Beneath The Surface || KNJ

09

Namjoon left the restaurant with a smile that lingered, pleased with how the conversation had gone. He headed back to his office with a renewed sense of clarity and optimism.

Once there, he sat down with a clear mind and began writing a new book. He titled it "New Beginnings," a reflection of the fresh start he hoped for, both in his personal life and professional journey. As he wrote, he felt a sense of excitement and possibility, ready to embrace the opportunities ahead.

Hana drove at full speed towards the office, her mind racing with frustration and anxiety. The news of losing the project weighed heavily on her. She had been so confident that the project was secured, only to find out that it had slipped away.

As she drove, she replayed the details in her mind, questioning where things might have gone wrong. Her thoughts turned to Kim Taehyung, who had praised her work during the negotiations. She wondered if his compliments had been genuine or merely a facade, designed to placate her while secretly undermining her efforts.

The thought of being mocked by someone as influential as Kim Taehyung stung, adding to her frustration. She resolved to confront the situation head-on, determined to understand what had happened and to find a way to address the setback.

As Hana stormed into the office, her colleagues exchanged nervous glances. They had heard about the project loss and were bracing themselves for her reaction. Hana had a reputation for being a formidable boss, and this was the fourth time they had lost a major project, each time to the same competitor, Kim Enterprises.

The office buzzed with tension as Hana walked through the corridors, her face set in a determined expression. Her team knew she was deeply invested in her work and that setbacks like these were particularly hard on her.

Reaching her office, Hana took a deep breath to steady herself before entering. She needed to address the situation calmly and strategically, despite the frustration she felt. Her first step was to gather her team for a meeting, ready to analyze what went wrong and to plan their next move.

Hana approached Jeonghan with a fierce determination, her frustration evident. "What the hell happened?" she demanded, her voice tight with anger.Jeonghan met her gaze, trying to remain calm despite the tension.

“The shareholders decided that Kim Enterprises' project was superior. They believed it better aligned with their current goals and strategies.”Hana's frustration deepened.

“But there’s no way their project was better. Ours was solid. Why did they choose theirs over ours?”Jeonghan sighed, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

“From their perspective, Kim Enterprises' proposal had some aspects that seemed more promising for their long-term vision. They thought it would be a better fit for their strategic goals.”

Hana was not in the mood for half-hearted explanations or strategic talk. Her frustration boiled over. “Strategic goals, my foot.” she snapped. “We need to get to the bottom of this.”

She turned to Lara, another trusted member of her team who managed the audit team. “Lara, I need you to check if Kim Enterprises has made any payments or offered any extra benefits to the shareholders to secure this project. I want to know if there's anything underhanded going on.’’

Lara nodded, sensing the urgency and gravity of the request. "I’ll start looking into it right away."

Hana’s resolve was clear: she wasn’t going to accept the loss without digging deeper. She was determined to uncover any potential misconduct and ensure that her team’s efforts were not in vain.