A Genius Speaks with Money

Chapter 31

Lemond picked up the contract and checked it without a word.

A strange sense of weight was felt from the letters written on the document.

“To be honest, it is beyond my expectations.”

He chuckled softly.

However, a clear sign of change was permeating within that smile.

Choi Seo-jun noticed that change and drove the point home with a voice full of confidence.

“If PREZO joins hands with us, we can move toward the world stage.”

Lemond tapped the table slowly with his fingers.

Deep concern settled like a shadow on his forehead.

Still, he was clearly different from when he first met Choi Seo-jun'

s group.“What is your flight schedule?”

Choi Seo-jun replied with a smile.

“We did not book a return flight. We plan to move after the contract is signed.”

“That worked out well. It would not be bad to stay for a few days and do some sightseeing.”

Chairman Lemond picked up the receiver and spoke to his secretary.

“Eloise, prepare the conference room again. This time, tell them we will be with HJ Partners.”

Hearing those words, Choi Seo-jun and Oh Young-tae looked at each other.

Hope was dwelling on the faces of the two men.

***

The same day at 11 PM.

I, Lim Hyunjun, quietly turned off the lights and leaned my body against the bed.

My eyelids felt as heavy as lead because I had spent the day keeping my nerves on edge for various matters.

'

I should go to bed a bit early today.'

Just as I was about to close my eyes after pulling the blanket up to my chin, the phone placed at my bedside vibrated.

[Representative Choi Seo-jun]

Seeing the name that appeared on the screen, I, Lim Hyunjun, sat up.

I said as I pressed the call button.

“Representative Choi, did you just finish?”

-I am sorry, Representative. I am only now contacting you as it has just ended.

Choi Seo-jun'

s voice was tinged with fatigue, but excitement and joy were overflowing within it.

I could roughly guess just from that atmosphere.

“Seeing that your voice is bright. It seems to be going well.”

-To be honest, it is more than just going well. This is almost like a miracle.

I laughed slightly and asked back.

“Did Chairman Lemond change his mind?”

-Yes, that is right. We were fortunately able to meet him as the meeting was interrupted when we arrived.

I spoke calmly as if it were someone else'

s business.

“That is good.”

-Regarding Pisker Motors that you pushed for. That played a decisive role.

Admiration was tinged in Choi Seo-jun'

s voice.

-You should have seen the expression on Chairman Lemond'

s face when I handed him that data, it is such a shame. To be honest, I only realized then. Why did you try to acquire this company? Actually, even before then, I was half-doubting it.

I laughed briefly and said.

“Then is only the final decision left now?”

-Precisely, yes. Since we showed PREZO the hope of re-entering the US market.

“That hope will soon become reality.”

-Yes, I will go back to attend the meeting now.

“Good luck.”

After finishing the call with Choi Seo-jun, I slowly leaned against the pillow and closed my eyes.

A faint smile appeared on my lips, which were soaked in fatigue.

The next morning.

As the sunlight began to shine on the city of Paris, busy movements began to be detected at the PREZO headquarters as well.

Eloise moved back and forth from the press room to check the preparation status, and reporters from various countries were already gathering in the waiting room on the first floor of the headquarters.

When it became exactly 9 AM, the press release jointly announced by PREZO and HJ Partners was distributed to each media outlet simultaneously.

[PREZO. Signed strategic partnership with Korea'

s HJ Partners]

[Chairman Lemond announces through joint statement of both companies]

[PREZO, full-scale leap forward in the global market]

This news was reported as headlines by leading media outlets in the world such as WNN, BBN, Reuters, and Bloomsmith in an instant.

Perhaps thanks to that, PREZO'

s stock price surged immediately after the opening of the European stock market.

Expectations for the possibility of PREZO'

s revival spread rapidly along with the cheers of investors, and that aftermath soon led to the Asian market as well.

The next day, the news that HJ Partners would become the largest shareholder of PREZO made the Korean stock market literally boil.

Related stock companies began to take an upward trend one after another.

In the stock market, evaluations poured out saying it was a historical alliance between the French automobile industry and Korean capital.

On the broadcast, a short interview of Choi Seo-jun flowed out.

“We have inherited the spirit of PREZO. We have started a new challenge toward the world.”

In Seoul, I, Lim Hyunjun, watched the interview on my phone and smiled quietly.

“Representative Choi looks good on screen too.”

Behind the quiet laughter, my eyes became as deep as a calm lake.

I already knew that perhaps this was just the beginning.

***

Daehan Group headquarters Chairman'

s office.

The fingertips of Chairman Nam Kun-ho, who was sitting comfortably and watching the television screen, were trembling minutely.

[PREZO, signed strategic partnership with HJ Partners]

[Chairman Jean Lemond “I have chosen a partner for a new era.”]

Seeing the subtitles in the news flowing from the large screen, he asked with a sharp voice.

“How on earth did this happen!”

The air in the Chairman'

s office froze in an instant.

The Chief Secretary approached hurriedly but could not dare to utter a single word and only bowed his head.

Nam Kun-ho jumped up from his seat and walked to the front of the screen.

Each and every name in the subtitles was embedded in his eyes.

Choi Seo-jun of HJ Partners.

Strategic partnership.

It was the moment when the result he unwanted the most became a reality.

The image of Chairman Jean Lemond continuing the interview was shown on the television screen.

Nam Kun-ho watched that screen without a word and then slowly turned his back.

His gaze was filled with a silence tinged with a deeper insult than anger.

The matter with Park Se-dong was already settled.

He had decided to take responsibility for this issue.

Accordingly, unnecessary contact points were also drawn with a line.

He thought he had finished all the adjustments, but the result was not Daehan.

PREZO finally held the hand of HJ Partners.

Nam Kun-ho picked up the remote control placed on the table without a word and then momentarily threw it with all his might.

The remote control flew straight toward the television and caused the screen to break.

The screen flickered as if turning off and became darkness.

At that moment, Nam Kun-ho'

s suppressed anger exploded.

“These f*cking bastards!”

Soon, a pile of documents that had been placed on the table flew.

The cup that contained coffee fell to the floor and was shattered into pieces.

“How did this all happen! I settled everything! I finished everything! You cannot even do that one thing!”

Inside the Chairman'

s office gradually became a shambles.

The glass storage cabinet was hit by the golf club Nam Kun-ho was swinging, and all the trophies and souvenirs inside it poured out.

Some were smashed, and some were rolling on the floor with their shapes ruined.

The secretary'

s office side also detected the commotion and approached the front of the door, but no one could think of opening the door.

From inside, rough breathing like a beast and high voices flowed out.

Nam Kun-ho, who had been overturning the office like that for a long time, eventually stopped right there with his head bowed deeply while leaning on the corner of the desk.

Silence covered the Chairman'

s office again.

“…A beggar-like bastard dares to touch me!”

Nam Kun-ho finally straightened his waist while panting.

He slowly brushed up his disheveled hair and walked to the window.

His eyes reflected in the window were bloodshot red, and an emotion beyond anger was spread throughout his entire body.

***

After the announcement of HJ Partners'

contract, the PREZO headquarters in France was still crowded with media and investors.

After it was settled to some extent, Choi Seo-jun decided to leave Paris.

“I will return to Korea first.”

After a short handshake with Chairman Lemond, Choi Seo-jun headed straight to the airport.

His schedule was tight.

After the fact of the contract with PREZO became known, there were very many places that contacted saying they wanted to invest.

On top of that, the work to be handled in the future was also a mountain.

The actual owner of HJ Partners is Lim Hyunjun, but he was in a situation where he could not step forward to the front because he was still a high school student.

Therefore, Choi Seo-jun could not help but be busier.

Unlike him, Chief Engineer Oh Young-tae decided to stay longer locally.

The contract was signed, but subsequent coordination with the board of directors and detailed arrangement work with Chairman Lemond'

s side remained.

Chief Engineer Oh Young-tae, who came to the airport together, spoke as he saw him off.

“Representative Choi, go first. I will return after finishing the remaining arrangements here.”

Choi Seo-jun nodded and said.

“Then I leave it to you, Chief Engineer. Please contact me immediately if anything happens from the PREZO side by any chance.”

“That would not happen, but one never knows about people'

s affairs. I will contact you if such a thing happens by any chance.”

The two shook hands briefly and parted.

While staying in France, Chief Engineer Oh Young-tae decided to stay at Chairman Lemond'

s residence instead of a hotel.

He saw off Choi Seo-jun and immediately headed to Chairman Lemond'

s house.

After a warm dinner with Lemond'

s family, they moved to the reception room overlooking the garden.

On the table where the two sat facing each other, black tea with a subtle scent was prepared.

Lemond took a sip of tea and quietly put down the cup.

His expression looked much more comfortable unlike the day they first faced each other.

Oh Young-tae said as he picked up the teacup.

“The taste is really good when you brew black tea. The scent is plausible.”

Lemond chuckled.

“It is a relief that it is still good.”

The two laughed briefly.

After the quiet air flowed, Oh Young-tae brought up the main subject.

“But by the way. Why did the meeting stop in the middle of the day we arrived?”

Lemond'

s gaze faltered for a moment.

He put down the teacup he was holding and nodded his head slightly.

“Well, I suppose it is okay to tell you.”

Oh Young-tae thought that there must be something based on what Lemond said.

“If it is troubling, do not even bring it up.”

Lemond was lost in thought for a moment while looking toward the garden.

“A person who cannot even sleep if you are curious is lying. Actually, in that meeting on that day, I was trying to finalize the contract with Daehan. Because the contract terms themselves did not have a big problem. It was a situation where an agreement had been reached to some extent internally as well.”

Oh Young-tae waited while nodding his head.

Lemond slowly continued speaking.

“But there was a strange thing in the middle of the meeting. A few of the executives suddenly changed their attitudes.”

“…And you do not know the reason?”

“Since they do not say, I do not know. However, I knew that they were showing a friendly attitude toward Daehan.”

Lemond continued speaking while slowly turning the rim of the teacup with his finger.

“They had been leading the way and claiming we should do it with Daehan saying the contract terms were good from the beginning. But they suddenly checked their cell phones and all of them changed their attitudes.”

Oh Young-tae'

s eyes narrowed thinly.

“So you interrupted the meeting.”

“It could not be helped. Because from that moment, the opinions were completely split. After that, you and Representative Choi came.”

“Do you still not know the reason at all?”

“I also asked, but they did not say it flatly. Since they only gave vague excuses, I did not ask any further. Well, since as a result I did it with a better place, I have nothing to be sorry about.”

Oh Young-tae picked up the teacup without a word while nodding his head.

“If that is so, it means something did happen.”

Lemond chuckled at those words.

“To be honest, I wondered if your side did something. No?”

“Well…. It was an atmosphere where Representative Choi also did not know at all. Hey! If I had known, would I have asked you because I was curious?”

“Hahaha. That is true.”

The two laughed while facing each other.

Then Lemond opened his mouth quietly.

“To be honest, the feeling was strange on that day. I am to the point of being curious about who the one who made the attitude change suddenly is. It felt as if someone had overturned the board.”

“Maybe your feeling is right. Because it certainly changed at that time.”