27. The Second Boss?
"Y-Young Master!"
Shaken by the near-accident, U Mi-ae comes rushing from far across the parking lot. She'd been waiting in the car with the driver along my commute route, and now both of them stand panting by my side.
"Are you alright, Young Master?!"
"I'm fine. As you can see—hold on, you can tell just by looking. I'm completely unharmed, okay?"
It was a close call; one more half-step and I might've been clipped. But to U Mi-ae, it was like watching her baby bird nearly get hit. She fusses over me wildly, patting me down. She even brushes off my perfectly ironed clothes to straighten them out, then unleashes her furrowed fury—complete with that wrinkled brow—on Cha So-eun, who's peeking her head out from the red foreign luxury car.
"Third Miss, this is too much!"
"...And who the hell are you to butt in?"
"I'm U Mi-ae, personal secretary to Young Master Cha Do-yeon. We've run into each other several times before at the hotel with Miss Hwa-ryeon... But that's not the point right now. It's that threatening driving from your chauffeur."
U Mi-ae steps up and lays into her. It's proof of the loyalty she's built up with me over time. Sure, it's also emotional because she'd be in a tough spot if an accident actually happened right next to her, but still.
"Yeah, shut your trap."
"!"
Cha So-eun flashes a sweet smile and drops the curt curse like a hammer. She slips off her sunglasses perched low on her nose, then snaps open those narrowed eyes in a way that sends chills down your spine, adding,
"Oh, right, I remember now. You were the bitch who dared mouth off to my eldest sister before? Who the fuck do you think you are, some mutt we feed at the Hwaryeong house, sticking your nose into conversations between your betters?"
"......"
"Keep pushing your luck trusting your oppa, and one day I'll kidnap your ass and rip out your tongue?"
Her tone is light, but every word from Cha So-eun carries real weight—none of it just a joke. She actually has the capability to follow through.
My little sister's got some real killer instincts...
This is my first time witnessing Cha So-eun's dark side firsthand. It's surely her true personality, hidden behind that cute exterior. The packaging smells like sweet strawberry milk, pretty and alluring, but dig deeper and it's pitch-black poison inside. Every sister in the Hwaryeong family has a twisted personality you don't mess with lightly. Except maybe Cha Hwa-ryeon, who at least listens a bit—U Mi-ae couldn't hope to stand up to the rest.
"Alright, that's enough."
I step in to mediate before their catfight turns the mood to complete shit. Raising my arms to signal I have zero interest in a brawl, I walk toward the car Cha So-eun rode in on.
"You said you came to talk to me, right? Then quit causing a scene and just take me with you."
"Young Master!"
"It's fine. I know what you're thinking—nothing's gonna happen."
U Mi-ae is now my closest confidante, my loyal right hand. Her strong check on Cha So-eun isn't just from the reckless driving or the sniping. I know the massive risk of tangling with my blood sister too, but we can't get anywhere like this, so I quietly slip into the open car door she left ajar.
I stick my arm out the window toward the driver and U Mi-ae standing in the lot, then say,
"Head home today. See you tomorrow."
"......"
The car peels out of the parking lot fast. The scenery outside whips by like someone's chasing us.
*
"So, what's the real reason you went out of your way to find me?"
She's flooring it even through downtown, but the interior stays quiet and smooth. Electric car perks—no engine roar no matter how hard she pushes.
"Oppa, you're not seriously asking 'cause you don't know, right?"
Alone now, her tone sweetens up with a spoonful of sugar. She giggles beside me, then covers her white teeth with her lips and flips serious like turning over her palm.
"My company's value tanked."
"...So?"
"Ugh... It's all because of you. Suddenly, our second sis hooked up with you? Or should I say she surrendered on her own?"
The massive absorption and merger of Cha Hwa-ryeon's affiliates, including Hwaryeong Construction. It's the signal flare for the Hwaryeong Group's internal fracture and a new era. Complicated procedures thanks to the governance structure, but with Cha Hwa-ryeon's full cooperation, all those affiliates are set to fold into HR. The Hwaryeong Group, now slimmer without that firepower, is sliding downhill faster than ever.
Probably a shock to journalists and finance experts. They figured once the designated villain—me, Cha Do-yeon—stepped out, it'd be smooth sailing like some fairy tale where slaying the bad guy brings peace. But nope, it's deflating like a popped balloon.
The show's not over yet, but the shareholder meeting's performance reveal must've been a real jaw-dropper.
"What? Money's overflowing, so I snag your second sis's company—what's the problem?"
"...I told you. You and her teamed up, and my affiliates' market cap, stock price included, already dropped 24%."
Money talk chills her tone and face right out.
"My cut's shrinking, so don't you think we need to do something about it now?"
"It's already in motion to peel off—what do you want me to do?"
"Hm... Well, stop you right now, I guess—"
She innocently taps her index finger to her lips, drawing out a hum, then,
"Ah! Dragging you to the harbor and making you disappear wouldn't be bad either♡"
"......"
A vicious joke laced with real intent. Even among family, the trash talk flies heavy in this house. Hwaryeong's youngest, Cha So-eun. If I had to paint her business style and charisma as a color, it'd be solid black.
Cha Hwa-ryeon takes after Dad Cha Seong-taek's swift drive, but Cha So-eun only learned from his dark shadow.
For example, say the goal is snagging ice cream from a snot-nosed kid. Cha Hwa-ryeon would march up and talk first—offer benefits to persuade, throw a tantrum with threats of downsides if it fails. Lacking skill, but our second sis has a baseline entrepreneur mindset.
Cha So-eun? Starts by yanking it straight from the kid's tiny hand. If the brat cries for it back, all confused and wronged, she leans in close and hisses,
"Shut up."
Then coats the stolen ice cream in her spit so thick no one else can have it, claiming it as hers. Sounds absurd, but that's her for real. She soaked up Cha Seong-taek's dark side—ends justify means, no holds barred. Hell, she doesn't even register unions as a concept. To her, they're parasites gnawing at the company, trash.
Just peek at the vibe in her flagship Hwaryeong Securities—black company incarnate. Union membership? Dream on. Treating staff like disposable parts is routine, like how she called U Mi-ae a mutt in the lot. Semi-mandatory overtime and verbal abuse are par for the course. Welfare? Mention it and you're blaspheming. Worst environment for any worker.
She pruned anything unnecessary for running the business. Hwaryeong name on the sign, but squeezing every drop from worker rags nonstop. Feels more like a sweatshop than a conglomerate, but no cops or labor board complaints roll in.
You might think it's all Cha So-eun's doing, but—
"Hah... Don't scramble up my ass like that, you dumb bitch."
"!"
I snap back at my sister gripping the knife hilt. Sick of her pathetic show, I point and spit out the truth I'd bottled up.
"Your stock's crashing 'cause you run shit like a dumpster fire. You know First Sis boosted her market cap with that new flip phone launch, affiliates leaving or not?"
"......"
"What'd Dad even leave you? Years of no innovation, just bullying staff and endless layoffs—that's why you're tanking. Right?"
Cha So-eun hates losses more than death. Her affiliates' ops? A dictator with zero vision, eyes only on the next inch. Strong boss grip and tight staff control looks smooth at first, but if that boss sucks, momentum dies and the company stalls.
In Cha So-eun's kingdom, only slaves exist. No real leadership chops, just endless stagnation—turning it into a bland third-rate firm doomed to fade. Obvious. How do talents emerge to carry the company forward in that rigid hell?
Means she learned Cha Seong-taek's shitty tricks, not real business. Zero chops as a visionary entrepreneur.
"......"
Calling out her flaws cools her face to ice, wilting it. She glares fiercely, dry lips parting.
"Oppa, you really have changed a ton, it's wei—"
"Hold up. Let's sort this out proper."
I cut her off cold, no apology in sight. I get exactly where her arrogance and confidence come from—no need for long talks.
Her group stake is thin enough I could swallow it whole right now. So the real backbone, her scary blade, is this:
"All this fronting at me? It's just bluffing on your husband's back, right?"
The only married sister. And that hubby? Infamous. Runs casinos across Asia, rumored ties to yakuza and gangs. That's the weight behind her wild mouth. He married her on the spot, smitten.
"......"
She wants to snap back but crosses her arms tight, glaring instead.
"Hah."
Part power play, she smirks and tosses to the driver,
"Pull over."
The red car stops at some nameless park outside Seoul's core. Clear message: get out. I open the door and step down; from inside, Cha So-eun grins wickedly.
"I called you out to give you a chance to fix your mistake, oppa."
"Oh yeah? Whatever you wanted to say, I couldn't give less of a fuck."
I mock her hard; she shakes her wavy long platinum hair.
"I was gonna cut you some slack as family, but if our views clash this bad, no choice. You took Second Sis's shares, now eyeing mine too—fine, I'll deal with both of you proper♡"
Second declaration of war after Cha Hwa-ryeon. Ultimatum vibe, she adds one last line.
"Oppa, you haven't forgotten that old thing, right?"
"What."
"When we were kids. You messed with my doll, so I smashed your robot's head with it to teach you a lesson. Mom freaked and rushed you to the hospital."
She covers her mouth giggling at whatever funny bit,
"You started fearing me after that, but it's so old you forgot, huh."
"......"
"Guess I gotta remind you♡"
She lays out the childhood tale innocently. Bragging like a psycho from way back. Doesn't exist for me, the possessor, of course.
...This girl's overdue for some education.
Her eyes spin with madness. No wonder even Mom and First Sis stay quiet around her. But I don't back down.
Instead, I reach out, clench and unclench my fist mockingly toward her thick hair,
"Then if you lose this time, you'll pay for that robot you broke back then?"
My counter-condition. Come at me if you dare.
"......(Heh♡)"
She lifts her lip confidently. Laughs off how much she trusts that thug brother-in-law.
Vroom!
The car peels off after.
"...Doesn't even call a taxi, just ditches me for real."
No manners dropping me on my ass. I pull out my phone.
"Yeah, it's me. Sorry I sent you home early, but send a car now. ...Yeah, come yourself or not, whatever. More importantly—"
I exhale deep,
"Gonna need to roll the money harder from now on. Yeah, time to take down that tattooed fuck I mentioned before."
Next boss previewed. Looks like it'll be sister plus her maggot hubby—gotta squash 'em together.