Chapter 43. Expulsion Order

Just moments ago, there hadn’t been any supportive posts, but now messages defending him were pouring in.

What started as concerns over the idea of going on a trip with someone like Yooa—under the suspicion of being just noise marketing—gradually escalated. Eventually, the word “disgusting” appeared. Employees who saw the chats exchanged anxious glances.

“We’ve delivered the message, so shall we end the video call here?”

Yooa thought she couldn’t step back—for her own sake, and for the sake of Grip Company and Lee Jun’s dignity. If the call ended without any word from her, baseless rumors would only grow.

But what could she even say?

The sharp and hateful comments had already scraped her heart. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess.

“What’s going on?”

A low baritone voice broke the tension.

“Executive Director.”

The team leader and other employees looked awkwardly toward the owner of the voice.

Lee Jun had stopped in his tracks while passing by the meeting room. Seeing him, even his secretary and members of the planning and legal teams halted as well. Yooa kept her head down, staring blankly at the monitor.

If she so much as turned her head and met his eyes, she felt tears would fall.

She clenched her fist tighter. She was afraid he’d be ashamed of her if she cried in front of the employees.

“I asked. What’s going on?”

“Ah, yes. Executive Director, it’s just that…”

Feeling the weight of his pressing gaze, the team leader finally turned the laptop screen toward him. It showed captured screenshots of the malicious comments mocking Yooa. His brow furrowed as he scanned them.

He muttered something under his breath, barely audible, and the room froze. No one dared to breathe too loudly, waiting to see what he would do next.

“You need to go, Executive Director.”

Secretary Kim knew the situation wasn’t ideal, but he had to push Lee Jun to leave. That was his job.

The overseas sales team had stayed up contacting clients despite the time difference. The legal team had meticulously combed through the contract, adjusting wording and clauses again and again. Their hard work needed to bear fruit.

“Wait.”

Lee Jun’s firm voice showed he had no intention of changing his mind. Cold sweat broke out on Secretary Kim’s back.

A message had arrived five minutes earlier: a high-ranking manager from a global outdoor company had arrived. Though he had come primarily to see the camper van, he clearly also intended to build ties with Lee Jun—rumored to be the successor of the Taekyum Group.

That was exactly why Lee Jun had made time in his schedule for today.

Secretary Kim’s insides were in knots.

“Yooa, look at me.”

Lee Jun called out to Yooa, who still refused to look at him.

“Are you very upset?”

The employees quietly rose from their seats around the oval conference table and stepped back to give them space.

Alone now in the meeting room, Lee Jun softly asked Yooa, who had tears welling in her eyes.

“What do you want me to do?”

“……”

“Tell me. Don’t just cry.”

If she would just say the word, he’d do anything.

He rested his chin on one arm and reached out with the other to gently wipe her wet eyes with his thumb.

“You haven’t done anything wrong. Lift your head, will you?”

If his tone had been cold or formal, her tears might’ve stopped. But because he spoke so gently—so unlike the way he treated others—Yooa found it harder to hold back.

“Still a crybaby, huh, Yoon Yooa? You’re still this tearful?”

She hadn’t cried this much since her father’s funeral.

He knew she was originally someone who cried easily, but at some point she had begun holding it in, determined to be strong.

But to Lee Jun, seeing her cry was better than her bottling it all up. He wanted her, at least, to be free to express her emotions.

“I’m scared… that because of me… the plans you and your employees worked so hard on might fall apart.”

“That won’t happen.”

His kind reassurance eased the sadness weighing on her heart.

Yooa messily wiped her tears with the back of her hand, then slowly shook her head. She was grateful for the hand that quietly patted her shoulder.

“If I apologize… will you hate it?”

“Yes.”

“If I say I’m sorry… is that not okay?”

“……Yeah.”

Her emotions had been shaken by words written by strangers she’d never even met.

Yooa looked up, blinking her wet eyes.

“Thank you.”

Thank you—for being here despite the important meeting, for catching her when she almost collapsed.

Lee Jun smiled faintly. Though she was still tearful, he admired how much stronger she had become.

Is this what it feels like to raise a child?

Lee Jun felt overwhelmed by the surprising, unfamiliar emotions Yooa stirred in him.

“Executive Director.”

Secretary Kim, who had been anxiously watching from outside, couldn’t take it anymore and knocked.

He’d told the sales manager to keep the overseas buyer occupied, but Lee Jun needed to show up eventually.

He politely said it was time to go, and Lee Jun calmly replied,

“Yooa is important to me, too. The contract has gone back and forth several times, and everything from percentages to timelines has been finalized. The sales team can handle the rest.”

“But…”

“Attacking Yooa is the same as attacking me—and by extension, the entire Taekyum Group.”

There was no way to argue with that. Secretary Kim had no choice but to back off.

Many people outside were waiting for Lee Jun. When Yooa quietly urged him to go, he tilted his head back and sighed.

“Ten minutes.”

Lee Jun instructed Secretary Kim to have the planning and legal teams go ahead and review the final contract. He would wrap things up here and be down in ten minutes to sign.

“Yes, sir.”

That was more than enough time to keep the overseas buyer occupied. Secretary Kim’s bloodless face regained some color.

As the black-suited employees filed out of the meeting room, silence fell.

“We’re proceeding with legal action. Submit the screenshots to the legal team.”

Yooa’s eyes widened at Lee Jun’s firm stance.

If a lawsuit was filed, the incident would inevitably go public. A drawn-out legal battle with uncertain outcomes terrified her.

“Don’t think you just have to endure it. The real victim here is Grip Company.”

He took her hand and placed it on his knee, saying he would track down the anonymous perpetrators and pursue legal measures.

Feeling the warmth of his large hand, Yooa finally nodded. There was no flaw in what he said.

“That’s great news, Ms. Yooa.”

After ending the video call and organizing the evidence, the meeting wrapped up.

Thanks to Lee Jun’s sharp and composed directions, everything moved quickly and smoothly.

Sung Han comforted her, saying things turned out well.

“The perpetrators need to know how vile and low their actions were. You made the right decision, Ms. Yooa.”

“Thank you for your help, Mr. Sung Han.”

Perhaps because Lee Jun was right there, Sung Han’s face turned red. He looked excited, like someone standing in front of a revered mentor or a movie star.

Lee Jun gave a dry laugh, perhaps mistaking Sung Han’s behavior for romantic interest.

“You two—this is your first time meeting, isn’t it?”

Seeing Lee Jun chew on his lower lip, Yooa quickly stood up from her seat. She moved so suddenly that her chair made a loud noise, drawing everyone’s attention.

Blushing, she turned to Lee Jun and shouted,

“It’s been ten minutes!”

“And?”

“Everyone’s waiting. Don’t you need to go?”

As if to shoo him away, she exchanged looks with Sung Han. Her intent was clear.

Lee Jun ran a hand along his sharp jawline in disbelief at her obvious expulsion order.

“Ha!”

Was she trying to cover for him? Since when were they so close?

The way she gestured for him to leave, as if she were protecting another man, irked him.

Lee Jun leaned in and whispered close to her ear:

“You want me to get lost?”