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Chairman Kang stared at the USB on the desk. It arrived quickly on the day Kang Il-hyun collapsed after being shot. He once went on a golf trip with some members of parliament to another country, and someone secretly filmed him having sex with a teenage girl there.
Chairman Kang will not be the only one in trouble if this spreads. They were also filmed getting tangled up in groups at the end of the video. He wondered if Kang Il-hyun had made a duplicate. Or Lee Ja-kyung? Assuming he shot Il-hyun’s leg rather than his heart, there could have been a secret transaction between the two that he was unaware of.
As soon as the work was finished, Lee Ja-kyung disappeared. Chairman Kang thought about taking care of him, but he couldn’t find him. If Ja-kyung had the will to live, he would never set foot on Korean soil again. He had someone to check it out, and Kang Il-hyun’s house was also clean and vacant.
And he learned that Kang Il-hyun had been transferred to a different hospital during the day. Chairman Kang pretended to be unaware of this. In a situation that even Kang Yoo-jung noticed, he decided that there was nothing worthwhile to probe.
Then, with a knock, a visitor entered. There were three directors who contributed greatly to the founding of the company. They were four founding members at first, but one betrayed him by stabbing him in the back, and Chairman Kang had Il-hyun get rid of him a while ago.
The directors came in and took their seats, and the secretary served the tea.
“Since the chairman must be very concerned, we stopped by to comfort you.”
He presented a gift wrapped in a golden cloth saying that they had prepared it together. Chairman Kang ordered his secretary to set it aside inside.
“Thank you for thinking of this old man this much.”
“Who knew that we would experience such a fuss at the inauguration ceremony while living in the world?”
“I was also very surprised. See how my hands are still shaking.”
Chairman Kang felt the same way when he saw Director Park pretend to shake his hand for no reason. They used to kill and throw away people when they were in their twenties, but now they pretend to be innocent. While drinking tea with a smile, Director Kim, who had been silent, glanced over and opened his mouth.
“The Chairman must be worried, but neither of us could sleep. Right now, there appears to be a lot of discussion among shareholders. The stock price is also dropping as a result of this incident, and isn’t it just painting the company in a bad light? That sort of thing keeps happening.”
“You’re right. But honestly, I expected something like this to happen one day. It’s odd that Director Kang has no enemies, given his usual behavior. Everyone was terrified and kept their mouths shut, but they must have been thinking the same thing.”
“As usual, I noticed that the executives had a lot of complaints this time. I couldn’t say anything because the Chairman was so fond of him… To be honest, he did not seem like the type of person who could succeed the Chairman. Most people would have thought the same thing. Don’t you agree?”
“I think it is separate from what foreign members acknowledge. They prefer an aggressive management strategy, so Director Kang will suit them, but we are concerned that they will bring great anger on themselves someday. Isn’t the company to blame for the damage? That would be unacceptable even to the Chairman.”
Of course, of course. The three nodded and responded in unison. Chairman Kang took out a cigar, lit it, leaned back on the sofa, and looked at the three people in turn. He’s looking around, but he appears to have decided to take Kang Il-hyun down in some way.
Chairman Kang exhaled smoke with a calm face.
“Then, who do you think is the right person?”
The three exchanged glances as if they thought it was accomplished, and Director Kim, as if waiting for the opportunity, took up his arms.
“Anyway, I believe Director Kang Tae-han would be a good fit. The eldest son comes from a powerful mother’s family, and there will be no way to defy the chairman’s wishes.”
“Even if Director Kang Tae-han seems a bit lighthearted as a person, he will be more communicative than Director Kang Il-hyun.”
Chairman Kang held his cigar between his fingers and secretly cast a pitiful glance at the directors.
“What about Seok-joo?”
All three shook their heads.
“Since he is still young, it would be better for Seok-joo to come into the company and learn step by step.”
“I share your opinion. Seok-joo is intelligent and will do well at work because he resembles the chairman and his wife. Let him play to his hearts’ content for the time being, and then think about it later.”
Kang Seok-joo was on their side, but his presence was obvious.
“If that’s what you mean, I’ll consider it.”
The three directors were overjoyed when they received a positive response. Chairman Kang barely smiled as he rubbed the finished cigar into the ashtray. They will now go around agitating shareholders and executives and attempting to set up Kang Tae-han in the seat sooner or later.
It was the right time for them now while Kang Il-hyun was lying in bed and couldn’t move.
***
Before getting out of the car, Kim Seon-young checked Seok-joo’s clothes once more. She grabbed her son’s chin, checked his face, and smiled contentedly. Kang Seok-joo sat curtly and only looked at his phone. Kim Seon-young tapped Seok-joo on the shoulder.
“Get a hold of yourself. I mean, make a proper look today.”
Seok-joo seemed frustrated and tried to pull on his tie, and Kim Seon-young took off his hand.
“You!”
“Do I have to go?”
“Of course, you have to go. Don’t you want to see for yourself how Kang Il-hyun’s position in the main company is stripped away?”
Kang Seok-joo rolled his eyes at this point. Because the person is in the hospital, he won’t be able to see his face directly, but it appeared to be quite interesting. Kang Seok-joo and Kim Seon-young got out of the car in front of the head office and went upstairs to the meeting room with the secretaries. The assembled executives and shareholders exchanged greetings before entering the building.
Chairman Kang took the center seat at the front of the conference room, while Kang Tae-han and his supporters sat on the right. The dismissal of Kang Il-hyun was a major agenda item at today’s extraordinary shareholders’ meeting. The executives stood up and bowed when Kim Seon-young entered. Kim Seon-young sat in the seat to the left of Chairman Kang.
While Chairman Kim, the chairman of the General Assembly, gave brief greetings and talked about today’s agenda, Kang Seok-joo exchanged messages with friends under the table.
[I can’t go today. A general meeting of shareholders. Today is the day Kang Il-hyun’s position is stripped away!]
[Really? Then Seok-joo, will you become the director?]
[Crazy. I’m not the chairman, why would I be the director?]
[Kang Il-hyun is unemployed now?]
[Looking at the atmosphere right now, it seems like he is out of my father’s eyes]
“From now on, we will proceed with the vote on Kang Il-hyun’s dismissal, which is on the agenda for today’s general shareholders’ meeting.”
Bang-bang, while he was knocking on the gavel, the conference room door opened, and a completely unexpected person entered. It was Kang Yoo-jung. People’s attention was drawn to her because she did not usually show her face at shareholder meetings. Even more surprising was Kang Il-hyun, who appeared behind her.
Kang Il-hyun appeared in a wheelchair, dressed in a patient’s uniform and sunglasses, with IV drips hanging from his arm. People began to murmur.
They said he was dead. They didn’t say he was only unconscious. What happened. He looked fine.
As the shareholders became agitated, Chairman Kang, Kim Seon-young, and other family members’ expressions hardened. While Tae-soo was pulling out the second row of chairs behind Chairman Kang to make room for Il-hyun, Director Kwon, who was sitting right next to him, asked how he was doing.
“Are you okay, Director Kang? You have no idea how surprised I was that day.”
He was one of the people who were usually close to Il-hyun. Other executives also joined in.
“The rumors say it was really bad.”
Il-hyun took off his sunglasses and smiled.
“It’s all right. As you can see, it looks like I will be confined to a wheelchair for a while.”
While everyone’s attention was focused, Il-hyun raised his hand toward Chairman Kim.
“Chairman. I’m sorry as soon as I came, but can I speak?”
Director Kim looked at Chairman Kang with a hard complexion and tried to smile.
“Please speak.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Tae-soo took something out of his jacket pocket and handed it to Il-hyun. Il-hyun held it in his hand and held it up for the shareholders to see. It was a bullet lodged in both his thighs. People in the back were so curious that they couldn’t even just stretch their necks out, so they stood up and checked the bullets.
“This is the bullet that got in my thigh exactly a week ago, on the day of my inauguration.”
People’s faces wrinkled as if they had been beaten. Il-hyun held it up and checked it from side to side.
“What do you think? It must have been really painful, right?”
Chairman Kang’s expression wrinkled at the vulgar tone, and Chairman Kim quickly brought his mouth to the microphone.
“Director Kang. This is a public seat. Please speak politely.”
Il-hyun didn’t care and went on with his words.
“I want to, but while I was lying on the sick bed after being shot, he proposed my dismissal.”
“…”
“How should I handle this situation, Chairman Kim?”
Il-hyun’s eyes moved to Chairman Kim and immediately their gaze met. Director Kim, who was in the Chairman’s seat, slightly raised his voice with a displeased expression.
“For what purpose are you saying that?”
“I’m asking because I’m curious if any of the people trying to get me fired is the one who shot me in the leg.”
As soon as the words were finished, there was a buzz here and there, and Chairman Kim became enraged.
“Don’t say anything unfounded!”
Il-hyun smiled coldly and sighed.
“Well. You’ll know when the vote results come out. Whether it’s really unfounded or not.”
Chairman Kim clenched his teeth and glared at Il-hyun. Il-hyun took a quick look around the conference room. There were quite a few people among them who were hostile to Il-hyun. Looking at them, Il-hyun’s mouth was smiling, but his eyes were murderous as if he was about to cut their flesh.
He called Park Tae-soo loudly.
“TAE-SOO!”
“Yes.”
“Find the shooter.”
“Yes.”
“Then cut all of the joints you can find with a saw.”
Kang Il-hyun threw the last word with a happy face as people’s faces became stunned.
“And throw it as dog food.”
Chairman Kang could not stand it and jumped up and turned around.
“You!”
Il-hyun raised his head crookedly and looked at Chairman Kang. Stupid old man. If you want to kill me, you should have killed me properly. Or not in the first place.
“Why are you so angry? I didn’t even say if it was possible that my father did it.”
When Chairman Kang become even more enraged, Il-hyun frowned and grabbed his leg. The room was deafeningly silent; not even breathing could be heard. Il-hyun smiled at everyone with a sad expression.
“Sorry, everyone. I want to stay and vote, but it’s time for my painkillers.”
“…”
“I’m leaving, so please vote well. Please take care of yourself.”
The atmosphere froze like a field of ice when he smiled. Chairman Kang rose from his seat, trembling but unable to do anything to Il-hyun. Il-hyun, who was in a wheelchair, said his farewell before putting on sunglasses and exiting the conference room.