AAE -- For Better For Worse

Part 2 -- Chapter 08

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

"... Save me!"

 

The instant Sun-Mi utters her anguished plea, the limousine comes to a sudden halt, stopping just short of striking her.

 

Gasping for breath from the trauma of almost having her life cut short, Sun-Mi slowly comes to realize that she has somehow, miraculously avoided certain death in a fatal collision.

 

"Get out of the way!" she hears a deep male voice calling irately. "Now!"

 

 

Sun-Mi opens her eyes to see the limousine chauffer, a young man dressed all in black, waving his hand out the open car window at her.

 

"You're a traffic hazard, standing there like an idiot!" he complains. "Why weren't you watching out?!"

 

"Instead of criticizing, you should be apologizing for your own recklessness!" she challenges him back, pointing accusingly at the traffic mirror located in the corner. "Didn't you look first? You could've killed me!"

 

"Killed? But you weren't even injured, lady. Move over, so we can drive through!" he demands.

 

 

But riled up and footsore, Sun-Mi is not of a mind for being condescended to. Defiantly, she stands her ground, refusing to step aside.

 

"Just because you're rich, doesn't mean you owns the roads!" she addresses the limousine's unseen passenger obstinately. "Tell your driver to move over, so I can walk through!"

 

 

After waiting a few seconds, accepting her intransigence, the chauffer puts the limousine in reverse, backs up a distance, then carefully threads the car through the narrow space between Sun-Mi and the adjacent building, hewing closely to the wall and giving a wide berth to Sun-Mi.

 

"That's better! Next time, don't be such an arrogant jerk about it!" she gives tit for tat as the car slowly passes by.

 

 

Unexpectedly, when the rear passenger-side door is beside her, the limo stops. Wondering, Sun-Mi watches as the dark tinted window lowers with an electric purr, revealing a passenger inside dressed in a dark gray suit and deep burgundy tie.

 

"Announcer Jin Sun-Mi, what do you think you're doing?" Mun-Yung Chairman Yoon Hoe-Jang greets her sternly.

 

Embarrassed, Sun-Mi formally bows, apologetically addressing her superior, "Chairman Yoon, I didn't know ... I mean, I didn't intend to ..."

 

Hoe-Jang's face softens with a smile at her fumbling attempts at obeisance. "No need to apologize. You were in the right," he absolves her.

 

Still self-conscious, Sun-Mi hurries to excuse herself, "Er ... I'll be on my way then. Sorry for the trouble."

 

But before she can take a step, Hoe-Jang casually remarks on her semi-shod condition, "Why are you holding your shoe? Is something wrong?"

 

 

With the distraction of their near-collision, Sun-Mi had forgotten about the original cause of her circumstances. Mortified, her face burns bright red as, belatedly, she hides the high heel pump behind her back while floundering incoherently, "Er ... no ... that is ... I was just ..."

 

"It must be uncomfortable, walking in this heat," he cuts off her rambling. "Come in for a rest and a cool drink first, before you go."

 

 

The invitation surprises Sun-Mi, but she gathers her senses to quickly accept, "That would be nice ... if I'm not intruding."

 

"It's no bother at all," Hoe-Jang reassures her, then turns to address his chauffer. "Mr. Park, would you assist Miss Jin into the car?"

 

"Yes, Sir," the driver replies dutifully, immediately opening his door and getting out.

 

 

A few seconds later, the chauffer is standing beside Sun-Mi, his face showing no hint of their earlier verbal confrontation. With a nod of appreciation, she takes his arm for support, stepping cautiously on her tender foot. After escorting her carefully around the car, he waits as she slides into the back seat, then closes the door.

 

Hoe-Jang turns and asks with concern, "I notice you have a limp. Are you all right? Do you need a physician to look at it?"

 

"That's not necessary, but thank you, Chairman Yoon," Sun-Mi replies gratefully. "It's nothing that a little rest won't cure."

 

"I'll see that the house staff makes you comfortable," he offers. "Is there anything else that you need?"

 

 

Sun-Mi jumps at the opportunity, asking hopefully, "Could I have a few minutes of your time? There's something I want to say to you."

 

"Now, this is quite a serendipitous meeting," Hoe-Jang remarks earnestly, "There is something I wanted to say to you, too. Perhaps it is about the same thing ..."