NFS 1.9

Among the four gathered in the conference room, Director Park looked the most tense of all. As if Executive Director Hwang’s nitpicking about the shopping mall development wasn’t enough, now internal development issues had come out in the open. Unlike the anxious Director Park, the person at the center of the problem just so happened to be the most relaxed.

The planning team leader knew better than anyone that he was indispensable to this project. Furthermore, his superiors were on his side, and he felt justified since he believed he’d done nothing wrong to the employees who had voiced complaints. Just as a company psycho becomes a limited normal person only to superiors, he calmly expressed his grievances to Seo Ahn-jae.

“…Ultimately, I believe the problem arose from different basic perspectives on handling work with department members. I prioritize work above all else, and as the project overseer, I must constantly point out problems and push for corrections. You know how things are, right? Even trivial university team projects fail with too many leaders, let alone a project of this scale and importance. It’s worse when the leader loses focus. The project comes first for me. I believe individual team members’ sacrifices must be accepted to achieve the best results within the company’s deadline.”

He had done it all for the company’s benefit. At his excuse, only the server team leader stared at him with a disgusted expression, but no one raised objections. While the planning team leader rambled on, Seo Ahn-jae listened with apparent boredom in his eyes.

The server team leader sighed internally, thinking nothing would change despite even the CEO’s involvement. The Android and iOS team leaders who had resigned hoping for change just screwed themselves over. No, maybe he was the one screwed, having to keep working with the planning team leader. As the server team leader contemplated submitting his own resignation letter, Seo Ahn-jae spoke for the first time since stepping foot into the meeting room.

“Are you sacrificing yourself for the sake of the company?”

He asked Director Park. His tone was casual, as if making small talk. However, caught off guard by the sudden question, Director Park hesitated before finally coming up with a response.

“Perhaps not sacrifice, but doing my best for work…”

“What about you, General Manager?”

Meeting Seo Ahn-jae’s eyes, the general manager was flustered and was about to nod yes. The obvious answer to please a superior would be yes, of course. But Seo Ahn-jae’s gaze was so piercing it chilled his heart. So he couldn’t lie.

In truth, he wasn’t sacrificing anything at all. While he had brought in the skilled planning team leader, at some point, that skilled person had pushed the general manager aside and taken control of the project. Lately, it had gotten to the point where he had started questioning his own abilities. Thinking he might need to quit after this project ended, he shook his head resignedly.

“No, I haven’t been doing that at all.”

The planning team leader silently smirked next to them. Though hidden from Seo Ahn-jae’s view, the server team leader, who was watching him this whole time, saw it clearly. Ah, that bastard. The anxious server team leader then heard Seo Ahn-jae’s question.

“What about you, Server Team Leader?”

Already resigned to the fact that he might end up getting fired if it came to that, he answered similarly.

“I’m not really sacrificing anything either.”

“That’s good.”

Who is? As people wondered about this, Seo Ahn-jae summarized the situation.

“Then there’s only one person we don’t need. I don’t need people who sacrifice themselves.”

Everyone frowned, wondering if they’d heard wrong. What does he mean? Then Seo Ahn-jae added, almost muttering, “Just do what you’re paid for. Why bother with more?”

As the planning team leader furrowed his brow and tried to object, Seo Ahn-jae was already giving instructions to Secretary Choi.

“Process the planning team leader’s immediate termination. Have security escort him out now to prevent information leakage.”

Though the planning team leader called out “CEO,” Seo Ahn-jae stood up as if finished with the meeting. Secretary Choi, as if waiting, immediately pulled up reports for the next scheduled meeting on his tablet.

“CEO!”

When the planning team leader called out louder and jumped up from his chair, Seo Ahn-jae finally turned around. Despite the table between them, his tall stature felt intimidating. But the planning team leader was too blind with rage to notice any of this.

“You’re firing me? What? You’re firing ME?”

The planning team leader pointed to himself with an incredulous laugh.

“Why me? What did I do wrong? No, f—”

He barely swallowed the curse and instead pointed at those around him.

“When everyone else here wouldn’t work, I alone killed myself dragging this project forward, and f—. CEO, you clearly don’t understand, but this project is finished without me, finished. No, aren’t you a developer too? Can’t you see where this situation is headed?”

Normally, he’d never show this side to superiors, but suddenly fired, he had no reason to hold back. Especially since this young upstart who just got lucky with investment and grew the company was firing him—the whole thing made him absolutely furious.

Ready to fight if the other got angry, he was breathing heavily, but Seo Ahn-jae’s only response was a brief laugh. The man who had shown little reaction throughout the meeting now wore the captivating smile that had won over many. But anyone could see there was only mockery in his eyes.

“Director Park.”

Suddenly called, Director Park looked up at Seo Ahn-jae stiffly from his seat.

“Yes, CEO.”

“You’ve really fucked up this job.”

Seo Ahn-jae was still smiling, his tone light. Furthermore, standing askew while checking the tablet’s contents, he somehow appeared to be acting rather casual.

“I didn’t put all those people under you for the project to collapse when one person leaves.”

“That won’t happen. Everyone is necessary and everyone worked hard.”

“Then you should have controlled the narcissistic bastard before this nonsense came out.”

“I’m…sorry.”

“Yes, you should be. It’s all your fault that we’ve come this far and you couldn’t control one mad dog.”

The planning team leader, who had been standing with his mouth agape in shock, seemed to snap back to reality at the word “mad dog” and raised his voice.

“Ha, mad dog? Are you talking about me? Even if you’re the CEO, in this day and age, to say such nonsense to an employee…”

“Director Park. When you see a mad dog, break its head with a club.”

Seo Ahn-jae continued speaking only to Director Park while smiling lightly.

“Are you waiting for dog soup season?”

No one laughed at the young CEO’s joke. The dissonance between his handsome face, soft low voice, and crude threats created an eerie chill in the air. Of course, Director Park, who already knew Seo Ahn-jae, simply maintained his stiff expression, while Secretary Choi remained expressionless as if used to this kind of thing. Naturally, Seo Ahn-jae was also his usual self.

“Secretary Choi, get support from the legal team and find all verbal abuse victims to file company complaints. From this moment, block computer access and search through all usage records, access logs, and CCTV footage—if anything violates the contract, even slightly, add it to the lawsuit.”

“C-CEO.”

When the shocked planning team leader called out to Seo Ahn-jae again, Seo Ahn-jae once more addressed Director Park.

“Director Park.”

Seo Ahn-jae rubbed his nape and turned only his eyes to look at Director Park.

“I gave you the club, so make sure you catch the mad dog.”

“Ah…”

“If you can’t do it, just leave.”

“No, no, that’s not it.”

Shaking his head, Director Park couldn’t bring himself to repeat the mad dog metaphor. Seo Ahn-jae’s emotionless eyes lingered on him briefly before turning away. Though four people remained after Seo Ahn-jae and Secretary Choi left the conference room, no one could speak for a long time.

***

“Maybe if we persuade them well, the new landowner might understand and help us.”

When Jjangi Nuna expressed this lingering hope, Joo Seung-ha simply shrugged instead of firmly shaking his head.

“Who knows?”

“It won’t work?”

“No.”

At Joo Seung-ha’s words, Jjangi Nuna closed her eyes in despair. Though they’d settled on moving the shelter, there were still many practical issues plaguing them at the moment. Watching her, Joo Seung-ha’s resolve wavered. Despite wanting to avoid entanglement with Seo Ahn-jae, seeing the visible damage caused by him made it hard to insist on moving. This guilt was why he was meeting with Jjang Nuna now.

“Someone I know heard about the shelter’s situation and offered to donate. It’ll be about 3,000.”

Jjangi Nuna’s eyes opened wide at the amount Joo Seung-ha mentioned.

“3 million won? Who is this wonderful person?”

My room deposit, you see. Joo Seung-ha smiled while concealing the donor’s identity.

“Just someone close.”

“It’s not some wealthy perverted old man in his 80s, is it?”

When Joo Seung-ha made an incredulous face, Jjangi Nuna laughed awkwardly.

“Well, you are very handsome.”

“You’re pretty too, noona.”

Joo Seung-ha responded with a smile. His handsome face with its gentle smile, eyes that gazed at others without making them uncomfortable, and kind voice that could belong in a commercial—everything about him captivated people. Even though Jjangi Nuna had known Joo Seung-ha for a long time, there were still moments when his looks caught her off guard. When she felt that warmth he showed only to close friends, she couldn’t help but feel proud of the relationship she had with this man.

“I am still pretty, aren’t I?”

Jjangi Nuna turned away, unable to resist smiling. Joo Seung-ha smiled back but saw the other woman’s diverted gaze as his chance to sharply scan their surroundings. The surveillance team that had openly followed him days ago seemed to have gone back into hiding. But he could still sense their presence. Though the situation was irritating and frustrating, it had its conveniences.

If Seo Ahn-jae wanted Joo Seung-ha to suffer, he’d know he was just by observing this situation. He must have received reports about his listing his apartment and looking for a monthly rental with almost no deposit. Actually, he wondered if he was really that interested in him in the first place. There had been no contact from him since the “Save this” text. If his goal was simply revenge, he might consider this a sufficient success. But what had seemed like a simple calculation to Joo Seung-ha apparently wasn’t for him.

“The donation is good, but let’s hold off on accepting it for now. Since the landowner asked to meet, we should try persuading them first.”

“The landowner wants to meet?”

Yes, Jjangi Nuna nodded her head and watched Joo Seung-ha for a moment before speaking.

“But they want everyone to come. Or at least the most desperate person.”

Most desperate. Damn it. Joo Seung-ha finally realized his calculation had been wrong. Seo Ahn-jae wasn’t satisfied at all. And cleverly, he had prepared another attack for Joo Seung-ha to deal with. If everyone went together, he’d probably reveal everything right then and there.

He might smilingly expose that the shelter’s situation was Joo Seung-ha’s fault. That wasn’t what scared him. He disliked the idea of the shelter people worrying and trying to help and care of him. So if you don’t like that, come alone. This was Seo Ahn-jae’s fucking invitation.

“Who else have you told?”

“No one. You’re the first. The contact just came recently.”

Good. Joo Seung-ha nodded and added firmly.

“Don’t tell anyone else yet. I’ll go. Alone.”

“If someone’s going, it should be me.”

“Noona, leave this kind of thing to a man.”

Jjangi Nuna looked at him with complicated eyes, about to ask something, but swallowed it with a sigh.

“Let’s wait and see. Let’s decide after seeing what they want.”

***

“Sir, we’ve received a response from ‘Irae Shelter.’”

Secretary Choi was mechanically delivering various reports while looking at his tablet. Seo Ahn-jae received many contacts, and he reported the most important ones first according to priority. Irae Shelter was naturally low priority.

Looking it up, it seemed to be some kind of dog shelter organization. That was what he thought, but Seo Ahn-jae, who hadn’t looked up once during other reports today, briefly raised his eyes. 

Not noticing his reaction, Secretary Choi quickly continued to speak,

“They say they’ll come if we provide the time and place. Should I check your schedule to set up the appointment?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Pardon?”

“Set it for tomorrow. 7 p.m..”

Secretary Choi was flustered, trying to recall before quickly checking the schedule.

“You have an appointment with M Law Firm’s CEO at that time tomorrow.”

“I know.”

Seo Ahn-jae replied casually while staring at Secretary Choi. Secretary Choi hid his confusion and lowered his gaze. What’s this? Is he planning to make the shelter people wait?

“Then for the location…”

“Book my usual room at XX Hotel.”

Seo Ahn-jae had already lowered his eyes to his laptop. Secretary Choi glanced at him, unable to hide his puzzled expression. Secretaries sometimes handled their superiors’ personal matters and inevitably learned about their private lives, even when reluctant to do so.

The location Seo Ahn-jae mentioned was the most uncomfortable part of his private life that Secretary Choi knew about. It was where Seo Ahn-jae used escort services. Why call the shelter people to a room, especially to that place? It was so unprecedented that he wondered if he’d heard wrong. He barely managed to think of an excuse to point out the location’s inappropriateness.

“Ah, we don’t know how many people will come from their side…”

“It’ll be one person.”

“But the shelter hasn’t decided whether everyone will come or just one person…”

Seo Ahn-jae looked up again. Secretary Choi, quick to read the situation, quickly nodded.

“Yes, I’ll book it at XX Hotel.”

Only then did Seo Ahn-jae return to focusing on his work and the laptop screen. Leaving his room, Secretary Choi kept shaking his head. Ah, that psycho, he’s becoming even more unpredictable lately.