AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 155

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2018

 

"Don't hesitate to let people in your life know how much you love them, while you have the opportunity" -- Jin Sun-Mi

"Some things need a woman's touch to do right... Don't trouble yourself with Jin Sun-Mi. I'll take care of her for you" -- Kim Eun-Hee

 

 

MBS NEWS CENTER, YEOUIDO STUDIOS...

 

"Retail sales continued a strong increasing trend in December, up 3% over last year..."

 

Sun-Mi reads the economic news from the Autocue in an announcer's cadence, as behind her the news studio's wide video wall displays the relevant graphic visuals over a shot of a busy street in Seoul's Myeong-dong shopping district...

 

"... as crowds came out in record numbers for Christmas shopping..."

 

She pauses for a moment, her eyes darting as she thinks, then smiles mischievously...

 

"Oh... and for those procrastinating, there's still time to shop tonight, but you'll have to hurry!" she adlibs the line...

 

Then her tone turns contemplative. "Yes, as nice as it is to give or receive things, the true gift we give is the love expressed with our words and presence. Don't hesitate to let the people in your life know how much you love them, while you have the opportunity..."

 

On the video wall, the scenes dissolves into the MBS corporate logo and marketing slogan...

 

MBS -- Delivering the News with Style

 

 

Sun-Mi starts across the news set for the closing segment as the camera zooms out for a full body shot. Then it pans with a gradual sweep, following her progress over to the news desk, while on the broadcast feed monitor, a bottom crawl scrolls...

 

... Sponsors for Correspondent Jin Sun-Mi's wardrobe tonight: blazer and dress - Valentino Garavani, shoes - Oscar de la Renta, jewelry - Balenciaga ... For more information visit� www.iMBS/DeliveringTheNewsWithStyle.com ...

 

With measured steps, Sun-Mi times her walk to match the credits, giving the viewers ample opportunity to peruse her classic '50s retro look -- a full-sleeve 3-button blazer in Valentino's signature bright red, styled with nipped waist and flared peplum at the hips, black tapered pencil skirt breaking just above the knees, sheer stockings with straight seams down the backs of her legs, pointy-toe, silver satin, bow-embellished pumps rising on 95mm stilettos, and a silver necklace with matching shell earrings...

 

 

At the news desk, Sun-Mi joins the rest of the News At Nine Team, both from Announcer Team 2...

 

Rookie Weather Girl, Gwan Ah-Ri, a petite 23-year-old pixie, is wearing a Christmas green mini dress trimmed in red, opaque green tights, and red platform pumps with tall, blocky heels. Dressed in a solid medium gray suit that speak gravitas, Veteran Sports Announcer Na Ha-Nuel contrarily displays a flashy green tie patterned with red and white Santa figures.

 

"Please join us again tomorrow, Christmas Day, for the latest news coverage," Sun-Mi intones. "This concludes our nine o'clock newscast...."

 

"I'm Na Ha-Nuel ... with the entire MBS News Team, wishing all of you Merry Christmas," he says in his deep baritone voice.

 

"I'm Gwan Ah-Ri.... Merry Christmas to everyone!!" she chirps with a perky smile...

 

"And I'm Jin Sun-Mi... Thank you for watching MBS," she finishes the wrap.

 

The three bow respectfully to the audience.

 

Then Sun-Mi signs off with her trademark brilliant smile and little wave of her right hand, saying, "Good night, and Merry Christmas!"

 

The camera stays fixed on the News Team as studio mikes are shut off and the bumper theme music fades in.

 

 

On the broadcast monitors, production credits start rolling down the screen, while in the upper corner, an inset teaser with a voice-over appears, promoting the next program...

 

Still visually on air, the three remain at the news desk, exchanging pleasantries and packing up papers and scripts, when the sound assistant, Do Yeo-Reum, arrives to collect headsets.

 

"Are you coming out with us?" Ah-Ri asks her.

 

"Of course! Shin PD is paying!" Yeo-Reum replies eagerly as she helps Sun-Mi slip out of her jacket, revealing the see-through mesh of the black dress' sleeveless bodice, embellished with strategically-placed, sequined appliques.

 

"How about you, Sun-Mi?" Ha-Nuel asks.

 

"No... I have other plans," she answers, turning to the side so Yeo-Reum can reach the battery pack clipped to her narrow belt, properly angling to show off the waist-deep plunging back of her dress, for the benefit of any viewers still watching.

 

"It must be a pretty special date, judging from this dress," he remarks with a smirk.

 

Sun-Mi smiles back, but doesn't say anything...

 

 

 

PENTHOUSE SUITE, MUN-YUNG DIAMOND HOTEL, SEOUL ...

 

"So she still gets a rise out of you, huh?"

 

Seeing the lascivious leer on her 'brother's' face as he watched Sun-Mi on the MBS News, Kim Eun-Hee mocks him, "I thought you'd moved on to 'fresher meat' now..."

 

Eun-Ki flicks off the TV with the remote, then tosses it onto the coffee table and snaps, "What's it to you? It's my own business!"

 

"Why is it that forbidden fruit always appears the tastiest?" she asks the question rhetorically, letting him know her displeasure.

 

"I have unfinished business with that woman," he asserts.

 

"But it's spoiling our evening," she nags, whining...

 

The scowl he returns convinces her that honey is likely to catch more flies than vinegar, so she snuggles up closer and gushes, "I don't want another woman to steal our precious time together..."

 

Chastened, he apologizes, "You're right, I'm sorry."

 

"Tonight I want it to be just you... and me," she enthuses. "No distractions."

 

"I had a hard day, so I 'd like a relaxing, enjoyable night, too," he agrees.

 

"I'll see what I can do about the 'enjoyable' part, but I can't guarantee it will be relaxing," she hints at what she has prepared for their holiday tryst. "While you're in the shower cleaning up, I'll get your Christmas present wrapped..."

 

 

 

MBS NEWS CENTER, YEOUIDO STUDIOS...

 

On the broadcast feed monitors, the video dollys back to a long shot of the set as the scrolling credits wind down.

 

The studio video feed switches over for the commercial break, and the ON AIR light goes out.

 

"That's it... Everyone worked hard. Thank you," PD Shin speaks over the studio intercom, signaling the newscast is finished. "I'll see you all at the party..."

 

Placing her headset on the table, Ah-Ri flicks her eyes at Ha-Nuel and announces, "I'm leaving first. See you all there."

 

She turns away, and heads for the studio doors...

 

"I'm going now, too," Ha-Nuel nods to Sun-Mi, sets his headset by Ah-Ri's, and hurries after her.

 

 

"Have those two got something going?" Yeo-Reum asks with a chuckle, holding Sun-Mi's jacket up so she can put it back on.

 

"It might look like that," Sun-Mi replies noncommittally as she fastens the buttons.

 

"Do you really have a date?" Yeo-Reum asks dubiously. "When do you have a spare minute free?"

 

"It's with my number one fan," Sun-Mi answers ambiguously.

 

After collecting the headsets, Yeo-Reum is finished on the set. "I'm off now. Then I'll see you tomorrow?" she asks Sun-Mi.

 

Sun-Mi smiles back. "Sure. Thanks for your hard work... Merry Christmas..."

 

 

The video wall and monitors go dark, then the overhead studio spots turn off, as the last of the studio crew -- in a hurry to clear out as quickly as possible -- shuts down the set in a flurry of activity.

 

Then the house lights snap off one by one, until the studio is lit only with the emergency exit lights.

 

Sun-Mi slowly makes her way across the deserted studio to the control room door, the sharp clicks of her heels echoing loudly in the stillness.

 

 

Inside the control room, PD Shin, the last to leave, is turning out the lights there, too...

 

"Need a ride, Sun-Mi?" he offers.

 

"No, I'll catch a cab," she declines. "But have a good time."

 

"Nice work tonight.. we had a 16 share, 85% retention, and 75% holdover," he informs her of the positive marketing stats. "Not bad for Christmas Eve. You've got them hanging on to the last second, wondering if something might happen..."

 

"Everyone likes a surprise, right?" she smiles impishly, then comments on that afternoon's reports, "I saw our GRPs are up again last week, and we've exceeded our revenue projection for all of December already."

 

"You've done a good job, turning things around, Correspondent Jin Sun-Mi," he praises her respectfully.

 

"It's always a team effort," she shares the credit. "Everyone's role is important."

 

 

"But not everyone's role is equal," he counters. "I admit, when you came back I had my doubts on the changes you proposed, but I want to say now that I was wrong. Our Christmas bonus this season is due to your efforts..."

 

"I appreciate that you feel this way," she tells him. "Honestly, I'm usually a little afraid I won't meet up to your standards, because I've always valued your opinion."

 

"Then let me tell you something," he says sternly. "I see on the schedule that you're doing both 7 and 9 o'clock again tomorrow, and Eve's Morning, too," he questions the intensity of her work assignments.

 

"Announcer Lee Sang-Joo left to visit her parents in Daegu," Sun-Mi explains. "And I wanted to give the others a break. I'm not too busy to handle it."

 

PD Shin shakes his head disapprovingly. "You work too hard. That's not good for the health. I don't want you fainting from exhaustion again, on my programs," he scolds her out of concern.

 

It's just for Christmas," she replies, showing a smile of gratefulness for his thoughtfulness. "I'm fine, really..."

 

He has his doubts, but drops the matter. "Then, I'm leaving first. Merry Christmas..."

 

"Merry Christmas..." she replies.

 

 

 

PENTHOUSE SUITE, MUN-YUNG DIAMOND HOTEL, SEOUL ...

 

"Let's have some champagne," Eun-Hee suggests celebrating as she fills two tall flutes with bubbly.

 

"Champagne? What's the occasion?" Eun-Ki asks, curious, turning from the view outside...

 

Now that she has his attention, Eun-Hee crosses the room, her Prada mules soundless on the plush carpeted floor, the seductive swish of her sheer, ankle-length negligee making the only sound as she approaches with a come-hither look in her eyes...

 

Taking a flute from Eun-Hee's hand, he ogles the bright red lingerie visible through her negligee and asks, "What's this?"

 

"Your gift... all wrapped up, as promised," she purrs enticingly. "Merry Christmas..."

 

The expression on his face tells Eun-Hee that she has scored big on her choice of gifts...

 

"There's more," she says with a satisfied smile, "This morning I gave a Christmas present to my husband, too... our divorce settlement. Soon, my Dear, you and I will be living together, with no one between us, and no one the wiser."

 

"And Hyung-Jae?"

 

"Someday... the truth..." she hints at her change of thinking...

 

"Now that's something to celebrate," he agrees, raising his glass to hers. "To a better tomorrow... Cheers."

 

They sip champagne, looking out over the lights of Seoul, contemplating their long-delayed future together...

 

 

Eun-Hee puts her empty glass down on the side table...

 

"Don't you want to unwrap your gift now?" she purrs.

 

She turns to face him, and he slowly unbuttons her negligee. With a shrug of her shoulders, it slips down to the floor, surrounding her feet with a cloud of gauzy fabric.

 

He reaches for her, but she catches his hand...

 

"Just one thing first," she says with a saucy note.

 

"Yes?" he replies eagerly/

 

"When we're together, I want you exclusively for myself," she sweetens her demand with a smile as she claims, "I can satisfy all your needs, at any time, day or night. There's no reason for you to go to any other woman now."

 

"Of course," he readily concurs -- anything at the moment to placate her and keep the momentum...

 

"And one more... this obsession with Jin Sun-Mi, end it, now," she dictates, her voice stern. "I don't want HER, or any other woman, in your mind, either."

 

 

At the mention of Sun-Mi's name, the dour demeanor he'd had while watching the News returns, his face darkening with barely suppressed rage.

 

"That woman... making me a laughingstock... I'll get my revenge," he vows emphatically. "I'll take her down, ruin her..."

 

"Some things need a woman's touch to do right... Don't trouble yourself with Jin Sun-Mi," Eun-Hee says soothingly, giving him a long kiss as she loosens the belt of the satin silk robe he is wearing. "I'll take care of her for you."

 

"How do you plan to do that?" Eun-Kee asks as pulls at the bows tying the spaghetti straps of her satin chemise, letting it fall to join her negligee...

 

 

Eun-Hee runs her hands down his bare chest as she replies. "I arranged for Bae In-Soo to handle it."

 

"Can we trust him? He's crossed us once already," he questions her decision as he fondles the dusky rose tips of her feminine form, shooting sparks that send a sensuous shiver searing up her spine.

 

"Jin Sun-Mi is the arch-rival of his flame, so I'm not worried," she expresses confidence as she grinds against him. "He has every incentive to follow through, and do the job right, this time..."

 

 

"So what is the preferred poison?" he asks casually, less interested in her intentions for Sun-Mi than for himself...

 

His hands move south, skimming over the waist-cinching corset and suspender belt to her hips, feeling for the bows which, on release, leaves him holding the tiny triangle of red silk in his hands.

 

"I left it up to him exactly what to do..." she pauses, responding to his touch with a low moan before continuing, "I just made the stipulation that Jin Sun-Mi is out of our lives... permanently."

 

"And when is this going to happen?"

 

"The down payment transferred this morning... I don't think he'll waste any time..."

 

 

Eun-Ki's mouth meets hers, she parts her lips to engage him, and they indulge in pleasures that by nature inhibit further conversation. Then passion overwhelms and they move on to a deeper, more fundamental, and ultimately more satisfying exchange...