Page 47 of The Name Drop

“This wasn’t his fault,” I say immediately. “And he’s actually been working incredibly hard, even though he really doesn’t have to. And his deep knowledge of gaming has been invaluable to the hackathon project.”

A smile stretches across the woman’s face. It’s as if the whole room lights up. My eyes widen and my mouth opens, stunned by her presence.

“Oh god, Jessica is in awe of you too. Figures,” Elijah says, talking about me like I’m not even here. After I just spoke up and defended his honor? Sheesh. Men. “When did you get into town? And why are you even here? Did Dad send you? Or was it Mom?”

Dad? Mom?

“I’m sorry, but I’m feeling a little confused as to what’s going on,” I say.

The beautiful woman walks over to me—no, more accurately, sheglides—and stretches out her hand. “How very rude of me to not introduce myself. Please forgive me, Jessica. I’m Lee Hee-Jin, Chief Operating Officer at Haneul Corporation. And I’m also this turkey’s noona.”

I shake her hand but turn my head to Elijah. “Your noona? The sister you said basically runs everything at Haneul?”

“Elijah said that, did he? Well, looks like you do pay attention, little brother. And I think we might need to draw out the family tree along with the org chart so Jessica can see exactly how screwed up this whole thing you’ve dragged her into actually is,” Hee-Jin says.

“It’s not screwed up,” Elijah says. “Unconventional, sure. But this is what both Jessica and I wanted for the summer.”

“I’m right here,” I say. “Would really appreciate for someone to enlighten me since I’m, as I mentioned, right here.” I direct my frustration toward Elijah because I could never speak to this angel in that tone.

“Why are you yelling at me?” he asks. He turns to his sister. “I swear, Noona, I will never quite get how you do this, win everyone over so easily. I mean, yes, you are awesome, but that’s not fair pulling Jessica onto your side. I kinda like how we’ve been a team till now,” he says, pointing back and forth between us. “Don’t jump ship to hers, okay?”

My face blanches. I would never betray Elijah. But his small smirk shows me he’s kidding...maybe?

“We’re all on the same side here. So you—” she looks knowingly at her brother “—start talking.”

“Well, it all started with Yoo-Jin Lee,” he says.

“Elijah,” his sister says with warning in her tone. “Stop playing games and get to the point.”

“No, he’s right. You see, I’m also Yoo-Jin Lee,” I add.

Hee-Jin looks at me and then at Elijah. “You guys have the same Korean name,” she says slowly. I feel like I can actually see the wheels in her head turning.

“Yup, and that caused for quite the confusion at the airport, with the driver, the housekeeper, all the way until our first day of work here at good ol’ Haneul Corp,” Elijah explains.

“Well, you’re the genius who insisted to Dad that you didn’t want anyone knowing who you were or have any unfair advantages this summer.”

“Like a first-class ticket, a private driver, and a fucking three-story uptown brownstone?” Elijah says.

“You know how Dad is about image,” Hee-Jin replies.

“Let me try to explain,” I add. “This wasn’t supposed to be an issue. Once we figured out how the mistake happened, I was ready to take responsibility for the error.”

Hee-Jin shoots a glare at Elijah.

“I was going to take responsibility for my part too. You know me better than that,” he says defensively.

“I also know Dad’s tried to teach us to deflect blame elsewhere. I’m not always sure how well you’ve fought off following his example. I’m hopeful, but, you know. It’s hard,” Hee-Jin says.

I feel a little bit like an intruder in this room, witnessing this interaction. I’m not part of their family and don’t pretend to understand the struggles they’ve gone through, despite being rich—or maybe because of it.

Silence hangs in the air, which beckons the oversharing beast that lives within me. Fight it, Jessica. Fight!

“The thing is, Elijah and I both wanted different things than what our summers were set up to be,” I say.

Welp, here we go.

“I’ve always dreamed of doing something important but just needed the opportunity to prove that I could. Elijah just needed some time and space to figure out exactly what it is he wants to do with his life. That’s not a bad thing. It’s just that expectations are piled on his shoulders and he hasn’t had a chance to make his own decisions. I mean, my dad doesn’t always let me make my own decisions either and that’s so frustrating. Like the time when I wanted to go to tennis camp—”

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