Chapter 26: Facing the Board

The ride to the office was suffocatingly silent. YN and Seokjin were lost in their own thoughts, both acutely aware that everything was about to change. The city passed by in a blur of colours, but neither of them noticed. They were too focused on what awaited them at the end of this drive.

As the car pulled up to the building, Seokjin felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. The press was already gathered outside, their cameras flashing and microphones thrust forward as they tried to catch a glimpse of the couple. Security guards held them back, but it was clear that the story had spiralled out of control.

"Are you ready?" Seokjin asked, turning to YN. His voice was gentle, but the concern in his eyes was palpable.

YN took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. "I have to be," she replied, her voice firm despite the anxiety churning inside her.

They stepped out of the car, immediately bombarded by the flashing lights and the cacophony of shouted questions. The reporters were relentless, yelling out invasive questions that made YN's skin crawl.

"YN, is it true you're resigning?"

"Seokjin, how do you feel about the rumours of your affair?"

"YN, are you pregnant?"

"Did you know about the video leak?"

They ignored the questions, walking as quickly as they could into the building. The doors shut behind them, muffling the noise, but the tension didn’t lift. The office was quiet unnervingly so. The usual hum of activity had been replaced by an oppressive silence, and the few employees who were present kept their heads down, avoiding eye contact.

Han Beom Seok was waiting for them in the lobby, his expression grim. "They're all upstairs," he said without preamble. "I've done what I can to calm them down, but it's not looking good."

YN nodded, grateful for his support. "Thank you, Beom Seok. We appreciate everything you've done."

Beom Seok gave her a sympathetic look. "Just be honest with them," he advised. "Tell them the truth. That's the only way you might get through this."

They took the elevator up to the boardroom, the tension thick between them. As the doors opened, YN felt her heart race. This was the moment of truth.

The board members were already seated around the large table, their faces a mix of disappointment, anger, and concern. YN’s father, Lee Jong Suk, sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable. It was clear that he was caught between his duty as the chairman and his emotions as a father.

"Sit down," Jong Suk said, his voice cold and authoritative.YN and Seokjin did as they were told, taking seats at the far end of the table. The room was heavy with tension, the silence almost unbearable.

Jong Suk cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "I think you both know why we're here today," he began, his voice steady but laced with underlying anger. "The events of the past few days have brought considerable shame and embarrassment to this company and to our family. The media storm is relentless, and the public's perception of us has been severely damaged."

YN swallowed hard, her father's words cutting deep. She had never seen him so disappointed, and it hurt more than she could have imagined.

"Seokjin," Jong Suk continued, his gaze shifting to the man sitting beside his daughter. "You have been a loyal employee, and I have come to respect you. But your actions—"

"Mr. Lee," Seokjin interrupted, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "I take full responsibility for what happened. It was my mistake. YN should not have to suffer for it."

Jong Suk's eyes narrowed, his voice cold. "Do you think that absolves you of blame? This is about more than just a mistake, Seokjin. This is about the reputation of an entire company, the legacy of my family. You’ve put everything at risk with your recklessness."

Seokjin felt a pang of guilt, but he refused to back down. "I know, and I’m willing to face the consequences. But I won’t let YN bear the brunt of this. She’s worked too hard, sacrificed too much, and lost everything because of me."

Jong Suk leaned back in his chair, regarding Seokjin with a mixture of anger and something else, something that almost resembled respect. "And what would you suggest, then?" he asked, his tone challenging.

Seokjin hesitated for a moment, glancing at YN. "I’ll resign," he said finally, the words heavy. "Effective immediately. I’ll leave the company, and I’ll do whatever it takes to repair the damage."

"Seokjin, no!" YN protested, turning to him with wide eyes. "You don’t have to do this. We can find another way."

But Seokjin shook his head, a small, sad smile on his lips. "This is the only way, YN. I can't let you lose everything because of me."

Jong Suk watched the exchange in silence, his expression unreadable. "Your resignation might solve one problem," he said after a long pause, "but it won’t fix the public’s perception of YN or this company. The scandal is already out there, and people are looking for blood."

YN felt a wave of frustration and helplessness wash over her. "So what do you want us to do?" she asked, her voice tinged with desperation. "You want me to give up everything I’ve worked for? You want us to pretend like none of this ever happened?"

Jong Suk’s gaze softened slightly, but his tone remained firm. "I want you both to be prepared for the consequences of your actions. This won’t be easy, and it won’t be over quickly. But if you’re serious about protecting this company and your futures, then you need to show the world that you’re willing to fight for it."

He paused, looking between them. "That means making difficult decisions, taking responsibility, and finding a way to move forward together or apart."

YN glanced at Seokjin, her heart aching. She knew her father was right, but the thought of losing Seokjin, of facing this storm alone, was unbearable.

"I won’t leave her," Seokjin said quietly, but with conviction. "I’ll resign if that’s what it takes, but I won’t abandon YN. Not now, not ever."

Jong Suk studied Seokjin for a moment, then sighed. "Very well. But understand this: if you choose to stay together, you’ll be facing an uphill battle. You’ll need to be prepared for the fallout, for the public scrutiny, for the loss of business. This company can’t afford any more scandals."

"We understand," YN said firmly, her hand reaching out to grasp Seokjin’s under the table. "And we’ll do whatever it takes to make this right."

Jong Suk nodded, though his expression remained stern. "Then you have my support. But know that this will be the hardest fight of your lives. Don’t let me or yourselves down."

The meeting concluded with a sense of grim determination. As YN and Seokjin left the boardroom, hand in hand, they knew the battle was far from over. But for the first time in days, they felt a glimmer of hope. Together, they would face whatever came their way, ready to fight for their love and their future.

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