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Chapter 2
‘Of all things… he just had to press the Vice President’s trigger button.’
Before Seol Tae-geon became Vice President, the aging board directors used to sneer at his temper, dismissing it crudely as nothing more than “pent-up frustration.”
They hadn’t realized then that the tiger had simply been keeping his claws sheathed.
Upon assuming the role of Vice President, Tae-geon wasted no time. Every director who had made sexually harassing remarks was disciplined and dragged into legal proceedings.
There was no compromise in Seol Tae-geon’s path. Only stubbornness. Only authority.
As expected, one of his eyebrows shot upward like a blade drawn on edge.
「What did you just say?」
The icy glare in Tae-geon’s eyes made David Young flinch.
The Korean man’s sheer size alone was oppressive. Years of boxing at all hours had stretched his suit tight across his shoulders, giving him the frame of a fighter.
Expressionless, Seol Tae-geon looked down at the much smaller man—his gaze that of a prizefighter eyeing prey. David Young shrank even further into his own skin.
He might not have understood the Korean words, but he wasn’t stupid. He could sense danger in the air.
「I—I was only joking…」
The man stammered.
But Tae-geon’s expression only darkened further at the excuse.
“That’s a filthy excuse for humor.”
His voice was low, edged with disdain.
Seol Tae-geon never cared for the opinions of others. That was precisely why Han Bom, once the chairman’s secretary, had been assigned to him.
‘I trust Secretary Han’s talent—she can even make peace with her enemies.’
Five long years had passed since she was ordered to shadow this man bristling with spines like a porcupine.
Through countless near-catastrophes, she had managed to contain him.
But even she couldn’t see a way out of this.
And if things continued as they were, the entire partnership project with Lugal could collapse.
‘I can’t let that happen.’
Weeks of preparation by the planning team and secretariat—wasted? Impossible.
Yet before she could intervene, David Young made it worse.
「What, you mean I can’t even joke?」
And then, raising his voice indignantly—
「You’re nothing but a small, pathetic Asian!」
The room froze. Everyone stared in disbelief. His own colleagues gaped at him, horrified.
Seol Tae-geon’s brows furrowed, his expression twisting with cold fury.
「David Young of Lugal, a global perfume brand… openly disparaging Asians? Am I to consider this the official stance of Lugal itself?」
His voice was frighteningly calm, making the air grow colder still.
David Young tried not to tremble, but the sight of veins bulging against Tae-geon’s clenched fist made it impossible to ignore. Still, as a Lugal executive, he couldn’t allow himself to be cowed by “an Asian.”
Chin raised, he sneered.
「Do you think threats will work on me? If this deal falls through, it’s Ato Beauty that will be left begging, not Lugal.」
Han Bom’s brows twitched.
‘Shut up, you bastard.’
For once, she wanted nothing more than to slap the arrogance off his face. The fact that Tae-geon was holding himself back seemed miraculous.
‘No, this will get out of hand.’
Quickly, she slipped out her phone and fired off a message to someone before stepping between the two men.
“Vice President, please calm yourself. The others will be arriving shortly.”
Her voice cut through the tension. Tae-geon’s iron jaw loosened, just a fraction, as though her words were a sedative seeping into him.
David Young noticed. His fear curdled into something else—interest.
The pair before him looked like predator and handler. If she stayed at his side, surely Seol Tae-geon wouldn’t dare act rashly.
「For Miss Han’s sake, I’ll overlook this. Don’t worry. I’ll forgive what just happened.」
His hot breath brushed against her ear as he leaned close. Disgust rippled through her, but she forced her face to remain neutral as she turned—
“…Ah?”
Suddenly, Seol Tae-geon’s eyes narrowed. His hand shot out, catching Han Bom’s wrist and pulling her back—
Then, in a blur, he shoved her safely behind him.
Her view filled with the sight of his broad back.
The next instant, David Young was screaming.
Tae-geon had twisted the man’s wrist savagely, slamming him down across the conference table.
「Aagh! What the hell are you doing?!」
He’d only meant to grope her, to brush his hand against her for the thrill. Nothing serious—so he thought.
But the urge had overwhelmed him, and now his arm felt like it would snap in two.
「Filthy hands that can’t keep to themselves… need to be taught a lesson.」
Tae-geon’s voice rumbled low, thick with menace.
Only then did Han Bom realize what had happened—that David Young had tried to touch her, and Tae-geon had caught it immediately.
But the man was still defiant, even under pressure.
「Do you have proof? Is Ato Beauty in the habit of beating up its guests? Can you handle the consequences? I’ll file an official complaint! You’ll regret this!」
「Do as you please. Our legal team is very capable. And my temper… it doesn’t recognize limits.」
The atmosphere thickened, threatening to explode.
Han Bom calculated quickly—not between sexual assault and violence, but between damage control and corporate survival.
“Vice President, release him. You still have a meeting to lead.”
When Tae-geon shot her a questioning look, she leaned closer, whispering just for him:
“Leave it to me.”
Her voice was firm, all trace of warmth gone. The look in her eyes—sharp, decisive—was one he knew well. In five years, he had learned: whenever she wore that face, something significant was about to happen.
“Very well.”
He let go. David Young collapsed into a chair, clutching his arm.
Han Bom strode past him to the table, picked up a remote, and pointed it at the ceiling.
A projector hummed to life.
On the screen, six divided windows appeared—executives with grim faces, watching everything.
「Wh—What…? The… the president?!」
David Young’s face drained white as he recognized each face on the call.
Han Bom’s voice was calm, almost pleasant.
「Ah, I forgot to mention. While your party was on the flight, Lugal’s president confirmed attendance for today’s meeting.」
She brushed her wavy hair back, her crisp white blouse and beige H-line skirt catching the light—her red enamel heels clicking softly as she spoke.
「And since the scheduled time has arrived, the video conference is now underway. If you’ve sustained any injury just now, we at Ato Beauty will of course provide compensation and medical coverage after the meeting.」
David Young’s face bled of all color. Under the president’s wrath and the executives’ scolding, he stammered, powerless.
Seol Tae-geon watched, a slow smile of satisfaction tugging at his lips.
Then she approached him, her red heels striking the floor like punctuation.
“Does this resolution… suit you, Vice President?”
Leaning lightly against the desk, Han Bom smiled up at him.
And in that moment, the scene from the night before—the seductive secretary on the page, teasing her boss—flooded back.
‘So this is what you meant by hungry, President?’
‘We can share it between us.’
‘Well, President?’
Seol Tae-geon’s face burned crimson.
‘Why… why does Secretary Han suddenly look so damn sexy?’
