The Secretary's Women 37
The on-duty staffers were deep in heated debate over how to efficiently leverage the skills of the core party members, occasionally raising their voices in passion. Seeing this level of enthusiasm gave him a sense of relief that the election would go off without a hitch.
"Oppa."
"What?"
"What makes a good politician?"
"Someone who serves the people with genuine intent and backs it up with action."
"Everyone claims they want to serve the people."
"That's why you have to pick carefully. You judge by looking at their past, their actions."
"What about Congressman Hwang?"
"No comment."
Honestly, calling Congressman Hwang a good politician was a stretch. Sure, Park Maru was eating off his table, but if he had to grade the man's political acumen, it'd be a flat zero—that was his honest take. How could someone who neglected even his own people be expected to sacrifice for the public?
But Jeong-ah was asking, and since Hwang was his boss, spilling the unvarnished truth wasn't easy. What puzzled him more was why she even cared about Hwang's evaluation.
"Why?"
"I'll tell you when there's a chance later. Not now."
"Then why do you work for him, oppa?"
"I didn't know at first. And once you've chosen your lord, you own the consequences."
"What about the voters getting duped?"
"It doesn't actually harm the public. No reason for him to get greedy. Besides, almost no congressman lacks handicaps like the old man's. They just don't show. We're always by their side, so we see the flaws and strengths up close, but regular folks don't. Same goes for other assemblymen we don't know well—their inner circles know their Achilles' heels."
"So if that blows up, they're done?"
Truth be told, most of the nearly 300 National Assembly members in Korea struck him as utterly useless. A handful pushed real legislation or followed party leadership, while the rest just rubber-stamped and patted themselves on the back for dragging end-of-year budgets to their districts. Plenty couldn't even manage that, which made Korea's future look bleak.
But why was Jeong-ah suddenly curious about congressmen—or rather, what made a proper one—and reacting spot-on to his "Achilles' heel" remark? It piqued his interest.
"Depends on the issue. Why the sudden interest?"
"Nothing. Just doesn't sit right."
"Give him the benefit of the doubt. If he wins, my odds of unemployment drop."
"Can't you run instead, oppa?"
"Who'd nominate me? Even with a nomination, it's no cakewalk."
"If you get nominated, you could win?"
"I'd fight like hell."
Jeong-ah seemed serious about Hwang, but he chalked it up to lingering effects from the last unity event. She acted all bold and sassy, but to him, she was as pure as any young person out there. Otherwise, a girl with her fiery body wouldn't beg him for sex.
The day filled with election prep talk, and when the staffers trickled out to bars in groups—still buzzing—he started clearing his desk.
"Dinner on me?"
"Nah, got plans."
"Things good with your boyfriend lately?"
"Yeah."
"Want a ride to Seomyeon at least?"
"No, meeting him in Haeundae."
"It's barely a detour. I'll drop you."
He gave Jeong-ah a lift toward Seomyeon.
"I'm not a dirty girl, right?"
"What kinda nonsense is that?"
"Just... worried you'd think I'm dirty if I sleep with another guy."
"I'm no prude about free love, and if you're into it, why would I judge? Found a guy your age who clicks?"
"Not that. I'll tell you later."
"Fine. Live easy. You're still single, no ring on it."
Jeong-ah, in the passenger seat, suddenly fretted about being "dirty." He couldn't guess her definition, but did "dirty women" even exist? Prostitutes selling sex for cash got scorned, but they probably didn't love the job—desperate, no other way to feed themselves or family, taking strangers' loads while smiling through tears inside.
Even women chasing men like moths to flame to sate insatiable lust weren't purely blameworthy. Sex was an uncontrollable human instinct.
Take Jeong-ah: unsatisfied with her boyfriend until him, now ignoring other guys and begging him. Just a pitiful woman wandering for a sexual match.
She waved brightly at his reply and headed into the subway. Seemed like time for her to move on from him. A peer who matched her in bed? Good for her—no need to interfere.
At Haeundae's Paradise Hotel, Jeong-ah glanced back, confirmed no watchers, and took the elevator up.
"Early today?"
"Yes."
"Order dinner?"
"No, ate with the office crew."
"Come here, have a drink then."
"Okay."
"Ever thought of working at the Assembly Members' Office Building?"
"What about Maru oppa?"
"He's sticking to the district for now."
"If the congressman goes for a third term, you run next?"
"Who knows. Even if I don't, plenty eyeing that seat."
"It's up to the congressman anyway."
"You close with him?"
"He helps me a lot."
"I'll help from now on. Anything you need, just say."
"Yes."
Hwang dove into sloppy sex with Jeong-ah, just like yesterday. A man who prided himself on knowing women couldn't resist her body after one taste—it was inevitable. Afterward, like last night, she headed home.
Once Hwang hit the shower, Jeong-ah grabbed his phone from the mirror stand, slipped it into her handbag, and left.
Early morning, he got a call from Heo Sang-do at the city police intel office. Something was up, so without asking details, he said he'd head over and drove to the station.
"Secretary Park, doing well?"
"Aigoo, what brings Your Excellency?"
"Mind a quick meet?"
"I'll come to the station."
Parked, he called.
"Coffee shop?"
"Talk in the car first."
"Hop in. Shall we roll?"
"Yeah. Let's cruise for some fresh air."
"Aigoo, busy man like you—what's up? Where to?"
"Anywhere. Quiet's better."
He drove toward Sajik Baseball Stadium. Oddly, Heo stayed silent through Park's jokes until arrival. Serious business?
"Park hyung. Congressman's okay?"
"Old man's fine, I bet. How'd a kicked-down guy like me know?"
"Didn't he come to Busan?"
"News to me."
"Why not run this time, hyung?"
"With the old man around? No way."
"He runs, it's 100% loss."
"Huh? What're you saying?"
"He's in Busan now. Hard to believe you don't know, but fact is fact."
"Really? Why?"
Heo handed over his phone. Video: Jeong-ah's back heading to elevator in hotel lobby, stopping at 12th floor.
"Officer Heo, what's this?"
"Paradise Beach Hotel. Congressman's in 1203 for four days straight. This girl's up there every evening, down three hours later."
"No way, Officer. She's one of mine. Probably work-related."
"Without you knowing? Come on."
He cracked the window, lit a cigarette. Heo did the same.