Chapter 6
“…”
Marriage, huh.
Si-heon frowned as he gazed out the car window, chewing on his cigarette filter.
A headache struck him suddenly.
With furrowed brows, he pressed his fingertips firmly against his temples.
Damn it.
When would this ever go away?
His skull throbbed as if someone was hammering nails into his head – tap, tap, tap.
Hell.
His jaw clenched tighter. The cigarette was mercilessly crushed between his teeth.
“I heard there are people forcibly occupying the construction site.”
“Yes, Director.”
“Let’s go there.”
Noh Man-su took a breath and spoke very carefully.
“It might be better if you don’t visit the site for now. The executives and shareholders are watching. Last week, Representative Kwon Jae-sung had dinner with Secretary Sung.”
“Secretary Sung?”
Sung Won-gyu was grandfather’s chief secretary. As the son of Sung Cheon-seok, one of the ‘founding members’ whom grandfather trusted most, he now served as grandfather’s closest aide.
Chairman Kwon Soon-yeol deeply trusted his secretary. When unavoidable circumstances arose, Sung Won-gyu’s influence was most likely to come into play.
“If you were to get hurt… Representative Kwon Jae-sung’s side won’t just let it slide.”
It was the right thing to say, which made it all the more irritating.
“Where’s this place Jin Wu-hyeon is having his drinking party?”
Noh Man-su’s expression brightened at Si-heon’s words.
“It’s at the underground jazz bar in Young-seo Hotel.”
Right. Since he was on the verge of losing his reason, drinking himself stupid would be better than causing trouble at the site.
“Let’s go there. If the Director says so, I guess I have to listen.”
“T-that’s not what I meant…! This is unfair, Director!”
Noh Man-su’s face turned pale as he broke into a cold sweat, not knowing what to do.
“I was just concerned for your wellbeing…!”
“My head is pounding.”
The car fell silent at Si-heon’s words.
Sensing their superior’s mood had worsened, the secretary team increased their speed while holding their breath.
As soon as they arrived at the hotel, Si-heon wordlessly entered the innermost room of the jazz bar.
Noh Man-su didn’t follow him in, instead speaking to the manager.
“Bring the strongest stuff you have. About three bottles.”
The manager nodded routinely, as if this was a common occurrence.
“He seems to be in a bad mood today.”
“Make sure no women approach him. Things could get serious today if we’re not careful.”
“I understand. Don’t worry. Will he be staying at the hotel?”
“Yes. Please take care of him.”
“Don’t worry.”
“Contact me if anything happens.”
It meant he would be standing nearby just in case.
That’s how low Si-heon’s mood was.
The manager firmly set his jaw as he surveyed the women whose eyes were already fixed on Si-heon’s arrival.
‘I’ll need to stay sharp for this one.’
***
“Si-heon! No, Director Kwon!”
Jin Wu-hyeon approached him with a welcoming expression.
“I didn’t think you’d come.”
“Did you hope I wouldn’t?”
“No, not at all. It’s just that you’re always so busy. You haven’t come to any gatherings since returning to Korea. Come in, everyone’s waiting.”
Jin Wu-hyeon, exercising his characteristic sociability, guided Si-heon inside.
The men sitting on the sofas were second, third, and fourth generation heirs of influential figures in politics and business.
Wearing luxury suits, watches, shoes, and accessories worth an unfathomable number of zeros, they had been snickering with arrogant looks, but as soon as Si-heon appeared, they immediately straightened up and greeted him with tense expressions.
“Si-heon, it’s been a while.”
“I heard you were recently promoted to director? Congratulations.”
“I’m jealous. I’m still just a manager. Ah, when will I get to work in a private office with my own secretary?”
“Same here. At home, I’m constantly being compared to you, it’s killing me.”
They offered their congratulations on his promotion while lavishly praising Si-heon.
But Si-heon didn’t see the group fawning over him.
He just wanted this damn headache to go away.
Although Si-heon’s family company, Hwanhee Group, was a massive corporation ranked within the top 20 conglomerates, there were other companies considered top-tier.
Yet they still tiptoed around Si-heon, watching his every move.
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