Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 41

41. 12th. As Expected, Unexpectedly (7)

Claire entered the room and placed a steaming mug in front of Henry.

“Here you go.”

Henry didn’t even acknowledge Claire’s thanks, placed her own mug on her desk, and then closed the blinds.

“What brings you here, Henry?”

“Well, I was hoping to have a sip of coffee before we talked.”

Henry took a sip of the coffee and nodded.

“Not bad.”

“It won’t be as good as Golden Tips [a type of high-quality tea]. It’s just cheap coffee beans. What brings you here?”

Despite Claire’s sharp tone, Henry didn’t lose his smile.

“I came because I was worried about everyone.”

“As you can see, everyone is doing well. And our investments are going well too.”

“With the money that came through our company?”

Claire’s eyes widened at Henry’s pointed question.

“How did you know that?”

“I found out while looking into your company. It seems like the money came from Korea to the United States…”

Claire quickly raised her hand to cover Henry’s mouth.

“Investor protection is fundamental for investment firms, you know? No matter where it came from, it’s our company’s money now.”

“I know. There are countless people in the world who want to hide their secrets.”

Henry’s words were also directed at himself, but he didn’t want to hide secrets any longer. That’s why he came to this company today.

“I wish you would come back, Claire. Staying in a small company like this…”

“No. I have no intention of returning.”

Henry’s brow furrowed slightly at Claire’s firm refusal.

“Why? If you come back, you could have Triumph, worth hundreds of billions of dollars…”

“I enjoy what I do here, Henry.”

“Enjoy?”

“Yes. I don’t have to worry about my superiors, and we can invest as we please. Well…”

Claire hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell the truth.

“We’re investing mainly in the portfolio suggested by the largest investor, but it suits our tendencies well.”

Henry roughly knew Standard Capital’s portfolio, and he knew it didn’t suit him but suited his old colleagues at this company, so he nodded.

“I see. Let’s stop here for today.”

If you push too hard, you can ruin things. Today, Henry took a step back and drank his coffee.

The bitter taste spreading in his mouth. He knew it wasn’t just because of the cheap coffee beans.

Only after finishing his coffee did Henry get up. Before opening the door, he stopped and asked without turning around.

“But who is that Asian friend next to you? Is he a boyfriend you got instead of Sun?”

Claire, who had flinched for a moment, quickly opened her mouth.

“No. Sun is the only man for me.”

“Then why are you so close to him?”

“He’s a friend who got a job at our company, and he’s quite an interesting guy. He has something that transcends age.”

Henry’s lips curled up slightly as Claire’s voice softened.

“It seems you like him quite a bit.”

“He’s not bad. As a friend. As a colleague.”

“I see. See you next time.”

With those words, Henry opened the door. Claire, feeling awkward about ignoring him until the end, also got up and left the room.

***

As the two men and women entered the room, the blinds covered the window. Watching this, I asked the employees.

“Who is that person?”

“Pardon?”

“The gentleman who just went in. Henry, you said?”

After hesitating for a moment, the employee sighed.

“Henry Royce. He’s one of the board members of Triumph Capital.”

“Triumph Capital… a board member?”

I couldn’t believe my ears. Unlike Korea, in Anglo-American and European countries, the authority of the board of directors cannot be ignored, so why is such a person here?

But my surprise was premature. It was because of the words of another employee that followed.

“That’s not all, Johnny. Henry is the fifth head of the Royce family, who founded Triumph Capital.”

“The Royce family?”

“Yes. Over the years, other shareholder families have joined, reducing their stake, but the Royce family still owns 17 percent of Triumph Capital’s shares.”

This can’t be. Not just a board member, but the head of the founding family that founded and controls the company?

Dazed, I shook my head and asked them.

“But how do you guys know someone like that?”

“That’s…”

The employee who had spoken first continued the blurred end of his sentence clearly.

“We were all sponsored by Henry.”

“Sponsored? Like a scholarship?”

“Not exactly, but everything we were able to achieve within Triumph, from joining the company to leaving, was thanks to Henry. As Johnny knows, Wall Street is a place where you can only go so far if you’re not a WASP [White Anglo-Saxon Protestant; a term for upper-class white Americans of British descent],”

I knew it. Isn’t Wall Street all about WASPs (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants), the upper-class white people with money, doing all the big deals? That’s why I’m having such a hard time, so how could I not know?

Another employee told me one more fact as I nodded.

“And most of the money we invested in Standard was the severance pay that Henry personally gave us.”

“Pardon?”

I was startled.

They invested a total of $30 million, including the money they invested in the early days of the company and the $300 million that my grandfather recently invested. Does that mean he gave $6 million to each of them, excluding Claire? From his personal wallet.

Seeing my expression, the employee quickly waved his hand.

“Don’t misunderstand. We weren’t instructed to take over Johnny’s company.”

“It’s not because of that. I’m just surprised that he gave you that much.”

I urged him to tell me more, and he continued the story.

“When Sun suggested we move, that is, when he recommended we join Standard, we each went to Henry and submitted our resignations.”

At that moment, Sunhae-cheol’s words from the past came to mind.

[Don’t worry. Triumph won’t fall apart just because those guys left. If you’re still worried, you can repay them later.]

[…Don’t repay me, repay our company. I don’t know when it will be, but when your size grows, haha.]

“So that’s what Uncle meant.”

“Pardon? What do you mean, Johnny?”

I waved my hand, watching the employee blink.

“He told me not to worry because Triumph wouldn’t fall apart just because you guys left. Please continue.”

“Yes. At that time, Henry started by apologizing to us.”

It was a somewhat interesting story. Most American companies cut ties like a knife, but he started by apologizing?

“I’m curious. Why would such a high-ranking person say that?”

“He blamed himself for not being able to lead us further. He said he felt like he was too behind the times.”

For some reason, it felt like I was looking at my grandfather. According to Koh Seung-ju, my grandfather also blamed his shortcomings on the night of the real-name financial transaction system…

“He was always strict with us, but we were very surprised to see him like that. We also felt sorry.”

This time, it felt like I was looking at Jang Ho-gun. He acted like he would kill you when he punished or used you, but when he rewarded you or apologized, he did it to the point where the person was surprised.

Watching me make a sound of contemplation, the employee finally told the story I wanted to hear.

“So, he asked us where our new job was and added to our severance pay from his own pocket, saying that if the owner or CEO of that company was capable, we should help them.”

Now I was even seeing Lee Myung-jin’s image. When I was selling all the family’s shares in my previous life and preparing to marry Jang Ho-gun, didn’t he even give me a dowry?

It was a strange feeling. My past, which should no longer exist, was unfolding in the present in another place…

While I was unable to shake off the poignant feeling, the door to the reception room opened, and everyone stood up. I also quickly got up with them.

“I came because I was worried about you guys, and I’m sorry.”

“No, Henry. We’re sorry we couldn’t help you…”

“Thank you so much, Henry.”

At Henry’s words, the employees lowered their heads with gloomy expressions or wiped their reddened eyes. When will I be able to embrace these people like that man?

Henry approached the employees and patted them on the shoulder or shook their hands, then approached me. For some reason, I felt a force that I couldn’t approach, like my grandfather, and my shoulders shrank.

“What’s your name?”

“John… Davidson Lee, Mr. Royce.”

I answered with the utmost respect and lowered my head, and Henry placed his hand on my shoulder. I felt a strange energy from that hand.

“Work hard, young man. This country is a place where anyone with ability can succeed.”

I could feel the sincerity in every word Henry spoke. So much so that I couldn’t even think of laughing at him for not knowing the secrets of me and this company.

“Yes… Thank you, Mr. Royce.”

I quickly took the hand he offered with both hands politely and lowered my head. Henry patted the back of my hand with his other hand.

“Okay. Keep up the good work.”

With those words, Henry left the company, swaggering as he had when he entered the reception room. Looking back, Claire’s face, looking at the door Henry had left through, was full of complicated emotions.

***

After finishing work and returning home, I sat on the sofa with Park Tae-jin, holding a bottle of Guinness in my hand.

“Today was very strange.”

“Are you talking about Henry Royce…?”

I nodded at Park Tae-jin’s question, who had taken the bottle from his mouth.

“It felt like I was seeing the elders of my family. My grandfather… my uncle… and others.”

I couldn’t bring myself to talk about Jang Ho-gun, so I glossed over it by saying other people. Jang Ho-gun was my father-in-law, whom I hated enough to kill, but he was also my management mentor.

I couldn’t even deny that, but Park Tae-jin spoke calmly as he watched me bite my lip.

“I watched from afar, and it seemed like that to me too. He’s the first person other than the Chairman who has moved others so much.”

I couldn’t deny Park Tae-jin’s words. Wasn’t he a person who exuded a dignity that even I, who had returned from living in the future, couldn’t treat lightly? The man named Henry Royce.

I put the bottle to my mouth and drank the beer, then carefully asked Park Tae-jin.

“Hyung [Korean honorific for older brother or male friend], can I become someone who moves other people’s hearts like my grandfather or that person?”

I was confident in making money. But I couldn’t change the question mark about whether I could move people’s hearts like my grandfather or Henry into an exclamation point.

Park Tae-jin smiled at me, who lacked confidence.

“You’re being too greedy, young master.”

“Is that… so?”

As I drank my beer, feeling embarrassed, Park Tae-jin said in a soft voice.

“Moving other people’s hearts is only possible with years and experience, young master. You’re already ahead of others just by doing what you’re doing now, and it would be unfair if you could do that too, haha.”

“Hyung, really.”

I smiled awkwardly and drank my beer.

Yeah, it’s something that time and experience will solve. Just like a tree grows by increasing its growth rings.

***

After finishing my work in New York, I managed the shares of Korea Mobile Telecom and prepared to go back to New York. As a result, October 1st, the opening day of the new building of the Haedong Department Store main branch, was approaching.

I am now touring the new building of the Haedong Department Store Yeongdeungpo main branch, which opened on the first day, with Park Tae-jin and Jang Ha-yeon.

“Wow…”

“I’m going to get crushed to death by people, noona [Korean honorific for older sister or female friend].”

“I didn’t expect it to be this crowded.”

The luxury goods stores on the first floor were packed with people.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing, cutting in line?”

“Cutting in line? My husband is standing here, what are you talking about!”

A young woman with sunglasses on her head and a skinny middle-aged woman were arguing in front of the Fendi store…

“Honey, can you buy me this?”

“Excuse me, I’ll pay for this.”

At the Gucci store, a couple in their 50s were holding up a bamboo bag to the clerk and handing over their credit card.

“It seems like our idea worked?”

“I think so.”

The proposal we made included a condition of a minimum commission rate of 25 percent for 20 years for each overseas brand to be opened. Instead, the key was to give them as much space as they wanted, and it seemed like our idea worked.

While Jang Ha-yeon and I were looking around the store with dazed expressions, Park Tae-jin laughed heartily.

“It seems like your ideas have come true. Congratulations, haha.”

“We gave them plenty of space to do business well, so they have to do that much. Roel, Taehyun, and Shinsegae didn’t do it like us.”

On the first floor of this building alone, Fendi, Gucci, and Prada each occupied about 150 *pyeong* [a Korean unit of area, approximately 3.3 square meters], and brands such as Boucheron, Cartier, Bulgari, and Estee Lauder also occupied about 50 to 100 *pyeong*. Hermes, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton will also be coming to Busan Seomyeon and Gangnam branches from next year, so there was no need to be impatient.

In addition, the second floor was made into a women’s hall, the third floor was a men’s hall, and the fourth floor was a children’s hall, etc., and samples from the upper or lower floors were placed near the escalators so that only one floor could not be viewed. Whether it’s a couple or a family, once they come here, they will have no choice but to devote their time and money.

Jang Ha-yeon looked at me as if I was amazing and asked.

“How did you come up with this idea?”

“Shopping isn’t just about buying things. From the moment you come in to the moment you leave, only good memories should remain, so that both the department store and the brand can live. You agreed too, noona?”

In the future, department stores and discount stores will change from places that sell goods to places that sell experiences.

Unlike existing department stores that pack stores tightly due to sales commissions, we widened the aisle width and store area for each brand, and improved the uniforms of the clerks and customer service, so customers with large spending will visit our store for a pleasant and luxurious shopping experience.

While I was smiling at the thought of that future, I heard Park Tae-jin’s voice.

“Let’s go. There are many places to look around, haha.”

He was right. Once this month is over, I won’t be able to see Jang Ha-yeon for about half a year, so I had to work hard to go around with her for the remaining month and look at her face.

As we moved our feet and looked around the store, checking customer service and store displays, we heard an shrill voice echoing from somewhere.

“Let’s go, noona. Something’s going to happen.”

“Let’s go quickly. Something shouldn’t happen on the first day. Senior, let’s go quickly.”

“Okay.”

It was too ominous to be called a jinx. Jang Ha-yeon and Park Tae-jin also sensed that they had to go and fix it quickly.

The closer we ran to the scene, the sharper that unlucky voice, which was very familiar to our ears, became. It’s a new building, but it’s a mess from the first day of opening!

“Hey! Don’t you know that the customer is king? You should bring it to me when I ask you to bring it, why are you saying so much?”

True to her habits, it was Jang Su-yeon doing her thing. Every time I was a porter, I couldn’t lift my head because of that behavior… Today, the female employees of the auxiliary office must have followed her. It was 100 percent that they were holding shopping bags behind Jang Su-yeon and couldn’t lift their heads.

The clerk, who looked older than Jang Su-yeon, who was raising her voice, was politely trying to persuade her as much as possible.

“I’m sorry, but customer, it’s been almost an hour since you’ve been using the fitting room alone. There are other customers too…”

“Shut your mouth? You’re living off the money I spend…!”

I don’t know how angry she was, but Jang Su-yeon raised her hand high without knowing I was coming. The clerk who saw that gesture closed her eyes tightly.

Thud!

“What! You don’t…?”

Jang Su-yeon, who was screaming without knowing that her wrist was grabbed by me, widened her eyes when she saw my face.

“Seong-min?”

“Noona, were you this kind of person? Have you been like this until now?”

Jang Su-yeon stammered when I asked, pretending to be surprised as if I had seen her for the first time. How embarrassed would she be that her true colors were revealed when she hadn’t even caught me yet?

With the addition of Jang Ha-yeon and Park Tae-jin’s indifferent gazes, Jang Su-yeon shook off my hand and ran away as if fleeing. The female employees, who were looking at us and didn’t know what to do, also took the paper bags in both hands and chased after Jang Su-yeon.

“Hoo, are you okay?”

“Thank you, customer.”

The clerk’s legs staggered as if the tension had been relieved. Park Tae-jin and I quickly supported the clerk.

“Cheer up, madam.”

“…Thank you, customer.”

With those words, we left the store and walked to another place. I couldn’t stand seeing someone from our group get hurt, so I stepped in, but it seems like I can’t drag Jang Su-yeon away. Damn it.

***

“Aaaagh!”

Jang Su-yeon, who returned home, locked the door and screamed. The tearing, sharp sound was filled with both anger and loss.

But her anger and loss were not something that could be soothed by sound alone.

With a single *boo-wook* sound, the clothes were torn, and with a *char-reuk* sound, the jewels on the necklace collided with the floor and scattered in all directions.

Only after making thousands of dollars worth of items into trash like a madman for a long time did Jang Su-yeon sit down on the floor and lower her head.

Thud, thud.

Water droplets fell one by one into the shade she cast under her head.

Jang Su-yeon clenched her fist, scratching the floor with a *kaddeuk* sound, not even knowing that her fingernails were broken.

“Lee Seong-min, Jang Ha-yeon… you bastards I’ll tear to death…”

Jang Su-yeon was engraving today’s humiliation deep in her bones as much as the blood flowing from the gaps in the fingernails in her trembling fist.