June 2018
"Prepare for a board meeting. What are the chances I can overthrow my father?"
Jim laid back on the couch, his eyes calculating the odds of victory against an impossible circumstance. He knew he was at the losing end, and yet, he didn't want to give up. Across the table, his two greatest confidantes sat silently, watching him as he mumbled possibilities.
Byeong Park, his butler and Hartley Greene, a dear friend.
They both eyed Jimmy Hunter warily. The past month had taken a toll on them all. They were at their wit's end. And they were exhausted.
"If I can convince grandpa to transfer his shares to me," Jim said thoughtfully, "My share in the company would exceed my father's. Overthrowing him would be on the table."
Park dismissed the idea abjectly, "It would also expose the conflict between you and Chairman Hunter. It isn't good to involve the personal with business, Jim. Others might take advantage if they know of the rift within your family."
"I'm not the one who dragged the personal into business though," Jim pointed out sharply.
"And yet," Hartley reasoned, "You don't have to aggravate it."
They exchanged disapproving looks, sighing deeply.
Jimmy Hunter grimaced.
He loosened his tie, and finally pulled off his jacket. He was the C.E.O. of the esteemed Hunter Corporation and was used to living and breathing in three-piece suits. Right now though, his vest, tie and coat – everything was making him suffocate. He couldn't breathe. He pulled off everything except for his shirt and flung them beside himself.
He stood up, walked briskly for a few minutes, then groaned out loud, "Guys, am I going to lose my inheritance?" He flopped on the couch again, this time beside Hartley and Park. He closed his eyes in distress and leaned into the headrest. It was soft. He wanted to cry.
Park extended his hand to pat him lightly on the shoulder.
"Don't lose hope, Jim," he said, "You still have twenty-four hours left. I've seen you accomplish bigger and better things in half that time."
"I'd like to see myself get married in that time, old man."
Jimmy's tone was resigned, and Byeong Park did not know what to do. This time, Senior Mr. Hunter had made the perfect plan. Hunter Corporation was one of the most powerful companies in the country. Although the father and son made an exemplary team when it came to business, they had never gotten along in their personal space. In the thirty years of Jim's life, they had quarreled more than they had civilly talked. Jim was sure his old man hated him, even though Park had spent a quarter of a century trying to convince him otherwise. This time, though, Senior Hunter had outwitted Jimmy.
The old man was about to retire, and had therefore brazenly told his son that if he couldn't see Jim married by the time he was thirty one, Jim would never own the Hunter Corporation. It had been a scary day at the Hunter mansion. Both the parties had stood in the hall, glaring murderously at each other. Jimmy's face had distorted to the point that he had resembled a demon.
Park flinched from the sheer memory of the day.
To any ordinary man, this command would have been easy to adhere to. But not Jimmy Hunter. He had drop-dead gorgeous looks and enough money to be enlisted as the most eligible bachelor in the country. But what he thoroughly lacked were skills when it came to women. He had dated only twice in his entire life, and the relationships had ended within a week. He was popular with the ladies, but only from afar. Nobody knew about his personal life, mostly because it didn't exist.
It had now been a month since the condition of him being married to acquire his inheritance had been imposed.
Naturally, Jim had been unable to find a suitable bride. He was turning thirty-one the day after tomorrow. Whether he could find a bride until then… well.
"Impossible," Park breathed to himself.
The three had been trying day and night to find Jim a wife. From contacting his two ex-girlfriends to coaxing his secretary (who, to their dismay, had turned out to be already married), there was no thought that they had not yet implemented. Jim had even made a profile on several match-making sites. It was just that… sometimes he didn't like the women, and most times, they didn't like him.
Marriage was an impossible deal.
Mostly because Jim too was complicating things for himself. He didn't want to marry a missus from a rich household, because no matter what, the marriage was going to be on contract. His father wanted his marriage to last at least one year, and that was exactly when Jimmy planned on terminating the nuptial. Besides his bad personality, this was another reason he still hadn't found a girl. Nobody wanted a relationship that determinedly would last only a year.
As Jimmy breathed deeply, Hartley watched his friend in consideration. He knew Jim was a good guy, minus a few annoying things. Shoving his hands into his pockets, Hartley stood up, exhaling noisily.
"You know what I've realized, Hunter?" he suddenly became angry. The exhaustion of the past month came over him when he said, "We've been playing fair till now. Nothing about this deal is fair though. Your father knows you don't date, but he wants you to get a woman within a month. I've had this idea before, but I still wanted you to try your hands at reasonable means. Now though, I don't think you have a choice."
Jim opened his eyes, "You have another plan?"
"Yes. But as I mentioned, it's foul play."
"I'm listening."
"Jim, bud. I suggest you offer money to the girl and get married."
Jimmy rolled his eyes, whereas Mr. Park flinched. What was wrong with the kids of this generation?!
Jim closed his eyes again, "You don't think I've tried that? I've gotten more water splashed at my face by indignant ladies than I drink in a month."
"Yes, yes. That's what I was coming to. Marry someone in need. The woman won't refuse the money if she desperately needs it."
Jimmy suddenly fell into thought.
"You mean, like a poor person?" he asked.
Hartley nodded.
"But isn't that stupid? Why would I willingly let a gold digger stay by my side? And that too for a year?"
"Who said you have to stay together? We can arrange for something. You could go abroad. We could send her abroad, or maybe make her visit her parents or something. Meet each other only for appearance's sake."
"My old man would see through the farce at once."
Hartley huffed, "Well then, do you have a better idea? Because it seems to me that this entire ploy is simply to insult you!"
"It is," Jimmy nodded in agreement.
Mr. Park wanted to smack them both. Why was it so hard for them to understand that old Mr. Hunter might just want to secure a future for his company, while he was still alive? Or just want a grandchild, like any other old man?
Park had tried explaining it to them before. He wasn't wasting his breath now.
Beside him, Jim and Hartley continued to discuss their newest plan.
"Considering I do go ahead with this strategy," Jimmy contemplated, "Where would I find a poor woman?"
"We could go to NGOs, or cooperatives or other help organizations like that. They support poor people."
"And what would be the disadvantage of this relationship?"
"Well… for one, you wouldn't be able to introduce her publicly. It would be insulting."
"I don't intend to either way."
"On the other hand, there's the enormous advantage of infuriating your old man. He would be fuming."
Hartley chuckled at the thought. He could imagine old Mr. Hunter's face when he would see his poor, bottom-of-the-barrel daughter-in-law. The man as such looked down on people lesser in status or money. He would simply blast off if one such person became his family.
Jimmy's eyes gleamed. His and Hartley's thoughts had been in sync right then. Grinning at Hartley, he declared, "I'll do it."
His friend smiled back, "You will?"
Jim explained his reasons, "Because it's the easiest way to get back at Simon Hunter. If I bring home an improper woman and make her live among us for a year, father will simply explode. I might not even have to stay married for a long time! The old man would definitely not tolerate it."
"Jimmy, there's still the point that you'd have to live with her."
"I'll arrange for something. Overwork. Stay at office. I'll be fine. But just imagine, what an insult it would be to my dad! And how easily I can get back at him through this. Hart, you're a genius!"
Jimmy got up excitedly and was about to hug his friend when Park coughed.
The two men looked at him instantly.
"You're forgetting the woman, boys," he said, "You'll be doing this to get back at your father, but the one you'd really hurt is the girl. Can you live with that?"
Jimmy and Hartley shrugged nonchalantly.
"I'll pay," Jim announced and the two men embraced.
Park rolled his eyes. If he hadn't known better, he would have thought they were brothers. As much as Park loved Jim, he hoped somewhere in his heart that this entire ordeal would bring Jim to the right girl, the girl he deserved, and the girl who could kick Jim's selfish ass.
Meanwhile Jim congratulated himself, happy to have finally devised an achievable plan. This poor, bottom-of-the-barrel woman whom he now had to look for… she was his perfect bride. She would not only get him his inheritance, but he could also have his revenge against Simon Hunter.
She was going to be his perfect lady.