Cold Daughter of Taekook

CDT 18

The sound of the air conditioning hummed softly in the background as Varisha sat in her sleek office, flipping through documents in preparation for today's meeting. It had been a while since she'd been able to settle into her work routine, with college students finally on vacation. This meant fewer interruptions and more time to focus on the intricacies of the business her family had built. Today's meeting was with Mr. Lee, a well-respected business mogul in the industry. She had anticipated a smooth and professional discussion, but the tension in the air told her otherwise.

Varisha's eyes flickered toward the man across the table, a well-dressed executive who seemed confident in his words. The conversation had started well enough. Numbers were discussed, potential joint ventures outlined, and the usual business talk flowed smoothly. That was, until Mr. Lee leaned forward with a proposal that instantly turned her stomach.

"Ms. Kim," Mr. Lee said, his tone calm, but his eyes gleaming with something far more sinister, "I was thinking it would benefit both of our companies greatly if we changed our partnership to... a more family-oriented relationship."

Varisha's eyebrows shot up, and a chill of suspicion curled around her spine. Family-oriented? She was no stranger to veiled business deals, but what exactly was he insinuating? Before she could ask for clarification, Mr. Lee continued, his next words slicing through the air like a knife.

"If my son marries your younger sister—"

Varisha didn't let him finish. The instant his intentions became clear, her hand slammed down on the table with a force that echoed through the office. The papers in front of her rustled from the impact, and Mr. Lee flinched, startled by the sudden burst of anger from the usually composed woman.

"How dare you bring my sister into this!" Varisha snapped, her voice sharp, brimming with fury. Her gaze burned into him, eyes narrowed in disgust. "She is my sister, not an asset to be used to secure business!"

The temperature in the room seemed to drop as the atmosphere shifted from polite professionalism to an undeniable tension. Mr. Lee blinked, clearly taken aback by her reaction, but he quickly regained his composure, leaning back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Ms. Kim," he said slowly, as if explaining something obvious to a child, "you are a woman. You won't understand the way these things work in the business world."

Varisha's blood boiled at his words, her fists clenching under the table. The arrogance. The entitlement. She had faced condescending men before, but something about the way Mr. Lee dismissed her struck a nerve she couldn't ignore.

She stood up from her chair, her posture commanding as she towered over him from across the table. Her eyes were cold as steel, her voice unwavering.

"Mr. Lee," she began, her tone calm yet laced with an edge that could cut through stone, "I am a woman. And I understand far more than you seem to realize. I understand the intrinsic value of every human being, including my sister. She is not a pawn in your game. She is not a mere object to be bartered and sold for profit."

Mr. Lee's smug expression faltered slightly, but Varisha didn't give him a chance to respond. She took a step closer, her voice growing fiercer, more resolute with each word.

"She is a living, breathing individual with emotions, dreams, and aspirations. And no one—especially not you—has the right to strip that away from her or to reduce her to some business transaction. If you think for one second that I would ever allow that to happen, you're gravely mistaken."

Her words hung in the air, thick with intensity. Mr. Lee shifted uncomfortably in his chair, clearly not expecting such a bold rebuttal. The confidence he exuded moments earlier had all but disappeared under Varisha's unwavering gaze.

"I... I didn't mean to offend you, Ms. Kim," he stammered, his tone much less sure of itself now. "It was just a suggestion, nothing more. In many cultures—"

Varisha cut him off with a sharp wave of her hand, silencing whatever excuse he was about to offer. "This isn't about culture or tradition, Mr. Lee. This is about respect. And right now, you've shown me none."

She straightened her posture, taking a deep breath to steady herself. The fire in her eyes had not dimmed, but she knew she needed to maintain her professionalism, even in the face of such blatant disrespect.

"This meeting is over," Varisha said firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument. "And unless you can conduct business without involving my family or insulting my intelligence, there will be no further discussions between us."

Mr. Lee opened his mouth, perhaps to protest, but quickly closed it again, realizing there was nothing more he could say to salvage the situation. He stood up from his chair, collecting his papers, and gave her a stiff nod.

"Very well, Ms. Kim. I'll... be in touch."

Without another word, he turned and left the room, the door clicking shut behind him. As soon as he was gone, Varisha let out a long breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her chest heaved with the remnants of her anger, but she refused to let it overwhelm her.

She wasn't just angry about the proposal itself—she was angry about what it represented. The idea that, even in the modern world, some men still viewed women as bargaining chips, as tools to secure power or wealth. It was infuriating, and it reminded her of why she worked so hard to maintain her independence, why she refused to let anyone—anyone—dictate her worth or the worth of those she loved.

Varisha sat back down in her chair, running a hand through her hair as she tried to collect her thoughts. Her sister, her sweet, innocent sister, had no idea how close she'd come to being dragged into something so sinister. And Varisha would do everything in her power to make sure that never happened again.

She glanced out the large windows of her office, the skyline of the city stretching out before her. It was a reminder of the empire her family had built—an empire that would never sacrifice its integrity for something as hollow as greed.

"I am a woman," Varisha whispered to herself, her jaw clenched. "And I understand more than you'll ever know."

And with that, she went back to her work, determined to keep moving forward, knowing full well that the fight for respect was far from over.
———-
Word Count: 1106
Date written: 09/10/24
Date Published: 09/13/24
Author: Kheliyesh