“Tap, tap, tap,”you could hear So Min’s right shoe hitting the marble floor in a rhythm, a habit of hers then she feels nervous or anxious. 

“What’s taking so long?  Where are the elevators when you need them?” she said with such impatience.  She pressed the up button a few more times when Elevator No. 2 opened up.  “Finally!” she said.

            Inside the elevator she pressed number 15.  “I wonder why Dad needs to see me right away?” she asked herself.  Her father had called her on the phone as she was finishing her last class for the day.  She had to ask her assistant Yoon Seung Ah to close the dance studio for her as she needed to leave early.

            As she entered her Dad’s office, her father’s assistant, Mrs. Song Ok Sook greeted her politely. Mrs. Song has been working for her Dad for as long as she can remember.  “Your father is inside waiting for you, Dear” said Mrs. Song with her usual cheerful nature.

            So Min thanked Mrs. Song and knocked on her father’s office. “Come in So Min,” she heard her father’s voice from the other room. 

            “Hello Dad.  How are you?” So Min greeted her father and gave him a big hug.  She looked around and saw papers were scattered all over her father’s office.  Her father looked exhausted.  “Dad, how many times did I tell you to take it easy?  Have you been getting enough sleep lately?” she asked seriously concern for her father.

            “Sit down, So Min,” her father said and led her to the sofa across his desk.  “This is very important and I would like you to listen carefully,” her father continued.

“Dad, is everything okay?  You are making me nervous.”

“So Min, I didn’t tell you this but our company has been struggling to stay afloat for the last couple of years.  You know most of our business comes from the United States.  With the United States in recession, we lost more than half of our clients.  And this year has been the toughest one.” 

“Does Mom know?” So Min asked.

“No.  She knows that it has been tough lately but I didn’t tell her how bad it is,” her father replied.  “You know I don’t want to unnecessarily worry your mother.”

            So Min couldn’t believe what she was hearing.  She had no idea!  Her father didn’t give any indication that they have it this bad.

            “Dad, I’m so sorry.  I had no clue.” So Min said. 

            “No need to apologize, So Min,” her father replied. 

            “But Dad, I should have been helping you running the business.”

            “So Min, it’s not your fault.  Your mother and I never stopped you in pursuing your passion.  We knew from day one dancing will be your profession and you’ve been very successful in your own right.  Your mother and I are very proud of you!”

            So Min couldn’t hold back her tears.  Although her parents belong to affluent families, they continue to work hard.  Her father was able to make her grandfather’s investment firm even more successful through blood and sweat.  It breaks her heart to see her father like this.

“Dad, is there anything I can do?” So Min asked while wiping her tears away.

“Actually there is,” her father replied.  “Last week I met with Mr. Kim Hyun Joong, President of Kim Investment Bank.   He said he is willing to help finance our company and the terms are quite generous. “

“That’s good then, Dad!” So Min replied with excitement.

“But there’s a catch, So Min,” her father said in a sad tone.

“What is it, Dad?” So Min asked.

“As part of the deal, he wants to marry you.”

“ME? MARRY ME? WHY?”

TO BE CONTINUED