One Week Later. JH Consulting Boardroom.
"Hoo... hoo..."
I took deep breaths, fiddling with the collar of my blouse. They say humans are creatures of adaptation, and I'd grown pretty used to this office look by now. But today, for some reason, it felt uncomfortably tight.
And who could blame it?
"Hm, alright. Let's see your presentation."
Sitting at the head of the table was none other than Abhos herself, elegantly crossing her arms and fixing her gaze on me amid a room full of burly tattooed guys sprawled out around the table.
"Director, don't be nervous. Just stick to what we've prepared."
Kim Sang-mu, fiddling with the laptop beside me, whispered softly and flashed me a thumbs-up. His face made it a bit intimidating, but that encouragement straightened my back.
"Y-yeah!"
Right. If I just followed our prep, there'd be no problem. Over the past week, the Strategic Planning Team—led by me and Kim Sang-mu—had poured our souls into this. One goal: socially crucify Seongil Pharma!
"Alright, then... let's begin the presentation."
With trembling hands, I turned on the laser pointer. The red dot danced across the screen.
"First, Phase 1: Reviving the class-action lawsuit."
As the red dot swept across the screen, Kkkomul wagged its tail behind my butt with a "Kkiruk!" I subtly pressed it down to keep it from messing around and continued.
"Last time, the victims' parents withdrew their complaints due to Seongil Pharma's threats and hush money. But!"
The slide flipped. Photos appeared: victims' parents signing petitions again, protected by our company's security team (those soulless guys from the first floor).
"Our strategy team spent the past week convincing the victims' families. And thanks to the special security team provided by the Chairman, the tables have turned. Your sponsors blocked Seongil Pharma's thugs from even approaching, giving the parents the courage to fight back and promise to press on!"
"Ooooh...!"
The staff let out admiring gasps. But it was too early for that!
"Next, Phase 2: Exposing police corruption."
I proudly waved the USB drive. "With funds provided by Abhos, we bribed an informant and secured the original recording of the call between the Gangnam Precinct Chief and Jo Min-hyuk. Plus, the account records showing the bribes!"
I exchanged a grin with Kim Sang-mu. Bribing the informant... well, half of it was straight-up intimidation. We went with this huge guy like Kim Du-hwan, middle-aged in a fedora, swinging bats and yelling.
"You gonna testify or not?!"
Quite the valuable experience.
"Once this drops, the police can't protect Jo Min-hyuk anymore. Public opinion war, legal battles, internal leaks... all made possible by Abhos's overwhelming funds and muscle. The perfect plan to crush them!"
My voice gained strength. Honestly, I was thrilled. Just days ago, I'd despaired before the massive wall that was Keter Bio Tech. Felt like throwing eggs at a rock. But with Abhos stepping in, cracks were forming in that solid stone.
Abhos is truly great! And I'm pretty damn useful too, aren't I?
Clap clap clap clap clap clap!
"Amazing, Director!"
"Once that hits, those bastards won't even have bones left!!"
The staff erupted in cheers and applause. One burly action leader even yelled, "Sister-in-law—no, Director, you're the best!" only to get smacked on the back of the head by Manager Jang.
"Truly... you've all worked hard."
Manager Jang nodded, his voice thick with emotion.
"Honestly, I'd given up. Their backers were too huge; no matter how hard we struggled, it felt impossible. But with the Chairman laying the groundwork and the Director crafting the strategy, victory's in sight now. We can drag them to court and watch them crash and burn."
The room's energy was electric. Everyone was convinced of triumph. Chest swelling with pride, I glanced at Abhos in the head seat and shrugged my shoulders.
"What do you think, Abhos? Legal says we can land a big blow in six months. Satisfied?"
Don't I deserve some praise? Passing grade as a capable secretary?
"Hmm..."
Abhos rested her chin on her hand, gazing at me intently. And not just gazing—her lips curved slightly upward.
"Not bad, Min-woo. I thought laws and public opinion were just petty human rules... but you've laid it out so convincingly."
Abhos praised me! This time, not Kkkomul's doing—my own tail wagged furiously.
"But."
She leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs.
"This is just a net. We've cornered the rat, but that's it."
"Uh... yeah, true. No trial yet."
"Detective. Report on your investigation."
At Abhos's command, Manager Jang nodded gravely and stepped forward.
"Understood. While the Director encircled the enemies outside, my intel team probed Seongil Pharma's internals."
He nodded to an intel staffer, who tapped the keyboard. The screen shifted to a tangled web of Seongil Pharma's corporate relations.
"Allow me to explain."
Manager Jang took the pointer from me. His seasoned detective eyes gleamed.
"Seongil Pharma looks like a normal mid-tier pharma company on the surface, but until five years ago, it was a failing small business on the brink of bankruptcy. Then, at some point, it experienced abnormal explosive growth."
The graph on screen crawled along the bottom before shooting straight up.
"The turning point? Right after signing a tech partnership with Keter Bio Tech."
I swallowed hard at the name Keter. Manager Jang continued.
"The odd part is a global giant like Keter partnering with a dying company with no tech. And right after, Seongil Pharma's CEO changed."
A photo of a sharp-featured middle-aged man appeared. The classic side-parted hair.
"Sato Kenji. Current CEO of Seongil Pharma. Formerly head of strategic planning at Keter Bio Tech."
"Huh? Japanese? A Keter exec becomes CEO of their partner? Is that even possible?"
At my dumb question, Abhos chuckled softly.
"Of course it's possible. Quite common, in fact. They use investments or partnerships as excuses to swallow companies whole."
"Swallow?"
"Min-woo, big corps are sly. They hate getting their hands dirty."
Abhos nodded at the Keter logo on screen.
"Dangerous experiments, illegal drug production, waste disposal... If HQ gets caught, stocks tank, image shattered. So they need a dumpster."
"Ah..."
"Buy a failing company, plant their guy as CEO, dump all the dirty work there. Trouble? 'We didn't know—subcontractor's deviation.' Cut off the tail, done."
Chills ran down my spine. I knew Keter was huge, but using our targets—Jo Min-hyuk and his dad—like puppets?
"Spot on, Chairman."
Manager Jang supplemented. "Our intel confirms Plant 2 is that dumpster's core. Officially a vitamin factory, but power usage exceeds the entire industrial complex. Mysterious trucks in and out at night."
He zoomed in on the factory outskirts.
"As you see, security's abnormal. Private guards 24/7, razor wire, military-grade electric fences. For vitamins?"
As his words ended, groans of awe erupted from the tattooed guys.
"Whoa, fuck. That's a factory or a fortress?"
"Those shady bastards! What, turning vitamins into white powder?"
"Exactly, exactly! Those junkies are definitely cooking dope!"
The room turned into a gangster flick scene. I nodded along with the vibe. Anyone could see it screamed 'I'm suspicious!!'
"Ahem. Anyway, they're processing something Keter sends there."
Manager Jang calmed the chaos. "Expose the factory's truth, and we hit not just Seongil Pharma, but Keter behind it."
"Whoa... So, infiltrate as workers for evidence? Or find a whistleblower?"
"Tricky, Director."
Manager Jang shook his head, flipping slides. Military-like barbed wire around the woods, surveillance towers everywhere.
"Bribed the local gov so much, it's a special management zone. Fully isolated, practically extraterritorial—no cops allowed. Best we got was drone photos."
"Fuck that! Can't we just storm it?"
"Yeah yeah! Send our boys and bulldoze it!"
The tattooed guys yelled excitedly. But Manager Jang sighed.
"That brings SWAT, or worst case, the army. Want to get riddled as terrorists?"
The mood sank. Impenetrable fortress by force or wits.
Then.
"If we can't breach from outside, make them open from inside."
Abhos said languidly, chin propped.
"Pardon? Inside? But it's isolated..."
"That guy."
Her finger pointed to the whiteboard full of presentation materials. Following it: the culprit's father, Jo Sang-hun, VP.
"He's... the VP, right?"
"Yes. But rotten to the core."
Abhos smiled coolly. "He harbors massive inferiority toward CEO Sato Kenji and Keter. Handed his third-gen company to hands he hates—Japanese, no less. And he's just a powerless puppet VP. Seething with resentment."
She propped her chin elegantly, eyeing me. "Plus, his useless son has him cornered. Thanks to your hard work, Min-woo, he knows Keter's ditching him."
Her unflinching praise lifted my lips unwittingly.
"Exploit that. Offer him a deal: betray Keter, join us. Hand over the factory secrets, and we drop charges plus give him funds to flee."
"Betrayal!"
Perfect. Jo Sang-hun's only out now is flipping to us. Flawless op—punch Keter where it hurts!
"Perfect plan!"
"As expected of the Chairman! Class act!"
The room exploded in cheers. Staff thrilled at screwing the evil Japanese corp Keter. Me too, awed by Abhos's brilliance. Everything would resolve perfectly.
But... one person didn't smile. Manager Jang, bitter-faced, head bowed, fists clenched.
"Ah..."
Then it hit me. Victory for us, but for him, aiding near-killers of his daughter.
— A little later. Rooftop smoking area.
"Hoo..."
Jang Hyun-soo leaned on the railing, exhaling a long trail of smoke. The cigarette burned to the filter, but he stared blankly at the sunset over Gangnam's skyscrapers, unable to draw more.
Complicated. Abhos's plan was rationally flawless. Best shot at smashing Seongil Pharma and serving Keter a huge humiliation.
But emotions lagged. 'Help them...? The bastards who nearly killed my daughter...'
He'd rather follow Director Kang Min-woo's plan: drag them to court, crush them legally. Or watch them abandoned by Keter, die miserably.
Not hand them money and an escape.
"Haa... damn it."
He pulled out a fresh cigarette. Couldn't defy Abhos. She saved him, gave him this position. Personal grudges aside—duty as a subordinate.
Click.
As he lit up—
Clack, clack.
The rooftop door opened; footsteps approached. Jang Hyun-soo startled, hid the cig behind his back.
"D-Director...?"
Bathed in sunset glow stood Kang Min-woo. Wind-tossed bob hair, white blouse, tight skirt. The picture of a beautiful, refined female secretary.
"Ah... it's fine. Smoke, Manager."
Min-woo smiled awkwardly, waving it off. Her usual soft, friendly grin.
"N-no. I was heading in. Besides, you don't smoke..."
"Oh, just... wanted some air."
Min-woo approached cautiously, standing by the railing. Gazing at the fiery sky, she spoke softly.
"That... doesn't sit right with you, does it?"
"...!"
Jang Hyun-soo flinched. After a pause, he nodded honestly.
"Frankly... yes. Helping those guys..."
He added with a wry smile. "But that doesn't mean I'll defy the Chairman. I know her decision's right. Just my small-mindedness—don't mind it."
He tried to play it cool. But Min-woo knew the rage and sorrow buried beneath.
"Manager."
Min-woo called. As he turned, her eyes—unusually shadowed—met his.
"I'll... help you."
"Pardon...?"
Help what? Paperwork? Comfort?
"With what?"
"Revenge."
"...!!"
Jang Hyun-soo was speechless. Revenge? Defy Abhos's plan?
"N-no, Director. We can't. The Chairman's plan..."
"Don't worry about that. We'll follow the plan, of course. Screwing Keter is priority."
Min-woo tapped the railing. "But... after it's all done."
"After...?"
"Yeah. You know Abhos's personality. Once the goal's met, she won't care what happens to Jo Sang-hun or his son. Zero interest."
Min-woo slowly turned, facing him. Backlit shadow hid her face, but her eyes gleamed gold, eerily.
"So then."
She smiled. Not her usual clumsy, pure grin. Twisted, chillingly alluring.
"I'll help punish them."
Sss...
Over her shoulder, Kkkomul slithered up. Not its usual cute wag. The tip sharpened into a gleaming scythe, like the reaper's.
'Eek...!'
Jang Hyun-soo shuddered instinctively. From the Director emanated a monster's essence—like Abhos's, maybe worse.
"They ruined your family."
Min-woo whispered. "Never forgive. Never let them die easy. Make them suffer, feel every atrocity to their bones."
Her voice dripped murderous intent and deep empathy. Then Jang Hyun-soo realized: no matter how kind or human she seemed, this beautiful youth's core was shattered, warped.
That's why... she could be that cruel empress Abhos's mate.
Amid urban hum, fear bloomed in Jang Hyun-soo's heart watching Min-woo. His life entangled irrevocably in monsters' world.
But.
"Th-thank you, Director."
His eyes reddened. Greater than fear: gratitude for understanding his pain, promising aid in revenge.
He wiped tears with trembling hands. Monster or devil—what did it matter? Savior of his daughter, avenger of his grudge.
"This grace... I'll repay with my life."
He bowed 90 degrees. No empty words—deadly serious.
"Uwaa, lift your head, Manager! I'm way younger. It's, it's burdensome!"
Min-woo flailed in panic, back to normal.
"Ugh... getting chilly with winter coming. I'll head down first. Once it's done, we get our revenge stylishly!"
Min-woo grinned brightly and turned. Kkkomul retracted its scythe, reverting to cute tail.
Watching her silhouette vanish into the building's shadows, Jang Hyun-soo bowed repeatedly until she was gone.
