Since You Don't Seem to Know

I lift my head, and a colossal building soars endlessly into the sky, filling my vision. If the Tower of Babel—that monument the arrogant humans of antiquity once raised—were transplanted into the modern age, it would look something like this.

I lower my gaze, and the name of the company and its group comes into view.

KUC Food.

KUC.

That's when my phone vibrates. I check the screen. Ring-ring.

"Thank you."

I was about to hang up when I felt her hesitate. Did she have something she wanted to say? But after wrestling with it, she let out a small sigh and closed with—

"Please tell Master I said thank you."

I hung up and started walking. It was unusual for her to hesitate over something she wanted to say, so it niggled at me a little—but that wasn't what mattered right now.

Revenge. That was the only thought in my head.

I climbed the steps toward the company's main entrance. Lunch hour was approaching, and a flood of people poured out as if a dam had burst. I moved slowly against the current and stepped into the massive building.

I approached the reception desk, where a female employee smiled kindly and asked,

"What brings you here today?"

"I have a prior appointment with your CEO."

"Ah. One moment, please."

The woman turned and called over another woman waiting in the back. Looks like they'd sent someone down in advance to match my arrival time.

Well. I did dangle something tempting enough.

An investment consultation. The amount: one hundred billion won. How could they not take the bait?

The woman who took over approached and bowed politely, then led me up to where the CEO was waiting.

The thirty-third floor, is it.

It really is huge. I feel the scale of a major corporation all over again.

When I stepped off the elevator, a genuinely luxurious fragrance greeted me. Having spent so much time around Do-hyang, I could tell immediately this wasn't some cheap department-store scent. I followed the woman ahead of me, my feet sinking into the plush red carpet.

She asked me to wait a moment to one side, then approached the desk in front of the door marked CEO's Office.

"Please let her know I've brought him."

"Yes."

I looked around. Pure white marble, interspersed with reinforced-glass tiles tinted a deep red. Luxurious. That one word was enough—the place radiated it. It drove home once again just how high a station the person I was about to meet occupied in this society.

Kang Sul-ah. Daughter of the KUC Group chairman, and CEO of KUC Food.

The current chairman had three children, and she was the most outstanding of them—the one whose abilities he'd recognized, the one who'd earned this position. And none of the other children had obtained a CEO post. Or more precisely, none of them had obtained even a remotely decent position.

That fact said a great deal. It meant the bomb I was holding was that much more valuable.

If those rumors are true...

She would have no choice but to refuse nothing. Everything I told her to do. Humans are the kind of creatures who, once they get power in their grip, don't know how to let it go.

So I'll use that. I'll torment her thoroughly. I'll make her pay a brutal price for laying a hand on what's mine.

"Please go in."

I gave a slight nod to the woman holding the door, then stepped unhurriedly into the CEO's office.

It wasn't as lavish as the hallway, but the space that greeted me had a warm overall feel. There were quite a few potted plants—the kind you don't often see in a man's office—and above all, a fine fragrance filled the room, the sort you'd expect from a woman of the upper class.

Was that why? I'd worked a few women from the upper echelons before... the moment I caught that scent, the last shred of tension lingering in my chest melted away like snow. In its place, a burning rage settled in my chest, and a cold, clear reason in my head.

I turned my gaze. A woman was quietly studying me. The moment our eyes met, she smiled brightly and offered a greeting.

"I'm Kang Sul-ah, CEO of KUC Food. A pleasure to meet you."

"Seo-hoo."

I shook her hand once, then followed her lead and sat on the sofa arranged around a table. After a brief exchange of small talk, we got straight to the point.

"So what made you decide to invest in our new venture...?"

"Ah, that? It's nothing special."

I pulled a tablet from my pocket. Then, without letting it show on my face, I took a light breath inward.

Hoo. This is where it starts.

Operation name: An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth.

The woman tilted her head at my actions. She's quite a beautiful woman. Given the position she occupies, her style is excellent too. Long hair falling to her chest, given a slight perm and draped neatly, she looked so youthful I could almost believe we were the same age. And her figure—she'd clearly spent money and time maintaining it over the years. Even in relatively understated clothes, she couldn't hide all of that allure. Beautiful and attractive enough to hold her own against women in their twenties at the height of their bloom.

That was my first impression of her.

And as of today, she's also the bitch who'll be spreading her legs like a whore.

I played the video I'd had a specialist prepare in advance and handed the tablet to her.

At first she looked at it with a what-is-this expression. Then her hands began to tremble, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and her pupils and cheeks started shaking violently. It was like watching a child who'd wet their pants, panicked and not knowing what to do. And yet she couldn't take her eyes or her hands off the tablet. I smiled in satisfaction.

"......."

The video ended at some point. The woman said nothing. This must be what the kids these days call a mental breakdown.

Good reaction. Alright. Time to start reeling her in.

"Now that you've seen it all..."

The woman's head turned toward me with a grinding, mechanical stiffness, like a machine part that hadn't been oiled. Whether it was because the video was explicit or because the shock was too much, her face had gone beet-red in that short span of time. She'd surely been through all kinds of things on her way to becoming CEO of a company, but something like this had to be a first.

Pleased with a better reaction than I'd expected, I let a grin spread across my lips.

"Shall we get down to business, then, CEO Kang?"

"I-I... that..."

The woman stammered. She couldn't get a full sentence out, opening and closing her mouth several times. Still, it seemed she hadn't landed the CEO position for nothing. In less than a minute, she began to regain her composure. Then she immediately sank into thought.

Impressive. She found her reason again in that short a time?

A frightening woman. I suppose people in the top 0.1 percent really are built different. She seemed to be racking her brains... Heh. Not that it'll do her any good.

I crossed my arms, leaned back against the sofa, and waited at my leisure.

About five minutes passed. Having apparently run through every possible scenario, the woman asked with a rigidly frozen face,

"What is it that you want."

What I want...

"What do you think I want?"

"...I'd appreciate a hint. No—I'm asking you. Please. I did look into you beforehand, but time was short and I couldn't find anything of substance."

Well, that figures. Though even if she'd had plenty of time, I doubt she'd have found anything useful.

"So what you're saying is, you still don't know what I want?"

"...That's correct."

Hmm. I let out a long breath. I laced my fingers together and rested my chin on them. Then I waited.

Even as the woman waited for my answer with a tense demeanor, I deliberately held back. I could have answered right away, but I'd learned through my body, dealing with countless women, that a small action like this comes back later as a much larger result.

The woman's hands, which had been still, began to fidget little by little. Still not yet. A little later, her legs started to twitch. Even so, I kept waiting. So she'd grow even more impatient. Then her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mouth began to twitch. That meant she couldn't hold out any longer.

Just as she finally opened her mouth to press me for an answer, I slowly began to speak.

"The rules of this game... I hear you're supposed to give someone time after making a proposal."

The woman gave a small nod.

"Then I'll give you time."

"How much?"

I stood up. Then I started walking toward the door, slowly—very slowly. As if to demonstrate that I was the one holding the upper hand in this matter.

"Three hours."

"Th-that's far too short...!"

"Then two hours."

The woman grimaced and nodded, reluctantly. Now that's satisfying. Watching a member of the ruling class get dragged along by me.

I chuckled quietly, then, gripping the doorknob, informed her of the meeting place.

"I'm currently staying at Grand Hotel Room 1107. I'll be waiting there."

"W-wait. I still have things I need to ask..."

Not my problem.

"And I'll say this in advance—don't even think about trying anything stupid. I've already passed the video to some people in China. If anything happens to me, they'll move immediately."

The woman nodded. Meaning she understood. She's a smart woman, so one sharp additional word should keep her from getting any funny ideas.

"I've seen just how unhinged your son can be... so I'd like you to know I've taken thorough precautions."

At the mention of her son, her face crumpled again. I gave her a small, mocking smile, then walked out without a shred of hesitation.

And a moment later, a scream reached my ears, along with the sound of something shattering.

Well. You had a hard time holding it in even for that short while. Heh. Go stew on it for a bit, and I'll see you later, CEO Kang Sul-ah.

I lie on the wide, wide bed of the hotel room, waiting for the woman who'll come. I've prepared everything that needed preparing. Now I just have to act well.

I wonder how she'll come at this...

It'd be best if she moved as I expected. But since almost nothing in this world moves according to my will, a violent storm was raging in my heart even as I lay there comfortably. Not that the result will change much either way.

I quietly recalled my meeting with her two hours ago. From the moment we first faced each other and exchanged greetings, to the moment I walked out of that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠place.

Honestly, if the evidence had been mediocre, I wouldn't have done it this way. I would have pushed through without giving her time to think. That's the right way. Even if it meant doing the deed right there in that office, I would have pushed through somehow.

The reason I didn't. The evidence was too good. And the situation was even better. That's why I deliberately gave her time.

Go ahead. Struggle all you want. No matter how hard you work that brain of yours, no answer is going to come out. And the reaction that will come out of that is probably a fully locked-in relationship: the one with all the power, and the one with none.

The doorbell chimed.

Is she here?

I walked over unhurriedly and opened the door. A stylish woman radiating a luxurious air stood in front of the room.

Looks like she did quite a bit of thinking.

Her lips were a bit of a mess, unlike earlier. I spread my right hand wide in a welcoming gesture.

"Welcome. Did you come alone?"

"...I didn't have a choice."

Yeah, I figured as much. Looking at her, she doesn't seem to have brought any attendants either... Playing out as expected.

That's why I deliberately chose one of the best hotels that had no connection to KUC. And the time is still broad daylight. To a third party, it would just look like a business meeting. No competitors' eyes here, so coming alone wouldn't be a burden at all. And the result: success.

I walked over to the sofa on one side, where a table sat in the center, and sat down, gesturing for her to take a seat as well.

But instead of the sofa, she dropped to her knees on the floor and prostrated herself before me.

"Please destroy that video. I beg of you."

A far better reaction than I'd anticipated. A thick smile spread across my lips of its own accord. Looks like the rumors are pretty much true—that the chairman is a cold-blooded enough man to cast out even his own kin. I might not even need to go on about the company's value.

I looked down at her quietly. Prostrated as she was, her sensual figure caught my eye. That slender waist, and the ass swelling as if it might burst through her skirt.

The body is one thing, but she's a truly intelligent woman.

She knows. That as long as I have that video, no sweet offer of any kind has any meaning. Having already experienced that dirtying my mood would only make the situation worse, her conduct right now could be called rather ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠excellent.

I'm pleased with her in all sorts of ways. But you made a critical mistake. If you were going to have a son, you should have managed him properly.

How dare you touch my woman?

"Do you know what I want?"

The woman shook her head. From the complete lack of hesitation, it seemed she couldn't even guess.

"But you came all this way. Surely you prepared something?"

The woman lifted her head. A face stained with despair came into view. Her hands clenched and unclenched the hem of her skirt over her knees, and then her mouth began to move slowly.

"Do you... want money?"

"No. I already have more than enough money. I believe you know that."

"Then... an executive position at our company, or a president's seat..."

"I have plenty of money. No need to work, right?"

The woman's face crumpled into a tearful expression. Now that's something. Even a tearful face couldn't hide her beauty—she still looked pretty. At that, I felt a sudden surge of force in my cock, without meaning to.

But not yet. I forced that desire down hard and focused on the act. It wasn't time to reveal my true intentions yet.

The woman prostrated herself again. Pressing her forehead to the floor, she pleaded earnestly.

"I don't know. I'll do anything I can... please, have mercy..."

Instead of answering, I looked down at her quietly. At first she'd trembled as if humiliated, but having apparently decided that wasn't what mattered, she now simply raised her voice and pleaded again, earnestly.

When her voice finally paused, I stood up from my seat. I placed my index finger under her slender chin and lifted it. Skin without a single blemish, unbelievable for a woman in her forties. A high, straight nose. And full, alluring lips that seized my gaze.

Money really is a wonderful thing.

It solves everything. But if there's one thing it uniquely cannot solve, it's the eyes. The bloodshot, vein-lined things could of course have been from crying, but I didn't think that was the only reason. This was from working like a madwoman for money and power. The traces of someone who'd climbed higher than others, who'd striven to reign from above.

So you can never run.

As long as you don't give that up, you can never escape me now. And I'll use that to take my revenge thoroughly—and enjoy it.

This delicious-looking body...!

Even though I'd switched to informal speech, she didn't show the slightest sign of taking offense. That meant she was fully aware of her current position. In that case, I'll tell her quietly. What she ought to do in this place.