The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 171

171. Shockwave (4)

A warm cup of cocoa.

There was nothing better for drying off a wet body.

“Charlie, you’re home now, so stop thinking about work. You’ll collapse.”

It was Sarah who had made the cocoa. She knew that Jung Hyun-woo’s mind was entirely focused on the AS [After-Sales service] technicians’ strike.

“I’m sorry.”

Sarah replaced the towel on his head with a dry one.

“Robert will figure it out somehow.”

As COO [Chief Operating Officer], Robert was handling matters that Jung Hyun-woo couldn’t get to.

“I’m going to change Robert’s title.”

Sarah raised her eyebrows at Jung Hyun-woo’s words.

“Charlie?”

She didn’t think there was anyone other than Robert who could take on the role of COO.

‘Even if the AS division is entrusted to someone else, the COO cannot be entrusted to someone else.’

Jung Hyun-woo’s thoughts differed from hers. He said in a firm voice,

“I need Sarah to take it on.”

“Me?”

Sarah was originally the COO of Victoria Corporation. Of course, back then, Victoria Corporation had fewer than twenty employees, including her.

“It’s to quell the AS technicians’ animosity.”

Jung Hyun-woo believed that the AS technicians harbored considerable animosity towards Robert and the G-Shop managers.

‘We need to form a completely different negotiating team.’

To resume negotiations, that level of sincerity had to be shown.

“The AS technicians won’t like me, will they?”

“I still think it’s better than Robert.”

Sarah sat down in front of Jung Hyun-woo and asked,

“Then what are you going to do with Robert? I’ll make it clear that you can’t fire Robert.”

Jung Hyun-woo took a sip of cocoa before saying,

“I’m not thinking of firing Robert. However, I think someone has to take responsibility for this.”

“Charlie, you’re the one who gave Robert excessive work.”

Jung Hyun-woo responded to her words in a dry voice.

“I know. But if the CEO takes responsibility, the company will be shaken.”

Sarah knew what he was talking about.

“You’re saying Robert has to be sacrificed.”

“It can’t all be good. Reality isn’t a fairy tale.”

“That’s true.”

Reality is not a fairy tale.

Sarah had heard this story from Aria several times.

‘If reality were a fairy tale, Aria would have had a happy ending.’

But Aria did not become the protagonist of a happy ending. The wealth and beauty she possessed did not bring her happiness.

“So, what happens to Robert?”

Jung Hyun-woo sighed briefly and replied,

“Wouldn’t CTO (Chief Technical Officer) be good?”

The CTO is the chief technology officer, the top executive who supports the efficient progress of the company’s research and development and technology utilization. In IT companies, it was one of the core executives, but it was certainly less important than the COO.

“CTO, huh?”

“Sarah will have to take over a significant portion of his existing duties.”

“Then what about my work?”

As CFO [Chief Financial Officer], Sarah was in charge of all of Victoria Corporation’s financial affairs.

“I’m thinking of entrusting it to Anne.”

“To Anne?”

“She originally worked with Sarah in the finance team.”

When Victoria Corporation was small, Anne had to handle Jung Hyun-woo’s secretarial duties and assist Sarah at the same time. In other words, financial work was not unfamiliar to Anne.

Of course, the CFO of a huge company like Victoria Corporation and the financial work of a startup that had just started were on different levels.

‘Charlie knows this much too.’

Nevertheless, there was only one reason he chose Anne.

Trust.

As an executive in charge of finance, the CFO needed to be capable, but also someone the CEO could trust.

Anne had worked as Jung Hyun-woo’s secretary since the beginning. Excluding Sarah and Robert, she was the person he could trust the most.

“Still, will it be okay?”

Jung Hyun-woo knew the meaning behind Sarah’s short question.

‘Anne will not be able to perform as well as Sarah.’

It could take more than half a year for Anne to adapt to the CFO role.

Still, there was no one else.

“Sarah, please help her a lot.”

Sarah nodded at his answer.

“Okay. Then let’s go with Anne.”

She knew that Jung Hyun-woo was taking this matter as Victoria Corporation’s biggest crisis.

‘If the strike starts, the stock price will plummet, and if the stock price plummets, investment withdrawals will occur in a chain reaction.’

The worst thing was that Victoria Corporation’s technological credibility would collapse, giving latecomers room to catch up.

‘We have to prevent that at all costs.’

The easiest way to stop this strike was to grant all the AS technicians’ demands.

But if their salaries were doubled, the headquarters and G-Shop employees would not stand still.

In other words, if the AS technicians’ salaries were drastically increased, Victoria Corporation would have to drastically increase the salaries of all employees. That was not realistically possible.

‘Charlie wants to end it by firing Robert and revamping the management team.’

It was unknown whether this method would work. But in the current situation, this was the best option.

“Then who are you going to entrust with the most important AS division?”

This was also Jung Hyun-woo’s biggest concern.

‘The key to this personnel change is the AS division.’

Head of the AS Division.

He needed someone who could appease the AS technicians without being swayed by unions or strikes.

He carefully mentioned one person’s name.

“How about Mac Coyle?”

Mac Coyle.

He was the head of Victoria Corporation’s Western Region headquarters and the most recent person to be named to Victoria Corporation’s executive list.

“Mac Coyle?”

Sarah raised her voice because she thought sociability was important in this negotiation.

‘Mac Coyle is too rigid.’

Jung Hyun-woo could read her thoughts in her eyes.

“You don’t think Mac Coyle is a good fit.”

“He’s too rigid.”

Sarah thought he might cause even greater friction with the AS technicians.

‘Wouldn’t it be better to have someone with good social skills?’

She thought Corey Joseph, who was in charge of marketing, would be better than Mac Coyle.

Jung Hyun-woo put his hands together and said,

“Sarah, most of our company’s executives are from MIT or prestigious universities. Sarah, do you know what this means?”

“You mean the company is centered around elites.”

“That’s right. Most of those working at headquarters are treated as elites in American society. So, this time, I’m thinking of sending someone who doesn’t smell like an elite as much as possible.”

Sarah could tell that Jung Hyun-woo had thought deeply and chose Mac Coyle.

“Mac Coyle certainly doesn’t smell like an elite.”

“Besides, his taciturnity gives a sense of diligence.”

Since the AS technicians were people who worked in the field, they did not believe in sweet talk.

“You’re going to emphasize that the company is seriously treating the AS technicians.”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded at Sarah’s words.

“That’s right. I realized what’s important while talking to the AS technicians today.”

“You mean it’s not conditions like salary increases?”

“That’s right.”

Sarah asked him,

“So, what part do you think is most important?”

“Trust.”

“Trust?”

Jung Hyun-woo replied calmly.

“The AS technicians don’t trust the headquarters and G-Shop managers. That’s why this strike happened. I think we need to change that part first.”

Mac Coyle had to fill the gap of distrust with the medicine of trust.

Sarah thought Jung Hyun-woo’s answer was too abstract.

“Charlie, can Mac Coyle give them trust?”

“Right now, I have no choice but to trust him.”

If Mac Coyle failed, then he would have to step in himself.

‘Even if I step in, there’s no guarantee that I can do better than Mac Coyle.’

He was an Asian with black hair. In 1985, a manager with black hair was rare in the United States.

* * *

Robert nodded as if he was prepared after hearing Jung Hyun-woo’s new personnel changes.

“I understand. I will take on the role of CTO.”

He thought that it was a relief that it had not reached the worst-case scenario.

‘If he were an impatient CEO, he would have fired me.’

The failure to fairly distribute stock options could be called an accounting accident.

“Robert, please don’t feel too disappointed. I thought this was the best thing to do right now.”

“Isn’t this a measure to appease the AS technicians?”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded and replied.

“When the time comes, I will turn everything back.”

It was a promise to return Robert to the position of COO.

“Understood.”

He accepted all of Jung Hyun-woo’s proposals without complaint.

Click.

As he closed the door to the CEO’s office and stepped outside, he felt a sense of relief.

‘I’ve finally put down a heavy burden.’

He had been running forward without rest for the past two years.

“Robert.”

It was Sarah who approached Robert.

“Sarah?”

“Can we talk for a moment?”

Robert slowly nodded.

“Of course.”

As he headed to her office with Sarah, a man arrived in Boston.

He was Mac Coyle, the head of the Western Region Headquarters of Victoria Corporation.

One hour later.

Twenty seconds after Mac Coyle entered Jung Hyun-woo’s office.

Only a brief greeting had passed between the two.

‘He’s really taciturn [uncommunicative].’

Jung Hyun-woo could tell that Mac Coyle hadn’t changed at all from when he worked at headquarters.

‘I’m worried about whether Mac can really handle this.’

He had spoken confidently to Sarah, but hiring Mac Coyle was a gamble.

He broke the silence and offered Mac Coyle the position of head of the AS [After-Sales Service] Business Division.

As soon as Mac Coyle heard his proposal, he raised his thick eyebrows.

“Head of the AS Business Division?”

Head of the Western Region Headquarters versus Head of the AS Business Division. Both were heads of divisions, but the latter felt like a demotion. As soon as he received Jung Hyun-woo’s proposal, he felt like he had been demoted.

“Mac needs to do important work.”

Mac Coyle narrowed his brow.

“Charlie, let’s get straight to the point. You didn’t like my work.”

He spoke at length, unlike his usual taciturn self.

This was proof that he was agitated.

Jung Hyun-woo sighed deeply after hearing his words.

“Hoo… It’s the opposite. I want you to take on this task because I liked Mac’s work.”

Mac Coyle’s voice was still stiff.

“Was the head of the AS Business Division such a great position?”

Jung Hyun-woo had to clear up his misunderstanding first.

“Mac, it’s not a demotion. The AS technicians have announced a large-scale strike.”

Mac Coyle paused at the word strike.

“I heard rumors that Robert was negotiating with the AS technicians, but I didn’t think it would lead to a strike…”

Jung Hyun-woo cut him off.

“We didn’t expect it either.”

Only then did Mac Coyle realize that things were not normal.

“You mean Robert failed.”

It meant that he had to lead the negotiations that Robert had failed.

‘Can I succeed in the negotiations that Robert failed?’

The Robert he had seen was a strong businessman. No matter how he thought about it, he wasn’t confident that he could handle the work as firmly as him.

‘This is difficult.’

Mac Coyle thought it would be difficult to accept Jung Hyun-woo’s proposal.

Just then, Jung Hyun-woo said.

“Robert will step down as CTO [Chief Technology Officer].”

Mac Coyle’s eyes widened even more.

“Robert?”

“Sarah will take over as COO [Chief Operating Officer].”

“Miss Hilton, then…”

She would somehow manage the COO position, but she couldn’t move as boldly as Robert.

“Mac, you have to do well.”

Mac Coyle couldn’t help but sigh deeply inside.

‘Hoo… Are you thinking of passing everything on to me?’

If so, everything would fail.

“The task is too heavy.”

“I know. That’s why the headquarters will fully support Mac.”

Mac Coyle was silent.

What kind of support are you talking about?

A negotiation team? Or a large sum of activity expenses?

“I want to present Mac with guidelines necessary for the negotiation.”

Mac Coyle wanted to hear the guidelines first.

“What are the guidelines?”

Jung Hyun-woo lowered his voice and replied.

“The AS technicians are demanding a 200% salary increase. We can’t accept that.”

Mac Coyle thought the same.

‘A 200% increase is unreasonable for anyone to consider.’

He thought the AS technicians thought the same.

‘The AS technicians are aiming for a 50% increase, so they must have proposed a 100% increase.’

Mac Coyle tried to read the minds of the AS technicians.

“Mac, I want you to set the limit at 30% and aim for 20%.”

The upper limit that the headquarters could accept was 30%, and the best thing was to suppress the salary increase at around 20%.

Mac Coyle didn’t nod easily after hearing his story.

“If it was just about salary negotiations, Robert wouldn’t have stepped down as CTO.”

His point was sharp.

Jung Hyun-woo nodded at his words.

“That’s right. Salary negotiation is not the only important thing. The most important thing right now is restoring trust.”

Mac Coyle received his words in a low voice.

“If it’s about restoring trust, does that mean the AS technicians don’t trust the headquarters?”

Jung Hyun-woo told him about the failure to distribute stock options.

Mac Coyle put his hands together after hearing his story.

“Since Victoria Corporation’s IPO [Initial Public Offering] was a great success, the stock option distribution can’t be called a small problem.”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded and said.

“That’s not all. Right now, G-Shop managers are unilaterally instructing AS technicians on their tasks.”

He added that information about AS tasks was not being shared.

The more Mac Coyle listened to Jung Hyun-woo’s story, the more he realized that things had gone terribly wrong.

‘Did Robert handle things so clumsily?’

He sighed deeply and asked.

“Hoo… Is Robert taking responsibility for all of this and stepping down as CTO?”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded twice.

“That’s right.”

Mac Coyle realized why Jung Hyun-woo had called him.

‘You needed someone who could win the trust of the AS technicians.’

He asked in a dry voice.

“The stock option issue won’t end with just an apology.”

Jung Hyun-woo knew that much as well.

“We will give all AS technicians 10 shares of Victoria Corporation stock as a bonus.”

Ten shares of Victoria Corporation stock.

Its value was about 350 dollars.

‘But if you give it to thousands of AS technicians, that’s a different story.’

At the very least, more than $10 million worth of stock was needed.

“Is it the CEO’s stock?”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded.

“I will transfer my stock.”

“There may be tax issues.”

“I will also bear the tax burden.”

Jung Hyun-woo announced that he would transfer the shares and bear all the taxes as well.

It was a great support for Mac Coyle.

‘At this point…’

It’s worth trying to negotiate.

That’s what he thought.

“Propose to the AS technicians that you will actively share AS schedules and information. And tell them that the AS Business Division, not G-Shop, will be in charge of scheduling AS tasks.”

Jung Hyun-woo wanted to make it clear that G-Shop managers were not above AS technicians.

“You’re saying you’re going to reorganize the AS Business Division.”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded and said.

“Right now, the AS Business Division is practically under the Game Distribution Business Division. I don’t think this is going to work.”

Mac Coyle had experience building the Western Region Business Headquarters.

“I understand what you mean.”

Jung Hyun-woo wanted to use him to transform the AS Business Division into a proper business headquarters.

‘The AS Business Division is not a business division that generates as much revenue as the Game Business Division or the Service Business Division, but it is the business division with the most employees in our Victoria Corporation. We must never take the AS Business Division lightly.’

If Victoria Corporation were compared to a person, the AS Business Division was like the spine.

Jung Hyun-woo thought that if the AS Business Division collapsed, Victoria Corporation would not be able to stand up.