CHAPTER 206: CHAPTER 205. SHIFTING PARTY

No one wanted to show how shaken and weakened they were to the public, especially if their livelihood depended on them looking confident.

That was how companies were.

During a hard time, as long as they still had a room to breathe, they’d want to present themselves as a steady, confident pillar. They’d like to tell the world they were fine, that their internal structure was still sound, that they’d survive everything. Otherwise, how could they convince the shareholder not to leave? How could they pull in new investors to save them from the crisis?

And nothing spelled ’we’re fine and going strong’ like maintaining an annual tradition.

Like many others, for HS Group, it was the chairman’s open house event in the New Year.

It was called an open house, but of course, not everyone could just stroll in. Basically, only employees at the managerial level and major shareholders could come, along with partner companies and celebrities who became models for the Group’s ads. It was a big ’family’ event, so to speak.

Whatever the chairman and the committee hoped from this event, however, they couldn’t stop the unavoidable gossiping among these people. After all, the number of troubles and scandals HS had faced since the summer almost made people think someone was sending curses and hexes to the Group.

Perhaps that was why there was a rumor about the chairman inviting a renowned shaman for the next ancestor ritual.

Among other things.

"Have you heard? Apparently, Director Seo is still missing," some managers were talking among themselves near the waterfall decoration of the living room; a glass of refreshment in their hands, and a house staff nearby ready to give them refills and offered some canapes.

Another manager responded. "Huh? I heard he’s in a hospital abroad."

"No, no--that’s what he used as an excuse to the company, but someone from that division told me no one knew about his illness or the hospital he’s in," the first one who brought it up whispered. "Not even the royal family."

"What?!"

"Don’t tell anyone, but..." the first manager put his finger in front of his lips--although he knew someone would definitely tell other people about this. "Someone managed to contact his wife and it seems like Director Seo was kidnapped while he was abroad."

The managers widened their eyes. "Kid--are you serious?"

"Well...more like he got into trouble with some local gangs or something," the informant shrugged.

"Oof--that’s harsh," the other managers shuddered, looking around to make sure the directors weren’t around. "And the executives are hiding this?"

"I understand, though; it’ll only make people panic when they don’t really know what happened," another manager said. "Also...the first young master is also missing, right?"

Someone scoffed, speaking with a sneer. "What young master? That guy is not even the chairman’s son."

"I think he’s just running away from humiliation," the other managers nodded in agreement. Mason could act like a decent person all he wanted to appeal to the executives, but those who had worked for him knew how nasty the guy was. "That First Madam is probably acting dramatically to garner pity. Can’t say I have any."

"Looking at it again, there’s no difference when that guy was no longer at the company."

"What do you mean? I heard the office became more peaceful!"

The managers laughed and clanked their glasses together as if celebrating a good riddance. The nearby house staff came to refill their champagne glasses, which they accepted gladly.

"But, oof--must be hard for Miss Amber, huh?" they continued to whisper after their drink was refilled.

"Must have been humiliating, being connected to swindlers," someone shook their head in pity, although they didn’t look one bit sad.

There was a sense of enjoyment in taking pity on someone who clearly had much more than they did; making them feel a bit better about their own situation.

"Talking about embarrassment..."

Someone cocked their head in the direction of the stairs--to be exact, around the table lounge near the stairs. The youngest daughter of HS’s royal family was standing there with a stiff smile, looking around once in a while whilst also avoiding eye contact. She looked like she wanted to be swallowed by the floor, but her pride rooted her in place.

Perhaps, in her mind, she thought that hiding would be more embarrassing.

Mari secretly sighed--she never thought she would ever feel relieved that she wasn’t a conglomerate’s daughter. With a bottle of champagne in her hands, she scooted away from the group of managers to park her ears on another topic of conversation.

But it seemed like the executives who were smoking their cigars on the couch also talked about Ruby.

"Poor girl is so quiet today," Director Sung said, glancing at Ruby behind the billowing smoke of the cigar. "She used to jump here and there talking to everyone, trying to leave a good impression."

Director Yoon from HS Jewel snickered. "What can she do? Her little brother can’t even show his face around because of the drug case."

Jasper was indeed avoiding any jailtime, but it wasn’t like his case got erased completely--especially not from the internet. Not to mention, it didn’t seem like he passed his CSAT, even with all the help and bribing. Now, he also had to be admitted for rehabilitation, so it didn’t look good for him--or his family.

"Just his luck that the bust happened before New Year--otherwise, he’d be considered an adult."

"She must be wondering if she can survive in this household," Director Shin said. "Doesn’t seem like the Madam will continue to be the Madam for long."

And if the chairman divorced Jeong Mina, the youngest child probably wouldn’t even be able to go to a school abroad--because frankly, there was no way the chairman would take him. If Ruby wanted to stay like the eldest daughter, she would have worked hard to show that she was different from her brother.

Director Yoon clicked his tongue, taking a new batch of canapés from the passing house staff. "Do you think we should start to pivot that mistress?"

"Eh--only if she gives birth to a boy," Director Sung swatted his hand dismissively. "He never gives any power to his woman, anyway."

"So...who should we support now?"

The Directors’ voice fell at that question. They looked at the drinks in their hands and for a while, they could only smoke their cigars in silence. Usually, this kind of question was hard because there were several candidates and a war might break out between supporting parties, but...

This time there weren’t even candidates to create a supporting party for.

"Damn, this is hard," Director Yoon said, shaking his head.

"None of the remaining sons is even remotely useful, Director Sung clicked his tongue.

"Even as a puppet?"

"The youngest is a damaged product now, but Lee Axton..."

Director Shin raised his hand, shaking his head in exasperation. "That one is not even trainable--trust me, I tried."

"Do we really have to consider the daughters?"

Some of them furrowed their brows deeply, looking visibly displeased. Especially the younger ones, who would still be working when the new chairman took over someday. Once a successor was officially appointed, they would be a vice-chairman, and thinking about working under a younger woman was a concept these men couldn’t accept.

"We don’t really have a choice," Director Shin shrugged.

"But who?"

They looked up, glancing at Amber who was greeting guests on the second floor. "The eldest? She’s been working hard lately."

"Lately," Director Yoon scoffed. "It’s almost nothing."

"She’s the only one who is working. The youngest daughter is not that bright, honestly."

"Hmm..."

"We’re not even considering the second daughter?" Director Han, who had been quiet the whole time, asked casually.

The directors paused, looked at each other, and sighed.

"Honestly, she was our backup candidate, wasn’t she?" Director Yoon lamented.

"Indeed," Director Sung nodded. "If it’s only for intelligence and skill, she was better than Mason."

"But, now..."

They recalled the days when the household had one of the smartest students in the academy, very obedient and polite, with a beauty that would make the former chairman proud. The executives could still remember the shock they got when they heard that the second daughter barely attended her university classes and almost couldn’t graduate. Even more when they saw her new appearance; the colored hair, the flashy clothes, the blood makeup, even the tattoo!

It felt like they were sending a pearl abroad and receiving a child’s marble in return.

"You know..." Director Han spoke again. "She turned like that because the late Madam died, right? If we can return her to how she used to be..."

The others looked at each other and, after a short contemplation, they shrugged. "That’s not a bad idea, but who would do it?"

Or better yet--how they would do it.

This one was also hard. The second daughter was rarely seen; no one had seen her in the company for months, it seemed. She wasn’t even staying at the chairman’s mansion anymore, so no one was sure how to contact her.

"Should we try talking to her first today? Just to gauge things?" someone suggested.

While the directors were nodding in agreement, like a summoning magic, the second daughter casually strolled through the entrance with her handsome bodyguard--or lover, who knew. Her clothes were still flashy, although less revealing due to the season. Seeing her with black hair, however, reminded the executive of the Lee Seul-ah they used to know.

The directors smiled meaningfully among themselves. "Speak of the little devil."