By Zephyria 
“……Compared to last year’s investment, we are growing from 23 percent to 30 percent. At this rate, operating profits are expected to increase up to 38 percent in the second quarter.”
Standing beside Han Seung-jae, who sat in the seat of honor on the sofa, the employee broke into a cold sweat throughout the performance report. His eyes flickered anxiously from side to side. Han Seung-jae asked while flipping through the documents.
“Can you take responsibility for those words?”
“…….”
Unlike before, the employee, who had been reciting numbers during the report, pressed his lips together. No, why on earth had he been summoned alone? Where had everyone else gone? As the silence stretched, Han Seung-jae looked up at him.
“We are using a 5 percent annual growth rate as momentum, and since the reported performance outlook is bright, there is a high possibility.”
As the employee rambled on, Han Seung-jae cut him off by tossing the documents forward.
“So, are you saying you’ll take responsibility?”
“Ah, no. No, Director Han. I didn’t mean it in that sense. It is merely an assumption.”
“Report only the facts as they are. Do not include numbers you cannot take responsibility for.”
“I am sorry. I will rewrite it and submit the report again.”
The employee bowed and gathered the report from the table.
“Then, I shall take my leave.”
The door opened, and the employee walked out of the Director’s Office with slumped shoulders. Yet, unlike before, his eyes held a look of pity as he glanced at Jin Seok-young. It was as if he were looking at a comrade who had fallen out of Han Seung-jae’s favor.
Go Su-hwan watched the door close again. He fiddled with his wristwatch. It was already nearly 6 o’clock.
* * *
“He is still waiting. What should we do?”
Unable to watch any longer, Secretary Park asked once more. Han Seung-jae, who had been heading toward his desk, grabbed his suit jacket. He slid his long arms in and fastened the button.
Secretary Park followed behind him. Long legs strode straight toward one destination. As the door swung open, the gazes of Jin Seok-young, who was standing there, and Han Seung-jae intertwined in mid-air. Beside him, Go Su-hwan, who had been chatting about trivial matters, froze in surprise.
“…….”
Han Seung-jae brushed past him. He didn’t say a word to Jin Seok-young. There wasn’t even a common courtesy of a superficial greeting, even a reluctant one.
With a stride, Seok-young began to walk behind him. Secretary Park, closing the gap with Han Seung-jae, stepped ahead and pressed the elevator button.
“Well, it’s also the fault of the party who came here recklessly without an appointment. Now that I’ve seen it with my own eyes, I know you’re busy, but out of respect for the person who waited, please spare some time.”
The reason Jin Seok-young spoke first was likely because he had a matter to request, enough to make him wait for Han Seung-jae all the way here. It was only natural for the person in need to humble themselves.
Just then, the elevator doors opened, and Han Seung-jae stepped inside first. Jin Seok-young took a spot beside him. Secretary Park and Go Su-hwan followed.
Perhaps because of the current flowing between the two men, a taut tension filled the elevator. Because of it, the spacious interior felt suffocatingly narrow.
“30 seconds.”
When Han Seung-jae said that while looking at the display board, Jin Seok-young’s expression changed for a split second. He had spoken while maintaining a certain level of business etiquette. And yet, the result returned was this utter disregard.
Whether his pride was wounded or not, he looked far less composed compared to Han Seung-jae’s impassive face.
The elevator arrived at the first floor and the doors opened, and Secretary Park walked out. Following him, Go Su-hwan stepped out, unsure of what to do.
Looking at Jin Seok-young’s face, which was turning red and blue with anger, he hesitated over whether to block the path of the departing Director Han. Given the circumstances, it seemed Han Seung-jae would never agree to a separate appointment. If he left like this, there was no telling how long he would have to wait for him again tomorrow.
Secretary Park opened the rear door of the parked sedan. Han Seung-jae’s elegant body, clad in a dark suit, bent without hesitation as he slid smoothly into the car.
“Fuck.”
He’s ignoring me to the very end. Muttering this, Jin Seok-young walked over, opened the opposite door, and got in. Jin Tae-won, the eldest son, had instructed him to make sure he resolved the issue before returning. If he went back without even bringing up the subject or trying anything, not only would his reputation be dragged through the mud, but he wouldn’t be able to handle Jin Tae-won’s massive nagging.
Secretary Park, who was about to close the rear door, paused. Go Su-hwan stood frozen like a stone, unable to move.
“Let’s go.”
Secretary Park settled into the passenger seat. His Adam’s apple moved slowly up and down. Through the rearview mirror, he observed Han Seung-jae and the expression of Jin Seok-young, who was watching him intently.
The stationary sedan moved leisurely. Having seemingly managed his emotions, Jin Seok-young spoke calmly and politely, emphasizing every single word.
“There should be a child named Jin Seon-yu at Director Han’s house. He is my immature younger brother. Please let him out.”
Han Seung-jae had been staring straight ahead the entire time.
“Why should I?”
Compared to Jin Seok-young’s words, which were polite and full of courtesy, the answer Han Seung-jae gave was incredibly blunt. There wasn’t even a hint of sincerity. Moreover, it was so sharp that even Jin Seok-young couldn’t easily speak.
Secretary Park groaned inwardly. It seemed there was a stark difference in the way they had lived their lives.
While excelling in investments, Han Seung-jae had not hesitated to reach into businesses that others avoided. Because of that, he had encountered a diverse range of people. The judgment required to endure such risks was not something acquired overnight.
“Ha. Fuck. What do I have to do to get you to let Seon-yu out?”
Eventually, Jin Seok-young threw away the politeness and revealed his true colors. Empty platitudes were difficult for him to use in the first place, given his personality.
Furthermore, it was Han Seung-jae’s house, no less. It was by no means an easy task to barge in there and drag Jin Seon-yu out. It was practically impossible. That was why he had spent the entire afternoon trying to meet him by waiting in front of Han Seung-jae’s office.
Jin Seok-young put his hand in his inner pocket. Secretary Park wondered if he was pulling out a bribe. How naive and foolish.
It seemed a rumor had spread among those who had received investments from Han Seung-jae that he liked receiving gifts, but Han Seung-jae didn’t just accept anything. There were times when he faced awkward situations due to inappropriate gifts. However, what Jin Seok-young pulled out was a cell phone. He held it out so Han Seung-jae could see.
“This should be an answer.”
Secretary Park was curious about what Han Seung-jae was looking at, but from his position, he couldn’t see a thing on the phone screen the two were viewing.
Jin Seok-young lowered the phone.
In the photo sent just before the screen timed out, three men were pictured. They were the ones who had blocked Seo Yi-kyung’s path in front of the art supply store and engaged in a physical fight. Their cheeks were bruised deep purple. Blood flowed from their noses, and the corners of their mouths were torn. Soon after, the screen turned black.
Only then did Han Seung-jae look at Jin Seok-young.
“I guess your head isn’t just for decoration.”
Jin Seok-young’s mouth twisted menacingly for a moment before he quickly composed his expression.
“Then let him out right now. I’ll take him.”
Jin Seok-young put the phone back in his inner pocket. However, the ‘card’ he presented only succeeded in catching Han Seung-jae’s eye. Such a thing held no meaning for Han Seung-jae. Since they were already battered, there seemed to be no need to order them to be found further, but saving time was saving time.
“I don’t feel like doing that at all.”
“This has nothing to do with that, does it? This is strictly a family matter of ours……”
“It doesn’t. I have zero interest.”
But hadn’t Seo Yi-kyung waited without sleep and held onto Han Seung-jae, pleading? Asking for just one week’s time. Why was he making such a struggle over something so simple?
“Then just let him out! Just throw him out the door, and I’ll handle the rest.”
“You talk a big game for someone who handles work like that.”
Eventually, Jin Seok-young’s thick eyebrows shot up.
“Director Han.”
“What, did my words hurt your feelings?”
“…….”
“So, why did you drag an unrelated person into this and make a mess of things to that extent?”
After receiving the report on the series of events that occurred in front of the art supply store, Han Seung-jae had moved quickly to clean things up so that the name Seo Yi-kyung would not be mentioned in the press. In doing so, he had also erased the existence of Jin Seon-yu, who had been with him.
Han Seung-jae barked at him with cold eyes.
“Since he wasn’t hurt, it ends here.”
“…….”