Stuck on You

The Edge of Despair

'Today you only have one schedule Eesa-nim. Meeting at 2 o'clock with Mr. Park the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) and his team. I presume you can go home early today, Ma'am.' Secretary Han cannot hide her excitement while reading my schedule. It means she'll be able to go home early today after days of overtime.

'Alright, let's finish early today so you can go on a date with your boyfriend.' I laugh at her as she placed my usual flat white coffee on my desk.

Being the daughter of Queen's Group chairman wasn't always easy. I do have so many privileges, such as a black credit card, luxury clothes, and even a private jet. But I have always been in my brother's shadow. My job as COO (Chief Operations Officer) at Queen's Group is to clean up the messes my brother made. My father put him in the CEO position without much deliberation, only refer to him as the only son from our family.

My father has this old and obsolete principle that a man must take the lead. He considered women too emotional to be in control. As much as he knows about my capabilities, he holds his principle still. That's why he puts me in the COO position, so my brother always has the final decisions for himself. Once, I tried to prove that my father was wrong by getting into Cornell University and straight taking my master's degree at INSEAD France. And yet here I am, still cleaning up my brother's messes two years after I graduate.

I really want to build my own company, my own hotel company to be exact. But my father has so many shares in various cooperation and business, his relation has no limit. Once I reach the investor, he'll know immediately. I am afraid he'll remove me from my position at Queen's Group and I have no control at all.

There is still one way though. Hyun & Co. remain untouchable from my father until now. Although he knew that I reach this cooperation, if I can secure the investment from Hyun & Co., he cannot do anything because he doesn't have any shares there. But I doubt the willingness of their current CEO. Will he take the risk?

***

'Great job everyone, thanks for all of your hard work. I'll see you in the next meeting, have a great weekend' I was ready to leave when Mr. Park called me.

'Son Eesa-nim, I need to tell you something, this is urgent.' Seeing his uneasiness, I immediately knew this is about my brother, Son Hae Jin, the CEO.

'There has been an employee who sexually harassed by the head of the management division. Son daepyonim has decided to cover this case with money settlement. But the employee chooses to talk to the press, and some newspaper has connected this to Queen's Group.' Mr. Park show me the news from his tablet and I felt my blood went up to my head.

I went straight to my brother's office and open the door immediately, luckily, he was there alone.

'Don't you know how to knock?' his eyes never leaving the document in his hand.

'Why did you cover the sexual harassment case from me? Don't you know that's my responsibility as COO? You only make things worse by handling this alone, a money settlement? I never thought you're this dumb' I sigh at him mockingly and saw my brother's face reddened.

'Don't you dare to mock me like before ever again, removing you from your current position is easy. As easy as pie.'

'Remove me then, let me see how you handle this alone' As soon as I said that, I leave him without hearing his response.

***

Today is Saturday, I let myself wake up a little late than usual and playing with my phone for a while. Then suddenly secretary Han called me.

'Eesa-nim, sorry for disturbing you this early on weekend. But hoejangnim's secretary just called me, you need to attend the charity ball by Madame Bae Mi Jung from Daehan Group on behalf of your father (hoejangnim) this evening.' I immediately groan hearing the news.