Chapter 18 The One
The One
Julia
Julia stood amazed, watching Tae as he talked to the new general contractor Julia had just hired, telling him exactly what
needed to be prioritized for the office renovation. He’d come by to help select new light fixtures but ended up doing a walk-through
that would save Starlight both time and money. What would she have done without his help? And honestly, what couldn’t he do
well?
“Tae, thanks for being here. It’s just nice to have someone I can trust being involved. You’re so, um, competent.”
Julia blushed remembering the conversation with her friends. Shit, even Tae’s work ethic was starting to be attractive to
her. She was doomed. Thank goodness she was wearing a high-collared blouse, because her neck’s flush was certain to give her
away.
“It’s nothing, Jules. Not a problem at all. I’m happy to help.” She’d heard him saying these words to the people in the neighborhood
all the time. The man loved being needed. “It’s the kind of work I actually like doing, ya know? Stuff with my hands, building.
Plus, I like getting the chance to spend time with you.”
He shut his mouth immediately.
“Oh,” she responded in surprise. She couldn’t think of what else to say. That was really nice. She liked that he seemed happy with the work. And she liked spending time with him too. She could actually just say those words. But . . .
“You sound like you did when we were kids, knocking on my door asking if I wanted to come out and play.” She smiled at the
memory.
“Yeah, I had a pretty massive crush on you growing up.” He rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled.
“Knock knock. Julia, I’m dropping off the design mock-ups for the new product launch before our meeting this afternoon. Take
a look. I’m still not sure the team nailed it, to be honest. But I’ve been looking at these designs for days, and my eyes
are crossing.”
Julia wasn’t sure if she’d just been rudely interrupted or gratefully saved by work.
The problem with a company and products suddenly in the spotlight, every angle was under a microscope. They had to get the
new packaging right. It had to convey everything the company was about, clean cosmetics, organic products, Korean-inspired.
And that was something the entire team was struggling with.
“Thanks, Jess. I’ll take a look.”
Jess’s eyes did a double-take as she reviewed the office. “It looks incredible in here. It’s the perfect blend of functional
yet chic. I can’t believe how much bigger it seems. I heard the team talking about the bathroom reno too. It actually feels
like a cosmetics company, not just a corporate office. Oh, and is the lighting replacement for the makeup stations? I’m obsessed
with these.” Jess picked up the frosted-glass canisters that would hang over each workstation. Julia loved this version so
much more than the ones originally installed. She was glad Jess seemed to agree.
“Well, you can thank this man here. Tae, this is Jess Kim, Starlight’s design director. Jess, this is Tae. He’s an old family friend but has helped out a ton with the renovations. He deserves all the credit.”
Tae reached out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Oh yes, Tae.” Jessica grabbed his hand and shook it. “Your name is famous around these parts nowadays. You’re really talented.
You’ve got an incredible sense of function and design. Spatially too, the way everything’s been laid out is impressive.”
Tae tucked his lips in trying to hide the smile. But the corner of his mouth rose just as he dipped his head to hide it. Julia
wished she could see if his cheeks were blushing too.
“Thanks, appreciate the kind words,” he said.
“Listen, I’d love to talk to you about some of our new brick-and-mortar stores,” Jess said. “We work with small spaces and
limited square footage, but with the right design layout, they’re gonna draw the crowds. I assume you’re probably already
working . . .”
Julia saw Tae stiffen. She got the sense that he hated engaging in these types of conversations. For some reason, any talk
about jobs or his future made him uncomfortable. Julia didn’t want to pry, but she also wanted to help if she could. Tae was
talented in so many ways. She’d love to be able to open up doors for him.
“Thanks, that’s really nice of you to say. But I can’t imagine you not having access to people way more qualified than I’d
be at this,” Tae said.
“We could use a fresh take on it. Maybe our problem is we’re asking the same people with the same ideas and same methods to
come up with something new.”
Tae looked to Julia, and she gave him a small smile, trying to encourage him to try.
“If you’d be interested in some freelance projects, we should talk. Can I get your contact info from Julia?”
“Talking can’t hurt,” Julia chimed in.
“Uh, yeah, sure,” Tae said.
Jess turned to Julia. “Send me his info? I’m pumped.”
“Will do.” Julia tried to play it cool, but she couldn’t help turning to Tae with the brightest smile.
“That was cool,” Julia tried to say casually. Julia didn’t do casual. She was fishing for Tae’s interest level, and based
on his expression, she wasn’t fooling him. “We could really use your help, Tae. We haven’t nailed the design for the store
footprints yet, and it’s been pretty stressful determining how we want to grow. We know we want small stores, which will help
us be more deliberate about our growth. But we also want to make the best use of the space, showcasing the product in a way
that makes sense. You’ve done such great work at the office already. We could just hire you on a project basis. But you’d
have to promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“You can’t lowball us on the price of your services. You’re not billing Julia Song, your childhood friend. You’re billing
Starlight—”
“The behemoth new cosmetics company,” he interrupted.
“Not quite behemoth, but I appreciate the confidence booster,” she said. “So what do you think?”
If Tae agreed and it worked out, it could be a win-win for everyone. Julia’s mother had mentioned all the medical bills Tae’s
family was drowning under. Whether Tae planned on going back to his life in Chicago she didn’t know for sure. But she could
help him now if he’d let her. And give him a viable option if he wanted to stay in California.
“I’m not sure I’m looking for anything full-time. But I could be open to some freelance project work, here and there, like
Jess mentioned. Maybe.” That was it. No mention of his plans for the future and if those included staying here. That was all
he was going to give her. She wouldn’t push.
“You could be a consultant,” Julia suggested.
Tae shook his head. “I prefer hands-on work and being involved in the process. But why don’t you give Jess my contact info, and we’ll see if it even makes sense to try and work something out.”
Julia nodded. She hoped it could work out. Selfishly, she’d like to see Tae around the office more.
“Hey, my mom asked me earlier if you could come over around four o’clock to fix the water heater. And she insists you stay
for dinner. I’ve gotta go down there too, apparently. Important family meeting.”
“Uh-oh. Sounds ominous. Are they sure I should be there for dinner?”
“She says it’s nothing bad. But that usually means nothing bad for anyone else but me. And you absolutely will be there. I
need you as my buffer.”
“This sounds like fun,” Tae said.
“Oh yeah, a real blast.”
“It smells amazing in here,” Tae said.
Julia took in a deep breath, the aromas of garlic and spice hitting her nose. It smelled delicious. It smelled like home.
Julia watched Tae greet her mom and her dad. Smiles and ease abounded. All the tension that Julia was so used to carrying
faded away. What was this magical power that Tae held over people? Kindness? Generosity? Putting others before himself? But
what about Tae? Who was offering all of this in return?
Julia’s thoughts turned to Tae’s now ex-girlfriend. What was Kari’s problem? Maybe she wasn’t close to her family, and that
was why she couldn’t support Tae in his current situation.
But she also hated that Tae didn’t have someone who understood it, who got it. Family was everything.
Family was why Julia was stuck in this situation.
One setup to go. The first two had been flops, just like all the dates Julia had managed to land on her own.
Tae picked up his toolbox and started toward the door to the garage.
But Julia’s grandmother stopped him along the way.
She pulled him into her bedroom and closed the door behind them.
That was odd. What would Halmoni have to say to Tae in private?
She didn’t even close the door when using the bathroom.
“Julia-ya, set the table please.”
“Okay. Umma, how is everyone doing these days? Everybody in good health?”
“Sure, sure. You know, my back hurts sometimes when I stand up. And Daddy’s knees still ache when it’s a full moon. Uncle
Eugene’s had a very bad case of hemorrhoids that he’s going to see an acupuncturist about—”
“And Halmoni?” Julia was fishing. Her grandmother had been a steel trap when it came to sharing information. But if something
was really wrong, if the doctor had told her she was truly sick, she would tell the family, right? Julia had to believe that
was true.
“Well, ever since you bought her that expensive red ginseng supplement, she brags to everyone how she can afford to have the
good stuff and it helps her to walk a mile everyday.” Julia’s mom patted her on the back while passing her the container with
all the metal chopsticks to place at each seat around the table.
Her family sure seemed to be going along as if Grandma was in the clear with a clean bill of health.
Julia was brought out of her thoughts with her mom smiling to herself in the kitchen. Julia’s suspicions rose. This could
not be good. “Okay, Umma, are you going to tell me the important business you wanted to share? Why are we having a family
dinner in the middle of the week?”