The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 96

96. Spring and Summer of 1984 (2)

“I was waiting to express my gratitude to the CEO.”

The person standing awkwardly in the office was Louis Nolan.

He had been fired from JP Morgan for failing to handle the Victoria Corporation situation.

“There’s no need to bow so deeply. We hired you because we needed you. And I’m not the CEO.”

The owner of the cold voice was Lyla Marine, the branch manager of Bank of America’s Queens branch. The reason she hired Louis Nolan was because of the collaboration with Victoria Corporation.

“But the person who hired me is…….”

“Wouldn’t it be better to fly to Boston than to thank me?”

Lyla Marine was not a warm boss to her subordinates. Louis Nolan straightened his posture and, despite her cold words, raised his voice slightly.

“Understood. I will go to Victoria Corporation immediately.”

He also knew why Bank of America had hired him.

‘Since I have experience collaborating with Victoria Corporation, they must want me to leverage that experience effectively.’

Lyla Marine was the head of the online service system, tentatively named America Service, which was Bank of America’s version of JP Service.

She acknowledged that Louis Nolan had nearly a year of experience collaborating with Victoria Corporation and made him the contact person.

Louis Nolan sighed deeply as he left her office.

“Hoo… Did I somehow make it?”

He was able to find a job again because he had not directly attacked Victoria Corporation.

However, his boss, Sean Luke, was not so lucky. After leaving JP Morgan, he disappeared from Wall Street.

‘Surely he didn’t make that kind of choice?’

Some failed fund managers made extreme choices [referring to suicide or other desperate acts].

Louis Nolan shook his head vigorously and said.

“Get a grip. This is not the time to worry about others.”

If a problem arose with Victoria Corporation, he could be fired at any time.

* * *

As Victoria Corporation grew, Robert became the busiest.

He had to support Sarah in scaling up the company, manage branches scattered throughout the United States, and secure new clients.

“Mr. Bernard, hello.”

When Anne, wearing a white skirt, greeted him, Robert raised his right hand with a bright expression.

“Anne, it’s been a while.”

“You’re not on a business trip today.”

“Sometimes I want to check if I still have a place in the office.”

“The vice president’s seat is always there.”

“Is that so?”

Robert exchanged light greetings with Anne and entered the office. Then, he widened his eyes as if he had seen someone special.

“Oh, I have a guest.”

The person waiting for him was Sarah.

“Robert, I have good news and bad news.”

Robert took off his jacket and hung it on the hanger.

“I’ll listen to the bad news first.”

“The bad news first?”

“I personally think it’s better to be punished and then receive a gift.”

Sarah nodded slowly as if she understood his words.

“The bad news is that Charlie has finally established a game division.”

The beginning of Victoria Corporation was the Zero series. In other words, the roots of Victoria Corporation could be said to be in games.

Moreover, Jung Hyun-woo knew that the American game industry would soon revive. He was planning to release a new game in line with this.

“Hasn’t he been saying he would do it for a while now?”

“The timing isn’t good.”

Sarah seemed to think it wasn’t the time to start a new business.

Robert shrugged at her words.

“Didn’t we have some leeway because the JP Morgan issue was resolved?”

“Still, I think this is too fast. Robert, won’t you try to dissuade Charlie with me?”

Robert asked his secretary, Amanda, for coffee through the intercom and then answered.

“Sarah, that’s really… a difficult request.”

“Are you refusing?”

“Rather than refusing, let’s think about our situation a little more. Charlie’s decisions are rarely wrong.”

Robert, as a former Activision employee, had an infinite love for games.

If he could, he wanted to return to the game business like John River.

Sarah also knew that fact.

Was that why?

Her voice suddenly rose.

“Robert, what is it about games for men?”

At her question, Robert sat down and asked back.

“Isn’t it life?”

“Games are life?”

“Don’t we start playing before entering school and continue to enjoy them even when we become old?”

Sarah waved her hand as if she couldn’t help it.

“This is troubling.”

Robert thought it was time to change the subject.

“Sarah, we’ve heard the bad news, what’s the good news?”

At his question, Sarah took out a small envelope.

“The good news is here.”

Robert tilted his head as he received the envelope from her.

“Is this a bonus?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Robert slightly opened the envelope. What was inside was neither cash nor a check.

“Hmm, this is…….”

“It’s 2% of Victoria Corporation’s stock.”

JP Morgan had acknowledged Victoria Corporation’s value at $10 billion and acquired 10% of the shares for $1 billion.

In other words, 2% of Victoria Corporation’s shares could be said to be worth $200 million.

Robert trailed off at her answer.

“Sarah, this is a bit…….”

It was too much to just accept.

“It’s not too much. If it weren’t for Robert, Victoria Corporation wouldn’t exist.”

Sarah’s words were not an exaggeration. Robert was an important figure in Victoria Corporation, so much so that JP Morgan made him their first target.

And there were many things he had done that Sarah and Jung Hyun-woo could not replace.

In particular, managing the branches scattered throughout the country was something no one else could have dared to do.

“Sarah, I’m already receiving a high salary and bonuses.”

Robert thought he was being treated well even now. But Sarah and Jung Hyun-woo didn’t think so.

“Charlie and I discussed and decided on this.”

“Then the shares too?”

“That’s right. We each shared 1%.”

“So that’s why it’s 2%.”

Jung Hyun-woo wanted to bear all 2% from his own shares, but Sarah insisted, so he had no choice but to follow her wishes this time as well.

Through this transfer of shares, Jung Hyun-woo’s stake decreased to 62%, and Sarah’s to 26%.

And this share ratio was expected to decrease further after the IPO [Initial Public Offering, when a company offers shares to the public for the first time].

“First of all, I’ll say thank you.”

Sarah said in a soft voice.

“I think this is small compared to what Robert has done.”

Robert scratched his head and accepted her words.

“$200 million, I don’t know what to do now.”

He didn’t know what to do, like a child who had received an unexpected allowance.

Sarah raised her right index finger and said.

“Robert, you can’t quit your job just because you’ve become rich.”

Robert took his hand off his head and accepted her words.

“Rest assured. I have no intention of becoming a runaway.”

Sarah listened to his words and lowered her right hand.

“That’s all I came to see Robert for today.”

As she finished speaking, Amanda came in with coffee.

“Which way should I…….”

She was conflicted between Sarah and Robert.

Robert raised his right hand and called Amanda.

“This way.”

Clunk.

As Amanda put down the cup, Robert smiled.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had Amanda’s coffee.”

He had been on too many business trips, so he didn’t have time to drink the coffee that his secretary, Amanda, made.

After Amanda went out, he said.

“Sarah, I know you’re worried about Charlie. But even if we don’t start with the game side, Charlie’s working hours won’t decrease.”

Robert knew that the reason Sarah opposed the game division was not a financial problem but Jung Hyun-woo’s health.

“Are you saying Charlie can’t be stopped?”

“He’s a workaholic, even among workaholics.”

Sarah put a little strength in her voice and said.

“I’m going to save Charlie from work.”

“Sarah, do you think you can free him from work?”

“I’m going to try from now on.”

Robert raised his eyebrows at her words.

“From now on?”

“Yes.”

Sarah answered briefly and got up from her seat. Then, she immediately left the office.

Click, click.

The sound of her shoes was different from usual.

Just as the attention of those around her was focused on her.

Her steps stopped at Development Team 1.

Soon, her hand reached Jung Hyun-woo.

“Oh, Sarah?”

Jung Hyun-woo reflexively turned his head. Then she said.

“Let’s talk.”

“Is it important?”

“Yes.”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded and got up from his seat and headed to the president’s office.

Clunk.

As soon as he closed the door, Sarah narrowed her brows.

“Why are all men the same?”

Jung Hyun-woo shrugged at her sudden question.

“Did someone steal a glance at Sarah’s legs?”

He was one of those who thought Sarah’s legs were very beautiful.

‘In Miami, it was really…….’

There was no other way to express it but to say it was good.

Sarah raised her right hand and raised her voice.

“Games! Games!”

Jung Hyun-woo realized that she had met with Robert to stop the game division.

‘It’s because of yesterday’s declaration.’

He had informed Sarah yesterday about the revival of the game division.

“Does Sarah hate games that much?”

“I just don’t want Charlie or Robert to overdo it.”

“I said I’d leave this to John, right?”

Sarah brought her right hand to her waist and said.

“I’m sure you will. John is in New York right now.”

She predicted that even if John River returned, Jung Hyun-woo would be deeply involved in the game division.

“Sarah, this is also a race against time.”

“A race against time?”

“Signs are beginning to appear that the North American market is reviving.”

Sarah lowered her raised eyebrows at his words.

“The North American game market is reviving?”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded slowly.

“Various indicators are still not good, but the atmosphere in game shops has changed.”

Sarah couldn’t help but be surprised at the change in the atmosphere in game shops.

“When did you go to a game shop?”

“Yesterday at lunchtime.”

“Oh, you bought a hamburger from outside, right?”

Sarah recalled Jung Hyun-woo coming in with a hamburger.

‘This is what it means to split time.’

He tried to give meaning to every moment.

‘Charlie is working even during his breaks.’

Sarah put her hands together and lowered them.

“I think it was better two years ago.”

Two years ago was when Victoria Corporation hadn’t started in earnest.

“What does that…….”

“I was teaching Charlie, and Charlie was happily making games. I think that was a good time.”

Jung Hyun-woo realized what Sarah was saying.

‘You’re saying that both of us have become slaves to work.’

He, of course, and Sarah were also working close to 100 hours a week.

A life of 100 hours of work per week.

It was like a dry desert.

“Okay. Then let’s try to leave work by 10 o’clock from today.”

At least I’ll sleep at home.

At Jung Hyun-woo’s declaration, Sarah raised her right index finger and put it forward.

“No.”

It was an incomprehensible answer.

You say the old days were better, but you can’t leave work early.

“What does that mean? You can’t leave work?”

Sarah raised her voice and answered his question.

“Leave work at 7! We have to eat dinner together.”

She had been feeling great fatigue since sealing the conflict with JP Morgan.

‘I can’t keep living this life.’

Jung Hyun-woo said to hang in there until 1985, but she didn’t think she could wait until then.

“Sarah, wouldn’t 7 o’clock be a little difficult?”

Leaving work at 7 meant a life without overtime. He didn’t think he could give up overtime yet.

Sarah softened her voice and said.

“Charlie, you have a lot of money now.”

Jung Hyun-woo and Sarah were also named in Forbes’ Top 30 Young Rich People to Watch after JP Morgan’s acquisition of shares.

“Money isn’t the problem.”

He had revealed his ambition to open the way to the future.

“Charlie, don’t be overconfident about your health. You can’t hide the dark circles under your eyes.”

Jung Hyun-woo realized that Sarah’s face was also too pale.

‘Like she said, maybe this is the limit.’

He nodded and said.

“Okay. Then let’s start by hiring someone who can share work with the two of us.”

It wasn’t just about leaving work early, but about reducing the work concentrated on the two of them.

“I’m already hiring.”

Jung Hyun-woo couldn’t help but be surprised at her answer.

“You were?”

Sarah seemed to have a plan.

“And I also transferred shares to Robert.”

“That’s fast.”

“Oh, and there’s a meeting tomorrow at 7 p.m.”

Jung Hyun-woo tilted his head at the words 7 p.m.

“That’s not a date, is it?”

Sarah narrowed her eyes and asked back.

“Hmm, who did you hear that from? Did you hear it from Mr. Nolan?”

Jung Hyun-woo answered with a troubled face at her question.

“Mr. Nolan? No. I was just joking because the meeting time is dinner time.”

Sarah squinted as if she didn’t believe it.

“The main character of tomorrow’s meeting is Miss Marine. So shave a little.”

Jung Hyun-woo reached out and touched his chin at Sarah’s remark. His beard had already grown long.

‘Oh, I didn’t think I’d grow a beard before I was even twenty.’

He nodded and accepted the words.

“Okay. I’ll prepare properly for tomorrow’s meeting.”

The next day.

Jung Hyun-woo appeared as neat as promised.

Sarah nodded repeatedly as if she was very satisfied with his changed appearance.

“Hmm, hmm. Your skin looks good because you’re only in the office.”

“Not pale?”

Sarah reached out and touched his cheek and said.

“Maybe it’s because I went to bed early yesterday. The dark circles have disappeared a lot too.”

Yesterday, Jung Hyun-woo and Sarah had achieved the feat of leaving work at the same time without overtime.

For reference, it had been six months since the two had left work without overtime.

“Sarah’s face looks much better too.”

Sarah turned her body and asked.

“You know it’s 7 o’clock today, right?”

“Yes. Yes. I know.”

Today at 7 o’clock there was a meeting with Lyla Marine.

‘Maybe she wants to check the America Service schedule.’

America Service was the name of Bank of America’s online stock service system.

Sarah, who was preparing to go to work, turned her head to Jung Hyun-woo and asked.

“You didn’t dress up because of Miss Marine, did you?”

The eyes of an older sister wary of her younger brother’s girlfriend.

Jung Hyun-woo vehemently waved both hands and answered.

“Th, that can’t be. Miss Marine is much older than me.”

In fact, Lyla Marine was the same age as Laura Hilton.

Sarah withdrew her fierce gaze and said.

“Hmm, really? Your sister would be disappointed if she heard that.”

Jung Hyun-woo could only give an awkward smile.

“Sh, shall we go to work?”

Sarah nodded as if she understood.

“Okay.”

She took Jung Hyun-woo’s hand and left the front door.