Bae Jeong-su placed his spoon down and let out a deep sigh.
He recalled the mont he t with Executive Director Lee Tae-jun.
As he entered Executive Director Lee Tae-jun’s office, even the atmosphere was unusual.
“Manager Bae, sit down.”
Seeing that he was strangely on edge, Bae Jeong-su felt tense inside.
He unknowingly gripped the materials he was holding tightly.
As expected, as soon as Bae Jeong-su sat in his seat, Lee Tae-jun leaned his body forward.
“You know, right? How the company is running these days.”
“…….”
Bae Jeong-su swallowed his saliva and stayed still.
In tis like this, there was nothing good about getting on his nerves.
“Stop pretending you do not know. President Lim Hye-seon took over the interim chairperson position. Because of that, our President’s mood is not good. Anyway, the person is so stiff.”
Instantly, Bae Jeong-su’s shoulders stiffened.
There had never been a ti where President Lim Do-hyun was ntioned and things just passed by.
It was certain that he would demand sothing today as well.
Lee Tae-jun looked at Bae Jeong-su, who was acting stiffly, with a dissatisfied face and then leaned his body against the chair.
“So, you see. There is sothing Manager Bae needs to do for .”
“What might that be….”
Lee Tae-jun cleared his throat and opened his mouth.
“The accounts of the overseas subsidiaries. Specifically, organize the details of the funds that went back and forth with the Taeseong Departnt Store and bring them. Do not go through the formal approval line, but do it quietly at your level. You know what I an, right?”
The face of Bae Jeong-su, who was struggling with his facial expression managent, grew even darker.
He opened his mouth cautiously.
“Executive Director, that is sothing for the Audit team to do, and if I touch it, it could beco a problem.”
“Who does not know that? That is why I am telling you to do it quietly.”
Lee Tae-jun wore a cynical smile and tapped the table with his finger.
“Manager Bae needs to know the ways of the world too. If that woman continues to sit there now, we are all dead.”
As if their lives depended on the hands of President Lim Do-hyun, Executive Director Lee Tae-jun spoke.
Bae Jeong-su inhaled while trying to soothe his frustrated heart.
“If it becos known later, my na will be the first to be ntioned.”
“That is why you have to do it well in secret.”
Was that as easy as it sounded?
There was no such thing as not being caught just because it was done in secret.
However, Lee Tae-jun acted headstrong.
“If you handle it well this ti, you will surely enter President Lim’s eyes. Only when the perception that you are a loyal subordinate is planted will you also look upward. Surely you are not satisfied with a manager position, right?”
Bae Jeong-su’s fingertips trembled.
To the point that the materials he was still holding beca crumpled, he muttered lowly.
“If things go wrong, it might not end with just .”
Lee Tae-jun leaned his body against the chair while laughing composedly.
“Manager Bae, if not you, who else would do it. How many years have you been under ?”
“It has been a little over ten years.”
“Right, if you have spent ten years with , you should know well. How important I regard this matter right now.”
Lee Tae-jun intentionally drew out his words, then narrowed his eyes and stared piercingly at Bae Jeong-su.
“I am not doing this for my own sake alone. If I go wrong, you are finished too. You know, right?”
A chilly sensation flowed down Bae Jeong-su’s spine.
“Executive Director, you are driving into a difficult situation.”
“Difficult? Haha, Manager Bae. Is a company originally a place where only good things happen? All sorts of things happen.”
Executive Director Lee Tae-jun smirked and tapped the desk with his finger.
“I know everything you are thinking. But do not worry. I am not a fool either. If a problem occurs, I shall block it for you. Who else would take care of you.”
“Will you really block it for ?”
Lee Tae-jun snorted as if ridiculing.
“If you cannot believe it, then quit. But think carefully. This is all President Lim Do-hyun’s will. If you refuse, I can just have soone else do it. You know it well, too.”
Instantly, Bae Jeong-su’s breath was stifled at those words.
If he did not do it, they would try to kick him out through a local assignnt or sothing similar.
Executive Director Lee Tae-jun, noticing Bae Jeong-su’s wavering appearance, quickly soothed him.
“Manager Bae, this is an opportunity. An opportunity to show your loyalty. If you want to hold out in the company for a long ti, you must grab the right line at tis like this. Otherwise, there is only one path.”
The air in the office settled heavily.
Bae Jeong-su unknowingly bit his lip hard.
A fishy taste of blood spread throughout his mouth, but he did not have the leeway to care about such things.
He only tightly gripped the file of materials he was still holding.
‘If I refuse, it is the end. But if I accept this….’
He lowered his head without being able to answer.
After that, he stood up from the seat, bowed his waist, and ca out of the office.
***
Jo Tae-ho asked playfully while stirring the kimchi stew with a ladle.
“Manager Bae. What kind of thoughts are you having like that.”
He scooped up a large portion of the boiling stew with the ladle and poured it into Manager Bae’s bowl.
Looking at the stew with steam rising from it, Bae Jeong-su stared blankly then slowly put down his spoon.
“Is sothing going on with you? It is not like bothering the Executive Director is a one or two-day thing.”
Bae Jeong-su caught his breath for a mont then opened his mouth.
“This morning. Executive Director Lee Tae-jun told to investigate... matters related to Taeseong Departnt Store from the overseas subsidiary accounts.”
Jo Tae-ho’s expression grew serious.
“Why would you do that? The Audit team should do it. It seed like the Audit team was going to step in anyway.”
Bae Jeong-su let out a low sigh.
“The Executive Director’s words were for to find out directly and quietly without going through the formal line. What would that an? It ans I should do it exactly to fit their taste.”
Jo Tae-ho set down the ladle he was holding with a 'clack'.
“What? Then is he telling you to be a scapegoat or what. If a problem occurs, your na will co out right away.”
Bae Jeong-su dropped his head.
“I know. I know too. If I refuse, it will be a matter of ti before I am cut off. If I accept, I will end up participating in a cri.”
A heavy silence flowed between the two for a mont.
In the midst of that, the stew was full of the sound of bubbling.
After deep consideration, Jo Tae-ho opened his mouth.
“Jeong-su, no matter if it is work ordered from above, this ti a line has been crossed. It is obvious what kind of thing the Executive Director is plotting.”
Bae Jeong-su bit his lip hard.
His lips trembled finely.
“That is why I am asking, Manager Jo. If you are ordered to do sothing from above that you should not do... what will you do?”
Jo Tae-ho stared at him straight for a mont.
This ti, it was not a playful gaze but a very serious one.
“For , you see. I do not have the confidence to refuse and run out right away. However, at the very least, I would want to block what is trying to trap . Looking at this matter, no matter how I see it, you might have to take the fall for everything.”
Bae Jeong-su nodded.
“I too would like it if I could block it.... This ti, it seems I might have to leave the company. Even so, if I do as they want, my life might be ruined entirely.”
Jo Tae-ho scooped up broth with the ladle and poured more into the bowl placed before Bae Jeong-su.
He spoke in an intentionally bright voice.
“Then you must not do the wrong thing. This is not a problem for you to handle alone.”
Bae Jeong-su was silent for a long ti with his head dropped again.
His face was full of fear.
After drinking water at the end, Jo Tae-ho stood up from his seat and said.
“Jeong-su, do not try to shoulder everything alone. No matter what you choose, at the very least, I am on your side.”
At those words, Bae Jeong-su nodded briefly even within his heavy expression.
Jo Tae-ho tapped Manager Bae’s shoulder and forced a smile.
“Now, let us stop the work talk for now. Brighten up your face in the afternoon.”
The two of them finished paying and left the restaurant.
His face was cold from the chilly wind.
In front of the restaurant, Jo Tae-ho glanced at his watch and said.
“Since I have a business trip right away, let us part ways here today.”
Bae Jeong-su asked while sending a questioning gaze.
“Business trip?”
“Yes, it was caught suddenly.... I have to go now.”
Jo Tae-ho caught a taxi.
Before getting into the taxi, he spoke toward Bae Jeong-su once more.
“This matter... it might not be a fight alone like you think.”
Leaving a aningful word, Jo Tae-ho got into the taxi.
As the taxi moved, Jo Tae-ho rolled down the window and got so air.
He ca to his senses in the cold wind.
After that, he took out his cellphone and made a call sowhere.
“Yes, I am on my way now.”
The call was not long.
Having hung up the phone, he wore a bitter smile and placed his gaze out the window.
The taxi increased its speed gradually in the direction completely opposite to the company.
Soon, leaving the bustling street and passing through a street where old buildings were lined up, the scenery out the car window grew far from the city.
Jo Tae-ho watched out the window with his arms crossed then soon closed his eyes.
Instead of a light smile, tension was lingering on his face.
‘Jeong-su, there are many stories you do not know. I must solve this matter in my own way as well.’
The taxi soon turned a narrow alley corner and disappeared sowhere.
***
A few days passed, and in the HJ Partners headquarters office, I was staring carefully at a laptop screen with a serious expression.
While I was drafting sothing on the laptop, the door opened and soone entered.
It was Choi Seo-jun.
“Representative!”
Looking at him entering while even panting for breath, it seems an urgent matter has occurred sohow.
Beads of sweat ford on his forehead flowed down.
I raised my head with a calm appearance.
“What is the matter?”
Choi Seo-jun hurriedly opened his mouth while looking at the cellphone held in his hand.
“An ergency eting of executive levels has been held at Taeseong. It is said that a decision regarding President Lim Hye-seon will be made this evening.”
My gaze shone coldly.
I slowly closed the laptop and asked in a low voice.
“It is earlier than I thought. Is it certain information?”
“Yes, I just confird it with Chief Secretary Kang. The atmosphere is unusual. In fact, it is highly likely a eting based on the premise of dismissal.”
Silence flowed for a mont.
I touched my eye once as if tired, then leaned my back against the chair and let out a deep breath.
“Taeseong’s flow will be decided this evening.”
Choi Seo-jun said urgently.
“Representative, if things go on like this, President Lim’s position might crumble. President Lim Do-hyun’s side might seize the initiative. Should we not also hurry and prepare for sothing?”
I slowly stood up and walked toward the window.
The red light that had settled gently was reflected on the glass window.
“As Director Choi says, preparation will be necessary. However, there is no need to think hurriedly. This is, to the last, sothing happening in Taeseong Group. And it is also a matter for my aunt to solve.”
I turned my head and looked at Choi Seo-jun.
I said while maintaining a calm appearance.
“Director Choi, at what ti is the eting held?”
“About one hour remains.”
I picked up my coat indifferently and said.
“Then I should eat first before moving. Tonight will be quite long.”
Choi Seo-jun said while being flustered.
“Food is not the problem... right now.”
I fastened my coat and said.
“Koreans live on the strength of rice. Only when the stomach is full can one do anything, can they not.”
Choi Seo-jun muttered to himself.
‘How can he be that calm? If it were , I would have run there right away….’
I checked my watch and said.
“There is not much ti remaining for us until Director Choi’s eting begins. Well, let’s go. Let’s eat and prepare for tonight. Since it will be a long night.”
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