Chapter 16
Irritating.
“I’ve been going in and out of the Taehwa household for over ten years. Of course I’ve wanted the Executive Director for myself!”
So irritating!
Serin bit her lip. Wasn’t that woman supposedly one of Seungjo’s subordinates?
Serin had fallen for Seungjo at first sight during a piano recital years ago. Since then, she’d often found herself thinking of him.
Even from a distance, her heart would race and she’d desire him. So what must it have been like for a woman who got to see him up close every day?
“People like that who don’t know their place—ugh!”
Serin snapped in frustration. Even after leaving Cheongdam-dong and arriving at Seongjin Group’s headquarters, her mind was consumed by thoughts of Seungjo.
Just then, her father, Chairman Kang Jichan, also arrived and parked his car in the underground lot. The chauffeur opened the door, and Serin walked over to her father’s car.
“Dad!”
“My beautiful Serin! You were grumpy this morning and rushed off to the salon. What’s going on?”
Chairman Kang buttoned his suit jacket and frowned.
“Tsk, is that the face of a woman who’s about to become Taehwa Group’s daughter-in-law? You need to take better care of yourself if you want to stay in Executive Director Tae’s good graces!”
“Dad, it’s driving me crazy!”
“What does my precious Serin have to worry about?”
As if she had been waiting for it, Serin clung to Jichan’s arm and said,
“I think some bug has latched onto the Executive Director!”
Haejoo stepped off the bus and approached her home, holding a shopping bag.
She had received a text that the custom tie pin she’d ordered weeks ago was finally ready. So right after work, she had stopped by the store to pick it up.
But the excitement she had felt while waiting for the gift was now gone without a trace.
Haejoo had once been thrilled at the thought of what kind of expression Seungjo would make upon seeing the initials of his and his mother’s names engraved on the tie pin.
She had really wanted to give this gift to the Executive Director…
But now she let out a long, disappointed sigh. It wasn’t right to give a gift like this to a man who was already engaged. It was a gift that came too late.
“Sun Haejoo!”
She was walking up the stairs to her villa, imagining Seungjo wearing the tie pin, when a man suddenly blocked her path.
Haejoo’s face hardened immediately.
“You yelled at me, saying you didn’t have a cent to buy your uncle a suit, and now you’re out shopping? Shooopping?”
It was her uncle, Manchul, who had been hiding in the building wearing a blue jumper, waiting for her. Haejoo quickly tried to hide the bag behind her thigh, but Manchul’s greedy hands were faster.
“This is designer stuff, isn’t it?”
“I bought it with my own salary. I don’t have any money for you!”
“Funny how you don’t think it’s a waste to spend on yourself, but it’s too much to give me, huh?”
Haejoo snatched the bag from his hands and clutched it to her chest. She glared fiercely, but Manchul just chuckled as if being generous.
“Gwangsik’s going to treat us after the wedding. Last time, I had to show up to your wedding like a drowned rat because you wouldn’t give me a measly million won. Do I have to go to this reunion wearing this shabby jumper too?”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“What do you mean? This whole meeting is for your benefit! One of the guys runs a sundae soup restaurant, and his son saw your photo and started drooling. He’s desperate to hold your hand!”
Manchul cackled with his greasy face.
“So I’m trying to dress up and go out there looking presentable, set you up with him! Now give me some mon—”
Haejoo bit her lip and brushed past him. But Manchul, used to these situations, didn’t give up so easily.
“You bitch! Ignoring your uncle again?”
He violently grabbed Haejoo’s arm as she tried to escape.
“Ungrateful brat! You think you got into Taehwa Group on your own? It’s because of me!”
“What are you talking about?”
“I was working as a gardener at the Taehwa estate! That’s why they looked at you favorably and picked you out from all the other applicants!”
“I got that job through my own effort! It had nothing to do with you. So give it back and leave!”
“You little—!”
SMACK—!
Manchul’s toad-like hand slapped Haejoo across the face. She staggered and fell from the impact.
“Ah…”
Haejoo bit her lip hard to endure the immense pain. She was used to this. Even from a young age, Manchul had hit her and cursed at her, and she had learned to endure it in silence.
“I’m the one who introduced you to Madam Hong Na-ae so you could massage her legs! And you can’t even give me something this small?”
“Give it back. It’s not yours!”
Her voice rose as she shouted at him. Unbothered, Manchul opened the shopping bag again without shame.
“What the—? This isn’t even for you? Don’t tell me you’ve got a man?”
His eyes landed on the sleek tie pin meant for Seungjo. Manchul tossed the bag aside and ripped open the box.
“I thought you were some naive virgin who’s never even held a guy’s hand, and now look at you!”
“Give it back!”
“Who is he? How much money does he have? Is his family rich?”
Like a bloodhound smelling money, Manchul fired off questions.
“Well, I mean, look at my niece! She’s so pretty. It’d be weird if no man had come sniffing around!”
“Please, just go…”
“Who’s your boyfriend?”
“He’s not my boyfriend! It’s not like that!”
“Not like that? Then what kind of idiot buys a gift this expensive on a tiny salary?”
He stormed toward her again, and Haejoo clenched her teeth. She didn’t even want to say Seungjo’s name in front of Manchul.
“Tell me who he is!”
“No.”
She reached for the shopping bag, trying to take it from him.
“You’ve always been such a stubborn bitch!”
Manchul raised his hand again, more violently than before. Haejoo braced herself, knowing how quickly his violence could escalate.
She instinctively shut her eyes.
“Executive Director Tae Seungjo of Taehwa Group’s Strategy Planning Division.”
“…!”
At the calm sound of approaching footsteps, both Manchul and Haejoo froze.
“Do you like my introduction?”
Haejoo’s eyes flew open.
Standing there casually with both hands in his pockets was Seungjo.
“E-Executive Director…!”
Manchul was just as shocked. All the swagger and intimidation he had before evaporated, and his face stiffened in panic.
“Why… why are you here, sir…?”
“Kwak here was crying and screaming, asking who the shopping bag belonged to.”
Seungjo’s cold eyes drifted from Manchul’s hidden hand to the shopping bag on the floor.
“Gasp…”
Realizing the situation, Manchul drew in a shaky breath.
They were now in Haejoo’s small living room. She watched in silence as her uncle sat there, pale and dazed.
This was the one thing she never wanted Seungjo to witness.
“Mr. Kwak Manchul.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
“From now on, I’ll give you the money.”
“Pardon…?”
Sitting on the leather sofa, Seungjo spoke arrogantly. Haejoo, who had been staring at the floor, snapped her head up.
“If you need money, come to me.”
“Executive Director!”
Haejoo cried out in shock. She already hated that Seungjo had seen this. Now, money was involved too?
But Seungjo didn’t budge. His eyes flicked to Haejoo’s swollen cheek. Then, he pulled out his phone, opened a luxury catalog, and tossed it onto the table.
“You think thermal underwear is enough? Pick something nicer.”
“Executive Director, this is…”
Manchul swallowed hard. His eyes trembled as he scanned the catalog.
“This is just a small token of appreciation for the joy I’ve had spending time with Haejoo.”
“A small token…?”
A small token? Manchul’s eyes gleamed red with excitement. It was a spread of VVIP luxury items—cars, clothing, watches.
When his greedy fingers hovered over a multimillion-won sports car, Haejoo clenched her jaw in dread.
