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It didn’t come as a surprise that her father would take a hard line with her. But that didn’t mean she was going to take it lying down.
“Why are you so set on helping Ms. Taylor?”
“Who says I’m set on helping her? You don’t need to know anything other than the fact that I want you to do this favor for Taylor. I am keeping you in the dark for your own good.”
“No. I refuse to do it.” Jihae’s heart pounded so loudly she was afraid she wouldn’t hear her father’s response. She had never outright defied her father except for her rebellion after college.
“Then I will remove you from your position at Rotelle Entertainment effective immediately.” It wasn’t an idle threat. He wouldn’t hesitate to take away what was most important to her. Unless it wasn’t in his best interest.
“I’m in the middle of a production with a partner company. If you remove me now, the partnership and the production will suffer, as well as the film itself. I know my company and my teams better than anyone else. Are you willing to gamble with Rotelle Entertainment’s success after everything I’ve built up? How happy do you think the shareholders will be at my sudden dismissal? You can’t deny that Rotelle Entertainment is one of Rotelle Corporation’s most profitable branches.”
“You overestimate your value. Rotelle Entertainment is profitable because it’s a part of Rotelle Corporation. But I am too busy to deal with finding your successor right now.” That was his way of capitulating without giving her credit. He knew that Rotelle Entertainment would falter if he removed her before the film was complete. “I will allow you to remain as the head of Rotelle Entertainment for the time being, but don’t fool yourself into thinking your disobedience will go unpunished.”
“Oh, no. I would never doubt your ability to hold on to a grudge.” Jihae gasped behind her hand. She couldn’t believe her own recklessness.
“Such impudence! How dare you speak to me this way?”
She needed to appease him if she wanted to hold on to her position at Rotelle Entertainment. Jihae had to keep her promise to Colin and see Best Placed Bets to its completion with him.
“I’m truly sorry, Father. Please forgive me. The stress of being on bad terms with you has made me hysterical. I still can’t introduce Yami Corporation to NAM, but please let me keep my current job. I only want the best for Rotelle Corporation.”
He took a huffing breath on the other end of the line. Jihae smiled bitterly. Her groveling had done its job. With his ego stoked and her pride in tatters, he was going to give her an inch. “Like I said, you can remain in your position for the time being. But what happens after that depends on how you deal with Yami Corporation.”
And that was the end of the call. She listened to the dial tone for a blank moment before sluggishly putting down her phone. Production was going smoothly, and so was her relationship with Colin. It was going so well that she sometimes forgot Rule Three—no promises—and dreamed of more. The call with her father was a rough intrusion of reality. She would be returning to Korea sooner rather than later. That much was certain. Her defiance in the Yami situation had cemented that outcome. But she would never change her mind about the introduction. What Yami intended to do was contemptible and she would have no part in it.
Her father was hiding something from her. If he was desperate enough to get her involved in the first place, it was something very big. It was time she dug for some answers. She pushed back from her desk and poked her head out the door.
“Hey, do you have time to have dinner tonight?” Jihae asked.
“I’m not sure. Let me check my very busy social calendar,” June replied, pretending to flip through a calendar. “I would have to move a couple things around, but I can squeeze you in.”
“Does Korean barbeque and soju at my place sound good?”
“Pork belly from that butcher on Third Street?”
“Hell to the yes.”
“Meh,” June said, deadpan. “I’m not holding back on the soju, so plan on making it a dinner-slash-sleepover.”
“Done deal.”
Jihae closed her office door and walked back to her desk. It would be wonderful to vent about her father to her best friend and figure out a way to uncover his secret. The only reason she wasn’t grinning from ear to ear was that she had to cancel her date with Colin. They’ve been together for a few months, but she still couldn’t get enough of him. But taking a break tonight was for the best. The mess with her father and her eminent return to Korea meant it was a bad idea to get more attached to him. She needed to create a cushion to protect her heart.
Despite her decision to distance herself a bit, it still hurt not to see him tonight. Rather than torturing herself more by calling, she texted him instead.
Hi.
The ellipses appeared on her phone immediately.
Hi.
I need to cancel our date tonight.
This time the ellipses took a while to pop up.
Is there a particular reason?
Yeah. Emergency girls’ night in.
