Page 18 of Rewind

Ethan pushed away from the table and stood up. “It seems we’re at a stalemate because I don’t take kindly to people coming after my livelihood. You can take this contract, and shove it up your ass.” He marched toward the exit without looking back, but was halted when Soo-ah spook.

“How vulgar. I guess that’s to be expected when you’re not raised correctly. You’re just like your tacky mother.”

Ethan clenched his fists. He didn’t consider himself a violent man, but he wanted to grab this bitch by the hair and slam her head against a wall. She was so lucky he didn’t hit women. It occurred to him she was deliberately trying to goad him and she’d nearly succeeded by bringing up his mother.

“You know, Soo-ah, there’s a saying we have in America, that money can’t buy class. And clearly you’re the embodiment of those words. Having met you, I’d say my father’s taste in women has downgraded significantly after my mother. Have the day you deserve.”

Soo-ah’s mouth gapped open like a fish on a hook and her face turned beet red.

This time without stopping, Ethan forcefully yanked the door open and stomped out the room.

Fuck that woman.

He was halfway to his car when Kevin called out to him. “Dr. Han! Dr. Han!”

Ethan wanted to keep walking but the frantic sound of the person behind him, made him pause. He turned on his heel only to see Kevin, frantic and red faced, with the documents he’d left behind in hand.

“Please, I just need a moment of your time.”

Ethan narrowed his gaze and stared down at the man despite only having a couple of inches on him. “I think everything that was needed to be said has been. Now if you’ll excuse me.”

When he attempted to turn around, Kevin placed his hand on Ethan’s shoulder to stop him. “Look, Dr. Han. I understand things got a little contentious back there but?—”

“And it will get even more contentious if you don’t remove your hand.” Ethan stared pointedly at Kevin’s hand that still rested on his shoulder.

The other man had the good grace to blush. He backed away. “I meant no offense. I’m only trying my best to represent my client’s best interests.”

“So, you mean to tell me, it’s in your client’s best interests to bully me into signing a document I don’t agree with, and if I don’t my career is threatened? I don’t know what kind of law firm you work for but making those kinds of threats sounds illegal and the sort of thing that could get you in trouble with the Bar Association.”

Kevin held up his hands. “I can understand how you can find Mrs. Kim’s words upsetting, but if you would take a moment to see things from her perspective maybe we could reach an understanding. Also, I could perhaps convince her to raise thecompensation by another 5 million. Think about it. You could retire early and live a life of leisure.”

Ethan clenched his fists at his sides and inhaled deeply. The longer he stood in this man’s presence, the more annoyed he grew. He never gave a damn about his father’s money. He only wanted the chance to get to know him. But if Jung Kang- chul wanted nothing to do with him, then so be it. But he’d be damned if he took their bribe money just to assuage their guilt.

“Let me make this perfectly clear to you,Mr. Yoon, I will not be looking over that document because I have no intention of signing it now or in the future. So please don’t contact me anymore.”

“Look, I understand you make a good living but this is a lot of money.”

“Fuck off!” Ethan turned and this time ignored the other man when he called after him.

When he slid into his car, he released a heavy breath and placed his head against the steering wheel.

The dream of meeting his father was well and truly over. He doubted Soo-ah would make such a move without approval from the family. Besides, if his father wanted to get in contact with him, Ethan wasn’t hard to find. Ethan was certain his existence was known so if in 38 years he made no effort to contact him then that was his answer.

Even with that knowledge, it didn’t stop the burning in his chest that made it difficult to breathe. The pain of rejection seared the deepest part of his soul. His mother had warned him and maybe that would have saved him the heartache had he listened, but at least he had his answer.

“This day can’t possibly get any worse,” he muttered to himself.

He pressed the start button on his car just as the blue tooth signaled that he had a call. The dashboard displayed his business partner’s phone number.

Frank was on call this week at the hospital and sometimes called to consult him on a matter even though he had been one of Ethan’s mentor. It was refreshing to work with someone who was confident in their skill set but was also willing to listen to someone who was more familiar with newer techniques and studies in their field.

But if it wasn’t a consultation it was possibly to cover for him, which didn’t happen often but it was a possibility. Ethan hoped it was the former rather than the latter because he didn’t have the mental capacity to go into the hospital right now.

He pressed the answer button on his dashboard screen. “Hey Frank what’s up?”

His greeting was met with a heavy sigh. “Are you sitting down?”

“I’m in my car but I’m sitting in a parking lot. Is everything alright? You sound tired.”

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