Chapter 3- SSU Art Gallery
The next day, for the first time in four years, I visited my art gallery. Park Min-ho, the President to whom I entrusted everything while I was away, sent me some pictures of the building but getting to see it in person felt different. It wasn't that big but Min-ho bragged that it was slowly being recognized by its charitable causes. I had some considerations about remodeling the building into a bigger one if we had enough funds.
Min-ho parked the car in front of the gallery. Upon entering the building, everyone was there to greet me. My staff welcomed me with a garland of flowers and warm greetings, which I did not expect. Min-ho introduced me to everyone and forced me to say a short speech, which I did... diffidently.
Min-ho toured me around the building then lastly to the main office. My desk was positioned across his own, cause I told him not to bother getting me a separate office. The sofa and coffee table separated our tables, while most of the space was occupied with furnishings, and the classic gray walls were sequined with extraordinary paintings gathered from different painters from the middle east. An air diffuser sat on top of a rack near the closed window, filling the warm air with its fragrant rosemary scent. Of course, he still had the highest position and I would be one of the company's photographers but that does not mean that I was not his boss. I would rather travel around the globe and take captivating photos than lock myself in the office all day. Min-ho, who was considered a whiz on paperwork, utterly fitted that role.
"These are the hard copies of the reports I've been sending you for the past three years while you were in New York." His long fingers tapped on a stack of papers almost two-feet tall sitting on my table.
I tilted my head with a chuckle. "Why did you bother to keep them for years?"
He fixed his hands on his back. "Because I thought you might doubt my administration, so I decided to keep them as evidence that I had been managing your company honestly."
I laughed at his frank answer while settling myself on the soft mattress of the sofa. "Just throw them away. I know how honest you are," I grinned at him jokingly, recalling that day when he disclosed to me that he had a crush on my friend, Lily Choi. One time I playfully grilled Min-ho about his impressions of her, but he told me the truth right away, which surprised me instead. Min-ho was fluttered by Lily at first sight.
"I will have them thrown right this day, Ma'am. By the way, did you work on what I asked you to do?" He asked, serving me a cup of coffee.
"Yeah, I'm glad that I studied about BTS last night. I think I already became a fan."
"Then welcome to the army's club."
"A-army?" I asked before picking my mug on the coffee table.
Min-ho sat across me, his lips pressing into a line of slight disappointment. "They call their fans 'army'. I think you need to read more about them."
"I don't know why you're requiring me to learn more about them," I grunted before crossing my arms.
"Cause I am an army. And I'm telling you, once you become a fan, there's no way out!"
I grinned at him. "Is that so?"
He nodded repeatedly without hesitance.
"I can't believe that a tough office worker like you is fanboying over a K-pop band." I laughed at him. "I mean... you look so serious about work but you become talkative when it comes to BTS. I just thought you were not interested in stuffs like music."
He made a quick "I'm sorry Ma'am" but I wasn't mad about it. I just found it hilarious, actually.
We discussed many things in the office, mostly about the events that happened while I was gone. When Min-ho brought up issues in the gallery to be fixed, I realized that I still needed a lot of things to work on to keep my gallery running. My gallery was young and small, but just what I needed. I was satisfied with it as long as my employees were getting paid well. I didn't do this for business. My main reason was to provide aid to people through passion in arts, and we had been doing charities for those in need.
"I guess I have to leave now." After getting contented with my endless conversation with Min-ho, I decided to exit the building after taking a glimpse of my watch. "Let's continue talking about the exhibition next time."
Min-ho stood up with me. "Let me walk you out, then."
Even after we exited the office, we continued to talk while our legs slowed down the hallway, seeming to want our conversation to keep going, until we spotted a familiar person from a distance.
"Oh no, is this a coincidence?" Min-ho whispered behind me.
A tall guy at the corner was looking up at a wide painting displayed on the wall. His loose jacket reaching until his thighs hugged his muscular shoulders, his back profile making me silent while I continued to observe him. He wore a brown bonnet and black sneakers, matching his blue jeans. Yet his perfect body frame contradicted the way his innocent eyes were quietly examining the big display with awe.
I was sure I saw him last night... on my tablet. "Kim Namjoon of BTS?" I shifted my gaze to Min-ho while he nodded with a proud smile.
"You're right. RM once donated money to our gallery, the one we used to sponsor a photography contest. You should go and thank him."
"Wait who's RM?" I paused, confused.
Min-ho looked at me with a grave look. "RM is Kim Namjoon's stage name. Are you sure you read about BTS last night?"
"Ah, right. I only focused on reading about Jungkook."
"Sorry," I whispered as I walked towards the artist. Even after I stood near him, he did not seem to notice my presence. "Do you know what this painting means?" I asked, totally distracting him.
His head quickly turned to me with a start but immediately recovered it with a smile. "Oh, dimples."
"H-harmony...?" He tried to guess before reverting his soft gaze at the painting showing people dancing in a circle in their traditional clothes.
"How did you know?" I asked, my lips parted with a little surprise.
He pointed at the title below the painting and grinned. "It says HARMONY."
My jaw dropped in amusement. I didn't realize how the title was there with the artwork, making me feel like a fool. "This painting is inspired by an ethnic tribe in the Philippines. The Igorots in the Philippines celebrate an occasion called caňao by butchering pigs and dancing in a circle. The people in the village take part in the happy occasion which shows the harmony and unity of their tribe."
"Whoa..." I heard him gasp. "Harmony... it's what we all need especially when working as a group."
"You're also a part of a group... called BTS." I faced him and smiled. I didn't waste time introducing myself. "My name is Lee Shanshan, the owner of this gallery."
"Oh, nice to meet you, ma'am," he said in surprise and held out his hand with a bow. "It's a pleasure to meet the CEO of this gallery."
I took his soft hand and shook hands with him. "Thank you for supporting us even if it is just a small gallery. I heard that you donated a large sum of money to us."
He smiled shyly, once again showing his deep dimples on each side of his cheeks. "An art gallery does not need to be famous to get attention and assistance. Galleries who help others are the ones who truly need support, and I am happy to help too."
"Thank you."
Just then, someone whom I assumed was his manager approached him and whispered something. Namjoon nodded to him before turning to me and making an embarrassed smile. "I think I need to leave now. It's a pleasure to meet you," he bowed. "I would like to come here again and see more of your artworks."
"Same to me. We hope to see you at our coming art exhibition... if you're free," I waved at him.
"I'll try to come," he replied before walking away.
I sighed with relief after he was out of sight, my hands still on my back. "I just talked to one of JK's friends." It felt so tensing. I felt like I was close to Jungkook while having a short conversation with one of his members.
Min-ho who watched us talk, came to me. "Gosh, he always looks amazing."
I turned to him as we continued passing by the people murmuring to each other in the hall. They must have seen Namjoon too. "Why did you not join me and take a chance to talk to him?"
"Because..." Min-ho shrugged. "Because I was too shy to get near him. I might not be able to control myself." He answered with a straight face. "How about you? You didn't seem nervous speaking to him."
I beamed at him. "I've met Hollywood stars and some famous artists because of my stepmother's influence. Most of my nights were boring parties filled with famous people, you know." I smirked, my eyes quietly bragging.
"Oh yeahhh, I almost forgot that my boss is exposed around wealthy and famous bitches," he teased, swirling the keys around his finger as he left to take the car.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top