Deleterious

Chapter 14

The room was dark, the only light coming from the dim glow of a single lamp in the corner. Hanseo sat quietly on the couch, a piece of furniture he had no choice but to become familiar with over the years. There had been plenty of nights where he found himself trapped against the soft cushion. It was an hour, maybe a little less, until he had to leave to meet President Hwang. Yet he sat still, entirely stunted by his own doing, staring blankly at the phone lying quietly on the coffee table. There were few things he could focus on now besides the loud, panicking voice in his mind.

You're gonna mess this up.

He threw his head back, resting it against the expensive leather covering.

You need to tell him what's going on.

The tapping of his shiny black loafer against the hardwood floor was incessant and overbearing in the silent room. He sighed again, pinching the bridge of his nose and squinting his eyes shut as the voices only got louder.

You need to tell him
Call him now

"Sir?" Hanseo jumped at the unexpected voice, his head snapping up to look at the intruder with wide, bewildered eyes. In all honesty, he didn't know if he should be upset at the disruption or thank the man. He had been sitting in the same spot for 30 minutes.

"Apologies, sir. The car is ready."

Hanseo glanced one last time at the phone, his eyes wary and contemplative. There was no more waiting; he had to make a choice now. Silently, he stood, picked up the phone, and placed it in his pocket before walking toward the door.

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"President Hwang, I'm glad you could make it." Hanseo stands as soon as the screen door opens. President Hwang was right, the restaurant guarantees confidentiality. They're in a private room, shielded by four walls with one entryway.

"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting." There was no need for that apology, if anything Hanseo was unreasonably early. He was dedicated to ensuring this meeting went well, it had no choice but to.

"Not at all! I was just early." Hanseo sits after President Hwang is situated.

"I'm impressed with the privacy this place provides," Hanseo said, glancing around the room. "It's perfect for discussing sensitive matters."

"Exactly why I chose it," President Hwang replied with an air of subdued confidence around him. "I wanted us to have the freedom to speak openly about the potential collaboration between Babel and Shikwang Bank."

President Hwang leaned forward slightly, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I'm very interested in the development of your new product, Chairman Jang. It shows great promise."

Hanseo felt a surge of relief. "Thank you, President Hwang. I'm confident that with your support, we can bring this product to market successfully."

President Hwang smiled, his gaze lingering on Hanseo a moment longer. "Please, call me Min Seong."

"Of course, Min Seong," Hanseo replied, slightly taken aback by the sudden informality. "Uh, well you can call me Hanseo."

Min Seong smiled softly in acknowledgment before taking a small sip of his drink. Hanseo cleared his throat determinedly. "As I was saying, the pain relief patch has tremendous potential. The transdermal delivery system we've developed is a breakthrough in non-invasive pain management."

Min Seong nodded, but his eyes remained fixed on Hanseo. "It sounds like you've done your homework."

"Thank you, Min Seong," Hanseo said, feeling a bit flustered by the intense gaze. "I was embarrassed by my unpreparedness a few days ago. My team put a lot of effort into these products and they deserve the recognition and success for it."

Min Seong leaned back in his chair, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "You know, Hanseo, I find humility and dedication very attractive qualities in a person."

Hanseo blinked, unsure if he had heard correctly. "I... I appreciate the compliment."

"I mean it," Min Seong continued, his tone becoming more personal. "I've been following your career for some time now. There's many qualities about you I've found admirable."

Hanseo didn't know how to feel about this. These words sounded foreign, unimaginable. Sure, he's heard compliments before, plenty since he stepped into his biological father's home. Everyone wanted to be on his good side for obvious reasons, but Min Seong was an enigma. The President of Shikwang Bank didn't want something from Hanseo; there was nothing to gain from giving sweet empty words.

The atmosphere in the room shifted subtly. Hanseo pushed through the feelings of confusion. "I'm honored by your interest, Min Seong."

It doesn't matter, the words weren't for Hanseo to begin with. His career consisted of being a mindless stand-in and obedient pet. Every compliment he had received from Min Seong was for Han seok; Hanseo was simply the messenger.

Min Seong's smile widened. "Good. Because I'd like to get to know you better."

Hanseo's mind raced. "I... I'm flattered, Min Seong. But I must admit, I didn't expect this."

"Sometimes, the best opportunities come from the unexpected," Min Seong replied smoothly. "Let's enjoy our meal and discuss the details of the funding. But I hope we can also take this chance to understand each other better."

As the waiter brought their dishes, Hanseo couldn't shake feeling of shock. The first person that appeared in his mind was Han seok. Here he was, without permission salvaging a business meeting that almost and still could go terribly wrong. And it would all be entirely his fault. Did Hanseo have the right to voice his feelings here? Especially if it could upset Min Seong and make him scrap the idea of funding Babel altogether? No, he decided, he couldn't.  

He nodded, trying to maintain his composure. "Agreed. Let's make the most of this opportunity."

The meal unfolded with a blend of business talk and personal conversation, Min Seong skillfully steering the dialogue toward topics that revealed more about Hanseo's personality and interests. By the end of the meeting, as the last of the dishes were cleared away and they exchanged parting pleasantries, Hanseo couldn't ignore the realization of Min Seong's deeper interest. It lingered in the air, unmistakable and undeniable, leaving Hanseo to grapple with the implications as he left the restaurant, a knot of unease tightening in his chest.

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