Chris assembled his PR team to be in-charge for the announcement. She left Seoul that night to settle her stuff in Copenhagen. The news of her being Ara Charlotte created a buzz. Well, the news that still couldn't sink in to me was what she told me last night.
She finally opened up to me. And my suspicion about her is real. She is not as simple as she seems to be. She can wear designer outfits and drive a Tesla like nothing. She can live in an almost 100m won leased apartment for 6 months like it's nothing. I know that she's earned a lot from her books and I know that until now she's still getting royalties from it. But to say she's well-off is simplifying it. She is rich. She is a self-made billionaire.
RTR Group had been making a buzz in the Asian market for 3 years now. A family owned group of companies that is constantly growing, for only 5 years in the market they have grown into more than 10-billion-dollar empire and they know the market trend. She founded this, at the time when she just finished dealing with her broken life. She made an empire. Apart from that, she also has her individual ventures. I could not be more amaze. How could I have been so lucky? If the media knows about this, they would be painting me as the one lacking. That's not a bad idea to put it out there, at least.
Thinking about not seeing her for a week, makes me miss her already. While walking at the Han river that night, I have never felt this complete. It's liberating. If only our lives are this simple.
I was called at my parents' house Wednesday. It took them long enough. I was expecting to be called by Sunday from the usual teatime. I was anticipating about the confrontation I have to hear from them. My family, no matter how many challenges it has faced remained strong; the company however had been tested more time than I can recall.
From a family-run business, the 1995 incident after my grandparent's died was the biggest challenge Namshin Foods, has faced so far. If my father hadn't took over and decided to sell shares of stock, it could have been given to the government. We almost entirely lost Namshin, my father stepped up because he can't bear to witness the family legacy handed over to the government, but the family company that was solely ours became a corporation that is being shared to stockholders. We manage to keep the Chairmanship as having the biggest share of 35% between my father (19%), Jae-yin (8%) and me (8%). The other shareholders include my uncle's and his wife with 12% and 2 children with 8%, Congressman Park with 16%, an anonymous share of 7% and 6% have been on my father's support from the beginning, and a revolving share of small shareholders are worth 13-16%. Namshin has a rich history incorporated to it, and it wasn't without controversies, that's why my father no matter how progressive his belief is as a person, is not one to shy away from the traditional principles of the company that his father built.
I started my own company to not be involve with this traditional belief. My sister is lucky to have found love and a man that they can accept. And remembering how I have been summoned once before, 3 years ago, when the news broke out, I would have expected to be called earlier than today. I was warned not to make any careless decisions, since some of the shareholders are just watching us make mistake. My uncle had been lurking by the shadows, always ready to jump into any opportunity he can seize. Although, we have the biggest controlling share; we are far from being the majority. If we will not act accordingly, they will try to gang up against us.
The company is still going strong, both domestically and internationally. My father is not one to go after the financial side of Namshin, he is after the legacy that our family had built. I understand where he's coming from. It was hard for him when my aunt just totally disappeared, for 30 years that he tried to find her, we never found news. He even tried to look for her in the Philippines, but there wasn't any news at all.
I arrived at the house lunch time. I was called at the study. That's when I know things are serious. I know my parents, if they are not being pressured into something that would cause the company trouble, they would never meddle with our personal life. Tabloids and pictures are by the table, my father's face looks disappointed. My mother is more understanding with this kind of issues. She was once a victim of the company's traditional principle; she wasn't from a well-off family herself. The tabloid news was that of the lunch, the first picture they publish of us together, the others from the office party and even the last one by the riverbanks. The images on the computer screen is her with her son and what I can only guess as her family with one man who is being too affectionate with her son and always at her side.
My father started to bring up the issue. My uncle is trying to contact the board and shareholders, telling them about how I brought shame to the company's traditional values. Of parading around a woman, who is not just a divorcee, a single mother but above all that, she is not Korean. A company like Namshin that pride itself as a Korean company through and through should not be tarnished in reputation by someone as selfish as me, who, just because I have established my name and my company, no longer uphold the values of Namshin.
My uncle and his family will never let this go. This is the chance they have been waiting for. We might have the biggest shares for now, but we are far from being the majority and if the shareholders will all act against us, they can easily oust Jae-yin and assign someone else. I stand there in disbelief. The life that I tried to escape from is coming for me. And I'm just standing here looking at my parents, who, looks as much devastated as I am right now. My uncle will go the extra mile to see this through. I am afraid it will end up hurting her.
"Nari and her parents will be here for dinner." My mother announces. I am almost sure what this meeting will be about. And my worst nightmare is knocking at my door. Of course, if we secure Ha-ri's family's share, then we will have the majority, and no matter how the other shareholder will decide, they can't stun our combined voting power. I am angry. Too angry to even say anything. I left with too much anger in me. I tried to call her, but I can't seem to gather my thoughts as to what I will say.
The way things are unfolding right now, I would either choose her and sacrifice my family's legacy or choose my family and lose her forever. I want to choose her, but I have to be ready to go to war. I went back to the house for dinner to meet with Ha-ri and her parents and as expected they are still caught up to the idea of us getting married. I knew something was up when Ha-ri came back from Germany. She always wanted to stay and perform in Europe but when she decided to accept a teaching position at the University, I knew something is up.
I was confident that Nari and me would be at the same side. But I was shocked and disappointed that she just sat there and listen how the elders talked through marriage like a merger. I could buy some shares from the company, but I don't think that 16% stocks of Namshin would be small amount to get from NamEsis without the investors and shareholders noticing about it. I could sell my shares at Namdo but it would still not be enough to buy 16% stocks from Namshin.