Princeling

𝐆𝐮 𝐉𝐨𝐨𝐧-𝐏𝐲𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬

                                                   𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚

     LEFT TO HIMSELF to deal with the meeting that day had planned for him, Tae-Moo holds himself in complete neutrality, watching the pair enter his office. Eyes flicking between the two, taking calculated notice. Joon-Pyo - he seems almost robotic. Hee-Soo appears to be in control. His first observations; things he keeps in mind as he calmly leans back in his chair.       “ I would prefer to think I earned my position through hard work. ” Tae-Moo states simply, to start it off. His success story - a lengthy one - should not be undermined. “ I worked hard from when I was young to become the best. Hard work pays off, above all else. I keep that lesson close to me. ” A test with his words; will he poke a hole with the insinuation he leaves ? Inheriting versus working and deserving when it comes to the CEO position.       “ I prefer any and all deals to be run through myself first. I will evaluate what you’re offering, and make my decision after going over it thoroughly. No decisions regarding business should be so easily made. I am sure this is something understood. I intend to keep Go Food at the top, as it should be under my leadership. ”      “ Now, let’s hear your pitch. Give me the reason why I cannot afford to miss this opportunity you are presenting me with. ”

Joon-Pyo opens his mouth as if to respond, but Hee-Soo sets an arm on his shoulder and happily speaks for him. “Of course. I’ve done plenty to make sure to instill such things into him and, he has flourished. He was the best in all of his classes and extra-curriculars. Ah, excuse me.” Fingers set to her lip as though she were embarrassed for oversharing. She was not. 

Of course the witch was using him as some kind of prop again. She doesn’t see Tae-Moo as a threat or anything to consider at all. Just another obstacle. He eyes him briefly. She was going to tear this company apart and leave him with nothing.

Hee-Soo crossed her legs and set folded hands onto her lap. “To be succinct. We are proposing Go Food enters Shinwa Group. With our network, we have access to advertising in almost every sector, particularly in the foreign markets, which are infamously difficult to break into with any success. Our ad campaign’s numbers are record breaking,” she states. Joon Pyo lifts his briefcase and pulls out a file full of financial information of past acquisitions and success rates and hands it to him. “Now, nothing about your company would change from within. You will still be in charge of your company in every way. We’re just expanding your presence and overall net worth. Your company helps ours, and in turn, he help yours.”

“Or,” Joon-Pyo cuts in slicing through his Mother’s tone like a hot knife. “We just buy the company from you. I’m willing to make you a generous offer for it right now.”

Hee-Soo eyed him sharply, vilely, Suddenly remembering where she was, she looked back to Tae-Moo and laughed. He wasn't supposed to do that. What is he thinking? With her proposal, they wouldn’t loose a cent and this idiot would be left with nothing. Willful brat. If he ruined this, he was going to pay for it later. “What he meant to say was-”

“What’s your company’s net worth as of today?” Joon-Pyo asked, eyes level with Tae-Moo. His own hands folded over his lap. An aura of smugness had come over him. Confidence. Vindictiveness If only to spite the hag. He had nothing left for her to take anyway. 

Slow day. Most were, it was never really until the weekend hit that the bar had more than a couple stray patrons. Fadeaway had been an interesting purchase in that way. It lived up to its name pretty well, Friday and Saturday popped off, paid the bills, kept the lights on, paid for the booze– Then it disappeared, fading away until the following week. Strangers rolling in outside of the wild hours was always obvious– Recognized when someone was out of place. Granted sometimes you could tell on look alone when someone was dressed outside the usual uniform for this sort of place.

Strutting in like owned the place, barking directions around without any other sort of greeting. Most expensive drink. Danny practically rolls his eyes, flings his towel over his shoulder. Pressing palms flat against the wooden surface, pursing his lips. “Only reason I can think of for someone to not order something by name is to show off. Wave the wallet around.” Disinterested gaze, half lidded, flips a glass over onto the counter in front of the other man, yanking up alongside it a bottle of scotch. Two crystal clear ice cubes, dropped into the glass, and about half the glass filled up over top of them. 

“Thirty year old scotch on the rocks.” It wasn’t his most expensive drink– Not even his most expensive scotch. But he didn’t figure this guy was a big tipper anyway. Why give him the really pricy shit? Wasn’t sure what else to make of the stranger, he didn’t feel Noble speaking, didn’t feel the burn or itch to be freed– At least towards this tool in particular.

His brow raised. That’s it? Ignorant to how American bars worked, or how poor establishments worked in particular, he took his answer at face value. “Do you want my money or not?” he leveled back, the bite of a snake who disliked the challenge. 

He took the drink in his hand and observed it. Smelled it. It looked a little different than the scotch he drank. Smelled way different. This was probably going to taste like shit. He took a drink. It wasn't good. It wasn't total shit. He knocked the whole thing back. Probably would have just spat it out if he didn’t need it. The glass set down harshly. “This is really the best stuff you have? This tastes like piss. Do all of your drinks taste like this?”

@lcwless​ Tae-Moo

​Kang Hee-Soo adjusted her son’s tie. No matter how many times his maids had done so, and he himself as well, nothing would ever be perfect enough unless she did it herself. “This is a very important client,” she reminds with a smile. “Don’t forget what’s on the line. Make me proud.” 

Gu Joon-Pyo’ expression remained blank. Unchanged. Witch. She was only happy when she was getting her way. If it weren’t for his father, he wouldn’t give a shit about this. He definitely didn’t care about making her proud, rotten woman that she was. 

Hee-Soo didn’t seem to mind that lack of response. In fact, she rather preferred it that way. The more quiet and compliant, the better. The elevator dinged. Doors opened. Her hand slipped behind his back as if to push him along. He walked just fast enough to where her touch wouldn’t connect. 

Escorted to Kang Tae-Moo’s office, they entered after being introduced and gave a professional, humble bow. Hee-Soo gave a brilliant toothy smile emphasized by her blood-red lipstick. “I’m very excited for you two to meet. I hear that you became CEO at a very young age, much like my Gu Joon-Pyo.”  As if rehearsed, Joon-Pyo followed up much more flatly. “It’s my pleasure to meet you. You’ll find business between Shinwa Group and Go Food will be a very profitable decision,  대표님 (CEO).” His gaze hung equally flat. Cold. 

@cypresshell​

​One of the many downsides to being an heir was having to step in and perform when asked. That meant going to the U.S. on command. He had no real connections here. Nobody to talk to. Nothing to do but work and stay locked up in a hotel room. No sports. No partying. Nothing that would put a bad light on his mother, himself, or the company. What little freedoms he had in Korea were nonexistent when he went overseas. That was, except for the freedoms he took for himself. Convincing his personal butler to stay quiet while doing as he said was a trick he learned young, getting away with it more and more the tighter the old witch’s hand got around his neck. 

Dropping him off downtown at his behest,  Joon-Pyo explored the area of New York he’d never once set foot in. He could feel the air get dirtier, taste the pollution get thicker. It was disgusting, but it didn’t sway his curiosity. How did the commoners in America live? Was it like the movies? Or would it be a disappointment? He passed shady people and even shadier alleyways. Eyes were starting to stick on him, oh so likely envious of the apparent wealth he had. His designer clothing. His clean face and styled hair. So far beyond these dirty poor people. He dared them to try something with his cold passive gaze. It wouldn’t have been the first time he had to put a commoner in their place. 

Finally, something caught his eye. It wasn't because of its smart name or pretty sign. Nothing like that. It was three letter. BAR. Thank god. He pushed through the door and looked around. Dirtier people were in here than outside. He adjusted his leather gloves. Guess he wasn't going to be taking those off. Or his coat. Someone would probably steal it.  Joon-Pyo set himself down on the only open barstool, eyeing the large person to his right who took up way too much space to not be rude.  With pursed lips and arrogant gaze, he looked upon the bartender. As much as one would any NPC in their life, really.