AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 190

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2018

 

"I want to set a new course that carries MBS to the forefront of broadcasting media in the 21st century." -- Jin Sun-Mi

 

 

EXECUTIVE BOARD ROOM, MBS YEOUIDO HQ ...

 

"Nominee Jin Sun-Mi..."

 

The admin staff announces Sun-Mi's arrival as she waits at the door for direction.

 

Her 'pinstripes' referred to by Jin-Woo are a black and silver pinstriped Moschino two-piece outfit -- a strapless, button-down bustier that snugly shows her svelte shape from sweetheart neckline to corseted waist, and a front-buttoning, hip-hugging micro mini skirt that tops her trim, toned thighs.

 

A bright lipstick red, long-sleeved Reem Acra bolero covers her shoulders and upper back. The upturned collar of the suede lambskin shrug is embellished with silver beading that continues along the edge of the open front. Keeping with the metallic silver theme, large silver nested hoop earrings frame her face, and silver bangles circle her left wrist.

 

 

"We are about to conduct the vote, Ms. Jin," Secretary Oh acknowledges Sun-Mi without questioning her belated appearance. "Please take your seat."

 

Sun-Mi circumnavigates the perimeter of the room to her seat beside Jin-Woo, located at the end of one leg of the U-shaped arrangement of Director's seats. But before she sits down as directed, she addresses Jong-Ki...

 

"May I approach the Chair, to confer?" she asks.

 

When he nods, rather than backtrack on the way she had come, Sun-Mi takes a different course...

 

Flouting protocol and surprising everyone, she confidently marches straight up the center between the two rows of Directors, like a model strutting a fashion show catwalk, on the vertiginous 130mm spike heels of her red knee-high Dsquared2 gladiator sandals.

 

Standing in front of Jong-Ki, she appeals, "May I speak to the Board before the vote?"

 

"The period for nominees to speak closes once the vote is announced," Secretary Oh speaks up, denying her request on procedure.

 

"I don't think there's any harm in delaying matters by a few minutes," Jong-Ki overrules him. "But be brief, Ms Jin."

 

"Thank you, Chairman," she replies.

 

Turning on her heels, Sun-Mi again runs the gauntlet of gawking stares and swiveling heads that follow the sashaying strides of her slender stems.

 

Jin-Woo catches her eye, giving Sun-Mi a discrete 'thumbs-up'' for encouragement, as she takes the podium...

 

Sun-Mi begins without apology, "Chairman Yoon, Directors... Many of you question what a young woman, who is just a news reporter, with no executive management experience, can bring to the leadership of MBS. Now, if I may have your attention..."

 

She smiles wryly, aware that she already has every eye in the room intently focused on her... "I'll answer that question now..."

 

"The challenges facing MBS in the coming era are daunting, the pressures of rapid change unrelenting. The list of great corporations that once dominated their industries, before being made irrelevant, is a warning against complacency. MBS cannot rest on the laurels of past success and hope to endure in an uncertain future..."

 

Around the room, several Directors are nodding in agreement, while others clearly display their skepticism.

 

"Survival demands a corporate consciousness that fully embraces new challenges, with an aptitude agile enough to overcome them. Our present top-down, male-dominated structure is the antithesis of this, stifling the innovative potential of our talented personnel and especially, denigrating the contributions of those who are female and often considered more for their physique than their intellect..."

 

She slowly scans the faces around the table challengingly, finally leveling her glare on Eun-Ki...

 

"And if anyone denies this is true, reflect on what was I n your minds just now, as I walked past you..."

 

As if demonstrating her point, Eun-Ki openly ogles her with a mocking, triumphant smile, the same expression, Sun-Mi recalls, as when he'd assaulted her...

 

For a few seconds, Sun-Mi is shaken as she instinctually relives those horrific moments, but she steels her resolve with the knowledge that if she has beaten him before, she can again...

 

 

"The last time I stood here before you, I proposed a radical new direction for MBS News, with the result that we now lead in both ratings and viewer trust in our announcers and content," she reminds them of her recent success.

 

"As Chair, I intend to lead a similar restructuring of the entire company, from bottom to top, including this Board," she reveals her intentions straightforwardly. "I want to take the best of MBS, and set a new course that carries us to the forefront of broadcasting media in the 21st century... Thank you."

 

 

Stony-faced, the Board is silent, waiting to see their leaders' reaction to the direct challenge she's thrown in their faces...

 

 

... there she goes again ... Hyung-Chul frets to himself, recalling his previous criticism of Sun-Mi...

 

... you're immature and idealistic, you don't know what reality is ...

 

He exchanges a quick, troubled glance with Jin-Woo, confirming a joint assessment that their cause, tentative at best when the meeting began, is now irrevocably lost...

 

 

Despite his sense that defeat looms, Jin-Woo responds with vigorous applause of support. Hyung-Chul joins in, as do a smattering of others. But the majority reaction -- including many who had originally pledged to support the Yoon faction, but now are ready to bolt -- is opposed and resentful.

 

Jong-Ki alone, as Chair, maintains neutrality. "Please take your seat," he directs Sun-Mi.

 

But before she does, a loud, persistent knocking sounds on the door...

 

 

Chairman Yoon signals for the door to be opened, and a middle-aged man, slightly balding but with a trim, athletic build, steps in, brushing past the startled staffer in his haste. Dressed in a dark gray, three-piece suit, he carries himself with an air of authority.

 

"Who are you, and what is your business, Sir?" Secretary Oh demands an explanation.

 

"I am Assistant Prosecutor Han Tae-Suk, from the Seoul Prosecutor's Office," the man answers in a commanding voice. "I'm here on official business... Will Mr. Kim Eun-Ki please identify himself?"

 

Eun-Ki stands. "What is this about?"

 

"I have a subpoena to bring you into our office for questioning. Please come with me," AP Han requests, adding authoritatively, "Now."

 

"Can't this wait? I'm in an important meeting, as you can see," Eun-Ki refuses. "I'll answer your questions later."

 

"I have an order to execute," Tae-Suk stands fast. "If you resist, I can have you arrested and taken into custody."

 

"On what charges!?" Eun-Ki is indignant at the not-so-veiled threat.

 

"Conspiracy to attempt murder, kidnapping, and distribution of illegal drugs, for starters," Tae-Suk pronounces the pending indictments dramatically. "We're also reopening our investigation on previous charges of sexual harassment and forcible rape."

 

Red-faced with anger, Eun-Ki protests, "This is outrageous! On what evidence?"

 

"On the sworn testimony of Huh Young-Mi and Bae In-Soo, together with additional materials just obtained today," Tae-Suk replies, then tosses in a kicker... "We are also taking the statement of Kim Eun-Hee at this moment, as a material witness."

 

Still uncowed, despite Eun-Hee's apparent betrayal to save herself, Eun-Ki blusters, "I demand to see my lawyer first!"

 

"Very well, that's your right, in our office," Tae-Suk agrees, then calls loudly. "Officers, arrest this man!"

 

 

Two police officers enter the room, immediately heading for Eun-Ki. One starts to cuff him, while the other pats him down.

 

Embarrassed by the treatment usually given to common criminals, Eun-Ki bellows helplessly as the handcuffs are secured, "I have rights! You can't do this to me!..."

 

He glares at Sun-Mi, convinced she is behind his humiliation... "I'll take care of you!" he threatens.

 

Their pat down complete, the officers signal to AP Han that they are ready to leave.

 

"These are trumped up charges! Give me time, I'll be back," Eun-Ki appeals to Chairman Yoon to delay the vote.

 

"Let's move!" one of the officers growls, cutting short Eun-Ki's plea.

 

 

After the Assistant Prosecutor leaves with the officers and Eun-Ki, Jong-Ki picks up where he'd left off, before the interruptions...

 

"I call this meeting back into order," he declares. "Let's begin our vote for the next Chair of MBS..."

 

He holds back a smile, but his eyes reveal his amazement of the complete reversal by what has just happened...

 

"As previously agreed, strike off the name of the Nominee not present -- Kim Eun-Ki -- and then mark your ballots..."