On her way to her room, she spotted her young niece, Mina, walking toward her own quarters.
Mina shot her a glare before disappearing into her room.
Minjae, unfazed, walked past her without a second glance.
They had once been close.
Unlike the others who judged Minjae for her reckless behavior, Mina had always thought she was cool. Even though they didn't spend much time together, the moments they had shared were always fun. With Minjae, Mina had been free to do whatever she wanted—things her mother would never allow.
But that was in the past.
Now, things were different.
---
The shareholders' meeting at Chains Tech Group had just ended. As Minjae left the boardroom, the disapproving gazes of the shareholders followed her, but she didn't spare them a glance. Behind her, Sang Tae trailed closely, carrying a file in his hands, with Jung Shin walking alongside him.
The shareholders of Chains Tech Group were all members of the Chains Organization, except for Mr. Chang, a businessman who held a share in the company despite not being part of the elite families.
"does she really think's she know's better than us" Mrs. Seo scoffed, arms crossed in irritation.
"I never thought of it that way," Mr. Baek responded. "But the young lady has a point. The company has been suffering from financial shortages due to unsold products." A few shareholders nodded in agreement, though most remained silent, unwilling to acknowledge Minjae's reasoning.
While the other shareholders just sit and complain, Mr Chang went out the board room to Minjae Who was on her way to her office
"Miss Minjae" he called after her
She heard him clearly but didn't slow her pace.
Mr. Chang was a man in his late thirties, always eager to involve himself with the Choi family, hoping to secure a spot in the Chains Organization. Despite his ambitions, his clumsy behaviour made him seem more like an assistant secretary than a CEO.
After calling out a few more times, Minjae finally stopped and turned. He was already half-running toward her, slightly out of breath.
"how May i help you?" she asked, her Dim voice was calm but carries an undeniable authority, then he composed himself and adjust his glasses
"It's an honor to meet you, Miss Minjae. This is my first time seeing you in person, but I must say, the way you handled the meeting proves that you are the true CEO of this company. " as he talked she just listened quietly, he continued
"i just want you to know that even thou the rest of the shareholders oppose your idea, you have my full support...." she cuts him off
"And what exactly will your support contribute to the present situation? Two against the rest? A brilliant strategy indeed."
"i meant that...." she interrupts again this time tilting her head as she said,
"although i have to ask, am i really the true CEO for this firm like you had mentioned" she asked
"yes Miss Minjae, you ideas and leadership are truly admirable" he assured her eagerly as she smiled
"i bet you also said the same thing to my sister" she said as her smile vanished
"do not fret Mr Chang, moreover its all business, you have to get on the good side of the one with the most potential so you could secure a good spot for your self__in the chains elite families" she said as his eyes widened
"by the look of things you seem to be the only share holder that is not part of the elite family, and im sure you want it really bad" she added as he looked down, then she continued
"well the good news is, i can make you one of the elite family" he looked up his eyes glittering with hope
"but i think im more in need of a honest ally, than a hypocrite" she said, then leaned forward "from now on i want you to give me honest answers and feed backs about the meetings we have" she said then he slightly frowned
"as much as i want a Favour from you Mrs Minjae, you realize i hold a share in this company and would not be bossed around" he said
"and you realize youe father gave you one last chance to prove yourself to him and the chang family," she said as his eyes widened,
she continued
"Just imagine," she continued smoothly, "what they would think of you if you were the one to elevate the Chang name among the elite families."
She watched his reaction carefully. She had studied every single board member before taking her position. Among them, Mr. Chang's background intrigued her the most and now, she was using it to her advantage.
"It seems your pride is greater than your ambition," she remarked before walking away, leaving him standing there, dumbfounded.
As they walked, sang tae finally spoke "Miss Minjae..." she cuts him off without hesistation
"tell me im not about to get scolded for being honest to the poor man" she said as he shook his head with a slight smile
"no" he said "i actually think he deserves it" he added
"So i was right, he did say the same thing to my siste"she said as she walked into her office, jung shin stoped at the door step while sang tae followed inside.
She went and sat on her seat as sang tae kept the file he was holding on the desk, in front of her
"this is the report from the previous meeting that you requested," he said as she took the pepers and fliped through the sheets briefly before pausing
"A construction project?" she asked
"oh, yes" he replied "an idea proposed that Mrs Minsol"
Minjae furrowed her brow
He continued "although the shareholders was against it, but she started it anyway" his voice carried a hint of admiration for Minsol's bold action, just then Minjae recalled their last argument—her sister had mentioned this construction project. The one she had halted to assert her authority as the heir.
"tell me More about it" she asked
"She wanted to start another firm under Chains. For years, Chains Tech Group has been losing money due to overreliance on a single industry. She thought expanding into another sector would help" he explained
"then why do the share holders reject it?" she asked
Sang tae hesistated before responding "most of believe it is..." before he could finish the door suddenly swung opened.
An an elderly man in his sixties walked in___Minjae uncle, her late mothers elder brother Mr lee song
As he entered sang tae immediately bowed "i will take my leave now" he said to Minjae and went off, Minjae just nodded and then turned to her uncle Who greeted her with a warm smile on his face, then she smiled back stood up and walked to him as he embraced her warmly___ after her grand father Minjae was close to her uncle, he used to work as her grand father's personal assistant and secetery even before her parents met each other, therefore while she spent a lot time with her grand father she also did with him, he was the only person she truly trusted,She was more closer to him than her father.
"My poor little one" he said as he patted her back gently as if trying to console her, while she just quietly rested in his warm embrace.
They both took their seats—he at the guest chair, she at the head seat.
"i heard about the installation incident" he smirked "it seems you are already creating new enemies young tigress" he said not suprised by her behaviour
Minjae smile faintly
"having more enemies makes me stronger and better, that way i would know Who my real foes are" she said as her uncle smiled
"So, how are things for you" he asked
"never better" she Simply replied as she reluctantly fliped through some pages of a book in front of her "my new job is not as stressful as grandpa made it look, everything goes at my command, i'm pretty much the most hated here which i happen to be already used to by now, so uncle" she turned to him "everything is fine" she concluded as her uncle just stared at her