Shareholder Meeting Debut
"A shareholder meeting, huh..."
He mutters bitterly, loosening the tie that's choking him all the way to his Adam's apple. Lowering his head again, he scans the agenda items his secretary prepared for the meeting, but as expected, he doesn't really get it. He's organized what he needs to say, but whenever he looks at documents crammed with kanji and numbers, his head just throbs.
In the meantime, to achieve independence from the affiliates, there have been massive changes within the company. Corporate registrations, business licenses, and so on. The process involved no small amount of hassle. Thankfully, Ryu Su-a, the financial supervisor who's gradually come around to his side, helped smooth things out. By leveraging her knowledge and authority, she advised on slashing much of the complicated procedures, ensuring everything was done cleanly without any backlash.
"Never thought I'd end up attending this damn thing in person... Shit."
Still, it was a big enough deal that he had to show up personally. Even though the group had flatlined once with Cha Seong-taek's heart attack, the prestige of the name "Hwaryeong" remained unchallenged in Korea. News of the independence spread like wildfire, and everyone had been clamoring for this shareholder meeting ever since. Right now, wolves with bloodshot eyes were prowling outside, sniffing for any weakness. It wasn't an exaggeration to say the entire nation was glued to what would unfold today, with the news yapping about it nonstop.
Is this really the playboy's life? After the possession, he'd figured it'd be all fun and games, sucking on the sweet nectar of luxury. But who knew a little snowball he'd rolled would snowball into this headache? Sure, he had plenty of money, so he could just chuck it all—but it was heartbreaking how his mom's face still floated up warmly whenever he closed his eyes. Imagining earning Jeong Su-ran's full approval and collaring his cute sisters with their heads held high kept his motivation flickering—
"Young master, your tie's crooked."
Just as the papers in his hand start to crumple, U Mi-ae leans in close and straightens his tie. With deft fingers, she fixes it perfectly, pulling it snug to his neck again before brushing off his shirt collar.
"Loosened it 'cause it's stuffy."
"Please bear with it until the shareholder meeting ends. There are piranhas out there waiting to tear into any gap you show."
"Haa..."
It itches. Unable to resist the itch, he squeezes—kkuk, guk♥—but instead gropes U Mi-ae's ass right in front of him. He kneads her firm, ample secretary hips, savoring the feel as a substitute.
"......"
But no matter what, U Mi-ae barely reacts. Even if he slips under her skirt, gropes her breasts, or strokes between her thighs, she doesn't stop him. Whether it's permission to grope to his heart's content or just treating it like everyday routine, she whispers calmly.
"Have you reviewed the agenda items?"
"More or less. Still don't get all the technical jargon."
"Specific matters like that aren't your domain, young master. The board will support the details. Just calm the shareholders' fury."
"You think I can pull that off?"
U Mi-ae looks up at him steadily, her cheeks flushed from the lewd fondling in the waiting room serving as her answer.
"I've always seen you as beyond redemption."
"......"
"Every time I saw you, disgust welled up—I just wanted to escape this sinking ship of a belly."
She lays out every cold barb imaginable, then adds, "But."
"But whether you got struck by lightning under the apple tree or underwent some change of heart, the current you is different."
Kkuuk♥
"I have high expectations for the new you."
Whether to bolster his spirits, she gently clasps the hand venturing below, beaming. Now he sees it—her flush isn't just from the touching; she's reacting to the changed "Cha Do-yeon."
U Mi-ae's loyalty toward you has increased: 92% → 95%
The U Mi-ae who'd always been rigidly calculating and cold, craving a reliable lord to follow—she'd turned into a hunting dog at the slightest change, loyal to the end. A devoted subordinate peering over her master's shoulder at glory and riches.
"Then I guess I gotta live up to those expectations."
"♥"
After petting his cute bitch, he finally steps out of the waiting room. Even when it's a drag, this reignites his drive. If she wants to watch an epic through him, he'll gladly push harder.
The moment he emerges, it's like a tomato festival explodes. In the massive auditorium, furious shareholders chant "Expel Cha Do-yeon!" in unison.
"Quiet, quiet! Please settle down!"
The board chairman tries to restore order amid the chaos. Even troublemakers acting like pros at these meetings have security quelling the crowd. It takes ages for Do-yeon, awkwardly at the podium mic, to get a word in as they rock chairs like they're about to charge.
Glancing at his speech, he starts.
"Um... First, greetings to our esteemed shareholders."
Tongues click and snorts erupt at the opening line. He butters up his words slickly, scanning the room, but gets no real cheers.
"......After much deliberation, we've decided on independent management. Many processes remain, but through spin-off, we'll fully detach from the group's control structure. Details on..."
Even flawlessly reciting word-for-word, they just glare at the playboy Cha Do-yeon. Grinding teeth, waiting for a slip to pounce.
"Haaa..."
Exhausted, he slams the speech to the floor—pak! No one stays composed, up on stage or down below. Some board members slap their foreheads; camera zooms whir, expecting more trashy antics.
"I'll end the speech reading here. It's boring anyway—I'll post it as notice and wrap up."
"Instead, I'll take questions. Shareholders with something to say, raise your hand and stand."
Over 80% shoot up hands instantly. Scanning the bloodthirsty room, he points to the front-row shareholder seething most—he bolts up.
Spitting venom, the middle-aged man dives straight to the core.
"President Cha Do-yeon! Resign now or cancel everything you've done!"
But that's no question—just a warning, or ultimatum, born of distrust and hate for "Cha Do-yeon."
"...I said questions?"
"I don't care—get off that stage!"
"Why do you want my resignation so bad?"
"Isn't it obvious?!"
Flushing red like boiled octopus, he bellows, "My money! If you split from Hwaryeong Group, what about the cash I've invested?!"
The ordered hall erupts again. Like monkeys with a virus, swept in chants to oust him.
Jesus... unbelievable. Pitiful as monkeys in a zoo.
Kkiiieeeing!
He'd tried holding back, but mic feedback screech quiets them. Chilling amplification to calm the absurdity, then he adds.
"First, one word."
"Wh-what?"
"Do you know my stake when you ask questions?"
"......"
"Aren't I a shareholder too, before CEO?"
Silence like honey-mouthed mutes. Post-possession, he'd steadily bought shares intentionally. To defend against second sister Cha Hwa-ryeon's predation, and to boost company value. Trash image aside, his weight differs from sisters running on under 17%.
Unlike other sisters, this small firm can't be pressured by group capital. He's here to soothe the mob; even united, these shareholders pose no threat.
"Now, one more word."
"Wh-what...?"
"Tell me—is our stock crashing to the bottom now?"
The hall hushes twice over. Hwaryeong Card, yet to rebrand, has skyrocketed since bottoming out. Bitcoin buy rumors fueled massive gains; coins still rising means yesterday was the cheapest.
"Of course, my attitude today could pump it higher or tank it. I get the worry."
"Sure, Cha Do-yeon's bitcoin play was dumb luck. Heaven pitied this scumbag. I won't bother convincing you. But know our stock's never been better, and the company has ample capital and vision without group aid."
The questioner slumps sullenly. Another hand up—he picks a middle-aged man.
"Even so... why push for independence?"
Eyes lock on him now—no jeers. Prior answer had merit; tempers cool, expecting real talk.
"First, as I've said, internal pressure was huge. Moves denying me as affiliate CEO."
"Th-that's all?"
"Frankly, yes. ...But standing here, another thought hits."
He sips water for dry throat, moistens lips leisurely.
"Hwaryeong is rotten inside."
Murmurs ripple. Questioner gapes like a sluggish loach; Do-yeon steers.
"Spoiled heirs and execs wielding the company as a weapon in share skirmishes, not for bigger shareholder gains."
"Haven't you all thought it? More fiddling with control privileges than boosting stock. Even shoving bad calls causing losses, dodging blame?"
He spreads arms for emphasis. Slap to own face maybe, but raw truth. He shoulders stake-weight; higher-ups hold little/no shares, no accountability. In this land of privilege, it'd resonate.
"Korea Discount. Why Korean stocks undervalued? Obvious, right?"
Clearing raspy throat, he names the perfect example.
"Cha Hwa-ryeon-ssi?"
Pointing sharply; all eyes follow. In the corner, wide-brim shepherd hat on a woman in funeral-black mourning garb. Shoulders tremble; she finally doffs the stifling hat.
"......"
Leisurely him, polar opposite sister. Second sis glaring up, eyes blazing fierce.
Just as her name bears "fire", it burned vividly.