The waitress approaches with a bottle of wine they must have ordered earlier. She also brings a platter with rows of sushi in various colors. It looks divine, and my mouth waters despite the lobster I gorged myself on. Our intimate moment on the deck feels like a lifetime ago. The waitress begins to fill everyone’s glasses.
Luke turns to me, speaking again in the same language.
I nod along like I know what they’re saying, smiling at him as he looks at me. I’ve gathered that the other man is from Korea, and we’ve been introduced.
The one I’m assuming is Mr. Lim throws his head back, laughing, while the two men beside him look at each other.
Luke’s gaze washes over me again, and I squirm in my seat. I find it disconcerting to be talked about in a language I don’t understand.
He turns back to the man, and the conversation continues on. I keep waiting for someone to start translating into English for me to take notes, but it never happens.
No one touches the sushi, and for some reason, it feels rude to serve myself before someone else begins.
Is the food just a prop?
After about twenty minutes of them talking in Korean, Luke turns to me. “Were you able to take down those sums and dates he mentioned?”
“Umm, no, I don’t … I don’t speak Korean.” I shift in my seat.
His gaze sharpens for a moment, and he leans in closer. “What languages do you know?”
I blink at him. “English.”
Why on earth would he think I was multilingual?
He stares at me, and I stare right back.
No one told me part of this job requirement would be knowing other languages. I’m a personal assistant. I thought the main thing he needed me for was to pick up dry cleaning and do coffee runs.
I guess the fact that I’m paid so well makes a little more sense now.
He starts to translate some for me, just dates and names he wants noted. He mentions a staggering sum, and I assume it’s a yearly income estimate for the entire company.
“Yearly?” I clarify.
“No, monthly.”
I almost choke on my wine, but I manage to nod and change the note.
Mr. Lim finally reaches for a sushi roll, and the two men beside me follow suit. I get myself a few pieces, but Luke doesn’t have any. It’s been hours since we ate the lobster on the deck.
The meeting seems to be coming to a close as they chat without any more dates and sums being clarified for me.
Luke stands after I finish my sushi, extending a hand to Mr. Lim. The man gestures to me, winking at my boss as he does it. My skin crawls, as I don’t know what he’s saying. Luke doesn’t seem to be amused. He bows before we turn to leave. I also dip my head down, unsure of the proper etiquette for women in this situation.
Luke gestures for me to go ahead, and I descend the stairs. We exit the restaurant, and the black SUV pulls around a moment later.
He opens my door, following in after me. We don’t speak for several minutes as the car takes us to the waiting jet.
“Who interviewed you?” he asks me, turning to face me. His mouth is in a line.
My stomach is uneasy.Is he angry?
“I had a phone interview with Georginne.”
A muscle tics in his jaw as he inspects me. “How did you apply for the position without the qualifications?”
“I didn’t apply. I listed my résumé on Indeed.com, and she reached out the next day for the interview.”
