7

7. South Korea

Just before midnight, the plane touches down at the Gimpo airport, Seoul.

Edna is still asleep and she doesn't notice that the plane has landed until she hears the interaction going on between the Crew and the airport workers.

She sighs and sits up on the chair, her thoughts are hazy, but that doesn't stop her from getting up and staring out of the window.

She sights Malik and the pilot and they are speaking to some Asian men in uniforms.

She looks away from the window, whatever it is, Malik will be able to handle it.

Her shoes go back to her feet and her make-up out of her bag. She goes into the bathroom and refreshes herself. It might be midnight, but she has to look perfect all the time.

When she steps out of the bathroom, Malik is coincidentally entering the plane again.

He nearly bumps into her and she is a bit frightened.

" Hey. " He says calmly.

"We are here." She says as she returns to her seat.

"Yes. We are leaving for the hotel anytime soon." He informs her.

"Great. " She utters.

Malik is standing by with his hands in his pockets.

There is a heaviness in the air and it is due to what happened between them before.

"Look, Edna, I'm sorry. " Malik sighs and rubs his eyebrow. He is deciding to be the bigger person. " I wasn't meaning to insult you or anything."

"Malik, I don't think we should speak about what happened. " She cut him short. " It's done and there is no need to talk about it."

"I just want you to know that I was only saying what I said with your best interest in mind. " He defends himself.

"You had no right meddling like that. " She states.

He keeps calm and watches her. Speaking while she speaks is only going to turn this into an argument, again.

"I'm sorry. I just don't want to see you get hurt."

"Thank you, but I am fine. " She tries to look it by keeping a straight face.

"Gotcha. "

The silence is heavy in the air, no one is saying anything else.

The pilot comes in and he would have started speaking to Malik, who is the first person his eyes meet, but then he notices Edna.

He shutters and bows a few times.

"Greetings, Mrs. Jackson. " He mumbles. " I had no idea that you guys were having a private talk."

"It's fine. " Malik answers for both of them.

"The cars have arrived and so have your assistants. " The pilot informs with yet another bow.

Edna brought Dimore and Kim with her, she takes them anywhere she goes, but Malik brought no one.

The assistance flew commercial though. Due to company policies, they aren't allowed to fly with their bosses.

"We will be out in a minute," Edna says. " Thank you."

The pilot bows and leaves with eagerness on his feet.

Edna stands to her feet and takes her bag. She walks past Malik and out of the plane.

She is more concerned with herself. She doesn't want to speak to Malik right now.

"Where are you going?" Malik holds her hand, stopping her from leaving.

She gives him an irritated look before answering.

"It's midnight, I am going to the hotel to have a nice sleep."

He lets go of her seeing that she is not in the mood.

"Thank you. " She huffs.

She strolls out of the plane and Kim walks from one of the cars to meet her.

She smiles sweetly. Here is one person who is not going to irk her out.

"Good morning, ma'am. " Kim greets.

"Kim, did you do as I asked?" Edna ignores her greetings and goes straight to the point.

They both know exactly what she is talking about, no need to beat around the bush.

"Yes. " Kim affirms. " Dimore has gone ahead to confirm it."

"Good. " Edna nods.

There is a lady who is leaning on one of the cars.

Unlike the rest of the drivers and others who are dressed in suits, even at the odd hour, she is wearing pajamas under her coat.

She is biracial, she has a darker skin tone with her Asian features and that makes her stand out from the rest of them.

She looks beautiful and has these gorgeous lips that are full and pink, like cherries.

She has bunny ears on her headband and she is on the phone with someone.

She quickly ends the call as soon as she sees Edna and her smile lights up the whole place.

She makes a surprise move to huge Edna and she doesn't reject it even though it's not what she was expecting.

It's not a formal thing to do, but Edna likes that feeling of mutuality, even if they are just getting to meet each other.

"Hello, you must be Mrs. Jackson. " She smiles. " I am Anna, nice to meet you. "

"Thank you, Anna. You are so beautiful. " Edna compliments her.

She laughs with her hand on her chest, a small kind of laugh.

"You are too kind, thank you. " Anna says.

She leads her to the car and a driver opens the door.

He bows to them both and says something in Korea, but Edna doesn't understand so she bows and says nothing.

Kim is right behind them, but as quiet as a lamb.

Edna gets into the car and Kim joins her. Anna sits in the front with the driver and off they go.

Just as they leave the huge plane and the runway behind, Edna catches a glimpse of Malik stepping out of the plane and she looks away.

"We would have made the arrangements, but you guys were so adamant. " Anna laughs a bit.

Edna smiles at her through the camera. Mister Jackson is like that. He won't take any favor from anyone. Not even his close business associates.

"Anyway, we will take you guys to the hotel right now and then start business tomorrow. Mister Kim Soo sends his greetings."

"Thank you. "

The drive is long and even though it's night, the streets are still bubbling.

The shops are open and businesses are still going on. Maybe that's why the country of South Korea has a large economy.

Finally, they get to the hotel. It's not five-star and all, but that's because Edna made Kim book a different hotel.

"Wow. " Anna looks out through the window. Her voice isn't that impressed.

" I am trying to practice modesty. " Edna defends herself.

"Well, I am a very modest person, but I won't spend the night here." Anna comments.

She steps out of the car, and all of them do, but Anna can't keep her eyes off the building.

It's not as bad as she is making it seem, but maybe because it has no casino and bubbling airs of the five stars ones, she is not impressed.

She murmurs something in Korea.

Dimore appears from the door with his hands in his pockets.

"I have a pretty decent place, you know?" Anna turns to her. " My apartment is quite nice, you can use that as your emergency hotel in the meantime. "

"That's very great, Anna, but don't worry about me, I am fine. " Edna tells her.

Edna doesn't push further. She gives Edna another hug then.

" I have your number and I am going to test your line right now. " She tells her. " Call me in case of anything, maybe this place would start to fall apart. "

Edna can't help but laugh. She likes Anna, she is so funny.

"Good night. "

Anna walks back into the car. Kim has taken all of her stuff out of the car and then they all start to walk towards Dimore and the hotel.

"It's not as bad as it looks. " Edna tells Kim.

"Yes, ma'am. "

"Are you guys staying here too?"

"No, ma'am. We got booked at another hotel by the one that was booked for you and Mister Jackson. " She means Malik.

Edna nods. She is just going to sacrifice a little part of her comfort to get some peace. It's going to be worth it.

Dimore doesn't look really fine. His face has a tight look and he seems like he wants to break bad news to his boss.

Edna notices it. She kind of knows that something isn't right already.

" Yes, Dimore? What's the matter?" She asks.

Dimore looks at her and then at Kim. He doesn't know how to break this to her.

"I'm sorry, boss. " He says.

Kim is startled. Edna is about to burst with impatience.

"What in God's name are you talking about, Dimore? Speak the hell up!" She urges.

"It seems that someone canceled your booking just after it was booked. " He breaks the news. " Someone from the board of directors. "

Edna's nostrils glare as she tries her best to remain calm.

"It was Mister Jackson, ma'am. " He informs her.