AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart
Chapter 212
written by LoveCR2 -- 2005
edited by All-About-AAE -- 2019
"The reality is I can't let go, not until I find out what happened to Sun-Mi, if we really can't have a future together." -- Yoon Hyung-Chul
LAPUTA SEA GRILL, DAECHI-DONG, GANGNAM ... NEW YEAR'S EVE ...
"As much as I love the children, it is nice to have an evening out without them..."
Joo-Hee remarks across the table to her husband as she gazes placidly out the window of the 19th floor bar at the view of the Han River in the distance..
"Except for the bun baking in the oven," Sun-Dal jokes, referring to the near-term baby bump under her black Miu Miu crushed velvet cocktail dress.
Sparks fly in Joo-Hee's eyes...
"He keeps making cracks about my figure, when it's his fault I'm like this!" she complains to Hyung-Chul, who is seated at her right.
With a grin, Hyung-Chul encourages her, "I know what you're thinking... Go ahead, punish him."
"Owww!!" Sun-Dal jumps when the pointed toe of Joo-Hee's Lanvin metallic gold pump drives into his shin. He glares at Hyung-Chul...
"And I thought you were my friend!"
"Best drinking buddies has its limits when a lady is involved," Hyung-Chul shrugs off the accusation.
Outnumbered, Sun-Dal attempts exoneration. "My Dear, it was just remarking on how the baby adds to your beauty in my eyes."
"He's right," Hyung-Chul chimes in. "Motherhood has only made you prettier, Joo-Hee."
"All right, you two, stop trying to butter me up," she grouses despite the smile of appreciation playing on her lips. "I already feel enough like a fattened pig."
"Did I tell you? Since our father's met, now I'm being pressed about when my father will see a grandchild," Hyung-Chul grumbles. "He's laying into me severely for letting Sun-Mi go."
"Daddy's just rubbing it in to your father because you dumped me," Joo-Hee reminds him. "It's just talk. Don't let it bother you."
"Problem is, I feel the same way," Hyung-Chul admits. "I messed up so many chances with Sun-Mi."
"Stop beating yourself up," Sun-Dal sympathizes. "From what I heard, Sun-Mi had made up her mind. It was nothing to do with you."
Hyung-Chul is instantly curious. "Exactly, what do you know?"
"Er... only what Joo-Hee told me," Sun-Dal cringes under his wife's stony glare at betraying her confidence.
"Now that my husband has let the cat out of the bag, I suppose you can know, too," Joo-Hee says with a tired sigh. "Sun-Mi told me in strict confidence, but keeping secrets isn't easy..."
"Go on, I'm listening," Hyung-Chul prods.
"A few days before she left Seoul, Sun-Mi came by my home to chat," Joo-Hee relates the incident. "Her heart was never in being Chairwoman, and when the opportunity presented itself, she decided to go after her dream."
"But what's puzzling, is why Michael Atwater, and not me?" Hyung-Chul expresses the bewilderment he's carried for months.
"She said it was because you have a destiny to fulfill with MBS, and someday, Mun-Yung," Joo-Hee repeats what Sun-Mi had told her. "And that she was not the right person to have beside you."
"Sun-Mi said as much to me, too," Hyung-Chul confirms. "I only wish she'd waited, and allowed me to convince her otherwise."
"You wouldn't have swayed her, and you know that," Sun-Dal points out. "Isn't it time to move on with life? Accept reality and let go."
"The reality is I can't let go," Hyung-Chul argues. "Not until I find out what happened to Sun-Mi, if we really can't have a future together."
"Since she was with Atwater in Spain, Sun-Mi hasn't turned up anywhere. It's clear she doesn't want to be found," Sun-Dal contends.
But Hyung-Chul isn't ready to desist... "That just means I have to look harder."
"Try talking with her parents," Sun-Dal suggests. "If anyone knows anything, they would."
"I've called repeatedly, and get stonewalled every time," Hyung-Chul shares his frustration.
"Then appeal in person. Trust me, Kui-Sung likes you, it's Jin-Suk who is the roadblock. She hasn't forgiven you for what happened to Sun-Mi. Just get Kui-Sung alone, and if there's anything he knows, it will come out after a beer or two."
"I'll go right away next week," Hyung-Chul agrees. "When I'll have time."
"What? Are you finally taking a day off?" Sun-Dal quips.
"Not just a day," Hyung-Chul replies, glancing at the large decorative clock mounted on the dining room wall. "I'll explain in a few minutes, as soon as everyone is here."
"A surprise guest?" Joo-Hee's curiosity is piqued. "Now you have me on pins and needles,"
"Ah, here they are," Hyung-Chul announces, looking over the balcony railing at the glass-enclosed spiral staircase leading down to the 18th floor dining room.
Sun-Dal and Joo-Hee follow his gaze, to see a couple ascending the stairs...
The man sports a black Hugo Boss 2-button tuxedo, white dress shirt and black bow tie. The woman on his arm -- wearing a Norma Kamali shimmery gun metal strapless tube dress with a scrunch bandeau bodice overlaid by black stretch lace -- is all legs from the micro mini hem to her sky high Guess silver platform sandals.
"Isn't that Ha Jin-Woo?" Joo-Hee immediately identifies the man.
"But who is that exquisite beauty on his arm?" Sun-Dal wonders, regarding the tall, willowy woman with frank male appreciation. "I didn't know Ha Jin-Woo was dating anyone. Is she one of the new actresses?"
Hyung-Chul grins when he catches the woman's eye and she smiles back, lifting an eyebrow...
"That woman is not an actress," he corrects Sun-Dal's guess. "She's Lee Soo-Hee."
"What?" Sun-Dal, shocked, continues to gawk until Joo-Hee's shoe again whacks his already bruised shin...
"Ouch! Hey! Wha.. what did you do that for?" he sputters.
"You're drooling, Dear," she admonishes him for his fawning appreciation of another woman in front of her. "Watch yourself."
Meanwhile, Hyung-Chul signals their waiter...
By the time Jin-Woo and Soo-Hee arrive at the table, a fifth chair, a bottle of champagne on ice, and clean glasses are in place. Jin-Woo seats Soo-Hee before he takes the last chair for himself.
"You look gorgeous tonight," Joo-Hee compliments Soo-Hee. "I love your new 'do."
Soo-Hee self-consciously brushes back an errant wisp of curl from the loosely twisted chignon resting on the back of her neck.
"Thank you," she replies, keeping her eyes modestly lowered. "But actually, I feel a little awkward. I'm not used to dressing up like this."
"We're off to an exclusive party at the Shilla after we leave here," Jin-Woo explains. "Courtesy of Chairman Yoon, who passed his tickets on to me, with the stipulation that I take Soo-Hee as a reward for her hard work."
"So then you're not dating?" Sun-Dal asks for clarification.
"Well, as it turns out, over dinner we broke the ice, and took the plunge," Jin-Woo answers happily, grasping Soo-Hee's hand affectionately. "This is our first official date."
All eyes turn to Soo-Hee, who confirms the fact by blushing prettily.
"Now, that's a cause for celebration, if I ever heard one," Hyung-Chul declares as he fills the empty flutes from the bottle of Dom Perignon Oenotheque Brut Millesime Champagne, and then proposes a toast... "Here's to a New Year of great opportunities!"
Five flutes come together with a bright ring...
"Cheers!"
"So, Chairman Yoon, why have you called all of us together?" Jin-Woo asks the question that is on everyone's mind.
"Tomorrow marks the day the transition ends, when MBS finally cuts the cord to Mun-Yung," Hyung-Chul reminds them. "It's a day that fulfills a great dream by my mother to restore her family's independent legacy."
"And also Jin Sun-Mi's dream, too," Jin-Woo adds.
"So in keeping with the spirit of new opportunities, I have an announcement to make," Hyung-Chul states solemnly. "Tomorrow will be my last day as Chairman..."
He looks around the table at the expressions of surprise...
"Effective midnight, I'm appointing Ha Jin-Woo as Acting Chairman of MBS, and turning in my letter of resignation..."