"Miss, I just got a confirmation from Lieutenant Colonel Kwon that FTAP has been sent back to NDPD"
A few days have passed since the night at the club where I got Rick Rolled. If I really wanted, there were probably some things I could pick apart in my mind with some introspection, but as has often been the case since my younger days, I ran away from troublesome thoughts. It was time to get serious with work again, and the news I'd just delivered to Hina was a good one. But it was also news that could start a massive storm.
"Excellent work, Sin"
"You too, Miss. But listen to this-"
"What is it?"
"The Defense Committee headed by Congressman Lam asked NDPD to review and propose a new required budget, with the freedom to reallocate their existing budgets to accommodate the changes. It's almost Carte Blanche"
"And will they then just pull some funds out of thin air?"
"Of course, they can't. And this is the tricky part. NDPD has now been given the green light to review and weigh the importance of the new FTAP against other ongoing programs. Lieutenant Colonel Kwon is a very shrewd man and Colonel Park heading the Task Force team is also very ambitious. They will find a way to put this in the forefront so that this Fast Track Acquisition Program becomes their Fast Track Promotion Path"
"Good. But what do you think is the catch?"
"I think it might be inevitable that some other programs that NDPD has been planning might get their fund slashed. That would upset some people"
"Who would it upset? National Defense Development Center and Dr. Han would be happy with what we've done, no?"
"Yes, NDDC and NDPD - both agencies will be happy. But budget cut will inevitably hurt someone in the industry that has been investing into projects that are about to get their scope reduced"
"Are you worried about who would be upset?"
At that moment, the door of Hina's office flung open and Jisoo stormed in, hastily followed by Lui.
"What the hell are you guys doing?"
Director Jisoo was fuming and I had an inkling of what his problem was. It was only after our meeting with Congressman Lam last time that I started to suspect that Hina was up to something, which she did not want to discuss with me yet.
"Sin, was this your idea?"
Right. I better play dumb for now.
"Sir, I do not understand what you are talking about"
"Don't try to bullshit your way out of it. What the fuck do you think you are doing?"
Yup. A line has been crossed now. Perhaps there never was any other way things could have gone from the moment I became Hina's henchman. When I had less faith in her I wished that I could balance my position diplomatically between Hina and other influential members of the company, especially with someone like Jisoo, but alas, it wasn't to be. Now I either win with Hina or I'm screwed.
"Bro, that's kinda rude to Sin"
Hina butt in, but from her voice I could tell that she wasn't really upset.
"Hina, you've been talked into making a grave mistake"
"Bro, don't you remember that at the management meeting, Sin said this FTAP was my idea?"
"I don't buy it for a second. You can't engineer something like this"
"Oh well. If you say so", Hina just shrugged and sank deep into her beanbag.
"Reverse this. Right now", Jisoo spoke in the most authoritative tone.
I didn't like that anyone would speak to Hina like that in this company. Whether she was fit for the job or not, Hina was the big boss here, after all, not him.
"Sir, I think-"
"Shut the hell up!"
Ouch. I wasn't quite sure what I could have said to diffuse the situation but I got shot down immediately anyway.
"Calm down, Bro. What's the big deal?"
"Are you playing dumb or are you really that dumb?"
"I am just dumb, don't you know?"
Jisoo then glared at Hina, and then at me, and then at Hina again.
"I'm calling an emergency meeting right now. You are going to explain yourself and be held accountable"
What an insolent bastard. I wanted to say 'You are forgetting who is the boss here' but that probably would have just fueled the fire even more, so I stayed put and said nothing.
"Sure. Let's do it. Right now"
Before Jisoo could answer, Hina told Lui
"Lui, please call for the meeting"
"Yes, Miss"
Lui hurried out of the room and through the opened door I could see that she was getting busy sending the messages.
"After this, you will be out, Sin. Your little game ends here"
Jisoo threatened me and walked out of the room.
"Er… Miss… did you foresee this?"
"Who knows?", Hina shrugged but from her smirk, I could read that she had thought things through already since before I even realized what was happening.
"It's a dangerous game you are playing, Miss. Why didn't we talk about this in advance?"
"Because you would have stopped me"
That was true. I would have tried all I could to stop her. We were now on course for a head-on collision with Jisoo, and probably the majority of other directors and department heads.
Shit.
If things go south here then I will really be out on the streets in no time.
There was no more option to play safe or be diplomatic now. All I could do was give unequivocal support to Hina and ensure that we pulled through it together.
"Miss. The meeting will start in five minutes"
Lui informed us with a concerned look on her face.
Hina got up from her bean bag and exhaled a long breath.
"Right, Sin. Let's do this. Are you with me?"
"Always"
With that, we headed towards the meeting room.
When we arrived, we saw that everyone was there already. I knew they didn't rush here for Hina, but because they knew it must have been Jisoo who called for this meeting. Most of them weren't sure what was going on but they could all sense that something big was about to happen, especially from the way Jisoo wasn't making any effort at all to hide his displeasure with the situation.
"So, thank you everyone for coming at such short notice"
Hina greeted everyone and took the seat at the head of the table first, and everyone bowed and sat down too.
"Miss. Chan, please explain yourself about what just happened with FTAP"
Jisoo commanded.
"Director Chan. I do not see any problem with the current situation. If you think it is a problem perhaps you could explain to everyone why you think it is a problem"
I was assuming my shadow position again, but I could feel that Hina was entering her beast mode. It was as if she was emanating an intense and fiery aura that was almost visible.
She wasn't a squirrel anymore, at least not at this moment. She was a lone tigress walking into the lion's den to challenge their king of the pride.
It's make or break now. I can't fight this battle for her.
But I will have her back.
Even if it might end up costing me my job.