Broken Promises

Chapter 15: The Unexpected

Haein's vision blurred momentarily, the words on the financial report in front of her swimming on the page. She blinked hard, forcing herself to focus. The boardroom was stiflingly quiet, everyone waiting for her decision.

"We need to move forward with the acquisition," she stated, her voice steady, even if her hands were trembling slightly under the table. "Delay will cost us."

Just as she finished speaking, the door burst open. A junior executive, pale-faced and breathless, hurried in with a tablet in hand. "Ma'am, I'm sorry to interrupt, but you need to see this" he said, thrusting the device toward her.

Haein's brow furrowed. She took the tablet and glanced at the screen. Her heart skipped a beat. It was a breaking news alert from a major media outlet back in Korea.

Breaking News: Hong Haein, CEO of Queens Department Store, reportedly hospitalized for a serious illness in Germany. Sources speculate about her health and its impact on the company's future.

Her stomach twisted, the weight of the room pressing down on her. Murmurs erupted around the table, and she could see the flicker of doubt in the eyes of the board members.

"Is it true?" one of the executives asked, his tone sharp, probing.

Haein's face remained stoic, but inside, panic flared. The last thing she needed was for her health to become a public spectacle, to have her competence questioned, her authority undermined.

"I assure you" she began, her voice cold and unyielding, "my health is not up for debate. What is up for debate is how quickly we move on this acquisition."

The murmurs grew louder, whispers rippling through the room like an electric current. Haein clenched her jaw, feeling the familiar tightening in her chest. She had to act fast. She couldn't afford to show any signs of weakness, not now, not ever.

"I understand your concerns," she began, her tone as cold as the winter winds outside. "But rest assured, my health will not impact my ability to lead this company. I've already instructed the legal team to proceed with the acquisition as planned. Now, if there are no further questions, I suggest we get back to the matter at hand."

There was a brief pause before the CFO, an older man with silver hair and a stern expression, leaned forward. "With all due respect, Ms. Hong, if the news is out there, we need to manage it before it gets out of control. The shareholders-"

"The shareholders," Haein cut him off sharply, "entrusted me with this company because they know I am capable of making tough decisions. I don't have the luxury of getting distracted by rumours. We move forward as planned. End of discussion."

Her icy demeanour seemed to quell the dissent, but she could still feel the scepticism lingering in the air. The tension was palpable, but no one dared to challenge her further. Haein turned her attention back to the report in front of her, but her mind was racing. How did the news leak? Who could have known?

Daniel and Edryne were the only ones aware that her recent hospitalization was because of a serious illness, aside from the doctors. Could there be a mole within her own team? Or was this the work of someone back in Korea, eager to see her fail?

Later That Day:

Back in her office, Haein paced the room, her thoughts spiralling. The pain in her head had returned, a dull throb that seemed to intensify with each passing hour. She reached for her phone and dialled Aera.

"Aera, I need you to look into something for me" Haein said as soon as her secretary picked up.

"Yes, ma'am," Aera replied.