Ms. Park stood by the kitchen , She was dressed in a pristine, cream-colored power suit that looked like it had been ironed with a ruler. Her hair was pulled back into a bun so tight it seemed to pull at the corners of her eyes, giving her an even more severe expression. She looked like she was in her late thirtys ,She adjusted her gold-rimmed spectacles and stared at me for a long, uncomfortable minute.
I could practically hear the gears turning in her head: Is this the expert from London?
The designer everyone was eager to see,
This girl in the oversized hoodie who looks like she just crawled out of bed?
"Hello," she finally said. Her English was clear, but her thick Korean accent clung to the syllables, making her words sound clipped and formal.
"I am Mrs. Park," she continued as we all sat down around the small dining table. "I will be the one assisting you here in Seoul, as I am in charge of the local operations for Aurelia-Seoul."
She explained that while the London house held the name, the Korean branch was co-owned by a formidable, wealthy lady names Arin woo . Mrs. Park didn't mince words. For the past five years, sales at Aurelia-Seoul had plummeted. The brand was losing its prestige, its "face," and the board was growing restless.
"Our only hope now," Mrs. Park said, her eyes narrowing as she looked at me, "is our collaboration with the Nation's Goddess, Kim Shi-na. She is a close friend of Miss Arin and, more importantly, the fiancée of Arin's brother."
My heart stuttered.kim shi na , I've been a huge fan ever since the day ,I watched her movie, I practically stalked her on intermax ,I especially love her fashion and aura , they way she carries herself with such elegance and confidence,could it be the same Kim shi na .
"The designers here in Korea have failed to create anything... tangible," Mrs. Park said, the word dripping with disappointment. "But your reputation preceded you, Lara-ssi. Your last design—the 'Midnight Orchid' gown—was what changed everything."
I remembered that dress.It was one of the first dress I made back in London , I had spent seventy-two hours straight on it. It was a masterpiece of deep violet silk and hand-stitched obsidian crystals that caught the light like a galaxy. It was "snatched" at the waist with a daring, architectural neckline that was both elegant and dangerous. It was worn by Christian ember an award winning actress and model ,it was the talk of the fashion world for a while ,alot of people wanted to see the designer but due to the contract I had with the London branch I couldn't come tell anyone I designed that dress ,in my desperation to work there I signed a really stupid contract that stated I couldn't get credits for my work ,the company would , that stupid contract guaranteed their sales and kept me in the dark,not that it bothered me I really didn't want to be seen ,but i wanted my creation to be seen .
"Kim Shi-na saw that dress," Mrs. Park noted, her voice softening just a fraction. "She demanded the designer responsible for it. That is why you are here. I hope you can create something even better than the Orchid. We need you to put this company back on its feet. Do not let the London office's reputation die in our hands."
I felt the weight of the "Midnight Orchid" hanging over me like a shadow. They expected a miracle, and they expected it from a girl who was currently struggling to keep her hands from shaking.
Remember Lara,Kim shi na wants to wear that dress for the best actress for the year award that's was coming up in the next two months , please do your best .
The silence that followed Mrs. Park's departure was heavy, almost suffocating. The click of the door behind her felt like a gavel coming down on a sentence.
I stood up and walked to the kitchen,I needed a drink of water to calm myself down ,I gupped down hard ,wiping away the drops on my lips .
Sean sat at the small dining table, staring down at the thick stack of paperwork she had left him. It was filled with market analysis, demographic charts, and the complex logistics of the Korean fashion industry. Even from the kitchen, I could see the tension in his jaw.
"Depending on me," I whispered to myself, the words tasting like copper in my mouth.
I looked at my hands. They were the hands of a girl who had 365 days left to live, yet they were being asked to carry the livelihoods of hundreds of employees. If I wasn't able to create something and the companies last hope dies down ,many of the employees there would most likely loss their job as the company folds up .
I thought about the "Midnight Orchid" gown—the dress that had brought me here. It had been an explosion of my soul, a piece of art I created when I still thought I had forever.
Now, I had to do it again, but with a clock ticking loudly in the back of my mind.
I felt a sudden wave of dizziness, a sharp reminder of the tumor, and I leaned against the kitchen counter for support
"Lara?" Sean's voice broke the silence. He looked up from the papers, his messy hair falling over his forehead. He looked tired, but his eyes were focused on me with a soft intensity. "Are you okay? You look a bit pale."
"I'm fine," I lied quickly, straightening my hoodie. "Just... a lot of pressure. Mrs park and Martha are putting a lot of faith in us."
Sean stood up and walked over to the kitchen island. He didn't cross the gap entirely, but he was close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from him.
"It's not just on you. If you design it, Kim shi na would show the world the magic you'd create and I have to deal with marketing ,We're a team, remember?"
So don't feel too troubled ,just do your best I know you can do this Lara .
I gave him a small, weak smile. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to tell him that I was terrified—not just of the design, but of the fact that I was falling for him too.
"Go get some rest," he said gently, reaching out as if to touch my shoulder before thinking better of it and pulling his hand back.
My heart skipped a bit ,for a second there I thought he was going to touch me ,odd he never seemed to do any thing like that ,he always seemed to avoid physical contact ,or maybe he wasn't just that type of guy.
"Tomorrow is going to be a long day at
Aurelia-Seoul. The driver will be here at 7:00 AM."
I nodded and retreated to my room. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my sketchbook. The housekeeper had stocked the fridge, the apartment was beautiful, and the city of Mapo was waiting outside—but all I could think about was the "Midnight Orchid."
Could I create something even better while my own body was fading away?
I pulled out my phone and looked at the date. Day 2 of 365, I had already set a countdown on my phone ,I took a deep breath ,""" Lara this isn't only about you anymore , many people are depending on it .
I opened my sketchbook to the drawing I had started in the park and, despite the fear, my pencil began to move.