Bound by a Ruthless Contract - Chapter 20
After gently setting Ga-eun on the bed, Si-heon handed her his business card.
“This must be a hard business card to receive.”
“It actually is. Very few people have it.”
She understood why as soon as she saw the card.
Ga-eun’s eyes widened.
This position was too high, much too high.
Now she understood how a dangerous underground figure and a flawless businessman could coexist.
“This can’t be…”
[Hwanhee Group Executive Director Si-heon Kwon]
Reading the engraved letters on the business card in her mind, Ga-eun still wore an expression of disbelief.
Hwanhee Group was a massive corporation ranked within the top 20 conglomerates, and this very Youngsei Hotel they were in was one of its subsidiaries.
She remembered how her father had proudly announced getting a membership to Hwanhee Resort in Namhae from a business contact recently.
‘The Hwanhee Group Chairman’s name was… Soon-yeol Kwon.’
Every Korean knew the life story of Soon-yeol Kwon, who went from being the head of the Hwanhee faction to becoming the chairman of Hwanhee Group.
An abandoned boy who grew up in a village hall running errands, who then fled to Seoul and conquered the back alleys before becoming a tycoon.
People couldn’t help but be captivated by a narrative more thrilling than most dramas.
After successfully corporatizing amid much attention, Hwanhee Group steadily grew its influence.
The moment they entered the top 30 conglomerates.
They completely erased their past and focused all efforts on establishing themselves as a global corporation.
The media, which had once gossiped about the group’s past activities, instantly switched to praising Hwanhee Group’s remarkable global expansion, contributions to national development, and social-friendly image of leading charity and donations.
Now, enough time had passed that Soon-yeol’s eldest son chose to become a professor instead of inheriting the company, and his eldest grandson was being mentioned as the next successor.
Having perfectly crafted their image as if they had always been a conglomerate, Hwanhee Group’s roots were now rarely mentioned.
“No way…”
When she looked up, an overwhelming sense of authority emanated from Si-heon Kwon as he looked down at her.
Standing in a position of superiority and exerting pressure seemed completely natural to him.
Just because he was an executive surnamed Kwon at Hwanhee Group didn’t necessarily mean he was part of the owner’s family, but.
‘Now that I look at him, he resembles him.’
There had once been a buzz about Chairman Soon-yeol Kwon’s younger photos, showing him to be quite handsome even by today’s standards.
Si-heon had very similar features and build to the man in those photos.
“You’re probably right. What you’re thinking right now.”
“…I told you not to call me that way.”
Si-heon smiled softly and sat beside her, looking down at the business card she was holding.
“This gold leaf. It’s real gold. Made with 18K gold powder.”
“Really?”
“Grandfather ordered it personally. I received my successor training very, very diligently after returning to Korea.”
“By grandfather… Do you mean Chairman Soon-yeol Kwon?”
As soon as Si-heon nodded, Ga-eun let out the breath she’d been holding.
He really was part of the Hwanhee Group’s owner family.
Moreover, if he received ‘successor training,’ he must be the eldest grandson that Chairman Kwon cherished most.
“Not just anyone can have this business card. Because I don’t give it to just anyone.”
“…”
“If you show this card at Hwanhee Group, no one will stand in your way. You might even be able to push past the Chairman.”
Ga-eun’s expression turned pale.
What reason could she possibly have to push past Hwanhee Group’s Chairman?
Just the thought of confronting Chairman Kwon, who remained imposing even in his later years, sent chills down her spine.
“Mr. Kwon Si-heon.”
“Yes.”
“About our contract…”
“You mean our marriage?”
Just as their ways of expressing the same thing were so different, the gap between their families was immense.
No, saying there was a gap was far too inadequate.
Even compared to a decent mid-sized company the difference would be too great, let alone Hwanhee Group.
A leading conglomerate representing South Korea, and moreover, its roots…
‘One wrong move and we’re all dead.’
This wasn’t a figure of speech – they might actually die.
If it was discovered that she had hidden being an illegitimate child after marriage. No, even if it was discovered before marriage, it would be just as disastrous.
She might be willing to risk herself, but she couldn’t endanger her aunt.
“We haven’t written the contract yet…”
“And?”
“So… there might still be room to reconsider…”
Si-heon’s eyes darkened, as if scorched black.
It was an instantaneous change.
Though he didn’t move and remained still, Ga-eun felt as if he was choking her.
Watching Si-heon strongly pressure someone with just his gaze, she finally realized what kind of world he lived in.
Ga-eun’s eyelids trembled as she swallowed hard.
“Room to reconsider.”
“The difference between our families is just too…”
“It seems you haven’t been properly listening to what I say. I told you. Let’s not waste time.”
Si-heon tilted his head slightly.
Though she was clearly frightened, the way Ga-eun clenched her teeth, clasped her hands together, and looked straight into his eyes was really just too…
Arousing.
To the point where he wanted to lay her down again right there.
