfectly on his side. She'd pay a thousand dollars to anyone who could've photographed the girl's arcane expression on her face.

"Oppa?! Baby?!" the woman started to throw a tantrum. "Ya! Who do you think you are to call my darling like that? He's mine!"

"The right question should be, who are you?" she countered.

The girl flipped her hair—like in a TV ad, and gave an 'I'm-the-most-beautiful-person-here' look.

"You don't know who I am? I am Korea's no. 1 It-Girl. Veronica Kim."

"Well..." She gave her brother a quick look before turning back to her. "He was mine first. He's been mine for twenty-five years now so... yeah. I don't think you'd beat me."

"What?!"

She grinned. She loved playing with people's emotions from time to time.

"We came from the same womb. Of course, you'd beat every girl out there," her brother added fully making Veronica Kim's mouth fly wide open. "Board meeting in about an hour. Let's head to my office first so I could brief you."

As Asher guided her towards the elevator, she couldn't help herself taunt the shocked girl they left behind.

Turning slightly towards the girl, she gave her a playful wink as soon as their gazes locked.

Even Secretary Jeon who was following suit got startled.

"Oh, I forgot," her brother suddenly said. "I forgot something from the front desk. I'll just go get it. Secretary Jeon can accompany you to my office."

Before either one of them— she and the secretary could protest, Asher already sprinted away from them.

Secretary Jeon cleared her throat before moving his arm to guide her towards the elevator door.

"After you, Miss Manoban."

She stepped inside the elevator and he pressed the button leading to the top floor. He stood a step behind her just like how a secretary or a bodyguard would usually do.

Secretary Jeon looked very young. Maybe around his early twenties or so? He also has this boyish vibe to him but also a manly one. Or something in between.

But she can't help but think. Where'd she seen this guy? He looked really really familiar. She's just been here for a few days so she hasn't met many people yet. And she wouldn't have met him in New York or Vegas. So, he's definitely from Ko—

Holy crap!

Her body turned a 180-degree facing the secretary.

"You."