"HUH??!??!?!?!?!!?!??!?" I was completely blindsided, my mind struggling to process what was happening.
Mr. Park, unfazed, asked, "Yes... You? You don't want it?"
"N-no, I mean YES! I want the job, but... but I'm only doing this as a part-time thing," I stammered nervously, trying to backtrack.
He grinned. "Then it's perfect! An on-call MUA is even better."
"Hmm, true. On dramas, we can only do so much anyway. Plus, my team's in high demand," Shane nodded, agreeing with him.
"Alright, you're hired!" Mr. Park declared. He stood up, looking at Shane. "My schedule is packed, I need to go."
"Sure, see you then!" Shane said, bowing slightly as he walked out.
"Everyone, thank you for today," she said with poise. She turned to me with a smile. "Congratulations, Jovy, and good luck with your work with Mr. Park."
She then turned to the rest of the artists. "Aside from Jovy, I'll be choosing another person to work with my team. My assistant will contact you, so keep your phones on."
With that, she followed Mr. Park out, leaving me in the room with all the muttering whispers.
"Personal hire by Mr. Park? Amazing," the woman who'd been talking to me earlier said, clearly impressed.
"Congrats! Your work was amazing too. Those models look great! I can already tell you're going places in this industry," she said, extending a hand for a handshake.
"My name's Ha-rin," she introduced herself with a positive vibe, and I could feel it too.
"I'm Jovi, nice to meet you, Ha-rin. You did great too," I said, shaking her hand.
I didn't want to be rude, so I accepted the handshake. It was my first time here, and I wanted to keep a low profile. But the murmurs in the background kept going, like I'd done something wrong.
"Who's this? Jovy? Never heard of her."
"She must have some serious connections to be picked."
"I doubt her work is that good, but they seem to like her."
I muttered under my breath, "This is going to be annoying."
Ha-rin, sensing my discomfort, smiled and reassured me. "Don't worry. Some of them are just jealous. You did this on your first try."
"I know some of them. They've tried multiple times and still didn't pass, even though they're established MUAs around Korea," she added, her voice full of sympathy.
"Even for me, this is my 10th time. I really hope I pass, so I can work with Ms. Shane," Ha-Rin said, clasping her hands in hope.
The room fell into shocked silence, and I could feel the tension rising. I quickly packed my things, eager to leave.
"Thank you so much, Ha-Rin. I'm sorry, but I have to go—I've got somewhere to be." I grabbed my luggage, hurrying out.
"Ugh, I don't know how I got into this mess. I just wanted some extra cash. Damn," I muttered to myself as I walked away.
Just then, my phone rang, and a familiar name appeared on the screen.
Guess it's time to pick up.
"Yes, helloooo? Jane, is everything going okay on your end?" I answered happily.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! THINGS ARE A DISASTER, YOU BLEEP!" she shouted through the phone.
"You shouldn't be slacking off! The atelier opens in two weeks, you still haven't checked it out, and we've got a long list of clients now!" she kept going.
"Chill... there's still plenty of time," I said softly, trying to calm her down.
"YOU'RE BEING SO IRRITATING, WE HAVE THE KOREAN GALA NIGHT. WE NEED TO DRESS SOMEONE FOR THE RED CARPET. YOU KNOW IT'LL TAKE ABOUT A MONTH FOR EVERYONE TO WORK ON YOUR TASKS!!!!!! I swear, she thinks she's the ruler of the underworld. My ears are going to fall off from all this shouting."
"My ears are going to fall off with all this shouting. Sheesh," I told her.
"Alright, alright, I'll do it first thing in the morning... Hayssh, I think the studio's finished. I'll work on the first suit tomorrow morning right away," I assured her.
"Oh, when are you flying with the team?" I asked.
"We're flying to Korea tomorrow. We still have some things to finish for the atelier's opening. I'll send you the details of the client requests, so make sure to check them. Our Korean staff is already on it," she replied.
"Okay, okay, have a safe flight then!" I said before hanging up.
"Well, I guess I have to start the drafts tomorrow morning," I murmured to myself.
As I walked home, I noticed a familiar face at the park swinging. I should recognize them from somewhere, but I couldn't quite place it. I kept walking, enjoying the peaceful view.
The next morning, I woke up around 5 AM to head to the studio.
When I arrived, I was once again struck by how enormous it was.
There were piles of fabrics I usually work with, and my personal workspace was set up. I might need to check on a few other materials, though.
I then went over the email Jane had sent me. As I read through it, I saw that the client was planning to wear the suit to a luxurious event and party. It seemed this was the second time he had requested a suit from me.
"Well, I might as well get started," I thought. "The request seems pretty straightforward."
As I glanced through the note again, something caught my attention.
"I see. So he wants it made with silk. A silk suit? Hmm, not a bad idea," I mused, nodding to myself. I then checked the measurements.
"Oh, he's quite a tall man... Uh-huh... alright, let's get to work," I said, shifting into full work mode.
I grabbed a piece of fabric that I believed was made from mulberry silk. I was amazed at how smoothly it glided through my fingers. It was incredibly soft…
"Now for the construction and lining... I believe vicuña would provide comfort and warmth, or should I go with cashmere? Hmmm..." I debated with myself, weighing the options.
I glanced over the rolls of fabrics in front of me, searching for the right one. Then, something caught my eye.
"What's this? Shahtoosh? Never heard of it before. This feels incredible," I said, completely amazed at the texture of the fabric.
"Alright, we'll go with this. And I think I'll incorporate some Korean influence into this suit," I decided.
With that, I dove into the design process and had the suit completed within 16 hours.
"I might need a quick break," I muttered, stepping back to admire my work. "I'll just finish up with the final touches, and we're done."
The suit itself was a striking blend of black and dark-toned gold, with a subtle homage to Korean influence. The muted sheen of the gold perfectly complemented the deep black fabric.
As I stood back, admiring the finished piece, I heard a knock on the door. It slowly opened.
"Oh, Jane, you're here already? I thought you'd be here the next morning," I said, surprised.
"It's the next morning, Jovy," she replied, shaking her head in dismay.
"Really?! How long have I been working?" I exclaimed, suddenly realizing the time. I quickly turned to check the wall clock.
"Gosh, I've been working for a whole day already. I seriously thought it was only half a day," I said, sitting down on the couch, feeling exhausted.
"You should get some rest. The team will be here at 9 AM. They'll take care of the finishing touches," Jane advised.
"Yeah, just have them handle the seaming and trimming. And make sure it's ironed and steamed properly. The client really wants it to stand out," I said, trying to stay focused.
"I know, I saw the request too. Now go home and rest," Jane urged, pulling me toward the door.
As we stepped outside, we were both stunned to see a young, yet massive man waiting at the door.
"Hi, can we help you?" Jane asked, greeting him.
I quickly scanned him from head to toe. He was strikingly handsome—he looked like he could be a model. His frame was enormous—broad shoulders, huge biceps, a slim waist, and standing about 180 cm tall.
I looked at his face, completely captivated by his striking features.
"You know, I'm gonna melt if you keep looking at me like that..." he said, flashing a playful smile.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I can't help it—your features are just so striking, and you're incredibly handsome," I stammered. "But I'm afraid we haven't started hiring models until next week."
He smirked, chuckling as though I was just teasing him.
"Really? You must have fallen in love with me," he whispered, his voice low and teasing.
"What was that?" I asked, my annoyance rising.
"N-no, I was joking," he quickly corrected himself, clearing his throat. "I'm not here to apply as a model."
"Ahem... anyways, I'm here to ask—Is this Designer B's atelier?" he asked, his tone serious.
"Yes, it is," Jane and I replied in unison, both of us exchanging a brief glance.
"Are you Designer B?" he asked, his gaze shifting toward me. I froze, suddenly nervous and unsure of what to say.
"N-n-no, no! I'm just a tailor here, working for her," I stammered, awkwardly smiling.
"Oh, she's the assistant. You can talk to her about it," I said, pointing toward Jane while locking eyes with her.
"R-right! Apparently, the atelier opens in two weeks, and the designer said we can start taking clients then," Jane replied quickly, clearly eager to clear up the confusion. I shot another awkward smile in his direction.
"Also, as for whether the designer will take clients... that's up to the designer, right, Jovi?" Jane added, giving me a pointed look and signaling with her arm like she was passing me the baton.
"Awww... that's sad," he said, dramatically slumping his shoulders. "I really need a suit for a special occasion. Like, really badly."
I couldn't help but stifle a chuckle at his over-the-top reaction. "Don't worry, we can work something out," Jane said, trying to keep things professional. "May I know your name?"
"Oh, I'm Nam Joo Hyuk," he said, extending his hand for a handshake with both of us.
"I'm Jovi, one of the atelier's tailors for Designer B," I said, shaking his hand. His hand was huge compared to mine, almost comically so. I felt like I was shaking hands with a bodyguard.
"I'm Jane, Designer B's direct assistant," she said, shaking his hand with a smile.
I kept thinking about his name. It sounded so familiar, but I just couldn't place where I'd heard it before.
"Jane, would it be possible for me to be on the waiting list?" Nam Joo Hyuk asked earnestly. "I really need a well-made suit. It's for an event, you know."
Jane, ever the professional, immediately switched into "work mode."
"I'm so sorry, but we have a lot of clients already waiting, and it could take up to a year for the designer to even consider working on it," she replied, not missing a beat.
She pulled out her phone, quickly scanning the schedule.
"Yep, it's not possible. At the moment, the designer isn't taking clients after the Korean Gala night," Jane added, clearly trying to let him down gently.
"Oh... alright," he said, sounding a little defeated.
I couldn't let the poor guy just walk away all sad like that.
"I mean, Jane could take down your information, and she'll call you if something opens up... Right? Right??" I nudged Jane with my elbow.
"O- oh! Yeah, yeah. Please, come in so I can take your info," Jane said, quickly opening the door and shooting me a look that screamed thank you for saving me from my own professionalism.
"B- I mean, Jovy, you should go home and get some rest," she added, looking at me with a concerned expression.
"Thanks, I will," I said, waving it off as I made my way out. I headed straight home to my condo, crashed into bed, and fell asleep faster than I could think about the fact that I still couldn't remember where I'd heard his name before.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Jane guided Nam Joo Hyuk inside the atelier, where the staff were busy at work.
"Mr. Nam, our seamstress will take your measurements. Is that alright?" Jane asked, looking at him with a polite smile.
"Sure," he replied, nodding.
She turned to the team, instructing them to take his measurements and information.
Nam Joo Hyuk couldn't help but look around, his eyes wide with awe. "This atelier is enormous... and so luxurious. It's my first time here, and honestly, even the biggest brands can't top this."
Jane smiled, proud of the atelier's reputation. "Indeed. Since our clients are at the top of their industries, we make sure to provide them with the highest, most luxurious experience."
Nam Joo's gaze fell on a suit displayed in the work studio. "Oh, look at this suit. It's incredible! I've never seen anything like it. Just look at the quality."
"Yeah, it's still unfinished. The team will take care of the final touches later on," Jane explained, glancing at the suit.
"Then the girl, Jovy... Is she the one who made this?" Nam Joo asked, intrigued.
"She did handle the construction of the suit. The designer personally assigned her to this project. She's our head tailor here at the atelier," Jane replied, her tone filled with respect.
"Sounds like she must be very talented and trusted by Designer B to handle something so important," Nam Joo said, clearly impressed.
"She is, and she's one of Designer B's trusted friends. The designer only surrounds herself with people she deems worthy of her trust," Jane explained.
The staff finished taking Nam Joo's measurements and had already noted everything down. "If a suit is ready for you, we'll contact you for the fitting," Jane continued.
"Please put your information here," Jane said, offering him her tablet to fill in his details. "I'll add it to our client waitlist."
"Sure, thanks!" he said with a smile, taking the tablet and starting to fill out the information.
Curious, Nam Joo glanced up. "The designer doesn't show herself in public. Can I ask why?"
Jane paused for a moment before answering. "Designer B doesn't want to be on camera. She prefers to live her life without anyone knowing her."
"She wants to keep her life private. She wants to remain anonymous," Jane added, watching him as he finished filling out the form.
"She also wants to slack off a lot," Jane muttered quietly under her breath, barely audible.
"Hm? Did you say something?" Nam Joo asked, tilting his head.
"Nope, nothing," Jane replied awkwardly, quickly shaking off the slip of her tongue.
"I see. A lot of famous people have worn her designs, but she's never been the face of her own brand," Nam Joo said, finishing up the form. He handed the tablet back to Jane.
Jane nodded, accepting the tablet. "Her atelier is one of the 17 official Haute Couture houses in the world. She doesn't need to make a public spectacle of herself. She prefers solitude."
Nam Joo chuckled. "She must be an introvert."
Jane smiled faintly, glancing over the information. "You could say that."
Nam Joo stood up, preparing to leave. "Thank you so much. I'll be waiting for your call," he said with a polite bow.
"Of course. Have a wonderful day, Mr. Nam," Jane replied, bowing in return as he made his way out.
As Nam Joo exited the room, he turned back briefly, muttering to himself, "Designer B..." He then walked out, the door closing softly behind him.
-End-