Pleasant Imagines (Jinjoo)

Come to me

A sumptuous middle-aged woman sat in front of her daughter while they had some afternoon tea in her office. Unlike the pleasant atmosphere, everything felt dull as if there were no colour to their lives.

"This is the fourth time this year, Yujin-ah." The said girl slumped into the couch. "And we're not even three months in."

"It's not my problem eomma. If they want to leave, then go ahead. I'm fine with it." Yujin crossed her legs. "Everyone leaves anyway."

As if work wasn't enough, her own mother had to pester her about certain issues.

The lady glanced at the pile of work left unsettled on the desk, looking at her child. "I'll just find you another secretary." she stood up.

"No," Yujin said. "I don't need one." she walked towards her desk, plopping into her swivel chair with plain thoughts running through her mind.

The mother wondered what happened to her once virtuous and happy child who always had everything she wanted. It all went downhill the moment Yujin got the CEO position passed over to her.

"You'll need one to organise your schedule. We have many important meetings coming up."

Yujin blew out a soft breath. "I'm fine by myself eomma. How many times do I have to tell you this?" she spoke carelessly, disregarding respect for her mother who just wants the best for her.

"Appa already told you I'll handle things myself. I can do it," she added, clicking a few things on her huge iMac.

Her mother sighed, shaking her head before leaving her office.

Yujin ran her hand down her face in displeasure, inhaling as she stared at her emails. It was brimmed with clients asking for her to get back to them.

She internally scourged the hell out of everything, progressing to settle heaps of emails.

A girl paces into a meeting room, sitting down on the swivel chair as she waited for the arrival of this company's chairperson.

The moment she heard the door click, she stood up, quickly adjusting her shirt before bowing to the lady who just entered.

"Sit down, sit down. No need for greetings. This is all casual." The woman chuckled wholeheartedly, sitting opposite the girl who looked as if she were in her 20s. But she was captivating. A face that could brighten up the dull atmosphere around here.

"So, you're up for the position?" That earned her a firm but hesitant nod.

"I'll do anything." The lady smiled.

"Have you read through what I wrote to you? She's not an easy one to handle." The girl nodded once again. "I just need you to sort things out for her. She's been hectic lately, mood swings perhaps." The woman sighed.

She then looked at the girl with a relaxed but worried gaze. "Try not to leave after a week," she warned and saw the girl's eyes quiver slightly.

"I won't."

"That's great. Can you start work right away?" The woman stood up, causing her to stand up too.

"Now?" she queried, obtaining a nod as another person came into the room to guide the chairperson.

"She'll bring you to the office." The woman gestured at her own secretary who gladly offered to help out, bringing the girl down the hallway, toward the lift.

The lady pressed the button while they both waited, seeing how the new girl was fiddling with her fingers nervously.

"Why did you apply?"