Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 46

46. 15th. A Friend Beyond Distance (1)

After resting at the hotel all afternoon, we called the hotel’s general manager.

“Oh, my…”

“Sorry about that. We got a little carried away, haha.”

The general manager, after surveying the room, gave me a flushed look while forcing an awkward smile and shrugging. The royal suite, usually reserved for VIPs, was a complete mess from popping Dom Pérignon champagne all over the carpets and walls. He had every reason to be displeased.

“That will be $5 million, sir.”

Even considering the remodeling costs and the inability to rent the room during construction, it was an exorbitant price. At about $20,000 a night, was he trying to rip me off now that he had a chance?

I gave him a knowing smirk and said, holding up my left hand with only the index finger extended.

“Twenty million. Okay?”

“T, Twenty million… dollars?”

Seeing the manager stammer, I waggled my index finger from side to side, as if to confirm what I said, and grinned.

“It’s the Plaza Hotel, isn’t it? We have to pay that much. But in return…”

I paused, then said to the dumbfounded general manager.

“Even if the hotel owner changes, I’d like to lease this room exclusively for Standard Capital. And I’d like you to personally manage it.”

‘Since we’ve trashed the room, we might as well pay a bit more and use it as a reception area for our company’s VIPs. I don’t remember exactly who the owner is now, and I’m too embarrassed to ask… Whoever it is, let’s leave Standard Capital’s mark on their mind. It’s not like we’ll lose out.’

It wasn’t arrogance, considering how much Standard Capital would grow.

Moreover, whether the current owner of this hotel was the ‘future President of the United States’ or the ‘Warren Buffett of the Middle East’ was hazy, but if I offered a whopping $20 million to lease the royal suite, it would leave a pretty deep impression of Standard Capital in their minds.

The general manager pondered for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“Understood. Please wait a moment.”

The general manager left the room briefly and returned, now wearing a broad smile, unlike before.

“The owner has accepted the proposal. How would you like the lease to be registered?”

“Please wait a moment.”

With a triumphant smile, I took out my checkbook and Parker Duofold fountain pen from my bag. Twirling the pen on my finger a few times, I tore off two blank checks and wrote $20,000,000 and $2,000,000 on each, handing them to the general manager.

“Standard… Capital?”

The general manager, looking at me as if I were crazy, took the checks and stared at me with wide eyes, seeing the numbers and company name written on the blank checks. I gave him a beaming smile.

“It’s the company that will set the standard for Wall Street. The million is a tip for you, General Manager. Please take good care of our room in the future. Haha.”

I smiled at the general manager and left the room, with the rest of the team following, offering their greetings as they exited.

“Ugh, my stomach hurts.”

Leaving the hotel, I rubbed my stomach. Even though I drank with my company colleagues, I had been downing dozens of bottles of champagne since morning, and my stomach was cursing me to put something to soothe it.

“Uncle, where’s that Korean restaurant you mentioned in Jongno?”

“Looking for a hangover cure? Hehe.”

Sun Hae-chul grinned slyly. The animalistic, competitive look I saw on the balcony was gone, and now there was just a neighborhood 아저씨 [ajusshi – a respectful Korean term for an older man] next to me.

I matched his tone and smiled.

“I’m also checking to see how the 된장찌개 [doenjang jjigae – Korean soybean paste stew] tastes, hehe.”

“Deal. How about everyone else?”

Sun Hae-chul shouted, and the employees’ eyes lit up. What was this?

“Sounds great, Sun. It’s been a while since I had 된장찌개, haha.”

“I’ll have 김치찌개 [kimchi jjigae – Korean kimchi stew]. Just thinking about it makes my stomach feel better, hehe.”

“We’re not just having 찌개 [jjigae – Korean stew], right? We have to grill 삼겹살 [samgyeopsal – Korean grilled pork belly] too, Sun?”

“Add 목살 [moksal – Korean grilled pork shoulder] too.”

Good heavens. Americans asking for 찌개 with 삼겹살 and 목살?

“Uncle?”

“These guys have been hanging out with me and have become good at eating Korean food. At first, they made all sorts of faces, but now they make it themselves at home, hehe.”

Looking at Sun Hae-chul and the other members, I was dumbfounded. How much Korean food had he fed these Americans…?

Arriving at the restaurant, we each grabbed a personal earthenware pot of 찌개 that we ordered while the meat sizzled on the grill.

“Hoo-! I feel alive now, hoho.”

Seeing Claire constantly spooning up 김치찌개 while exhaling, I could only chuckle. She wasn’t just forcing herself; she was enjoying it?

“What, Johnny? Can’t I eat it?”

“Ah, no, it’s just that you’re eating so well…”

Claire glanced at Sun Hae-chul, smirked, and said to me.

“It’s because of Sun. Every time we eat at home, he makes 찌개 to eat with rice. And the rice is literally just white rice.”

“We also often go to Sun’s house and eat Korean food. It was strange at first, but it became delicious as we ate it, haha.”

Sun Hae-chul couldn’t hide that he was a Korean 아재 [ajae – a middle-aged man, sometimes used affectionately or humorously] no matter where he went. Rice with soup, really.

I chuckled and picked up my spoon, scooping up some 된장찌개. The savory and spicy broth and the soft tofu were bestowing blessings throughout my mouth.

In the meantime, the meat was fully cooked, and everyone diligently wrapped the grilled meat dipped in sesame oil with rice in lettuce leaves. Watching them eat, it seemed like they could all film ‘American Man’ or ‘American Woman’ videos on YouTube later.

While we were enjoying our meal, Claire, who was about to put a wrap in her mouth, stopped her hand.

“Yes, Claire Lawrence… Just a moment.”

The happiness on her face vanished in an instant. Her face was stiff, and it seemed like something bad had happened.

Seeing Claire leave the restaurant, Sun Hae-chul sighed.

“Hoo-, here we go again.”

“What do you mean, Uncle?”

Sun Hae-chul quickly erased the gloom and put an awkward smile on his face.

“It’s nothing, haha. Let’s finish eating. We’ve had our hangover cures, so shall we have a shot of soju [Korean distilled liquor]? Excuse me!”

“Uncle.”

Sun Hae-chul, who was trying to gloss over it, lowered his hand after seeing my serious expression.

“Shall we go out for a smoke?”

“Sure.”

What could be going on that he was even looking for a cigarette, which he rarely smoked in front of me?

***

Claire, who had entered the alley, was on the phone. Her expression was stiff as she spoke into the phone.

“…I have no intention of going back, Henry. I can rise on my own now. Why should I go back to Triumph, or rather, the Royce family? You know it too, don’t you? Your family members.”

[That’s why I’m preparing something now, Claire. So…]

Claire mercilessly cut him off, hearing Henry’s coaxing voice in her ear.

“Is that why you left me and Mom like that for over 30 years? How much longer do I have to wait? A thousand years? Ten thousand years?”

[Claire…]

“I’m at a company dinner. I’ll hang up.”

Claire’s expression was a mix of confusion. Forcibly turning away from Henry’s request, her steps toward the restaurant seemed heavy.

###

Turning away from the alley where Claire’s voice could be heard, we entered the opposite alley. Sun Hae-chul took out a cigarette and lit it.

“Hoo-, there’s no one as unfortunate as Claire.”

“What do you mean, Uncle?”

Sun Hae-chul, exhaling smoke, put the cigarette back in his mouth and inhaled. Looking at his face as he smoked, as if to hide his expression, he seemed troubled.

After exhaling a long stream of smoke, Sun Hae-chul flicked off the ashes and said.

“You heard the name Henry when Claire was talking earlier, right?”

“Yes. I heard it, but…”

“That person, Henry Royce, is Claire’s father. He’s also my friend, regardless of age.”

“Really… What?”

I was startled in the middle of my unconscious reply. Henry was Claire’s father and Sun Hae-chul’s friend?

“U, Uncle, then…”

I had many questions I wanted to ask, but Sun Hae-chul interrupted.

“Let’s talk about the details after the company dinner. It seems like Henry has been trying to bring Claire into the family lately, and it seems like you two have a lot to talk about.”

“Yes…”

It seemed like both Claire and I would have a lot to talk about tonight.

***

We went back into the restaurant, finished our meal, and wrapped things up. After parting ways with the others, I went to my accommodation in New York with Sun Hae-chul, Claire, and Park Tae-jin, where we drank canned beer.

“Hoo-, everyone eats well. People would be surprised if you ate like this in Korea, haha.”

I joked and laughed, but Claire still seemed lost in thought. She had been like that ever since she took the phone call at the restaurant…

“Claire.”

“Huh? …Oh. Right. Everyone ate well. Right, Sun?”

Claire, smiling awkwardly, looked at me with pitiful eyes and was flustered.

“What’s wrong, Johnny? Is there something on my face?”

“No. It’s just that your expression has been bad ever since you took that call.”

“Oh, that? It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

Claire waved her hand and smiled, but it didn’t look like a real smile. A daughter who wasn’t accepted into such a great family, a daughter with a different surname from her father, she must be feeling terrible.

As my gaze didn’t change, Claire’s shoulders gradually drooped. Sun Hae-chul put his hand on her shoulder as if to embrace her.

“Stop it, Claire. Tell the truth.”

“Sun?”

“Johnny, you tell the truth too. Remember what I told you to repay the favor before?”

How could I forget? It was Sun Hae-chul who asked, not someone else.

“That’s… Henry?”

Sun Hae-chul gave a beaming smile at the uncertain voice that came out of my mouth.

“He was someone I was going to introduce you to when you grew up. I was joking, but I didn’t know it would turn out like this, haha.”

Looking at him with a apologetic smile, I could tell that he wasn’t trying to use me. If I had known that Sun Hae-chul had such close ties with such a talented person, I would have clung to him first.

Claire stopped looking back and forth between the two of us with a bewildered expression and asked.

“What are you talking about, Sun?”

“It’s better to hear Johnny’s story first. Johnny needs your help too. You’ll have no choice but to accept it when you hear Johnny’s story, right? Tell her.”

“Yes. There’s something I want to show you, Claire. Hyung [older brother/friend], give Claire what 형 and grandfather gave me.”

“Yes… Young Master.”

Park Tae-jin, looking puzzled, got up from his seat and brought a document. Claire blinked as she looked at the document Park Tae-jin brought.

“Johnny?”

“It’s not just because of my family’s affairs. Standard will also bet on the yen.”

“What are you going to bet on?”

“Yen appreciation.”

Claire immediately shouted.

“Johnny, are you insane? Japan is… god.”

Claire couldn’t finish her sentence and clutched her forehead, invoking God.

“Why? Because it has the largest foreign exchange reserves? Because it has the largest net external assets? Is that it?”

“Why are you asking if you know? Mexico and the Japs are different in scale, aren’t they?”

Claire’s cynical retort sounded chilling in my ear, but I also had something to say.

“Claire, will the Fed keep raising interest rates? How much American capital is tied up in Mexico?”

Once the speculators have made enough profit and are ready to pull out, the Fed will definitely freeze interest rates. They have to prevent Mexico, the factory that supports American consumption, from being severely damaged.

The money returning to Wall Street will find another safe asset. That money will be converted from dollars to yen. Isn’t the currency of Japan, which has the largest foreign exchange reserves and the largest net external assets, a safe haven?

Claire had already relaxed her expression and nodded.

“Okay. I understand what you mean. Yahoo and Mexico were right on your hunch, so I’ll trust you.”

That was a relief.

Japan still has high barriers to entry in the financial market, so it takes at least three months to conduct financial transactions. Hearing Claire’s acceptance, I saw the possibility of joining hands with Triumph Capital and betting on the yen’s appreciation.

“Good. Now, tell me about your situation. We’re friends, aren’t we? We should help each other if we can, right?”

Claire hesitated for a moment, then opened her mouth.

“You know about Henry, so I’ll tell you something else. Triumph Capital is a company founded by the Royce family.”

“I know, Claire. I heard it from the other family members when Henry came last time.”

I silently nodded, knowing that it was already a known fact, but what I knew wasn’t everything.

“I see. But I’m Henry’s illegitimate child. I only found out that Henry was my father after joining Triumph.”

Now the fog was slowly lifting. Why she left the company.

“There was a reason why you use the surname Lawrence, Miss Lawrence.”

“My surname is my mother’s surname, Tae-jin. Henry’s family is the American branch of the German Royce family.”

Park Tae-jin stepped forward while I was speechless at the unexpected reason.

“…The Principality of Royce? Was it a principality of the German Empire…?”

“How did you know that…?”

Park Tae-jin gave a faint smile as he looked at Claire, who was blinking.

“I learned about it when I was researching reference materials to write a report on the economic development history of the German Empire when I was in college. I remember there were two principalities, and the motto was… ‘Ich Bau Auf Gott’ [German: I build on God], wasn’t it?”

“That’s right. ‘I am built by God.’ It’s a very arrogant statement. The person who founded the American branch was an illegitimate child of the Principality of Royce-Gera.”

I was so surprised that I couldn’t speak. If it was a ruling family of a principality of the German Empire, it was a family no different from royalty, but even if it was an illegitimate child, a descendant of that family founded Triumph?

Park Tae-jin said with a bitter smile.

“It’s a contradiction, Miss Lawrence.”

“It’s a terrible contradiction. Their ancestors were also illegitimate children, but they didn’t recognize me and my mother. They were really in love…”

Claire paused and took a breath, looking up at the ceiling. Her eyes were glistening as she looked at the ceiling.

“I’m sorry. For showing you this side of me.”

“It’s okay, Claire. Do we have separate public and private lives among people like us?”

“Young Master is right. Cheer up, Miss Lawrence.”

Claire’s family history didn’t feel like someone else’s business.

Even Jang Ha-yeon, who is on the other side of the world, is experiencing all kinds of checks and contempt just because she wasn’t born from Hwang Na-yeon’s womb. Park Tae-jin, who is offering comfort, will also see Claire as Jang Ha-yeon.

“…Thank you.”

The darkness on Claire’s face had lifted a little.

I had a hunch when I heard Sun Hae-chul’s story in the alley, but tonight would be a long night with the story of that woman, who was as pitiful as my woman. To bridge the distance between Claire and me.