Ransomed Fiancée (Michaeng) ✔️

Summary (Part 18)

Chapter 19:

Minjeong's inbox lit up with an email from Velore, expressing interest in investing in GroundUp. The email invited them to a formal meeting to discuss the potential partnership. Chaeyoung's team erupted in celebration but Chaeyoung herself couldn't share their excitement. Her recent encounter with Mina had been far from fine making her suspicious. Still, with no other offers on the table, she didn't have much of a choice.

Chaeyoung sat in the conference room. The contract documents spread out in front of her. Mina's legal team had just finished explaining the terms of the investment. The atmosphere was tense, the sharp click of pens on paper the only sound.

Mina was sitting across from Chaeyoung, her expression cool and detached. Chaeyoung's eyes scanned the page but one clause caught her attention. Her brow furrowed as she read it again.

"The investor has the right to approve major decisions, including hiring and firing of executives, and any strategic shifts in the business model." Chaeyoung frowned. The clause felt like a subtle move to exert control.

"I'm not sure about this," Chaeyoung said, her hands clenched around the contract. "This feels like a bit much. We agreed that I'd retain full decision making power when it comes to running the company."

Mina sat with her usual demeanour, crossed legs, glanced up from her tablet. "It's a standard clause for investors," she replied calmly. "It protects the company's interests, and it gives us—"

"I'm aware Ms Myoui," Chaeyoung cut in. "But it undermines the independence of the management team. I don't want to have to clear every decision with someone. I need to run this company the way I believe is best."

Mina stared at her silently, "The investor has a right to be involved. You have my support, but this is a partnership. The investment is significant and with that comes some level of oversight."

"Can we amend this?" Chaeyoung asked, her voice quieter now, more serious. "Maybe limit it to only strategic decisions? I don't want to feel like I'm being micromanaged."

Mina paused, "I'll see what we can do," she said, the faintest edge to her voice. "But keep in mind, there are no guarantees. We're investors, not silent partners."

"Maybe you've gotten used to getting things your way. You don't like it when someone else has control, am I correct, Ms. Son?" Mina added nonchalantly, scrolling through her screen and not bothering to look at Chaeyoung.

There it was again. Every so often, Mina would make a comment like that but Chaeyoung would remain silent. She didn't respond to Mina's remark. Instead, she broke the tension by asking, "Ms. Myoui, why GroundUp?"

Mina looked up, her expression unreadable. "Because it has potential," she said flatly. "It's risky but your team is innovative. It's a good investment."

"I apologize, but is that truly all there is to it?" Chaeyoung pressed.

Mina raised an eyebrow. "What else would it be?"

Chaeyoung hesitated, searching Mina's face for something—anything—to give away a motive beyond business. "I must admit, I find it unexpected for an international firm to take interest in a small startup like GroundUp," she said carefully.

"This is strictly business, Ms Son. Personal history doesn't factor into my decisions."

"Strictly business," Chaeyoung repeated. Perhaps she had hoped for a different answer, an assurance of some kind though she knew that was a bold assumption. If she had a choice, she wouldn't have accepted the offer. She hated the thought of personal affairs bleeding into her company, this particular company. What Chaeyoung wanted—what she needed—was for investors to believe in their vision. Maybe that was what she had hoped Mina would say: that she believed in their vision and not just the potential profits or anything tied to their personal history.