AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 149

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2018

 

"I think this situation qualifies as an 'emergency' ... After all, the reputation of the entire company is at stake." -- Jin Sun-Mi

 

 

EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM, MBS YEOUIDO HQ...

 

"In summary..."

 

About to wrap up her presentation, Sun-Mi pauses for a breath. Standing in the open center of the U-shaped conference table, she takes quick assessment on the reaction of her audience, the assembled executive management of MBS...

 

On the far left end of the table, next to the empty chair with her jacket draped over its back, Sun-Dal has the same pensive expression he exhibited when she had arrived... ten minutes late. On the opposite side, Hyung-Chul silently communicates encouragement.

 

But the face that counts -- President Kim Eun-Ki's -- is a stony cipher... his eyes narrowed, coldly staring at her...

 

 

Other department managers fill the remainder of the seats around both sides, including several who had preceded Sun-Mi in presenting their teams' status and goals for the coming year. Mostly appointed by Eun-Ki, they are present to provide a Greek chorus, acting in support of their leader and benefactor, and mirror his chilly indifference with their own hostile faces.

 

For most of an hour, she has laid out her case for change, the costs and benefits of her proposed program in minute detail, acutely aware of the resistance in the room while keeping a pleasant smile on her face.

 

Now, wdetermined confidence, Sun-Mi continues her wrapup...

 

"... for MBS to survive and prosper in the 21st Century media environment, we need innovative and adaptable announcers, able to connect with key demographics of our audiences. That is why I am proposing this new approach to our recruitment and training..."

 

The staff attendant shuts off the overhead projector as Sun-Mi closes with a respectful bow. "Thank you for your time and consideration..."

 

She stays in place, shifting her weight between her feet, awaiting Eun-Ki's direction...

 

"Correspondent Jin, you may sit down now."

 

 

Assertive heel taps echoing on the hardwood floor with each step, Sun-Mi turns and slowly walks to the far end of the table, then around the outside and back toward the front where her chair is next to Sun-Dal.

 

Eun-Ki's eyes follow Sun-Mi, glued to her svelte feminine form the entire time -- just as in the London interview -- exactly as she had anticipated when selecting the short, figure-skimming dress.

 

 

After Sun-Mi is seated, Eun-Ki shares an anecdote with the group, "The American entertainer Dean Martin once said, 'The thing I notice first about a woman is her walk. A beautiful woman is like a race horse -- slim, sleek, and with a sensual carriage' ..."

 

He smirks as he adds, "... and like a horse, all she needs is an able and experienced man to ride her ..."

 

The ribald joke sends a wave of tittering around the table, the target obvious...

 

Although she is expecting and prepared for such a verbal assault -- his usual modus operandi intended to mock and belittle her -- Sun-Mi sits stolidly, restraining her natural impulses to either run away, humiliated, or lash back in anger, acting as if she hadn't heard.

 

With his wisecrack failing to have the previously usual effect of embarrassing Sun-Mi, Eun-Ki turns back to business: "Any comments, or questions?"

 

 

No one responds, wanting to see first where the President comes down...

 

Again, Eun-Ki decides to challenge her, asking with an incredulous tone, "Announcer Jin, can you explain why it's necessary to completely scrap the announcer entrance examinations and training program for this new plan?"

 

"For one thing, if the current program was working, would we even be having this discussion?" she argues simply.

 

"You're a graduate of that program, and now one of the most successful announcers in Korea," he counters. "Doesn't that say something?"

 

"It certainly does... I had the worst grades in my batch, and almost failed out of training," she reminds him, "after which I was officially reprimanded, and you personally wanted to fire me. Does that look like success? ... My success came later, despite the program, not because of it."

 

For the moment Eun-Ki is silenced, unable to dispute her account, while he looks for another weakness...

 

 

"Correspondent Jin has a valid point," Hyung-Chul steps in to add his support.

 

Eun-Ki quickly pivots to the new line of attack opened, "Director Yoon, isn't Correspondent Jin your former fianc�e? Siding with her all the time doesn't look good," he snidely brings up Hyung-Chul's bias in rebuttal, with the intention now of using Sun-Mi's personal affairs against her.

 

"I don't think.." Hyung-Chul starts to respond, but Sun-Mi cuts him off mid-sentence...

 

"President Kim has a valid point," she states unexpectedly. "This discussion should focus on the merits of the program itself, not on the background, experience, or gender of the person making the presentation. Don't you agree, President Kim?"

 

"Yes... yes... of course..." he sputters irately, forced to retract his previous plans of attack. "But we should consider the cost, too," he quickly shifts to another.

 

"It's true that a significant outcome requires a significant investment. But doing nothing has a cost, too, that can't be ignored," Sun-Mi easily parries, then counterpunches, "Can MBS afford to fall further behind as it has recently, and still be a viable business for long?"

 

"What are you implying, Correspondent Jin?" Eun-Ki blusters, reddening at her attack on his leadership of the company since Hyung-Chul's accident.

 

Sun-Mi calmly replies with a disarming smile that belies the force of her accusation, "As the person in charge, President Kim, can you defend the results? And if not, shouldn't you instead be promoting ideas to improve on matters, instead of attacking them?"

 

Eun-Ki glares back, fuming that Sun-Mi has outfoxed him in front of the entire management.

 

 

Hyung-Chul swallows a laugh, but allows a smirk at Kim's total put down.

 

Through the exchange, Sun-Dal had kept a neutral stance, but now speaks up to spare his boss further humiliation... "I call for a vote in favor of Correspondent Jin's proposal," he moves for a quick decision.

 

 

Looking across the table at Hyung-Chul, Sun-Mi shares a wide, victorious smile...

 

 

 

AFTER THE MEETING ...

 

"Good job with the presentation..."

 

Sun-Dal congratulates Sun-Mi as they walk out of the executive conference room, and head toward his office together...

 

"... but where do you intend to get funding? Kim has frozen all department budgets."

 

"For starters, we have the funds already allocated for testing and training the next Batch," she replies. "That should cover much of the new program costs."

 

"But how are you going to direct on-campus recruiting, run an expanded internship program, and still manage the department and do the News?" he wonders. "You're not Superwoman, you know."

 

"You're exactly right... I intend to bring in two Managers for the new program," she explains her plan in more detail. "If you hire them as outside consultants for the News Division, that will take care of the salaries," she suggests. "I saw the latest reports, that revenue from the News at Nine has doubled since I came on-board, with projections increasing through the rest of the year. It's more than enough to cover the additional cost."

 

"But revenues can be earmarked for specific purposes only if there is an immediate, critical need," he states company policy.

 

"I think this situation qualifies as an 'emergency' don't you?" she sends a wink with a smile. "After all, the reputation of the entire company is at stake, if things aren't turned around."

 

"Fair enough," he agrees to her logic. "So who do you want to hire for the job?"

 

"I thought Seniors Shin Ki-Jong and Lee Kyung-Hee would be perfect choices," she names her preferences.

 

He looks at her with surprise. "You've been planning this for some time, right?"

 

 

"Yes," she admits. "Since I heard you retrenched Senior Lee and Senior Shin to fund my salary.

 

"You feel guilty?"

 

"I know you did what you had to do, that it was a business decision," she replies. "Just like bringing them back is another business decision, right?"

 

"But why them?"

 

"Who saw the future of MBS better than they did?" she reminds him of how Kyung-Hee and Ki-Jong had advocated for her from the beginning.

 

When Sun-Dal raises his eyebrow at her brash inference, Sun-Mi responds, "If they weren't right, why did you hire me back?"

 

He chuckles, "You have a good point... Okay, but are you sure you can work with them now?"

 

"We were good friends and colleagues. I think we can go back to that," she replies confidently.

 

"Don't expect to be lauded for doing this," he warns. "You saw the situation at the Gala, the hard feelings..."

 

"I don't need anyone's praise to do the right thing," she states adamantly. "But please, don't tell anyone I had a part in their rehiring. I don't want to embarrass them."

 

"Done," Sun-Dal confirms. "I'll make the calls tomorrow, and have them back in the office by the end of the week."

 

 

"Thank you, Uncle. I..." Sun-Mi stops short as they turn the corner to pass by the elevator lobby, where Hyung-Chul is waiting for a lift...

 

Sun-Dal looks at her expression, then says, "I'm going on first. We'll talk again later."

 

"Sure," she answers him, but her attention is fixed on Hyung-Chul.

 

 

As Sun-Dal leaves by the corridor, Sun-Mi walks up beside Hyung-Chul, facing the lift doors.

 

Without turning to look, he greets her formally, "Correspondent Jin..."

 

She wonders at his cool attitude, after the chemistry between them on the dance floor, then considers her encounter with Joo-Hee and replies, equally formally, "Director Yoon..."

 

"How you outmaneuvered President Kim was impressive," he compliments her performance, "That's not like you."

 

"If you still look on me as some immature, idealistic female, you're mistaken," Sun-Mi corrects him testily. "I'm not that person anymore."

 

He nods penitently, "Sorry, what should I have said?"

 

She takes the opportunity to initiate Min-Cho's plan ... after the meeting, bring Director Yoon to the bar, where I'll be with Young-Mi ...

 

"What you'd say to any man you consider your colleague," Sun-Mi tells him directly, "Such as... 'Why don't we go for a drink to celebrate?' "

 

He laughs and agrees, "You're right..."

 

The lift arrives and the doors slide open. Hyung-Chul waits for Sun-Mi to enter ... 'ladies first' ...

 

But Sun-Mi reverses the traditional roles, "What are you waiting for, Senior? Please go in first," she requests, and then tells him, "We'll take my car, I'm driving..."