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Chapter 7: I Don’t Want Other Men Seeing It
“You really do lie every time you open your mouth. Fire the chefs or don’t, do whatever you want. I have no intention of getting dragged into this any further.”
A-ryeon grabbed her bag, opened the door, and left the room. As soon as she stepped outside, she found Chief Secretary Jeong standing there.
He already knew about all this, didn’t he?
Seeing the expression on A-ryeon’s face, Chief Secretary Jeong offered an awkward smile. Fortunately, he hadn’t heard any loud shouting from inside, so at least they hadn’t overturned the table.
A-ryeon headed straight for the elevator. Shortly afterward, Do-hyeon emerged from the room.
“Sir, did she hit you at all?”
“Fortunately, no.”
Do-hyeon replied with a nonchalant, mocking smile.
“Tell the security team currently assigned here to keep their eyes on Lee A-ryeon. Also, tell them that if any man so much as tries something with her, I won’t let him get away with it.”
“Pardon?”
“The same goes for you, Chief Secretary Jeong.”
Do-hyeon immediately went after A-ryeon. Although Chief Secretary Jeong had no idea what was going on, he promptly relayed Do-hyeon’s orders to the other security guards.
A-ryeon was standing in front of the elevator. Just as she was about to step into the elevator that had arrived, someone blocked her way, accompanied by the heavy sound of approaching footsteps.
She looked up along a broad chest and found herself staring at Do-hyeon.
Startled, A-ryeon tried to take a step back, but his thick arm wrapped around her waist, preventing her from retreating.
“What are you doing right now?!”
“I don’t mind seeing it myself, but I don’t want other men seeing it. Keep it on until you get home.”
Do-hyeon’s touch silenced A-ryeon before she could say anything more. He carefully wrapped the scarf around her neck and adjusted it neatly.
She had been so distracted that she had completely forgotten she had taken it off before leaving.
“You look pretty.”
After tying the scarf, Do-hyeon gave its end a light tug, seemingly satisfied with his handiwork.
At his touch, A-ryeon held her breath.
Because Do-hyeon had moved so close to her, a strange tension hung between them, carrying an almost sensual undertone.
A-ryeon felt awkward and had no idea where to look, yet the man before her remained infuriatingly composed. She was reluctant to meet his eyes, and it was all because of that gaze. His sharp eyes seemed capable of seeing straight through her, stirring unfamiliar feelings within her.
Just as the tension reached its peak, the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.
“Security team, Section A. Come out.”
At Do-hyeon’s command, a security guard opened the door of a nearby room and stepped out.
“Escort her to the taxi stand downstairs. I’d like to tell you to take her all the way home, but I’m afraid she’ll refuse again and wear herself out arguing with you.”
After giving the order, Do-hyeon turned his gaze toward A-ryeon and smiled at her.
“Well then, I look forward to hearing your clever answer.”
His hand finally withdrew from her, and he turned around and walked away.
A-ryeon stepped into the elevator with the security guard, her eyes following Do-hyeon’s retreating figure until the doors closed.
In the back seat of a moving car, Do-hyeon sat with his eyes closed, looking exhausted.
A month had already passed since then.
“We don’t know what Hyeonseong might try next, so keep a close eye on them.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll look into the situation and report back to you.”
Do-hyeon furrowed his brows and rubbed his forehead.
Hyeonseong Corporation, the company his firm had recently been preparing to acquire, had suddenly raised a series of ridiculous objections to a deal that was practically finalized. The dispute had escalated all the way to court.
The ruling had gone in Do-hyeon’s favor, but the legal battle had taken longer than planned and become a headache. He had just finished receiving a briefing on Hyeonseong Corporation.
Although Do-hyeon was the son of a chaebol family, DH Partners, where he currently served as CEO, was not a business he had built with the help of his father, Chairman Cha of the Hayeong Group.
Cha Do-hyeon, CEO of DH Partners, was famous for his impressive background as the eldest son of the Hayeong Group. However, he had made his own fortune through his exceptional abilities rather than relying on his family name.
At thirty-five, Do-hyeon was already leading the nation’s number-one investment fund. He had entered Harvard Business School early and graduated ahead of schedule, having also completed high school at a young age.
The United States was the most advanced market for private equity investment strategies, and attracting foreign capital often depended on networks built through overseas education or professional experience.
For that reason, after graduating from university and completing his military service, Do-hyeon had joined a global financial firm to hone his skills.
He returned to Korea in his late twenties and established DH Partners. In just seven years, he had accomplished the remarkable feat of turning it into the country’s leading investment firm.
His assets under management had now surpassed five trillion won.
People assumed Do-hyeon had traveled along a smooth, well-paved road to success. In reality, everything he had achieved had been an enormous gamble.
After all, in business, just as in any other endeavor, investing time, effort, and money did not guarantee an equivalent return.
Moreover, because Do-hyeon was already known as the only son of the Hayeong Group, people had not reacted kindly when they learned that he intended to establish his own company instead of preparing to inherit the family business.
Most people either sneered at him for being a clueless young master who had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth at the age of fifteen, or watched him with sharp, judgmental eyes, eager to see whether he would actually amount to anything.
But such gossip came from people who knew nothing of Do-hyeon’s courage and determination.
When Chairman Cha first heard about Do-hyeon’s plans, he had reluctantly given his permission with considerable reservations. However, three years after the company’s establishment, he had no choice but to acknowledge his son’s abilities.
At the same time, Chairman Cha couldn’t help worrying about how hard Do-hyeon must have worked and struggled to achieve everything on his own. His son rarely revealed his true feelings, and the thought of how much he might have endured alone weighed on the chairman’s heart.
As a result, no employee at the company could afford to look down on Do-hyeon simply because of his age.
“Today’s the day, isn’t it? The chairman summoned you?”
“Yes. We’re on our way to his residence now.”
“Ha…”
Do-hyeon let out a short sigh and took a cigarette case from inside his jacket. He placed a cigarette between his lips and lit it.
When he rolled down the car window, the spring breeze of April swept sharply across his cheek. Despite it being April, the night air was cold. His glossy hair fluttered softly in the wind.
He was glad to see his mother, Mrs. Lee, for the first time in a while. However, he was less than pleased to learn that three unwelcome guests would be there as well.
They were the family of Do-hyeon’s paternal uncle, Chairman Cha’s younger brother. His uncle was currently the president of Hayeong Foods, a subsidiary of the Hayeong Group, while his cousin, Cha In-uk, served as an executive director at the same company.
The two had a knack for getting involved in all sorts of unsavory, disgraceful affairs and tarnishing the reputation of the Hayeong Group.
In Do-hyeon’s eyes, they seemed almost desperate to drag their own family name through the mud.
His uncle and In-uk were relatively simple-minded, and their actions were easy to predict. His aunt, however, was different.
Mrs. Song had always struck Do-hyeon as vaguely unsettling. He even suspected that she might be more calculating than the two men.
The thought of what sort of nonsense he would have to endure today was already giving him a headache. He crushed the cigarette filter between his teeth as though trying to grind it to pieces, smoking in silence.
The car carrying Do-hyeon arrived at Chairman Cha’s family residence. Judging by the cars already parked outside, his uncle, aunt, and In-uk had arrived ahead of him.
After getting out of the car, Do-hyeon used the personal care products kept inside the vehicle to freshen up and remove the smell of cigarette smoke.
His mother, Mrs. Lee, knew that he smoked whenever things weren’t going well, and he didn’t want to cause her unnecessary worry.
“Young Master, you’re here!”
As Do-hyeon opened the front door and stepped inside, Chief Secretary Oh greeted him warmly. She served as Mrs. Lee’s secretary as well as the household manager.
Every aspect of the household’s operations passed through Chief Secretary Oh. From the maids and chefs to even the gardeners, everyone had been hired only after going through her interview process.
Furthermore, ever since Do-hyeon had been adopted, Chief Secretary Oh had cared for him almost as devotedly as Mrs. Lee herself, treating him like her own son.
“Have you been well, Chief Secretary Oh?”
“Yes, I have. But you seem to have lost some weight, Young Master. Work is important, of course, but please take it a little easier and get some rest now and then.”
At her concerned words, Do-hyeon offered a faint smile and nodded.
“The chairman and madam are inside, along with President Cha and his wife, as well as Young Master In-uk.”
Chief Secretary Oh immediately led Do-hyeon toward the living room. She knocked on the door, opened it, and ushered him inside.
As soon as Do-hyeon entered, Mrs. Lee rose from her seat to welcome him.
“Son, why is it so difficult to see your face these days? I know you’re busy, but you should come home more often. You never show up unless your mother specifically tells you to!”
Mrs. Lee affectionately patted Do-hyeon on the back, careful not to hit him too hard.
“I had several overseas business trips back to back this time. I’m sorry I couldn’t visit more often.”
“Still, you should at least call your mother. She’s been very worried about you.”
Chairman Cha, seated at the head of the table, looked at Do-hyeon as he spoke.
“Yes. Have you been well too, Father?”
“Honestly, raising a son is like serving a king. I have to practically beg you to show me the slightest bit of respect!”
Although Chairman Cha grumbled, the corners of his mouth lifted. Deep down, he was delighted to see his son again after such a long time.
Overjoyed, Mrs. Lee repeatedly stroked her son’s arm. Do-hyeon was not the sort of son who showered her with affection like a daughter might, but in her presence, he was no longer the cold private equity executive, Cha Do-hyeon. Instead, he became a gentle, obedient son.
When Do-hyeon’s biological father had entrusted him to Chairman Cha and his wife, Do-hyeon had been in a terrible state, both physically and emotionally. He had refused to let anyone get close to him.
Mrs. Lee, his adoptive mother, had worked hard to earn his trust. She treated him as her own biological son and gave him the warmth and affection he needed.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the man Do-hyeon had become was, in large part, the result of her efforts.
“Come and sit down. Your uncle, aunt, and In-uk are here too.”
At Mrs. Lee’s words, Do-hyeon shifted his gaze to the three people seated directly opposite Chairman Cha.
In-uk and his parents watched Do-hyeon like spectators, their expressions devoid of genuine emotion. Only the corners of their mouths were raised in faint, impassive smiles.
In-uk rose from his seat and approached Do-hyeon.
“It’s been a while, hyung.”
With a bright smile that gave no indication of whether he was genuinely pleased to see Do-hyeon or merely wary of him, he extended his hand.
