Seoul Spankings by Anastasia Vitsky Read Free Book Online Page B

I’d like to get some rest before my flight tomorrow.” She refused to look at me, crumpling the edge of her sash.
    My heart sank. “You didn’t have any dinner. Let’s get something besides seafood. You’ll like….”
    She gave an abrupt shake of her head. “Thank you, but no. Please take me back.”
    If I knew her better, I could persuade her to tell me the problem. If she were my employee, I could reassure her with food, alcohol, or plenty of both. I stared at this girl from another land, wondering where we went wrong. At last, I asked with as much gentleness as I knew how. “Are you sure?”
    She dried her eyes and stood taller. “Yes. Please. Thank you for taking me to the concert.”
    I could force her, if I wished. I could tell my driver to take us anyway. But I looked down at her tearstained face. “All right.”
     
    ***
     
    “Fresh samgyopsal! The best! The sesame leaves aren’t absolutely perfect, but they are fresh, too. We couldn’t get a net canopy, but we got some netting instead. Minhee-ssi found a big flashlight we can attach to a pole and use for a floodlight. She also brought a change of clothes for each of you.”
    Thankfully, Minhee delivered her report in Korean. She kept flicking her gaze toward Indigo and pretending not to.
    “That’s all right. We won’t need them, after all.”
    “But—”
    “Let’s take Indigo-ssi home.”
    Indigo looked up at her name, but I gave thanks she couldn’t understand.
    “What’s wrong?” Minhee fluttered with anxiety.
    Miss Cha could have handled the situation better, but she had stayed at home to prepare for our evening together. I laughed to myself. What evening? Then, inspiration struck. I might not have been able to coax Indigo to talk to me, but underlings had their uses. Giving thanks again for the language barrier, I explained the situation to Minhee. “I don’t know why Indigo-ssi is upset. Please take her to the foyer and try to find out, and I’ll let Miss Cha know we are coming home early.”
    “But my English….”
    “Just do it.” I walked away before Minhee could stop me. I needed to cool down, and I needed to do it away from this impossible enigma. Faced with someone I could neither understand nor command, I paced the hallway. I’d meant to investigate the new wing of the Arts Center, after all.
    “Wait, please!” Minhee’s alarmed voice carried through the echoing halls. “Miss Indi Go would like to accompany you.”
    I shrugged and waited for Indigo to follow.
    “I told her she would like to see the light fountain,” Minhee explained, and I could have kissed her. Of course. I should have thought of it myself.
    “Don’t cancel the picnic yet,” I said in Korean over my shoulder as I took Indigo’s hand. “Come with me. You’ll want to see this.”
    Surprised but obedient, Indigo followed me out the door and through the courtyard. Already the long, narrow water fountain danced in time with a Wagner overture. The multi-colored lights sparkled as the gathering crowd oohed and aahed. Little children ran up to the fountain, dancing and shrieking with excitement when the water hit them unexpectedly. Mothers parked their strollers, and young couples leaned arm in arm.
    “Oh!” Indigo’s eyes widened as she took in the display.
    Bemused, I watched her gasp as the water climbed higher and higher, only to collapse in a glorious crash of chords. Traditional symphony not your fare? Try a little water and light in the outdoors . She shivered, and I put an arm around her. She pushed away, nicely but firmly.
    “It’s all right,” she said. “You don’t have to pretend I’m your newest girlfriend or business partner. I won’t embarrass you.”
    Her words, echoing mine to Leila and Miss Cha, stung my conscience. “Okay,” I said. “I deserved that. One word of gossip gets out, and—”
    “What gossip?” She stared at me. “You bring me over for a job interview, and your people dress me up like Cinderella,