Disenchanted
Our story might just have a second act... let's hope it's not a tragedy.
"You are not going to believe what I'm about to tell you," Rachel moaned as she slid into the car. "I was so angry, I couldn't even call you last night to complain."
Eun-sang shook her head. "I'm sure it's not that bad. Should we wait so you can share with Bo-na?"
Rachel made a face. "No, she's going to school with Chan-young today. Serves her right for ditching us for her boyfriend."
It had become tradition, after all, for the girls to ride to school together in the mornings. Cha Eun-sang's mansion was the furthest, so she always picked up the other two girls on their way to school. It was habit, after so many years of them being friends, to arrive together. Now that Lee Bo-na had left them to themselves, it felt like a betrayal - no matter how much they approved of her relationship with Chan-young.
As they neared campus, the neighborhood Rachel lived in disappeared as the more crowded areas of the city flew by in the window. Living in a mansion did have its perks, but a downside was the sheer amount of time it always took to get to school in the mornings.
"Mother's getting remarried!" Rachel burst out, unable to hold the news in any longer. Eun-sang shot her friend a look of sympathy. Her parents had divorced not too long ago, and the long, difficult process had been hard on the heiress as well.
"How is the father-to-be, then?" she asked.
The other girl only scoffed. "You've met him before. The CEO of Zeus Hotels." Both couldn't help but shiver in unison. "He's intimidating as hell. And we're going to have to move in with him!"
The car was silent as it sped through the city. As it passed through the gates of Jeguk High School, Eun-sang finally commented, "It will be really good for RS International, at least. Your stocks are going to skyrocket after the press conference."
The heiress rolled her eyes. "The profit that RS International will gain is incomparable to the torture I'll have to endure." The vehicle rolled to a stop, and both girls smoothed their hands over their uniforms to flatten any creases before gracefully stepping out of the car. "I mean, being related to Choi Young-do! What sin did I commit to end up like this?"
Choi Young-do. Eun-sang tuned out Rachel's rambling as she pondered over the name. It wasn't one she recognized, but it felt as if she should know who it was. She was not one for caring about connections or faces - in their world, everyone had money and power, with the beauty to match. She only held those dear to her close to her heart. If she memorized every single student's name and face, along with their company, annual sales, and stock prices, she'd be unable to function properly.
Making their way into the building and through the halls, both girls straightened as the whispering of the other students, as usual, started up.
Did you see RS International's fall line? It's so cute, Yoo Rachel was modeling it in-
Cha Eun-sang's skin is so smooth! What products does she-
Midterms are coming up, Yoo Rachel and Cha Eun-sang will be in the top five for sure-
"Eun-sang-ah!"
Both girls turned at the sound of the name being called. The Chairwoman of Jeguk High made her way to the two, smiling as she did so.
"Rachel, you're looking more beautiful every time I see you!" Said girl smiled at the compliment and bowed her head. "Eun-sang, thank you for setting a good example for students and coming so early to school. The housekeeper informed me you already left when I was eating breakfast!"
"Yes, Mother, Rachel's house is in a different direction than the school and Bo Na's is as well," Eun-sang replied with a polite smile on her face. "I have to leave early so that both of them will be on time."
"Well, you left so early that I didn't have the chance to tell you at home. Won is coming back from California today; there was an emergency at the company that required his presence in Korea." The Chairwoman's own polite smile was strained at best. "I'm sure he'll be done by afternoon, though. He personally told me that he wanted you to drop by the Jeguk Group building after your classes."
"Thank you, Mother," Eun-sang said, nodding her head. The Chairwoman flashed one more smile before walking away; the students who had been silently watching burst into whispers once more. As soon as she turned the corner, Eun-sang's polite countenance dropped completely as she forcefully opened her locker.
"Why are you so angry?" Bo-na bounded up to the both of them, having just witnessed the interaction. "By the way, why do you call her Mother? Everyone knows you're not blood related. She's the third wife of your father, and you were born to the second."
"She asked me to call her Mother when she first came to the house," Eun-sang sighed while grabbing the books necessary for the day's lessons. "She didn't ask Won-oppa because he was already old enough to resent her. She wanted me to accept her so that I would listen to her every word, and now I just let her think that I do."
"She tried to manipulate you," Rachel noted.
"Tried? She still tries, to this day. The years have changed nothing," Eun-sang countered.
"What do you mean?" Bo-na questioned, furrowing her brow.
"Won-oppa would call me directly if he wanted me to come by the office. Secretary Yoon tells me everything about his whereabouts; Oppa's flight is still scheduled for Saturday. She essentially wants me to show up at the company and make a fool of myself." She definitely slammed the locker door shut, and everyone's eyes turned to her impassive face. "She's scared of what I can do once I take my birthright. Blood is thicker than water."
As she walked away from her friends, the other students parted to make way for her.
The one and only heiress of the Jeguk Group was not to be taken lightly.
"Won-oppa!" Eun-sang called, immediately dropping her bag on the sofa and rushing forward to hug her old brother. "How was America? Did you get me any presents?"
"Of course presents would be the first thing you ask for," he laughed, affectionately messing her hair up as she ducked and pouted. "And it didn't go well as we hoped. The Hiltons were less than willing to sign the contract."
"What? That's ridiculous," Eun-sang said, pulling away. "Why would they do that? The contract was favorable to their side as well."
"The CEO of Zeus Hotels called in a favor with them, asking them to turn it down. He heard about the deal and he wants to secure a position. Korean and Korean companies joining forces will boost them to the international level. They've been itching to expand out of Asia for months now."
"You don't seem disappointed about it," she observed. "Is is possible that this is what you wanted all along?"
"Ah, little sister, why would you say that?" Won asked, smirking as he did so.
"The mall is being built in Seoul, in South Korea. Zeus is much larger than the Hilton chain in Asia," Eun-sang reasoned. "By going to Hilton first, you made it seem like a large international project that Zeus would inevitably want to jump on. Plus, Korean companies joining together only looks better for the Jeguk image."
"My little dongsaeng is so smart," he affirmed. "Anyway, CEO Dong-wook already called while I was on the plane. You and I will be playing golf with him and his son tomorrow morning."
"His son?"
"You don't know?" Won chided. "Yah, you should be making connections in that elite high school of yours. Don't be oblivious to everything."
"It's our family's high school. It's not like I could go anywhere else in Korea, and Father won't let me study abroad," she replied, rolling her eyes.
"Choi Young-do. He's your age, just returned from California this past summer after his father sent him there as punishment."
Choi Young-do. It was the name Rachel had voiced with disdain earlier in the week. Right; she and him were going to be stepsiblings after the marriage. But the thought of California stirred something deep in her memory. Choi Young-do… could it really be…?
Eun-sang and Won, dressed in their golfing attire, were already heading out the door the next morning when they were stopped by a booming voice.
"Leaving so soon in the morning?"
The two siblings turned and immediately bowed their heads. "Yes, Father," Won replied. "We have an appointment with CEO Dong-wook and his son this morning."
"His son?" Kim Nam-joon questioned, before his eyes landed on Eun-sang. "Ah, I see. Make sure you leave a good impression, Eun-sang."
She fought back the urge to roll her eyes. Of course her father would tell her that. He was adamant that Eun-sang be more social and secure an arranged marriage soon. In Kim Nam-joon's eyes, heiresses were prizes, tools used to build connections. He'd been disappointed when his second wife gave birth to a daughter instead of a son; he had been hoping arrange a marriage with RS International's new heiress at the time. When it hadn't happened, he ensured that the two girls spent so much time together that they became the best of friends.
"We'll be late, Eun-sang." She nodded at Won's reminder and turned to go, feeling her father's eyes on her back the entire way out the door.
His father, as usual, was instructing him exactly what to do. "I will be losing to Kim Won. Whatever you do, show your dominance over the girl. Make sure to leave a good impression on both; he's protective over his sister, and if he doesn't approve of you, an arranged marriage will have no chance of occurring."
"You do realize that you're basically telling me how to get out of this arranged marriage, right?" Young-do asked, looking into the distance.
"After all the time I let you play in America," his father threatened, "you better do at least one thing right. Jeguk and Zeus will go far together. Besides, the girl has high breeding. One of the best in her class, I heard, and she's best friends the heiress of Mega Entertainment and also, your stepsister. Take advantage of this opportunity."
Cha Eun-sang. He'd recognized her the first day at Jeguk, sitting all prim and proper in her seat and ignoring the rest of her classmates. He'd only ever seen her interact with the two aforementioned girls and that one social welfare student. She hadn't looked his way these past first few weeks of school, not even once. Hell, he and Bo-na had encountered each other a few times, and now Rachel was, unfortunately, going to be part of the family. And yet Cha Eun-sang, the golden girl, couldn't get off her high horse to pay him any sort of attention.
"CEO Kim!" His father yelled, holding his hand up in greeting. Young-do turned to face the newcomers with a less-than-genuine smile pasted on.
CEO Kim was walking towards them with a smile on his face. And Cha Eun-sang…
...stood frozen in her place, her eyes trained on Young-do.
An expression of shock rippled across her pretty features before the mask of indifference once again took over.
He couldn't help but smirk.
So, you've finally recognized me? Let the games begin...
Yo. I finished college applications (while also keeping up with the show hehe) so this happened.
If you guys haven't, check out sunkenshipsails' Fallen Crown on tumblr. It's also a YoungdoxEunsang fic and it's not an AU, but rather a continuation of the show. It really inspired me to start writing for this pairing.
I'm also thinking of doing another fic for this pairing that explores different AU's - college, fantasy, Hollywood, etc. What do you guys think?
Please leave a review.