The Second Parachute (3)

Kang Minhyuk was a man who knew nothing but home and the office. He had none of the usual hobbies, never went drinking with friends or colleagues, and even turned down family gatherings whenever she was with him — because he had been completely consumed by Yang Mi-jeong, by the woman she used to be.

She had made him that way. She had trained him so thoroughly that he couldn't take his eyes off her for even a second. There was only so much money she could wring out of him, after all, and she intended to have every last bit of it to herself.

For seven years the pattern held. The moment Kang Minhyuk had saved a decent sum, she would show up, suck him dry, and then, once he was penniless, keep the relationship on life support with nothing but the occasional message — always with the excuse that she was too busy. But Kang Minhyuk wasn't a fool. He gradually realized he was being exploited, and that was why she had no choice but to go through with that whole wedding charade. There had been other reasons, of course.

And yet, against all expectation, being with Kang Minhyuk had brought her a strange, almost unnatural peace. More than she had ever felt with her own mother. Perhaps it was because she had, for the first time, broken free of a woman who never stopped comparing her to someone else, who never stopped nagging that she had to be perfect. Or perhaps it was because he had always treated her with more respect — because with him, she had felt genuinely loved.

But love alone could never fully satisfy her desires. So the moment she heard she was the daughter of a chaebol family, she left without looking back. Entering that world brought her far greater wealth, but surviving there meant reading every room all over again. The stress was even worse than it had been during her days as a celebrity. Until she secured her share of the fortune, she had to live as quietly as a dead mouse.

Han Se-ah needed someone to take that stress out on, and Kang Minhyuk was the easiest target. Her plan had been to grind him into the dirt, then summon the debt-ridden wreck of a man back to her side and work him like a slave.

And then something she never saw coming happened. In just one month, Kang Minhyuk had become a completely different person — and he stood in front of her as if she weren't even worth his notice.

Han Se-ah simply could not stand his change of heart. Night after sleepless night, a bitter sense of being wronged chewing at her, she turned it over in her mind again and again. Why had he become a completely different man?

Her conclusion was revenge. He had clearly rebuilt his body, seduced some rich old woman into funding him, and was now out to get even with her.

If that was the case, who was backing Kang Minhyuk? The top-tier suits that changed every day without ever looking showy. The wealth to frequent an expensive wine bar like Vino Vino. The clout to retain a lawyer from Im & Jung, Korea's finest law firm — a place even chaebol families couldn't approach unless they were major players. And then, out of nowhere, Han Ha-jin's assignment to New Business Development Team 1.

Those little fragments all connected, and they pointed to exactly one person. Chairwoman Heo Ji-hye of the Iljin Foundation.

Her instincts insisted the prediction was certain, but for now it was still nothing more than a guess. She would have to dig quietly. If she started poking around Chairwoman Heo Ji-hye without hard evidence, she would fall out of Chairman Han Chung-won's favor for sure.

If that happens... the hotel and the department store are gone. That absolutely cannot happen.

Han Se-ah had been about to tell Song Jiho to dig into Heo Ji-hye when a chill ran down the back of her neck, and she changed the subject.

"I went to Vino Vino yesterday, and Kang Minhyuk showed up with some woman I'd never seen before."

"That place is insanely expensive. How does Kang Minhyuk afford that on his salary?"

"That's what I'm saying! And Deputy General Manager Song — you're getting a little casual with me, aren't you?"

"Ah, I apologize."

Song Jiho snapped back ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to his senses at Han Se-ah's rebuke and quickly corrected himself.

"You know Im & Jung doesn't take just anyone as a client, right, Deputy General Manager Song?"

"Of course I know. They wouldn't even look at a celebrity lawsuit."

"Exactly. Even if the lawyer hasn't been practicing long, the fact that he retained someone from that firm means Kang Minhyuk's sponsor is someone with serious money, doesn't it?"

"That tracks."

"I don't know which horny old hag it is, but she clearly latched onto him for that built body of his."

Her emotions flared, and Han Se-ah let her true thoughts slip out before she could stop herself.

"Ugh, damn it, this is so irritating! If he'd taken care of himself like that when we were together, wouldn't that have been nice? I used to turn him down because of all that disgusting fat, but when we actually did it, it was pretty amazing."

Song Jiho's face went stiff with shock, but Han Se-ah didn't notice and kept talking.

"He was a guy who knew nothing but work and home. His sponsor can't be far. Deputy General Manager Song, I don't want you leaving Kang Minhyuk's side for a second. Stick to him."

"What? Then what about you, Director? What are you going to do on your own?"

"I'll just have to make do with Section Chief Oh."

Song Jiho fidgeted without answering, and Han Se-ah's eyes blazed as she glared at him.

"What? You don't want to?"

"N-no. Understood."

Han Se-ah stared through him, the corner of her mouth twisting.

"Deputy General Manager Song, a little time away from me and you've already gone completely dull. Where did that sharp instinct of yours go? Did your brain get fat along with the rest of you, like a pig? Or did your brain cells fall out with your hair?"

"I-I'm sorry. I'll start dieting hard from now on. And my hair..."

Song Jiho muttered, swallowing his rage at the abuse, and she waved him off as if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she couldn't care less.

"Whatever. Go find Kang Minhyuk's sponsor. Don't even think about coming back until you do."

"Yes..."

After Song Jiho slunk out with his shoulders slumped, Han Se-ah muttered to herself.

"Ha. When I first got here, I was glad I wouldn't have to look at that disgusting pig face anymore. Nothing ever goes right because of Kang Minhyuk."

Knock, knock.

"What is it?"

"Director, it's time for the New Business Development Team meeting."

"Is it that late already? Section Chief Oh, gather the documents."

"Yes, ma'am."

It was time to show Kang Minhyuk — that insolent little brat who'd told her to fire him if she dared — what it felt like to have a blade at his throat.

Hmph! I'm Han Se-ah. Some kid who just started working thinks he can shake me? Not a chance!

Click. Click.

With every tap of her heels on the hard marble floor, the conference room drew closer. She felt a peculiar thrill with each step, as if she were a judge walking in to deliver Kang Minhyuk's death sentence.

Section Chief Oh Seung-won opened the door, revealing a conference room taut with tension. Han Se-ah knew why, and she snorted. Kang Minhyuk was standing at the presentation podium.

So you want to give it a shot? Fine. Hold out if you can. I'll snap that nerve of yours so thoroughly it'll never grow back.

The moment I took the podium, the conference room stirred. They were probably remembering Han Se-ah's first day on the job. On top of that, neither Team Leader Kim, the head of the team, nor Section Chief Seo, who was supposed to stand in for him, had appeared — so of course everyone was wondering what on earth was going on.

I was organizing the briefing materials when Han Se-ah walked in. Her expression was more grimly set than usual today. Then she saw me and let out a little snort of a laugh, as if I were beneath her.

Perhaps deciding that crushing Team Leader Kim would be more effective than going after me, she swept a look around the room, confirmed the empty seats, and asked,

"Team 1's team leader isn't here yet?"

"The operations division contacted him unexpectedly about a project already in progress. He and Section Chief Seo stepped out to join that meeting."

Han Se-ah's brow furrowed hard.

"Without a word to the Director running this meeting?"

"They had to leave in a hurry, so they asked me to explain."

She gave a crooked little smile and needled me.

"They didn't run off because they're afraid this project won't get approved either, did they?"

"Absolutely not."

Han Se-ah picked up the report with a look of manufactured pity.

"I was going to just approve this one out of pity for Team 1, you know. I really was."

Approve it out of pity, my ass. She'd never had any intention of doing that.

She flipped through the pages one by one, didn't even bother reading to the end, then thrust the hand holding the report straight out in front of her — and opened her fingers.

The report plummeted through the air and slapped against the floor with a wet smack. At the same instant, the atmosphere in the room went as cold as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over it.

"What even is this? You think I gave you time so you could produce garbage like this?"

Her voice was venomous. She had clearly come in today loaded for bear — enough to make me feel faintly embarrassed for ever hypothesizing that she might approve the project just to stay on Han Ha-jin's good side.

"Make sure you tell Team Leader Kim, loud and clear. This new project wasn't even worth hearing."

"What? Then the presentation we prepared...?"

"Do you not understand Korean? Or are you talking back to me?"

"..."

This is a disaster. I need to stall for at least thirty minutes until Team Leader Kim gets here.

Han Se-ah read the dismay on my face and grinned. Then, to me standing there frozen, she issued another order.

"Ah! I almost forgot — I had one more thing to pass along. If you fail to get even a single project approved by December, Team 1 should prepare itself to be dissolved entirely."

A flicker of pure delight crossed Team Leader Lee Jungwan's face. Then he sent a meaningful look my way.

"Team Leader Lee, what are you doing? Get ready to present."

"Ah — yes. Of course."

The moment Lee Jungwan half-rose from his seat, the conference room door burst open and Vice President Oh Sang-do appeared. Behind him came Team Leader Kim Junseok, Section Chief Seo Eunho, and Han Ha-jin, the key man in this entire operation.

At the Vice President's entrance, Han Se-ah and every other employee in the room shot to their feet.

"Vice President... Oh Sang-do?"

"Ah, Director Han. Sorry to barge in during your meeting."

"No, not at all. But... what brings you here so suddenly?"

Han Se-ah's gaze slid to the three men standing behind him.

"It's about the Eco-friendly Plastic Container Project that New Business Development Team 1 has been working on. We've hit a situation where it needs to be pushed forward immediately."

"I'm sorry?"

Han Se-ah, who could hardly have known what he was talking about, echoed him with a bewildered look.

"Ah, Director Han Se-ah might not be aware. This was already in motion before you arrived. Team Leader Kim, you have those materials you were going to brief me on?"

"Yes, Vice President."

"Director Han will need to know anyway, so we might as well share it now."

"Yes, sir."

Team Leader Kim and Section Chief Seo approached the podium. Assistant Manager Jin and I handed off the baton and returned to our seats. When my eyes met Han Ha-jin's, I gave him a thumbs-up, signaling that he could stand down. He ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠looked a little embarrassed and answered with only a slight nod.

Vice President Oh Sang-do settled himself right into the seat of honor Han Se-ah had been occupying.

"Haha. It's been so long since I took a team leader's report, it actually feels fresh. I ought to sit in more often."

"Heh heh. Yes, of course."

Even as the chairman's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠granddaughter, she could not ignore Vice President Oh Sang-do, who enjoyed the confidence of CEO Han Seung-woo — currently first in line to succeed Iljin Group. Han Se-ah had no choice but to meekly take the seat beside him and listen to Team Leader Kim's briefing.

Watching Han Se-ah turn into a meek little lamb in an instant, and watching the stunned look on Lee Jungwan's face as he realized the Eco-friendly Plastic Container Project was actually going forward, I felt a deep, private satisfaction.

Heh. This tableau is a lot prettier than wrecking the presentation would have been.