The Hatchet Man
“General Manager!”
Heo Sang-gi rushed into Go Seong-gyun's office. What he confirmed upon arrival was that he wasn't the only one who'd come running.
“Tsk tsk. Executives like you all crowding in here without any dignity. Is everyone here? Take a seat, everyone.”
Even in this chaos, Go Seong-gyun leisurely brewed and sipped his tea. Everyone knew why he could afford to be so relaxed.
He's a shareholder, that's why.
He must have known about this. That old geezer. But he didn't tell us?
The general manager was exactly seventy-one this year. Go Seong-gyun calmly directed the frantic arrivals to their seats. Then, spotting Heo Sang-gi, he tilted his head.
“What's Manager Heo doing here? You're still... Ah, right. You were promoted to manager this morning, weren't you?”
Heo Sang-gi barely suppressed the vein bulging on his forehead.
“Y-yes, General Manager. Surely... I'm not...?”
Until yesterday, he'd been at manager level—hardly an executive.
They promoted me to room division manager today, and now headquarters is talking layoffs for division manager level and above. They can't cut me now, right?
Go Seong-gyun nodded as if he understood it all perfectly.
“Yes, our Heo Sang-gi must feel the most wronged. But is there any reason to? Didn't you always say your dream was to try being a division manager?”
Go Seong-gyun, you old bastard! Heo Sang-gi cursed him inwardly. The other division managers stared at Go Seong-gyun with dazed expressions. But no one here would defend him. Their own necks were on the line.
“General Manager, please just tell us straight. We're... safe, right?”
Go Seong-gyun closed his eyes thoughtfully at the question. It came from the finance division manager—a powerful position, since he handled the hotel's finances. Of course, headquarters had its own CFO separately.
We used to want to expand with more chain locations too.
They'd tried. But the second branch had flopped. Now, with only Lumière Seoul left, the company structure felt a bit off—headquarters execs overlapping with hotel execs. Restructuring was necessary.
“Just purge the headquarters board, and spare us division managers...”
The division managers hoped to be spared as the on-site leaders. But the general manager remained utterly relaxed.
“Have some tea, everyone.”
His position was secure from the start, after all. Though he phrased it differently.
“Hmm. To cut to the chase...”
“Gulp.”
Everyone swallowed hard, eyes glued to his mouth. In the heavy silence, Go Seong-gyun continued.
“You can assume the entire headquarters board will be replaced.”
“Then... what about us?”
They'd survive, right? Hope flickered on their faces. But Go Seong-gyun shook his head.
“Who knows.”
His tone was firm.
“Instead of grilling me here, prepare to prove your worth to the new headquarters.”
He was ice-cold.
“If they deem you unnecessary, what power do I have to stop it?”
He could have given them a heads-up. They all glared at him with resentment. But he was right. Arguing wouldn't change a thing.
Heo Sang-gi left the general manager's office in a daze.
No way. Who else but me for room division manager...?
Stepping out, he spotted Oh Miyoung returning with her team. Their chatter drifted over.
“I thought Manager Oh would obviously get division manager.”
“Right? Picking someone else over her—headquarters has no eye for talent.”
“Hey, no way. If Manager Oh had gotten it... Did you see today's announcement?”
“Oh, right. So even our division manager is on the list?”
Their conversation fueled Heo Sang-gi's rage.
Damn it!
How could this happen? His insides burned. Meanwhile, the restructuring was already underway.
Shin Jaewoo was receiving documents. The visitor was Lee Sooyoung, the secretary bridging him and Panta Bank.
“I got a call from the branch head today. The deal's finalized—they've acquired 54.1% of Lumière Hospitality shares.”
Shin Jaewoo nodded at the news. The company was now his.
I personally picked up about 0.2% off the market for today, right?
Combined with the trust's shares, that made 54.3% total. Full control.
“Tell them they did great—thanks.”
“Sure, Jaewoo. But...”
Lee Sooyoung hesitated, gauging his mood. Should she step forward or not? Lately, she'd sensed a distance.
Before, he'd ask my opinion on everything... but lately, it feels like he's pushing me away.
She wanted to ask more, yet held back.
“Something wrong?”
At his question, she smiled and shook her head.
“Oh, no. Just surprised you'd be interested in a hotel.”
“Ah.”
Shin Jaewoo nodded.
“Strictly speaking, it's not that I'm interested.”
He paused, deep in thought. He'd also received other documents from her.
Personnel files for the hotel?
HR, finance, and more.
“...They tried a second branch and it tanked, huh?”
His eyes lit up at the new info. He'd only known about Lumière Seoul—his aunt Oh Miyoung's workplace. (Lee Sooyoung still didn't know about that connection, which fueled her curiosity about the files.)
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“ROI didn't meet expectations. Specifically...”
“They took out loans...”
Interest payments exceeded operating profits. The second branch limped on for half a year before closing.
“Tch.”
Shin Jaewoo clicked his tongue. Rising interest rates back then were the killer. And one more thing.
“They tried resorts too, huh.”
It never even launched properly—just another flop. Two losses in a row.
“Wonder what the company vibe's like now?”
he muttered.
“We promised to retain all staff, so no major chaos. But the executives...”
They could be axed. Rumors swirled of a full purge.
But Shin Jaewoo shook his head.
“Do we have to?”
“Huh? So you're keeping the executives?”
“Hmm. Well, even if we clear them out, there aren't enough replacements for those roles. So... we should give them time to prove themselves.”
Through future performance, not past files. Though exceptions applied.
His finger lingered on one name: Lumière Seoul Room Division Manager Heo Sang-gi.
This guy...
He scanned the record.
Just a complaints handler... and the rival to my aunt.
Upper management's reviews were positive.
But those bosses have no ties to me, and they'll be gone soon anyway. What does their word matter?
“If they want to quit, let them.”
His stance on executives was cold. But a dilemma arose.
Should I keep relaying orders through the bank?
Need someone to handle this.
Someone to oust Heo Sang-gi and promote Oh Miyoung. A smile tugged at his lips.
“Still, we should send one of our own hatchet men, right?”
Lee Sooyoung nodded.
“Yes, Jaewoo. Smart move. If you don't have someone in mind, we could...”
“No, I know just the guy—perfect for this.”
“Oh, really?”
The trust would just lend the name and voting rights—per his instructions, of course.
“Put one guy in there. Vice president level.”
Deputy CEO.
“That shouldn't be hard. But who...?”
Shin Jaewoo grinned. The perfect fit had been on his mind.
“Got someone. One of my 'little brothers'... a real hatchet man type.”
Classic bully to the weak, bootlicker to the strong. Give him the knife, and he'd swing it eagerly—sharp enough not to cross him.
Yeah, you're perfect for this, Taeho.
He called Han Taeho. His role was set.
“...Taeho, I just acquired a company.”
“R-really, hyungnim?”
“Wanna join if you're free? Vice president spot. But since I'm the real owner and your 'big bro,' you'll outrank even the president there. We'll leave day-to-day management to the locals.”
“So my job is... monitoring the president or something?”
“That's part of it, but...”
Heo Sang-gi's name stared back.
“Write the hit list.”
Separate the keepers from the goners. He tasked Han Taeho.
“Sort who to fire and who to keep. Oh, and... one guy absolutely has to go.”