The Witch's Gambit
I invited Suyeon to the company under the pretense of explaining the business proposal. At the same time, I deliberately asked Changhee to come in as well. The basic framework was already complete; all that remained was to get it properly running. Since the time had come for Changhee to start appearing at the office anyway, I decided this would be the perfect moment to introduce my wife.
Suyeon shook Changhee's hand and couldn't seem to let go, clearly thrilled. She didn't hold back on the compliments, saying the real thing was far more beautiful than the photos. "Oh my, sweetie, let go of her hand now so we can actually get some work done, ho ho..." Only then did Suyeon release her grip, and we all moved into the conference room.
Even while Jeongsook explained how she envisioned the joint venture and what benefits each company would gain, Suyeon kept stealing glances at Changhee like a monk whose only interest was in the feast. I wondered what kind of reaction she'd have if I told her Changhee's secret.
When she'd learned the secret of Hong Nabi, Changhee's beautiful lover from Six Nine, I had never actually said the word transgender. Hong Nabi was captivating, but I planned to stay silent until Suyeon figured out for herself that Changhee possessed an equally magnetic charm as a man. Some might wonder what kind of twisted game I was playing, but I wasn't doing it out of spite. My thinking was far simpler than that.
I wanted to respect the fact that Changhee no longer saw herself as a man with a cock. She wasn't some pitiful man who'd lost his balls, nor did she grow sad when looking at her own penis. She was my woman, exactly as she was, and I accepted and loved her for it.
That all sounded very noble, but if I'm being completely honest, the moment I read the look in Suyeon's eyes, the witch inside me began to dance. My mind had already started spinning with the possibility of using Changhee—and the interest she drew—to help grow the company.
Some might call that thought despicable. But can it really be judged so simply? Anyone who's ever run a business knows this truth: business is war. Just as life itself is war, so is business. And for someone like me—with a dirty personality that hates losing and never lets go once it bites—the company becomes a battlefield where you learn what to sacrifice and what to seize.
That's why anything related to business makes my adrenaline surge more than at any other time. It can lead to brilliant ideas, or the opposite. The problem is, you can never know right away whether those ideas are good or bad. You might find out in a day or two, in a year or two, or you might never know at all.
The same went for me. I'd had the thought that I might use Changhee, but I had no idea whether Suyeon's interest was superficial or ran deeper. It was nothing more than a vague idea with no concrete plan attached. This was a new game of baduk, and we were still in the opening moves. Nothing could be guaranteed.
Still, I imagine some people will have something to say about this. They'll probably accuse me, asking how I could think such things if I truly loved her. I hope there's no misunderstanding. My heart toward Changhee is utterly sincere. I can say with confidence that it matches the feelings she shows me.
Even so, if the perfect opportunity arises, I would get down on my knees and beg her if I had to. Because saving the company would help not only the two of us, but also the many people waiting for our support. That, too, is the spirit of a businesswoman.
Without the mindset of pursuing small losses for great gains rather than small gains for great losses, you can't run a business. I don't want to hear that this is nonsense or hypocrisy. Nothing has even happened yet, and it may never happen at all. It would be unfair to be criticized over something that might never occur.
If it does happen, people can criticize the process all they want, but I will make sure the results silence any such complaints. I will shower Changhee, who worked so hard for me, with passionate kisses and caresses as my way of saying thank you. I believe she will understand.
After the meeting ended, the four of us had lunch together. Perhaps because Suyeon had said she would consider it positively, the atmosphere during the meal was quite pleasant. In the middle of that warm mood, Suyeon suddenly made a suggestion.
"I get what you're saying. Does your company have some new talent you've discovered?"
The moment she mentioned the names, Changhee, Jeongsook, and I all froze with our spoons still in our hands.
We were all still too stunned to laugh. There had once been a company that scored a massive hit by featuring a transgender person in a cosmetics commercial. Everyone had forgotten about it now, but at the time it had been a truly sensational event. Reviving that concept felt incredibly clever.
Like mother, like daughter... Seeing that she had ideas just as bold as her mother's, that was the first thought that came to mind.
Suyeon gave a mysterious gesture that might have been a wink, then casually turned her attention back to her rice bowl as if she hadn't said anything particularly important. I looked back and forth between Jeongsook and Changhee. Both of them nodded, seeming to agree that her words made sense. In response, I nodded too and resumed eating.
Before we parted ways, Suyeon once again emphasized that we should push her idea forward. None of us had any objections. In fact, it seemed like the perfect advertising plan for a new product launch. Especially since we already had two models who fit the concept perfectly, there was no need to look elsewhere.
After parting with Suyeon, the three of us returned to the company and immediately went back into the conference room to discuss. We'd all seen Hong Nabi's photos, knew he wasn't actually a woman, and with Changhee joining in, we believed we had more than enough winning potential. We were all excited about this strange idea.
Our company was worth a hundred men. We each had our own diverse talents, and we were a company that made full use of them. I assigned Lee Yoonjung the task of creating several advertising copy concepts using Changhee and Hong Nabi as models. She had briefly worked at an advertising agency before and was currently the employee in charge of our company's homepage.
Of course, once President Nam Jaa, Suyeon's mother, gave approval, professionals from their side would take over in earnest. But the more proposals we prepared and submitted from our end, the faster we could move the launch forward. So whenever we had time, the staff would put their heads together and brainstorm ideas.
Two days passed in that excited, busy state. Then finally, Suyeon contacted me. Things had gone well. We exchanged congratulations.
I told her I'd created several ad concepts based on her idea, but that I wanted to start with print ads first to test how well they appealed.
I naturally said yes. They say when things are going well, falling backward lands you on a pillow and falling forward lands you on money. The moment we touched cosmetics, everything seemed to flow smoothly. I felt like I could agree to any request.
After hesitating for so long and finally taking the plunge with Changhee in mind, the fact that things were going so smoothly from the start made me feel like it was all thanks to her, which made me even happier.
Suyeon's refreshing words made me agree without hesitation. After setting the appointment and hanging up, I quickly called Changhee. She was so happy she could barely speak.
"Dress up nicely. You're our company's official model now, you know?"
I laughed, thinking how strange women's psychology could be—having so many clothes yet still worrying about what to wear. I told her to dress comfortably and keep the makeup light, then hung up.