Chapter 13 – A New Path

Woo Bin stared through tight, gritty eyes at the contract on his desk. He had probably been staring at the same sheet of paper for the last few hours but had no idea what it said. While he looked calm (if a bit dozy) on the outside, his thoughts and emotions were flying through a million questions and a million fears. He steeled himself to at least pretending to get through the work day; above all he must be careful now not to let anyone think there was anything wrong. To act in any way out of the usual could stir suspicions that might get back to his father – and Woo Bin didn't even want to think what the outcome of that might be. He had gone over and over his discovery made early that morning – was it only mere hours ago? What did it mean? And most importantly, had he covered his tracks well enough? Would his father be able to tell that someone else had accessed that file? Woo Bin loosened his tie and glanced at the clock, then closed his eyes and drew in a long, deep breath, forcing down the instinct to run.

"Late night, last night?" Woo Bin's eyes flung open, the sudden speed of his pounding heart actually painful in his chest. He faked a carefree grin at the interrupting employee in relief at the innocence of the man's question and shrugged. Fortunately, the man did not hang around to wait for more of an answer than that. Woo Bin sunk back in his chair, feeling weak after the sudden deluge of adrenalin. What was he supposed to do? he wondered. His first instinct was to go to Kwon Young Sool and let him handle this but he knew it was far beyond the Police Captain's scope. He wasn't sure that Kwon would even know who to take this information to.

And after all, he thought, breathing a little more evenly now, was he absolutely sure about what he had found? He had better be quite certain before making an accusation like this against his father – it could potentially bring the whole company down. And if he was wrong about this, there would be no hiding his involvement from his father. Woo Bin realized that even if he went to Kwon with this right away, he was the only one in a position to do anything with the information he had. Perhaps his father trusted him enough now to let him in on this new enterprise so that when he did go to the authorities he could have something more concrete to give them.

This certainty seemed to sink into his bones, illuminating the only path he could take now. A new sense of purpose, still, deep and solemn, came over him, calming his anxiety. He stood up from his desk, straightened his tie and walked directly to his father's office. His father's secretary gaped at Woo Bin as he asked if his father might have a few moments to see him. No one ever came to see the boss voluntarily! Hesitantly, the man called in to President Song with Woo Bin's request. Woo Bin tried not to think about the rashness of what he was about to do.

His father was just as surprised as his secretary had been. It was not like his son to be so forward with him. After staring at him for a few minutes, he gruffly asked, "Well, Woo Bin, what is it?"

"Abeoji, I hope my work these past few months has met with your approval."

Never one to give praise where he didn't have to, he responded, "You've managed not to **** anything up yet."

Woo Bin suppressed a wry smile. "You were right – I had been putting off my responsibilities to the company for far too long. I have been learning a lot. I think I'm ready for something more…substantial."

His father raised an eyebrow at this. "Are you displeased with your duties here, Woo Bin?" he asked, testing him.

"You've been giving me milk runs and you know it." Woo Bin held his breath, hoping he hadn't pushed his father too far.

Pres. Song was momentarily taken aback.

"More substantial?" His father repeated, his face a mask, his tone guarded.

"I understand that these minor drug deals and money laundering arrangements are our bread and butter, but the Il Shim Hwe jopok is more than a common gang of thugs making back alley deals! I mean, I know we can't operate on the same level as the Yakuza or the Triads, but surely there is more to our work than what I've seen so far!"

Woo Bin knew how to play his father right, but feared his comparison to the Japanese and Chinese mafias may have crossed a line. He knew that outside of Korea, the Korean mafia was considered to be rather a joke. Woo Bin held his breath as he struggled to maintain his façade of nonchalance. Meanwhile his father was silent, his eyes burning as he ground his teeth.

"Perhaps, my son, it is time for you to truly understand what the name Il Shim Hwe means in the world." Woo Bin swallowed his uneasiness as his father regarded him closely.

"Tomorrow night you will accompany me to a meeting with a very special client. You will not ask me any questions and you will not speak of this to anyone. Is that clear?"

"Ye, Abeoji."

The older man's stern expression softened slightly. "It was your grandfather's desire that what he built continue to grow through you. You must serve his memory well. Now go. I will see you tomorrow night."

"Ye, Abeoji."

As he closed the door to his father's office firmly behind him, Woo Bin experienced a momentary surge of vertigo. He felt as though he had just stepped out onto a high wire over a deep chasm, where the slightest misstep would result in instantaneous catastrophe. There would no longer be any option of turning safely aside from this path. Now the only way out was to go forward – or down to destruction. Woo Bin sincerely hoped it would not be the latter.