AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 77

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2017

 

"Very well, let's play it your way, Correspondent Jin... take off your clothes now, and we'll get started." -- Director Kim Eun-Ki

 

 

MEANWHILE, AT THE MBS LONDON BUREAU ...

 

"Good luck on the interview, Sun-Mi," Jang Hon-Yong offers his encouragement as they leave the newsroom together.

 

"Thanks," Sun-Mi replies. "See you tomorrow."

 

Hon-Yong heads for the lift, but Sun-Mi turns down the corridor to the unused office designated for the joint-venture interviews. Passing Chief Kim's office, she pokes her head inside, hoping for a brief word, but he has already left for the day.

 

Making a last minute, cursory inspection of her dark gray, checked Escada suit in the glass beside the door, Sun-Mi tries to squelch the uneasy feeling that has been haunting her all day... the same feeling whenever she had to deal with Director Kim.

 

Satisfied everything is in order, she encourages herself with a clenched fist and a determined, "Hwaiting!"

 

Riding a burst of self-confidence, Sun-Mi clasps the shoulder strap of her work tote securely and strides down the corridor to the interview office, the pencil-thin heels of her sleek, Christian Lacroix pointed-toe pumps creating an assertive, staccato cadence to herald her imminent appearance.

 

... I am strong... I am invincible... I am woman!... In her mind she times the beat of the tune to the cadence of her sharp heel clicks.

 

 

The office door is open. Sun-Mi marches in without knocking, announcing her presence in a resolute voice, "Director Kim?"

 

The center of the room is occupied by a small, rectangular table. Kim Eun-Ki is seated in front of the table, to her left, leaning back casually in his chair with his legs crossed. Turned toward the door, he is obviously alerted to and awaiting her appearance.

 

Despite her bold assertions of female toughness made to Chief Kim, facing Director Kim in person proves more daunting than Sun-Mi had anticipated. As she waits for permission to sit down, his leer makes her skin crawl and immediately returns the queasiness to her stomach.

 

"It's been a long time, Correspondent Jin," he says in a voice that drips condescension. "Close the door and take a seat..."

 

The only chair in the room is at the left end of the table, placed about a meter away, up against the wall. Eun-Ki pats his leg a few times, a lecherous smirk playing on his face, and hints in a smarmy tone, "Any seat is okay."

 

Suppressing her disgust at his vulgar invitation, Sun-Mi walks quickly to the chair. He follows her progress, swiveling around as she passes, his eyes never leaving her to keep on the pressure. She sits down stiffly, legs and feet close together, positioning her bag to cover her exposed stocking-clad thighs. She keeps her eyes fixed on the tabletop, avoiding the direct, intimidating gaze that makes her feel like the proverbial bug under the microscope.

 

Eun-Ki leans forward and rests his elbows on the table, openly ogling her as he remarks suggestively, "I hear you've taken up swimming. Would you be interested doing a few 'laps' in the hot tub of my hotel room?"

 

Sun-Mi pretends she doesn't hear the crude come-on, and decides to move things along, going right to the point of her concerns, "I'd like to know why you're considering me for this position, ahead of those with more experience."

 

"Experience is just one factor of many qualifications I considered," he answers ambiguously, although she can guess from where he directs his eyes what 'qualifications' are on his mind.

 

"The papers for your transfer to London, and assignment to the joint venture, are right here." He shoves a folder across the table to her. "All they need is your signature."

 

"If the matter is already settled, why bother with this meeting?" she raises the reasonable question.

 

"We have some unfinished business to negotiate first -- the terms for releasing your contract with Art Club," he informs her.

 

Sun-Mi is surprised to hear this. "I thought everything was settled by Director Yoon when I moved to Eve's Morning," she states her understanding.

 

"Your contract only allows temporary reassignments, on my sole approval," Eun-Ki doesn't need to say any more for Sun-Mi to get his intent. "Director Yoon will soon have nothing to say about it, if you're still expecting to have his backing to help you."

 

"I don't need Director Yoon; I can take care of myself!" Sun-Mi states forcefully. "What do you want in exchange for the release?"

 

"An astute question, Correspondent Jin, that will require some time to thoroughly investigate," he replies, his inflection hinting at what that 'investigation' might entail. "But it's getting late. Let's have dinner first, and then take up the matter in my hotel room afterward, where it's more comfortable."

 

Wary of his intentions, she counters, "Why don't we skip dinner, and do it now, right here?"

 

Eun-Ki leans back in his chair, as if contemplating her statement carefully, before he answers indifferently, "Very well, let's play it your way, Correspondent Jin... Take off your clothes, and we'll get started..."

 

He makes the request so innocuously, as if asking her to get him a cup of coffee, that Sun-Mi isn't sure if she's heard correctly. Then she sees his lascivious expression, and knows he means it.

 

"Wh...what?" she sputters indignantly at his repulsive request. "I'll do nothing of the sort!"

 

"You prefer that I do it for you?" he states the alternative with a sneer. "Whatever, it doesn't matter."

 

Outraged, she flatly refuses, "I'm not that kind of woman!"

 

"So you say," he grins lewdly at her. "But every woman has her price..." He points to the papers. "... and I believe that's yours."

 

"You're wrong! I'm finished here," Sun-Mi replies, glaring defiantly at Eun-Ki as she stands to leave.

 

As she starts for the door, he gets up to block her way out. Sun-Mi stops, keeping an arm's length between them.

 

"Strong words, Correspondent Jin, but the fact is, without that release your future is completely in my hands," he reminds her contemptuously, taking a threatening step closer. "I can squash you like a bug, or help you climb to the top. Which will it be?"

 

 

At this close distance, Sun-Mi smells alcohol on his breath, and realizes he is drunk... and therefore unpredictable. She takes a, cautious step back to put a safe space between them again, but her legs bump up against the table.

 

Unable to retreat further, she takes the offense. "Get out of my way!" she demands assertively, and repeats her claim, "I told you, I'm not that kind of woman!"

 

"We both know what kind of woman you are," he scoffs as he closes the gap between them again. "Acting the prude... while playing the temptress. Shall I ask Director Yoon, or Michael Atwater, your price?"

 

Furious at this direct affront to her decency, Sun-Mi swings her arm to slap him, swearing, "You bastard!"

 

But Eun-Ki grabs her by the wrist first, gripping it securely. She tries to pull free, but he only clamps his fingers tighter. Sun-Mi is suddenly aware that she has few options available to her. Though Eun-Ki is not young, she can feel the strength in his arm as he holds her from moving... she is trapped, with no apparent way out...

 

"Let me go! You're hurting me," she protests, and warns, "I... I'll scream!"

 

"Who's going to hear?" he leers into her face, mocking her vulnerability. "Since we're all alone, let's have some fun."

 

 

A strong sense of déjà vu emerges from Sun-Mi's subconscious, taking her back... to a certain isolated place, on a certain dark night...

 

... 'Let's go somewhere alone and have some fun' ... the ruffian leers into her face, the sour odor of stale beer lingering on his breath. His beefy hand easily grips both of hers tightly, holding her immobile...

 

Sun-Mi stares into Director Kim's ravenous eyes, as she had stared into the ruffian's, the blur of memory and reality intermingling...

 

... the ruffian roughly pulls her closer against him to make his intentions clear, salivating over his captured prey...

 

An involuntary shudder courses through Sun-Mi as memories of the incident viscerally grip and overwhelm her -- once again she is helpless and defenseless, petrified in a terror-driven mental fog.

 

Like a predator sensing fear, Eun-Ki moves in, pinning Sun-Mi against the table, anticipating an easy conquest...

 

"You asked what I wanted, Correspondent Jin," he snarls. "The question is, are you going to give it, or do I have to take it..."