Corporate Villain
Copyright© 2025 by K.W
Chapter 5
Soon, Daeyoung’s control tower, the Strategic Planning Team, would be turned upside down.
This wasn’t the executive’s usual style.
But once he starts putting on the pressure, he tends to hold on until people are sick of it.
Manager Sohn, who knew the executive’s style, must have felt ignored or even offended and uncomfortable with such blunt words coming from the executive’s mouth. It was a big deal.
No matter how much Vice President Kang Young-jin had advanced in the succession race by strategically marrying Jo Yeon-hee, the director of Songam Art Hall, and becoming part of the VR Group, Executive Kang Moon-jung was the only true heir of Daeyoung.
Kang Ki-young, the great Chairman, was a long-time friend, in-law, and the former owner of Hanshin Newspaper, the late An Guk-hwan, who was Executive Kang Moon-jung’s maternal grandfather.
Even the current owner of Hanshin Newspaper, An Cheol-hyun, is Executive Kang Moon-jung’s maternal uncle.
Even though the current mistress of the Daeyoung family is Vice President Kang Young-jin’s biological mother, Koo Young-sook.
Even though Vice President Kang Young-jin is the son and older brother to Executive Kang Moon-jung.
There’s a reason he hasn’t been able to secure a clear advantage in the succession race, even after successfully making the VR Group part of his in-laws.
It was because of the Hanshin Daily, known to even make the Blue House tremble, supporting Executive Kang Moon-jung from outside Daeyoung Family.
Sure enough, not even ten minutes after Director Choi fled following the executive’s dismissal order, I received a call from Team Leader Son Jung-hyun.
And there was a noticeable change in the way he addressed me.
“Yes, I’ve taken the call, Team Leader.”
“Ah, Deputy Director Yoon. It’s me.”
He had started to speak to me in a semi-respectful tone.
There was no time to feel awkward about it.
I, too, was internally anxious about the strong stance Executive Kang had taken and the ripples it might cause.
“I just spoke with Director Choi ... Ah, this is really something. Sigh ... Um ... It seems there was some misunderstanding. Was the executive very displeased?”
Honestly, in this situation, I had no choice but to believe Team Leader Son’s words that there had been some misunderstanding.
There was no reason for Team Leader Son to be at odds with the executive.
His position wasn’t like that of other group executives who had to align with one side between the executive and the vice president.
Rather, as someone who served as the eyes and ears of the great chairman, Team Leader Son was the person who had to remain thoroughly neutral.
And now, more than ever, I needed Team Leader Son’s presence.
Because he was the one who served the great chairman at the closest quarters.
“Yes, right now he’s quite ... downcast.”
“What exactly did Director Choi do there?”
“He just told me that you would contact me separately soon, and that as of this time today, he would be taking over my duties as the executive’s personal assistant.”
“A notification?”
“Yes.”
Team Leader Son’s stifled sigh came through from the other end of the phone.
“Deputy Director Yoon. Don’t misunderstand and listen to me.”
I had every intention of believing him.
Just the fact that he had called gave me so much strength.
“Yes, of course.”
“Today, I had a lot of instructions from the great chairman. There was a lot to proceed with all at once. It might sound like an excuse, but I thought the executive and you, Deputy Director Yoon, were aware of the personnel being sent from the secretariat to replace you in your duties. This morning, the chairman, the executive, and you, Deputy Director Yoon, you all saw the great chairman together.”
“Yes.”
“I thought that the matter had been discussed and concluded before I entered.”
Team Leader Son’s tone carried a strong urgency, as if he needed me to believe every word he said.
At the same time, I realized that if I could just calm the executive, this matter could be quietly settled between Team Leader Son and me.
-Deputy Director Yoon’s transfer to the trading division, and that ... the relationship with the Executive Director. That part naturally requires a delicate approach, so it’s true I couldn’t even mention it to Chief Chu.
“Perhaps Chief Chu thought I was being demoted, something like that.”
-I’ll discipline Chief Chu as soon as I return.
No.
What’s important to me now is not the disciplinary action against someone like Chief Chu.
It was a golden opportunity to share secrets with Team Leader Son, the closest aide to the Chairman.
Sharing secrets?
Isn’t it more important that we’re in a relationship where we can share such things?
For now, I’ll provide Team Leader Son with everything he needs within my capabilities.
“No, why go as far as discipline for such a matter? Please don’t do that. Instead, Team Leader.”
-Yes.
“The matter related to the trading division. May I ask in advance how it’s going?”
-Well, that’s now...
“I know it’s confidential, but after all, I’m the person involved. I’m not going to go around blabbing before an official decision is made.”
Earlier, Chief Chu used the term ‘waiting for orders.’
Not a standby order, but waiting for orders.
It means the place for the order has already been decided, and we’re just looking at the timing.
-It’s in progress. This too is confidential, only conveyed to President Min Byung-jin of the trading division, and once a decision is made regarding the current head of the European division, we’ll proceed immediately.
Done!
Trading division confirmed!
Before I knew it, Team Leader Son’s semi-formal speech had turned into proper honorifics.
“I see. Yes, I understand. Is there anything else I need to know?”
-It seems the Chairman rushed Deputy Director Yoon’s order waiting because of tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow morning?
What does that mean?
-The Chairman, I mean. I naturally thought the Executive Director or Deputy Director would be aware, so I proceeded. But since you didn’t know, I’m sharing my thoughts. With your current duties, you’ll have to go back to Pyeongchang-dong tomorrow morning. It must have been judged that it would be uncomfortable for both parties. So, it seems the Chairman hurriedly asked to find a replacement for your duties, so please understand that’s what I meant.
“I understand. Thank you, Team Leader.”
-The matter regarding Chief Chu was indeed my mistake. I apologize once again.
“Chief Chu. He’s a capable person. Even if you scold him sharply, please don’t complicate things with discipline. I’ll find the right opportunity to attach a flexible story for the Executive Director.”
-Thank you.
An hour had passed when the call came from the executive office.
“Sit down.”
Before I even arrived, the executive was already seated in the prime spot on the sofa.
Watching my expression as I took my seat, the executive asked,
“Are you okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“That person from the group secretariat who came by.”
“Oh, that?”
“Do they always lack manners like that?”
I just smiled.
After a pause, the executive inquired again,
“Or is it the position of Deputy Director Yoon in the secretariat?”
“It’s true that the friend’s character isn’t particularly good, and it’s also true that there’s no place for me in the group secretariat.”
The executive exhaled through his nose in frustration and crossed his arms in front of his chest.
“You have a schedule this evening, right?”
“You’re supposed to attend the hotel executives’ dinner by 6 o’clock.”
“Director Im Ki-joon will attend in my stead.”
“It’s an event organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Wouldn’t it be better if you showed up in person?”
“Grandfather’s call.”
There’s nothing to say to that.
“In a little while, someone from the group secretariat will come up again.”
It was the expected course of action.
“You already know you have to wait for your orders, and you said you spoke with Team Leader Son earlier, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then there’s no need for a long explanation. Think of the past three years and three months as unused vacation time. At most, it’ll be a week.”
“Shouldn’t I at least hand over my duties to my successor?”
“Of course. Who said to vacate my seat right now? You have one day to pass on what needs to be passed on, so Deputy Director Yoon can give you a bit of mental training, so I don’t have to bother explaining myself.”
“Yes, I will do that.”
“Here, take this.”
A Porsche car key was placed on the table.
“It should be parked at the Sogong-dong branch. You know where I usually park it, right?”
“Yes.”
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