The Chairman

Chapter Forty-Six

The Chairman was in his seventies, his grayed hair proved a remarkable experience possessing superior merit in his business, and his well-being showed fitness and wholeness.

The surgeon who operated on Rielle came out of the OR after an hour. "Who is Miss Calma's guardian?" Mrs. Calma and Hyun-Kin quickly ran to approach the surgeon.

The heart surgeon successfully treated Miss Calma's gunshot wound to the thoracic aorta.

"She can remain independent, confined for eight days, and discharged without complication." The surgeon explicitly said.

"Thank you, doctor, so much. Please give her the best private room for her confinement, doctor, and the best attention and treatment she needs to heal completely." Requested Hyun-Ki courteously.

Rielle checked into an exclusive hospital suite comprising a private bathroom and an additional private room for the attendant who would take care of Rielle during her confinement. The room comes with a carafe, a dining table wherein a fruit bowl is served once a day, and meals for the patient's guests and attendant. Whereas for Hwan Chul, Hyun-Ki put him in a deluxe room with a dining corner, a rest corner, and a private bathroom.

After two hours of sedation, Rielle felt weak and tired. Her mom was happy that her daughter had awakened, and Hyun-Ki stood by the side of her bed, waiting for her to come to consciousness because of the long hours of her deep sedation. When Rielle recognized her mom, she wept and sobbed because she again recalled the suffering she had gone through with the robbers. She looked up from her bed, and when she saw Hyun-Ki standing by, she raised her arm wanting his embrace. Hyun-Ki came close and comforted her with his hugs and short kisses. And Rielle came crying profusely, feeling the warmth of Hyun-Ki's protective embrace and telling how she felt during that harrowing experience with Hwan Chul.

"I already accepted my fate at that moment, feeling that I would die in that cruel man's hands. And all I asked from above was to save Hwan Chul's life. Hwan was fighting for me and never thought of himself. He even offered those criminals money to save me, but they still have the thought of killing us both." Hyun-Ki felt angry, clenched his fist for those men, and felt pity for Rielle and his brother, Hwan Chul.

"I will see to it that they will suffer a million times than what they did to you and Hwan Chul, I promise that," Hyun-Ki said out of his ferocity toward those criminals who harassed and tortured his brother and shamelessly abused Rielle. After Rielle's painful and agonizing recount of her encounter, she fell asleep. Hyun-Ki advised Mrs. Calma to rest in the other room, but she wanted to go home because she felt weak and sick and could not stand any more of Rielle's narratives.

"It's all right, ma'am; I'll have Junie bring you home. I already requested a nurse aide for Rielle, and she's coming tomorrow, so you don't have to worry about having someone to take care of her. Anyway, I'll always be here every night, so feel assured of Rielle's safety." Hyun-Ki assured Mrs. Calma.

"Thank you very much, Hyun-Ki, for I believe now how sincere is your love and care you're giving my daughter. I am confident that she's in good hands. I'll leave now, and please tell my daughter not to worry about anything. Goodnight, Hyun-Ki," and Mrs. Calma left with confidence for Hyun-Ki. And while she was going out of Rielle's room, she remembered Hwan Chul, so she went to his room to see him.

"I'm Rielle's mother," when Mang Ben opened the door. Mang Ben led her to Hwan Chul, who was already awake.

"Hwan Chul, I am so grateful for your vigilance in fighting for my daughter despite the difficulty you had from those criminals, and I will forever be indebted to you." Mrs. Calma said.

"Ma'am, what I did was inherent to any decent man who cannot take for granted what any woman could encounter violence against their will. And because Rielle has been close to my heart, I cannot just allow anyone to violate her, even if they helplessly subdued me. I am willing to lay my life for her. And I am very grateful from Above that she was safe and back to your foster again." Mrs. Calma felt a soothing feeling from what Hwan Chul said to her.

And in her thinking came her thoughts about how their father would be proud of them if only he knew.

On the following day, the household in the Han mansion was panicky when they saw the Chairman, Mr. Han, and his wife arrived, descending a cab, and the security guard met them and carried their luggage to the house. The housemaids and their lady butler, Rosita, went to meet, bowing to them, and were nervous because they knew they would be asking about their sons, Hyun-Ki and Hwan Chul, and their daughter, Sumi, and not one of their children was present at home.

"I know, I am aware, they were not here because they were in the hospital with Hwan Chul confined because of an uncanny encounter he had with the criminals. Any news from them, Rosita?" asked the Chairman.

The Chairman was in his seventies, his grayed hair proved a remarkable experience possessing superior merit in his business, and his well-being showed fitness and wholeness. He had the quality of good mental health, a high life satisfaction with a sense of purpose. But the Chairman was also greedy, rude, biased, manipulative, and disrespectful. He only cares about what he believes in his judgment; The Chairman is inattentive to reason and impatient; he wants to see fast action but the outcome of a situation.

"I'm sorry, sir, but no one has come home since that incident." Rosita apologetically replied. "Not even Hyun-Ki or Su-Mi?" the Chairman is already ferocious. "Where was Hwan Chul confined?" again asked the Chairman, now getting irritated.

"Sir, we do not know because no one has gone home yet," Rosita nervously replied.

"A-a-ah, useless imbeciles! Get out of my sight!" the Chairman yelled.

"You don't have to yell like that, Myeong! How would they know?" soothed Mrs. Han.

"Come, let us rest first because of jetlag; then maybe one of them will come home before we know it. And please, Myeong, watch your temper, or your blood pressure will shoot up again." Mrs. Han worriedly reminded the Chairman.

An hour later in the afternoon, while the Chairman and Mrs. Han were watching a teevee show in the living room, Hyun-Ki arrived. He was never surprised because Rosita gave him a heads-up during their parents' arrival. Hyun-Ki gave a warm hug to his mom and a light tap on his father's back.

"What was this incident involving your brother and a lady that made them hostage, Hyun?" the Chairman asked. Hyun-Ki thought to lie to protect Rielle.

"It was an inevitable circumstance in a bank where some vicious robbers surreptitiously entered them and were taken hostage. It so happened that Hwan Chul was there, and maybe because he was a foreigner, they took an interest in him and added him as another captive. But everything was already resolved where the robbers were already in prison, and Hwan will soon return home, so no worries, okay, dad?" explained Hyun-Ki.

"I would like to see him personally in the hospital, Hyun," the Chairman was insistent.

"Dad, I came home to change for work; how about tonight?" replied Hyun.

"Well, okay. Tonight then." Said the Chairman calmly.

Hyun-Ki came to his Office to look into the paperwork he temporarily set aside because of the bank incident. Alexis and Louie came to see him and inquired about Rielle's plight from those criminals and if she was in good condition to visit. Hyun-Ki paused for a moment giving some thoughts about their visit; he appreciated their concern but could not come tonight because the Chairman was visiting Hwan. From that premise, the Chairman must not find out about Rielle and her whereabouts in that hospital, for it may only worsen things. He instead advised them to see her this coming weekend.

Back at the hospital, the Chairman paid a visit to Hwan Chul and had many questions as if prying on Hwan Chul's involvement in that hostage-taking incident. Knowing his dad too well, he knew how to evade him from the truth behind his entanglement with the criminals.

"Dad, I was there to withdraw, then here came the robbers' intrusion, and because I was a foreigner, they mistook me as a wealthy guy, so there!"

"And who was this lady also taken hostage, and why did she shield herself to cover you?" asked the Chairman with a hint of disbelief. That question cornered Hwan Chul; if he said she was a bank employee, his dad would get all the means to find the girl, so he crafted another lie.

"I was dating her for two days then, and she was with me at that time, and because her beauty attracted him, the leader took her also." It was Hwan Chul's white lie reasoning. And timely, Hyun-Ki was there, so he elaborated more on Hwan Chul's story.

"I am supposed to take care of her hospitalization on behalf of Hwan Chul, but the parents were so angry at Hwan Chul that they decided to move her out of the hospital and warned him not to see her again. So, we never heard from her since then, and I believe she's recovered because they would have seen me personally if not. Let us not discuss this anymore, dad, because you're only suggesting that Hwan Chul was a jinx, do you think?" Hyun-Ki winked at Hwan Chul, but Hwan didn't accept the word 'jinx' when he threw the pillow at Hyun-Ki.

"All right, that's enough now. I'll pay a visit to the Office sometime next week, Hyun, to see how the business is getting along with your management." Said the Chairman.

"You could be kidding me, dad? Don't you trust me? You were not confident about running the business, is that it, dad?" Hyun-Ki reasoned out in a displeased tone.

"I did not mean that, but as Chairman of the Board, I have to look into every aspect of the business, so Hwan Chul (turning to Hwan), you must try to recover soon because I will also look into your performance as VP for Marketing, no questions asked, am I clear?" the Chairman stressed.

The Chairman left the two brothers and started to talk about their dad's doubtful and short knowledge of their competence.

"What does the Chairman think of us, immature, easy-going, and spendthrifts who were just playing around and wasting money?" asked Hwan Chul, feeling insulted.

"As if you don't know, dad. I consider dad as sly and clever. There must be something playing in his mind where I smell fish. Whatever his scheme, we have to work together and defeat him." Hyun-Ki said suspiciously. "He once fooled me, but his tricks won't work this time."

A few days had passed since Rielle was hospitalized with Hwan Chul. Hwan Chul was back to his feet wearing an arm sling, however. Rielle was already at her home for days now, and she had some thinking about working again. She looked at her watch and saw it was seven in the morning, and she thought there was still time to take action. She had her morning shower and was preparing to dress up when Hyun-Ki called.

"Hello, Sweetheart, how's my queen doing?" asked Hyun-Ki.

"I'm fine, Hyun, and also bored. I am not used to sitting at home doing anything." Rielle said with a yawn.

"Why not start learning to cook, Sweetheart? That way, you'll learn more dishes to feed me, don't you think so?" Hyun-Ki said in an encouraging, fun tone.

"What? You want me to be a simple housewife? No, no, no, siree! So that you'll have all the excuse to womanize, hmm?" pretending to be angry.

"Woah, don't go that far, Sweety. I am not looking for a fight." Hyun-Ki was teasing mischievously. "Sweetheart, remain cool, okay? I'll see you tonight. I missed you already." And Rielle ended the call half-heartedly.

But still, Rielle went on to her decision. She dressed up in corporate attire and then called for a cab. While waiting, she told her mom that she would return to work today. And before her mom could ask her where she was already in the cab.

She was already inside the building, got in the elevator, and pushed the button for the 25th floor. No one recognized her, for she wore a long black wig tied into a ponytail and eyeglasses. Others considered her an applicant and considered her a real estate agent.

Meanwhile, at the CEO's Office, Hyun-Ki was listening to Louie's narrative about his appointments for the day and the e-mails he needed to pay attention to, and the documents he had to read for approval when Alexis came to announce to Mr. Han Hyun-Ki that he had a guest at the other side of the room.

"Am I expecting anyone today, Louie? You have no mention about it from your report." Hyun-Ki and Louie were puzzled. So, with curiosity, Hyun-Ki stood up and went to the other side of the room through the access glass door. His guest stood facing the glass window, so Hyun-Ki was the first to greet the guest, with a feeling that he knew who this was, while the two secretaries felt excited and thrilled recognizing her stature. And when she turned her back to face Hyun-Ki, he was shocked and so surprised!

He came close, greeted her, and gave her his warm embrace.

"My dearest Rielle, I knew, but you surprised me!" Hyun-Ki was full of thrilled to see her.

"Did I? Did you like my coming here, Mr. Han?" asked Rielle. "I want to get my job back, Sir." Rielle was serious now.

"I should have asked about this after your confinement, but I was afraid you might reject my offer again, Miss Gabrielle Calma," Hyun-Ki said formally but amused.

"Why are you so afraid of being rejected, Mr. Han?" Rielle asked seriously but teasingly, fixing his tie and suit.

"I'm not used to being rejected, but if it is you, I cannot resist," Hyun-Ki was now taking her for eye-to-eye contact, their faces getting closer.

"But if others, what would you do?" asked Rielle meekly but with a frown.

"I surely get what I want. I never accept rejection; only you have the guts to reject me, and I can't do anything." Hyun-Ki was so close to kissing her; both were getting too romantic when the two secretaries pretended to cough. They were also curious to know if she was coming back and were excited to hear her response.

"If Mr. Han Hyun-Ki accepts me as his Executive Assistant," paused Rielle, taking a long glance at him, waiting for Hyun-Ki's answer. Hyun-Ki gave a formal look with an air of superiority and said, his eyes fixed on Rielle.

"You know what I wanted, Miss Calma, so you can start now because we have so much paperwork to attend to." So, Rielle gave a cheerful laugh, put off her wig and her eyeglasses, and the two secretaries ran to hug her excitedly, "Welcome back, Miss Rielle."

The mood in the CEO's Office could be deliberate, for Rielle's presence inspired everyone and was high-spirited, and the two secretaries felt as if they were no vessel of joy and fun as they worked.

A few bits more, Hwan Chul entered Hyun-Ki's Office and told him that their dad was coming for a general review of the Corporation Officials. He would be looking in on documents and transactions and other reports that each Office made with the assistance of their corporate lawyer. Hyun-Ki was confident of the performance of his Office. And as Hwan Chul was talking, Rielle came to Hyun-Ki's room only to surprise Hwan Chul. Rielle came into Hyun-Ki's room to find out if the Chairman was still in his Office. Hwan Chul was surprised to find Rielle's presence.

"Rielle, you're back?" Hwan Chul was amazed and amused that he hugged Rielle in profound awesomeness.

"You are back, thank God!" Hwan Chul was astounded.

"Yes, she is, even if it's against my will; she forced me!" Hyun-Ki jokingly said. And the three burst out with laughter.

After the merry chatting, the two brothers return to their serious discussion about their father