42 Marble Road Incident 1 (1/2)

Old man Cho turned around to the familiar voice and he searched until he saw a beautiful face walking towards him. ”Are you Samantha?”, the way he asked the question was full of wonder. Back at the party, she had face paint on so Grandfather Cho didn't completely saw her face. Now that he is in front of him, she looked a lot like someone he knew very well decades ago.

”Yes, it's me. I'm here to see Daniel.”, she answered.

Grandfather Cho was about to respond to her when he noticed the pendant hanging on her neck.

”You... that pendant, where did you get that?”

Samantha touched her necklace and a smiled a gentle one, ”My grandfather gave it to me. It once belonged to my grandmother.”

”What's her name?”

She thought it was a little weird that he asked but she answered, ”Tae Young-Hee”.

”Young-Hee... no wonder you look like her.”, the old man said with a hint of sadness in his eyes; he even looked like he was teary.

”You knew my grandmother?”

Grandfather Cho's expression suddenly changed as if he remembered something, ”So your grandfather must be Kim Yong-Hwan?”

Samantha nodded.

The old man scoffed and hit the floor with his cane, ”Too bad, I actually liked you. But I won't accept you for my grandson since you have the blood of that man. You must leave Daniel!”

He left before Samantha could even understand what he meant. When Samantha realized it, grandfather Cho is already gone. 'Did he hate my grandfather that much?'.

”Ms. Kim!”, Assistant Ahn hurriedly walked over to her. ”I'm sorry, I got here as fast as I could. Please, right this way.”, he gestured as he panted.

Samantha followed Ahn but before they could get to the elevator, Samantha's phone rang.

”Hello? Mom?”

Samantha heard the sound of a siren and some noises at the background like it was chaotic. Her mom's voice sounded distraught. ”Come to the hospital, your brother has been in an accident.”

When she heard her mom, Samantha's face paled and she froze before she ran out of the building leaving Ahn confused.

”Ms. Kim!”, Assistant Ahn called after her but Samantha has already gotten inside a taxi. He didn't know what caused Samantha to suddenly leave like that. When he turned around, he saw the receptionist looking his way. Ahn's expression darkened, ”What did you say to the lady earlier?”

”I-- I asked if she had an appointment with the president but she didn't. I told her she needed one, she insisted-...”

”And what did you say when she insisted?!”

”I-I... I said I can't help her.”

Assistant Ahn's brows furrowed and looked at the receptionist angrily, ”You better pray that you will still be able to keep your job. Otherwise, I don't know what the president will do to you.”, he scorned before he turned to leave.

”I can't help you.”, he replied.

-

When Ahn arrived on the top floor, Daniel Cho has already finished his meeting.

”Boss, Ms. Kim came earlier.”

Daniel Cho raised his head, ”What? Then where is she?”

”Um... I don't know..”