Business Proposal

  The Unlikely Offer

Her pretty eyes fixed on the excel sheet on the computer screen before her, Ha-ri sat at her desk looking bored. She couldn’t bear to focus on the numbers and her thoughts would just wander; thinking about what she had lost. Although she used to be very happy to work at GO Food Corporation for she was among the marketing team when she joined the corporation three years ago, she has of recent joined the routine workplace monotony. 

 

 She let out a weary sound and looked out of the windscreen to the skyline of the city. They are small, pink and very fragile – the first buds of the cherry trees were blossoming, and this was a sure sign of springtime – a time for starting all over. At that Ha-ri experienced a twinge of jealousy toward the comfortable couples and their pleasant walks through the flowers of pink. From the time she left for college at age eighteen, she had been entirely career minded and had not given any attention to her personal life, and at twenty-eight, she began to realize that maybe she made wrong decisions. 

 

 Her phone sitting on the desk vibrated interrupting her day dream. It was a text message from a person he had grown close to the most, Young-seo. 

 

 Lunch today? Listen to this, I have something to inform you of! 

 

 Ha-ri forced a smile on her face because she was glad that the two had cut her electricity to be distracted. Ever since she met Young-seo, she was able to notice how the girl had the ability to make her day better and thus she was interested in knowing what could be so important for Young-seo to inform her. 

 

 Sure! Usual place at 12? 

 

Young-seo’s reply was almost instant, as if she expected the nickname. Perfect! See you then! 

 

When lunch time came, Ha-ri pulled on her coat and walked over to their corner café, a small, intimate place nestled in the middle of the big city. They really liked pastries and the atmosphere in the café, so it became their tradition to have many conversations about life at that place. 

 

 When Ha-ri got there, Young-seo was already there, her smiling face made her look more welcoming. She greeted him happily with the waving of her hands and Ha-ri could not help but laugh at the overly joyous behavior of her friend. 

 

 “Well, you know what they say, Ha-ri, when the going gets tough, the conservative gets going,” replied Chu Mi-Gyeong. “What’s this big news?” 

 Ha-ri raised an eyebrow. They asked, “A business proposal? From who?” 

 

 Young-seo smiled, placing a black folder, which was on the surface very business-like, on the table and pushing it over to him. “From Kang Tae-moo. ” 

 

 Seeing this, Ha-ri could not help spitting out punch lines that sounded like they were amazed at something, such as “E-e!” “Kang Tae-moo? The CEO of Kang and Company, right?” 

 

 Nodding, Young-seo looked rather solemn now. “He wants to acquire our family business into his company house It’s big, Ha-ri, It means a lot if this happens. ” 

 

 Ha-ri only looked at the folder with heavy thoughts going on in her mind. Kang & Company was one of the largest and most recognized conglomerates in South Korea operating in the segment of luxury hotels, construction, and other premium goods and services. Kang Tae-moo was a name that was well-known in the business circles today—Young, rich, and extremely elusive. 

 

 “But why?” Ha-ri questioned and she still could not believe what had been said. “What has his interest got to do with your family’s enterprise?” 

 

 Forced to look into Hee Young-seo’s smiling eyes, Hwang Tae-kwon was finally able to break free from reality Sighing, her steam gave out a bit due to concern. “So the problem is that it is not only the business proposition He also wants… a mistress. ” 

 

 Ha-ri blinked, taken aback. “What do you mean?” 

 

 Young-seo hesitated before answering. “He wanted a contract marriage, he requires a wife to facilitate a giant deal with an overseas company and to him, I met the requirement. ” 

 

 Ha-ri was speechless. A contract marriage? It was like something was pulled from the movies, not reality. But the expression she saw on Young-seo’s face, informed her that this was very much real. 

 

 ‘You really intend to do it?’ was the anxious question of Ha-ri. 

 

 Young-seo frowned, her eyebrows furrowed at the same spot as the girl’s lips, where a blood red color lay. “I am not sure, there are so many angles to consider, Here you have the guarantee on the continuation of the family business, new opportunities opening up, it’s everything I have been dreaming of, it’s a prosperous life. On the other hand, it is not just about prosperity; it is, after all, a marriage, no matter how fake it may be. 

 Young-seo smiled at him brightly, tentatively placing her hands on the table and resting her chin on her folded hands. This message entails: “I got a business proposal. ”

Ha-ri put out her hand across the table to cover Young-seo’s hand. “You don’t have to go through all of this if you are not willing. There is more than one way of expanding a business. Your social life is very important to you and you should not have to let go of it entirely for business. ” 

 

 Hearing this, Young-seo smiled brightly, and holding Ha-ri’s hand, she faintly said, Now that’s enough, I’m going back. “I know, but it is not that easy, our firm is in bad shape and this might just be the break we have always been looking for. ” 

 

 This time Ha-ri did not get the chance to reply before the door of the café opened and a fine looking man stepped in. Perhaps it was her slight hold of breath to say Ha-ri that impedes her ability to notice that the man is indeed Kang Tae-moo. He was more than what one could see in him, He dominated the presence of all the people in the room. 

 

 He looked around and saw Young-seo and Ha-ri. With a hint of a grin on his face and eyes giving nothing away he walked calmly up to their table. 

 

 “Miss Jin,” he said turning to Young-seo and nodding her way in a courteous manner. Next, he looked at Ha-ri, a somewhat cold expression on his face, a clear indication that he was looking at her with the eyes of an appraiser. “And you must be…?” 

 

“Shin Ha-ri,” Young-seo swiftly introduced. She liked the sound of the name almost as much as she liked everything about it. “My best friend. ” 

 

 Tae-moo only smiled a little and remained rather quiet. “Thank you helping me; it’s nice to meet you, Miss Shin. ” 

 

 Ha-ri made sure to smile back at Aki, though she was breathing heavily inside. Whatever it was that Kang Tae-moo had about him carried dread and curiosity. She began to wonder why a man could offer her such an odd situation to become his wife. 

 

 “I apologies if I am bothering you, sir.” Tae-moo added quickly, business-like in his mannerisms. “But I wish to elaborate on the proposal if you are free to spare some of your time. ” 

 

 Young-seo smiled and nodded, bending down to her patient to make her feel comfortable and at ease. “Of course. Let’s talk. ” 

 

 When the three of them settled to talk business details, Ha-ri felt that this was not going to be just another form of business deal proposals that he had anticipated. And listening to Tae-moo’s calm and reasoned speaking, Min-Young felt a desire to know what kind of future was planned for Young-seo, for herself, and for the man, sitting opposite them.