12. The Fierce Battle at Hwaryeong Group
The combined market capitalization of the entire Hwaryeong Group currently ranks fifth in the industry. With the owner family firmly holding management rights, its true value is undoubtedly far higher, but compared to its former glory, this scorecard feels downright pathetic.
All of this stemmed from the death of one man: Cha Seong-taek. Of course, the power split among his children with differing ambitions amplified the aftermath, but his sudden death was the primary trigger. The group's dark ages might persist until a true, legitimate heir emerges.
"So, why'd you call me here, sis?"
Inside Cha Hwa-ryeon's cozy office at Hwaryeong Construction, only three people remained: me, Cha Hwa-ryeon, and U Mi-ae. U Mi-ae stood beside Cha Hwa-ryeon in her president's chair, while I positioned myself across the desk. I fiddled with the dangling mobiles overhead, and Cha Hwa-ryeon shuddered, barely containing herself.
"You really have no idea...?"
"Nah, no clue. Mind explaining it simply for your little brother, Second Sis?"
Bam! Her hot-tempered nature was incurable—she slammed the desk hard enough to hurt her palm. She half-stood, glaring daggers in that awkward pose. Her cute manbun clashed with the viper-like glint in her eyes. But that lethal stare wasn't aimed at me—it targeted U Mi-ae standing beside her, as if ready to kill.
"I took pity on a stray mutt left on a sinking ship, and now it dares bite its master?!"
"......"
Cha Hwa-ryeon openly treated her former confidante as an enemy. U Mi-ae responded with a stone-cold face, no retort. But now that she'd found a new ship to board, she clicked her heels toward me, switching sides without a backward glance. She stood demurely at my side like a loyal aide, chin high as she stared down her ex-master.
"Well, if anyone's ignored my advice multiple times, wasn't it you, Miss Cha Hwa-ryeon?"
"Advice?! You fed me crap intel, and I lost my shirt on every investment!"
"You ordered me to dig up whatever I could, Miss Cha Hwa-ryeon. As your subordinate, I could hand you the hilt, but swinging the sword? That's on you."
"Don't make me laugh!"
She grabbed a nearby glass, nearly hurling it in her rage, but veins bulging, she held back. "And after that, you pushed me to aggressively invest in all sorts of shit for our company—what the hell was that?"
"......"
"Our liquidity was already shaky, and you know the price we're paying now for those picks you recommended!?"
U Mi-ae had continued advising Cha Hwa-ryeon even after that fiasco. Cha Hwa-ryeon bore a massive grudge from the colossal blunder of her short-selling failure, but rationally, she knew her own stubbornness caused it—so she'd tolerated it somewhat. That ambiguous stance was the worst possible move. Now, repaying her belated master's misplaced faith, U Mi-ae plunged a dagger into Cha Hwa-ryeon's heart. She'd already shaken the company once with reckless short-selling; now she deepened the crisis. On my orders, she'd tipped off stocks about to tank as the COVID bubble burst. Two strikeouts in a row—Cha Hwa-ryeon must feel the blood draining from her veins.
"Typical spy bitch, hopping from bed to bed without loyalty, and now you end up with that wastrel fuckboy...?"
"Think what you will, but know this: I truly tried to help you, Miss Hwa-ryeon."
U Mi-ae, having milked her old ship dry, smirked like women in a pissing contest. "Besides, true loyalty means sticking with one's original master, doesn't it?"
"You bi—!"
"Whoa, easy now."
As she finally went to throw the glass, I lunged and snatched her wrist. I pried the glass away to avoid needless bloodshed, then pinned her down with brute force until she calmed. "In the end, it's your fault for stupidly diving into that short-sell mess, sis."
"(Crunch!)!"
Even if she wanted to blame others after getting stabbed in the back, it was her own screw-up. Her mercenary management and key decisions led to this. A company leader must bear the crown's weight. If she just threw tantrums like a tyrant, she deserved to be dragged down.
Thwack! Cha Hwa-ryeon had enough sense for that. Her head got it, even if her heart didn't—she wrenched her arm free and shot up, locking eyes with me in fierce defiance.
"So we're both sucking on sore thumbs now, no holds barred...?"
"Didn't you say hiding spies counts as skill? Then charming them away is fair game too."
"......Fine, if that's how you wanna play, I've got moves too."
She ruffled her hair in frustration, shaking the messy strands like a madwoman before tying it back. "Fine, I'll go all in this time. I let my guard down 'cause you're just a womanizing wastrel little bro, but this fight goes to the end! Brace yourself from now on."
Shiver, shiver, shiver...! The leopard finally bared her claws—belatedly. But in my eyes, she'd always been a housecat. I leered mockingly at my foe, who'd raised her guard two punches too late.
"Everyone knows your company's hurting—don't overdo it."
"......"
"Oh, tight on cash? Like we agreed before, strip naked and beg. I'll spare you anytime."
"Get out! Take that bitch dog you raised and fuck off right now!"
Crash! She finally smashed the glass against the wall. I turned without provoking more, U Mi-ae silently following as we headed for the door. Just before it closed, I tossed one final bombshell—her massive vulnerability.
"Oh yeah, you still haven't snagged that huge theme park construction bid that tanked recently, right?"
"......What?"
"Yeah, that one. As a fellow exec, my advice? Drop it. No point forcing it when even your affiliates can't spare the funds anymore."
"You little shit—!?"
"See ya."
Click. That was that.
"Phew..."
"You handled that perfectly, young master."
"See that temper? This is going all the way."
Today's meeting had utterly torched my relationship with Second Sis. To seize her inheritance, we were back to chicken-race mode. Well, she'd always planned to swallow my company whole anyway—unavoidable all-out war.
Hmm... but honestly, minus her backstabbing personality, she's got no real fight left. Kinda anticlimactic.
Cha Hwa-ryeon was already hornless from raging. Self-inflicted own-goals piled up, plus belated decisions racking massive losses. She had one competent aide in U Mi-ae and couldn't even manage her. She'd squandered the fine weapon handed to her. Among the siblings, she was the most sensible—which ironically made her easy to manipulate. That was Cha Hwa-ryeon's weakness.
"By the way, you've got balls. Talking smack right in front of that firecracker."
"Truth be told, I've wanted to air this for a while. Miss Cha Hwa-ryeon listens when she should, but digs in her heels stupidly on weird shit, ruining good deals."
She caught her breath, then added, "Above all, it's in front of you, young master. Time to lock in my allegiance."
"Using this face-off to prove your loyalty to me?"
She bowed her head slightly, hands clasped demurely like ripe rice bending in the wind. "As you see, you're all I have now. If you find my skills lacking... discard me anytime. No complaints."
The more I looked, the more U Mi-ae shone—spy stain aside. This was her signaling no more double-dealing, declaring it extremely because she knew I wouldn't ditch her. Just WWE-style flexing our skills. A vow to fully commit now that she'd turned. Tired of spy-hopping, apparently.
"Good. So, what do you want for the empty slot? Driver to track my moves? Mid-level exec spot?"
U Mi-ae pondered briefly. "If you grant me the chance... your vacant secretary position seems ideal."
"Sticking close to advise me?"
"...Nothing overstepping my station. Handle cleanup the instant you command."
She repeatedly emphasized her role as loyal retainer. "That enough for you?"
"Pardon?"
"Big win like this—you sure no cash bonus needed?"
"......"
Her silence spoke volumes: Of course I'd take it if offered. I grinned. That raw greed was fun. In the empty hallway, I pressed against her, rubbing her suit skirt-clad hips as I whispered.
"Really okay? My secretary's gotta handle this side plenty too."
"Ah, aaah...♥"
I sniffed her neck. Sucked a hickey, marking my bitch thoroughly. "Young master, people might see..."
"No one's coming this far, whatever."
"......♥"
'U Mi-ae's loyalty toward you has risen: 83% → 92%
Fucking around with women is one of my pastimes, but it has perks like this. Shared fucks keep bonds tight. Mutual pleasure doubles as fair pay—makes me wanna reward with cash too. That's why competent bitches are essential.
Squeeze, squeeze♥ Rubbing her pussy over her skirt revived old fuck memories. I whispered, "Fuck... can't hold back. Clear your schedule tonight."
"Actually, I have a date planned to— Mmph!"
Shut her up with a kiss. Licked her glossy, deep-red lips, tangled tongues sloppily, groped her slutty body freely. Got my bitch horny, imprinted: this body's mine.
"Understood... I'll go home with you♥"
"That's right."
I smiled softly. "No point dragging this—might as well head back together since we're done—"
Bzzz! Bzzz!
Phone vibrated at the worst timing. I'd ignore a nobody, but it was Mom. Sudden call? "Sudden family meeting?"
"Meeting... ma'am?"
Her puzzled voice echoed through. We'd just had a family conference recently—no gatherings since. I'd figured it'd just be playing nice to slowly boost lonely Mom's favor. "...? Sis and the little sis already said they'd come too?"
"All the Hwaryeong family members...?"
Something felt off. Post-possession, they'd never all gathered like this.
+ + +
Something was off. So I rushed over—and sure enough.
The moment I arrived on time, First Sis hit me with this:
"Then, I'll propose the motion to expel Hwaryeong Card's Chairman Cha Do-yeon from the group."
...What the fuck is this?