VIP Treatment and a Farewell Gift
As the manager continued his explanation, Siyoon cut in.
“From what I heard earlier, you operate on a 100% reservation-only basis. I don't know why you're making an exception, but please stick to your own rules. I have no intention of getting a room at the expense of your other guests.”
The manager was still wiping cold sweat from his brow.
“Inconvenience? There's no such thing, sir. Our hotel and resort always keep a set of rooms reserved exclusively for our VIP guests.”
“VIPs?”
“You are Executive Director Kang Siyoon of Hansan Securities, are you not?”
“Yes, that's right, but...”
“Your name has been registered as a VIP at our resort, Executive Director Kang, along with the executives of Hansan Securities.”
“......”
“Our front desk staff should have inquired more carefully. I sincerely apologize that she failed to do so.”
The manager immediately gestured to the female employee standing at the desk. The two of them clasped their hands respectfully in front of Siyoon, then bowed deeply at the waist.
“I'm so sorry! I only started working the front desk recently, and I made a mistake!”
The female employee apologized with her head bowed low.
And Siyoon wasn't the only one flustered by the scene.
“Yo-han. Was Siyoon always this important?”
“Beats me. What on earth has he been doing at that company lately?”
While Bang Yo-han and Koo Hye-young stood there utterly baffled, Siyoon hurried to speak.
“That's enough apologizing. If anyone saw this, they'd think I'd filed a formal complaint.”
At his words, the two employees straightened up. The manager fidgeted, then ventured carefully.
“You seem to have been quite upset for a while now...”
“Upset?”
“If you could overlook this one mistake, we promise to be vigilant so that nothing like it ever happens again.”
“......”
Siyoon quietly touched his own face.
Seeing his stiffened facial muscles, the manager had apparently misread him. No wonder he's going this far overboard, Siyoon thought.
The eyes of the guests gathered in the lobby had turned toward him. Staying any longer would do him no favors.
“I'm not angry. You said there was a room available, so please check me in as quickly as possible.”
“Yes, sir! Right away!”
The manager, accompanied by one of the staff, guided them to their room.
The very top floor of the hotel.
There, a luxury suite revealed itself.
The manager began his explanation.
“It features a first-class ocean view with the sea visible at a glance. There are two beds and a sofa bed as well, so the three of you should have no trouble staying comfortable. Should you require in-room dining, simply tell your dedicated VIP manager and it will be arranged immediately.”
The manager gestured to the woman standing beside him.
“This is Manager Jin Si-yeong. She will do her utmost to serve you.”
The manager bowed her head respectfully.
Shortly after, the two of them turned to leave.
Then the manager stopped mid-stride. He scurried back to Siyoon's side and lowered his voice.
“Please... put in a good word with the Senior Managing Director for us.”
And with that, he retreated once more.
Senior Managing Director — does he mean Senior Managing Director Cha?
Siyoon knew that Hanyoung Resort had a partnership with Hansan Securities. Even so, could Senior Managing Director Cha really extend his influence this far?
Thinking it over, he recalled that Hansan Securities held a 10% stake in Hanyoung Resort. He didn't know the details, but the two companies surely had interests tangled together in all sorts of ways.
Siyoon sank onto the sofa and let out a long breath.
“Whew... Still, it feels a little better now that I'm in the room.”
After all that commotion in the lobby, every ounce of strength had drained from his body. And yet one thought refused to leave his head.
'A VIP?'
According to the manager, his name had been placed on the VIP list alongside the Hansan Securities executives — but none of it made any sense to him. Was it right for a warehouse worker to be treated like an executive?
As he sat there, a cheer erupted in the distance.
“Look at the ocean! It's so clean. The East Sea really is the best! Let's hurry and go see it before the sun sets!”
“That's the spirit. Siyoon!”
Bang Yo-han's voice carried from far away.
“Come out and look at the ocean with us. Huh?”
“I'm good. You two go ahead.”
“You came all the way to Gangwon Province just to sprawl on a sofa?”
“Yep. This is more comfortable for me.”
He couldn't move a single step right now.
He was on the verge of passing out.
So the two of them headed off to the beach, and with his eyes closed, Siyoon drifted into sleep.
Ziiing—!
Ten minutes had passed, maybe more.
His phone vibrated.
[Jeong Chan-soo — Head of Trading Division]
He picked it up right away.
“Good afternoon, Director.”
—Right, good afternoon. Lounging around at home, but I hear you went off to Gangwon Province for a little trip?
“......Yes.”
Just as he'd suspected — the story had reached even the Director.
The General Affairs Team Leader must have caught wind of his resort visit and reported it upward.
—You should have told me in advance if you were heading to Hanyoung Resort. As you know, they're one of our partner companies. Our firm holds a stake in the place, after all.
He had been curious about that himself.
“I heard from the manager here that I've been registered as a VIP... I think there's been some kind of mix-up.”
—Mix-up, my foot. If you've brought in profits on that scale, isn't it only natural?
“......”
—Hansan Securities judges people purely on ability. Whether you're making deliveries from the warehouse or scrubbing toilets, none of that matters. You've proven your ability, so being treated accordingly is simply how it should be.
“Then... did you perhaps—”
—Did I pull strings for you? Haha. If I had that kind of reach, I wouldn't be sitting where I am now. The executive-level treatment you're receiving is thanks to Senior Managing Director Cha. So make sure you thank him properly sometime.
Senior Managing Director Cha's influence truly was formidable.
He was grateful — but he couldn't help feeling the weight of it, too.
—Well, since you're already there, have some fun. Hansan Securities VIPs get 70% off lodging and resort facilities, you know.
“Yes... thank you.”
He hung up the call.
When he rested his head against the sofa, sleep came for him again almost immediately.
Bang Yo-han and Koo Hye-young returned from their walk along the beach.
When they requested in-room dining through the manager, a lavish dinner was delivered straight to the suite.
“Please enjoy your meal. If you need anything at all, call for me anytime.”
The manager bowed courteously and withdrew. At the sight, Bang Yo-han's eyes went round.
“Whoa... so this is what being a VIP is like. The treatment really is on another level.”
“It's the top-floor luxury suite, and apparently today it's free of charge. They said it was their mistake.”
Koo Hye-young was just as stunned.
Bang Yo-han turned to Siyoon.
“But Siyoon... have you seriously carved out a position for yourself at that company? I heard just anyone can't become a Hanyoung Resort VIP. Not even the President could, probably.”
“Who knows. What would a warehouse grunt know about the affairs of the higher-ups?”
By this point, even Bang Yo-han couldn't fail to notice. The man who used to live in a studio apartment had moved into a 240-square-meter mixed-use luxury tower, and the way his company treated him had transformed overnight.
“Right. Warehouse work or whatever — who cares? As long as you keep riding high like you are now, that's all that matters.”
Bang Yo-han smiled warmly.
He didn't press any further.
The table was laid with premium steak, lobster, lamb ribs — the finest dishes money could buy. Add whiskey and wine to that, and the abundant dinner table looked positively perfect.
Siyoon uncorked the wine and poured glasses for Bang Yo-han and Koo Hye-young. Then he spoke.
“Honestly, I never expected my life to turn out like this either. Strange things happen as you go through it. You two should take a boat ride tomorrow. VIPs get 70% off all the facilities here.”
“Seventy percent?!”
“Tomorrow is tomorrow. Today deserves to be enjoyed on its own terms. Come on — let's drink.”
“Cheers!”
And so the leisurely evening drifted by.
Ten days later.
While analyzing stocks with the SST team, his phone vibrated. It was a call from the General Affairs Team Leader.
“Excuse me, I need to take this call.”
—Yes, sir!
Siyoon stepped out of the booth to answer.
—Ah, Executive Director Kang! I hope I'm not interrupting anything urgent?
“Not at all.”
—It's about that part-timer of yours. Choi Tae-wook? I hear he'd like to quit as soon as possible?
“Yes. He's preparing to return to school.”
—Right. We've hired a contract employee to fill the position, so if he's in a hurry, let today be his last day. The new hire starts tomorrow.
“Understood. I'll pass that along.”
—Oh, and one more thing. You had a good time at the beach last week, I trust? The moment Associate Kim called me, I reported it straight to the Director. If something like that comes up again, tell me first. Aren't we close enough for that?
“I had a wonderful trip, thanks to you.”
—Hahaha! Not that I was fishing for compliments. Anyway, you know how fond I am of you, Executive Director Kang.
While the call was ongoing, Choi Tae-wook was already moving to leave the office.
“I'll keep that in mind.”
He hung up and called for Choi Tae-wook.
“Tae-wook.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Off on a delivery?”
“Yes. I was just heading out for the afternoon run.”
“General Affairs just called. A new employee starts tomorrow.”
“Ah... is that so.”
Without their realizing it, the hour of parting had arrived.
Evening, after work.
Siyoon took Choi Tae-wook and Associate Kim to a restaurant nearby.
Beef sizzled over the grill.
It was the first time the warehouse staff had ever visited a premium Korean beef restaurant together.
Szzzt—!
The two employees were already feasting on it with their eyes.
“Wow... I can't believe this. Korean beef? And 2++ grade Korean beef at that...!”
Choi Tae-wook looked about ready to lose his mind.
Living on your own in Seoul meant scrimping on food and clothes alike.
It was a blessing when one's circumstances were merely comfortable, but Choi Tae-wook had grown up under a widowed mother, grinding through his studies in hardship.
“Let's eat!”
“Thank you for the meal, Executive Director.”
And so the employees tasted the beef.
Perhaps captivated by its tender texture, the two of them fell into a daze, inhaling meat without pause.
“Eat as much as you like. Tonight it's unlimited.”
“Thank you, sir!”
As they ate, Siyoon pulled out the box he had set beside him. When he handed it to Choi Tae-wook, the young man's eyes went wide as saucers.
“What is this?”
“A laptop. Looking at the one you use, I'd say it's a good ten years old. A trader's lifeline is his computer. What kind of trading can you do on that antique? Orders are decided in milliseconds these days. That one's high-spec, so you should be able to trade with real stability now.”
“Executive Director...”
The corners of Choi Tae-wook's eyes grew damp.
He couldn't find the words to continue.
“I learned a great deal from you.”
“Sir? From me...?”
“You know as well as anyone that my face doesn't do me any favors. It made it hard to get close to people. But you treated me without a shred of prejudice. It's an embarrassing thing to admit, but I think I learned how to live among people from you.”
“Executive Director...”
“There's a letter from me inside that box, too. So whatever you do, don't lose it.”
“A letter, sir?”
“Something like that. Open it when you get home.”
“Y-yes, sir. Understood.”
Inside the envelope, in place of a letter, was money.
Ten million won.
It was no great sum to Siyoon, but for Choi Tae-wook it was money that would be put to real use. What Siyoon hoped was that he could cut back on part-time work and pour himself into his studies.
“Come on, a day like today can't pass without a drink. Cheers!”
Glasses clinked and clinked again.
After leaving the restaurant, Siyoon saw Choi Tae-wook off.
He pressed taxi fare into the young man's hand.
“Don't go reeking of booze on the subway. Take a taxi.”
“Thank you... Executive Director.”
Soon a taxi pulled up, and Choi Tae-wook, about to get in, turned back to look at Siyoon. Then he shouted.
“Executive Director! I will see you again at Hansan Securities — I swear it!”
Siyoon gave a small nod.
The next morning.
Siyoon entered his booth in the warehouse office and powered on his computer. On the monitor, the SST staff were already waiting.
“Good morning, everyone.”
—Good morning, Team Leader!
There was real force behind their voices.
Perhaps thanks to the handsome profits they'd been racking up, confidence brimmed from every one of them.
Siyoon studied their faces slowly, one by one, and then broke the silence.
“For the next three days, starting today, each of you will trade on your own.”
—......
They all wore expressions of incomprehension.
“Without my supervision, you will buy and sell stocks yourselves.”
—Team Leader...
Yang Mi-young's voice trembled slightly.
“I know. You'll say it's a little early for this. But as you've all felt by now, skill doesn't grow without actual experience. Think of it as just another form of practice.”
The three employees' faces turned ashen.
In truth, this wasn't the end of it.
The mission Siyoon had prepared did not stop at mere trading.
“Your performance will be evaluated on your returns. Anyone whose results fall short may be leaving Hansan Securities.”
—!!!
Every last employee froze like ice.