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The handwriting wasn’t Choi Inho’s. Even after sifting through the papers he’d scribbled on while writing the manuscript, the handwriting on the memo was distinctly different. Han Jintae immediately sensed that this message was directed at him. For a moment, it felt like a snake was coiling around his nape. A chill squeezed his guts, making him feel disgusted.
“Could it be because of Ahn Seonkyu?”
Han Jintae had come here early that morning to monitor Choi Inho. But Choi Inho abruptly introduced Seonkyu. Han Jintae was displeased that he had called someone without consultation. Choi Inho then reassured him, saying the data Seonkyu had was useful. He had been busy since morning, so he had decided to investigate Seonkyu later and turned away. He gritted his teeth, thinking that this complacency had caused trouble.
“There’s more than one or two footprints on the floor.”
Chairman Yu had said he would rest in the morning and only do some light work at home. For Han Jintae, who had come to work leisurely for the first time in a while, it was a sudden misfortune.
“What did I miss?”
Recently, GN had been facing public neglect. This momentum even led to a boycott. As a result, their main business, distribution, was directly hit, making it a serious issue. It would be problematic if this trend continued for long. First, it was important to temporarily cover up the current issue. That’s when Hae-joo’s scandal came to mind.
“CEO Park Dojun?”
Han Jintae picked up the memo on the desk. The phrase “See you soon” emanated an indescribable sense of déjà vu. Dojun had meticulously gathered evidence and launched a lawsuit bomb at GN. The only thing that could deliver a fatal blow to him was Hae-joo. Choi Inho hesitated in this matter, where speed was crucial. His intention was to save himself first. If he had unknowingly drawn in Seonkyu, whom Dojun might have secretly recruited, there was no solution.
“Aargh!”
Dojun had been here. Choi Inho’s work laptop was completely gone, taken by whoever dragged him away. Chairman Yu’s instruction to spread Hae-joo’s scandal had become meaningless. In short, he had messed things up.
“I have to get out of here right now.”
Han Jintae had never made a mistake since becoming Chairman Yu’s secretary. It was more accurate to say that he never engaged in losing battles in the first place. But Dojun was different. He had reached this point because he hadn’t recognized the monster that grew stronger the more he provoked it.
“Should I prepare for the worst at this point?”
Recently, Hwang Gyeong-ok had informed Chairman Yu of her divorce, and his relationship with Jinhan had soured. The more isolated Chairman Yu became, the more advantageous it was for Han Jintae. He believed that even if GN’s image worsened, it could be salvaged if his eldest son inherited the succession. The problem was the lawsuits Dojun had thrown. If those could be resolved well, Han Jintae could become an unassailable presence in GN.
“Then I’ll have to go appease the old man again first.”
Han Jintae went down to the parking lot and contacted the owner of the officetel he had rented short-term. After saying he would vacate the room, he instructed them to call a cleaning service first. It was just as he was starting the car. A call came from the secretarial office, and he quickly answered it.
“Why?”
-Manager, something big has happened.
“What is it?”
-Reporter Choi Inho was arrested this morning.
There was a police chief who handled GN’s minor affairs. This time, as a lawsuit was involved, Han Jintae had paid him off and asked him to be an informant.
“Did you get a call from Chief Lee?”
-Yes! They say CEO Park Dojun and he had a physical altercation at the officetel, and he’s currently being held and investigated at the police station.
Dojun was moving much faster than Han Jintae had anticipated. It had only been three or four hours since he had seen Choi Inho perfectly fine...
“Did our information leak too?”
At the secretary’s next reply, Han Jintae slammed his fist on the steering wheel. Still not appeased, he screamed wildly. The call had already been disconnected. Now, it was uncertain how Chairman Yu would react. For Han Jintae, as his subordinate, the time had come to find an escape route.
________________________________________
GN Headquarters was shrouded in a tense atmosphere day after day. Outsiders had to go through a complicated procedure to enter. Instructions had come down from the secretarial office to further strengthen security. As they increased personnel more than usual, several sedans stopped one after another.
“Who is that?”
It wasn’t Chairman Yu’s family car. The highly nervous security guards went outside and examined the expensive sedans. Soon, the car doors opened, and men in suits simultaneously poured out. Each of them exuded an extraordinary aura, making the security guards nervous. Then, Director Song appeared. Opening the back door of the car he was in, he quietly murmured.
“We’ve arrived, CEO.”
The moment Dojun stepped out of the car, even the surrounding air seemed to settle. As if he had instantly climbed over everything that surrounded him, he exuded the dignity of a top predator. His cold, extended gaze lifted and swept over the tall GN building. Dojun’s posture, as he buttoned his jacket, then brought to mind a colossal fortress.
“Excuse me, but how may I help you?”
Only then did a security guard approach and ask Dojun. Director Song stepped in front and introduced Dojun.
“This is CEO Park Dojun of Gino Group. He has come to see Chairman Yu.”
“If you don’t have a prior appointment, you cannot meet...”
A blood-tinged smile appeared on Dojun’s lips. The security guard, flinching unconsciously, stopped speaking mid-sentence and checked his expression.
“Tell him I’m here. He’ll probably come running out to greet me.”
Those who came with Dojun were bodyguards and lawyers from the legal team. The security guard, sensing that it wasn’t an atmosphere to be stopped, reluctantly replied.
“Please wait a moment.”
Coincidentally, Han Jintae was also out. The security guard contacted the employee working in Chairman Yu’s office via walkie-talkie.
“CEO Park Dojun of Gino Group has come to see the Chairman.”
He was told to wait, but an answer quickly came back.
-Bring him up immediately.
As soon as permission was granted, the men moved around Dojun. At the same time, the sound of their footsteps on the marble floor resembled a well-choreographed military drill. Dojun and Director Song got into the elevator first.
“This fight will end today, it seems.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“The rest will just die on their own.”
The elevator doors opened with a mechanical sound. The secretary’s office employee, who had already come out, cowered when he saw Dojun.
“Are you CEO Park Dojun?”
“...”
“The Chairman is waiting. Please come this way.”
Instead of answering, Dojun merely nodded and followed the employee down the hallway. The others who had come with him then got out of the elevator. Finally, they arrived in front of Chairman Yu’s office. Dojun secretly anticipated what kind of scene would unfold the moment he opened that door.
“Chairman, CEO Park Dojun has arrived.”
“Let him in.”
A rough voice clearly showed discomfort. Soon, the door blocking Dojun opened, and a murky scent stimulated his nostrils. Chairman Yu, leaning back in his chair, kept his gaze as distant as possible. Even seeing Dojun, his expression showed no change.
“Send the small fries out.”
Han Jintae was not in sight. Dojun, who unexpectedly found himself alone with Chairman Yu, gave Director Song a subtle nod. Those who had come with him retreated through the open door. As the passage completely closed, Dojun’s vision, too, became shrouded in darkness.
“Judging by your direct visit, something must have been urgent.”
“It seems you don’t know what’s been happening since early this morning?”
“Jinhan came by early this morning.”
For a moment, one of Dojun’s eyebrows furrowed.
“He said something about cutting ties with me, his father, and then he left.”
“I’m not interested in the Chairman’s family affairs.”
“Did you come to beg me?”
Chairman Yu, who still knew nothing, looked pale. Han Jintae, at his side, had been playing the role of a sycophant with flattering words.
“You instructed Choi Inho to use false rumors to frame Hae-joo.”
“I know nothing about that.”
“How could the Chairman be the only one who doesn’t know something the whole world will know?”
“What?”
Dojun took a step forward. There was an air of arrogance in his stride, with one hand tucked into his pants pocket. As he got closer, Chairman Yu’s expression grew more and more distorted. The overwhelming presence, transcending his age, was simply uncomfortable.
“Stop right there.”
Dojun stopped as Chairman Yu demanded. At the same time, a cold smile spread across his lips.
“You picked the wrong person to mess with.”
Chairman Yu snorted. He still saw Dojun as a novice and sneered.
“I hope you realize how filthy your wife was before she became an actress.”
“It’s laughable how you’re self-destructing.”
“Watch your mouth!”
“If Hae-joo was there, I would have gone to hell.”
“How touching.”
“In that hell, I would have stabbed the heart of an old man who trafficked in dirty rumors and saved Hae-joo.”
“What makes you so confident?”
Dojun took another step. He defiantly went right in front of Chairman Yu, blocking his clouded vision.
“Who do you think will save you from this hell?”
“…!”
“You’ve already lost.”
This wasn’t Dojun’s bravado or overconfidence. He was stating reality. Chairman Yu’s wide-eyed gaze belatedly shifted. Dojun hadn’t come to fight. He had come to announce that the game was already over. Just then, the landline on the desk rang. It was an internal call from the secretarial office.
“What is it?”
-Reporter Choi Inho was arrested this morning and is currently being investigated.
“…!”
-That news just broke as a special report.
“Why are you only reporting this now!”
Chairman Yu, filled with rage, screamed until his voice cracked. A trembling voice answered from the other end of the line.
-I reported it to Manager Han first, and he said he’d look into it and call back, so...
SLAM!
Chairman Yu slammed the receiver down roughly. He slowly got up from his seat.
“Was this your doing?”
Dojun chuckled and turned around. He powerfully opened the wooden door himself and commanded those who had come with him.
“From now on, you all must use any means necessary to crush GN.”
They left GN Headquarters with Dojun. Following his instructions, they scattered to fulfill their respective missions. Dojun got into the sedan he had arrived in. When he opened an online news article on his phone, the news of Choi Inho’s arrest and Chairman Yu’s wrongful actions, having instigated and led this incident, were revealed. It also didn’t fail to mention that Han Jintae, who served as Chairman Yu’s right-hand man, was a key figure in this situation. At the same time, Chairman Yu also received the breaking news. His face turned ashen, and he couldn’t even breathe for at least a few seconds.
“CEO Park Dojun’s arrival was a preview of the fate I was to meet.”
Currently, GN was preparing a countersuit against Dojun and Hae-joo regarding the anonymous post. Now, it seemed the anonymous post was not important at all. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the prosecution stepped in.
“Team leader of the legal department, everyone, come up.”
The legal professionals employed by GN gathered in Chairman Yu’s office. Amidst the heightened atmosphere, Chairman Yu’s command was unexpected.
“Make it seem like Manager Han orchestrated everything and carried it out.”
“What?”
“There’s no time. Hurry!”
Chairman Yu’s desperate shout, with blood vessels bulging in his neck, echoed. Just then, Han Jintae squeezed through the men leaving the office.
“Chairman!”
“...You’re too late.”
“I was looking into Choi Inho’s matter.”
It was a lie. Dojun had just been here. Chairman Yu suppressed his disgusted feelings and began to speak.
“The news broke.”
“I just confirmed it.”
“The mistake of losing Choi Inho must be yours, right?”
“Park Dojun skillfully struck, and I couldn’t stop him.”
Chairman Yu got up from his seat. Despite his age, the years of accumulated experience made him difficult for Han Jintae to defeat.
“If you give me a chance, I can fully resolve this.”
“Didn’t I tell you? It’s too late.”
Chairman Yu’s palm struck Han Jintae’s cheek. Han Jintae staggered, unable to maintain his balance, and lifted his resentful eyes.
“You take all the blame for this one, Manager Han.”
“Chairman!”
“When you come out into the world again, I’ll take responsibility for your livelihood.”
“…!”
“Voluntarily submit to the investigation.”
“Are you going to pin everything on me?”
“It’s your final mission.”
“This way won’t be good for you either, Chairman.”
Han Jintae turned his back on Chairman Yu. He paid no mind to Chairman Yu’s fierce gaze. As he was about to go straight to the parking lot, two burly men blocked his way. They were Chairman Yu’s bodyguards.
“Get out of the way.”
“We have somewhere to take you for a moment.”
The men’s hands tried to grab his arm. Han Jintae quickly swatted them away and ran madly, escaping the main building.
“We lost Manager Han!”
-Find him no matter what and drag him in front of me.
That day, Chairman Yu collapsed due to high blood pressure. Fortunately, he quickly regained consciousness, but his stamina was not what it used to be. That same night, Han Jintae, dressed in black and wearing a hat, secretly infiltrated GN’s parking lot. He found his car, which he had left behind while fleeing, and opened the trunk. Inside was Chairman Yu’s personal laptop.
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