Chapter 1 — The Transaction

Emma Hyun, the team leader, brought me coffee.

“Team Leader, things haven’t been going well for me lately.”

“What’s wrong? Something happen?”

Emma Hyun was my junior from college—though we worked on different teams—and one of the most capable career women in the company.

“The new client is unbelievably picky. And you know how it’s been with me and him lately… My head’s just a mess.”

In this industry, it was rare to find anyone with a peaceful home life.

I’d been divorced for nearly a year, yet I hadn’t felt any real urge to remarry. My parents kept pushing, but my heart hadn’t stirred.

When I got lonely, I’d visit a sports massage parlor that doubled as a brothel, or go to an intimate bar and pick one of the many dry, eager women waiting for a second round—someone decent enough to spend the night with. After that, I could last about two weeks.

So what’s the problem?”

“It’s just… my head’s so cluttered, I can’t focus. I’d really like to take a break from this project.”

“Has it even reached the contract stage?”

“No, if it had, I wouldn’t be saying anything. I only got their company profile and financial statements. I haven’t even started preparing the presentation. Could you take it over? Just until I catch my breath…”

“Fine. Hand it over. When’s the presentation?”

For a woman—especially a married one—to survive in this field was incredibly difficult.

I’d always believed that workplace inequality toward women was rampant. Men just sowed their seed, while women bore the burden of carrying a child for ten months, enduring the agony of childbirth.

And that wasn’t all. Even with shared household duties, how much more still inevitably fell on women?

I readily took on Emma Hyun’s project.

As I carried an armful of documents to my team’s office, she flashed me a grateful smile.

“Team Leader, I owe you one. If we land this contract, I’ll treat you. Gotta save that lonely divorcee somehow, right?”

“Ugh, calling me your team leader now?”

I waved her off with a fist.

The deadline from the client was impossibly tight. I gathered my team in the conference room.

“Wait, an emergency meeting with no notice? What’s going on?”

“Quiet. Listen up. A project from another team just landed in our lap. We’re stuck with a forced defense—no way out. We push through, even if it means bleeding out our noses and losing teeth.”

“Team leader, we’re already swamped. Dropping this on us like a bomb means we’re just one step from collapse. Honestly, I might get kicked out of my house.”

James Kim, a new manager who’d been married less than three months—probably true.

Endless overtime, business trips—forget the joys of a sweet honeymoon. Right now, their home was likely ablaze with arguments and bruised egos.

“I know. I’ll take the lead. Anyone with some free time, help me out. I’ll handle eighty percent. Don’t worry—just raise your hand.”

“Come on, Team Leader… Eighty percent is just mental work. The other twenty percent is backbreaking labor. We’re still the ones doing the grunt work. Isn’t that a bit too polite?”

These days, even the old saying “if told to dig, you dig” didn’t hold.

Everyone drew a clear line in front of them, and if anyone stepped over it, they’d snarl like a blade.

Still, three out of eight team members raised their hands. James Kim, the one who feared getting kicked out, was among them—ridiculous.

“You said you might get kicked out? If anyone’s getting kicked out, it’s me. If you can’t handle it, just back off.”

“Ah, don’t tease. Everyone knows your skills. Getting to work with you up close? I might actually learn something. Could help with promotion, right? Even if things are messy at home, a man’s gotta think long-term…”

“Long-term, huh…”

The room laughed. I dismissed the others and explained the project.

“So, I’ll handle the presentation prep in a week.

James Kim, tomorrow, gather the client’s business analysis, external opinions, and mid-to-long-term plans, organize them, and give them to me.

Sarah Shin, check the presentation schedule and other arrangements with the client.

And, uh… Oh, right—Yoo, pull our company’s past contract records. Just the big ones. That’s it. Let’s go!”

I already had PowerPoint open and was diving in.

James Kim sat beside me, sorting documents, staring in disbelief as I worked without a single note or draft.

“Team Leader, how can you jump into this with no paper, no memo? There’s so much content!”

“You know the old saying? A skilled programmer doesn’t draw flowcharts. Drawing one means the idea in his head is already shaky or unclear.”

“Oh, I see!”

It was true. My strength wasn’t from studying abroad—it was my ability to adapt to Korea’s fast-paced culture, delivering speed and results.

No matter the cost, people here demanded things wrapped up by startups’ anniversaries or arbitrary deadlines.

To meet that, a quick-fix specialist like me was always welcome.

“Welcome. The staff’s changed?”

“Yes. Team Leader Emma Hyun is resting due to illness. I’m stepping in. Please forgive any shortcomings.”

“Not at all! Mr. Park, if you don’t know your name in the CI industry, you’re a spy. We’re the ones asking favors.”

“Since all executives are here, let’s begin the presentation.”

I ended my first meeting with the planning director without even exchanging names, then told James Kim to turn off the lights and turn on the projector.

On the wall screen, a familiar company logo appeared from our laptop.

“Good afternoon. I’m David Park from CRE8, handling the CI project for YooGang Industries.

It’s an honor to present to you today, and I pledge our full effort toward building a stronger corporate image.

What you see now is the logo of a company once soaring under the former president’s era, now struggling. This story is legendary in Korea’s CI industry.

This single example proves the importance of CI beyond debate.

Now, rotate this logo ninety degrees. See? Do you recognize it? Yes, you do. It’s the famous foreign airline C’s logo.

Back then, when CI wasn’t valued, D Company’s logo was praised for symbolizing global expansion.

But one thing was overlooked—the patent. Yes, intellectual property.

Foreign countries already had systems where company logos and names were patented. If duplicates arose, disputes were settled before registration, or through court rulings.

D Company reportedly paid C Air an astronomical settlement fee.

Had they followed proper procedures, this unexpected hemorrhage could’ve been avoided.”

Nods and murmurs of agreement filled the room.

“Our main work at CRE8 begins like this: no company invests heavily in CI at first.

They start with a founder’s haphazard name, a cheaply made trademark. But as they gain fame, sales grow, and domestic markets no longer suffice, mid-to-long-term strategies emerge, and CI is reevaluated.

At that point, we review the company’s long-term plans, conduct business analysis, gather external perspectives, analyze products—comprehensively assessing the ultimate goal.

Based on that, we propose several name and trademark concepts, considering the company’s current image and future vision.

Then, within that scope, we search global trademark databases to verify uniqueness.

You can outsource this to us, or use your own patent-specialized lawyer.”

“Ah, we’d like someone from our side to join.”

The planning director’s voice.

“Oh? Of course.”

“The work will proceed on your end, but our contract-specialized lawyer will be involved.”

“Understood. Let’s skip detailed logistics for now.

Back to the topic—once final approval is reached, we file for legal trademark registration.

This means publicly announcing the new name and logo at major national patent offices before registration.”

“What do you mean by ‘announcement’?”

“In the U.S., for example, the patent office checks for similarities, then publicly displays the new name and logo for 30 to 60 days, during which anyone can file an objection.”

“What if something similar comes up?”

“First, patent office mediation. Priority goes to whoever registered first. But if you insist, you can get a ‘letter of understanding’ from the prior holder and still register.”

“What’s a letter of understanding?”

“Remember D Company and C Air? Though it sounds like a joke, it means: no matter how rich D gets, they won’t enter air travel. And C Air, no matter how wealthy, won’t enter D’s export manufacturing. A blind-eye agreement, basically…”

Laughter erupted.

I successfully finished the presentation. The chairman himself gave us an oral contract, and I felt like I could pierce the sky with joy.

“Wow, Team Leader, you’re amazing. I’d faint if I had to speak in front of people…”

“It’s not something you learn in a day.”

As James Kim and I packed up the equipment while executives left, the planning director called me over.

“The presentation was impressive. You live up to your reputation. I’d like to introduce someone…”

“The lawyer you mentioned earlier?”

“He refused to attend, so I couldn’t force him. But… do you know Yoon Mi-ra?”

“Huh?”

“Don’t be surprised. She’s my wife. It’s awkward, but work is work. I heard you divorced and have been alone…”

“Oh! I—my throat’s dry—Mi-ra, no, Mrs. Yoon’s remarriage—I didn’t attend, but—belated congratulations.”

He was her new husband? My ex-wife was a lawyer who advised multiple companies. Talented and beautiful, she was popular. After our divorce, this man must’ve made his move.

On the way back, James Kim kept watching my face—probably because of my stiff expression.

I’d sworn never to see her again, yet here I was, face-to-face, just because we worked in the same industry. It froze me.

But honestly, I didn’t have time to dwell on it.

Back at the office, I sat at my desk when Emma Hyun burst in, beaming.

“Team Leader! You got it? How? I’ve never seen anyone land such a big deal just from a presentation. Amazing!”

She mimicked a comedian, thumbing me up to cheer me up, but I wasn’t in the mood.

“James Kim said something happened. Is it true?”

“Yeah. I’m not feeling great. Should’ve forgotten by now…”

I grabbed files and moved to the conference room without answering. The all-night grind began.

We reanalyzed the client’s existing names and trademarks.

Several logo concepts went up on the wall—slowly modified and refined by hypothesis and reason—until the room flooded with sketches.

For three nights, I worked alone. Others had homes to return to, families waiting. I had nowhere special to go.

If I had a child, I might visit, but our marriage had only sharpened each other’s nerves. There was no warmth.

We’d lived on the edge, burying ourselves in work to avoid provoking each other.

Sex had long become labor, release, a daily chore like eating.

On the third night, I headed to the client’s site review meeting without changing clothes, dragging James Kim and equipment.

“No iron man needed—this isn’t Mazinger Z…”

“Jealous? Still, family’s better. James Kim, treat your wife well—don’t end up like me…”

Driving, I was exhausted from three sleepless nights. James Kim, who went home every night, sat beside me, drooling on his suit, fast asleep.

Probably indulged in newlywed bliss last night, finishing strong in bed. Enjoy it while you can!

“Good afternoon. Traffic delayed us.”

The planning director, Mi-ra, and a few executives waited. I told James Kim to set up.

At the large oval table, Mi-ra sat directly across from me. The planning director clung to her side, whispering in her ear, but her expression stayed frozen.

The others sat scattered. With lights off and only the projector on, it was hard to tell who was who.

“In this short time, we’ve prepared three concepts.

First, as you see, we propose ‘YooGang Group’ to reflect the company’s growth into a major enterprise.

The logo stylizes the laurel tree from YooGang’s original trademark. The color symbolizes a future-oriented…”

Several executives dozed off during my presentation.

The chairman didn’t attend, and since this was just a concept review, no one seemed tense. In the dark, theater-like setting, focus was never expected.

Mi-ra, sitting straight across, suddenly uncrossed her legs.

At first, I thought she was uncomfortable. But no.

Uncrossing them, she slowly spread her legs—even in her short skirt.

In the dark, I couldn’t see clearly, but her skirt was riding up from her spreading thighs.

Strangely, she kept her head down, avoiding my eyes.

Even stranger—she’d turned one arm behind her back, hand resting low.

Behind her, the planning director pressed close, whispering into her ear.

Her arm moved slowly up and down. The director’s eyes fluttered shut.

Her other hand was already between her spread thighs, pulling aside her panties.

Facing me, she exposed her bare, shaved vulva—completely open.

As the presentation neared its end, her movements grew faster.

Even from a distance, I could see her glistening fluids catch the projector’s light. I had to grip the table, push my hips back to hide my hardening cock.

“That’s all. James Kim, turn on the lights.”

They hastily fixed their clothes and clapped. Both faces were flushed, but no one cared.

After voting, the final concept was chosen. They’d confirm our chosen design by tomorrow, and the meeting ended.

Exhaustion crashed over me.

As people left and James Kim took the equipment to the car, by chance, only I, the planning director, and Mi-ra remained in the conference room.

“Good work. I had my wife put on a little show to ease your fatigue during the presentation. Did you enjoy it?”

“What? A show?”

I lied, saying I couldn’t see in the dark.

“Really? Hah…”

The planning director left first. As Mi-ra passed me, I blurted out what I’d held back.

“Mi-ra, why are you living like this? Don’t live this way.”

She froze, fists trembling, back to me, silent.

I faced away, but I didn’t see the director watching us from the doorway. I desperately waited for her reply.

“This isn’t your place to say. I’m happier now than ever before—immeasurably. Goodbye. I’ll email any updates. See you.”

Just then, the director, who I thought had left, reentered.

“Mr. Park, have a coffee in my office.”

He took her toward his office. I told my staff to go ahead, then waited at the elevator to head to the parking garage.

As James Kim rushed out, I told him to drive my car back to the office. I also asked him to run a trademark similarity check on the provisional logo and name.

The director’s office wasn’t far from the conference room.

“Knock knock.” “Come in.”

Mi-ra wasn’t inside. The director lounged arrogantly in his armchair. I sat on the guest sofa by his desk.

“Ping.”

“Hmm, bring it in. Three cups!”

Three cups for two people? The coffee arrived. The secretary left, but the director didn’t get up.

“Go ahead… uh… drink first… uh… I’m busy now… just a moment…”

He half-closed his eyes, slumping deeper into the chair—strangely.

Then I saw hair rising and sinking under the desk, accompanied by slurping sounds.

“Director, you drink too…”

“Enough. Lean on the desk now!”

He barked the order. I froze mid-sentence. Under the desk, a woman slowly rose, back to me.

She turned, leaned forward onto the desk—Mi-ra.

“Isn’t this a familiar pussy? Tastes good, but lacks chew… If you’re interested, Mr. Park, why not join and suck it too? Asshole taste is killer, though…”

Ignoring me, he flipped her skirt up and shoved his cock into her mouth while staring at me.

My ex-wife, now a slave. I was witnessing it.

In the conference room, he must’ve egged her on, spreading her legs for me, and she’d stroked his cock behind her back as he whispered.

Her deviant sex life—now remarried—was none of my business.

I was a man from the distant past, a forgotten ex-husband.

“Lift your head, you bitch! When did you ever spread your cunt in my office and beg for ass?

Sorry, Mr. Park, but I’ve known her for ages. I’ve been fucking this fiery, wild pussy long before divorce!

I used to visit whenever I could. But back then, fucking another man’s wife was thrilling. Now she’s mine, and it’s tasteless.

You get it? Now spread that asshole wide. Or I’ll gather the executives and make you do it again—like last time!”

She whimpered, pressed her face to the desk, and spread her ass wide with both hands.

“Honey, please… I’m obeying you… You don’t know how much I love your cock… Please… please… ahh”

Her anus was impaled. My hand holding the coffee cup trembled. Why couldn’t I say anything?

“Now suck. You suck the shit off it—why should anyone else? Hurry?”

“Slurp… suck… suck… suck…”

Pulling out, the director stood to the side—so I could see—and shoved his foul-smelling cock into her mouth.

“One day, she tried to gather executives for a group fuck, but someone objected. So I jumped her!”

“Jumped her?”

“Either take turns obediently or share nicely. But they all turned on me.

So I held her down and fucked her mouth, ass, and cunt—no mercy.

If she’d cooperated, we could’ve enjoyed it, spared her cunt from tearing, taken turns pleasantly.”

I was stunned.

“Now spread again. I need another round this afternoon to get work done. Right, you slut?

Hey, you fucking bitch! Crying while fucking me, calling your ex-husband’s name? Are you out of your mind?”

“Hah… hah… hah… My cunt itches… Honey, more, more, more, fuck me harder… I’m going crazy…”

“That’s right, go crazy. Ugh… ugh… Your ex-husband watches you in dreams, but… thrust… thrust… thrust… thrust…

Your current husband fucks you like this… thrust… thrust… thrust… You’re blessed, you fucking whore. Ugh… ahh…”

The director came inside her cunt—right in front of me.

She burst into tears, pulled down her skirt as soon as his cock slipped out, and fled the room. The director adjusted his pants with a smug grin and sat beside me on the sofa.

“How was it?”

“…”

“The ex-wife’s cunt you haven’t seen in years?”

“You’re too crude.”

I barely held back my anger.

“Am I? Anyway, business is business, personal is personal. I called you here to propose a deal.”

“What kind of deal?”

“I never wanted to marry your wife.

She clung, flirted, and after I fucked her a few times before divorce, she got clingy and pathetic—so I took pity. Now I’m sick of it.

I’ve lived alone, picking and choosing cunts and assholes for fun. You think I enjoy this settled life?

As you saw, it’s boring—endless threesomes, gangbangs, swapping. A hassle. So I want you to take her back.”

“What? People aren’t objects—taken and passed on?”

“Taken? You still think she’s yours? Still dreaming?

Her body’s with me, but her heart hasn’t moved an inch from you. Isn’t that pathetic?”

“So?”

“So I’ll do you a favor. If you want her back, I’ll divorce her tomorrow.

But I can’t do it for nothing… I can’t understand a man giving up such a fine cunt…

Or maybe you didn’t know? A woman’s pussy depends on her husband—that’s the truth.

Anyway, I deserve a cut, don’t I?

So give me this CI project at half price. It’ll save face for me.

I’ll issue the invoice at full price—just don’t take all the money. Give me half.

I can even issue duplicate invoices—just grease the right palms. Win-win, right?

For returning your wife, it’s cheap. Damn cheap. Where else can you find a cunt like that for this price?”

I left the office and agonized for hours.

I eventually explained everything to the CEO, awarded the project at half price, and waived premiums on future projects.

The six-month CI overhaul succeeded. I reunited with my wife.

But timing-wise, the company walked an unlucky path.

Right after the CI launch, news broke: the planning director had embezzled funds for stock investments, lost everything, and was arrested.

The company, unexpectedly hit by the IMF crisis, collapsed and fell into bank management.

“Did you see the news?”

“Yeah, YooGang Group. I saw it.”

“How can such a big company collapse overnight?”

“It happens.”

No one would know. In their logo, the shimmering parts people found striking—those were holes I’d secretly designed. Holes.

People praised the sparkling effect, but no one objected to the shadows I’d crafted to make the holes look three-dimensional.

Just a design, but stamping that hole-ridden logo across the company and its products—where did the money leak?

Like an unstoppable sewer. Maybe not. But maybe it was.

—End—