Before You Came

A Deal With the Devil

Nayeon was what many people would call relentless. When she set her mind to something, she made sure to work until she had achieved what she wanted, exploring every option and uncovering every piece of information she could use in the process. That's precisely what she had done the moment she had left Jeongyeon in the restroom at Mugunghwa. She had tasked Jihyo with gathering as much information as she could about Jeongyeon and Yoo Industries while doing her own research on the woman. By the time she made it to her office this morning, she knew more things about the woman and her family's company than the general public would probably ever know.

"I want you to go downstairs and wait for Yoo Jeongyeon. Bring her here immediately. I don't want anyone else dealing with her," Nayeon instructed her faithful secretary. She didn't want her grandfather catching wind of her plans.

"Yes Miss Im," Jihyo said.

"Have her wait outside my office. I'm going to check in with my mother so I'd like to wrap that up first before meeting with her." Nayeon paused to think if there was anything else she was missing. "I think that's all Jihyo. You can go now."

Jihyo left the room swiftly, shutting the door behind her. Nayeon let out a heavy sigh and massaged her temples. Another sleepless night had plagued her, but she wasn't going to let it interfere with her plans. Yoo Jeongyeon was the key to everything. She would get what she wanted regardless of how the other woman reacted and use whatever leverage she had discovered to do it. Jeongyeon would have no other choice but to agree, and her grandfather would have to accept he'd been beaten.

Nayeon's phone lit up and her eyes went to the screen. Her mother was calling. She answered it immediately.

"Eomma, I was just about to call you," Nayeon said by way of greeting. "Is everything alright?"

"I should be asking you that. I wanted to check in with my dear daughter since you skipped our usual morning breakfast. What's going on darling?"

Nayeon sighed internally. Of course her mother would know something was up. She always knew. "I think I've found a solution eomma," she said vaguely. Her mother knew about the deal with her grandfather, but she had no idea what Nayeon's plans were, and she wasn't about to reveal them to her now; a scolding wasn't something she was particularly eager to receive. She might almost be thirty and one of the most successful businesswomen in South Korea, but that didn't mean she wasn't still scared of getting in trouble with her mother.

"Does that mean you don't have to get married then?" her mother asked hopefully.

When Nayeon didn't reply, her mother exhaled quietly.

"Nayeon...don't rush into anything foolish. I don't want you to do something you might regret," her mother said. "I'd rather you not marry at all than to resort to these measures."

"You know I'll do whatever it takes eomma. I won't let appa down."

A heavy silence hung over their conversation. Nayeon wanted more than anything to reach through the phone and comfort her mother. Words seemed so inadequate for the deep ache her mother felt every day. Nayeon knew it all too well; it was the same ache she had been carrying with her for these past five years.

"You could never let your father down Nayeon," her mother finally uttered softly. "He has always been proud of you. He would be so happy to see how you've flourished in his stead." Her mother sniffed, and her voice grew watery. "Whatever it is you're doing, please don't let it go so far that I lose you in the process. Promise me that Nayeon. I can't lose you too."

"I swear it eomma," Nayeon said with conviction. "You won't lose me. I'll be here until the very end."

*knock knock knock*