Corporate Villain
Copyright© 2025 by K.W
Chapter 31
“Oh Ji-won! Oh Ji-won! Oh Ji-won!”
4 PM.
The European Division office, bustling with a festive atmosphere, welcomed Deputy Chief Oh Ji-won, who had just arrived from the airport.
An anticipated billing turnover of 20 million euros.
Deputy Chief Oh Ji-won, having sealed a contract worth roughly 30 billion Korean won, returned straight to the company from Andalusia, Korea.
The mood in the European Division office, which had been skeptical of Oh Ji-won’s official ‘My Way’ just three months ago, was now celebratory.
After lightly thumping his chest a couple of times, Deputy Chief Oh Ji-won put his index finger to his lips and then pointed skyward, a gesture far removed from his ‘My Way’ image.
Director Choi Jang-ho quelled the relentless welcome for Deputy Chief Oh and suggested,
“So, it’s chilly today. How about eel for the company dinner?”
“Eel again? Who is this dinner really for?”
“What does being chilly have to do with eel? When it’s hot, you say it’s because it’s hot, and when it’s chilly, because it’s chilly.”
Complaints about the director’s taste began to erupt from all corners.
“Is there still some of the company dinner budget left from the big boss?”
“Even if we suggest beef, it’s always eel, tripe, sashimi ... That’s why there’s always money left. Director! Let’s grill some meat today!”
“Meat? Did everyone say meat? Okay! Deal! Since it’s chilly, let’s go for Korean beef!”
“Wow!”
Meanwhile, in the European Division’s second partition of Bulldog, Deputy Chief Son Jae-gyu began to calm the welcome for Oh Ji-won.
“How long are we going to just stand by and celebrate?”
The team leaders smiled confidently in front of Deputy Chief Son Jae-gyu’s determination, suggesting it was time to show why Bulldog was Bulldog.
Bulldog.
Before establishing the Madrid branch in the Spanish team, Bulldog was responsible for over 70 percent of the entire European Division’s billing turnover, the most powerful team not just in the division but across the entire trading sector.
“Manager Jo.”
“Yes, Deputy Chief.”
“How’s the coffee machine situation with Marco?”
“We can make contact as soon as the reference from the previous Korean license company comes in.”
“Do you think they’ll send the reference just because we ask? It’s a business they have to regurgitate once the license contract ends. Would you be proactive in handing over references to another company if you were them?”
“I’ll check on it again.”
“Don’t just check; bring it in. It’s Taekyung’s side, right?”
“Yes.”
“Whether you have to cling to their coattails or threaten them with overlapping business items, get the reference from Marco’s side within this week and grease the wheels on the proposal.”
“Yes!”
Deputy Chief Son Jae-gyu turned his gaze to the partition next door.
“Hey, Manager Kim.”
“Yes?”
“Aren’t you nervous?”
“...”
“Right now, your team’s bread and butter, the wine, has been snatched by the Spanish team, with the full backing of Daeyoung Distribution. Don’t you think it’d be utterly embarrassing if our Bulldog team gets outdone in wine by the Spanish team?”
“Yikes! I’m getting nervous.”
“But we’re all one family. Even if we compete, let’s share channels when it comes to distribution.”
“Yes.”
This time, after looking around the entire Bulldog team, Deputy Chief Son Jae-gyu said,
“There may be surprises, but no reversals. I can’t tolerate being outdone by Division 1 in billing turnover. If you can’t bring in profitable deals like the Marco coffee machine, then squeeze what you can from what we have. What are we, as traders?”
“We could sell dirt!”
“We could even sell the underwear we’re wearing. Congratulations. But enough of that, let’s get serious, shall we? How long are we going to just congratulate others on their performance?”
It feels like the European Division office has reverted to its state from 12 years ago, all in just three months.
Deputy Chief Son Jae-gyu, after surveying the entire office, is deep in resentment over his own behavior three months ago, during Deputy Chief Oh Ji-won’s promotion, when he had shown his worst.
This is the European Division.
It was 12 years ago, before the overseas construction sector had landed its big contracts.
Deputy Chief Son Jae-gyu had joined Daeyoung Corporation back then.
The pride of Daeyoung Corporation was undoubtedly the trading division, and within it, the European Division played the role of the heart.
The competition between teams was fierce enough to draw blood, yet paradoxically, the European Division boasted a team solidarity that proclaimed, “We are the best!” unmatched by any other department.
If an office colleague suffered a loss, even on weekdays, they would take turns keeping vigil, and strategically select who would accompany them to the gravesite, fulfilling their duty to their colleague.
It feels like a return to those times.
It had been too prevalent.
Lines and factions were drawn, and envy and jealousy over performance, rather than fair competition, had become all too common in the European Division.
Regret and reflection.
The atmosphere in the European Division had been flowing in a negative direction, and Deputy Chief Son Jae-gyu realized he had contributed to it to some extent.
As Deputy Chief Son Jae-gyu looked around the office, his eyes met Deputy Chief Oh Ji-won’s.
As soon as their eyes met, a smile spread across Son Jae-gyu’s face.
And with him, a smile also appeared on Deputy Chief Oh Ji-won’s face.
He gave a thumbs-up of recognition to Deputy Chief Oh Ji-won.
Chief Oh Ji-won gave a brief nod towards Deputy Chief Son Jae-gyu.
All the employees of the European Division watched, engraving into their hearts the image of the division that now seemed like a legend from the days when tigers smoked, the pinnacle of Daeyoung Corporation.
Had it been any other time, I would have declined and told them to enjoy themselves, but today’s dinner was one I couldn’t refuse.
The first thing I did as the head of Daeyoung Corporation wasn’t even meeting with the president, but issuing the promotion order for Deputy Chief Oh Ji-won.
And now, just two months later, Deputy Chief Oh Ji-won had achieved near-miraculous results and returned. How could I refuse the celebration dinner in her honor?
She had managed to seal the deal with just the fourth inspection.
Such a short period of two months.
Compared to the Olive contract five years ago, this was practically a freebie.
The dinner started at 7 PM.
Of course, I only had two glasses of soju mixed with beer at the first stop, a Korean beef restaurant, before excusing myself early.
I hardly ate, fearing I might end up stuck at the dinner if I really started to dig in.
At these dinners, my role as the head was simply to offer congratulations and support for the achievements, and secretly hand over the corporate card to the manager.
“Will you be heading straight home?”
Joo Dong-jin, who always took the wheel during these official dinners, asked cautiously as we were almost home.
It sounded like he was asking if I would stop by the convenience store in front of my house for instant noodles again.
“Dong-jin, you hardly had any dinner either, right?”
“Yes, I’m a bit peckish.”
“Then shall we do instant noodles and a triangle kimbap each, like usual?”
“Yes! Sounds good.”
There’s a 24-hour convenience store near my house, which is quite nice.