Once It’s Peeled Off
Chapter 25
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The things people say when they’ve been skimming off the top are always so consistent.
I don’t know what you mean, I don’t remember. And their expressions are always stiff, as if hiding something.
“I’m not sure myself.”
Hana shrugged and beamed. Even though she was smiling, the Vice Representative flinched and took a hesitant step back, a chill running down his spine.
“Anyway. As Vice Representative, I’ll do my part before the company is sold.”
He spoke well. With a sour look, he hinted at his underlying intention to find out what she was up to.
“Yes, well. That’s reassuring.”
Whether he did or not, Hana replied with indifference. She scanned the Vice Representative for a moment before gesturing toward the door with her chin.
“You must be busy, so you should head out.”
The new product launch date was coming up soon. There was so much to do, especially since they had to promote the stores that had been rebranded and renovated.
Jayden had already come in secretly to film the commercial. He had even clicked his tongue in surprise when he called, saying he hadn’t expected her to actually sign for that amount.
Still, the fortunate thing was that it provided some comfort for the indelible scars Jayden had suffered as Gu Seok-ho.
At the end of their call, Jayden had expressed his gratitude.
Hana’s heart felt heavy hearing those words, but she was glad if it had provided even a little bit of solace. No matter what she did, the sins she had chosen in the past would never be washed away.
She wore a bitter smile and looked up at the Vice Representative, who was still standing there as if wondering why she hadn’t left.
“You have work to do, don’t you?”
Not that there was anything that actually required the Vice Representative’s touch.
“…….”
Standing there looking disgruntled, the Vice Representative gave a half-hearted nod and turned around.
“Oh, the chair, too.”
It was the chair Hana had kicked earlier, sending it sliding toward the window. When she told him to take it with him since she didn’t need it anymore, the Vice Representative’s shoulders stiffened.
‘You’ve certainly helped yourself to a lot.’
The Vice Representative, unsettled by Hana’s words as if she knew something, forced his limbs to move.
“Then.”
As Seok Hong-jun dragged the chair out, his mind raced.
Does she really know about the embezzlement?
No, that couldn’t be. She might just be poking around based on mere suspicion!
He had definitely hired contractors to wipe everything on the computers clean. He’d even had the staff put the paper documents through a shredder.
*Scrape, scrape, thud.*
After dragging the chair out and closing the door to the Representative’s office, Seok Hong-jun let out a long sigh.
Being face-to-face with that brat always left him feeling uneasy.
“Damn it.”
As he muttered a curse, his lips twitching, the gazes of the secretarial staff landed on him.
He glared at them as if asking what they were looking at, and the gazes were quickly averted.
“Whew.”
Seok Hong-jun ran a hand through his hair; his pride wouldn’t let him drag the chair any further. There was nowhere to put it in the Vice Representative’s office anyway. It was a chair that belonged in the Representative’s office to begin with!
“We’ll take care of the chair.”
Just as he was about to call over a secretary to clear it away, Chief Secretary Park Seon-ju walked up and spoke.
“Of course!”
He barked out the reply for no reason. Then, he glanced toward the Representative’s office, worried that Hana might hear him and come out.
“Oh, what brings the Vice Representative to the secretary’s office?”
Managing Director Choi, perhaps returning from meeting Mohyeon at the main house, entered the secretary’s office and greeted him.
“Ahem!”
The Vice Representative gave a rough cough and walked right past Managing Director Choi.
Hana’s single remark, as if she knew something, was bothering him immensely. Thinking he needed a contingency plan just in case, the Vice Representative hurried away.
***
World-famous pop star Jayden appears in a commercial for the domestic company [SNUG]!
The commercial was released. Since Jayden was popular in Korea as well, the ripple effect was enormous.
They had first introduced only the single sofa-chair from the furniture line, and it became a sensational hit in a short period. The seating comfort made everyone who tried it marvel.
The shape was something you might find in a café, but it felt as comfortable as a sofa when you sat in it. Sleek and firm, yet slightly plush.
On top of that, it incorporated the characteristics of artist Gu Seok-ho’s work, giving it a cool feel perfect for summer.
└ The chair is a hit. The chairs at One-Some Café were changed, so I sat in one without thinking, and it’s insanely comfortable.
└ I looked it up, and the price isn’t even expensive? I bought one for my home.
└ Perfect for a room. I put one in my studio apartment and one in my room at my parents’ house. But my mom took it. lol She says it’s comfortable.
└ There might be people who haven’t sat in it once, but there’s no one who has only sat in it once.
└ I sat in it and bought it immediately. Why is the price so reasonable?
There were many favorable reviews regarding the chair. Since the design looked sophisticated anywhere it was placed, it was frequently seen on social media.
Signing a contract with a famous café franchise to supply the chairs had also been a huge help. That had been Department Head Wi’s idea.
The reasonable price also played a part in fueling the desire to purchase.
And pop star Jayden’s performance was also impressive. It was because he was one of the overseas singers that Koreans loved.
└ Jayden. Why are you here, brother? (Famous meme photo)
└ Crazy. Jayden ㅜㅜ Please do a concert in Korea while you’re here for the commercial. ㅜㅜ
└ Doesn’t the image fit the chair so well? This is huge!
That was how they raised their brand awareness in one go. People were curious about where this company was that had recruited Jayden as a model and launched a new chair.
Let’s dig into the industry’s #1, [SNUG]!
Interviews came in from various media outlets, and Hana accepted them all.
People learned that SNUG was the predecessor to JK Furniture and that it had changed like this after the representative changed.
Thanks to this, articles about Hana were also published.
JK Group’s Jung Hana. People’s eyes were focused on her management skills. Many were amazed by the fact that these were achievements made at the age of only 27.
“The response is good.”
Hana stared intently at Tae-oh, who was sitting across from her.
To think he would call her for a meal before the wedding ceremony.
She turned her gaze back to the seafood dish in front of her.
“I have to create the sales figures I want to achieve.”
It was a statement that she had kept her word from when they first met for the arranged marriage. When she replied as if it were nothing, a low laugh spread through the air.
“I’ll offer you a high price for it.”
She had already put it up for bid for the sake of the sale. Some might find it strange that she was selling the company after boosting the sales like this.
But business people would be eyeing it.
If SNUG had continued to show mediocre results even after changing its name, it wouldn’t have helped.
But since it had now achieved the number one spot in the industry, they would want to keep the company name as is.
“You must buy it.”
Hana said, popping a plump, perfectly cooked shrimp into her mouth.
She would have to ask for it back after Seo Tae-oh bought it. But since she didn’t know what kind of events or variables might arise as time passed, she would deal with that when the time came.
What would he say if she asked for it back?
“Of course. It’s my wife’s request, so I must grant it, no matter the cost.”
Already calling her his wife. His slightly oily remark made her eyebrows twitch. Did he even know how to say things like that?
He let out a small laugh at Hana’s strange expression and said,
“I’d like for us to speak informally.”
Hana chewed her shrimp and observed him. Seriously. What is he plotting?
According to her research, there was no connection whatsoever between Jung Hana and Seo Tae-oh.
Which meant there was nothing Seo Tae-oh needed to find out by watching her.
So why did he say that? She couldn’t understand it at all.
“I’ll do as I see fit.”
“Since we’re a married couple, we’re the closest of kin. Try to be as comfortable as possible.”
“…….”
Even under her suspicious gaze, Seo Tae-oh only smiled. Sometimes, Seo Tae-oh was truly difficult to understand.
*Clack.*
Just then, a ring box was placed on the table.
“Even if it’s a marriage of convenience, it’s still a wedding. Shouldn’t I at least propose?”
Seo Tae-oh seemed to have decided to speak informally to Hana. He had sometimes used formal language playfully, but today he was speaking more comfortably than usual.
Hana looked at the ring box and then raised her eyes. As if she didn’t understand what it meant.
“Why are there two?”
There were two ring boxes. Of course, people often ordered multiple rings for a wedding. Rings to wear daily, commemorative rings, gold rings for good luck, and so on.
But she meant, didn’t people usually propose with one?
“Hmm. Just pick one.”
Tae-oh, wearing an inscrutable smile, propped his chin on his hand and urged her. At his touch, the two ring boxes moved closer.
“…….”
She let out a small sigh and examined the rings.
She really did like one of the two. But she couldn’t help but wonder why he had presented two.
She stared at the other ring, the one she didn’t like.
“Do you like that one?”
At Tae-oh’s gaze, which was persistently observing something, Hana’s head tilted to one side.
She didn’t answer and turned her gaze back to the rings.
The ring she didn’t like was a design that Jung Hana would have liked. A rose gold ring with a large, flashy diamond set in it.
Since she was in the guise of Jung Hana, should she choose that one?
But she felt dissatisfied at the thought of having to wear a ring she didn’t like.
The other one she truly liked. It was a simple ring made of platinum with small diamonds set widely across it. The design that Jung Hoyeon preferred.
“……!”
In an instant, goosebumps rose on her skin.
The two choices placed before her.
Thinking of them as Jung Hoyeon’s ring and Jung Hana’s ring, something became clear.
‘I’ll recognize you, too.’
Her gaze wavered slightly at the voice that brushed past her.
She swallowed, trying not to show it, and looked up. Seo Tae-oh, who had presented the two choices, was observing her with interest.
Her mouth felt dry for some reason, so she unconsciously licked her lips.
“I’ll go with this one.”
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