By Zephyria 
Having finished his external schedule early in the day, Kwon Young-je was perfectly polished from head to toe. The Dominant Alpha, dressed in a navy-tinged black suit, exuded his usual dignity.
Everywhere he walked, apex employees bowed respectfully. The way they treated the Vice President was distinctly different from how they treated other executives.
Kwon Young-ho barely managed to swallow the animosity boiling up inside him. Thanks to practicing in front of the mirror several times, it wasn’t difficult to conjure a fresh smile.
Kwon Young-je had also spotted Kwon Young-ho a while ago. He had been informed that he was here even before entering the company. His long legs strode toward his destination without stopping. There was no reason at all to avoid Kwon Young-ho.
“It’s been a while. You seem to have been well. You’re looking good.”
“……”
“I can still speak to you informally since it’s before your inauguration, right? I’m not quite in the mood to treat you like a Vice President just yet.”
Kwon Young-je didn’t even sneer. His now-chilly eyes turned to the directors gathered around Kwon Young-ho. The directors, who had been clinging to him like sycophants, scattered as if they suddenly had urgent business.
“Already starting to grovel? You’re diligent.”
“Time is gold, can’t go wasting it. Yīcùnguāngyīn yīcùnjīn, cùnguāngyīn nánmǎi cùnguāngyīn.1)”
As if living in Shanghai for a year meant anything, Kwon Young-ho recited some pathetic Chinese. His pronunciation was far from perfect.
Meanwhile, Kwon Young-je checked his wristwatch. He had no time to listen to Kwon Young-ho’s nonsense. He tugged at his cuff and spoke monotonously.
“Sure, work hard. I can’t say I’ll be cheering for you, though.”
“The feeling’s mutual. By the way, where’s that Secretary Kim you’re so crazy about? Don’t you always have him by your side?”
Kwon Young-ho’s casually thrown words stopped Kwon Young-je in his tracks. As an icy gaze flew toward him, Kwon Young-ho gave a slick smile.
It seemed certain that Secretary Kim had become Kwon Young-je’s weakness. Otherwise, there was no way a bastard who wouldn’t even flinch if you stabbed him would be glaring like that.
Nothing could be more welcome than finding something to use to trample Kwon Young-je.
How he had sharpened his knives for this moment. While stuck in China, he had taken psychiatric medication to survive, suppressing his boiling rage. Now that he had finally reclaimed his original position, all that was left was to pay Kwon Young-je back, one thing at a time.
Emboldened, Kwon Young-ho took a step forward. The slight difference in their eye level still bothered him, but he defiantly lifted his chin.
“How long are you going to keep him hidden away? Afraid I’ll do something to him?”
“Don’t even think about loitering around him. I might just kick away what’s left of your rice bowl.”
“If you were going to do that, you should have kept him locked up at home. Why bring him to the company? It’s not like you’re advertising that you can’t do anything without Secretary Kim. Oh, right, what should I call him? Secretary Kim? My sister-in-law? Why don’t you ask him which he prefers?”
Kwon Young-ho jeered to the very end. Just seeing the other’s hardened face made him feel intoxicated with a sense of victory. He was looking forward to what was to come. He beckoned to a nearby aide with a flick of his finger.
A large paper shopping bag was handed over. Kwon Young-ho took out the item inside and presented it to Kwon Young-je.
“Tell him congratulations on the pregnancy. I wanted to give it to him myself, but seeing how you’re acting, I won’t be able to get anywhere near him. Ah, and congratulations on the marriage, too. I hope you have a fucking great life, you hear?”
Kwon Young-je stared silently at the bouquet that had been placed in his arms. Inside the cream-colored wrapping paper were only white chrysanthemums. For the first time, a sneer spread across his bleak face.
“So low-class.”
Kwon Young-je tossed the bouquet onto the floor. Rather than retaliating against the insulting congratulations, he left as if it wasn’t even worth dealing with.
Though no punches were thrown, a menacing atmosphere lingered as if they had each taken a blow. The employees who had been watching quietly exchanged whispers among themselves.
“……”
Kwon Young-ho barely managed to force his trembling lips into a firm line. The symptoms he had suppressed with medication threatened to crawl back, but he quickly straightened his shoulders, pretending to be completely unaffected. He deliberately offered a fresh smile to the gathered onlookers. It was the best he could do right now.
Before the performance review meeting began in earnest, there were brief introductory remarks from the newly appointed or promoted executives. The first to take the podium was Kwon Young-je.
He recited his prepared inaugural address in a calm voice. His unwavering demeanor was flawless for a successor who would one day lead apex.
Hui-won stood in the back, watching Kwon Young-je before letting his gaze drift toward the other executives. Kwon Young-ho, seated in a place of honor, came into view. A fake smile plastered on his face, he was only half-listening to the new Vice President’s speech.
Perhaps because he had stared too intently, Kwon Young-ho suddenly tilted his head back. His snake-like eyes instantly found Hui-won among the secretaries and staff. When their eyes met, he twitched his cheekbones and let out a strange smile.
Hui-won’s brow furrowed on its own. Shaking off the creepy sensation, he forced himself to turn his head away. As he looked forward, his eyes met Kwon Young-je’s, who had apparently been watching him for some time. He seemed to have seen the recent exchange, but his calm demeanor remained unchanged.
Hui-won took a deep breath. He collected himself and straightened his posture. Although they were far apart, Kwon Young-je’s gaze was so firm that it made him straighten up as well.
As applause followed the end of his inaugural address, Hui-won excused himself to Secretary Lee, who had come with him, and left the room first. He was back in the office, tidying up Kwon Young-je’s desk for him, when Secretary Song knocked cautiously and called for him.
“Um… Chief Secretary, you have a visitor.”
When he went out, it was someone from Executive Director Kwon Young-ho’s office. A man with a neat appearance held out a bundle of snacks.
“What is this?”
“It’s a gift from Director Kwon Young-ho to commemorate his return.”
“……”
Hui-won found himself frowning. The man, reading his expression, skillfully added.
“He’s giving them out to the entire company. Please feel free to enjoy them.”
The coffee and cake were definitely from the cafe on the first floor. But Hui-won’s reluctant expression didn’t fade easily. Still, out of consideration for the person who brought it, he accepted the transparent plastic bag.
“Thank you.”
“Yes, well then.”
His business concluded, the man turned and left immediately. Hui-won stood there, just staring at the heavy snacks in his hand.
Did this bastard really get his act together? No way. I should only trust those who are trustworthy.
When Secretary Song approached to offer a hand, Hui-won shook his head, saying it was fine.
“Order separate coffee and cake. I’ll dispose of this.”
Whether it was kindness or hypocrisy, anything from Kwon Young-ho had to be viewed with suspicion. Although he had boasted that Kwon Young-ho wasn’t even worth his attention, Hui-won always reminded himself that he was a man capable of causing trouble at any moment.
Kwon Young-ho was incredibly busy these days, trying to solidify his position within the company. He met with company executives to foster connections and was in the middle of rebuilding his tarnished reputation with a flashy display of material generosity toward the employees.
He went around dressed to the nines, meddling here and there, but it was hard to tell if it was having any effect. At the very least, his desired image seemed clear: a young, cheerful, and approachable high-level executive. It was certainly a style that worked well in the ETC Business Division.
Kwon Young-je, on the other hand, was no different than before. His office was the same one he had always used, with only the nameplate changed to ‘Vice President.’ He had never been interested in office politics to begin with. He was a man for whom a day wasn’t long enough just to handle his assigned tasks.
“Don’t you feel a sense of crisis?”
Hui-won cautiously brought it up inside the elevator. “About what?” Kwon Young-je, standing beside him, asked curtly.
“Executive Director Kwon Young-ho. His momentum lately is no joke.”
“Wagging his silver tongue is Kwon Young-ho’s specialty.”
“It seems like quite a few of the directors have already sided with him…”
“So, you’re telling me to be on my guard?”
At the voice tinged with amusement, Hui-won’s head tilted to the side. Kwon Young-je was wearing a rare, handsome smile. Since there was no one else in the elevator, he revealed to Hui-won a face he didn’t readily show to others.
“Everyone has their own style. There’s no telling who will succeed.”
“…I prefer your style, Vice President.”
Hui-won subtly took his hand, worried that his words might have offended Kwon Young-je. But judging by the firm grip that held his hand, that didn’t seem to be the case.
Kwon Young-je kept his eyes fixed forward and let out a small snort.
“You’ve gotten better at flattery.”
“I’m a biased person. I will unconditionally support only you, Vice President.”
“I appreciate that.”
Ding- With a clear chime, the elevator came to a stop. Without letting go of his hand, Kwon Young-je started walking. The 29th floor housed only the Chairman’s office, so there was no need to worry about prying eyes.
At the reception desk, secretaries stood and bowed politely, and Chairman Kwon’s personal secretary, Secretary Jeong, expertly greeted the visitor.
As he followed him toward the Chairman’s office, Kwon Young-ho, who had arrived earlier, was standing with his weight on one leg, his head tilted askew. The look in his eyes was anything but friendly.
Upon seeing the two of them walking hand in hand, Kwon Young-ho spoke in a resentful tone.
“Fuck, they think this is their bedroom or something.”
“Isn’t it perverts who insist on watching things they don’t want to see? Ah, right, you did have a perverted streak.”
The conversation that flowed between them was devoid of any courtesy or respect. This was because they were gathered as family, with their titles set aside.
“Please come in.”
As if used to such situations, Secretary Jeong let the conversation go in one ear and out the other as he opened the door to the Chairman’s office. As the heavy wooden door swung open, Chairman Kwon, who was sitting on the sofa, shot his sharp eyes up.
“What took you all so long!”
The elderly Chairman stood up abruptly to greet his guests. His grandsons were all pushed out of his attention, and Hui-won was seated in the most honored spot.
Hui-won’s back went ramrod straight at the overwhelming hospitality. It was a situation he could never get used to, no matter how many times he experienced it.
Chairman Kwon’s affection for his great-grandchild was profound. The Kwon family was a field of men, so daughters had been rare since ancient times. It had been decades since a baby was born, and on top of that, it was a girl, so it was only natural for his expectations to be sky-high.
“Lately, I’ve been looking at land and buildings to give to Yeoro when she’s born.”
He had already drawn up a list of real estate to gift his great-grandchild and even called Secretary Jeong over to show him the blueprints. Hui-won felt a little overwhelmed, barely holding onto his fading consciousness. To him, Chairman Kwon was still the Chairman, not family. He was someone he could never be comfortable around.
“…Thank you.”
“Why the long face? Don’t you like it? If the lot isn’t good, there are other candidates. Should I show you?”
“He’s probably just overwhelmed. She’s still a fetus. It won’t be too late to dote on her after she’s born.”
Kwon Young-je timely defended Hui-won from the side. At that, Chairman Kwon’s face quickly soured, the corners of his mouth drooping.
“Hmph, what’s there to be burdened about? Do you know how much Secretary Jeong has been bragging about his granddaughter all this time?”
“A daughter who acts cute is just the prettiest thing, Chairman.”
“See! I’ve been dealing with this for over forty years!”
His booming voice sounded as if he had swallowed a train whistle. The Chairman’s dignity was nowhere to be found, but thanks to him, the atmosphere flowed cheerfully. Hui-won also relaxed a little, slowly unclenching his stiff shoulders.
Kwon Young-ho, on the other hand, sat apart, chewing on his fingernails. His face was full of displeasure, like someone who had just bitten into an unripe persimmon.
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- A Chinese proverb meaning time is as precious as gold, but gold cannot buy time, emphasizing the value of time.