The Making of a Lady Boss

Seoul, 2015

The white taxi cab skidded to a screeching halt on the asphalt outside a looming hospital building. Oh Ha-na jumped out of the cab at once, slamming its door shut with sheer urgency.

Adrenaline surged through her veins as she raced towards a group of orange-vested paramedics crowding around a stretcher being pulled from an ambulance van.

Her mind was in total disarray. Fear clamped around her like a cold, cruel vice, crushing whatever courage she had left. She dreaded what was awaiting her, afraid her worst fears would come to realization. 

Reaching the chaos, she fought her way through the throng but was unceremoniously held back by one of the paramedics. 

"Sorry kid, but I'm gonna need you to step back, this is an emergency."

But Ha-na was having none of it. "What are you talking about, that's my grandmother! I need to see her!"

"I'm sorry, but –"

"Ha-na?"

The strangled cry came from the stretcher, and Ha-na desperately made her way to the heavy woman lying on the gurney. Her dark hair was a tangled mess, and blood ran down her head and covered her legs.

Ha-na felt a dreadfully familiar numbness take over her senses. Looking down at the sorry state her grandmother presented, she felt her chest tighten – she felt suffocated.

"Are you back from school already?"

Her grandmother's hands – covered with grime and blood – curled around hers. She smiled at her despite the spasms of pain she was experiencing. "I was going to make some spicy kimchi stew for dinner – your favourite – to celebrate your final exams. How was it today?"

A short, mirthless snort burst from Ha-na's lips. She couldn't feel anything – not sorrow, not pain – and it was driving her crazy. "Are you seriously asking me that now, grandma?"

"Of course. Why shouldn't I? You should never skip your meals no matter what."

Ha-na felt her frustration spill out of her. "Grandma, you should worry about yourself now! I'm fine! It's you I'm worried about."

Her grandmother waved a dismissive hand. "I'll be fine, I'm sure. You'll see."

Ha-na squeezed her grandmother's hand till her knuckles turned white. "Promise me. Promise me you'll be back. That you won't leave me all alone."

The middle-aged woman stared up at her granddaughter with tears gathering in her eyes. From the young age of five, the girl had lost both parents. And now, she was about to lose the only family she had left. She braved another smile.

"If I don't make it, take over the take over the agency. With the little wealthy clients I've been able to gather, you should be able to afford a decent college to go to."

Ha-na watched as the paramedics, some nurses and doctors wheeled her grandmother into the emergency ward. Standing in the cool, night breeze, she didn't know what awaited her in the future – but whatever it was, she was determined to uphold her grandmother's legacy no matter what.

******

10 years later

Ha-na walked confidently into a small office space, stiletto heels clicking and with a winning smile on her face.

"Who wants coffee?"

She held aloft a paper cup holder containing six coffee cups, wiggling it in the air. The five employees in the small meeting room, who were chattering before she entered, turned their eyes towards her.

Seeing the coffee, they scrambled towards her to each get a cup.

"I'll take the iced americano!"

"Iced latte for me!"

"I could really use some coffee; my eyelids are almost glued shut."

"Seriously, you're the best boss!"

"That really hits the spot! Now, I feel alive!"

Watching as her employees relished their coffee, Ha-na took a seat at the head of the long, conference table.

"Of course, she's the world's best boss." Soo-ah declared, slurping her coffee, her black, shoulder-length hair bouncing in agreement. "She never forgets her best friend's latte."

Ha-na rolled her eyes, the corner of her lips lifting, despite her effort to suppress her smile.

"But seriously, you should have let me order in." Eun-ji, the event planner pouted, tossing a strand of light-brown hair to the side.

"Don't worry about it," Ha-na replied, placing a document file on the table and opening it. "I saw a café on my way and decided to stop by."

A couple of shuffling, and Ha-na continued. "What's the itinerary for today?"

"The Chairman's Wife of G&L Jewellery called a few minutes ago," Bo-min, the client manager spoke, habitually stroking the bridge of her nose with her fingertips. Her face was a mask of sheer disinterest. "Apparently, she wants to apply for a private membership with us on behalf of her son."

The room went suddenly silent, with all eyes turned towards Bo-min. She raised an inquisitive brow, glancing from face to face. "What?"

"The Chairman's Wife of G & L Jewellery? As in Gems & Lustre Jewellery? Korea's leading luxury brand?" Eun-ji asked, the awe apparent in her voice – her eyes as wide as saucers.

"Isn't that the client every matchmaking agency in Seoul has been dying tooth and nail to get for the past six months?" Jae-ho, the project manager declared casually, running his eyes through a document file.

"Wow!" Jan-won, the marketing manager sighed, leaning back in his seat. "G & L. That brand is worth over $20 billion! They got listed in the top 10 of the Forbes Global 2000 Companies last year!" He pulled out his phone from his pocket, swiping through it to provide proof of his claims.

"She wants to sign her son into our agency? G&L's President? The most eligible bachelor in South Korea?" Soo-ah – both hands on her astonished face – turned her surprise-widened eyes to Ha-na. "Did you have anything to do with this?"

Ha-na blinked. "No, not at all. I'm just as surprised as you are."

Soo-ah beamed, still riding high on her astonishment. "This is crazy. Crazy awesome. I'm going to be coaching Korea's most eligible bachelor? I better brush up on my relationship coaching skills!"

A small smile brushed Ha-na's lips while the five employees burst into a lively chatter. She had tried her possible best to get this client into the agency and almost gave up hope – now this. Whatever happened, she wasn't about to let this golden opportunity slip away.

Squaring her shoulders, she called Bo-min aside to get the details of the call and set a meeting aside. It was time to find a perfect match for Korea's most eligible bachelor!