Page 104 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
‘Where’s your phone? Are you not going to call my father and tell him you have reached? Isn’t that part of the job? Telling on me?’
Stephanie smarts from the verbal slap and her face is ashen.
Mina picks up her purse and gets up from the table.
As she passes by Stephanie, she hisses under her breath, ‘Traitor!’ and walks away in furiously quick steps.
* * *
‘But, Daepyonim, I’ve already committed to it!’ Mr Choi cries.
‘Without having even discussed it with me? How could you?’
This is unusual for Mr Choi. He isn’t the sort of person to decide for others, least of all for his employer. Haneul knows this only too well. Which is why he can tell there’s more to it.
Mr Choi has just walked into Haneul’s office, and meekly, in a small voice, informed him about the interview he has offered to Kang Yoojin.
‘Daepyonim, don’t you see it’s a terrific chance to promote the brand and the new collection?’
‘Since when are you into securing interviews, Bujangnim? Isn’t this the PR department’s job? Have you told Timira?’
Of course not! What am I supposed to tell that poor girl? I’m only trying to save her. If I don’t, she and her name will be dragged through the mud.
‘Staying quiet won’t help, Bujangnim. Why did you commit to this?’
Haneul is frustrated, seeing Mr Choi is reluctant to share with him his true intentions and his real reason behind this odd idea. But what he is even more frustrated about is his inability to share with Mr Choi his reason for sounding so unreasonable and resisting the idea of him and Rodrigo together.
Mr Choi was already working for Haneul’s grandmother when he went to Japan and came back on an emergency chopper ambulance. He saw how stories were killed, rumours hushed up and the news covered up by the family. Old woman Lee did not want her only grandchild to become newspaper fodder and a possible international political pawn between Korea and Japan. She was grateful that his life had been spared and now only wanted him to lead a normal life. As a loyal employee, he had done all that he was told to, followed all orders, but had never wanted to find out what really happened in Japan. Since observing Haneul and his discomfort around Rodrigo, he had been a little suspicious, but had discarded it as Haneul’s disappointment upon seeing another person live the life he could’ve had.
‘Daepyonim, miyanhajiman[I’m sorry but] can’t you just let it go this one time,ye? You know I’ve always had your best interests in mind.’
Haneul can’t disagree. Without Mr Choi, he couldn’t have possibly run the company. He has always trusted his wisdom and never shied away from seeking his counsel.
Bujangnim!Waegeuraesaeyo? Aaah[General Manager, why are you doing this]?
‘Ah,dabdabhae. Bujangnim,injeong.I agree that you’ve always looked out for me.Hajiman, you could’ve at least discussed this with me beforehand!’
‘Daepyonim, I was forced to improvise! I’m sorry, I know I was wrong to put you in this situation, but Kang Yoojin gija was threatening to, I mean, he was—’
Haneul cuts in.
‘What do you mean “threatening” you? Was he trying to blackmail you? I mean, me. Obviously.’
Haneul is familiar with Kang Yoojin and recalls reading his byline on the story about Rodrigo’s Japan incident from the Seoul Stealers FC press conference.
Mr Choi has held out for as long as he could, but cannot any longer.
‘You see, Daepyonim, he is aware of Timira-ssi’s identity.’
What about her? What about her identity?
‘I’m not sure I quite follow. What has this got to do with her?’
‘Er, he knows of her history with Rodrigo and he was snooping around the office trying to dig up dirt on her. He was about to reveal her identity to the public.’
Haneul can feel the anger rise inside of him and engulf him in its burning flames. He cracks his knuckles and balls his hands into fists.
Mr Choi continues to speak. ‘I felt it’d be rather unfair on Timira-ssi if her privacy were to be invaded. She’d be hounded by the press and public alike. She doesn’t deserve that!’
