Chapter 14
“I only wanted to help because she hurt her ankle earlier.”
Jaekyung quickly stepped between them.
“Chairman, you're misunderstanding.”
Yugam didn't even look at her.
“I'm not misunderstanding anything.”
He raised his wrist and checked the time.
The second half of the auditorium performance had just ended.
“Contact after regular working hours is clearly private.”
His cold gaze and voice made his displeasure obvious.
Teacher Choi scratched his head awkwardly and quickly left.
Jaekyung looked between his retreating back and the cold Yugam.
“Why did you have to say it like that?”
She frowned.
“What did Teacher Choi do wrong?”
Yugam put both hands into his pockets.
“Haa.”
He looked down at her.
“I warned you earlier.”
Jaekyung blinked.
“...Warned me about what?”
“Don't create unnecessary misunderstandings.”
Jaekyung's face flushed beneath the outdoor lights.
“Director Jin, welcome back.”
Jin Heeyeon climbed into the waiting car at the airport.
“How is Chairman Do?”
After several weeks in Europe, the first thing Heeyeon asked about was her son.
“Did the school event go well?”
“The chairman seems to be paying close attention to the school.”
The employee continued,
“Several media outlets also came to cover the event.”
Director Jin looked through the documents handed to her.
She had felt strangely uneasy when Yugam said he wanted to become chairman of the Uitae Foundation.
But he had also made it clear that he didn't want to get involved with headquarters.
So she hadn't had another option.
Does he hate working under his mother that much?
He had only returned to Korea after five years.
For now, she planned to let him do whatever he wanted.
Then she noticed something in one of the pictures.
“But who's that woman beside him?”
She had already arranged for Yugam to meet Minister Han's daughter soon.
The shadow of another woman constantly beside her son bothered her.
“Maybe she's his secretary. I'll check.”
“Wasn't Chief Kwon supposed to accompany him for everything?”
Heeyeon's expression hardened.
“Tell him to be careful so unnecessary rumors don't start.”
She had called Yugam several times after bringing up marriage.
Every time, he had ended the call saying he was busy.
After the contract marriage ended and that girl had been removed from the house five years ago, Yugam had suddenly stopped taking his medication despite his doctor's objections.
From then on, he had almost completely stopped listening to his mother.
Even after returning from studying abroad, he had changed hospitals so many times that she had lost count.
Maybe she needed to change his current hospital again too.
“Are you still able to contact Chairman Do?”
“He's in a meeting right now.”
The employee answered,
“But I'm still in contact with Chief Kwon.”
“If Yugam won't answer my calls...”
Heeyeon thought for a moment.
“I might send someone to the Uitae Foundation. Look into it.”
“I'll find someone suitable who reports well.”
If her son refused to stay in contact, then she had no choice but to send someone to the foundation who could watch Yugam from her side.
She couldn't afford to make another mistake like five years ago.
Since the gym blackout caused by a crow the previous night, Jaekyung had kept her distance from Yugam.
After watching him attack Teacher Choi, who had only tried to help her, Jaekyung had started giving Yugam only short answers.
On top of that, the memory of how closely they had been pressed together made the silence inside the office unbearable.
A mail icon appeared on the right side of Jaekyung's monitor.
She opened it.
One internal audit file had arrived.
[Foundation Event Expense Records]
The sender was anonymous.
Jaekyung clicked the attachment.
Rows of numbers filled the screen.
Event name.
Outsourcing company.
Unit price.
Nothing looked unusual at first.
She scrolled down.
Then her hand stopped.
The numbers repeated at a particular point.
There were screenshots comparing files before and after the event-item prices had been altered.
Repeated contracts with companies owned by relatives.
A summary chart showing patterns of false deductions from temporary teachers' salaries.
The approval line...
Every single one carried the vice principal's name.
Jaekyung swallowed.
Is this what Yugam wanted me to find?
Then who had sent it?
There was no way this was a coincidence.
Someone who knew Jaekyung had deliberately sent it.
She quickly transferred the vice principal's documents onto the USB drive she carried.
As she pulled out the USB, a nearby file stack pushed it from the desk.
Tap.
The sound spread through the sunlit office like a drop of water.
Jaekyung bent beneath the desk to pick it up.
At the same time, Yugam leaned down from the other side.
The narrow darkness beneath the desk pulled old sensations and memories from their marriage into Jaekyung's mind.
She pretended not to notice Yugam's cool gaze.
She stretched out her hand.
Their fingertips brushed.
The simple skin contact made her heart race as she remembered the night before.
“Sorry, but...”
Yugam covered Jaekyung's hand with his own.
Startled, she quickly tried to pull away.
He didn't move.
“Chairman. I'll... pick it up.”
“Go ahead.”
His voice remained calm.
“Is there a problem?”
“Please move your hand.”
“Of course.”
Despite his words, neither his gaze nor his hand left her.
