13 Who? What people from before...? (2/2)

Yuri looked down and calmed her racing heart. Better not to alert the Assistant Director about these matters, so...

The Assistant Director just walked up to her and patted her shoulder. ”That's the way to do it! It's just your first day as our cover girl and you're already making waves!”

She point-blank did not understand how this guy's mind worked, but nevertheless, she felt saved by his misunderstanding of the situation.

”You should go and start meeting with the photographers now,” the Assistant Director ushered her out of the small office. ”Let me tell you, they're not the most patient of the bunch, but they're the best in our country. The Madam has personally arranged for them to be here!”

He rattled off as he led her to the studio. As they got closer, they both saw Yuri's small assistant already at the door of the studio, looking in with such interest in her eyes and her mouth hanging open in awe. They saw camera flashes going off and reflecting from inside the room.

”What's going on?” The Assistant Director approached the small assistant. ”You were supposed to be inside already. You're supposed to have prepared the clothes that Yuri will be wearing for the pre-shoot!”

The small assistant tore her eyes away from the spectacle and pointed a finger at the inside of the studio. She gazed at Yuri with trepidation.

”But the Madam's there along with the people from before...” She explained to the annoyed pair. ”They were talking to the group inside and all of a sudden, the photographers decided they wanted to get them in frames.”

Yuri's eyebrow shot up and she walked up to the door to peek in. People from before? She thought as she situated herself beside the door. Don't tell me...

”Who? What people from before...?” The Assistant Director squeezed himself between the two ladies and decided to just come in unannounced.

”Brother Yang, wait-” Yuri started, but he pushed her aside and went in.

What greeted him inside and made him stop in his tracks were the elegant smile of the company's Madam Song and a certain heiress' warm aura. His dark eyes naturally stayed glued at the youthful girl who was standing in the middle of the room. She talked and laughed naturally while the photographers shot pictures of her and the Madam as they conversed with each other.

Behind him, Yuri and Mi-Young went in and waited for their presence to be known. They had to at least keep their heads down and be quiet as the company owner was there.

”Ah, Director Yang!” Madam Song noticed the presence of the Assistant Director at last. ”We thought to visit your area as part of Lady Chung's guided tour.”

The young girl bowed to him respectfully as she introduced herself. ”Good to meet you, Director Yang. My name is Chung Ji-Eun.”

Chung? The Assistant Director's mind whirled as he bowed to the girl in return. ”It's nice meeting you, Ms. Chung.”

And then he turned to Madam Song, eager to ask something. ”Madam Song, I'm sorry that I wasn't here when you arrived. I was helping out our new cover girl with her contract as there had been a small issue about it.”

”Has everything been settled then?”

”Yes, everything's okay now.”

There were a few seconds of silence as Director Yang cleared his throat.

”Uh, Madam,” Director Yang started. ”Is Ms. Chung a part of our shoot today?”

The youthful girl looked at him in surprise.

”Oh, no, no...” The Madam answered as her eyes twinkled. ”I will make sure to talk her into modeling for us one day. But today...”