Quest for Joy

Chapter 5

"That's the girl isn't it?" Mrs. Jung asked when she sat down beside her eldest daughter in the latter's bedroom.

"That's her." Jessica answered. She sat on her bed looking dejected after getting lectured by her father during dinner.

"I don't know what your dad sees in her. What a rotten child. We can't lose to her."

"Lose what to her? How about you let me sing a little more and maybe audition, then I won't lose to her." She gave her mother a cheeky grin, but still hopeful. "We already know she is smarter and all."

"What kind of words are those? You are my daughter. You are plenty smart, and you will be much better than her for this company!" Mrs. Jung raised her voice, not believing the words coming out of Jessica's mouth. "I tried talking to her before dinner, and she didn't even bother making a good first impression. It makes me so angry thinking about it. JESSICA, ARE YOU LISTENING?"

"What are you worried about mom? She is just interning at dad's company. It's not like she is going to be CEO or something."

"How can you still talk like that? Don't you get it? He already made her a manager after a few months. A mere high school intern! I know I have been too lenient on you, but from now on focus on your schoolwork and helping your father. Join more clubs, study groups, anything!"

Jessica dropped her jaw and was about to protest. "But---."

"No buts! Do you want your dad's company to be run by Taeyoon?"

Jessica looked at her mother but lowered her head instantly when she noticed the scary look. She sighed in defeat. "I guess not..."

Mrs. Jung pressed her lips and replied, "Good. Don't worry, it's only until we know that she won't be a problem anymore. I will not let our company be messed around with by that girl. And there are other and easier ways of getting her out of our way."

"And what way is that?"

"You know what's the most important thing to a family with a large and successful business like ours?"

"Money? Investors? Connections? I don't know." Jessica gave out a few guesses, not really interested in the topic.

"No. You are still a bit too naïve. It's reputation." Mrs. Jung smiled gently at her daughter.

"Ok...and?"

Mrs. Jung adjusted her seat, sitting up straight to look at her daughter, indicating how important what she is about to say is. "And if we take that away from her, there will be no room left for her in our business."

"What are you talking about?" Jessica asked, feeling her mother is up to something.

"I have already heard rumours from her department that she recently broke up with her boyfriend and there's also talk from the boyfriend's friends that she had been sleeping around."

Jessica sat up, not expecting what she just heard. "Are you sure that's her?" She still finds this rumour to be unbelievable, even after a second thought of the idea of Taeyeon sleeping around. "She doesn't even like socializing and a nervous wreck when she is in unfamiliar places." Unless she was with Tiffany.

"That's interesting." Her mother narrowed her eyebrows for a second before a sly grin emerged from her face, "I have the perfect idea."

She paused to think for a moment, then continued.

"So, if what you say is true, it will be easy to set her up."

"How?"

"You say she doesn't like crowded places. Let's take her to the club that our employees like this Friday evening. Then I will have some guys pick her up and show them what kind of person she really is. It's perfect."