Make It Real: Chapter 5

 In one summer afternoon, Mrs. Hasun helped Juniel to bake a fresh cranberry cake for her Papa who was then attending a meeting with his senior adviser from Vietnam. Eversince she was young, Juniel spent most of her available time in the kitchen watching their personal chef doing her expertise. She is simply good at imitating their cook's style of preparing foods and even decorating. She continuously improved since then and eventually, she learned how to combine different flavors and make innovative mouth-watering foods on her own. Mrs. Hasun loves the way her daughter grow with her culinary skill. If that is her gift, she will not stop her. She even planned to start a restaurant soon to support her daughter's talent. Juniel combined all the dry and liquid ingredients in a bowl while her Mama was doing it's cream. The daughter was mixing them with a whisk while the mother stirring the sauce. Mrs. Hasun is not good in kitchen so she just followed what her daughter command.

When the cake is done, Mrs. Hasun tasted it with a serving fork. "Perfect! Your father will love it."

"Is it really delicious?" Juniel asked her mother, while smiling at her remark.

"Of course. This is really great."

The mother and daughter were sharing parts of the beautiful cake when a maid approached them. "Mam you have phone call from secretary." She handed the phone to the woman after she wiped her lips with table napkin. "Yes?" The secretary nervously told the wife that her husband was rushed to hospital because of sudden numbness and unexplained fall. The wife had been shock with the unexpected news. "Which hospital?"

The old woman quickly went to her dressing room to change her clothes. The curious daughter followed her, tensed by her Mama's sudden action "Mama what's wrong?"

Her mother could not tell it as to not make her feel worry. "I'll tell you later. Just stay here okay?"

"Mama..."

"Please..."

Mrs. Hasun went quickly to SNUH, Korea's world-class hospital where the chairman was confined. The old man was still in emergency room under observation. His wife sat on a bench outside E.R. with her clasped hands, uttering a deep prayer "Merciful God please help my husband."

One moment a doctor came out meeting the wife of the patient.

"Mam I'm sorry to tell that your husband was diagnosed suffering from a major stroke."

"Really?!" The wife felt surge of anxiety after learning her husband's condition.

"Yes. We're giving now emergency medication to save your husband from danger. However, he needed surgical treatment for the brian damage. As of now, we're still uncertain of the possible after-effects of stroke and chances of recovery. We just need your support and most especially prayer."

The information weakened her body as she fights her distress. She could not bear any longer as she tried to call her husband's friend, Sunhwa. Monghee's wife was then attending some conference have to leave early to console her friend.

Mrs. Sunhwa arrived in the VIP recovery room which Mrs. Hasun prepared for her husband. The younger woman hugged her unnie after finding out the incident.

Mrs. Hasun could not prevent herself from crying while telling the story "He was seen in the meeting when he experienced headache and numbness until he fell on the floor. The doctor told me that he's suffering from stroke."

'My goodness." Mrs. Sunhwa embraced her unnie while tapping her back. She was also disheartened by this incident as she is treating Sungho her real brother.

"Yes. They are now removing the blockage from the mid cerebral artery." She told her while continiously wiping her tears.

"How about Juniel? Where is she?"

"I didn't tell yet, she might suffer as me."

"She should know it. Her Papa needs her here, I'll call her now."

Juniel could not rest as she kept wondering on what happen. Her phone rang and it was Auntie Sunhwa who told her that her Papa was sent to hospital. The heart-breaking news had struck her making her to feel or think unproperly. She did not change her clothes as she quickly ask their driver to bring her to the hospital.

When she arrived the room, she went to her mother and hugged her tightly, burying her face at her chest. She could not hide her fear and loneliness as she finds it out. "Mama..."

"Shhh your Papa is okay. We just need to pray." Encouraged by her equally sad mother.

The daughter nodded trying her best to conceal her tears.

After of long wait, the unconscious Mr. Sungho was delivered in ICU. They got a chance to partly see his ill state through a small window. They were prohibited to visit the old man as he was still recovering from surgery. The doctor told them that the old man survived yet the aftermath severe disabilities is feared to occur. It made the wife and daughter cried in aguish by this unexpected circumstance. Mrs. Sunhwa who was with them called his husband who was then in China to inform this depressing news.

Mr. Monghee was saddened by the information as he could feel the pain Sungho's family is going through. He extended his sincere support, making a promise that he'll give assistance to whatever his cousin and the family's need.

The treatment and rehabilitation for this case will take long process for the patient causing the wife to worried with their company as well. "Who will manage their company for the meantime?" Concerned by Mrs. Sunhwa.

"Let's trust the board of directors." Her husband answered.

"Could they plan first before replacing him temporarily?" Sunhwa asked her husband again thinking that Sungho will not be able to do his responsibility and that might put their corporation in chaos.

"It can be unplanned since this is abrupt. The directors could appoint immediately."

"Is there any more option?"

"Then again, as CEO of Junhee Bank's parent company, I have the  right to appoint its own board member." CFG owns 55% voting stock of this subsidiary thus they have right to elect or even appoint.

"Then you must do it." Asked by his wife.

"I need to think it thoroughly."

"Honey, let's just use our family's power in controlling our corporations. I don't want non-relative to replace Sungho oppa." Fearing of someone might take advantage of their sister-company.

"Then who do you want to suggest?"

"Our son, Minho. I'm sure Sungho oppa and his wife will agree in this." Since Sungho and Sunhwa talked about Junhee bank's future the last time they met, Mrs. Choi Sunhwa came up with this idea to endorse his son as Sungho's successor, to manage their sister-company. Mr. Monghee also realized the possibility of completely owning one of their subsidiary in the future through his son.

Choi Monhee and Choi Sungho's family is the closest relatives among Choi clan. They are also the major shareholders within financial and investments corporations established by other relatives. The propose idea of CEO Monghee and his wife was settled quickly as Mrs. Hasun gave her full confidence and trust to her nephew and the son of CFG. She better take care of her sick husband than to make risky decisions for the company.

Minho was then busy analyzing the global firm's past sales records when he received a call from China. It was his father who was commanding him to leave his job as soon as possible, the purpose is to replace his sick uncle in his position. Minho promised to return SK next year, yet this improptu request urged him to submit a sudden resignation letter to his current employer. It was reasonable statement which was later granted by the supervisory board. After Minho's resignation from JP Morgan Chase, Choi Sungho's company released an official statement in their message board to avoid unfavorable form of hiatus.

Junhee Savings Bank has announced that Chairman and Owner Choi Sungho has been taking sick leave to receive medical treatment for an undisclosed illness and the appointment of Choi Minho, CEO heir and one of stockholder of parent company Choi Financial Group, as his temporary successor effective on Wednesday.

to be continued...