66.
‘An adult.’
Mujin knew that what Haseo said wasn’t wrong. He was already a proper adult and would have realized that he couldn’t do everything he wanted. Nevertheless, hearing those words, something subtly bothered a corner of Mujin’s heart. But the thought didn’t linger long. During that time, the person Mujin had arranged to meet arrived.
A neat-looking woman in her 50s with her hair elegantly done up—Baek Sira, Chairman Jang’s wife.
“It’s been a while, Director Choi.”
Baek Sira greeted him with her usual cold expression.
“Indeed. I’m not sure how long it’s been.”
“We haven’t had any reason to meet.”
Saying this, Baek Sira sat down opposite Mujin. Though he was already seated, she didn’t point out the rudeness. Being a calm person who was quick to seek advantage, she knew it wasn’t necessary right now.
“I heard you’ve had some good news recently.”
“Good news?”
“Haven’t you gained a son?”
“Ah.”
Tilting her head briefly, Baek Sira soon smiled, raising the corners of her mouth.
“I have. I’ve decided to enter him into the family register soon.”
What had Baek Sira received from Chairman Jang in exchange for entering another woman’s son into the family register? Mujin’s curiosity was soon satisfied.
“Soon, one of the directors will be replaced.”
Currently, Isaac Finance had five directors, one of whom was an outside director. Being family, Baek Sira couldn’t become a director of Isaac Finance. But since her family had contributed significantly to Isaac Finance’s success, the outside director position was held by someone under her influence. She had coveted other positions as well, but until now, Chairman Jang had defended them with various excuses. But it seemed that with this new son being accepted, he had given up one of those positions.
It was quite beneficial for Baek Sira, but it didn’t seem like that would satisfy her. If she had been satisfied, she wouldn’t have come to this meeting.
“I see. By the way, I’ve heard your son has been meeting potential matches lately.”
“He met with the child of Toho Construction. They seem to like him quite a bit, as this is their third meeting. Well, he does look better than his father.”
She kept smiling as she spoke, but that didn’t mean Baek Sira welcomed Jeong Heejun. A son not of her blood, who resembled his dead mother more than his father. Could someone as proud as Baek Sira ever love such a child?
“He resembles his mother more than the Chairman.”
“Yes.”
Baek Sira looked down at the teacup in front of her, then raised her head.
“Let’s stop this mutual testing. You called me because you have something to say, right?”
“Yes, Madam. Are you satisfied with the current situation?”
“Of course not.”
The answer came promptly.
“I married young and worked hard to grow Isaac Finance. I’ve made many efforts hoping my husband would reach a better position. But now…”
Suddenly, another woman’s child was eyeing the chairman position.
“He said he had plans, but it’s hard to fully trust him. He lies as easily as he eats. Just look at his women’s problems.”
He had been told not to have children with other women, but he failed to keep that promise. Even if the woman had hidden it, she knew Chairman Jang could have found out if he really wanted to.
‘He should have dealt with it somehow.’
Baek Sira bit her lip firmly. Although Chairman Jang said it was fortunate to have a successor, it wasn’t for her. She had planned to bring in another relative’s child at the right time. If Chairman Jang didn’t have a suitable child, she could look among her own relatives. Of course, Chairman Jang wouldn’t welcome it, but she had planned to push it through. But now the situation had changed.
There was a time when she loved Chairman Jang. Falling for his ability to push through any difficult task with determination, she considered him an excellent spouse. That feeling became love, but it too wore out and faded with time. How could love be maintained when it wasn’t reciprocated?
Such love could quickly turn to hatred.
“I’m sure Director Choi has his own thoughts, which is why he wanted to meet me.”
Baek Sira looked directly at Mujin.
“That’s right. And what I’m thinking is probably similar to what you’re thinking, Madam.”
“I…”
After taking a momentary breath, Baek Sira continued.
“I want to take the chairman position.”
“I want to change the chairman to someone else.”
The words they uttered simultaneously meant the same thing: removing Chairman Jang from his position.
“Don’t you want to become chairman yourself?”
“I don’t particularly want to climb that high and be under public scrutiny.”
Naturally, a chairman faced more watchful eyes than a company director. With a less-than-clean past, what more would he gain by climbing that high? It was better to replace the position with someone friendly to his side.
“That might be a wise attitude. Do you have someone in mind?”
“How about Director Cheol?”
“Ah, you mean the one who was pushed out of the director position before? I believe he’s living quietly now.”
“He still has the desire to work. Plus, he’s a relative of the Chairman and is friendly to you, Madam.”
He had no choice but to be friendly. In his youth, he had loved Baek Sira. That’s why he tried to obtain the chairman position, but failed. Even becoming chairman wouldn’t necessarily mean he could have her. He was a foolish man. But due to that foolishness, he was also someone who would do anything Baek Sira asked.
Love might have been damaged by Chairman Jang, but it also showed there was unchanging, complete love.
“Still, there are four director positions left. How many do you want?”
“One is held by someone who maintains neutrality, so that can remain. I think I can persuade another one too. So I just need you to change the remaining two, Madam.”
“That’s not difficult.”
All they needed to do was pull down Chairman Jang and get help from Baek Sira’s family.
“But for that, we need to bring Director Cheol back first. Is that possible?”
“If you help, Madam.”
“Good. I’ll do my best to support you.”
As they talked, they reached a consensus. And in that process, there was also discussion about how to handle Jeong Heejun. Baek Sira hated Heejun and wanted to put him somewhere out of sight.
“Don’t you want to kill him?”
“Are you asking so directly?”
“It’s just the two of us here anyway.”
“That’s true. Well, is there really a need to kill him? Haven’t we been able to remove people without killing them until now? Let’s send him abroad or something. He’s still young, and I think taking his life would be too much.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Do we have anything else to discuss?”
“No. If other issues arise later, I’ll contact you separately.”
“Please do. And Director Choi, be careful.”
“I’m always careful.”
At Mujin’s words, Baek Sira gently shook her head.
“I’m talking about the young man you’re keeping. Weren’t you someone who didn’t have weaknesses?”
“He cannot be a weakness.”
“How can you be so sure? It’s unlike you. But I suppose you won’t listen to me right now anyway.”
Love is such a bother. Baek Sira didn’t even touch her teacup as she stood up.
“See you next time.”
And so their secret meeting came to an end. Only after Baek Sira left did Mujin lean back on the sofa. He had steered the conversation as he wanted, but her final words lingered.
“A weakness…”
Perhaps she wasn’t wrong. Still, Mujin had no intention of letting Haseo go. Isn’t that why he met with Baek Sira and had this conversation? He planned to remove them all—Chairman Jang, who was trying to discard Mujin by joining hands with Toho Construction, and Jeong Heejun, who was making a fuss about saving Haseo.
‘It’s fortunate that Chairman Jang has acted stupidly toward his wife.’
Strangely, he was dull in such matters. Chairman Jang didn’t notice what Mujin had observed. That’s why things had come to this point.
“Director.”
Seo Miso, who had followed Mujin, addressed him. One of the people under her was currently assigned as Jeong Heejun’s bodyguard. Since Park Dongsu was the head of security, it wasn’t unusual, but it had been difficult to insert someone Chairman Jang didn’t know.
Most revealed themselves as being under Mujin, but not all of them. Being thoughtful, he had also cultivated people Chairman Jang didn’t know about, in preparation for unforeseen circumstances.
“Today he’s meeting with the daughter of Toho Construction again.”
“How’s the atmosphere?”
“They’re treating her like a princess, so the atmosphere is very good.”
Being busy with that, it seemed he had been in infrequent contact with Mujin lately. In the beginning, he had tried to persuade Mujin to release Haseo.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
