~Anna POV~

President Kim sat down in the chair at the head of the table and motioned for our team to also sit. He gave us all a sweeping look laced with his displeasure, and leaving no doubt that heads were about to roll. After the silence hung a little too long, he began to speak.

“Now then, I think I deserve an explanation. We almost lost a multi-billion won account due to whatever shinanigans that are going on with your team. And we’re not leaving until I’m satisfied with the explanation.” He looked over us all again.

The team turned to HaeRa, as I’m sure most of them wanted her to work her magic over her uncle and save their own tails. I want to sigh. Jamocha almond fudge, it’s not fair if she manages to get out of this again.

“Uncle, I can explain,” HaeRa begins. “You see…”

Predisent Kim cuts her off. “I’m sure you can, but I’m not going to listen to another word out of your lying mouth. I’ve known since you were ten how manipulative you were. But your father begged me to take you on and I was hoping that you had matured when you studied in America. Then seeing as how your team was finally showing some results and getting us new accounts I was very happy. But this…” He sighs and rubs a hand across his face. “…this, I’m not surprised over. What I want to know is how far it’s gone. Is this the first time you’ve stolen credit from someone or is it a repeat process? And who’s all involved?”

“Uncle!” shouts HaeRa. “I can’t believe you’d accuse me of this! That you believe this hussy over me, your niece!

“I’ll not have another word from you!” he shouts right back. “As far as I’m concerned you are done being team leader and you might just be done at my company. Go home, Kim HaeRa. I’ll talk to you later… with your father.”

HaeRa let out a high pitched squeal and stomped her foot. Then she shouts as she marched to the door, “I’m going to tell Halmeoni about this!”

To which President Kim responded, “Good! You’ll find out just how hard she can swing a switch over your backside!” The slamming of the conference room door drowned out some of her next squeal.

I sat there in shock. I almost let out a giggle after President’s Kim parting slavo but manage to stifle it. President Kim knew she was an amaretto almond all along? Does this mean I could have gone to him sooner with my problems?

President Kim pinned me with a laser stare. “Since most of the team’s success has come about after you joined, can you enlighten me what’s going on please Anna?”

“Um, I’m not entirely sure. Um… I know I wasn’t getting full credit for the work I was doing. But it is a team, so it’s not all been my work if that’s what you’re asking. Um…” can I sound any more strawberry sorbet? Pull it together Anna! I look over at JinAe and she gives me a small nod and smile. “I just found out last week that bonuses have been given for some of our projects.” President gives me a shocked look but I continue on, if I don’t get it all out now, I might not be able to later. “This project is the first where I did the bulk of the design and deliverables work and know that someone else was claiming the credit.” I collapse back against my chair utterly spent. I don’t think I can say anymore.

“Fair enough,” he says. “Does anyone else want to volunteer information or should I just fire the lot of you?” he asks.

JinAe speaks up then, “If you want a good idea of what’s been done, you just need to flip through Anna’s sketch book in front of you.” She flashes me an apologetic look as she continues. “HaeRa had us under clear orders to not tell how much was her work versus how much was the team. And the bulk of the creative work has come from Anna lately. HaeRa also had us not share any of the bonuses we’ve earned, even the team ones you gave, with Anna. As far as I know she’s received no additional monetary compensation other than her salary since she joined our team.” JinAe is now looking down at her hands and the rest of the team is just looking panicked.

President Kim starts to flip through my sketch book. The room is silent, you could hear a pin drop… if I had one to drop He stops on one particular page for a moment and looks back at JinAe. “You said monetary compensation. Has she received any other type of compensation?” he asks her.

She nods her head. “I assume you’re looking at the sketch for the Krystal’s Crystals jewelry campaign.” President Kim nods his head. “I was given the full bonus on that account but she and I worked together on it. Because I was worried about what HaeRa would do if I gave her half of the money, I instead took her out for a day at the spa. I claimed I had been given a couples gift certificate and had no one else to go with. Anna had complained to me she was stressed out but didn’t have a place to relax yet here in Seoul, so I wanted her to get her reward. I also took her out for meals both times our team as a whole got a bonus.” She looked at me with guilt across her face and tears in her eyes.

Poor JinAe. I remember her taking me to the spa and those meals. Each time we met up it was outside of work on our off days. I knew she was trying to be nice without the others finding out. I didn’t blame her, it’s hard to go against your immediate supervisor. I gave her a smile in return to let her know I understood.

President Kim didn’t say anything else, he just kept looking through my sketches. Finally he finished and looked up at us. “I think I can tell who exactly has done what just from this notebook.” He turned and looked at me. “Anna I would like to hold onto this for a bit while I go back and verify what all was your work and what wasn’t. As well as I will have to have accounting fix our records as you’ve been credited with receiving money you haven’t and other have apparently gotten more than they were documented for or deserved.” He swept another look over the team. “If any of you have anything you’d like to tell me, I expect an email in my inbox by the time I return from lunch. After that you can go home for the rest of the day while my people look into this.” There were some terror stricken faces on the team, especially JooWon.

“JinAe and Anna, I’m going to put you two jointly in charge of the team and this account, until the investigation is over. We’ll figure it out from there. Why don’t both of you go on down and go out to… ice cream I believed was mentioned. Is there a reason for that?” We look at each other and just giggle. I also hear a few of the team stifle a chuckle. “I expect you both back in 2 hours so you can answer more questions.”

He gets up to leave with my notebook and flash drive in hand, “Oh and Anna, great work today.” He shoots me a smile.

I can feel the grin spread across my face from ear to ear. Just then my phone buzzes in my pocket. I read the text message,
Anna, what is taking so long? Your oppas want ice cream already! Junsu may start knawing Jae, he’s that hungry. Balli!

I read it and giggle. Then type back a quick response.
Neh, oppa! I’m bringing one of my co-workers. I’ll explain over a banana split. See you in a few.

I look over at JinAe, “Come on!” I grab her arm and drag out to our desks. “Let’s grab our purses and go. There are three gorgeous men awaiting to take us out.” She giggles. We grab our purses and head to the elevator.

While going down she says to me in a soft voice, “You don’t have to bring me along. I can go out by myself. I know you probably aren’t too happy with any of the team.”

I turn and give her a hug. She stiffens in my arms. “I’m just so happy that you really are my friend, I didn’t think I would have any here.” I feel her relax and return my hug. “I also want to say thank you and I’m sorry, for all that you had to do because of me.”

Right then the doors open and I feel a hand grab my arm and pull me out of the elevator, dragging JinAe along in my wake. It’s Junsu. And oppa was right he looks starved. I giggle.

“You had to text about ice cream too, didn’t you!” he accuses me.

Oppa grabs my hand out from his. I laugh as we all pile into their van headed off to get some ice cream. I wonder what flavor I’m going to get?

Notes

Yay! The work situation is starting to get better and finally we get some time back with JYJ. What flavors do you think everyone will get? Who's a cone person and who's going to get a sundae? Will Anna and Yoochun get their own or spilt one? Leave a comment with your thoughts.

Also don't for get to Comment, Vote & Subscribe!!