The last reporter gets me to stop in my tracks. My head whips up, and I drop my hand from covering my face.
“Is it true that It’s Ok! is guilty of money mismanagement? Is it going to file for Chapter 11?” another photographer asks.
Chapter 11?In my complete and utter shock, I respond without thinking. “What’s that?” I say, right before the gate shuts, giving the photographers exactly what they want. The roar of camera clicks that follows startles even me. Not since theVoguearticle first came out when I was fourteen was I this clueless uttering those two words.
When the gate closes and the press is out of sight, I finally check my phone.
Breaking News
Updated 1 minute ago
Leading retailerIt’s Ok!is under investigation, sparked by complaints from multiple retail management companies of months of unpaid rent. This has caused the immediate closure of several of its international branches and a few here in the US. Thousands ofIt’s Ok!employees are waking up to find themselves out of a job, and amongst them is founder and CEO Dale Ok. The IRS has seized all of Ok’s assets while it conducts a thorough review of the management of the company’s funds. For now, it is unclear whether money mismanagement can be linked to financier George Bronstein’s recent criminal indictment for defrauding investors in a Ponzi scheme, also known as the Madoff 2.0 scandal, or if it points to ethical lapses at the highest levels of leadership. We reached out to a company representative for comment, but we did not get a response.
What(and I can’t stress this enough)the fuck?
Excerpt
“I wish I could say there is some magic formula to guarantee success, but there isn’t. Everything I have was built by my own two hands.”
The American Dream Achieved: The Story of Dale Ok, Founder of It’s Ok!
Transcript
60 MinutesInterview with Gloria Ok
Interviewer:You and your husband have created one of the fastest-growing US-based clothing brands. Your son’s appointment at the company as an executive in training was just announced, and your daughter is well-known for her status as a socialite turned influencer. Clearly this is a family full of success stories. What would you say is the secret?
Gloria:There is no secret, just hard work. As Dale would say, he accomplished everything with his own two hands.
Interviewer:And how hands-on is he about the day-to-day running of the business?
Gloria:Veryhands-on. Nothing at the company happens without Dale’s approval.
Interviewer:Really? For such a large-scale business, that’s quite impressive.
Interviewer:It’s Ok! has experienced significant expansion over the past year, including abroad.
Gloria:Yes, it’s true. Seventy-five new stores have opened in the US and twenty-five overseas.
Interviewer:But recent data indicates a steady increase in online shopping. Given the shift in consumer behavior, is there any concern regarding the potential impact on the business?
Gloria:As part of our growth strategy, Dale plans to reduce retail stores and shift our focus to expanding our e-commerce presence. We’re also entertaining investment proposals to expand the company into fragrance and skincare.
Interviewer:Speaking of investment proposals, we’ve heard rumors about It’s Ok! being involved with financier George Bronstein. Is it true the company has invested in his business scheme?
Chapter 3
An hour later we’ve been summoned to a nondescript warehouse in LA’s Fashion District. It’s been unused for a while now, and some of the local vendors have been known to do shady business down here. How fitting that this is where Dad has chosen to meet with our lawyer. I didn’t think he could be capable of anything this sleazy, but his secrecy about the company’s day-to-day business, even with his own family, does make me raise a brow.
“Please. Sit.” Mr.Ahn, my dad’s personal lawyer since forever, pulls up some old crates and gestures for us to sit.
My dad declines, opting to stand with his hands folded across his chest in what I’m sure he thinks is a power move. My mom unties the silk scarf around her neck and sits on the scarf after laying it on a crate. I’m too frazzled to sit, so instead I pace aimlessly. Of course Gavin makes a show of sitting down, eyeing me specifically as he lowers himself to the crate, pretending not to take notice of the splinters burrowing their way through his Ermenegildo Zegna slacks. Like he’s some kind of goddamn hero for not having standards. I would call him out on it, except now is not the time for snobbery, especially if any part of the article implicating It’s Ok! is true.
Once we’re settled, Mr.Ahn clears his throat. “Now, it looks bad, but—”
Oh, thank God, there’s abut.
