When I Loved You

Jaeho didn’t have a single experience of closing a business deal so far. Even if he had managed to get a deal, it wasn’t due to his own ability. All he did was create trouble during the projects, either by requesting more rebates than he should have and taking the profits, or by trading sexual favors, or by hiring goons to beat someone up and then paying others to clean up his mess.

This behavior of his was extremely similar to Mr. Cha; he had learned all this because of how Mr. Cha had treated him, after all.

Just the thought of how he could have turned out the same way raised goosebumps on Muyeol’s body. From the way he had beat up Jaeho when they were younger, and the way Muyeol worked by mentally crushing others, it was evident that he would have been even worse than Jaeho because of his arrogance.

Yiyoung was the only reason Muyeol could control himself. She was the one who he started and ended his days with. She had moments where she came close to giving up, but she always stood up and continued her journey. And it was this attitude of hers that helped Muyeol reconsider his ways.

Muyeol imagined that if he had been exactly like Jaeho, Yiyoung would probably say, “You idiot, why are you living like that?”

Yes, she would have definitely said that. Muyeol lowered his head and smiled.

After a brief moment, he lifted his head and coldly said, “I’ve told you this many times before, but I want to remind you again. Until the contract is made, nothing can be considered complete. And one more thing, everything will be ours. I’m not willing to let them steal our contributions to the project. Please remember that.”

“Okay.”

The competition was a heated one. Other enterprises were jumping in the middle of it after having heard of how big the project was. And the contract kept getting delayed because of this. But Muyeol had already expected all this. It was a part of his plan, so it was alright.

Muyeol kneaded his forehead, tired after the meeting. “Has the planning team come up with any new ideas?”

Mr. Hong seemed as if he had been waiting for Muyeol to ask. “As a matter of fact, planning team B has provided a new idea.”

“Work out my schedule and set up a meeting with team B this afternoon.”

“Okay. I will set it up right away.”

Muyeol stood up and left the room. Mr. Hong followed after him, but then his phone rang.

“Yes?” Mr. Hong answered.

“Mr. Hong,” Ms. Jang, the secretary over the phone, said, “Madam Kang is here.”

Mr. Hong immediately ran toward Muyeol. “Director, I just heard that Madam Kang is in the guest area right now.”

Muyeol nodded softly.

The door opened, and Muyeol hurriedly went inside the office.

Madam Kang—who had been waiting on the seat with an annoyed look on her face—straightened up as soon as she spotted him. “You need to train your secretary properly. Can’t believe you hired someone who can’t even understand a simple thing.”

Muyeol walked past Mrs. Kang. “Mr. Hong, I think she forgot what I said I would do if she showed up in front of me again.”

“Yes, director…”

Madam Kang immediately grabbed onto Muyeol’s suit. “Even if you say that, Hyunseo’s already on the verge of dying!”

Muyeol stared into her glassy black eyes, her eyes devoid of any light. It sent shivers down Madam Kang’s spine, but she could do nothing. She hadn’t come here simply because she wanted to see Muyeol. With the way he had treated her the last time they talked, she knew she couldn’t gain anything from seeing him.

But despite being released on parole after covering up his messes with the money, Hyunseo had gotten into trouble again. And this time, Madam Kang could do nothing to help him because her husband had stopped providing financial support to fix their son’s behavior.

Her own family was struggling; their company was under investigation after getting caught bribing politicians to select their duty free shops to work with.