AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 104

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2017

 

"Once Miss Jin seemed a sincere person, but you know the saying, 'There is no wrath like a woman scorned' ..." -- Yoon Jong-Ki

 

 

PYONGCHANG-DONG, SEOUL ...

 

"Come in, Uncle..."

 

Joo-Hee greets Mun-Yung Chairman Yoon Jong-Ki warmly as he steps into the waiting slippers just inside the front door of her home.

 

"... Daddy and Hubby are already in the office," she passes the information as she gives him a quick hug.

 

He takes a moment to peruse the woman that he and her father had once hoped would, along with his son, be the link joining their two family heritages, noting the joyfully contented glow in her face.

 

"Joo-Hee, you look prettier every time I see you," Jong-Ki compliments her.

 

"You say that every time... If it were true, I'd be prettier than Song Hye-Kyo by now," she objects modestly.

 

Jong-Ki winks at Joo-Hee and whispers conspiratorially, "Who says it isn't true?"

 

They share a laugh at his joke, then Joo-Hee excuses herself: "I have to help Mi-Rae get ready for bed."

 

"How are you and Sun-Dal adjusting to being a mom and dad?"

 

"Every day is such a blessing to have Mi-Rae with us," she answers happily.

 

"That's great," he nods and smiles, "But do bring Mi-Rae over sometime. I promise not to spoil her too badly."

 

"Of course, Uncle," she promises.

 

Then she turns to go toward the bedrooms, as Jong-Ki heads for the home office...

 

 

"Chairman..." Sun-Dal stands and politely dips his head as Jong-Ki enters. "A drink?"

 

"Whiskey is fine," Jong-Ki states his preference as he takes a seat.

 

Sun-Dal pours from the decanter at the bar and places the tumbler in front of his guest.

 

"I know it's unusual, calling you both together here like this," Jong-Ki goes right to the point, "but I wanted to avoid arousing suspicions by meeting in public."

 

"What's going on?" Director Yoo Seung-Hwan asks.

 

"Perhaps your son-in-law can fill us in on that," Jong-Ki responds, looking to Sun-Dal.

 

"Ehm... that... honestly, I wasn't expecting President Kim's announcement," Sun-Dal hems.

 

"Still, how could you accept Kim's offer, before my son's situation is confirmed?" Jong-Ki rips him. "I know his condition is worsening lately, but burying the body before it's cold..."

 

"Uncle...!"

 

At the angry sound of Joo-Hee's voice, the three men turn as one to the door, where she is standing, arms crossed, glowering.

 

"How dare you criticize my husband!" she springs to Sun-Dal's defense. "Didn't you ask him to stay on and spy on Kim yourself?"

 

"Chairman, I'm sorry it happened this way," Sun-Dal speaks up for himself, "but I believe I have President Kim's complete confidence now."

 

"Of course, I misspoke," Jong-Ki apologizes. "Joo-Hee, come and join us."

 

They wait until she takes a seat on the couch next to Sun-Dal, then pick up on the discussion...

 

 

"Corporate counsel tipped me off that President Kim will propose an issue of Class-A stock, recapitalizing MBS by 50%," Jong-Ki relays the day's insider news. "The stated purpose is to finance new internet initiatives and reduce debt exposure from the Inchon facilities, but I think he has other motives."

 

"It seems to me like a naked grab for control," Seung-Hwan agrees.

 

"That's right, his ultimate goal is to reduce our combined holdings to a minority position," Sun-Dal confirms their suspicions. "If the approvals go through expeditiously, he plans a private offering to select investors by year's end."

 

"If the new stockholders side with Kim, that could give him another seat at the elections in Spring," Jong-Ki speculates, "and a restructured Board could make Kim Chairman by this time next year."

 

Seung-Hwan asks, "Don't we have the votes to stop this?"

 

"I did a straw poll for President Kim," Sun-Dal divulges. "If the Directors all follow through as indicated, we'll be one vote short."

 

Jong-Ki prompts, "And the swing vote is...?"

 

"The new board member representing the interests of KAIROS, that is, Mr. Michael Atwater," Sun-Dal informs them.

 

"Is he the same Michael Atwater in the video with Sun-Mi?" Joo-Hee seeks clarification.

 

"Yes, besides -- or perhaps because of -- his interest in Sun-Mi, he's made an investment in MBS," Sun-Dal tells her. "Up to now, we've wondered at his motivation, but it seems pretty clear now."

 

Seung-Hwan picks up on the thought, "Do you think Jin Sun-Mi put Atwater up to this, because of what happened between her and Hyung-Chul?"

 

Joo-Hee is aghast. "Jin Sun-Mi isn't that kind of person!" she backs her prot�g�e. "There must be another explanation."

 

"I'd like to think so, too," Jong-Ki says dispiritedly. "Once Miss Jin seemed a sincere person, but you know the saying, 'There is no wrath like a woman scorned' ..."

 

 

MEANWHILE, ABOUT A KILOMETER AWAY ...

 

"Isn't it risky, having me come here?" Eun-Ki asks as he walks in the door of the Yoon home and embraces Eun-Hee with a kiss. "I've missed you, too, but what if Old Yoon shows up?"

 

"Don't worry," she assures him, leading the way into the house. "I'm not expecting him back until late. He's playing cards over at Yoo Joo-Hee's house tonight."

 

"You think he's playing cards?" her brother chuckles at her apparent naivet�. "If your husband is dealing up anything, it's a plot with Director Yoo against us," he informs her.

 

"How would you know something like that?" she dismisses his claim.

 

"I heard it directly from newly appointed Director of Planning and Programming Kim Sun-Dal. While you were away losing money in the casinos in Macau for the past month, I managed to turn the Yoon's most loyal bagman to our side," he crows over his accomplishment.

 

Eun-Hee looks at him skeptically. "I don't believe he'd betray his best friend, corporate mentor, and wife's family, just for a promotion! What aren't you telling me?"

 

"Everyone has a skeleton or two in the closet, and I uncovered his," Eun-Ki boasts. "Kim Sun-Dal used to frequent the private rooms of Bae In-Soo's nightclub, and there are certain photographs he's extremely anxious to keep from Joo-Hee and her father.

 

"Since when did my 'Older Brother' gain a flair for intrigue?" she grudgingly approves, but then questions, "Why would Bae give you that information?"

 

"To get something he wants in return," Eun-Ki explains, "Huh Young-Mi..."

 

"What have you done?!" Eun-Hee protests angrily. "Did you forget our plans for her?"

 

"YOUR plans, dear Sister," he clarifies. "But that complex game of human chess is unnecessary, now that I have a foolproof way to win."

 

"How do you know Atwater will follow through on the vote and not betray us?" she expresses her doubts.

 

Eun-Ki reminds her, "The saying goes 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'... right?"

 

"So what did you offer to our new 'friend' to guarantee his cooperation?" she demands to know.

 

"Nothing... he's acting on his own interests."

 

"I've never believed his interest in MBS was financially motivated," she argues. "So why now?"

 

"Because our common interest is not financial, but in having Director Yoon permanently out of contention," Eun-Ki clarifies his plot. "That's why I promoted Kim Sun-Dal now, to send a signal -- that by working together we can both get what we want."

 

"Do you think Atwater got your message?" she asks.

 

"I received confirmation this afternoon that his vote is in our pocket," Eun-Ki reports. "Does that answer your question?"

 

"What if Jin Sun-Mi doesn't cooperate with your little conspiracy, and Atwater gets nothing for his troubles?" Eun-Hee points out a potential flaw.

 

"That's a risk Atwater's assuming, not us," Eun-Ki responds. "Anyway, does it matter? Once we have his vote the die is cast."

 

"Still, Jin Sun-Mi can be trouble, as her surprise visit to the hospital showed," Eun-Hee warns.

 

"That won't happen again," he declares. "Bae has clear instructions to do whatever it takes to prevent Hyung-Chul's recovery."

 

Hearing this, she asks warily, "And just how far are you willing to go?"

 

"To be blunt," Eun-Ki replies, "One way or another, Jin Sun-Mi has stepped on our toes for the last time..."