by Asher Quinn
“I know. I know.” This has gone from meeting the man I love to a criminal nightmare. He would make the GM pay for every minute he and Woo-bin had to suffer due to his selfishness.
He got the name of the warehouse from one of the docs and had Missy run down the address. On Friday he took a ferry to the mainland and then a cab to Seoul so as to not leave anything easy to trace regarding his activity. It took close to five hellish hours to get there and eventually to the Somae warehouse in Yangjae-daero, located in the Songpa-gu district of the city. As he entered, upon first inspection it appeared to be a normal warehouse distribution center. There was a huge amount of merchandise, from what he could see. Maybe not all of it comes from one source.
“Ottokae dowadeuril ggayo?”
Jack looked at the man, who was clearly older than him. “English?”
“Yes. Some. How can I help?”
“Well, I’m shopping around for office furniture.”
“Ah. Well, what company for?”
“We haven’t started the business yet. I’m attempting to find a supplier for when we do.”
“Okay. Wait here.”
He waited for about ten minutes, and the man returned with a younger man in a suit.
“So, you’re wanting some furnishings for the office you haven’t opened yet.”
“Yes.”
“And the name of your business?”
“Still being determined. Business partner and I can’t agree.”
“In Seoul? Location?”
“An awful lot of questions for a potential buyer, isn’t it?”
“We are an exclusive wholesaler, so we are… cautious about who we do business with.”
“I see. Well, what if I were to tell you that I have proof that you’re being illegally supplied merchandise.”
“I wouldn’t know anything about that.”
Jack pulled three million won out of his pocket and thumbed each one. “How about now?”
“Come with me.”
He was reluctant at first but fell in behind the man in the suit.
He led him to an office at the back of the building. There was no one else there, which made Jack nervous.
“Sit.” The younger man exited, and Jack waited.
A woman, a very beautiful woman, entered several minutes later with two rather dangerous-looking men.
Jack stood. “I don’t want any trouble, nor am I with the authorities. I’m just trying to find some answers to a few questions, and I’m willing to pay for them.”
She nodded, and the two men grabbed him and searched his pockets.
“You could have just asked.”
One of the men pulled his business card from his folio wallet and handed it to her. She glanced at it, then at him.
“I’m sorry. I don’t think we’ll be able to supply you with what you need. Show him out.” She tossed his wallet on the floor next to him along with his business card.
Stooping, he picked them up as both men grabbed him under the arms and dragged him through the warehouse to the front, depositing him on the street outside. He kept his balance but staggered a few feet. Not sure where to get a cab, he looked around. Well, this wasn’t as productive as I’d hoped. As he was about to begin walking, he heard something that sounded like a loud whisper. He turned and saw the older gentleman from earlier sticking his head out of an alley several buildings farther up the access street. He moved toward him, checking the street in both directions before entering the alley.
Jack nodded at the man, who was holding paperwork with both hands. He was obviously frightened.
“This, for money.” He held out the documents.
Jack inspected them, and there, several rows down in a list of deliveries, was one from Host Properties, the name of the shell company supposedly created by Woo-bin. In the column showing payment was the last four digits of a bank account. He immediately took one million won out of his pocket and added another million to it. The man accepted it and then, nodding, ran down the alleyway toward the back of the building. If I can connect this account with the GM…. He headed back toward the main road to hail a cab. He would fly back to Jeju, but he would get this account number to Missy as soon as he could so she could research it. He had a feeling that the woman who so warmly greeted him would be contacting the GM very soon.
By the time he got home, Missy had the information he needed. The account was the GM’s. Now he had to decide what to do with the information. Before he slept, he called Leila. She was more than happy to have the information. He explained in detail what had happened with Woo-bin, how he had discovered that the GM had been embezzling, and how the GM had Woo-bin sign all the documents. What he wanted to avoid at all costs—had to avoid—was involving Woo-bin.
“I can’t let him be arrested.”
“And you’re sure he’s innocent.”
“I will bet my job and reputation on it.”
“You realize that once we involve the police, they’ll need a confession or Woo-bin will end up in custody.”
“Wait.” Jack had a brainstorm. “His ex-admin. He had to fire her because he was cheating on his wife with her. I bet we can get her to testify. Leila, don’t do anything until I have a chance to talk to her. I’m hoping she’ll want to get back at him.”
“All right, Jacky. But we’re playing with fire right now. You know that, yes?”
“I do, but he is innocent. I know it.”
“Call me when you’re ready to move forward.”
“I will. Thanks, Leila.”
“Don’t thank me until this is all over. Jack? Will you come back home when this project is complete?”
“I’m not sure. I want to be with him. It depends on Woo-bin. If he will have me, I want to stay with him, and of course I’ll need to talk all of this over with Luke.”
“I understand. Well, just in case, we’ll see about making your appointment to the Seoul office permanent. With an office on Jeju?”
“If you can make that happen, I will be forever in your debt, Leila.”
“Anything for you, Jacky. Talk soon.” With that, she hung up.
He phoned Missy. “Miss, I need the contact info for the admin the GM had before this current toy.”
“Cho Soo-na.”
“Yes. As soon as you can.”
“Plan?”
“Hopefully the solution to keeping Woo-bin out of jail along with trapping that rat.”
“I’m on it.”
Jack hung up. His heart was racing. Timing is everything.
SHE LIVED on island. She had worked in Seoul, but apparently after she was let go, she returned to Jeju. So he wouldn’t have to travel to Seoul again. For this he was grateful. It was very early Monday morning, and he hoped that he’d catch her while she was still home. An address was just the starting point. He called a cab. Choon-hee met him at the door as he was leaving.
“Seonsaengnim.”
“Choon-hee.” He heard the cab driver beeping the horn in the drive.
“Is he all right?”
“Woo-bin?”
She nodded.
“Yes. But there might be trouble.”
“That GM man?”
“Yes.”
“He is devil. I go to car when Song Woo-bin leave and look into his eyes. He not a good man.”
The horn again. “I’ve got to go, Choon-hee.”
“Seonsaengnim, I trust you.” She bowed.
He nodded and left.
The address was a small house on a side street in Suwon-Ri. He told the cab to wait and tipped him for it. The property was surrounded by a solid green metal fence with a single solid metal gate. There was an intercom. He pressed the button and it buzzed. No response. He pressed it again, giving them a few minutes. It was only 7:30 a.m., after all. Finally he heard an older woman’s voice.
“Annyeonghaseyeo (good morning).”
“Annyeonghaseyeo. Cho Soo-na?”
There was another voice. Someone younger-sounding th
en an argument.
“Seonsaengnim?”
Jack looked at the intercom and noticed a cam lens. “Yes. Cho Soo-na?”
“Ne.”
“Can we talk? I won’t take up too much time, and I apologize for coming so early.”
“Yes. Wait a moment.”
The intercom clicked off, and he heard a door opening beyond the gate. Then the gate opened. It was an old woman dressed in a housecoat and flip-flops. Most likely her outdoor shoes. Koreans did not wear their shoes in the house. They left them at the door and put slippers or scuffs on. He himself had gotten into this habit. Everyone had extra slippers or scuffs for guests. The woman nodded and motioned toward the house. He followed her. Once inside, he was seated at a low table requiring him to sit cross-legged on the floor. Also a Korean tradition. The older woman sat opposite him, smiling. Soon Cho Soo-na joined them. She was dressed in light blue straight-legged pants and a white blouse.
“Cho Soo-na.”
“Seonsaengnim.” She bowed. Then spoke to the older woman in Korean, who snapped at her, and she responded in kind. They argued for a minute or two before the older woman left the room.
Jack could hear the sound of dishes and water running from another room.
“My grandmother. She will bring some breakfast and tea.”
“Ah. Thank you. I am hungry.” This made her smile. “Cho Soo-na, I’m here because I need information, and I’m also prepared to hire you back as an assistant to Ms. Argent if you’d like. Are you working?”
“No, Seonsaengnim, since GM Lee Yong-geun fired me, I’m unable to find work. That is why I returned to Jeju Island.” She appeared to drift off in thought as she picked a spot on the table with a fingernail. The door slid open, and her grandmother brought in several dishes accompanied by rice. She left and then returned with a pot of tea. There were already cups on the table, and she passed them around, then filled them. She also placed plates in front of him and Cho Soo-na, taking one for herself. She sat next to her granddaughter and nodded to Jack.
“It is barley tea. It is served cold at breakfast.” Cho Soo-na sipped at hers.
“Ah. Jalmoeggesseubnida (thank you for this meal—formal).”
The grandmother nodded. All smiles. Then she whispered to the granddaughter.
“She’s asking if you are my boyfriend.” Cho Soo-na laughed, hand over her mouth.
“Cho Soo-na,” he said around a mouthful of food. It always made him uncomfortable to talk with his mouth full, but it was acceptable and not frowned upon to converse while you ate. It took some getting used to. “When you worked for GM Lee, do you remember anything about his ordering equipment and storing it at a warehouse in Seoul?”
She stopped eating and looked at him. Is that fear, that look?
“This is important.” Jack took a drink of tea to wash down the mouthful of rice he’d just swallowed. “Song Woo-bin is going to be wrongfully accused of signing for and ordering all that equipment.”
She continued to stare at him, not eating. The grandmother looked worried.
“He will go to jail.”
“Seonsaengnim, I don’t think I should talk about this.”
She seemed frightened.
“If I can get proof that the GM did this, he will go to jail. He will no longer be working for Chapel. You won’t have to worry anymore.”
“I can’t say anything. He made me promise. He told me that he would make sure that I never worked anywhere. And I have my grandmother to take care of.”
“Cho Soo-na, your English is very good. You will be an asset to Ms. Argent, and I will double your salary. You will be able to take care of yourself and your grandmother for a long time to come. Please think about it. Woo-bin’s life could be ruined.” With that, he stood, and bowed to the grandmother, put his shoes on, and left. Before he got to the gate, she was calling to him.
“Seonsaengnim!”
He stopped and turned as she met him.
“He had me create the documents, but Song Woo-bin never signed them. GM Lee signed Song Woo-bin’s name. He doesn’t know anything about them.”
“Will you help me? Will you tell the police this?”
“Ne, Seonsaengnim.”
“Thank you, Cho Soo-na. Come to work tomorrow. Report to Ms. Argent.”
“Gamsahabnida, Seonsaengnim.”
“You’re welcome, Cho Soo-na.”
She bowed, and he went through the gate to the waiting taxi.
He called Missy as soon as he was in the cab and told her what had happened.
THE NEXT day, in the morning, Jack ran into GM Lee in the breakroom at the office.
“I see you brought Cho Soo-na back.”
“Yes. Ms. Argent needs an assistant since Song Woo-bin is no longer available to assist her, and Cho Soo-na has worked for Chapel, so, no-brainer.”
“Yes. It was definitely something that didn’t involve an intelligent thought process. Now you’ve brought back two people that have been let go.”
“Well, one has become an invaluable asset to you, and the other, well, was an asset to you of a different kind, yes?”
As always, the GM glared at Jack. Then he left the breakroom. That went up his ass. Jack smiled.
That afternoon, detectives from the Jeju police force showed up to take GM Lee into custody. Thanks to the assistance of the Seoul police department, who raided the warehouse in Yangjae-daero and recovered a third of the illegally appropriated equipment, the paperwork he and Missy were able to locate, the invoices Jack “bought” from the man who worked at the warehouse, and finally Cho Soo-na’s statement, the police were able to get a warrant for the GM’s arrest and seizure of materials, his work, his desktop, laptop and his tablet. They questioned Cho Soo-na regarding Woo-bin’s involvement due to the signatures on the documents and absolved him of any responsibility, although the senior detective told Missy that Woo-bin would still have to come in and give a statement. She promised them that he would. Jack was leaning against the doorjamb of his office door, arms crossed, when the police took the GM out in cuffs. He nodded to him. The GM stopped and spoke to the officer who was escorting him, and the man nodded.
Yong-geun walked over to Jack, standing before him. “When I’m done today, the whole company will know about you.”
“Will they? And what, exactly, will they know?”
“That you’re gay.”
Jack didn’t speak at first, then, “Corporate already does. I told Leila.”
“Still, this is Korea, Jack. My uncle could pull your company visa, and you’ll never see him again.”
“Don’t be too sure of that, Lee. The company is based in the US, and we have a no-tolerance policy when it comes to discrimination.” Then in a low voice, “You’re done here.”
The GM appeared defiant, as usual. The officer came over and led him toward the exit. He never looked back.
In his office, Jack called Woo-bin. He answered on the second ring.
“Woo-bin.”
“Jack. I heard. Everyone here is talking about it. I think the ED just left for Jeju.”
“Let him come. The evidence is overwhelming. I don’t think he’ll be acquitted, and even if he is, he won’t be working here anymore.”
“I suppose not. Well, I have a lot of work to finish. We can speak, maybe this weekend.”
“Woo-bin. Come home. There is no need for you to stay in Seoul. I am putting in for your transfer today. You will work here as the lead project manager. Same salary. That way you can still take care of your family. I know the GM was keeping you close because he forged your name on all those documents. What I’m not sure of is why you let him manipulate you like he did.”
“He did not manipulate me. I chose to take the promotions, to come to Seoul.”
“So, are you saying you won’t come home?”
Woo-bin was silent.
“I love you, Woo-bin. I don’t know how not to. And I want you to come back to Jeju.”
“I should go, Seons
aengnim.”
“Woo-bin! I know you feel the same. I know you do.”
Woo-bin hung up.
Jack whipped his phone at the wall. Several employees passing his office looked at him, startled.
Missy showed up at his door. “Jack?”
“He won’t come home. I don’t understand.”
She entered his office tentatively and sat demurely on the edge of the seat by his desk. “It’s not like the US here. You know that. Maybe he just can’t accept it. Being gay. Especially here on Jeju Island. The culture here is very close to the old-world way of doing things.”
“I understand that, but how can he just deny his feelings for me?”
“People deny a lot of things. You just came out yourself, sort of.”
“I guess. I know.” He slumped down into his chair. “I’ll try talking to him again this weekend.”
“Maybe you should take the rest of the day off.”
“No. I need to work. If I go home, it’ll only be worse. I don’t want to go home if he’s not going to be there.”
“Well, you can’t live at the office.”
“Do me a favor. Put me in one of the small suites. I don’t need maid service. I can change my own bed.”
“Jack.”
He just looked at her.
“Right. I’ll get you a key.”
“Thanks.”
She left, and he sat there with an aching heart for the better part of an hour before he dragged himself to the conference room for a web meeting with corporate. And that reminded him that he needed to call Leila, which he did before the meeting started, filling her in on all the details she would need for the legal department. She said she would move ahead and have the Seoul office process Lee Yong-geun’s termination, saying that she didn’t care much for what the ED would have to say about it.
A few days went by, and Jack had eventually come back to the house. Choon-hee was extremely upset with him and insulted that he would live at the hotel. He told her about Woo-bin and how he was going to stay in Seoul. She didn’t have much to say about it, which for her, at times, spoke volumes.