Power & Sex, and... 40
After wrapping up his conversation with Jeong-ah, Park Maru stepped out with her and called the aides into the conference room.
"I should've gotten everything sorted when I arrived yesterday, but something came up suddenly and I got delayed. Anyway, the current secretary handling online ops for the Busan district is getting terminated effective tomorrow."
"Pardon? Why so sudden?"
The aides, hearing that a colleague they'd been working with just moments ago was being let go, exchanged confused glances between Maru and Jeong-ah, wondering what was going on.
"Oh, no, that doesn't mean Hyunji's not one of us anymore. We're gearing up to ramp up activity on the fan cafe she's running, but if she's officially on our office payroll, some folks might question the authenticity. This is just a preemptive move to head that off."
"So what about Hyunji's salary?"
"She's going to handle PR at the entertainment company being set up under Daesan Group's affiliates, and they've agreed to support us from there."
In truth, he couldn't lay all the cards on the table with the aides. Kim Sil-jang would piece it together from that much and devise his own plans, but there was no need for everyone to know the nitty-gritty about Jeong-ah.
That wrapped up the Jeong-ah issue. With Kim Sil-jang now taking over media duties, they needed to reallocate tasks anyway, so they decided to post a job listing for a grade 7 secretary to fill her slot.
The materials for the Defense Committee—his permanent standing committee—had been steadily compiled and organized under Kim Sil-jang's direction even while Maru was away from Seoul. He got a report that they'd soon be neatly bound into a single volume.
He told the aides to order some late-night snacks, paid for them when they arrived, and then used the excuse of treating Jeong-ah to dinner to slip out of the office with her.
"Where do you wanna go?"
"Let's go with unnie."
He called Eun-mi first, then set course for Guro, where Daesan Group's headquarters was. As he passed Yeongdeungpo Rotary, his phone buzzed in his inner pocket—it was Suji.
"Hey, where you at? Still in Busan?"
"Nah, I'm in Yeongdeungpo heading to Guro."
"Meeting unnie?"
"Yeah."
"Mind if I tag along? I'm around there too."
"Where exactly?"
"Shindorim Hyundai Department Store."
"Got it. I'll call when I'm nearby—come down."
It worked out perfectly since they all knew each other. With Jeong-ah now living in Seoul, she'd be seeing Suji daily anyway, so this was a good chance to let them bond naturally.
He pulled up near Hyundai Department Store by Shindorim Station, called Suji, and had her come to the entrance. Moments later, she appeared in a cap, hazard lights flashing, and approached his car. She started for the passenger door but spotted Jeong-ah there and hopped in the back instead, greeting her.
"Hey, unnie. Long time no see."
"Yeah, you too—hope you've been well."
Thinking about it, Jeong-ah was actually a year older. Suji must've heard her age from Eun-mi. The two girls chattered nonstop from Shindorim to the Daesan Group entrance in Guro, driving Maru half-mad. Back in Busan, Jeong-ah had been buried in SNS work, so they'd barely talked—practically strangers—yet here they were, conversation flowing endlessly. It felt downright alien to him.
"Oppa, unnie says she's coming down soon."
The temporary office Eun-mi was using while setting up the agency was still lit up brightly. The girls in the car were deep in gossip, so Maru stepped out, lit a cigarette, and waited.
"Hey, babe—you here?"
"Not too busy, are you?"
"Nah, nothing special on my plate. But what about Jeong-ah?"
"In the car. Picked up Suji on the way too."
"Suji said she was shopping with friends today?"
"Yeah, she called around Yeongdeungpo Rotary, so I grabbed her from Shindorim."
"What about your dinner?"
"Haven't eaten yet. Was gonna treat Jeong-ah, but she wants to join you."
"Perfect. Let's head somewhere farther out."
They settled on Misari—good for a casual dinner and drinks, plenty of spots to keep Suji low-key, and full of couples who minded their own business. No worries about driving since Maru wasn't drinking.
They switched to Eun-mi's car. He got Jeong-ah and Suji out and into it—Eun-mi took shotgun, the girls rode together in back.
"Jeong-ah, you okay with this?"
"Why wouldn't I be? You're still doing the same work, oppa."
"Bear with it even if it stings a bit. Maru needs your role more than anyone's for the big picture."
"Not stung at all. Anyway, help him out a ton, unnie."
"Starting work tomorrow then?"
"Yeah. Nothing special for me to do in Seoul otherwise."
As the car pulled out, Eun-mi fretted that Jeong-ah might feel slighted about leaving the secretary role, but Jeong-ah brushed it off with her bright, straightforward Gyeongsang-do girl energy.
"President, have unnie work at our office too?"
"Yeah, in PR. She'll keep doing what she's been doing, but on our company's payroll. But we're calling each other unnie when it's just us, remember?"
"Right, sorry. Just worried about slipping up in front of others."
"Don't sweat it. I'll tell the others to call you unnie at the company too—once I'm sure they're family."
Eun-mi seemed set on a softer company vibe. Maru knew zilch about talent agencies, so he couldn't weigh in, but he worried getting too chummy might blur hierarchies and snag operations. Still, it was probably hashed out with key staff, so he respected her call.
At Misari, he ordered steak; the women got drinks and apps for dinner. The steak sides were light compared to a full meal, but it'd tide the girls over.
"Unnie, think I could open a cafe like this when I get older and just sing?"
"Would your songs fit this vibe?"
"Dance tracks now? Nah. But I wanna do ballads."
"Ballads?"
"Yeah. Sang 'em before debuting."
"So why dance?"
"Hwang Bo-jun said that's the trend—pushed me into it."
Eun-mi pondered Suji's words, then excused herself from the lively table. She returned later and turned to Suji.
"Wanna try ballads?"
"Yeah. They calm me down, build my confidence."
"What if popularity dips?"
"Sure, dance is hot, but ballad fans exist. Maybe not rabid ones, but folks who'd find solace in my songs. Besides, Hwang Bo-jun was ready to scrap me once my value ran out."
"Got it. Let's think it over."
Eun-mi's response was positive. She'd probably stepped out to call someone, grilling them on ballad singers' prospects—or ballad market viability. Anyway, the relaxed Misari dinner-drinks rolled on, helping Jeong-ah and Suji warm up with smiles.
The next morning at the office, he called Congressman Seo Jeong-ho.
"Congressman, you up in Seoul?"
"Yes. Had some Busan business, got back last night. Your future nephew-in-law there?"
"Yeah. Free now? Shall I come by?"
"Sure. Or just send the kid if you're tied up."
After hanging up, he called Jeong-ah and asked her to come to the office. Seo Jeong-ho's nephew—the guy who'd handled online for his election—needed to meet her, and Maru's office was the spot.
"Come on in."
"Your office always buzzes with energy, Congressman."
"Thanks to these hardworking folks. And this is your nephew?"
"Hello. Seo Ji-hoon."
"Nice to meet you. Park Maru."
Maru shook his hand and led them to his room. Once seated, he asked the female staffer bringing tea to send Jeong-ah straight in when she arrived, then dove in with Seo.
"Party mood anything special?"
"Supreme committee joint resignation probably today or tomorrow, but the leader's hesitating."
"Guy's got endless greed. Probably scared of fading from the presidential picture if he steps back."
"Think he can even make a presidential run?"
"Who knows? No clear frontrunners in the party, so why not dream big?"
"Moon's pushing hard too, looks like."
"Yeah. If the leader takes a hit and bows out, he's prime contender."
"But if your leader or Moon bolts, can we grab the presidency?"
"No way. Never!"
Seo's eyes widened at Maru's firm conviction—he needed more details.