The three men who came to the office had nowhere to turn their eyes, and they looked around the office.
They rushed here because of the name "Miracle," but they still didn't know why the meeting had been requested, so their curiosity was evident.
"Hello, I'm Jin Do-jun."
When I handed over my business card, one of the three men's expressions changed.
"By any chance, is it...?"
"Yes, that's right. I'm that Jin Do-jun. Haha."
I couldn't be sure how much they knew, but just the fact that I was the third-generation chaebol seemed to make them tense. Knowing that the top of the family tree was looking for them, they were pondering whether this was an opportunity or a crisis.
"But why did you want to see us?"
"Since you're willing to stand in line, I'd like it for you to stand by my side." I spoke while observing their curious eyes.
Their expressions changed with my straightforward words.
"We heard you're not an easy person to talk to. That's why I'm speaking openly." I reached out with the documents I had prepared and handed them over. "If you agree to a single condition I have in mind, these documents will take immediate effect. Take a look for now."
Before my words even settled, they immediately focused on the documents. They scrutinized every detail of the papers, not missing a single word, and their facial muscles twitched.
I wanted to cheer and burst into laughter, but I held it in.
"Do you like it?"
They fixed their expressions and spoke cautiously.
"Miracle is currently the top investment firm in Korea. The same goes for its U.S. headquarters. But we haven't heard of them recruiting under such extraordinary conditions."
"You said you're speaking openly, so could you tell us why you're making such a surprising proposal? And what's the one condition you have in mind?"
A 1 billion KRW annual salary, separate incentives, guaranteed employment for a minimum of 5 years regardless of performance.
They would have enough money to last a lifetime if they worked for just five years. But only if they accepted one condition they were about to hear.
"I heard you are advising Chairman Jin Seo-yoon. Oh, don't be too surprised. It's safe to say it's not much of a secret."
The three men remained tight-lipped. Jin Seo-yoon's warning would have come to their minds. The warning that kept her from putting a foot in this world. Her secret was out.
"Well, it's almost certain she issued a threat. But this company isn't under my aunt's control, and she won't be able to guarantee your future as much as the conditions I'm offering you will, will she?"
"That's why we need to know the condition. So we can choose whether to stand in line or tip-toe around Chairman Jin."
"The condition is simple. Make sure that Chairman Jin Seo-yoon doesn't sell the New Data Technology shares she owns, ever."
"Don't sell...?"
"That's right. I'm asking you to make her keep the shares of that company forever."
These men have also been eating their fill in Yeouido for over a decade. They know very well that the company's stock price is like thin ice. The stock could crash at any moment.
Making them hold onto that stock forever implies incurring a massive loss.
Standing in line here is not a matter of salary or office politics; it's about aligning with the top figures in the family. Their expressions became even more rigid. Did this mean lying to Jin Seo-yoon and betraying her?
"Why are you so surprised? How many people have actually lost money on stocks? Among your clients, how many people believed only in your words and ended up losing? Quite a few, I suppose?"
"However, asking us to advise her to keep holding onto a stock that's almost certain to fall..."
"You're a stockbroker, aren't you?"
"Yes?"
"I asked if you're close to Chairman Jin Seo-yoon. How well do you know her? I heard from my sources that you've met her just once."
It would be awkward to use the word "betrayal." In a relationship where the powerful seize the weak, there's nothing to betray.
"For people working in a battlefield where blood is shed every day, your understanding of the situation is rather slow, and your judgment is questionable. Have you barely managed to conceal your inadequate skills while scraping by?"
Giving a blow to their pride had brought their pent-up feelings to the surface. Still, being in front of a member of the Chairman's lineage, they could only fume and couldn't retaliate.
The issue at hand is not about who to choose for the best reward but rather, who to choose to avoid the least amount of damage. Do you grasp the concept?
They also grasped the implications of my words.
The nephew had said that he'd push his aunt into the abyss. If they declined here, the nephew would brandish his sword. Ultimately, they had to pick someone who could serve as a shield, and as I had promised to lay out a red carpet, it was evident which side they should stand on if they weren't fools.
"We understand it quite well, but how can you guarantee this?"
"What do you want me to guarantee?"
"A guarantee that you will employ us as per this contract if Chairman Jin Seo-yoon expels us."
"Can you promise she will not to sell the stock and hold onto it?" My chuckle received a swift counterpunch.
"We might not make our customers earn money through stocks, but we certainly can make them lose. You should be able to understand that, didn't you?"
The promise undoubtedly meant that they'd stick to it, and it implied their standing by my side. Now, I had to provide them with the assurance they needed.
"In fact, I also own 300,000 shares of New Data Technology stock. For you, that's roughly five years' worth of salary, isn't it?"
"Three hundred...!"
The current stock price had surpassed 200,000 won, amounting to at least 60 billion won. Even if their combined five-year salaries totaled 15 billion, it wasn't a trivial amount by any means.
"May I ask at what price you bought it?"
"I acquired it at 500 million won when it was just listed."
A subdued gasp emanated from the three of them simultaneously.
"You purchased it at the listing price... That's truly remarkable."
"May I inquire about how you held onto it? The price fluctuations were massive... Weren't you tempted to sell when it was falling?"