At Odds (All Bets Are Off Sequel)

Chapter 13

"Wow...."

Dara craned her neck to look up at the exterior setting of the mall being built in the center of the city. Joross, one of KMAg's official photographer, had his mouth open in awe as he looked at the sorroundings and Dara had to admit, it looked pretty impressive. There was a fountain at the front of the entrance, the landscape beautifully prepped with a lot of green. Pine trees and plants and grasses sorrounds the asphalted pathway with random benches on its bed. Light posts are all stationed on each corner and a zigzagging wooden canopy housing the long line of glass windows. It looked like a vast building in the middle of a forest or something, if Dara had to describe it.

Joross lifted up hia SLR camera, took aim and snapped a photo. "Wow," he repeated. "It looks like it came straight out of an interior design catalogue."

"Uh... maybe because it does," Dara said wryly. "He's got like more than 5 interior designers working this place so yeah, I would be really disappointed if it didn't come out looking like this." She adjusted her sling bag on her shoulders. Since it's just an ocular shoot of the place, she just chose to wear her plaid red polo shirt that she tucked loosely in her denim jeans and her trusted sneakers. And she was glad she did because walking around while inspecting the place wearing even a 2 inch heels would definitely get her feet into a coma. "C'mon, let's get to work."

They passed through the entrance and dodged a lot of workers hammering the woods, drilling a hole in the wall, measuring the length of the floor. It seems like the interior of the place is still being created to be as magnificent as its exterior. Half of the building is almost done and Dara could feel a little bit nostalgic as she can see that the mall is being made to give an impression of being in Korea. She suddenly missed her home.

"Who should we look for again?" Joross asked as he snapped his camera.

"Uh... Mr. Kim Minseok. He's the General Manager here. He's also Korean and got assigned here." Dara took out her notes. The general manager would be the one to show them around.

"Oh, that's good. So you guys can get along very well.," Joross said a little bit distractedly sa he eyed an ornate painting at the corner and took a picture.

Dara looked around for someone to ask for the general manager and her eyes zeroed in on the foreman. She marched over to him and asked.

"Let me call him for you," the foreman said as he took his phone and let the manager know she's already there. "You can go to the 3rd floor. Take that elevator. You would see him as soon as it opens."

"Thank you."

Dara called for Joross and they rode the elevator to the 3rd floor. Dara took her phone and sent a message to Becky that she might be coming home a little early while Joross reviewed the pictures he had just taken.

The elevator door opened and they both stepped out looking around for Kim Min Seok. The 3rd floor is still being polished to its grandeur and the wide open space with marble floors the color of wooden pines met their eyes. Joross took aim again and snapped while Dara searched for the general manager. She guessed it was the man dressed in suit talking to someone on the far end window. His back was to her and she placed her hand on Joross' arm as they strode towards the manager. The man was smaller than she realized. More like they were on the same height when she got close enough. She cleared her throat.

"Mr. Kim?"

The man turned and Dara smiled at him but it instantly fell when her gaze went to the person the general manager has been talking to. Lee Donghae was sitting languidly on the sill of the glass window looking like he wasn't surprised to see her, his smirk spreading on his arrogant face as his eyes met hers.