Translator: Elisia
Editor/Proofreader: Wojo
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“How about stopping now?”
“…….”
Choi Na-kyung quietly looked down at the table with her hands clasped together.
On the table, a mug was releasing steam.
It was a freshly brewed tea.
In fact, although she had never had a conversation long enough for the tea to completely cool, they had never jumped to the main point right after the tea was served either.
“I’m not sure what you mean. Stop what, exactly?”
Choi Na-kyung said, inserting her fingers into the handle of the teacup.
She lifted the warm mug and took a sip.
The bitter taste of the tea spread throughout her mouth.
Perhaps it had been brewed with water that was too hot, as it was slightly astringent.
However, the other person didn’t seem to have any intention of touching their teacup.
“It’s already a company that can’t be said to have a good image.”
But the person gave an answer that subtly sidestepped Choi Na-kyung’s question.
…This person had sided with Ye In-su when he was alive.
No, actually, most of the board members were still on Ye In-su’s side.
The group was established during his grandfather’s era and had been passed down since then.
It would be stranger if there weren’t people from his family around.
And to such people, it seemed that Choi Na-kyung was not considered part of the “Ye family.”
It was understandable.
She wasn’t blood-related, nor did she contribute to their bloodline.
She was merely an outsider, brought in as a stepmother at the request of the ex-wife.
There were long-time friends of Ye In-su on the board, and even some relatives.
It was fortunate that there were no siblings.
If there had been, Choi Na-kyung likely wouldn’t be in her current position.
“Even if the image isn’t good, there’s no other company like ours.”
Choi Na-kyung said, putting the teacup down.
That was the truth.
Perhaps not other companies within the Eugene Group, but the subject of the current conversation, Eugene Electronics, was different.
In a capitalist society, the fate of a company is entirely dependent on capital.
Of course, the person running the company is important, but whether that person can carry out all that they command hinges on that ‘capital.’
Manufacturing high-performance CPUs that other companies struggle to keep up with, releasing products with sleek designs admired by everyone, and ensuring those products sell well through marketing partnerships with celebrities.
All of these processes required ‘money.’
And the Eugene Group was a colossal company, both domestically and globally, with few rivals in terms of capital.
Such a company doesn’t collapse overnight just because of a bad ‘image.’
It’s more likely to fail due to poor investments.
“I don’t think that’s what I meant.”
And what you’re talking about isn’t quite what I meant either.
But she didn’t voice these thoughts.
Over the years, Choi Na-kyung had learned at least that she couldn’t always say whatever she wanted.
“Most of the management has been entrusted to the board, hasn’t it? Since that incident, I haven’t directly run this company, have I? All I’ve done is take the presentations you all prepared and deliver them.”
In reality, the image of ‘Choi Na-kyung’ herself wasn’t all that bad.
The rumors circulating were within ‘internal’ circles.
They didn’t extend beyond the upper class.
If they did, the Eugene Group would go out of its way to find out who spread them.
The patent-related incident had already been largely forgotten over time.
Besides, the lawsuit was company-to-company.
Even though Choi Na-kyung had pushed it with personal feelings, the company’s image suffered more than her personal image did.
Thus, to the public, Choi Na-kyung appeared quite ‘fine.’
A relatively young, undeniably beautiful person compared to other executives.
A person with that image, sitting firmly at the top of the company.
She was someone who ‘fit the trend,’ so to speak.
Even within the group, the presentations created by experts were grand and appealing.
And those presentations were delivered by a beautiful woman who was the company’s chairwoman.
Of course, the reactions were positive, although not without gossip.
There were rumors about her being a second wife, about how she became chairwoman because of that, and how she aimed for that position deliberately…
Choi Na-kyung laughed off such rumors.
Money wasn’t something she cared much about.
Money was just a means.
“And if the chairwoman’s image is ruined, the image of all those presentations is also ruined.”
“…….”
When a celebrity is scandalized and falls from grace, the products related to that celebrity often become the target of boycotts.
People film themselves destroying the products, advertisers cancel contracts, and apologies are posted on websites.
If the chairwoman were to go through that…
Well, maybe it wouldn’t be such a big deal.
Even in the worst-case scenario where the chairwoman ends up in prison, a company that has already dominantly captured the market isn’t easily shaken.
Even if the news makes a fuss, people who want to buy will still buy.
However, that depends on the ‘kind of crime.’
“Chairwoman, when was the last time you visited Sara?”
“…….”
Has it been about a month?
“Why are you asking such things? I thought you said you wouldn’t concern yourself with household matters.”
When he had spoken to Sara, Choi Na-kyung had been the one to step forward and protect her.
Not only him, but anyone who approached Sara with ulterior motives was Choi Na-kyung’s potential enemy.
She judged and acted accordingly.
“That’s correct. We tried to respect your wishes as much as possible.”
They only saw her as someone to raise the company’s heir safely.
But there was no need to say that.
Just as before, she knew what should be said and what shouldn’t.
…And the truth was, Ye In-su had brought her in as his second wife for that reason.
The two had never desired each other.
Ye In-su merely wanted someone to be the mother of his daughter, and Choi Na-kyung wanted to be… well, Sara’s…
“But recently, we’ve obtained information that we can no longer ignore.”
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t do any background checks?”
“We didn’t do any background checks. It would be more accurate to say that someone is deliberately sending us information.”
He said, handing over a file.
It wasn’t a particularly thick envelope.
Nor was it sealed.
But the fact that nothing was written on it felt unsettling.
“…….”
Choi Na-kyung took the envelope.
She opened it and checked the contents.
Inside were photographs.
Photos taken at regular intervals, at the same time each day.
These photos were densely printed over several sheets of A4 paper.
All of them were aimed at the front gate of the mansion.
Pictures of Sara going to school.
…Photos of her inviting friends over and leaving the house with them.
“What is this supposed to mean?”
Choi Na-kyung, trying her best to hide her agitation, tossed the file onto the table and asked.
It wasn’t that she was disturbed by the fact that the man had these photos.
Rather, she was shaken by the fact that Sara was living together with her friends.
But the man, who only thought in terms of money, would likely misinterpret her agitation.
“It’s just photos.”
“Out of all those photos, the chairwoman only appears in four. Based on when you entered and left, it seems you visited only twice.”
He sighed dramatically and said,
“Chairwoman, are you neglecting Sara?”
“…….”
Ah.
So that’s what he wanted to say.
“Where did these photos come from?”
“What will you do if I tell you? Will you sue the person to prevent them from taking photos like this again? Chairwoman, using such tactics too often can backfire. And you can’t always win against your opponent.”
“…….”
“And we don’t know either. We think it’s safer not to engage in any ‘illegal’ activities while gathering such information.”
More like, they just found the information useful for themselves.
“There are gaps between these photos.”
In the end, all Choi Na-kyung could do was offer this weak excuse.
“Are you saying you visited during those gaps?”
“…Yes.”
“I see.”
He didn’t seem convinced.
But it looked like he decided to believe it.
He probably thought it was more profitable to believe it than not to.
“In that case, why not bring Sara to the company sometime? Clear up any misunderstandings, and show her around. After all, she will eventually work here too.”
“…….”
Choi Na-kyung simply raised her teacup again without answering.