RB - 43

43. Revenge is a Sweet, Fiery Taste

Meanwhile, in the JB Company office, CEO Hong Goo-yeon’s thunderous roar echoed throughout the space.

“Are you all even doing your jobs properly? Are we being kicked out of our own building because of unpaid rent? Do you have any solutions? Any Plan B?”

Hong was a man who had just turned fifty, short and stocky but with an imposing presence like a stone monument. He stormed into the company like a starving tiger. His arrival was inevitable—reports and urgent requests had been bombarding him nonstop while he was stationed at the Japan branch. The source of his headache? The still-unresolved “Yeseong Building Rent Negotiation.”

“Aigoo, is that the CEO arriving? Let me give you a quick update.”

All the executives were pale with dread. A few years ago, Hong had fired more than half of the company’s senior management—a terrifying track record. An icy tension filled the hallways of JB Company, and employees held their breath, bracing for the storm about to break.

Amid the frantic preparations for an emergency meeting, Department Head Jung appeared. He lightly tapped Seo-yeon on the shoulder and whispered:

“Assistant Han, do you have Daniel God’s negotiation materials? Hand them over quickly. The meeting’s about to start.”

Though Seo-yeon was known as the “money-grubbing bird” reluctant to share her achievements, even she understood the urgency of the situation. She handed over the pre-prepared file and said:

“I’ve marked the points needing verbal explanation with Post-it notes. I also made a PPT using this data—I’ll send it to your email right now.”

Department Head Jung deeply appreciated why Seo-yeon was called “the competent Han Seo-yeon.” With renewed hope that he could finally make a meaningful contribution to the rent negotiation, he resolved to treat her to a hearty samgyeopsal meal if this went well. With that thought, he entered the meeting room.

---

At the same time, in the smoking lounge of Café Armand.

Ethan frowned slightly as he watched Jung-hyuk smoke. Sharp-eyed Ethan could tell—despite being handsome, wealthy, and seemingly invincible, Jung-hyuk was currently teetering on the edge. A sincere sigh escaped Ethan’s lips.

“Haa… Why is our boss so gloomy these days? It makes me feel so helpless.”

Though Ethan had known Jung-hyuk for several years, the shadow looming over him recently was darker than ever—a bottomless abyss. Ethan painfully accepted the truth: only one woman, Han Seo-yeon, could make Jung-hyuk laugh or cry. All Ethan could do was obediently carry out tasks as instructed, offering himself a bitter smile.

“Boss, it’s time to head back up. Come out soon.”

Shortly after, Jung-hyuk stepped into the elevator of Yeseong Building with Ethan by his side. Their destination? JB Company. As the two men entered the office hallway, the fluorescent lights above bathed them in a halo-like glow. Though their auras differed, they shared one common trait—an extraordinary appearance that commanded attention.

A nearby male employee approached to stop them.

“Who are you? What business do you have here?”

The man was from JB Company’s general affairs team, already somewhat intimidated by Jung-hyuk’s overwhelming presence. A female employee nearby shouted in a voice higher than usual:

“Oh my, isn’t that the president of Café Armand? And… the fairy who works there…”

Jung-hyuk’s hope of avoiding attention was dashed. Both Seo-yeon and Jin-hyuk spotted him at the same time and were equally startled.

Underneath his expensive suit, Jung-hyuk exuded powerful pheromones. There was a raw animal magnetism about him that captivated both men and women alike. As murmurs spread and all eyes focused on them, Jung-hyuk impatiently strode toward the CEO’s office, leaving Ethan behind to explain their purpose.

“We’re here to see CEO Hong Goo-yeon.”

“Ah… Did you make an appointment beforehand? He’s in a meeting right now.”

Before the male employee could say more, Ethan blocked his path with a sly grin.

“Today, our president isn’t visiting as the head of Café Armand.”

Before the confused follow-up question could be asked, Ethan winked teasingly and added:

“He’s here as Daniel God, the owner of Yeseong Building.”

The unexpected twist drew gasps from all directions, and some employees even covered their mouths in shock. Seo-yeon and Jin-hyuk exchanged glances, their expressions growing serious. Especially Seo-yeon—her heart pounded wildly at Jung-hyuk’s unapproved actions, threatening to leap out of her chest.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Hong Goo-yeon, CEO of JB Company.”

By the time Jung-hyuk finally sat across from CEO Hong, the sky over Seoul was painted with the hues of sunset. Hong had abandoned his ongoing meeting to meet Daniel God. He stared blankly at the business card Jung-hyuk handed him.

“Shin Jung-hyuk. Let’s have a smoke.”

Jung-hyuk pulled out a cigarette case and lit up naturally. As he inhaled deeply, the burning filter glowed brighter. Watching him smoke made Hong crave a cigarette himself, but instead of pulling out his own pack, he found himself staring intently at Jung-hyuk’s business card once again.

“Vice Chairman Shin Jung-hyuk of Taesung Group.”

To think he could meet the person on this card so easily—and that this young man was none other than Daniel God, the owner of Yeseong Building. CEO Hong felt as though he were dreaming.

After finishing his cigarette, Jung-hyuk calmly recounted the details of the “rent negotiation” he had conducted with Seo-yeon. Throughout the conversation, he didn’t forget to subtly emphasize how special Han Seo-yeon was to him.

Everything clicked for Hong. He finally understood why Taesung Group had proposed investing in JB Company and why Daniel God, the owner of Yeseong Building, had negotiated directly with a mere assistant manager.

At the center of it all was a beautiful and capable woman—Han Seo-yeon.

“I understand everything you’re saying, Vice Chairman Shin. What should I do moving forward?”

“I dislike long explanations, so it’s fortunate you’re quick on the uptake. First, review the recent audit report from the internal audit team immediately. Then convene an executive meeting. Of course, Assistant Han, the key figure in this ‘rent negotiation,’ must attend.”

Thirty minutes later, for the aforementioned reasons, Seo-yeon found herself uncomfortably seated in the executive meeting. Everyone wondered why an assistant manager-level employee was present, but no one dared openly complain since it was CEO Hong’s directive. Only Koh Myung-soo, the HR director sitting in the corner, bit his lip in frustration.

“Hello. I am Daniel God, the owner of Yeseong Building.”

Damn ex-boyfriend—was he now a reliable ally? Or a ticking time bomb? Shin Jung-hyuk entered the conference room.

“CEO Hong Goo-yeon of JB Company. Was your journey here comfortable?”

CEO Hong abruptly stood up and bowed deeply. Startled executives scrambled to follow suit, showing their respect. Observing Hong’s exaggerated courtesy, Seo-yeon realized something:

He knows not only that Shin Jung-hyuk is the building owner but also that he’s a vice chairman of Taesung Group.

Jung-hyuk sat arrogantly with his legs crossed and cut straight to the point.

“The reason I’ve been in contact solely with Assistant Manager Han Seo-yeon is simple. She was the only one who made a reasonable meeting request. Some outright suggested entertainment, while others dug into my personal information. Who is Department Head Jung from JB Company? That person even sent me a text suggesting entertainment.”

Seo-yeon blushed furiously at the blatant dig, while Department Head Jung turned red for a different reason. Of course, CEO Hong understood Jung-hyuk’s intent perfectly. This was a blatant push to promote or reward Han Seo-yeon once the rent issue was resolved.

After withdrawing his meaningful glance at Seo-yeon, Hong surveyed the executives. Department Head Jung cautiously spoke up:

“If you propose your desired negotiation terms, we can work toward mutual agreement. With open minds on both sides.”

A flicker of hope sparked in Jung’s eyes. If he could establish rapport with Daniel God, he might finally secure a foothold in the coveted real estate business. However, Jung-hyuk ignored his words entirely, crossing his arms in a domineering pose. The atmosphere grew awkward instantly. Swallowing hard, Seo-yeon spoke calmly:

“Based on my discussions with Mr. Daniel God, we agreed to raise the rent to a standard level over the next three years while having Yeseong Building tenants spend part of their welfare budget at Café Armand… Is that still valid?”

For the first time that day, Jung-hyuk smiled warmly. The unmistakable affection in his gaze was evident to everyone in the room.

“Of course. And if Assistant Han requests it, I’ll always return to the negotiation table. That’s my position.”

Without hesitation, Jung-hyuk rose from his seat. Department Head Jung quickly followed and handed over his business card, but Jung-hyuk folded it in half like a worthless flyer and dropped it onto the table. A long slash of humiliation marred Jung’s face, much like the crumpled card.