Chapter 169
Chapter 169
Episode 169. Intentional Humiliation (2)
At MH Group Headquarters, Im Hee-yeon pushed aside the documents she had just finished verifying.
Song Tae-hoon accepted them and said,
“The audit measures will be completed by the end of today.”
“It took longer than I expected.”
“There were many complex entanglements regarding rebates, and it was delayed because more employees kept clinging to it like water ghosts, revealing more issues.”
Im Hee-yeon sighed.
“He never goes down alone, does he?”
“Still, it’s mostly wrapped up, so you should be able to focus on basic audit tasks for a while.”
Currently, Im Hee-yeon was heading the General Audit Headquarters at MH Group. Therefore, the work atmosphere was quiet unless a large-scale detailed investigation was scheduled.
“Speaking of which… the company seems quiet these days.”
“Thanks to you, Executive Director, for digging into it. Besides, lately, the other executives and affiliates have had their eyes on CEO Baek Shin-woo, haven’t they?”
Song Tae-hoon’s explanation naturally made Im Hee-yeon nod.
“Shinwoo is certainly drawing attention.”
“The headquarters executives tried to build connections with MH Distribution, but CEO Baek Shin-woo blocked all of them, so they must be even more anxious.”
“Shinwoo is truly amazing in that regard too.”
Song Tae-hoon also nodded at Im Hee-yeon’s murmur.
“Didn’t you, Executive Director, warn the executives not to push CEO Baek too hard, lest he take reckless actions and put himself in danger? That also made those who were planning to act hesitate.”
Im Hee-yeon also did not remain idle, observing the situation. By mobilizing the General Audit Headquarters, she could collect and analyze evidence of various executives’ wrongdoings to use as leverage.
“Still, I didn’t expect Shinwoo to bring in Accountant Joo Ho-yeon from Kwangho Accounting Firm as the Chief Financial Officer. Honestly, he’s someone I’d want to avoid from Kwangho too.”
“He’s very famous for being incorruptible in financial audits.”
As various conversations were exchanged, the internal phone rang.
The number displayed on the screen was from the Chairman’s office.
“…I’m answering.”
[Can you come up for a moment?]
“Understood.”
Lately, Myung Joong-hwan had been working at the company instead of at home.
As a result, the employees of MH Group Headquarters were inevitably tense with Chairman Myung Joong-hwan coming to work every day.
Im Hee-yeon immediately went to the Chairman’s office.
Inside the office were Myung In-chul, Myung Sung-chul, and Myung Soo-yeon. Except for Myung Joong-hwan, they all looked uncomfortable that they had been waiting for Im Hee-yeon.
“Sit there.”
At Myung Joong-hwan’s words, Im Hee-yeon sat down, leaving one seat empty next to Myung In-chul.
Given the serious atmosphere, Im Hee-yeon waited quietly without saying a word.
Myung Joong-hwan then slowly began to speak, scanning the four people with a stern expression.
“First, Sung-chul, step down from your position as CEO of MH Foods.”
“Ah, Father!”
“I heard the incident at the LA factory is dragging on. I heard that in that situation, you tried to bribe the victims to overturn the case, but you were caught.”
Myung Sung-chul’s expression could only contort.
“Th-that’s……”
“Is trying to manipulate the situation now a solution? Can it be overturned by manipulation?”
It was a matter being handled by sending people to the United States.
Myung Sung-chul, who hadn’t expected Myung Joong-hwan to be aware of it, couldn’t answer properly.
“……”
“MH Foods will be operated by an external professional manager, not from within the company. Understand it that way.”
“But—!”
Myung Sung-chul’s face was deeply furrowed.
Despite this, Myung Joong-hwan retorted without batting an eye.
“Thanks to your poor handling, MH Foods’ stock price has fallen by nearly half. Can you take responsibility for the resulting losses? If you say you can fix it, I’ll let it be!”
“……”
Currently, MH Foods’ stock price had fallen from its initial price of around 82,000 won to 43,000 won. The resulting loss was approximately 3.5 trillion won. With shareholders in an uproar due to the decline, some action was necessary.
In the end, Myung Sung-chul could only close his mouth tightly, unable to say anything.
“Focus only on MH Retail. And Soo-yeon.”
Myung Soo-yeon, the next target, slightly tensed and quickly uncrossed her legs, which she had crossed from the beginning.
“…Yes, Father.”
“If you don’t have the skills, you should have just managed MH Hotel quietly. What on earth are you doing?”
Along with the question, Myung Joong-hwan threw a document from the side table in front of her.
“…Yes? What are you talking about……”
“I heard that a company supplying supplies to affiliated hotels in Southeast Asia intentionally provided inferior goods and pocketed the price difference.”
At that moment, Myung Soo-yeon’s complexion turned as pale as Myung Sung-chul’s.
This was because the data was a report on the MH Hotel Chain that Im Hee-yeon had completed auditing and submitted to Myung Joong-hwan not long ago.
“I don’t know anything about that!”
Myung Joong-hwan let out a long sigh at Myung Soo-yeon’s response.
“The CEO of the supplying company deposited a considerable amount into a Korean account, and although it passed through various intermediaries… the person who withdrew the funds from the final transfer account was your subordinate, Manager Kim Jung-mi.”
Naturally, Myung Joong-hwan was not making accusations without proper verification.
“Ah, Father… that’s……”
“The amount was considerable. What did you use it for? Slush fund? Or stock acquisition?”
“……”
In the renewed silence, Myung Joong-hwan continued.
“Are you bored just managing hotels? If that’s the case, I can make sure you’re not bored.”
Myung Soo-yeon knew it was not meant in a good way.
“No……”
“Then tell me. What did you use that much money for?”
In the increasingly grim atmosphere, Myung Soo-yeon’s gaze shifted to Myung Sung-chul.
Seeing that direction, Myung Joong-hwan let out a sigh.
“Sung-chul. Was some of the funds you used to secure Baesung Distribution shares also from the hotel?”
At this, Myung Sung-chul had to say something.
“…Not all of it.”
“So how much did you take?”
“…About 2 billion won.”
At the time, Baesung Corporation was on the verge of bankruptcy, and Myung Soo-yeon had been furious with Myung Sung-chul.
However, since she couldn’t spread rumors that she lent slush funds from MH Hotel, she had suppressed her usual fiery temper and quietly pressured Myung Sung-chul.
“It seems about 5 billion won was withdrawn from MH Hotel. So, 3 billion was used by you.”
“……”
Silence seemed to imply affirmation, and Myung Soo-yeon could say nothing.
Myung Joong-hwan then looked at the two of them with a look of disappointment.
“Are you truly incapable of managing even one sound company?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Haa—! What are you trying to do?”
It felt like a hole in a dam, neglected for so long, had suddenly widened.
Myung Joong-hwan sighed again and clutched his temples.
“It’s truly a spectacle. A spectacle……”
At this, Gu Sang-ho, who had been standing quietly to the side, brought him water.
Myung Joong-hwan took it and drank it down, about to speak again.
However, Myung In-chul, who had remained silent, interjected with a sharp voice.
“Chairman! Are you calling us here to scold us for our mistakes? Or are you laying the groundwork to throw something bigger at us?”
His eyes were convinced that there was a real agenda.
Myung Joong-hwan stared intently at Myung In-chul and then spoke again.
“Yes, you spoke well. From now on, I declare that the child who will succeed me will not be limited to In-chul alone. If each of you achieves sufficient results in your respective positions, it could be anyone.”
Simultaneously, while only Im Hee-yeon remained composed, the faces of the other three contorted.
“Chairman, are you saying… Executive Director Im Hee-yeon is also included?”
At Myung In-chul’s question, Myung Joong-hwan sighed and shook his head.
“Not just Hee-yeon. It could be Un-seok, Jin-seok, or Yoo-hee.”
“Does that mean…?”
“Shinwoo as well.”
Their expressions, already hardened, became even more rigid, and they swallowed.
Myung In-chul said excitedly,
“Father! Even so, CEO Baek Shin-woo is unacceptable!”
“Why is he unacceptable?”
“Including Executive Director Im Hee-yeon, if the shareholders find out, they won’t stand for it!”
“Shareholders only care about making money, don’t they?”
Since it wasn’t a false statement, Myung In-chul was momentarily speechless, then spoke again.
“Still, legitimacy is necessary! Although Executive Director Im Hee-yeon is your daughter, I don’t think someone whose bloodline is unknown can become the successor to a company built by the Myung family.”
“How is that a problem?”
“What if CEO Baek’s biological father is a criminal? Or what if his biological father’s family finds out about CEO Baek’s existence and causes trouble? Honestly, I worry about when such a problem might erupt.”
From the perspective of someone truly unaware, it was a valid concern.
However, coming from Myung In-chul, it was doubtful whether it was genuine.
At the same time, Im Hee-yeon clenched her fist with her delicate hand. He was a man she had once genuinely loved, though he had died in an unfortunate accident.
She could no longer remain silent and listen, and had to speak.
“He is someone who would never cause such a thing, so you don’t need to worry.”
“How can you be so sure? We don’t even know who he is.”
“There was no need to say it. And he was an orphan, so he has no family.”
Myung Joong-hwan’s brow twitched slightly.
“Everyone, stop. Of course, my decision will not be reversed regardless of any issues.”
“Honestly, I don’t believe the ‘orphan’ story either. So, Executive Director Im Hee-yeon! Just tell us who CEO Baek’s biological father is. We’ll verify it ourselves, and if there are no problems, we’ll accept it.”
Myung In-chul believed that CEO Baek Shin-woo’s biological father must have had problems. That’s why he had hidden who he was for 24 years.
“I refuse to do that. Besides, whether CEO Myung In-chul accepts it or not, hasn’t the Chairman’s decision already been made?”
Myung Joong-hwan also supported Im Hee-yeon’s words.
“That’s right. There’s no need to discuss Shinwoo’s biological father any further.”
“Father! I don’t think MH Group can afford to take on risks without knowing the extent of the danger.”
“You don’t need to worry because I know who he is!”
At that moment, Myung In-chul was startled and fell silent.
“…Do you really… know, Father?”
“Yes. In any case, as Hee-yeon said, the decision will not be reversed. And Hee-yeon, you will take over as CEO of MH Electronics. We cannot leave that position vacant any longer.”
This time, not only Myung In-chul, but also Myung Sung-chul and Myung Soo-yeon were astonished.
“Father! That’s absurd!”
“How can you say that?”
At that moment, Myung Joong-hwan glared sharply at the two.
“Shut up!”
“……”
“……”
As the two mouths were firmly shut, Myung Joong-hwan continued.
“Hee-yeon, what do you think? If you don’t want to take it, I’ll look for a professional manager among the internal board members or externally.”
Myung In-chul was not even included in the candidate list. Because of this, Myung In-chul gritted his teeth and quietly waited to hear Im Hee-yeon’s answer.