Passion and Power

Chapter 64

"Minji - what the actual fuck?"

After she had a minute to recover, Haerin rushed out from the board meeting to catch up with Minji and managed to stop the elevator doors before she could disappear.

But Minji barely seemed to register Haerin's presence. She stared straight ahead, her face furious. Haerin leaned against the side of the elevator and waited, trying to tamp down her own shock and fury. She was angry at the board members and felt blindsided by Minji. Eventually Minji spoke up.

"How dare he? After all I've done for this company?" She fumed, still not really looking at Haerin. "I was afraid it would be a problem, but the way he spoke to me, that condescending smirk... I really wanted to wipe that right off his face."

"Believe me, you did!" Haerin offered and then they both got quiet again. "You shocked us all, one way or another."

Minji continued looking ahead, almost as if she was watching the whole thing replaying on the elevator doors.

"I just wasn't expecting...I mean, as your best friend...not to mention your COO...Well, you could have given me a heads up!"

At that Minji turned to Haerin, almost seeming like she was noticing her for the first time. "I'm really sorry Haerin. Honestly, I didn't make the decision until about 9 hours ago. And since that time I have been pretty...well, busy..."

"Yeah, don't need to hear details..." Haerin broke in, holding her arms up to stop any oncoming truths. "I just...you knew this was coming. And you know we can get through it. Come up with a public relations approach, appease the board, eventually it would only be a minor blip. Especially when you think about all the company's been through with Taehyung...You could turn around right now and talk them into anything - you've got them all running scared!"

"They should be."

"Damn, if you could have seen the look on your mother's face..."

That caused Minji to scoff. "Well, that I would have liked to see."

"Yeah, I've never seen her lose her cool like that."

"Well, I've seen her lose it plenty of times, but today would have been one I enjoyed." Minji said, then felt a bit guilty for reveling in upsetting her mother. "Anyway, they will all be fine. They're all filthy rich and no one has a large enough holding to really get hurt by this. Even Mother is diversified enough that she would be fine if there is a dive in our stock."

"From what I've seen the richer you get the more upset you get when you are not quite as rich." Haerin observed wryly.

"Ha! Yes, you hit that one on the head." Minji laughed. "But what about you? You will be getting rich off this.You'll be able to name your price. They'll be desperate to hang on to some continuity and you are it."

"Of course, but Minji please, just think about it. We can change your responsibilities to give you more time and flexibility. We can work it out any way you want to do it. You don't have to leave." Haerin pleaded. "And you don't even need to go back. Just tell me what you want, I'll negotiate for you."

Minji seemed far away in thought, so Haerin continued.

"Name it. Just tell me what you want. Let's put this behind us. We've done so much great work together, don't just throw it away."

"You know me better than that, Haerin." Minji said. "I've made my decision."

The elevator stopped and the doors opened and they both just looked at the open door.

"Buy you a drink?" She asked Haerin, extending her hand. Haerin took it and tucked it under her arm and they headed towards her office together.

"Wouldn't miss it, might be our last one at KCorp." Haerin said