Jin

I was on my way to my office when the door to my father's office opened.

"Seokjin. Come here for a moment," he said without preamble and disappeared back into the room.

I followed him inside and closed the door.

"So, how is the happy bridegroom?'

I stared at him without expression. "I assume you're talking about someone else?"

"What is this I hear that you are being difficult with Fiona Gettis? I just received a rambling phone call from her that you are being extremely inconsiderate to her. In her condition, I would think that you'd try to be pleasant with her and keep her happy." My father glared at me.

I sighed. "I am sorry that she bothered you with her complaints. She had no right to call you if she's upset with me," I began. "And there is no condition. There is no way she's pregnant...at least not by me."

"And you're so sure about this?" my father asked.

"I may be a ruthless womanizer, as you say, but I would never force myself on a woman," I replied, "least of all a virgin. Why would I? Nothing happened between us. I don't know why she insists on this lie and now this phantom pregnancy. A quick test will solve this problem. I suppose she thinks that you will spank me into submission."

He made an annoyed sound. "Gah! Stop it, boy. Regardless of the outcome, you have to accept your responsibilities and your role in this enterprise. Your marriage is a necessity right now. Kim Worldwide needs you to do your part. Seokjin, you cannot just wish yourself out of this marriage, I urge you to remember your duty. Gettis is not a man to be trifled with."

I inhaled. "If I can find another way to help the company that does not involve getting in bed with Coastal--literally--will you listen to my proposal?" I had been working tirelessly to find another, less drastic solution to KWI's cash flow problem that would move us away from a partnership in casinos.

"I don't know," he said. "I don't think you understand--"

"I think we should look at other options before jumping in with Coastal and their casinos," I interrupted him. "As you just said, Gettis is not to be trifled with. I don't want KWI to go the way of the last hotel chain he took over. I'm sure the CEO of Regis thought it was a good deal at the time. And now?" I held his gaze.

My father stared soundlessly at me for a long while before speaking. "Do you have something in mind?" His voice held a hint of hope. Maybe he was finally realizing that this deal with Coastal would put us under Gettis's thumb for many years. I had decided to base my response on my father's fear of losing control of his own company. I knew he would never stand back willingly.

I held out a hand, indicating for him to have a seat. After he sat behind his desk, I took a chair facing him across his desk.

"I am almost done with my research, but I think I have found something that would be a better fit with the luxury hotels under KWI. The customer service will definitely put us on the map. Not only that, it is a model that can be scaled down to fit our mid-level hotels if we work carefully on how to phase in the program. It is guaranteed to increase our occupancy even in troubling financial times." I saw that I had his attention. "The team is almost ready with the proposal, and we already have providers who have expressed interest in working with us. It is going to put our hotels at the forefront of spa hotels."

"Providers?" he immediately asked. "You've already spoken to people? That will get around, you know. It could backfire especially since--" he paused. "What sort of venture do you have in mind? Do you have the value propositions ready?"

"I know that you don't want others to know about our plans before they've been approved, but I guarantee that it is a timely and feasible idea," I replied. "You have to give me a little more time to develop it. I may be able to have everything ready to go in three weeks." I looked at him earnestly. "Is there any way that we can delay the wedding for at least two more weeks?"

His face seemed doubtful. He looked down and shook his head. "I am not sure that Gettis will be on board with any delay, especially if he finds out that we are entertaining other possibilities for our expansion."

"Just two more weeks," I said. I could feel my heart rate increasing.

"Seokjin, you don't understand my situation right now," he replied slowly. "Gettis represents a new breed of leader, one who senses weakness and goes for the attack. For now he is seemingly content to partner with us, but I can't be sure he won't attack if he thinks we are not being honest with him. KWI is in a vulnerable position right now." I looked into my father's eyes. There was nothing he dreaded more than losing the helm of KWI. Gettis had recently approached a smaller hotel chain under the guise of a partnership. Then through guile and threats, he took over the company.

"If we get on his wrong side, he could destroy everything. KWI would be gone," he said in a lower voice. "I would be ruined. We would be ruined."

"Surely we can push it back two weeks. Tell them...tell them that your health is still delicate. Or tell them that I have pressing issues at university." He was still looking unsure, so I decided I had to use everything at my disposal. "Please...Dad."

His head snapped up, and his dark, watery eyes fixed upon my own. He seemed conflicted.

I had not called him Dad since the day my mother had walked out of our home. He had never again acted like a 'dad.' Instead he became more like my boss or my overseer than my father. That was the day I began calling him 'sir.' I wanted him to remember that he had a son, a person he was obligated to care for and look after, which he had not done in over ten years.

"Seokjin," he began, but his voice came out in a hoarse croak.

"I haven't asked you for much these past ten years," I said quietly. "Please give me some time. A few weeks to put this together. If it doesn't work out, I will marry Fiona as per your wishes. I will make the deal with Coastal. All I'm asking for is a little more time."

He leaned his head back on his chair and stared up at the ceiling.

"Very well. I can get you one week," he said after a long silence. "I will check myself into the hospital and get some tests done. That should be reason enough to postpone."

I shot to my feet, unable to stop the smile that spread on my face. "Thank you, sir...Father. I will not let you down."

He sighed again, louder. "Please tell me this has nothing to do with the girl you are madly in love with."

I took a few breaths. The thought of Bella always stole my breath away. "It has nothing to do with her, and yet it has everything to do with her. I am not ready to give up on her, and I am not ready to give up on Kim Worldwide. Please trust me to solve this issue."

"I have no choice," he said in a tired voice. "You must take the lead in KWI eventually. It might as well be now." He sighed. "Gettis will be livid. I hope you know what you're doing."

I stood up, feeling suddenly breathless. "Thank you."

He nodded and indicated that I could go. I hoped that my plan would work. If it didn't, I might have not only endangered myself, but also KWI. And quite possibly Bella.

He nodded at me in dismissal. "On your way out, ask Mina to come in."

"Yes, sir. Dad," I nodded. I turned to walk out, feeling as if I were both floating on air and carrying a terrible weight on my shoulders. My personal happiness and our company's well being were both in my hands. It was both exhilarating and frightening.