章 2: The Proposal
Where….? Where am I…?
The room was dark. Slow, rhythmic beeps came from a machine beside her bed. Wires were stuck onto her chest with round stickers and an IV was in her forearm.
The hospital….
She tried to remember what got her admitted. Her brain stalled and sputtered like a car with a weak battery.
Focus. Think. Why am I here….?
The memory of the party, the food, the music, the people dancing, her mother, an older gentleman, the smell of bourbon…..
The smell of bourbon…..
The smell of alcohol….
The smell of chlorine…..
She could smell it faintly now. She took a strand of her hair, the end was curled and frizzy, and took a timid sniff. The scent of chlorine lingered on it.
Her temples ached as she struggled to recall what happened. In her mind, she could see the dimly lit pool. The memory was associated with the sweet and stinging taste of alcohol. An aftertaste of metal.
Her ribs hurt. They felt bruised. The pain was reminding her of someone grabbing her. Holding her in place. She tentatively touched her waist, wincing as her finger glided over the tender areas.
Grabbing.
Holding.
The Pool.
The Party.
Drinking.
He gave me a drink.
He drugged me through the drink.
He held me down.
I was passing out.
I think I fell in the pool.
After he tried to….
The door to her room opened, letting in a flood of bright white light. Like a seal being broken, her room was filled with the sounds of the outside world. Phones ringing, people talking, laughing….
"Oh, you're awake? Good." The silhouette of a man said, flipping on an overhead light so she could see him properly.
He was a tall handsome doctor, on the younger side. His black-rimmed glasses were sliding down his long narrow nose as he buried his face inside a folder of paperwork. The door shut behind him as he approached. His eyes were full of pity as he observed her.
"Ms. Baek, how are you feeling?"
"I don't know…" She responded. Feeling numb. "How is someone supposed to feel after almost dying?"
He didn't answer her question. She could sense he felt uncomfortable talking about the subject. He busied himself with checking her vitals before reluctantly continuing the conversation.
"Do you remember everything that occurred that night?"
"Jeong…"
She surprised herself with remembering his name so suddenly but was glad she was able to say it so confidently. The doctor seemed to wince as she spoke the name.
"He took me to the heated pool in the Annex. He made me drink from his flask. It was drugged ...."
Her mouth felt dry and tacky. She physically couldn't force herself to tell the rest of the story. She didn't want to remember the way he grappled her, forcing her arms above her head. The way his lips felt like hot irons against her nipple as he sucked on it.
The doctor nodded, his eagerness to leave made obvious by his awkward and swift exit. "Rest Ms. Baek." That was all he said to her before dashing from the room.
It wasn't long after that there was a hard rasping on her door causing her to jump in surprise. The man who knocked didn't wait for her reply. He entered abruptly and with a purpose. He was older, the roots of his black hair turning silver. But for his age he was rather handsome and trim, wearing an expensive black suit. He carried a suitcase with him.
"Ms. Baek?" He demanded, rather than asked.
"Y-yes, that's me. Who…are…? Oh, are you a detective?" She thought she had pieced it together. Of course, the police would be involved. She was drugged, assaulted, and almost drowned.
His face didn't convey any emotion of empathy.
"No."
"Oh…then how can I help you?"
"I'm with Seok Corp. I'm here to address the incident that happened on New Year's Eve at the Annex. The incident with Jeong Gae."
"You're a lawyer then?"
He didn't respond to that question.
"I'm here to rectify the situation. I know who you are. I know who your mother is, the names of your relatives. Where you live. That you applied for a job position at Seok Corp. a month ago."
"What does any of that have to do with what happened?" She started to prickle, agitated at where this conversation was going.
He took that opportunity to grab some papers from his suitcase. He handed her the application she sent in a month ago. The word "HIRED" was stamped in large red print across it.
"I'm here to make a deal. I can offer you a job as an assistant to one of our best managers. It's a lucrative position that would keep you and your family financially secure for life."
"And in return…..?" She already knew the answer to her own question.
"In return, you agree to remain silent about what happened."
"He gets away with it without any consequences?"
"There will be consequences for Jeong Gae. He will receive punishment but we want to keep law enforcement and the media out of it."
With paid leave? She scoffed internally. Her thoughts were bitter as she processed what he was asking of her.
He handed her a white business card, pulling her out of her racing thoughts.
"Here. This is my card with my personal number. I'll let you think about it. Those papers I handed you have all the salary and benefit information about the position I'm offering. Take some time to look over them. I look forward to doing business with you Ms. Baek."
With that, he took his leave. Leaving her to stew. She examined the business card, the lettering holographic as she moved it left and right under the light.
"Yun-Seo Seok…" She read out loud. "CEO of Seok Corp."
~~~~~~
She woke to the sound of someone humming off-key. Drowsy, she turned her head to the side to see her mother sitting in the guest chair. She was rifling through the paperwork that was left by the CEO.
Her mother glanced up to see Myeong awake. "Good morning!" She called. "I was just going through your contract. Congratulations on the new job, darling."
Myeong was taken back by her mothers chipperness.
"I haven't accepted it yet."
"Haven't accepted? Are you mad?" Her mother stormed over, heels clicking feverishly on the linoleum. "Did you see the pay? You wouldn't need to worry about attending University with pay like that. You're set for life. Your grandparents are set for life."
"You're set for life?" Myeong shot back but her mother ignored the insult.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There's no fighting in court for a settlement. Just a steady, reliable career at a prestigious company."
Myeong didn't have the energy to keep up with this conversation. Her mind was still reeling from everything that happened to her. And the fact her mother didn't even ask if she was okay, or try to figure out what happened that night….
It left a bad taste in her mouth. Bile to be exact as her stomach turned. The taste of sweet liquor was suddenly strong in her mouth. She could smell the chlorine. She noticed the pain in her ribs. Myeong gagged, feeling sick. Her mother didn't even notice. She continued to rave about how amazing of a company Seok Corp was to work for.
"....and all the people are so nice. In fact, did you know they're paying for all of this? Your hospital stay. They own this hospital. That's why you've been getting such amazing treatment. Are you even listening?"
Myeong didn't answer. Her mother didn't get the hint.
"Dr. Gae has been taking such good care of you. He's such a sweet man. Very handsome too. His father is very nice as well. You met his father at the party…."
"What did you say his last name was?" Myeong sat up, alert.
"Gae." Her mother repeated, completely oblivious. "He's one of the CEO's wife's nephews."
"He's related to the guy that raped me?"
Her mother was quick to shut her down, her sing-song voice as false as her eyelashes.
"You weren't raped, darling."
"Sorry. Let me correct myself. Assaulted. Almost raped."
"And they're trying to make it right."
"By buying my silence."
"By giving you an amazing opportunity to be able to move on with your life. Most girls never get an option like this. And worse things happen to them."
Myeong didn't know how to reply to that. Her mother's words were like a scolding slap. As if she was a child being reminded of how good she has it. That there were starving children in other countries who had it so much worse.
"Do you really think a girl like you stands a chance in court? Against two of the most powerful and influential families in Korea? We can't even afford a lawyer, Myeong."
"I know that, but I can still be angry about it. I can be against working for a company that's only hiring me because I'm a liability. Because they feel pity for me. Because I'm a problem they have to begrudgingly fix." With every word, she was becoming more heated.
Her mother didn't back down.
"I know you're upset and that may make you a little irrational. I understand that, but I'm asking you to put all your emotions aside and think like a logical little robot for me."
"Logical little robot?"
"Yes. And what would a robot do in a situation like this? If this opportunity was offered to them and they didn't have any emotional attachment and could only make logical and informed decisions?"
"You really think you're helping right now, don't you?" Myeong rubbed her temples in agitation. "I understand your metaphor and I get it. I just need some time. That's all I'm asking."
Her mother finally dropped it. Lips pursed tight in annoyance as she observed her daughter. "Fine. I'll leave. You're being discharged tomorrow morning. Mr. Seok is sending you a car to get home."
She left and Myeong was alone with her thoughts again. She anxiously chewed on the side of her thumb as she weighed her options. As much as her mother's cold indifference hurt, she had a valid point. She made a couple of valid yet painful points about her situation. Hate festered in Myeongs heart towards her mother. Towards the Seok company. Toward the Gae family. Towards the hospital. She felt so alone, so tired.
She picked up the CEO's business card again. Letting the holographic letters shine as she tilted it left and right under the fluorescent light.
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