HEIRS OF DESTINY: A Tale of Love and Destiny

CHAPTER ONE The Chandelier Bar was a symphony of clinking glasses and hushed conversations, a sanctuary from the neon-lit city outside. But the harmony was shattered when a particularly boisterous patron decided he was the conductor. He looked troubled and angry in an expensive suit hanging loosely on his shoulder. "Another drink and I'll buy this place," he slurred, his voice a grating discordance. “What a voice?” “It carried an authority, almost sexy in a way,” Jia thought to herself. Jia, the bartender with a quick wit and a sharper tongue, stepped in. "Sir, you've had enough." "Who do you think you are talking to? I can buy this bar in one swift move," the man slurred, his eyes flashing with a mix of arrogance and intoxication. His reply was a predictable tirade, but Jia was unfazed. She snatched the glass from his hand, her eyes flashing. "Out," she ordered, her voice carrying over the stunned silence. "You can buy the bar, but you will not upset our paying customers. Settle your bill and get out before I call security," she said, her voice unwavering. Her colleague who was observing the commotion the customer was causing was fed up with it too. There was pin-drop silence in the bar. It is like everyone was holding their breath for the volcano to erupt. The unruly customer paused and stared at the beauty who was bold enough to speak to him in that manner. "She has got some nerve" She stared, sending fire darts at him and he stared at her with curiosity. A staring match was occurring right now but there was no referee; who would dare? The customer's fine brown eyes searched out Jia’s face. Her lips called out to him, an invitation to tongue play with it. Jia began to get uncomfortable with the stare they gave each other; her n*****s hardened just by his eyes piercing through her. In almost an instant, the customer grabbed Jia over the counter and kissed her. Holding her neck tightly while his tongue fingered her mouth. In a blink, Jia slapped him and raised her hands to land another; her hands got held. “Do that again, and we will both be naked, giving everyone a show here” He made a signal and a suited-looking guy came to the bar. He whispered to him. He walked away while the guy settled the bill. As he stumbled out, the bar erupted in a mix of relief and awe. Everyone talked all at once. Jia's colleague, Mark, breathed a sigh of relief. "You handled that like a pro," he said with a smirk. She grinned. "Someone's got to keep the peace," she replied, touching her lips. "Plus, I can't stand people like that because my mum always says "Do not allow a fly perch on you for too long, it will suck the life out of you" " "That is so true" "Let's start cleaning up so we can go on time" Little did she know, her bravery would soon land her in the spotlight. ----------- The following morning Jia woke up all bright and beautiful to the smell of breakfast. She lived in a building where her mum operated a restaurant on the ground floor while they lived in the apartment above it. "Good morning, Mum" "Good morning, dear. How was your night?" "It was so dramatic," Jia said. "Really, how? " Reduce the volume of the TV so l can hear you well" Jia went to turn down the TV volume and saw the man from last night on it. She did not catch what was said before, only that Jang was now the new president of a multinational corporation. "No way!" Jia exclaimed loudly. "What is it" Jia's mum Soo-ah rushed towards her. "That is the man who caused so much racket at the bar last night " Jia began to narrate the whole ordeal to her mum but left out the kissing part. "You mean, this man here did all that last night?" Soo-ah asked in wonder. Last night's drama at the bar was so interesting for Jia that she kept replaying it over and over again in her mind. She kept wondering what made him drink so much last night. He looked different just now on TV. What happened that made him behave the way he did? "Well, whatever it was, that is his problem." Jia showered and got ready to leave for her classes. She is a nursing student at Seoul National University's College of Nursing who also works at the bar at night. "Mum, I am leaving " Jia informed her mum "Bye, Dear. Be careful" What Jia did not know was that her life was about to take a different turn because someone was intrigued by her last night. Jang on the other hand, couldn't get the girl from the bar off his mind. The feel of her lips was intoxicating. No woman has ever spoken to him that way, well, except for his mum. His women are always ready to do his bidding but she spoke to him like he was nothing. "President Jang, the board of directors, and the CEOs are waiting" Xi his right-hand man trying to get his attention. "Xi, I need to know everything about the girl from the bar last night. " "And I mean everything, what she eats when she sleeps, everything she does, all the tiny/big details should be on my table by noon tomorrow." "Yes, President Jang. It will be done" Jang was not happy about the turn of events. He did not feel ready to take over the reins of the corporation yet. But, his father had a different plan after all. He idolized his father so much. He looked up to him for direction. And he just died suddenly of cardiac arrest. It pushed him to drink and just wake up from the bad dream of his father's death. Everything became meaningless and the burden was heavier. He knew this day would come but not this soon. A 28-year-old young man, taking over this huge corporation was something he wished he could escape from. But, he had made a promise to his father to step up when the need arose; he was the young President of the Cho Corporation. The young President stepped into the conference room and everyone stood, bowed, and greeted him. The aura he carried was captivating and intimidating at the same time. The Cho corporation had businesses and investments in almost every market, both internationally and locally, ranging from real estate, banking, oil and gas, mining, construction, Supermarket lines, clothing lines, etc. The energy in the room was tense. No one knew what to expect from their new leader. Jang stood there watching their countenance and body language. He had planned on addressing everyone on his expectations but instead, he said: "I will make this meeting short and simple. Everyone of you is to submit your report of the past six months to me by the end of tomorrow." "That report should include the number of staff and salaries paid, revenue generated, sales, profit and losses, and every detail about the company should be in the report." "After the report has been reviewed, I will inform you of our next meeting". Jang's Uncle who is a member of the board of directors chipped in by saying If that is all he had to say. Jang replied: "That will be all". Jang's uncle, Robert is not his favourite because of the kind of relationship he had with his Father. He never really agreed with Jang's father about anything. Everything he will be doing from now on will be undermined by Robert. That is why he needed to know every detail of the vast corporation. Also, to know his allies and enemies. The chessboard was set, and the game of corporate power and personal intrigue was just beginning.