AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 191

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2018

 

"I believe in second chances. We all make mistakes, whether by choice or circumstances, that we regret. So how can we judge others harshly?" -- Jin Sun-Mi

 

CHAIRMAN'S OFFICE, MBS YEOUIDO HQ ...

 

"Here's to the new Chairwoman!..."

 

Seated around the conference grouping in Sun-Mi's new office, several voices join in the toast as six flutes of bubbly lift up...

 

"Gan bei!" six voices cheer in unison, and the flutes meet in a series of clinking crystal, before being drained...

 

 

"Thank you," Sun-Mi, still basking in the glow of victory, replies appreciatively to their congratulations.

 

She sets her champagne glass down and relaxes back into the soft leather upholstered chair.

 

Since the meeting ended, Sun-Mi has changed back into more casual clothes -- a salmon Zadig & Voltaire button-front, long-sleeve silk blouse with pleated ruffles, ivory Diane von Furstenberg wide-legged pants, and yellow suede Manolo Blahnik d'Orsay pointed-toe pumps with 90mm covered heels -- the outfit that she'd worn to visit Young-Mi in Uiwang.

 

Only her dramatic makeup -- bright red lips and dark eyeliner and mascara -- provides a stark reminder of her epic presentation before the Board and surprising dethronement of Kim Eun-Ki.

 

 

A knock at the door interrupts the festivities...

 

"Come in," she welcomes the visitor.

 

The door opens wide, and a workman steps in.

 

"You name is up now, Chairwoman," he announces, sweeping his hand to show off his completed work, a new brass nameplate on the door that declares the occupant: 'MBS Chairwoman Jin Sun-Mi' ...

 

"Thank you, Mr. Park," she replies. "You did a wonderful job."

 

"Yes, ma'am," the workman acknowledges. "There's a nice ring to it, if I may say so."

 

Then he dips his head respectfully and excuses himself, "I'll be going first, then..."

 

 

After the door closes, the celebration picks up again...

 

 

"When the AP put Kim Eun-Ki in cuffs, his expression was priceless," Jin-Woo remarks jovially. "All those old men were quaking in their seats, scared to death they'd be next."

 

"I was serious," Sun-Mi affirms. "We need a full housecleaning, to have a fresh start."

 

"That could result in a good number of our executives losing their jobs," Sun-Dal warns.

 

"Let that be the first action you take in your new position, President Kim," Sun-Mi orders. "I want to send an immediate message that 'business as usual' at MBS is finished."

 

"Yes, Chairwoman," Sun-Dal replies deferentially, glancing over at Hyung-Chul to observe his reaction.

 

But Hyung-Chul merely raises his eyebrow...

 

 

"Chairwoman, not to dispute your choice, but I'm wondering at your decision to promote my son-in-law as President," Seung-Hwan raises the question they'd all been thinking since she'd nominated Sun-Dal to fill Kim Eun-Ki's newly-vacated office, in her first directive as Chairwoman.

 

... a surprising decision that had bypassed the heir-apparent, Yoon Hyung-Chul ...

 

"It's because I believe in second chances," she replies, "We all make mistakes, whether by choice or circumstances, that we regret, so how can we judge others?"

 

Then her eyes twinkle. "And because I trust Yoo Joo-Hee to keep him on a short leash from now on..."

 

Her joke brings chuckles around the coffee table, while Sun-Dal's face reddens.

 

"Besides, Uncle came through for us today, in setting Kim Eun-Ki up for the fall," she praises his execution of their plot.

 

"Sun-Mi had a plan in place from the beginning," Sun-Dal explains. "It was all a scripted performance."

 

"Actually, it wasn't all scripted," Sun-Mi corrects him, "We had no guarantee Young-Mi would change her mind and agree to testify."

 

"But it all turned out exactly as you planned," Seung-Hwan comments favorably. "I admit that I underestimated you, Chairwoman."

 

"Now I see why Michael Atwater insisted on your nomination," Jong-Ki joins the plaudits. "He's a better judge of capability than I."

 

 

"Min-Cho always saw more in me than even I believed possible," Sun-Mi agrees, gazing off wistfully in thought. "I owe him a lot..."

 

Then she smiles as she looks around the circle of older, more powerful men who had tossed in their lot with her. "But it took the efforts of many, including all of you, for me to see a dream come true..."

 

Sun-Mi raises her glass again and declares another toast, "To good friends and colleagues..."

 

Again six glasses come together in celebration.

 

 

Finishing off his champagne, Seung-Hwan suggests, "The evening is still young. Why not reconvene at my son-in-law's for cards?"

 

"I'll call Joo-Hee, and let her know we're coming," Sun-Dal quickly offers.

 

"Sounds good to me," Jong-Ki agrees, then looks across the table at Hyung-Chul, "Son?"

 

"Sorry, I have something planned," Hyung-Chul declines to join them on the next round.

 

Jong-Ki briefly glances from Hyung-Chul to Sun-Mi, and gets the hint...

 

"How about you, Director Ha, would you care to join us?" he issues the invitation. "We need a fourth."

 

"Sure, I'm in," Jin-Woo accepts.

 

The four men rise to their feet and amble congenially together for the door, taking their leave.

 

 

Alone together for the first time since they'd met by the lake before the wedding, Sun-Mi and Hyung-Chul share an awkward silence, reflecting on their parting words that fateful day...

 

... 'It will be the best, for both of us, Senior, if you put me out of your heart and mind forever' ...

 

... 'I don't know why things turned out like this. If we could just turn back the clock' ...

 

... 'This is what has to be... This is our fate... So let's both accept it, and find a way to be happy' ...