Affectionate Obsession - Chapter 40

“I’m here.”

As soon as Taekwang entered Sookhee’s study, he plopped down on the sofa in the center.

Even most corporate magnates would show courtesy they didn’t normally possess in front of Sookhee, but Taekwang seemed to have no intention of doing so.

Sookhee also did not reprimand Taekwang for this.

When Sookhee ran a small gukbap (rice soup) restaurant, Taekwang was a neighborhood gangster who frequented the place daily.

Having only known fistfights since childhood, there wasn’t much he could do in society.

He drifted through construction sites for a while, but ultimately couldn’t control his temper and caused trouble, leading to him being fired within days.

The only world that welcomed him was the world of thugs.

Once he joined an organization, Taekwang threw himself into whatever work he was ordered to do, without holding back. However, simply not holding back wasn’t enough to reach the position he desired.

All he knew was fighting, yet his ambition was second to none.

Taekwang increasingly felt a thirst for power, and around that time, he received an offer from Sookhee he couldn’t refuse.

It started with just intimidating someone Sookhee designated. For Taekwang, who had done far worse, it was nothing.

But gradually, the risk of the jobs Sookhee proposed increased, and the compensation that came with them was too sweet to easily give up.

That was how he came to hold his current position.

Taekwang had never once regretted joining hands with Sookhee.

He had to do many dirty deeds because of Sookhee, but he had undeniably gained the power he desired, so there was no reason to regret it.

However, dark clouds began to gather over a future he thought would only be sweet.

Taekwang was displeased by the threat that loomed so close.

He had truly believed Choi Sookhee was a solid ally, but now someone had dared to rise against Choi Sookhee.

What was even more outrageous was that this person was Sookhee’s grandson-in-law.

Taekwang looked at Sookhee, his brow furrowed deeply. The anger that had seemed to subside began to surge again.

“What in the world happened? Why would the Chairman’s grandson-in-law stab the Chairman in the back?!”

Sookhee, who had been slowly closing her eyelids, suddenly revealed sharp, piercing eyes.

Sookhee released her tightly pursed lips and gave Taekwang the answer he deserved.

“Why are you asking me that?”

“Why ask me? Then where else am I supposed to ask about the Chairman’s grandson-in-law? Do you even know what your grandson-in-law did to me yesterday? Not only did he report my company, but he’s also unilaterally terminating the contract with Bonner! He’s even offering to pay the penalty fees!”

Sookhee’s face contorted in dismay. She had summoned Taekwang to prevent him from causing further trouble, but the fact that he had met with Junhyeok in the meantime was utterly baffling.

However, what amplified Sookhee’s headache even more was Junhyeok’s stance of unilaterally terminating the contract with Bonner, even offering to pay the penalty fees.

Bonner was a troublesome entity with far bigger problems than the current food ingredient issue, problems incomparable to it.

Taekwang had belatedly realized that Junhyeok was tampering with his business and tried to rein him in, but it seemed he had realized it far too late.

“I told you, didn’t I? Stop playing games with money.”

Sookhee sighed, a sound akin to a lament, and touched her temples.

She couldn’t grasp where to even begin sorting things out.

Meanwhile, Taekwang’s huffing and puffing, as if he had done nothing wrong, only made her more on edge.

Sookhee tried to regain her composure. As always, looking at the situation emotionally would solve nothing.

After some time had passed.

A solution, which had been elusive, seemed to appear, however faintly.

“I suppose the Chairman will have to step in.”

Taekwang spoke without sensing the mood.

How hard he had worked to secure the position of RM Foods representative.

From his perspective, every minute and second was agonizing.

He had believed Sookhee, who always provided clear answers, would resolve everything this time as well, but with only silence instead of an answer, his insides grew more turbulent.

At that moment, Sookhee, who had kept her eyes closed, spoke in a voice that had sunk terrifyingly low.

“Shut up.”

It was definitely not the answer Taekwang had been waiting for. Because of that, the emotions he had suppressed with great difficulty finally exploded.

“Ah, shit! Then what do you expect me to do! Am I supposed to back down like this? Do you think I’ve been doing all this work behind you for nothing, just to be kicked out like this??”

Taekwang shot up from his seat as if he were about to lunge at Sookhee, clenching his fists tightly.

He looked incredibly menacing. However, Sookhee, befitting her reputation as the founder of RM Group and the first female founder of a major corporation, did not flinch.

Instead, her eyes glinted, instantly subduing Taekwang’s aggression.

“That mouth.”

“…….”

“I told you to shut it.”

Though Taekwang had once dominated the back alleys with just his fists, his glorious past record was useless against Sookhee’s charisma.

Taekwang reluctantly closed his mouth, but his whole body trembled. He was clearly unable to contain his anger.

“Who do you think you’re talking to?”

Sookhee hissed menacingly, her voice not matching her elegant face.

“Do you want to go back to being a back-alley gangster? They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, and you’re exactly like that. How many times have I told you to fix your way of speaking? Do you have the right to covet the position of RM Foods representative after acting like this?”

She didn’t shy away from a sharp rebuke.

Only then did Taekwang manage to suppress his anger and sit down.

Sookhee, who had been watching him silently, reorganized her thoughts, which were somewhat settled. Then, with a lighter expression, she gazed at Taekwang.

“Wait patiently. No matter how much it is Jeong Junhyeok, he’s just the son of HN Group’s chairman. What can he possibly do against me? No matter how much he flies and soars, he’s no match for Choi Sookhee.”

“Do you have a good plan?”

Unlike moments before, Taekwang asked with a brightening face, seeing Sookhee regain her composure.

Sookhee twisted the corner of her lips. He couldn’t have been more transparent if his thoughts were visible.

While she was good at assessing people, Taekwang was like a blank canvas, requiring no effort to understand.

She was displeased that the person she had to carry was like him, but he was simple enough to be easily exploited, making him a necessary card.

“He has two older brothers. If he’s ambitious, he won’t make rash moves. With two older brothers above him, why would he do something that would lower his own standing?”

Sookhee revealed her organized thoughts one by one, perfectly hiding her true intentions towards Taekwang.

She also completely concealed the fact that this was not just to reassure Taekwang, but to begin laying the groundwork for him to take the bait.

“You have to use that as an opportunity. I’ll handle the rest, so you just need to apply appropriate pressure on Jeong Junhyeok.”

Sookhee’s fox-like eyes scanned Taekwang’s expression. Taekwang looked puzzled, as if he had no idea, she was thinking such things.

A satisfied smile spread across Sookhee’s lips.

“Appropriate pressure? What do you want me to do?”

“What else? Didn’t you get kickbacks by using Lee Jin to manipulate that department store’s performance?”

Sookhee spoke as if reprimanding Taekwang.

She was annoyed that someone who would even use his own wife for kickbacks would covet RM’s foundational food business, not some other affiliate, but she showed no sign of it.

In fact, the moment Sookhee realized Taekwang was engaging in such acts, her first thought was to get rid of him as soon as possible.

She had been looking for an opportunity to dismiss Taekwang from his position as RM Foods representative, and the emergence of corruption in the meantime was, in a way, a fitting opportunity.

Of course, she wasn’t entirely pleased that RM Foods’ reputation, which she cherished, had been tarnished, but she could endure such damage for a greater cause.

Moreover, after getting rid of Taekwang, she planned to put Sera in that position.

It was the right time, and it seemed like the opportune moment to set things right.

Therefore, to achieve that, she had to persuade Taekwang well and maximize his utility.

“Chairman, really. Who am I using…?”

While Sookhee was painting a grand picture in her mind, Taekwang mumbled in a dejected voice.

Even that dejected look was repulsive to Sookhee, and she wanted to get rid of Taekwang immediately, but she endured steadfastly.

For the perfect picture she had drawn, she needed Taekwang, who would resolve the messy affairs for now.

Sookhee finalized her thoughts and spoke in a clear voice.

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