Passion and Power

Chapter 35

As Taehyung disappeared behind the elevator doors, Minji closed her eyes and felt the fury surge through her. As much as she wanted to go to Hanni, Minji didn't want her to see her in this state. She made her way to her office at the opposite end of the penthouse and grabbed a bottle of scotch. She poured herself a double and took a healthy swallow.

She began to think about all the possible modes of attack that Taehyung might be preparing against her, and started plotting her response to all of them. First and foremost, she worked through the potential impacts to Hanni and her career, and what she might be able to do to stop him from harming her in any way. She loathed the fact that their relationship was putting Hanni at risk, which had always been her greatest fear once they became involved.

She could feel the warmth of the scotch starting to warm her and make her thoughts fuzzy. She had no idea how much time had passed when Hanni appeared in her doorway.

"Are you coming to bed?" Hanni asked, leaning against the door with an inviting smile.

Minji looked over at her in surprise but didn't speak.

"I'm sorry. I heard him leave and just wanted to make sure you're OK." Hanni said softly. "Do you need to deal with your brother? Would you rather I leave?"

"God, no." Minji said in a low voice as she leaned her head into her hands, elbows on the desk. "Please, stay."

"Of course. I'll stay if you want me to."

"Thank you." Minji said, and again seemed a bit dazed, leaning back in her chair and gazing into space. Hanni lifted herself off the door frame and made her way to Minji's desk, where she leaned against the front of it, facing towards Minji sitting in her chair. Minji finally looked up at her and then leaned forward into Hanni, resting the top of her head against her stomach.

Hanni eased her fingers through Minji's hair, running the tips gently over her scalp.

"I didn't realize he'd been released." She said quietly. "Are you OK?"

Minji moved back into her chair again and took a deep breath. "It seems he, and probably Mother, found someone they could pay off to get him out."

"I'm sorry. You seem very worried. Do you think he'll hurt himself? Or someone else?"

"He would never do anything to hurt himself. He's much too vain and in love with himself to do that. But hurt someone else? Yes. Always. And now it looks like he may be coming for KCorp."

"I'm so sorry, Minji. I know you've been working so hard to make changes while he's been away."

"Yes, and we're in a much better place now. Honestly, I'm more concerned that he might try to do something that would impact you. Your career."

"Minji, really? How could he do that? And why would he?"

"Well, I was hoping he wouldn't recognize you. At first it seemed like he didn't. But of course he did. He was probably just playing with me the whole time. Hell, he probably has someone keeping an eye on me, and already knew about us. I'm such an idiot..."

"Minji, seriously? You're the smartest, most brilliant person I know."

"I just...after all these years...should have known better. I should have been more careful."

"Why does it matter that he knows about us? Why would he even care? He doesn't even know me."

"Many reasons. First of all, he is evil and enjoys causing trouble in general, but more importantly, he probably sees that hurting you would hurt me. And he especially enjoys hurting me. It has very little to do with you. He could use it as leverage if he decides to make a move with the Board to gain more power over KCorp."