In Between the Lines | Completed

Chapter Twenty-Two | Frizzy Hair Definitely Care

Vivian Jones 

"I don't care if it takes all night, make sure this is handled." She was utterly exhausted as she ends the call.

Her usually calm and collected demeanor was shaken to its core as she plops down at her desk chair and stairs out the tall windows facing the city skyline.

A shuffle comes from the other side of the room, and she's alerted to the entrance of someone new entering her domain, a burden she wasn't ready for.

"Secretary Park, I am in no mood for your—"

"I guess it's a good thing I'm not Secretary Park."

U So-Yong looks up and sees Kar Jin-Ho standing by the closed double doors leading to her office. She lets out a growl.

"You of all people... I am certainly NOT in the mood for you or your people," she stands and sends a withering glare to the young CEO.

"I figured as much. But I came to apologize on behalf of my brother—"

"Dare you claim him as such? I would call him nothing but a thief. A bastard. Not surprising given who he's related to."

If her words had hit their intended mark, Kar Jin-Ho didn't show it.

"I know he has done you wrong."

"Done me wrong? ME? I don't care if he were to hurt me! But to hurt my organization, my sanctuary! Over money? Money he could obtain through his own family? It's despicable. The whole lot of you are despicable."

U So-Yong reaches for the phone on her desk, prepared to call for security to remove the leech from her office, "Get out. Now. I'm calling security. This is your last warning."

Kar Jin-Ho's long legs cross the room in a second, putting him directly in front of her. He grabs her wrist and stops her from dialing.

"Vice Chairman U, I cannot express how deeply sorry I am that my brother thought it appropriate to siphon funds from the animal sanctuary."

Kar Jin-Ho surprises U So-Yong as he bows over, letting go of her wrist, acknowledging his grief, bowing fully twice more.

"Siphon is a fancy way to say steal." U So-Yong's voice is cold as she watches the man stand fully and keep his face looking at the floor.

"I cannot apologize enough for Kar Goon's actions, but I will work with you to the best of my ability to make reparations. I will of course repay you the money that was stolen."

"If you think that will make up—"

"I know it won't, at least, not to you."

U So-Yong's fingers twitch as she stares at the phone, debating if she should call security or if this leech would remove himself voluntarily.

Real leeches latch on and don't remove themselves without force. Kar Jin-Ho will be the same.

"Then what are you proposing?"

"We will return the original money and have plans to leave a substantial endowment for the foundation to be used at your discretion."

"To cover up your mistake with money is not fixing the issue at hand."

"The endowment will remain anonymous."

U So-Yong raises her eyebrow at the statement.

"What's the point then?"