The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 35

Became a Billionaire Villain – Episode 35 – The Kneeling Giant 04 –

***

The blue marble table looked like something plucked from an old European castle.

Yet, Sarah found herself facing one in New York, specifically on Wall Street.

JP Morgan’s main conference room was the very definition of luxury.

“So, you’re saying a game company wants access to our securities system?”

The sharp voice belonged to Louis Nolan, a key manager at JP Morgan.

He was decked out in a custom-made Italian suit and a silk tie worth hundreds of dollars.

‘He’s trying to scream, ‘I’m a Wall Street big shot!’ with his whole outfit.’

Sarah responded to his question clearly.

“We aren’t trying to access your securities system directly. We’re building a system to help your clients check real-time prices. I believe it will be a great asset to JP Morgan’s clients.”

“System construction, system access… isn’t it the same thing?”

Unlike Eric Vogel or Peter Lynch, Louis Nolan was skeptical of the new system.

Sarah had anticipated encountering at least one person like him.

‘There’s always a stubborn old guard somewhere.’

She summoned all her patience and tried to reason with him calmly.

Of course, it wasn’t easy.

“We’re not trying to extract information from JP Morgan. We aim to enhance your services. We’re essentially building a system *for* JP Morgan.”

“Hmm…”

The meeting with Louis Nolan dragged on for an hour and a half.

Instead of a firm answer, he concluded by requesting a presentation from MIT engineers.

Apparently, MIT’s reputation held sway with Louis Nolan.

‘The only thing that can keep an old man in check is authority.’

Sarah left JP Morgan headquarters and sighed deeply.

“Hoo…”

Last year ended on a high note thanks to Zero Space’s success. But this year, despite the bursting game bubble, things felt less celebratory.

‘Am I being too greedy?’

Victoria Corporation had profited tens of millions of dollars from the game bubble’s collapse.

And 30% of that was her share.

She no longer needed the Hilton family fortune.

She could stand on her own two feet now.

“Gained freedom, but not really free? It must just be a feeling.”

Sarah looked up at the sky. Skyscrapers obscured most of it, leaving only glimpses of the heavens.

‘Is this the New York blues?’

The winter rain made the city seem even more depressing.

Back at her accommodation, she quickly called Jung Hyun-woo.

“Charlie.”

Jung Hyun-woo answered as if he’d been waiting.

“Sarah, did it go well?”

“So-so.”

“So-so?”

Sarah nodded.

“Peter introduced me to JP Morgan, but the engineers are on board, and the management is hesitant.”

A shadow crossed Jung Hyun-woo’s face.

“So, the deal fell through?”

“No, they’re giving me another chance.”

Jung Hyun-woo stroked his chin.

“Hmm, they want you to bring the technical team to persuade them.”

“Exactly.”

Sarah appreciated Jung Hyun-woo’s intelligence. She preferred his sharp Wall Street mind to the macho men of the South, who seemed to be all brawn and no brains.

“Then let’s schedule a meeting after we go to Las Vegas.”

“Isn’t that too late?”

“We have things to prepare on our end too.”

Sarah exclaimed softly.

“Ah, you’re preparing a demo version.”

Jung Hyun-woo wasn’t one to go into battle unarmed. As Sarah suspected, he wanted to create a demo before the JP Morgan meeting.

“Executives trust what they can see more than abstract concepts.”

IT wasn’t the global force it would become. When explaining something new, showing people was always best.

‘If we succeed with this project, we can gain a foothold on Wall Street.’

New York’s Wall Street was the heart of global finance. The place where the world’s money flowed. If they could make inroads there, Victoria Corporation could reach unprecedented heights.

‘Of course, we won’t keep all that money to ourselves.’

Sarah nodded, pleased with Jung Hyun-woo’s foresight.

“Okay. I’ll set the meeting date after Las Vegas.”

“Thank you.”

“Charlie, where are you spending New Year’s?”

Last year, she’d celebrated in New York.

Jung Hyun-woo blushed, remembering the tight hug she’d given him.

‘Sarah probably doesn’t even remember.’

He replied calmly.

“I think I’ll be in Boston this year.”

“Then I’ll go back too.”

“Pardon?”

“Staying here alone will just mean expensive hotel fees.”

Jung Hyun-woo lowered his voice.

“Sarah, don’t worry about the hotel fees. Victoria Corporation can certainly…”

Sarah cut him off.

“Because I’m bored alone.”

She said it bluntly and hung up.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Jung Hyun-woo tilted his head.

“Even if it’s Boston, it’s not like I’ll be playing around.”

He dedicated over eight hours a day to developing the Zero series, leaving only an hour or two to see Sarah.

“Is she not used to New York yet?”

He figured she might be returning to Boston to avoid the Hilton family.

He couldn’t have been more wrong.

***

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Choi Kyung-min paused at Jung Hyun-woo’s greeting.

“Young Master?”

“It’s a final farewell.”

He wished he could see him off at the airport, but he was swamped with Zero Space 3 and the securities system development, barely getting any sleep.

“I apologize for not being able to stay until the end.”

“I don’t think Secretary Choi has anything to apologize for.”

Choi Kyung-min reflected on the year and a half he’d spent with Jung Hyun-woo.

‘He wasn’t the troublemaker the rumors made him out to be.’

There were issues, but he was definitely different from what he’d heard.

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

“Let’s meet in Korea sometime.”

Choi Kyung-min bowed slightly.

“I’m always up for a meal.”

“My treat.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

“See you next time.”

Jung Hyun-woo waved Choi Kyung-min off with a smile. Soon, Choi Kyung-min’s car disappeared.

“Bittersweet.”

He wished he could have kept him on his team, but he was returning to Korea.

‘He doesn’t want to get caught up in the chaebol [family-owned conglomerate] power struggles.’

Or perhaps he had other ambitions.

“Ha…”

Jung Hyun-woo sighed and went inside. On the living room table was the document Choi Kyung-min had left as a parting gift.

“A last gift, indeed.”

The document detailed his father’s inheritance, which he’d requested from Director Hong Won-ik.

“Let’s see what we have here.”

He opened the document and clicked his tongue after a moment.

“Tsk, it’s… ambiguous.”

It wasn’t that there was no inheritance, but it wasn’t what he’d expected.

“The house in Seongbuk-dong, 100,000 shares of Daewoon Electronics stock, and 15 million won [approximately $12,000 USD] in cash.”

The house in Seongbuk-dong was likely the one where Jung Min-hyuk and his wife lived with him.

The real issue was the 100,000 shares of Daewoon Electronics stock.

‘Daewoon Group’s core businesses are commerce, construction, and food.’

Daewoon Electronics was a newborn compared to Samjung Electronics or Daehyun Electronics.

“I don’t even know what percentage of the total those 100,000 shares represent.”

He frowned.

If Choi Kyung-min had stayed, he could have entrusted him with the investigation.

But he was gone.

“Guess I’ll have to take it slow.”

He didn’t think it was time to confront the Jung family yet.

Ding-dong, ding-dong.

A short ring.

Jung Hyun-woo immediately went to the door.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

It was Sarah’s voice.

“Sarah?”

He opened the door to find Sarah in a trench coat, holding out both hands.

In her hands were pizza and chicken.

‘Pizza and chicken… this is like…’

It was like Pizza Land Chicken Princess [a popular Korean fast-food chain known for pizza and fried chicken, often associated with family meals].

“It’s Christmas Eve with family.”

That’s right.

Christmas in America was a holiday for family as well as lovers.

Wasn’t that why Kevin in Home Alone didn’t spend Christmas with his family?

Sarah tilted her head, noticing Jung Hyun-woo’s blank expression.

“Shouldn’t I have come?”

Jung Hyun-woo snapped out of it and reached for the food.

“Of course not.”

He took the chicken and pizza and led her to the living room.

“From today, it’s okay to talk in the living room.”

Sarah said, looking around the empty space.

“Tom left.”

Jung Hyun-woo took her words as he set the food on the table.

“He just left.”

Sarah’s eyes widened.

“Ah, so that’s why.”

Jung Hyun-woo’s expression was different than usual.

‘That’s the face he made because Tom left.’

Choi Kyung-min had been around since before she met Jung Hyun-woo.

“What would you like to drink?”

“Beer?”

Jung Hyun-woo took a beer from the refrigerator.

Clack.

“Here you are.”

“Is this what Tom used to drink too?”

There was no way Jung Hyun-woo, a minor, would drink alcohol. All the alcohol belonged to Choi Kyung-min.

“That’s right. There’s still a lot left.”

A hint of loneliness crept into Jung Hyun-woo’s voice.

‘Charlie, he’s more emotional than I thought.’

Perhaps Choi Kyung-min and Jung Hyun-woo had a deeper connection than she realized.

“It would have been nice if Tom was here.”

Jung Hyun-woo said with a forced smile.

“Wouldn’t Tom want to spend Christmas with his family too?”

“Ah, come to think of it, Tom…”

“He said he wasn’t married yet.”

In 1982 Korea, Choi Kyung-min was an old bachelor.

“I thought he was married, but he wasn’t.”

“He must have been busy with work.”

Choi Kyung-min worked tirelessly to overcome the disadvantage of not attending a prestigious university.

Romance had taken a backseat.

“Sarah didn’t go back either?”

Her father lived in Houston.

“Even if I go back to Houston, it’s just my father.”

“Your father might be lonely.”

“I saw him last Thanksgiving. And my father has several lovers.”

Jung Hyun-woo’s pupils dilated.

“Pardon?”

Sarah opened a can of beer.

Clack.

“What are you so surprised about?”

“No, he didn’t seem like that at all.”

Sarah took a sip of beer.

“My father is a celebrity in Houston; he’s welcomed everywhere he goes.”

Besides, Andrew Hilton had a good personality. It would be stranger if he *wasn’t* popular.

“I’m still young.”

As he scratched his head, Sarah gave him a gentle look.

“I like Charlie because he’s pure.”

“…”

Jung Hyun-woo was at a loss for words.

Sarah changed the subject to ease the awkwardness.

“Smoltz went bankrupt.”

Jung Hyun-woo’s eyebrows shot up.

“Excuse me?”

“Smoltz is a game distribution company in the East. They went bankrupt because they couldn’t handle the increasing inventory, even during the Christmas season, when things are usually good.”

“Then…”

“The stock market will react the same way today.”

It was another victory.

Sarah raised her beer can.

“Merry Christmas.”

Jung Hyun-woo raised his can of cola and toasted.

“Merry Christmas.”

“Congratulations on the victory.”

The reason they didn’t celebrate more was out of respect for those who had lost their jobs, as Jung Hyun-woo had said before.

They quietly spent Christmas Eve with chicken and beer, and pizza and cola.

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