Shareholder Meeting Debut
It was a seat I attended as a legitimate shareholder owning stakes in the company. I don't enjoy outward-facing activities, but the guy who'd never shown up to one of these in his life boldly announced he'd hold the shareholders' meeting himself, drawing a ton of attention—so I came to hear what nonsense he'd spout.
But then, "Lazy heirs of mismanaged companies, so-called executives who aren't running for the greater profits of the shareholders but are blinded by fights over their own stakes..." My ears perked up involuntarily. I couldn't believe it. It was mind-blowing. No matter how much they'd pushed him out, this was a Hwaryeong kid talking smack from that position.
A chaebol brat raised on every benefit and privilege imaginable—hell, a guy who'd trashed the company image with his antics—daring to spew that crap from his mouth.
"Right? They're more obsessed with fiddling the company using their executive privileges every day than actually boosting the stock price."
What the hell is this lunatic saying?! There's a limit to smearing your own face, but damn if he didn't flap his tongue like a pro. Was he showing off now that he's "independent," stabbing his family company in the back and spitting on it? He rambled on, then even shoved the spotlight my way.
"Cha Hwa-ryeon-ssi?"
My name, called out pointedly. The bullshit example he'd just given felt like it was aimed straight at me. Crunch. With all the eyes turning my way, I ditched the pointless hat that was getting in the way.
A blatant declaration of war, sniping at me. The family's idiot thug punk baring his fangs—I couldn't hold back and shot up from my chair.
I'd clocked that Cha Hwa-ryeon was coming. Curious how my immediate rival would react, she'd shyly hidden her identity, but that would've been no fun—so I shone the spotlight on her.
My second sis was blazing so hot that people nearby flinched and backed off. She flared up at the casual log I'd tossed into the fire.
"You look like you've got a lot to say. Why don't you come up?"
At my invitation, a suited staffer nearby hesitantly handed over a mic. Cha Hwa-ryeon snatched it mid-air as she stood, took a deep breath, and said crisply, "I'll pass."
"Hmm... A key figure from Hwaryeong Group graces us with her presence, and you won't speak from up there?"
"First off, let me clarify I'm here as a shareholder of Hwaryeong Card, not as CEO of Hwaryeong Construction."
I nitpicked, and she spelled it out letter by letter that she'd bought shares fair and square before adding, "I'm just taking the mic to ask a question of President Cha Do-yeon, who's voluntarily splitting off from the company."
"What is it?"
"Your qualifications, obviously."
Clearly scratched by my words, Cha Hwa-ryeon bared her blade right away. Turning to face the shareholders for the show, she spat venom.
"The eldest son among siblings! You might not know, but thanks to outdated traditions, President Cha Do-yeon was born the golden child, showered with parental love and given 'special treatment' from childhood because he was discriminated against at home. And now he attacks Hwaryeong Group, which carried and raised him, all brazenly under the guise of independence... Do you think you have the right?"
"......"
I didn't respond. It was too distant a past for me to bother with. Thinking my silence meant I'd folded, second sis ramped up, pitching her voice two octaves higher.
"If I list all the businesses he was handed to build skills as the 'only son' and tanked, we could be here all night. Ah... You've all seen it indirectly in the news, right? The ventures that Cha Do-yeon, back when he was a Hwaryeong director, ruined by overexpanding!"
She shifted the fire that'd stick to her onto the crowd. Planting seeds of doubt and suspicion deep in their chests. Swapping their interest in her for distrust of me.
Cha Do-yeon's past fuckups were Cha Hwa-ryeon's card to torment me. A move to corner me—but surely, these were real mistakes he'd made. The only son, utterly incompetent, despised by his sisters and ultimately abandoned even by Cha Seong-taek, stuck in his old son-preference bullshit. He'd sunk this low purely on proven incompetence.
Whew... Predictable, so predictable.
But that was all in the past. The weak spots Cha Hwa-ryeon could bite were mistakes from a history that didn't faze my mentality at all—ones I hadn't even made. In other words, lame, clichéd attacks.
"Alright, time to show the materials I've prepared."
"......Materials?"
I signaled, and the board chair nodded. The data screen lit up on the massive display for all to see.
"This'll be announced separately with the financials soon, but here's the projected quarterly performance report."
The big screen crammed with numbers. Hard to read in detail from the floor, but in business, three things matter most: revenue, operating profit, and net profit.
But the real highlight this time? "Non-operating income"—the massive chunk from investment activities labeled "other income."
"Take a look, shareholders. What do you think?"
This announcement wasn't some lame surprise quarterly beat. I'd packed it with profits from my subsidiaries merged into the company, stock investments, and crypto gains. Massive investment returns impossible from core ops alone.
"Quarterly net profit totaling 7.4 trillion won...??"
Heh. Cha Hwa-ryeon was the perfect supporting actress. A great knight to make me shine brighter. 7.4 trillion from short-term investments. A card company that couldn't even hit 1 trillion in revenue, raking it in purely through my merged subs' investment wins.
The stock was already climbing on crypto ties, but this was top-secret until today. Way beyond expectations because they didn't know I'd leveraged it several times over. Knowing the future crushes lotto tickets—catch a few mega-trends, and you can reshape the world.
The hall heated up; everyone chattered with neighbors or yelled, "Is this legit?!"
"All true. With all the rumors swirling, we decided on transparency today."
I tapped the mic to quiet them, then said, "Now that the performance is out, a question for Cha Hwa-ryeon, still standing there."
Flinch! Numbers she never saw coming—Cha Hwa-ryeon froze solid. Her bun head, evoking a cute mouse, turned my way as I shoved her into her own trap.
"Can we get an open book on Hwaryeong Construction's performance under you?"
Her blazing flames died down at the jab. Face clearly rattled, she backed away hesitantly.
"......I said I'm here as a Hwaryeong Card shareholder?"
"New year anyway—important news that'll leak soon, right?"
"N-not fitting for this venue, so no comment."
"Hmm, you'd mention it if you were confident... Disappointing answer."
Grind! She couldn't know my side, but digging into Cha Hwa-ryeon's wallet was easy. Her capital line reeling from the short-selling hit she'd dared. Coming in underestimating the old fuckup me, she'd probably vaporized a fortune. On company finances, she couldn't utter a word now. A major issue forcing her voluntary resignation. Massive losses she had to cover with her own skills—if she could.
"Shareholders, I deeply regret my past outward disappointments."
I pivoted back to the speech without digging deeper. Stepped forward, bowed to the seated shareholders from the podium, expressing remorse.
"But as you've seen, starting today, I'll show a changed Cha Do-yeon. Not in words, but actions."
The doubt and suspicion from moments ago? Vanished. Eyes lit like they'd witnessed the Second Coming. Results trump desperate past-clinging, after all. Short-term gains were their holy grail.
Swipe. Finally, I pointed at a woman scribbling notes on a tablet—guessed her for press.
"With results like this, what's your next goal, President?"
Perfect wrap-up. Real reporter confirmed, tossing the ideal closer.
I loosened my stuffy tie a bit, flashing some casual vibe before answering.
"Things Hwaryeong never did—I'll do them."
"Like what...?"
"No. 1 in the industry."
Simple, clear goal. The hall buzzed again. Wrinkled frowns scoffed "Impossible," but after that absurd performance, no outright laughs.
"I know. Some still doubt and mock me inwardly. But it was Father's dream, so I'll take it."
"I'll grow Hwaryeong, rotten from family squabbles, into a company for me and you shareholders—and together, we'll aim for Korea's top spot with that ambition."
Closing remarks. Endless bows, then the proclamation.
"The day we hit No. 1, you'll truly be Hwaryeong Group shareholders."
Clap... clap clap clap clap. Slow spread, then exploding like zero-to-hundred, filling the hall.
Whew... Speeches tire me out.
Hell, I could've skipped the rah-rah. Shareholders cheering absurd results, expecting stock pops from the insane wealth grab. Stuff their bellies full, no issues.
She's gone.
Stepping down, I checked Cha Hwa-ryeon's seat—empty. Mouse lopping its tail to flee the predator, hat ditched on the floor as she bolted.
Heh. Clueless that her crumbling turf was already in my palm.