A Kingdom in the Clouds

[Marzena Vaas]

There had been two things that Julian Choi had wanted most in life – he wanted to stand at the alter and give Marzena away to a successful man, and he wanted Sebastian follow in his footsteps as CEO of Kingdom Group. It was a pity that he did not live to see either of these events come to pass. Marzena had wondered if her father’s unfulfilled wishes were the recipe for a ghost, if such specters actually existed outside of stories. However, as she stepped out of her transport outside of the prestigious Kingdom Mall, she couldn’t help but imagine that her father would somehow be there to see Sebastian assume control of his company. And she hoped that her father would be an invisible presence at her side as she walked down the aisle, if that day ever came.

The Choi children were currently staying at their family home on Dargul, and would remain there for a few days more before leaving for Cloud City. In addition to the matters of business to tend to at Kingdom, Sebastian and Marzena would make the trip to the cemetery to pay tribute to their father on the anniversary of his death. It was hard to believe that a year had already passed. During that time, much had changed for Marzena; she had made a home in First Order space, experienced a large growth in popularity within that territory, and became secretly involved with one of their generals. While she had been off living the high life in the clouds, Sebastian had remained firmly rooted to the ground on Dargul. Though Marzena had been named CEO after their father’s death, Sebastian had been the sole reason that the company had continued to run smoothly. However, this was the day that Marzena passed the torch along to the rightful holder of that title.

Marzena’s sharp heels came to a halt just outside the entrance of the mall, and she paused for a moment to look over the Kingdom that her father had built. The exterior was bright and pristine; the windows were always kept meticulously clean. Appearances had always been important to the Choi family, and their mall was no exception. The celebrity gazed at her reflection in the glass; nervous fingers rose to straighten her blouse and then fell to smooth down the front of her pencil skirt. She was dressed far more conservatively than she normally did, but she was making an appearance in front of the board members, not performing a concert for her fans. These men were old fashioned, and though they saw the appeal of using her celebrity status, they did not see Marzena as their leader.

“Are you ready?” A male voice spoke to her right, and she turned to see the suited figure of Sebastian.

“I think so.” She answered with a swift nod. Marzena turned just slightly, and she let her eyes find her brother out of the corner of her gaze –trying to observe quietly without him realizing. His hair was longer than it had been when she left Dargul, but she decided that the trendy style looked nice on him. Sebastian was dressed in a suit that was close to being very traditional, but had just the right about of style to set him apart from the rest of the executives. His light eyes were bright, and his complexion was clear. If looks were any indication, it seemed that life had been treating him quite well during her absence. Marzena’s eyes grew soft, her little brother had certainly grown into a man, and he reminded her very much of their father in that moment.

“What?” He asked, his brow furrowed slightly, as if wondering if there was something wrong with his appearance.

“Oh. It’s nothing.” Marzena offered Sebastian further reassurance in the form of a smile. She gestured towards the door and together the siblings walked inside.

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena let her eyes wander as they entered the mall, the interior was sparkling clean, and the floors were nicely polished. A few of the smaller shops had turned over into different hands during her time away, but the large flagship stores were still shining examples of Kingdom’s success. The pair had attracted some stares as they passed, but they made their way to the lifts with minimal interference from the mall-goers. As they rode up to the top level of the building, Marzena watched as Sebastian made a few last minute adjustments to his slim tie. Even though he would never admit it, she could tell that he was nervous. But she wasn’t worried, if ever there was a person that performed well under stress, it was him.

They were met by Bonnie Park and she greeted them with a respectful bow. Marzena’s assistant had done her part to escort the board members to the large conference room and saw to their needs in terms of beverages and reference materials.

“Everyone is present and accounted for, Miss Park?” Sebastian asked, smiling down at Bonnie.

He received a swift, enthusiastic nod from the young assistant, accompanied by the faintest blush. Marzena could only smirk, she’d had the feeling that Bonnie was suffering through a long-lived infatuation.

Sebastian entered the room first and made his way to a chair to the right of the podium. There were bottles of sparkling water set out for each honored guest, an agenda, and materials that displayed their ideas for Kingdom Group’s coming expansion. Each board member had served along with Julian Choi, and their expectations were high, considering that they had been happy during his reign as CEO. Marzena would likely have described these men as ‘stuffy’, the type that favored business over fun. However, she did suppose that they were well suited for their roles, and their work did contribute to the wealth of Kingdom Group.

Marzena took a deep breath before striding confidently into the room; she could feel every set of eyes upon her as she stepped behind the podium. She smiled warmly as she looked out towards the board members.

“I would like to thank everyone for coming. We have some grand plans to share, and I hope that we can count on your continued support during the exciting times ahead.” Marzena glanced around to gauge the reactions of the men around the table, but was met with serious and stony expressions that said very little. “First, we would like to ensure that Kingdom continues to grow and prosper. This can be accomplished by opening a new location in Cloud City on Bespin. The market is perfect for an establishment of our caliber. Second, we believe that Cloud City should become the home of our new corporate headquarters.”

The second point had elicited some quiet murmurs, but it was difficult to tell whether or not that was a good thing. Dargul had always been the home of Kingdom Group, but it was time for a change. Marzena liked to think that her father would have approved, but there was really no way to know.

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena took a quick glance down at her notes, and when she returned her gaze to the board members, she noticed immediately that there was a lone hand in the air. While she had not wanted to take any questions until the end, the intent look on the man’s face told her that he would not wait. Her fingers laced together atop the podium, and she cleared her throat gently before acknowledging the board member.

“Yes?”

“Ms. Choi, Bespin is First Order territory now, is it not?” His hand cradled his chin thoughtfully.

“That is correct - ” Marzena started to reply.

“Do you really feel that it is necessary to move our headquarters to such a world?”

The board members were now speaking in hushed voices among themselves, it was clear that they would need some convincing. Marzena attempted to re-gain control of the room, but her voice was lost in the sea of conversations. It was at that point that Sebastian Choi stood from his chair. He adjusted his tie one more time, and stepped up to Marzena’s side. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and flashed Marzena a glance that seemed to say ‘get out of the way’. She allowed Sebastian to move her aside, so that he would be able to take the place behind the podium.

“Mr. Ito, what comes to mind when you think of the First Order?” Sebastian’s clear voice rang out.

The room instantly fell silent. Marzena crossed her arms; she felt incredibly awkward standing off to the side, so she made for the nearest chair and had a seat. Her dark eyes watched as Mr. Ito considered the question that Sebastian had posed.

“Military strength.” He answered, receiving some nods of agreement.

“Then it may surprise you to learn that the First Order is much more than a military organization. They value businesses, and there are a number of incentives for those that choose to operate within their space. Marzena recently attended their Economic and Commerce Summit in Cloud City, some of the highlights have been noted in your packets.”

He let this information sink in for a moment before continuing, this time he stepped around from behind the podium. Sebastian had an easy and casual style, not that it lacked authority.

“Isn’t it true that JPR has relocated to Cloud City, as well?” Spoke another voice.

“Yes, we’ve heard that Mr. Renaud is very pleased with his choice.”

 

[Marzena Vaas]

​

The air in the room seemed less heavy now, and Marzena had watched with interest as Sebastian continued to smooth over the situation. She knew that Sebastian would not be transformed into a First Order loyalist quite like she had, but she could tell that he did recognize the benefits of moving there. All eyes in the room were now focused on a holoprojection of the concept art for the new Kingdom Mall.

“And here you have it, gentleman.” Sebastian said proudly, “A Kingdom in the clouds.”

When all else failed, it was always best to distract people with pictures. It did help bring much needed life to their idea, and made it far more believable. The design of the building was made to be bright, airy, and elegant. It would fit in nicely with the existing architecture in the city; it was modern but not obnoxiously so.

“As you can see – the design of this mall is sleek, clean, and luxurious. It will keep to all of the high standards that you associate with Kingdom. We will feature the brands you know and love, as well as some up and coming labels.”

“How will this location differ from the one here on Dargul?”

“Excellent question,” Sebastian smiled, “While we have always taken a lot of pride in the designers and brands we present in Kingdom, this mall in Cloud City will be catered to the elite members of society. We will be far more selective about our stores. Price points will be much higher.”

Marzena remained quiet as Sebastian continued to field questions, he was certainly better suited to this role than she could have ever hoped to be. She let her dark gaze study the faces of the board members, they looked at Sebastian with respect, and there were no longer looks of skepticism. All of them seemed to be quite captivated, and she hoped that they would throw their support behind their new move.

 

[Marzena Vaas]

The discussions continued for a time, and they Sebastian moved on towards their more concrete plans, once everyone seemed to be onboard. Everyone seemed amenable to the current timeline, and there was a renewed buzz in the conference room. Sebastian’s gaze shifted to Marzena, and he motioned for her to join him at the podium.

“Marzena and I will be returning to Cloud City within a few days. If anyone would like to visit the future site of the mall, please feel free to let us know. We will begin construction as soon as possible. As you can imagine, this is quite a task we have before us – this shopping center will be much larger than our mall here. However, I am confident that we can accomplish all that we need to in order to keep to our timetable.”

Sebastian bowed slightly, and stepped back to let Marzena take center stage again. She smiled brightly, happy to see that their plans would be moving forward. However, it was a bit sad to think that their father was not present to witness their new growth.

“As all of you are aware, we are approaching the anniversary of our father’s passing.” Marzena and a number of the board members bowed their heads reverently for a moment. “I know that he would appreciate all of the support you have provided during our transition. We could not have done it without you. It is a very important day for Kingdom and for the Choi family as well.”

Marzena aimed a sidelong glance at Sebastian, smiling.

“We will be holding a small ceremony in the center court this afternoon to officially name Sebastian as the Chief Executive of Kingdom Group. We hope you will join us. There will be refreshments served immediately following.”

She bowed respectfully and stepped aside, watching as the men in suits stood from their chairs. Some immediately moved towards the exit, while others remained behind to exchange words and pleasantries.

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena began to gather her things, but turned to see one of the board members, Leto Vox, approaching her. He was tall, sharply dressed, and finely groomed hair that was peppered with gray. She had known him since childhood; he was a familiar face around Kingdom Group. He had been a trusted confidant and a true friend to the Choi family. Mr. Vox offered Marzena a kind smile as he took her hand in both of his.

“Your father would be proud today, I’m sure of it.”

“Thank you, Mr. Vox.” Marzena returned his smile, “That means a lot, it really does.”

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before letting go. A small moment of silence fell between them, and Marzena watched as Mr. Vox’s expression turned contemplative. His index finger tapped along his chin for a moment, he looked like he wanted to say something... but was not quite sure how to place the words. Finally, he placed a hand on Marzena’s shoulder and drew her to the side.

“Marzena, do you remember my son, Daren? He is a few years older than you, he’s been very successful at the Yardly Corporation – he would be a very fitting match for you.”

The smile fell from Marzena’s face for a moment, and she turned her dark eyes down towards Mr. Vox’s polished dress shoes. Of course, everyone at Kingdom Group was well aware of Marzena’s unmarried status. However, they were unaware of the fact that she was actually involved with someone. For the time being, they would remain in the dark... but she longed for the day that she could reveal this information.

“I do remember him,” She started, “I’m glad to hear that he is doing so well. However, I’m not looking for a relationship right now.” Marzena said, trying to be diplomatic. She did not to offend Mr. Vox by turning down his offer.

“Very well.” He replied, disappointment obvious by the frown on his face. “Should you have a change of heart, you know how to contact me.”

Marzena watched as he turned on a heel and walked away. Her hand found the side of her forehead, and she closed her eyes for a moment. Everyone seemed entitled to be a part of her love life, as though she did not have her own desires to pursue. She let a small sigh escape her painted lips, letting her nerves grow calm again. Sebastian had appeared at her side, there was a wry smile on his face that told her that he’d overheard her conversation with Mr. Vox.

“Don’t say a word.” She said, a playful smile found her. “Let’s go, the ceremony will be starting soon.”

 

[Marzena Vaas]

The center court of Kingdom Mall had been transformed into a dazzling display; a large stage, intricate arrangements created with fresh flowers, all of the trappings of a joyful event. A section off to the side was lined in red velvet rope, a space for the VIP guests to enjoy a glass of champagne and some lavish hors d'oeuvres. As if the music, banners, and flash bulbs of the press were not enough to draw a crowd, a voice came over to loud speaker: “Ladies and gentlemen, please join us in the center court to celebrate the success of Kingdom Mall.”

Curious onlookers wandered towards the stage, and were instantly greeted with a small gift bag courtesy of Kingdom Group; a number of the shops had donated various items or discount coupons to the cause. Marzena checked her reflection in the mirror of her compact, carefully inspecting her makeup for any imperfections. Her slender fingers combed through her dark tresses a few times, before she gently snapped the compact closed. Sebastian cast a glance over at Marzena and shook his head, he would never understand her need to fuss and preen.

“There you are!” Called a clear voice, one that was all too familiar...

Spoiler

Marzena turned to see their mother, Aerin Choi, bustling quickly through the crowd. Their mother was an image of elegance and sophistication in her silk gown, her hair styled up, and her makeup done. Mrs. Choi was also the perfect personification of frantic, nervous energy that was skillfully hidden by a stoic exterior. And her voice was well suited for her upper-class judgmental tones, and was always pitch perfect for a slight, underhanded comment or two. When seen together, there was little doubt where Marzena had gained her love for red lipstick and her flare for drama – like mother, like daughter.

“Did you need something, Mother?” Marzena asked, a bit more attitude present in her voice than she had anticipated. That usually happened when faced with her mother.

“Oh, Marzena, did you happen to speak with Mr. Vox today?” Mrs. Choi asked, innocently.

“So, you were involved, I take it?” She said flatly, already rubbing the side of her forehead.

“Hmm,” Mrs. Choi merely shrugged, but there was a smile on her face that seemed to confirm Marzena’s suspicions.