“Why don’t we talk about how much scale we need first?”
“talk?”
I called Han Ho-jae’s cell phone.
{Mr. Kim. Long time no see.}
“Representative Han. How are you?”
{Thanks to you.}
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen CEO Han, so I’ll forget his face. When will we see him again?”
{If Director Kim asks to see you, you should leave immediately. When do you like it?}
“Do you have time later?”
When I looked at him, Im Hanul nodded.
{If Director Kim finds it, we should make it even if it isn’t there! Where can I go?}
“You can come to the Hanseonggak plum room at 8:00.”
I’m sure! I will take responsibility
Dokgo Gap’s study. His study was quite different from Dokgo-jin’s, which was filled with antique furniture. Desks, bookshelves, and even computers took up just the space they needed.
There were no unnecessary decorations, so the space looked desolate at first glance.
Dokgo Gab sat in a chair and was quietly lost in thought. It was a simple but ergonomic chair. He was the type that valued function over form.
‘In my opinion, Taesan Group is not behind Kim Jae-goo.’
Dokgojin thought Taesan Group was behind Kim Jaegu. However, Dokgo Gab had a different opinion.
He thought that even though the father pretended to be unconcerned, he made the wrong decision because two of his sons went to prison and his pride was hurt.
‘My father thinks that the opponents of Mt. Lee came together to form a coalition, but I don’t think so.’
If they moved, there would be no reason to kick out Dokgo Commerce first. Since the profit to be gained from arranging Dokgo Commerce, which is only the lower end of Dokgo Group’s affiliates, was minimal, there was a high probability that it would touch a larger company.
‘Besides, the finish is clumsy.’
When Dokgo Commerce was merged with Daehan Market, executives except essential personnel were terminated. However, staff offered the option to stay if they wished.
If chaebol companies had carried out mergers and acquisitions, they would have laid off employees at the same time. However, Daehan Market guaranteed employment for all employees who accepted Daehan Market’s annual salary table.
‘They’re not the ones who see people as numbers.’
If you stay in a high position for a long time, people start to look like numbers. Dokgo-gap was wary of that, but nonetheless put the company’s interests above all else when making big decisions.
So there was no way people who had been in the chairperson’s seat for a longer period of time could have handled things so softly.
It was all the more so since they weren’t even exposed on the surface anyway.
‘But it’s impossible for an individual to collect 3 trillion in one year. Considering the highest product, it is 4 trillion won… Unless someone gave me information behind the scenes.’
Does it make sense to prepare the financial power that is among the top 10 richest people in Korea in one year?
Besides, Jaegu Kim was originally a penniless commoner. What on earth do they believe in such common people and invest so much money?
‘I hired Titanium Security.’
Dokgo-gap hypothesized that the person behind Kim Jae-gu might not be Korean. There was no way that a Korean would be able to establish a relationship with Titanium Security, one of the three largest security companies in the United States, and help hire dozens of people.
‘Is it a foreign invasion?’
Lee Yoo-san showed a lot of Korean business-friendly aspects. Since most of his backers were Korean conglomerates, he did his best to make the legislation favorable to them.
Because he was quite capable, there were overflowing chaebols trying to line him up, and thanks to that, he was attracting attention as a candidate for the next presidential election.
Shinto fire.
It’s a bit of an old slogan, but nothing worked as well with voters as gukppong. There is nothing wrong with saying that we need to increase employment in Korea and grow Korean companies.
Of course, since it was a fashion slogan, most of the laws he made were made in favor of entrepreneurs rather than workers. However, such laws were so complex that they did not attract the attention of the public.
‘If it’s someone related to an American company, it’s definitely Seol Gyeong-taek.’
Seol Gyeong-taek was Lee Yoo-san’s rival. It insisted on attracting global companies to Korea, and was in the position that regulations should be relaxed so that foreign companies can create jobs and supply good products in Korea.
Seol Gyeong-taek and Lee Yu-san both had their own logic.
That’s why there were many people who supported the two, and they were on the list as presidential candidates.
However, Seol Kyung-taek and Taesan Group were not a good match for each other.
Dokgo-gap leaned on the backrest and narrowed his forehead. My head was pounding from thinking so much.
‘I need to find out more.’
More information was needed to draw a conclusion. He called his entourage.
“Did you call?”
“Increase surveillance of Kim Jae-gu’s Hannam-dong home and Gangnam office by 1.5 times.”
“yes.”
“Please proceed with wiretapping as quickly as possible.”
“I will do my best.”
***
At 8:00, CEO Han Ho-jae opened the door of Hanseonggak, a high-end Korean restaurant. He looked at me and Im Han-ul and smiled brightly.
“All the leading players of Daehan Mart have gathered here. I will also take a seat.”
“Welcome. Representative Han.”
“It’s been a while, Mr. Kim. I should have invited you to a meal first, but I ate one. Instead! I’ll pay for this seat.”
“CEO Han is working hard to increase his assets, so I have to buy it.”
Getting food wasn’t free. Ever since I was an office worker, I’ve felt it keenly. If the money was too much to control, it was better to give without taking.
Goodwill breeds goodwill, and people’s goodwill will pave the way for me.
It may not be possible to be loved by everyone, but at least I wanted to be liked by the people I work with.
“Then I’ll be indebted to you.”
As if he had read the atmosphere, CEO Han Ho-jae took his seat immediately. It was not difficult to find a seat as there were cutlery.
When the waitress was called, the food that had been prepared in advance was heated and spread on the table. It was a generous table, but perhaps because it was a gathering of businessmen, no one paid attention to the food first.
“I don’t think you just invited me to see you. Why did you ask me to meet you?”
“Isn’t it true that the logistics partner hasn’t been confirmed yet?”
“Yes. I have a little contract period left with Dokgo Products, so I’m trying to find it slowly.”
“How about Taesansansan?”
“Is it suddenly Taesan?”
“Isn’t the company evaluation good for large companies?”
“The image is not good because of the recent corruption problem.”
It was a problem deliberately raised by Dokgo Group. However, it could not be helped that the outside gaze was not good.
“Isn’t that already a few years ago?”
“It’s been a few years, but the facts are the facts.”
“I’m definitely going to clean up this time, right?”
Im Hanul shut his mouth tightly and nodded his head. There was even a sense of spleen in his expression.
He said to Hojae Han.
“I will punish the person involved before signing the contract, and I will definitely organize it before leaving.”
“Are you CEO Lim?”
“Yes. I will tell my father Cheol-hyun Lim well.”
“Ahh.”
Han Ho-jae opened his mouth wide and looked at Im Han-ul in turn. The name Im Han-ul was not a common name, but it was because his face was not revealed to the public, so it was unknown.
“I will take responsibility and make sure it is finished. So please give me a chance, CEO.”
Im Han-ul knelt in front of Han Ho-jae. I wondered if it was necessary, but it was a sudden action, so I didn’t stop it.
Even if I don’t stop, if it’s Han Ho-jae’s representative personality…
“Why are you doing this? Have a seat.”
“Please, Mr. Representative.”
“It’s not like I don’t know CEO Lim… More than anything, if Managing Director Kim asks, I have to do something.”
CEO Han Ho-jae’s reliability has now reached 92%. There was a lot of trust, probably because the company was built with my help.
‘I’ll be able to reveal my identity sooner or later.’
Dokgo Group also noticed me, so there is no need to hide my identity anymore. Sooner or later, at the right time, I thought I should bring up the story.
“I and CEO Han-ul Lim will definitely restore the image of Taesan Group. CEO Ho-jae Han doesn’t have to worry.”
“If Director Kim says so, then you don’t have to worry.”
Han Ho-jae lifted the bottle.
“Then, how about having a drink to commemorate the conclusion of the contract?”
“Is the contract already concluded?”
Im Hanul widened his eyes. Han Ho-jae, who had expressed disapproval just before, smiled brightly as if he had never done that before and filled Lim Han-ul’s glass with alcohol.
“I have no choice but to trust Mr. Kim because he is a person who always keeps his word.”
‘I have to finish this properly somehow.’
Despite the work given, I felt good. Being blindly trusted by someone always felt good.
“Then, Mr. Kim, who made this event, please give us a toast.”
A toast at a dinner party was something I wanted to avoid, but today was different. How can a toast be missed in a happy drinking party with comrades who trust me?
“For the bright future of Daehan Market and Taehan Products!”
“for!”
The clear soju was sparkling and shining in the light.
As if blessing our bright future.
***
He escorted the drunk Han Ho-jae home. He gave me a thumbs up as he got out of the car.
“Executive Director Kim! Don’t worry. As long as you restore your image well, I’m sure! I’ll take responsibility. And CEO Lim!”
“Yes. Representative Han.”
“I wish you all the best in the future.”
“I really appreciate you.”
Since they were both drunk, Han Ho-jae walked into the apartment complex after shaking hands several times. In case something dangerous might happen, he ordered one of the bodyguards to escort him to the front door.
“I didn’t expect things to work out this well.”
“I told you not to worry.”
“But… CEO Han said that if it were you, you would die and not be able to live?”
“There’s a reason for that.”
If I hadn’t chosen Daehan Market, so if B&T Financial hadn’t invested in Daehan Market, Daehan Market would have collapsed due to Dokgo Commerce.
With my help, Daehan Market secured a monopoly in the market, so it was understandable that they blindly believed in me.
“Thank you. Thank you. Jaegu.”
Im Hanul patted my shoulder several times.
“If I succeed later, I will definitely pay you back.”
Thank you even for the words.
“Yes. Be sure to pay it back.”
“Yes. I’ll pay you back.”
“First of all, write the plan properly.”
“That’s how it should be. Strictly punish those involved, get punished, apologize for what needs to be apologized, and then start over.”
“Yes. Cheer up.”
“I’ll do my best.”
He thanked me several times.
***
A bright moon illuminated the yard.
I could see the bodyguards standing guard as I strolled through the garden under the moonlight.
‘Has life been this easy?’
I just had money, but I was able to live comfortably while giving to the people around me.
I was able to get rid of resentment and give only good things to my family, and I was able to secure reliable natural resources.
I bought a house that I couldn’t afford to live in even if I worked hard all my life, and I got my own building in the middle of Gangnam.
It is difficult to manage the building, but it was convenient because I did not have to worry about it because I entrusted it to a professional manager. The bank account was overflowing with money to the extent that they did not even check the monthly rent coming from the building.
And it was good to find an organization to donate to each week to activate the giving angel’s gratitude. Being able to be of help to someone without much effort, and not suffering a loss, was a great advantage.
Lovely family, and plenty of money.
In the process of getting rid of the injustice, it was the best life except for the fact that I was involved with Dokgo Group.
‘I have a lover now.’
He remembered the touch of Elisa’s soft lips and ran his fingers over them. Her soft breath seemed to linger in my ears.
From nob le mt l dot com
Jiying.
From nob le mt l dot com
Just then, a message arrived on my cell phone.
{(Suddenly, I had a vacation, so I thought of Jaegu and contacted him. I went back to Korea last time, are you still in Korea?)}
“I am.”
I was thinking about Elisa, but the message arrived at the right time.
Even the lady of the Carver family in the world can’t be a nobleman.
The corners of his lips were twitching.
{(Yes. I am in Korea now.)}
{(Then shall we go to play? To tour Korea. I’m thinking of going there as well.)}
{(That’s nice. I’ll introduce you to a lot of delicious houses when you come over.)}
Elisa had many places she wanted to go to. I wanted to go on a date with Gyeongbokgung Palace wearing hanbok, and I wanted to surprise her with delicious Korean food.
{(Okay. See you tomorrow then.)}
{(Tomorrow?)}
{(I’m on my way to the airport right now.)}
One action is the best.
Although the war with Dokgo Group wasn’t over yet, it seemed like we could make time for a date.
not today
Certainly, the Taesan Group blocked Dokgo’s attack from the front, so it became easier to move. After grilling ribs with Choi Ji-hoon, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, I invited him to my house.
Even Han Kyung-ah was taken care of and sent to the United States, because Choi Ji-hoon felt comfortable living in Korea. I wanted to take care of him like a chimney, but unlike Han Kyung-ah, I respected his intentions because I couldn’t speak English well.
However, despite this, I kept getting stepped on, and invited me to my sweet home, which is considered the safest place in Korea.
There were 10 bodyguards on standby at all times in the house, and it was safe because the bodyguards’ quarters were also 10 minutes away from the house.
‘Because I have an empty room now.’
As the bodyguards’ quarters were recently built, two of the four rooms allocated to the bodyguards were vacant. So, I should have used that room.
“I want you to stay here until the job is done.”