How a Salaryman Became an Underworld Boss

I had bought Hangang Group’s company residence to open a restaurant for my mother. After preparing all the documents required to transfer ownership, I handed them over to Chief Secretary Kang Inhan. But before we could open the restaurant, the entire interior had to be remodeled. That was exactly what Mom and I were discussing now.

“Jiham, when can we start the renovations?”

“The paperwork is being processed right now, so you can start anytime.”

“Really? What company should we hire for the interior work?”

Converting a residential house into a restaurant wasn’t a particularly large project. So I had planned to hire some local construction company. However, Chief Secretary Song Dosok unexpectedly said that he would have Hangang Construction handle the renovation. I politely declined, explaining that there was no need for that, but he refused to listen.

“Looks like we’ll have to leave it to Hangang Construction after all.”

“Is it really necessary to bring in such a large company for such a small renovation?”

“I completely agree with you, Mom, but Mr. Song seems to think otherwise.”

“Why is he being so stubborn about it?”

“He says it’s basically after-sales service for the company residence.”

“Oh, honestly!” Mom sighed, shaking her head at the absurdity of it all.

“A representative from Hangang Construction will contact you next week. Meet with them and discuss what you want the interior to look like.”

“All right, we’ll do that. But what about the renovation costs?”

“Hangang Construction’s proposal already answers that question.”

“Don’t tell me they’re doing it for free. Tell Mr. Song we can’t accept that.”

“I tried, but he said the renovation costs were already included in the purchase price of the house.”

“You said yourself that you bought the house below market price! We absolutely have to pay for the renovations.”

“I completely support your decision, Mom.”

After answering Mom, I turned to Cha Hyeonji.

“We’re planning to post a recruitment notice for new employees next week.”

“I know.”

I had only received the recruitment schedule from Director Heo Yeongjin the day before yesterday. Yet somehow, Hyeonji already knew this brand-new information. I couldn’t help asking where she’d heard it.

“Sola told me.”

“Manager Yun?”

“What? Wasn’t it you who told her?”

“Why would I tell her that?”

“True... But then how did she find out about the recruitment?”

Yun Sola had definitely gotten the information either from Director Heo Yeongjin or Team Leader Woo Changhun. But I saw no reason to share my suspicions with Hyeonji.

“How should I know? Just keep this in mind: I have absolutely no intention of interfering in the recruitment process.”

“I wasn’t planning to take advantage of your position.”

“I certainly hope not. Mom, I’m going up to my room.”

As soon as I got upstairs, the first thing I did was call Yun Sola. After several rings, her cheerful voice came through the phone.

[Wow, long time no see! Did you miss me and decide to call?]

If I answered honestly, she was guaranteed to get upset. And if that happened, there would be no way I’d get the information I wanted out of her. As much as I disliked being deceptive, I’d have to resort to a little white lie.

“Well, that’s part of it.”

[Really?]

“Of course. But tell me honestly, do you really intend to join KBH Investment?”

[As if you don’t already know!]

“The recruitment process will be conducted through blind screening, so there are no guarantees. You might not make it.”

[I’m not much of a gambler, but if Mr. Director wants to make a bet, I’d be delighted.]

Yun Sola had graduated from Harvard with a master’s degree in Business Administration. She was fluent in six languages, including English, and had demonstrated outstanding professional skills while working at Hangang Group. For KBH Investment, letting a specialist like her slip away would be nothing but a loss. And she knew that perfectly well, which was why she sounded so confident.

“I’m not stupid enough to make that bet.”

[Aw, and I had such a great chance to rub it in your face! What a shame.]

“Still, who leaked the recruitment information to you?”

[You suspect...]

I immediately understood why she’d stopped halfway through her sentence.

“Yes, exactly them.”

[I’m sorry to disappoint you, but Director Heo and Team Leader Woo didn’t do anything wrong, so don’t even think about giving them a hard time.]

“Then who did you hear it from?”

[Hee-hee-hee. Nope, I’m not telling you. Sorry! All right, bye!]

Click.

Sola unilaterally hung up on me.

“Who the hell leaked the information?”

Bzzzt.

Just as I flopped onto the bed in frustration, the phone in my hand vibrated briefly. Looking at the screen, I saw a message from Lee Ujin.

Lee Ujin: We should grab a drink sometime.

Cha Jiham: Just the two of us?

Lee Ujin: Yeah, dream on!

It was an obvious hint that we’d be meeting with Tracy and Gloria as well. I happened to have something I needed to discuss with them, so the invitation came at the perfect time.

Cha Jiham: I’m coming at the speed of light.

***

When I opened the door to a restaurant specializing in grilled pork belly, I spotted Lee Ujin. He was sitting by the window, waving to show me where he was. I walked over and sat down.

“Where are Tracy and Gloria?”

“They’re almost here. Hey, why have you been so busy lately?”

The moment I’d returned from my business trip to China, I’d flown straight to Switzerland. Throughout that time, Ujin had kept messaging me and asking how things were going. I couldn’t tell him what I’d actually been doing, so I’d brushed him off by saying I was extremely busy. Apparently, that had made him curious.

“What else would a businessman be busy with?”

“So it’s really just business? Why did I even bother asking... Whatever. Let’s order some drinks.”

“Sure.”

Just as Ujin placed the order, the restaurant door opened and Tracy and Gloria walked in. Every customer in the restaurant immediately turned to stare at them. Ignoring everyone else, the two women headed straight for our table. We stood up to greet them.

“Tracy, Gloria, it’s good to see you.”

“We’re very happy to see you too!”

“Have a seat.”

As though she’d been waiting for those exact words, Tracy immediately sat down beside me. After a moment’s hesitation, Gloria sat beside Lee Ujin. I turned to her.

“How is Chairman Gomez doing?”

“Thanks to Mr. Director burying him up to his neck in work, he doesn’t have a single free minute these days.”

Former high-ranking CIA official Michael Hayden had been supplying drugs from North Korea and distributing them throughout the United States through the Lucino mafia family in Philadelphia. After obtaining that information, I’d asked Chairman Gomez to deal with the family. He had carried out a joint operation with the military and successfully wiped them out. I hadn’t asked him for anything since then, yet Gloria was claiming he was swamped with work because of me. I cautiously asked,

“What exactly happened?”

“You were the one who handed Grandpa everything related to Antonio.”

Antonio had supplied drugs to gangs in major cities throughout the United States. Apparently, the U.S. government had asked the Gomez family for help eliminating all those gangs in one fell swoop. No wonder the Chairman was running himself ragged.

“Ah, now I understand.”

“Who’s Antonio?” Ujin immediately asked, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

No matter how close we were as friends, I couldn’t tell him the truth. While I desperately tried to come up with a lie, the server brought over the soju and side dishes one after another. Seizing the opportunity, I picked up the bottle and poured Ujin a drink. He, in turn, filled the glasses for me, Tracy, and Gloria, and we clinked glasses to celebrate getting together.

“I feel a little dizzy... It must be because I drank on an empty stomach,” Tracy drawled.

I could see right through her. She was blatantly hinting that she wouldn’t mind spending a wild night together after we finished drinking. I wasn’t opposed to the idea myself, but definitely not right now.

“Eat some of the side dishes and you’ll feel better.”

“Mr. Director, do people often tell you that you’re completely hopeless at taking hints?”

“Ha-ha-ha. Well, I don’t know about that,” I chuckled awkwardly before continuing. “Tracy, before we get too caught up in drinking, let’s talk about work for a moment.”

“Go ahead.”

“Team Leader Woo Changhun told me that both of you want to work in the secretariat. I’m very sorry, but that’s impossible.”

“And why is that?” Tracy asked, obvious displeasure in her voice.

Still, I was absolutely certain I could convince her, so I wasn’t worried in the slightest.

“Our company is still small, and we don’t plan to expand the secretariat staff anytime soon.”

“But the company is guaranteed to grow!”

“Of course. But even if new positions open up, there still won’t be places there for the two of you.”

“Give me even one convincing reason!”

“Using specialists with your level of education as ordinary secretaries would simply be a waste of talent.”

“But secretaries can be entrusted with important tasks too!”

“You have one major disadvantage for that—you aren’t perfectly fluent in Korean.”

“Then we’ll learn!” Tracy grumbled stubbornly, pursing her lips.

At that point, I decided to give a little ground.

“Once you pass Level 1 of the Korean proficiency exam, I’ll consider assigning you to the secretariat.”

“All right, I understand.”

“I sincerely hope you pass the exam as soon as possible.”

“Don’t worry. I will.”

Gloria joined the conversation.

“Mr. Director, then which department would be best for Tracy and me?”

“KBH is a joint venture established by Korea Investment, Bongard Investment Group, and Hangang Group. We have around a hundred employees who transferred over from Bongard Group. I’d like the two of you to work with them.”

“But they’re experienced investment-industry sharks! Compared to them, we barely have any experience at all. We can’t work alongside them while getting criticized all the time.”

’Hmm... She has a point.’

After quickly coming up with a solution in my head, I continued,

“What about a department responsible for overseeing the employees who transferred from Bongard Group?”

“Is that even possible?”

“Tracy is Chairman Bongard’s granddaughter. And you, Gloria, are the granddaughter of Chairman Gomez, his close friend. The two of you have more than enough authority for that kind of work.”

“Can you give us some time to think about it?”

“Of course. Take your time and let Team Leader Woo Changhun know your decision.”

“Deal.”

“That’s everything I wanted to discuss. Now let’s relax and enjoy ourselves properly!”

We continued drinking and making toasts when Ujin suddenly asked,

“Gloria, Tracy, have you decided where you’re going to live?”

“We decided to stay at the Hangang Hotel for the foreseeable future.”

“Wait... You two aren’t sharing a room, are you?”

“Why would we? By the way, since we’re on the subject, would you like to come see my room tonight?” Tracy offered.

Ujin immediately stared at me. Understanding his silent hint, I answered without hesitation.

“Absolutely not.”

“Why?”

“Hangang Hotel belongs to the Hangang Group conglomerate. If I keep going there all the time, nasty rumors will start spreading among the employees immediately.”

“But you’d just be coming to visit me!”

“The hotel staff don’t know what kind of relationship we have.”

“Hmm... You have a point.”

“Maybe we should stay at another hotel tonight?”

“Sounds good!” Tracy replied with a radiant smile as she rose from her seat.