"I have been close to my dad. He might not particularly be the smartest in the room, but he was wise for his own sake. He always reminded us, how we, his children were his greatest legacy. Maybe because he didn't have a company or money to share to us, then. But I go on living with the same principle, it's not money or prestige that keeps us going at the end of the day, but the support of family. And don't you think that's a better legacy to uphold than a company built around conventional beliefs?" I never thought I would be this sentimental. I looked at her. She seemed amuse at my openness.
"I believe so. My dad once believes so too, but somewhere along the way, we are faced with a great challenge that gives us fear and makes us evaluate our own principles. Dad had that epiphany, and he ended up compartmentalizing his own beliefs…" she admitted.
"I'm not judging. But since we are exchanging opinions, that's just my sentiment." I smiled. She smiled in acknowledgment.
"Do you love my brother, Ara?" she sure knows how to surprise. I smiled. I don't really know how to answer.
"Do I love him?" I sighed.
"Do you love him? Will he not regret giving up everything he have worked so hard for, for an unrequited love?"
"Do I have to love him to deserve his love? Can I not just accept him, respect him, care for him and be with him?"
"I see you're not really a typical woman. I like you… based on reading your books, I felt like I already know you…and you're right, I understand better now what's written on your book now that I got to meet you as a person. You're admirable woman, Ara Rivera."
"Thank you, I'm honored. Whatever it is that I feel for your brother, is something I have to evaluate for myself. And that's between me and him, I'm not trying to undermine your concern, but I don't want to be pressured into feeling something just because people are expecting me to. If you label the feeling of comfort, of excitement, of longing or desire, of feeling valued or cared for, of trust and confidence, of respect, of the fear of losing him and hope of having to spend my days with him, as a feeling that boils down to love. I am crazy in love with him. But until then, can I not just say my feelings individually as they are?" I professed. She was smiling and she looked pleased.
"You are indeed a writer. You can articulate very well your thoughts", she expressed.
"I just say things as they are…"
"Can we eat now?" she offered the food again. "And you can seat now, brother…" she uttered, acknowledging someone by the door. So, he was behind me…for how long?
"Hey, you." I greeted.
"So, that's why you're not answering your phone…" he complained and kiss me on the cheeks.
"Well…she is being polite…" Jae-yin admitted.
"How was your press conference?" he inquired.
"I'm sure Simon and Chris are busy right now…" I answered.
"I'm sure entertainment news will be busy retaliating right now…" Jae-yin continued.
"Have you seen it?" he is curious.
"I was there…" she admitted.
"That's why Amy had been busy earlier…"
"She just criticized how backward the entertainment news is in our country…" she chuckles. They both laughed. I'm glad they find it amusing.
"If stating a fact is criticizing then there is really something wrong on the way they think…" I asserted. When the topic about the press conference calmed down. Jae-woo became serious in addressing her sister.
"Have you found out what I asked?" he started. Jae-yin looked at him and looked at me, seemingly signaling that they can't talk about it in front of me.
"She knows everything, don't worry…" Jae-woo assured her.
"Dad had been keeping it out from us, but both are trustees. And dad is the legal owner of both. That's why "they" are always voting in favor of us…" Jae-woo seems stunned. But I'm not. I have my suspicion and I am definitely sure that their father kept some shares for her sister's children.
When Jae-woo was sharing the story about her family and base on what I've heard from Myeong about Jae-woo's dad, I know he is an honorable man. The idea that he stopped searching for his sister is unlike him.
"Who are the trustees?" he asked. I chuckled. Which made both of them looked at me in disbelief.
"I'm sorry. Do you really not know, or you just want her to spell it out for you?"
"Do you know? How would you know?" Jae-yin is also curious. Now, I wished I have not interrupted.
"I just thought it was obvious, but I'm not sure. From the moment you shared with me about your family's history, I got the impression that your dad is an honorable person. I also got to know him through Kim Myeong-dae. Professor Kim's wife, you were neighbor's when your dad was a prosecutor. I'm sorry to be snooping around, I was just curious. Given that impression it got me thinking when you keep telling me about these 2 secret shareholders that are always cooperating with your family and you were never sure if your dad really gave up searching for your aunt…"
"I had a nagging feeling, so I came up with the conclusion that he probably set up a trust for her 2 children. Isn't that called a deductive reasoning?"
The room got awfully quiet. They were staring at me like as if I said something unimaginable. Jae-woo look for Jae-yin for confirmation.
"I don't know, I never got to confirm who the trustees are. Since, I was so happy to just know that we just needed at least 3% from the spinning stocks to get the majority, no matter who the trustees are, since dad is still the legal owner of the shares." Jae-yin explained. But now she is also enlightened of what I just stated.
"There is 2 more days until Sunday to confirm your conclusion…" Jae-woo responded to me.
"I can't believe you tell her everything…" Jae-yin acted surprise.
"She had me under her spell, what can I do?"
"I can't believe, I didn't think about Aunt Sha-na…" Jae-yin is now looking more and more unsettled.
"And I can't believe you didn't tell me about this sooner…" Jae-woo also looked at her sister. If he would have known about it sooner, would he have refused my offer? Since, it would mean he only needed 3% to buy.
"You are so ready to give up Namesis, so dad decided to confess. He didn't realize you were bluffing…" she exclaimed. Except he is not bluffing, he did give up Namesis.
"I wasn't bluffing. I am ready to liquidate my assets to buy some spinning shares." He confessed.
"We met with a broker, there seems to be someone buying a lot of stocks this week. It's good that Ji-hwan helped me secure 4% before they can get hold of all the 16%. So, we're in the clear. You can probably talk with dad now…" she explained. Suddenly, Jae-woo started to talk in their language.