By Zephyria 
Ding-
As soon as he got off the elevator, Choi Won-joon headed straight for the Chairman’s office. He held a crumpled newspaper in his hand, and his anger was about to explode. The secretaries guarding the front stood up to report, but he pushed the door open and went inside. Two executives were sitting there, and when they saw Won-joon, they showed a welcoming expression.
“Choi President, you’re just in time. Congratulations. I heard good news.”
“Congratulations. You two look so good together.”
Won-joon didn’t even look at them and stared straight at his father.
“Sorry, but could you please leave? I have something important to discuss with Chairman.”
“I’m afraid we can’t. We have urgent business right now.”
Then, the quick-witted Managing Director grabbed the Director’s arm. “Director, let’s come back next time.” Then he bowed and quickly left. Chairman Choi, sitting at the head of the table, clicked his tongue at the sight.
“That impudent fellow. They’re my people. Who are you to order them to leave?”
“What’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
Won-joon threw the newspaper on the table nervously. Chairman Choi’s gaze lingered on it for a moment before falling away.
“Hee-min said she likes you, so isn’t that great?”
“When did I say I was getting married? Why did you publish an article without my permission and make me look like an idiot?”
“Be honest. Is it because of the article? Or is it because of that detective?”
Won-joon frowned and roughly swept back his hair. He had guessed that his father knew about Kim Yi-eum. He had considered giving him a heads-up, telling him not to worry about it because of his insomnia, but he knew the old man wouldn’t listen. But he hadn’t expected to be blindsided like this.
“Take down the article immediately and issue a correction. Otherwise, I’ll take matters into my own hands.”
“If you deny it, what will become of your father’s face!”
“You’ll be shitting all over it.”
“You little bastard.”
Chairman Choi couldn’t hold back and picked up an empty ashtray, but Won-joon didn’t flinch.
“I’ve made myself clear.”
“If we call it off? Will you stop seeing that cop?”
Won-joon laughed as if he was dumbfounded. Well, I guess I’d hate it too if I were my father. Who would be happy imagining my son hooking up with the son of a hated enemy? But Won-joon was definitely not the filial son who would understand his father’s feelings.
He was an unfilial bastard who would do as he pleased even if it meant his father collapsing with a hand on his neck.
“Don’t interfere in my love life and take care of your own business, Father. You know all the executives are doing shady things behind your back. How long are you going to run the company with a gangster mentality? Family? Those who embezzle company money are not family. They’re thieves.”
Chairman Choi’s face turned red with anger. In fact, he had placed some of his former gang members in executive positions. It was partly for loyalty as well as for their abilities. He knew they were doing shady things within the company, but he had turned a blind eye. But now his son was pointing it out and criticizing him.
“You! So you buried Director Park too!”
Chairman Choi finally brought up Director Park. He expected Won-joon to at least pretend to be surprised, but Choi Won-joon smiled so brightly it was chilling.
“Just say the word. I’ll bury the others too.”
Chairman Choi couldn’t hold back and finally threw the ashtray. Choi Won-joon dodged it with ease, and the ashtray shattered against the door. By now, the secretaries in front must be in a frenzy, unable to settle down. Won-joon pointed to the newspaper on the table and hammered it home in a strong tone.
“Take down the article. This isn’t a request, it’s a threat.”
“A threat? A threaaat? Where did you learn such manners! Don’t you care about your father at all! Is that how I raised you!”
Chairman Choi, screaming at the top of his lungs, finally grabbed the back of his neck. “Aigoo.” As he slumped into the chair, Choi Won-joon kicked the door open and left without looking back. Soon after, the secretaries rushed in, pale as ghosts.
Chairman Choi took his hand off the back of his head and sighed, looking at the place where his son had disappeared.
“That damned bastard. He doesn’t even flinch.”
❖ ❖ ❖
【So you’ve spent all the money?】
【Yes, but I’ll definitely pay it back.】
【How are you going to pay back billions of won?】
【I can easily earn that much if I want to.】
【Are you going to scam again?】
【Not necessarily. If you give me time, I’ll work hard to pay it back.】
Jeong Nam-su, who was writing the statement, was seen sighing deeply. Lee-eum, who was watching from outside, also rubbed his face as if he was tired. In fact, even though his eyes were watching, his mind was elsewhere.
The more he thought about it, the more absurd and annoying it became. Fine, let’s just say I stepped in shit. It’s ridiculous that I’m doing something I didn’t even do when I was young, now that I’m almost thirty.
【Please believe me. I’ve changed a lot. After living, I realized that life isn’t that special. Everything ends when you die anyway.】
【You stole other people’s money and that’s what you have to say.】
【Detective. You know about the incident that happened in my neighborhood recently, right? It was all over the news.】
【Why are you bringing that up now? Do you have any personal connection with the suspect?】
【No. I’ve only seen his face a few times. He didn’t interact with the residents and he had a creepy vibe, so I didn’t want to associate with him.】
Criminals must recognize other criminals. He felt a creepiness that others didn’t. Lee-eum got up from his seat. He didn’t need to hear any more and was about to return to the office when the man said something out of the blue.
【Are you sure he escaped?】
Lee-eum stopped and looked into the interrogation room.
【Why are you curious about that?】
The man licked his lips and hesitated before blurting out.
【Actually, the situation seemed unusual that day, so I ran away to the mountains. I can see his house from there.】
Lee-eum went to the window and carefully observed the man. Nam-su also sensed that something was unusual and sat up straight, focusing.
【So?】
【In my opinion, it didn’t look like he was escaping, but that he was being dragged into a car.】
【Who dragged him?】
【I don’t know. That’s just how it looked to me. It might not be true.】
Lee-eum opened the door and went inside, sitting next to Nam-su.
“Do you remember what kind of car it was? What color? The license plate?”
“I don’t know the license plate, but the car was black. An expensive car, ah, what was it?”
The man frowned deeply and tilted his head. Then, out of nowhere, his eyes sparkled and he subtly tested the waters.
“If I give you this information, will it be taken into consideration? A reduced sentence?”
Lee-eum chuckled and the man scratched his cheek, smiling slyly. He definitely saw something. I don’t know what it is, though. Lee-eum got up from his seat with a look of indifference and called Nam-su.
“Detective Jeong. There was a reported theft in the neighborhood next door, right?”
“Huh? What? Ah, yes! There is.”
“Add that to his charges too. I don’t think he’ll feel wronged by adding one more crime.”
Lee-eum was about to turn around and leave when the man said, “Ah, damn it,” and urgently called Lee-eum.
“It was ㅇㅇㅇㅇ.” The one that CEOs drive a lot.”
Nam-su smiled almost imperceptibly.
“You really didn’t see the license plate?”
“It was far away. There were two men in black suits, and they seemed tall. Good physiques too. They knocked Mr. Yang out cold and put him in the back seat and left right away.”
“Anything else?”
“That’s it. Oh, right. I think those people took something from another car parked there?”
Lee-eum frowned as he recalled the memory. When he asked if they took it from a white car, he immediately said yes. Nam-su also had a look on his face as if he had realized something. Lee-eum closed his eyes tightly and then opened them.
“How do you know the car was white, Detective?”
Lee-eum gestured for Nam-su to come out for a moment. Lee-eum, who came out, looked at the man in the interrogation room and rubbed his chin. Nam-su looked at him worriedly, as if his complexity was revealed on his face.
“Are you okay? Do you have something in mind? The white car is Sunbae’s.”
“You don’t think that guy’s lying, do you?”
“No. But is anything missing from your car? We found the memory chip on the floor.”
Lee-eum couldn’t bring himself to say that Choi Won-joon had returned it. He had clearly said that he didn’t take Yang Mok-hyung. Of course, he didn’t completely believe him.
“Do you remember last time? When I said we were being followed when we were driving.”
Nam-su nodded. “I remember.”
“The car then is the same model as the car that guy mentioned.”
“Ah,” Nam-su clapped his hands. “That’s right. That car from then. Then there must be a record of the inquiry.” At the time, the owner of the car had no criminal record and was an ordinary person, and they didn’t suspect him further because he had gone in a different direction. After thinking for a while, Lee-eum tapped Nam-su on the shoulder.
“You go back in and finish writing the statement. I’ll go check the car owner.”