Martoons

Cast of characters

Miss No

*

Indeed, working for Go had been good up until his high times started.

No had come a long way in a matter of months, graduating from a Chinju business college and delightedly getting hired right away by Go.

That was despite her privileged, influential Chinju family telling their precious, only daughter not to be bothered with menial, dead-end jobs.

“Stay home,” they’d said, “we’ll introduce you to a fine husband of our choosing. Loving daughter, raise a well-bred family. Boys please – to carry on our family name!

“You’ll be comfortable for the rest of your life. You won’t have to think. Take up a hobby, if you like, such as art.”

Young Missy had other ideas.

She wanted financial riches – it was in her family’s blood – but insisted on making it on her own terms and making it to the top where she wouldn’t be under any man.

She vehemently refused having anything handed to her by her privileged family.

Having been surrounded by her immediate family of arrogant, domineering (and super successful) men her whole life, the laid-back, almost jovial Mr Go was the perfect boss. 

Even better, Go’s operation was a new, sexy business that her family knew nothing about and wasn’t the slight bit interested in.

They’d leave her alone and not be always trying to give her ‘tips’.

However, even though Go wasn’t the usual misogynistic Korean male, who was he?

What was he really like?

She’d tried to get to know him personally at work but he’d cold-shouldered her continuously.

So, out of sheer curiosity, she decided to follow him one night after closing.

She ostensibly checked out at the usual time and then hid in Central institute’s women’s washroom.

She hastily slapped on a thick coat of foundation, cherry red lips, and a thick lift of eye shadow.

She topped all that off with a cheesy old wig from home.

When Go zipped to the exit moments later, she quietly shadowed him.

Down in the street, she followed from the opposite side of the wide, multi-lane street that fed the busy Chinju Rotary.

As a grinning Go walked stiffly yet with purpose into the strip where all the signs flashed, No’s natural female jealousy made her wonder.

Ah ha!

Is he meeting another woman?

Disappointed, deflated and ready to detour home, No found herself carried along by the usual thick wave of evening pedestrians (duos and triads of students and the getting-out-of-work business crowd) heading toward shops, bus stops or cafes.

Mr Go is probably rendezvousing with his little sweetie at one of those cafes. 

She sighed.

I should have known.

What else would a Korean businessman be doing at night with cash to burn?

I thought he was different, but…

Suddenly and unsuspectingly, Go bee-lined into the entrance of the CUPID ? VIP ROOM.

Huh?

A girly bar?

Luckily for No, a crosswalk was conveniently located at hand and the crossing light just happened to be changing.

Fate!

She scurried to the zebra markings and traversed with the walking pedestrian tidal wave.

Approaching the building, she was suddenly paralyzed with a ‘what the hell am I doing?’ sensation, but kept on.

When she got to the actual door of the Cupid, affixed to its smoky glass was a neatly handwritten sign:

Hostess Wanted. Apply within.

Bingo!

She tip-toed in, cautiously making sure to avoid any sign of Go, and did her best to look like a newbie looking for a job.

Her act worked.

Within several minutes she’d whipped off a quick interview with the main madam who ran the place;

had been issued the club’s standard, skimpy uniform;

and had nipped into the girls’ room to touch up her war mask and groom her wig.

Scurrying back to the front desk, the madam pointed to the Royal Room.

“Warning: that client in there smokes like a chimney and sings super sappy love ballads.

“But treat him nice. He’s one of our regulars. His name is Mr Go. Hot shot successful businessman. Real nice guy. Got money to burn and spends a fortune here.”

* Will Go recognize No despite her disguise? *

*

Tomorrow: No works to get to know Mr Go.