A Promise Kept
"What? Why?"
"Because your sighs come out with serious force behind them, sir." Shin Jeong-ah took a sip of the coffee in her tumbler, and Kwak Young-ho scrubbed the worry from his face and broke into a sheepish chuckle.
"The market's down today, that's all."
"Huh? What did you buy?"
"I did, actually. Picked one of those trendy sector stocks a while back, bet wrong, and now I'm bleeding for it."
"Ah... hang in there."
The grave look that settled over her face suggested Shin Jeong-ah, too, had shed a tear or two over stocks in her time.
"And, uh — Manager Kang."
"Yes?"
"Wherever you two go off to do whatever it is you do, some foul stench comes wafting out, I swear. If you've got something to discuss, take it to a meeting room. Or run down to the cafe out front."
"No, sir. It was never anything that serious."
"Oh?"
"To tell the truth, I was on my way to see you just now."
"Hm?"
Kwak Young-ho's eyes went wide, and Kang Hyeong-seok went on, smiling. "I received a call from the director at Shinjin Construction."
"Wh... what?"
"They've made their intention to sign the contract clear. He said that so long as we bring the delivery price to a reasonable figure, he's ready to make room for us on the spot."
"Wha—what? Really?"
"So I'd like to have a draft of the contract ready by the end of the day. Would you be able to review it for me?"
"Of course I will, you rascal!"
Perhaps because the emotion had burst out of him like a detonation, a door flew open and an employee appeared, peering up at Kwak Young-ho. Only after he waved them off did they gingerly ease the door shut again.
"Why are you shouting like that, Department Head!"
"Because I'm happy, that's why! Happy!"
"Sounds like our department head has been awfully pent-up. You doing all right, sir?"
Kwak Young-ho turned to Shin Jeong-ah and broke into a grin that carved deep creases into his face. "I'm so happy I could die. Just absolutely!"
Shin Jeong-ah smiled slyly and lobbed a joke his way. "You're still not leaving us, though, right?"
Kwak Young-ho flapped his hands and answered with iron finality. "Go where?! I'm not going! I can't go!"
His voice was as firm as ever, and tucked inside it was a heavy, grounding relief and joy.
"Manager Kang, so it's really happening, then? It is, isn't it?"
"Yes, sir. From the way he spoke, they seem willing to accommodate us as much as they can. I believe you can carry that report upstairs as-is."
Kang Hyeong-seok gave him a smile that said it was all right to breathe easy. He understood the man's heart well enough. They were Sales Team 1, after all.
"If you're feeling up to it, shall we head to the cafe together? We can pick up coffee for Min-ah and Assistant Manager Lee while we're at it."
"Oh! Why not?"
"Besides, the rooftop doesn't seem like a great place to talk right now."
When Kang Hyeong-seok smiled faintly, as if he had a fair idea of what had gone on up there, Kwak Young-ho drew the corners of his mouth into an embarrassed line. Still, he didn't press the matter. Instead, he led the way down the stairs.
"Hurry up, you two! Let's dash down and back before anyone notices."
"Yes, sir."
Kang Hyeong-seok walked after Kwak Young-ho with Shin Jeong-ah at his shoulder. Could anyone really be in that good a mood? Kwak Young-ho's shoulders looked lighter than they had in years.
Clink. The teacup Shin Yo-sep set down came to rest on its saucer with a bright, clear ring.
"Shall I pour you more?"
"Please."
Glug-glug. Secretary Cho filled the cup with a clear, ruby-red black tea, and the scent of petals and honey steeped into the brew gradually filled Shin Yo-sep's office. Sunlight spilled in through the raised blinds, leaving a cozy warmth lingering in the air.
Gulp. Shin Yo-sep was reviewing his documents over the tea when Secretary Cho gave a small, diplomatic cough and began, with meticulous formality. "Sir — do you truly intend to do business with Daejeong Mulsan?"
"I must."
Without so much as a glance at his secretary, Shin Yo-sep continued. "Because that was the promise."
"As you're aware, sir, going through a trading company will drive the unit price up considerably compared to contracting with the factory directly. It could also invite some unnecessary misunderstandings."
"I will take full responsibility."
When Shin Yo-sep severed the topic that cleanly, Secretary Cho added nothing further. He had raised the concern only because it might spell trouble for Shin Yo-sep — but this was a promise made to Kang Hyeong-seok, a decision the man had made boldly for its sake, and even Secretary Cho had no grounds to press the point.
"Besides, I have no intention of keeping the contract with Daejeong Mulsan quiet. Once we've driven the nails in properly, no one gets to whisper anything behind our backs later."
Secretary Cho smiled his understanding — and then Shin Yo-sep broke the silence. "Whew. And how are things with the village?"
"As it happens, the legal team has been in touch."
"Oh?" Shin Yo-sep arched an eyebrow and finally turned his gaze on his secretary.
"He said there was more than enough to charge them with. The victims' testimonies are consistent across the board, so there should be no obstacle to seeing everyone involved brought to justice."
Shin Yo-sep smacked his lips and took another leisurely sip, his face at ease. It was welcome news — that the village matter, too, was being untangled step by step.
"Don't let a single one of them slip through. Pin every charge you possibly can on them. That's the only way they'll be too occupied to get any foolish ideas."
Baekdo-gyo. The true face of the sham religion that had masqueraded as Christianity. The crimes brought to light so far — murder, abduction, sexual assault — were each and every one of them grave.
"Ah, and as for the cult leader..." Secretary Cho broke off for a beat, then continued with care. "We will take every measure to ensure your friend suffers as little fallout as possible."
"Can you manage that?"
"The company's honor is riding on it, sir. We'll proceed as discreetly as we can."
The cult leader was dead. Cause of death: acute cardiac arrest. He had died crushed beneath the sheer weight of the karma he had piled up. Not a single finger had been laid on him, but there were witnesses — and should any of them nurse a grudge and commit some vicious act of perjury, the sparks could yet land on them.
"See it handled properly."
"Yes, sir."
When Secretary Cho answered like that, it meant there was little cause for concern. Shin Yo-sep let the tea spill into his mouth. The gentle warmth, the quiet fragrance, the sweetness that never overstepped — everything seemed to murmur the same consolation: you've truly been through so much.
Clink. Setting his cup down, Shin Yo-sep leaned deep into his chair, exhaustion written across his face. "Leave early today. I'll be staying a while longer."
"Sir."
"What is it?"
"Have you found what you were looking for, sir?"
The question bored in, weighty and razor-sharp. For a moment Shin Yo-sep's expression went rigid; then, curling the corners of his mouth upward, he smiled and shook his head. Yet unlike his secretary, there was no lingering disappointment in his face.
"I saw the possibility. Think of it as exactly that."
"Understood."
"Then really, off you go. With you standing right there, I find it hard to keep my mind on my work."
Secretary Cho, who knew perfectly well the words were anything but sincere, smiled — a smile rarely seen on him — and bowed his head. Then he set the teapot down beside the cup and slipped out of the office.
Click. With the door closed, Shin Yo-sep rubbed his mouth, propped his chin on his hand, and slid open a drawer. From it, he drew out a book. A page turned with a whisper.
The day of the contract with Shinjin Construction arrived.
Bang. The door shut behind him, and Kang Hyeong-seok climbed into his car dressed in a full suit — not his usual relaxed business wear, but the real thing, pressed and proper.
"Hooooh..." With a sigh that carried the traces of his nerves, Kang Hyeong-seok pressed his lips together tight and turned the ignition. Then he set his destination for Shinjin Construction.
Zzzzing! Beep.
"Yes, Department Head."
"Hey, Manager Kang. Have you left yet?"
"Just now. I'm heading straight for Shinjin Construction."
"Good. Man, I still can't believe a day like this actually came."
Kwak Young-ho's voice was dazed, like a man who hadn't quite woken from a dream. Truthfully, Kang Hyeong-seok's heart wasn't so very different.
He had assumed this would be a matter of simply putting pen to paper on a contract — but Shin Yo-sep had deliberately blown the whole affair up into something grand.
"A formal signing ceremony with Shinjin Construction, of all things. Heh heh!"
Kang Hyeong-seok smiled, the corners of his mouth tugging upward, and spoke. "I was surprised too. I never imagined they'd planned the contract out on such a scale."
"Exactly! Man, the big corporations really are in a league of their own."
It was no wonder Daejeong Mulsan had been thrown into a frenzy. Everyone had assumed it would end with Kang Hyeong-seok, Kwak Young-ho, and a few executives heading over to do nothing more than draft the paperwork — and instead, the other side had been the one to propose a full signing ceremony.
"Play this right and the story might even end up on the news portals, you know?"
Kang Hyeong-seok thought the same. Shin Yo-sep had said he would keep things low-key, but that was "low-key" by the standards of a major corporation. Gather a few reporters from the local papers in a decent conference room, have the key figures from both sides sign under an emcee's direction — and if things went well, even pop a bottle of champagne. That was a contract signing ceremony.
"Hey, Manager Kang, did you catch this? Word is the CEO was asking around about champagne yesterday."
"Hahahaha!" The laugh burst out of him unbidden; rubbing the corner of his eye, Kang Hyeong-seok kept smiling. "I'm just glad the contract is coming together so well."
"It should! And you're the star of the show, you! How's it feel?"
"I honestly couldn't say."
"Aw, come on, no fun at all!" Kwak Young-ho grumbled — but the truth was, it hadn't quite sunk in yet.
This was the repayment for the aid Kang Hyeong-seok had lent Shin Yo-sep as a shaman. All he had done, really, was press that advantage a little further. And it was a deal that would never have taken shape had he, Team 1, and the company not already laid the groundwork.
"Aigoo, enough! We'll talk when you get here. If you go and crash that car, I'm the one the CEO will beat half to death."
"But you're hardly the type to do that to me, sir."
"That's exactly how important you are, isn't it!"
The voice was brimming with good humor, and Kang Hyeong-seok laughed warmly and nodded. "Understood, sir."
"I'll be heading over with the others later, so until then, keep your meeting with Director Shin going. We'll be there before you know it!"
"Yes, sir!"
Call ended, Kang Hyeong-seok sped along the boulevard. Vroooooom.
The weather, for once, was absolutely perfect. Perhaps because he had left earlier than usual, the roads were barely congested despite the rush hour, and it felt as if something had come unstuck in his chest. Stopped at a red light, he pulled down the mirror above the driver's seat and readjusted his tie.
Really, life was an unpredictable thing. Who would have thought he would live to see a day like this?