Just then Mr Geum sensing the unease and tension in the room began, as if hearing their taught he said
"do not judge the Choi lady based on what we see on news, I'm sure we all know too well, how the media distort things, we can not doubts clouds our judgement now, and even if we do, we should still give her a chance and guide her, on the right path" he said as most of them nodded___they all had a high respect for him.
"i agree with what you said Mr Geum" Mrs Seo responded, her voice sharp. She continued "but i would also like to remind you that right now we can't afford a leader Who is incapable. Our organization is at stake__this very organization that was built by our fore fathers and has stood for generations. Now, we are faced with threat from the greatest house, we can not afford to 'guide' some one into leadership, we need an action_oriented leader, one who's already experienced, not the one with so many back Lash and negetive head lines."
"Bu the way you speak, it seems you already have someone in mind" said Mr Baek
"I..."
"i believe this should be the topic for later" a soft dim voice interrupted__Minjae.
All eyes turned to the door, where Minjae walked in with Geum sang tae behind her and kim Ann soo, her presence commanding the room.
As she walked everyone head snaped following her, her slender tall figure was imposing and her knee-length black office gown draped gracefully on her body showing off her hours glass shape. Her hair, thick black hair framed her face with a Short bang that complimented her youthful, angelic face.
She walked slowly, delibrately and stood beside the head seat, covered in white cloth. She turned to Mrs Seo her expression calm,
"Do not judge me yet Mrs Seo," she said, her voice carrying an undeniable strength "we've never even met before,"
she shifted her gaze to the rest of the room "non of us have" she said, as the room became dead silent, her voice was oddly Dim tone, which made her appearance more unique. She continues as she turns her gaze back to Mrs Seo
"I suggest you heed Mr Geum's advice, not everything said by the press is true. Although i would say, ten percent of what the press says about me maybe wrong but i wont exactly deny the rest ninety, and i believe what ever it is, has nothing to do with being a capable leader" she said
"Of course it doesn't, moreover that is what the installation process is all about" said Mr Geum "finding out your capability as the next leader of CHNs" he added as most of the members nodded their heads in agreement to what he said
"About that" she began as she gently pull out the white cloth used in covering the head seat__the gold seat.
Then she sat on it as everyone's eyes widened, except Mr Geum, Who doesn't get suprised easily, although his brown furrrowed a little as he didnt expect Minjae's suddenly action.
"im afraid there will be no such thing as installation today__not for my tenure." she simply break to them calmly as thou she didnt just do something unspeakble to organization.
The room buzzed with murmurs. Installing a new leader wasn't a simple formality—it was a test, a rite of passage. The heir had to prove their capacity by overcoming a difficult challenge alone. If successful, the members would sign their names in support of the new leader. If not, they might not sign at all, or only a few loyalists would__but one thing for sure is that, no one is allowed to sit on the gold seat if he or she has not been installed.
"Do you realize what you just did Miss Choi" one of the member asked
"yes Mr kang, i do" she simply replied, her expression calm and unwavering as murmur raised in the room, then another member spoke up__Mr Song, the least wealthy among the group. He said,
"Miss Choi, the rumors that we have heard about you is already making us have doubt, but we choose to believe other wise, so do not..." she cuts him off smoothly,
"i believe you heard clearly when i admitted most the rumors to be true, but like i said it has nothing to do with my capability as the head of this organization."
The room fell into even deeper silence as murmurs rippled around them. It was clear now that Minjae wasn't phased by their doubt, if anything, it almost seemed like she enjoyed watching them struggle with their confusion.
Mr Geum, ever the voice of reason asked, "i suppose you have something to back up your present behaviour" his faint smile convayed a quiet sense of curiosity.
Minjae lip's curled into a smile as well, as if she had been waiting for gud question.
She began "as we all know, i am the last true heir to this very position," her tone gentle yet firm "My sister Who took the position in place of me is now lying in a coma, therefore i would be taking over now. " she said
"yes, and that is why we need you to do the installation" Mr Han interjected "Only after installation you can fully claim leadership."
Minjae turned to him "An installation is only done by the heir, after the former leader dies or relinquishes their seat, do i need to remind you that my sister Who was the former head, was only my representative, and that before she took the seat she did passed the installation process..." Mrs Seo interrupts
" that was your sister's own test... "
" on my behalf" Minjae complete her sentence .
Mr Hwang spoke up, his voice authoritative
"your sister or not that was not you completing the installation, you can't simply ascend the seat base on that, its not in accordance with our law..."
"and so is giving power to the one Who isnt willed to lead, but you all did it, knowing fully well that it was rightfully mine" she said coldly as the room turned dead silent ,
"Since i am unwanted so bad, you all could have just scraped me out of the will__oh i almost forgot in order to do that my presence would be needed but the whole agenda was for me to be unaware, so instead your brilliant idea, was to put my sister in my place" a cold smile touched her lips as the room fell completely silent.
"isnt that what you call unlawful?" she asked making everyone dumbfounded
"this is a crime against our rules and ethics," she spoke, her voice steady "i could just report this to the higher authority, but wont that mean dragging us all out in the public eyes, making us vunerable to our opponent Who would not hesistate to sieze the opportunity."
She turned to Mrs Seo, as the room turned tensed quiet
Mrs Seo began " your father was the one Who... "
"my father is dead Mrs Seo." Minjae's voice was sharp, yet there were no anger in them, only the weight of truth "the dead do not speak nor can defend them self, therefore i advice you speak for your self. Did you or did you not agreed to corner me, fully disregarding my grand father's will and the legacy of my fore father's" she asked Mrs Seo Who was now speechless
"I am ashamed to admit that all what you have said is true" Mr Baek finally spoke "we taught it was for the good" he said.
"of course, so do I, and that is why i will let it all go. And as for the installation, lets just say we are even" she said.
Most of the member exchanged uncomfortable glance, their face a mix of embarrassment and frustration.
Then Mrs Seo asked, this time her voice a bit lighter than before
"what would you do about the panel on the wall, each passing heir has a status panel in their names, signed by the elite family. How do you plan on getting yours, with out our support and installation
"oh, do not worry about that, i will see to it that your names and signature are in there" she simply replied as everyone glance at eachother, Her words left the room buzzing with murmurs, but Minjae remained unbothered. She had made her decision, and nothing could sway her now___no one knew what to make of the new leaders.