Bound by a Ruthless Contract - Chapter 52
“Is there some bold fool trying to mess with the Hwanhee Group? Surely not Congressman Park Ki-sang holding a grudge from last time…”
Hwang Tae-ju voiced something he himself could hardly believe.
“We’ll be welcoming a new family member soon.”
“What? A new family member? I thought we just completed staff recruitment recently. Did the Executive Director say we’re short-handed? Or should we intensify the training…”
“That’s not it.”
Hwang Tae-ju cut off Im Hee-tae’s words and took a deep breath.
“The Executive Director is getting married.”
“What?”
Though whether the bride would be a woman or a man remained unknown.
* * *
Leaving the commotion behind, Si-heon headed to the men’s quarters.
“Executive Director, you’ve arrived.”
Sung Won-gyu opened the paper door and deeply bowed toward Si-heon.
“Please enter. The Chairman is waiting.”
“How is the Chairman’s mood?”
“He’s curious about why the meeting was moved up.”
“Director Sung.”
Si-heon stared directly at the bowing Sung Won-gyu as he spoke.
“Do you really not know?”
“…”
“I think you do. You’re quite capable and quick-witted after all.”
“I merely await your words, Executive Director.”
Unwavering posture. Breathing. Gaze. As always, Sung Won-gyu remained unreadable.
Si-heon tilted his head slightly.
There was no choice but to go in and confirm for himself.
“Chief Noh.”
“Yes, Executive Director.”
“Here.”
Noh Man-su handed the enormous bouquet he was holding to Si-heon.
Si-heon walked past Sung Won-gyu, who sought explanation with his eyes, and entered the men’s quarters.
The space was always high, wide, and majestic, no matter how many times one saw it.
When building Jungshimwon, they say Kwon Soon-yeol instructed, “Since everyone already knows my background anyway, there’s no need to follow the nobles’ rules. Just make it big and impressive.”
It was truly a move befitting his grandfather.
Now Si-heon was about to stake his marriage on his grandfather’s way of doing things.
Making things look impressive regardless of background.
Wasn’t that the perfect theme for this marriage?
“Director Kwon, you’ve come.”
The dignified voice resonated against the high ceiling. Kwon Soon-yeol’s eyes adjusted as he looked at the large bouquet in Si-heon’s arms.
“What’s with the flowers?”
“Congratulations.”
“Congratulations?”
Si-heon spoke casually with expressionless eyes.
“You’ll be meeting your grandson’s bride.”
Kwon Soon-yeol let out an incredulous breath.
It seems when something is too absurd, words fail to come. He learned this only now at his age.
He had never experienced anything so shocking before.
If something was troublesome, he would simply remove it and clear it away.
But now his precious grandson, whom he had raised himself in place of his eldest son who left to become a professor, was rendering him speechless.
“Your hatred of repeating yourself is exactly like me.”
Nevertheless, he had to ask.
Si-heon opened his mouth indifferently, just as he had done with Hwang Tae-ju.
“I’m getting married. In May, at the Hwanhee Hotel’s rooftop garden.”
May? That was barely two months away.
“Kwon Si-heon. You are the first grandson of Kwon Soon-yeol. I raised you personally as the heir to the Hwanhee Group.”
“I’m well aware.”
“Are you saying you’ll rush through your marriage like gutting a loach? Do you intend to tarnish Hwanhee’s prestige?”
Anger mixed into Kwon Soon-yeol’s voice. His eyes flashed with cold light.
Most people would bow their heads and break into cold sweat at the sight of Kwon Soon-yeol.
Though aged, Kwon Soon-yeol boasted vigorous energy and robust physique that made the term ‘healthy’ seem inadequate.
The spirit of a man who once unified the underworld and built Hwanhee Group to its current state was too much for ordinary people to bear.
The most they could do was sit before him with lowered heads, avoiding his gaze.
But Si-heon calmly met Kwon Soon-yeol’s gaze without changing expression and said,
“I’ve found the cure.”
Kwon Soon-yeol wore an expression of disbelief.
“A cure? Surely not…”
A spark suddenly ignited in Si-heon’s previously indifferent eyes.
“That woman will take me to Hwanhee’s summit.”
