.03

ROSÉ POV

I am in the living room watching television with my baby brother. The TV is showing a documentary about wildlife animals. An animal with orange coloured fur with black stripes just appeared and I ask Micah:

“Micah, what animal is this?”

“Tiger,”

“Good job, do you like tiger?”

“No!”

“Why don’t you like them?”

“Because tiger is big, fierce and not cute. Micah is afraid.”

“You see, Micah, do you know why is tiger so fierce? It is because in that way it can protect itself from other animals. If not, it will become other’s prey and be hunted. So, Micah should be brave like tiger too so that no one will bully and treat Micah bad,”

“Ooh, then Micah wants to be a tiger so that I can protect sister!”

“Now that is my clever little brother.” I smiled while ruffling his hair.

The cruel world basically has not much difference with the jungle, you either eat the others or end up being eaten. Nobody will have sympathy for you if you are weak; Maybe there are, but to be honest, they cannot really give much of a help as they sometimes cannot cope with their own problems as well. It depends on yourself to stand up on your own, or you will only be step by others under their feet. Only by being stronger then you may be looked upon the others and get their respect.

After taking over my father’s position, I feel like this is what I have become. If I were still the same Roseanne Park like I was before, there is no way I can convince the others to follow my lead, make them to obey me, let alone to respect me. I can’t really say that the new me is better than my old self, nor even worse. However, people need to change themselves for good or they will be abandon by the society, by the world that is evolving too fast. Every day is a brand new start and anything can happen without us even knowing. The only thing that is certain in this world is the uncertainty that is always happening.

“All of the things you asked me to do was done, Miss Roseanne.”

“Thank you Uncle David, and please make sure that the reconstruction of those stores is going well.”

I am currently on my way to the company to start the day. It hasn’t been that long since I started but I am slowly getting used to the operation of the business, thanks to the help from the fellow seniors that has been working with my father since the start of his career.

“Good Morning, Miss Roseanne!”

I walk through the lobby between two rows of my employees while they are bowing to me. I take the elevator to the highest level of the building and walk into my room. Before that, I have told my secretary to reschedule or cancel all the appointments for the rest of the day as I will be pretty busy.

Knock knock.

“Come in!”

I shout from my seat. A young lady just comes into my room with the gummiest smile ever.

Everyone, meet Jennie Kim.

Jennie is one of a few friends who I have known since forever. She was there during my darkest time. After hearing the devastating news, she came back to South Korea all the way from New Zealand to support me and hold me up. I would have gone to mental breakdown easily without her. She is still here up until now, from the day I decided to come back and take over the company and never left since then. Jennie is fully aware of the underground business and is still willing to stay with me, saying that she will never let me go through all of this all by myself. I am glad to have her in my life but sometimes I just cannot help myself to feel sorry for her to have a friend like me, for her to give up her perfect life ahead. She deserves a friend that has a normal life, not someone who is as twisted as me. However, this shall only keep to myself because I will only end up earning a hit from her if she heard me saying anything like this.

“Morning, Rosie! Did you sleep well last night?”

“Morning to you as well, Jen. You know, the same old thing, but I still manage to get some nap.”

“Glad to hear that. Are you going to be busy today AS WELL?” She emphasizes that part, “ It has been a long time since our last girls’ day out.”

“I wish to go out with you too but I have to meet Mr.Kenzo today,”

“Ahhh, that sh*thead who destroy a few of your shop?”

“The one and only.”

“Anyway, good luck on that. Make sure to not go too hard on him. Are you going to be alone?”

If there is one thing, Jennie is very protective toward me. This might have something to do with the fact that she is older than me and that she is the only child in her family. We click really well since we were young because she can fill her emptiness of not having any siblings while I can feel the love of someone elder when we have each other. She was even happier than me when I told her that Micah was born, where she kept on bugging her mother to bring her back to South Korea just to play with him. I am sure that she will make an excellent mother in the future.

“Maybe with my personal assistant and a bodyguard with me?”

“You sure you do not need me?”

“I am fine, thank you.”

“Alright! Then I will get going then, duty calls.”

“More like booty calls,” I chuckle a bit, “It’s not like I didn’t notice how your eyes are glued to your phone screen since you came inside, just make sure that you control yourself or I cannot help you either. Remember,”

“Office ethics. I know I know.” Jennie cuts my words off. She sticks out her tongue and leaves my office. She is dating Mr Yoongi, her senior colleague. Not a big fan of office love, though.

Using the intercom, I inform Jessie, my personal assistant that we are leaving before lunch and tell her to get ready. Here it goes, just hope that it will not bring that much of damage this time. I still can recall that one time when the “peace discussion” comes with bleeding lips and some of my people being injured.

“It was written in your job description that your job will be a little dangerous, so are you sure you are fine going with me?”

I ask Jessie one more time to assure that she is okay with it.

“Su-sure Miss Roseanne, no big deal, hahaha.”

I ask her once again when we have arrived the place where I am to meet Mr Kenzo. Just in case she changes her mind, which is a good thing.

“Are you sure you want to go inside?”

“No- I mean yes!”

“Maybe you should pray before going,”

I get out from the car first and walk into the majestic building in front of me. Mr Kenzo just chooses to meet in this restaurant of his, and he must have already prepared well to face me. Right now, I am just like walking straight into a tiger cave, but we are not sure that who is the real tiger yet.

We are greeted by two men at the door and they frisk us for any possible weapons before letting us inside.

A sitting man is facing me from where I come in. He looks like the typical bad guy that can be seen in the drama or movie.

“It is been a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Mr Kenzo. I have heard a lot about you.”

I greet him as polite as I can be.

He is now scrolling his eyes up and down on me, unable to hide his smirk. The smile on his face that never left makes him looks more intimidating, but at least not to me.

“What is a little girl like you doing here? Go back to play with dolls and tell your daddy to come.”

If I were to get a dollar every time I get a response like this, I probably can build another company on my own.

“Well, it does not matter if I am a young girl or not, as long as I can get the job done. I believe that you were once afraid of some women like your mom or your wife, at a point in your life, am I wrong?”

I make myself sit down, facing him directly with a smirk on my face. His face turns into a serious one, and a big laugh comes after.

“That is some mouth you have over there! But I like it!”

“I figure out that it will be rude of me to not make a joke since Mr Kenzo just made one for me.”

“Want some sushi? It is all on me,”

“No thanks. I believe that Mr Kenzo is a busy person so I will just cut to the chase; The reason why I come is to know in what way I have offended you that you have to destroy a few of my stores in Gangnam,”

“What makes you think that I am the one who has anything with this?” He raises his brows as if he is completely unaware of my accusation.

“I know that you will say something like this, but I do not come here bare handed either.”

Not long after, the screen of Mr Kenzo’s phone light up indicating that there is a new message. It is a video that says:

“I, Yakuza, admit that it is Mr.Kenzo who ordered me and my men to destroy PARK’S COOPERATION stores in Gangnam to get revenge for taking over his clubs in the same area. If anyone were to blame, it is definitely Mr Kenzo.”

“Nonsense! My man will never betray me like this! What have you done to him,” His face clearly shows that he is not amused.

“Woah Mr Kenzo, you better check your mouth before you speak. What makes you think that I am the one who is behind this? Do you perhaps have any video as well?”

“You think you can scare me just by that?”

“Yuzu, Tokyo High School Senior 3 Class 3. A well-rounded student and daughter, aiming for scholarships to enter Kyoto University next year. Wouldn't it be a waste if she will never be accepted into the university because she was accused to be cheating in the entrance examination?”

“This brat! Are you trying to blackmail me?!”

He pulls out a samurai knife from the wall and points it at me before putting it on my personal assistant’s neck. The knife is so sharp to the point that it scratches the skin of her neck upon a little movement. The poor girl is standing right there, completely frozen and does not even dare to cry out. I am still having my straight face, sipping some tea before I go on.

“My oh my, would you please go easy on the poor girl Mr Kenzo, she has nothing to do with this, look how frightened you have made her. You do not have to worry though; I would never stoop that low to hurt innocent people. I am here not to make enemies, but instead, it will be better to gain allies. You see, it will be a win-win situation for both of us. I get to run my business peacefully, and you will get more business in Japan. But if you refuse to and keep on causing problems, I have my way to make you lose everything in one night. That time, you will find a hard time to make a life for your family, let alone giving your daughter to study in the university. What do you think, Mr Kenzo? I am sure you know how to choose the best.”

He slowly removes the knife from Jessie’s neck. I stand up from my seat, grab her hand and is ready to leave.

“I will be glad to know your answer by next afternoon or I will take it as a no.”

I bid him farewell and walk out, pulling Jessie along to leave the place.

You must’ve thought that I am fearless during the whole situation when in fact, I might be feeling the same as Jessie. However, I am also fully aware that I must not show any sign of weakness, and have to be fiercer than my opponent. If I do not become the tiger just now, not only me but Jessie will be eaten alive as well.

The next day, during lunchtime.

“So how does it go?”

Jennie asks me, curious about the outcome of yesterday’s encounter.

“He agreed.”

“I always know you can do it! Although you almost get hurt in the process.”

She gives me a look before turning her attention to her food.

“But I am still in one piece, right? Now that I think of it, it seems a little bizarre.”

“What do you mean?”

“Our company never has any problem with Mr Kenzo before, not in Korea, not even in Japan. And then he suddenly just comes and troubles us. I feel like this is not as simple as it is, there must be someone behind supporting him to do so…”

“I think you are just over thinking right now. Try to relax a bit, would you? It is all over now. You should talk less and eat more,” Jennie rushes me as I haven’t really savour my lunch yet.

“I really hope so, but still I have to be more cautious in the future. Who knows what might come next. Poor Jessie, though. She must have been really shocked to even come to work today.”

Back in the office, Jessie greets me when I walk out from the elevator. She is not wearing her working attire, which only means,

“Hey, Jessie, what is wrong? Don’t look so sad, we just won another round. Mr Kenzo has agreed to me.”

“I am glad to hear that Miss Roseanne, but after the near death experience yesterday, I do not think that I can stay working here anymore,”

Just like what I thought.

“If that is the case, of course, I will let you go. I wish you all the best for your future then.”

“Thank you, Miss Roseanne, my resignation letter is already on your table. See you ag- All the best too!”

She has already packed all her belongings and runs out of the office as fast as possible. It sounds like she does not even want to see me again.

Well, it looks like I need another new personal assistant, again.

Alright! After 3 chapters, the male protagonist will finally be revealed in the next chapter!

Be prepared for the unexpected guys!