Chapter 1

When people visit for the first time, they’re often distracted by all the trees. The pine and cypress trees reach up and surround the mansion like a green barrier; even the sun rays that break through the branches are harsh. This place makes anyone nervous from the moment they enter the gates, Songbaekjae. The estate which has hosted major Korean business meetings throughout history and modern times. Inside, sitting in the light escaping through the green barrier, sat Song Baek-jae’s owner, TK Group Chairman Tae Si-hwan, laughing and smiling, highlighting his wrinkles earned with experience.

Across from his desk, his grandson narrowed his eyes, smiled, and laughed along with the old man. It was said his eldest grandson, with his tall, slender body and soft yet stern face, was the spitting image of the Chairman in his youth, the only difference being the man was 8 centimeters taller and paler than pale. The grandson Tae Yi-seop, Lee Seop informally, sat with his straight eyebrows, long eyes, sharp straight nose framed by his neat, sharp jawline, and straight, broad shoulders. He exuded a sensitive yet sharp aura. His lips, however, were as red and soft as a woman’s, and when he smiled like this, they looked as bright and pretty as the petals of an opening flower bud.

Today, Lee Seop was dressed with more care. He wore a style similar to a photo on the wall of the young Tae Si-hwan. He even had blow-dried hair parted and swept away from his eyes and forehead, and a blue single-breasted suit with a purple tie and initialed cufflinks. In other words, he was dressed perfectly, just to the Chairman’s taste.

The Chairman looked back over to his grandson, his smile missing from his eyes, “So, are you planning on leaving on a business trip tomorrow?”

Lee Seop lowered his eyes and slightly smirked, “Yes, Chairman. After attending the business conference in London, I will travel to Paris to see my father, then I’ll stop in Austria and Italy. I plan to meet with the Saudi royal family, and they have invited me to their box at the Vienna Philharmonic. I also will go to a game in Italy with members from IOC in their box; it will be…” Lee Seop paused mid-sentence and smiled brightly at his grandfather. Although he was speaking as if the trip was of great importance, it was all just nonsense. The Saudi Price was just a classmate’s friend, on the periphery of power with just a title, so the friendship was useless for business. As for Italy, he was more excited about the championship soccer game; meeting with IOC members had no business need; they were just an excuse to go.

Of course, he was scheduled to see his father, the Vice President of TK by title only, who had been exiled to Paris after incurring the Chairman’s wrath because of a serious incident. But that was a small part of the plan. In other words, Lee Seop planned to spend his European business trip having fun.

The Chairman’s brows furrowed as he narrowed his eyes, “Lee Seop…”

“Oh, also, I’ll have to adjust my schedule, but I think I will be making time to stop in Germany as well.” A smile reappeared on the Chairman’s face after Lee Seop added the remark. This way, he had a card he could use with the Chairman and knew to use it well when needed. Lee Seop acted after seeing the Chairman’s demeanor change, tapping a finger on his lips with a slight smile as if embarrassed and thoughtful. 

Hayoung Choi, the daughter of the powerful Choi Woon family, was known as the best intellect in Korea. She was also an heiress to TK shares through her family, but she had been concentrating her time on her studies in Germany. She seemed to be hiding in Germany to avoid the family’s arranged marriage to TK’s grandson, an arrangement and promise made by their grandparents’ generation. Even still, the Chairman was anxious to end any disputes and connect the two families through the marriage of Choi Yang and Lee Seop. The Chairman nodded while smiling, having interpreted Lee Seop’s words to mean that he was planning to meet with Hayoung Choi.

“Your health has improved a lot lately, right?” Lee Seop inquired. The Chairman answered with a nod, and Lee Seop continued, “Then… we will go together this fall. You like Austria and Switzerland.”

“It’s ok, I have no strength in my legs.”

“I’ll carry you on my back?” Lee Seop quipped as he leaned forward, took the Chairman’s dry hand into his, and squeezed it. “Grandpa, I’ll buy you chocolate from Austria. Remember the one with Mozart’s face on the label? It was the chocolate you would bring back for me when I was little.”

“Oh, ok, that will be good. Thank you.” The Chairman laughed lightly.

***

Lee Seop loosened the knot in his tie, escaping its clutch as he walked to the waiting car. He entered the vehicle, immediately ruffled his tightly styled hair by running his fingers through the strands, and leaned back in the back seat, sighing.

Driver Kim looked back closely at him and asked, “Uh… Managing Director. Shall we stop by your family home for a minute? Madame…”

“Ah…” Lee Seop groaned in acknowledgment as his cell phone started ringing. Lee Seop furrowed his brows as he looked at the caller and answered. Lee Seop’s mother___ (quite embarrassed by her son’s deviation, which she has experienced for the first time in her life)

“Mom?” Lee Seop mused affectionately, raising the corners of his mouth and smiling as he spoke. His irritated face relaxed and became bright. “Yes, yes. I just saw Grandfather and am leaving. Umm…. Yes, I guess I could stop by…. Yes, I will be busy since I’m going on a business trip tomorrow. Have dinner?... No, not at home, somewhere nicer. Yes, let’s eat together, I will make a reservation.” After finishing his call, Lee Seop set his phone down and pinched between his brows then rubbed his temple. “Go to the officetel in Cheongdam-dong.”

“Sir? You… You have to attend a strategic planning meeting at headquarters today.” Driver Kim said, surprised.

“I’m not going.”

“I told them I’d ensure I brought the Managing Director there.”

“Who?”

Driver Kim didn’t answer and averted his eyes from the rearview mirror. It was apparent who, one didn’t even need to ask. I must be Tae Jun-seop, head of the Strategic Planning Division. Jun-seop is Lee Seop’s cousin and rival in every way. Being the same age, there always was competition between the two, and Lee Seop’s current score was close to a crushing defeat. Jun-seop was annoying to see and even dine with at family functions. Still, the reason he told Lee Seop to come to the meeting was likely because the company was in the process of reorganizing and restructuring.

The previous CEO had resigned due to health concerns, some Directors were under disciplinary action, and a Managing Director and VP resigned. And with that turmoil, the stock price plummeted. In short, it was a troubling and messy situation for the company. Even so, Lee Seop had absolutely no desire to go to the meeting.

“You heard this from Tae Jun-seop?” he asked the driver in an annoyed and disapproving manner.

The driver blushed and immediately explained with a stutter in his voice, “Oh, no… That’s not it, Sir. It’s that… Well, I received a call while waiting for you, so…”

Lee Seop interrupted him and wagged his index finger in the air, it was a warning that he didn’t want to hear it or argue. “Cheongdam-dong.”

“Yes, Sir.” the driver said as he lowered his head and changed lanes to turn around. 

Lee Seop tilted his head back and closed his eyes as he swayed slightly in the car. Only mere moments later, his phone jolted him up, ringing loudly. Looking at his screen, Lee Seop wrinkled his nose, ‘Speak of the devil,’ he thought, looking down at Jun-seop’s name. He was unlucky today.

‘Why is he calling?’ Lee Seop whined internally and rejected the call. As soon as he pressed the red button, the phone rang again. Lee Seop quickly grabbed his phone but sharply refused the call again with his index finger. Again, it rang and again and again. Looking at the phone, he murmured, “Persistent guy…”

After repeating the song and dance a few more times, Lee Seop gritted his teeth and growled at the phone as he powered off his cellphone. He threw the phone across the back seat, and as soon as it hit the cushion, another phone started ringing.

The driver touched his earbud and quietly answered his ringing phone. “Yes? Yes, ah yes… Now? Yes, yes. Well, that’s a bit... Yes, Sir.” The driver spoke in a lowered tone, and after a moment, he glanced back at Lee Seop in the mirror.

“So, what’s the story?” he asked the driver, who looked hesitant.

“Ah yes, sir...”

Interrupting, Lee Seop pressed, “Was that Jun-seop calling you?”

“Oh, that’s not it… It was Deputy Director Kang Min-kyung.”

“Kang Min-kyung? Ah… she had moved into the public relations office from the book department, isn’t she doing well there…”

As if she heard Lee Seop’s voice, Kim’s phone rang again. Answering it, Lee Seop could hear a voice loudly speaking.

— Assistant Manager Kim Kin-cheon, are you in the car with the Managing Director? Could you switch your phone to the car’s speaker? I only have one thing to say, and I won’t hassle you.

Kin-cheon tilted his head at the statement and blinked widely. He naturally had big eyes, but today, they seemed to look even more prominent and filled with anxiety. “Sir, shall I connect the call to the car? Deputy Director Kang needs to tell you som…”

For a moment, Lee Seop’s mouth was agape and speechless at the shameless demand. Bluetooth. She was suggesting that the three of them have a conversation through the car’s bluetooth? “Give it to me!” Lee Seop demanded as he outstretched his open hand. As soon as he had the phone, he snapped it to his ear, and almost like a ghost watching him Min-Kyung knew and began to speak.

— Managing Director Tae Yi-seop, I will change the meeting for you.

“We have nothing to discuss, so I suggest you hang up the phone.” Lee Seop snapped, “Oh, and by the way, don’t call the driver.” Lee Seop heard Min-Kyung start to speak as he began to press the end call button. Before he even could he felt a vibration in his jacket pocket.

‘No way.’ he thought as he realized it was his secret second phone.

Before he took his phone out to check the caller ID, he could hear Min-kyung’s calm voice through the driver’s phone, which he lifted back to his ear.

— If you feel uncomfortable talking on this phone, I could call another number, Managing Director Tae Yi-Seop.”

“Deputy Director Kang…” He hadn’t had this number long. How did she find it? Lee Seop frowned grimly, “Are you going to continue? What do you need?”

— Just one moment, Sir. Please hold on.

Lee Seop frowned at her statement and told the driver, who was glancing at him, “Pull over. I need some privacy.”

Driver Kim, already realizing the situation and preparing, pulled quickly into a nearby parking lot. “I’ll wait outside, Sir,” he said as he exited the vehicle.

— Let me get Director Tae Jun-seop on the line.” Min-kyung said before explaining the situation.

‘Kang Min-kyung, this is the problem with you, you’re too persistent and efficient.’ Sarcastically Lee Seop spoke, “Please do so, Deputy Director Min-kyung.” adding emphasis to her title, “And if you want, we can now talk.”

— Thank you for your consideration, Managing Director. 

Min-kyung spoke politely, Lee Seop realized he was nervous from his toes and fingertips as he waited on the phone, but it seemed to subside a little when she said ‘Thank you’.

— It isn’t easy to get a hold of you to talk, Managing Director Tae Yi-seop. I shouldn’t have had to use Deputy Director Kang.

Through the phone, you could hear Jun-seop’s incongruous smile as he spoke.

“Jun-seop, what are you, some stalker? How did you two get my second phone number?”

– Sorry about that, I really needed to get a hold of you. I heard you’re leaving the country on a business trip tomorrow. So are you attending the meeting at headquarters today, Managing Director Tae Yi-seop?

Jun-seop asked him calmly and respectfully, which only meant he was trying to exert pressure. Lee Seop responded in a polite, complimentary tone in order to sound sarcastic. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I will not be attending. I have so much to prepare for my trip tomorrow, Director Tae Jun-seop.”

— The Managing Director must attend. We need to discuss and decide on important issues.

Lee Seop casually inspected his fingernails, coolly answering, “Do whatever you want. TK is yours either way.”

— Lee Seop.

Speaking informally now? Was Jun-seop changing his attitude toward the conversation? Lee Seop brushed his hair back, “Ah… this is enough. It’s starting to be annoying. You do your job well. And you have Deputy Director Kang, who assisted the CEO of C&T, so she can cover that to a great extent. Relying more on Kang Min-kyung, she is always at the top of her group. Her brain is like a machine, she never gets tired. I’m going to go have some fun and rest.”

“This way, it’s easier for you, isn’t it?” Lee Seop fired quickly and with a short tone. After speaking, he heard Jun-seop sigh, suppressing more emotions.

— Enough with the jokes.

Jun-seop’s voice sounded muffled and scratchy, as if he had been overworking himself. Whether he’s overworking or not, it doesn’t matter. What matters is why does he have the talent to succeed in work AND in love? And not me? Lee Seop thought.

— Lee Seop, you really should handle the product group. That’s what the Chairman wants.

“I understand, thank you, but I decline. I will leave you Tae Jun-seop, Head of Electronics and C&T, in charge. I just want to collect my dividends.”

— Why are you like this? How can a model student become so incredulous?

Jun-seop asked in an annoyed and stern tone. It made Lee Seop feel as if he was a child being scolded. “It’s ok, there’s no need to live hard. You can work hard but soon realize that every day is meaningless, worthless, and boring.” 

Jun-seop laughed loudly so those around him probably could hear him.

— It’s just still surprising. You are over 30 but still acting and whining like a middle school kid, feeling like the world is meaningless?

Listening to Jun-seop’s chiding words, Lee Seop bit his lip and gritted his teeth before responding just as described, “I’ve always felt like this. I am just unlucky.” Lee Seop hung up the phone before he could get a response.

Unlucky. He was an unlucky guy; he was always ranked 1st in the entire TK Group. No, he remembered there was one more person. Lee Seop furrowed his eyebrows at the face that appeared in his mind. The one who made the call, was Kang Min-kyung, his former colleague. He entered the company with the highest grade in the entrance exams, the highest in training, ranked first in any exam, and of course, he was promoted quickly through the company. He served as the assistant to the product group president, then was promoted to the public relations office, and now he was working again with… her.

‘So, after almost a year of work and planning, I instead hit the ceiling of the TK executive ladder. So unlucky.’ Lee Seop thought as he shook his head. “Whoa…” after all that, he felt so exhausted and let out a long breath. He laughed, remembering Jun-seop comparing him to a middle schooler, but literally, everything did seem pointless and annoying.

After his father fell out of favor with his grandfather and was then completely pushed out of the group, his stress reached its peak. Meanwhile, the Chairman tried to make a deal with Jun-seop using some personal assets, but he chose that woman instead. With that, he declared he was abandoning the group and left that day. It was so absurd. He never thought Jun-seop would do that.

Shit. Why was he so strong-willed that he stabbed others in the back and shocked everyone?

For a while, Lee Seop had to hustle to take over Jun-seop’s vacancy. He would stay awake all night for days on end until everything he saw was blurry. He was working as if he was being chased by his schedule. Looking back at his life at the time, it’s all a foggy memory.

As a result of Jun-seop’s unconventional choice, a crack was created in the solid wall that Lee Seop had built. Why did he hold out, work so hard, and try to protect himself from it all? The unanswerable question kept rising up his throat.

‘Am I just a living shell?’

Everything in life became trivial and ridiculous, making him wonder what the point was. He hated thinking about all the days he had and would live like this. No. It’s just that everything is too bothersome.

Fortunately, Jun-seop returned to his former position and into the Chairman’s good graces, and finally, the Chairman confirmed the TK Group succession after all the turmoil and gave Jun-seop a gift with this. The product group goes to Lee Seop and the planning group goes to Jun-seop. That was the big picture. His current affiliation was with C&T, and he still had a considerable amount of assets. He had tried to have the whole thing, but instead, it got cut in half… yet he didn’t feel upset, just a little tired. He had started to hate the meaningless daily repetition of being TK’s eldest grandson and successor.

Lee Seop opened his car window halfway and tapped on the car’s roof. Motioning for Driver Kim, who had been a few feet away looking around, to come back in the car.

As soon as he turned his phone back on, it vibrated continuously with message notifications.

[Regardless of whether or not the Director, Tae Yi-seop, attends the meeting, we will finalize the issues and make the final decision at today’s meeting. If you do not answer, we will treat it as if you agree with the decisions.]

Lee Seop could tell without reading the entire message that this was Kang Min-kyung’s wording of what Jun-seop had instructed her to write. He made his choice and put his cell phone deep in his pocket. “Let’s go, take me to Cheongdam-dong.”

This was neither Lee Seop’s home nor an official apartment, it was his own private cave. With his destination set, he thought of how he’d shut himself away and get some sleep.