Deal Breaker - Chapter 17
After that day, Hyeji gave herself a grace period.
During that time, she reviewed the contracts she had received from the other candidates once more. After meeting with Kanghyeon, she noticed gaps and loopholes in the contracts that she hadn’t seen before. And there were probably toxic clauses invisible even to her eyes.
“You said you were considering signing with someone, right?”
“Yes.”
“Did you check for any toxic clauses?”
“What?”
“You didn’t, did you.”
At their previous meeting, Kanghyeon had strongly emphasized that, even if it cost money, she must have any contract reviewed by a lawyer. So, just as he advised, Hyeji sent all the contracts she was considering to a lawyer and was now waiting for the results.
She waited to hear from the last Esper, but in the end, there was no contact. Meanwhile, the other Espers kept calling, but there was no word from Kanghyeon.
I think I made a mistake.
Letting him know she wasn’t considering a contract with Borodin had been a mistake. Kanghyeon had only joined this competition to stop her from signing with Borodin, but Hyeji had told him she had no intention of doing that. Now there was no reason for Kanghyeon to sign with her.
Maybe those parting words about becoming each other’s stepping stone were just a polite farewell.
Now he’s going to withdraw his offer.
About four days later, when a call finally came from his secretary, Hyeji fully expected the conversation to begin with, “I’m sorry, but…” and end with, “Thank you for your time.”
But instead, she was told they would be sending a revised contract reflecting her previous questions. When Hyeji saw the revised contract, she was so surprised that she broke her own rule of never contacting an Esper first and called Kanghyeon.
“You raised the signing bonus and salary.”
The amount had increased, even though she never asked for it.
– Because you’re worth it, Hyeji.
“But if I’m not going to Borodin, you don’t really have any reason to sign with me, do you?”
After a brief silence, she finally got her answer.
– I decided to follow my own desires, just like you, Hyeji-ssi.
Liar. It was obvious that her story must have tugged at his heart and made him unable to pull away, so he increased the amount.
“So, I ended up selling my story.”
– In a capitalist society, even stories are a commodity.
He didn’t bother to deny that he’d raised the offer out of sympathy, and instead gave her an answer that soothed her uncomfortable feelings. Was he already keeping the promise he’d made before they parted last time?
“Thanks to your honest answer, my discomfort was resolved, so if we do sign a contract, I’ll make sure to create an environment where you won’t feel uncomfortable, Hyeji-ssi.”
Hearing that, she almost agreed to sign on the spot.
He really is experienced.
There was a level of poise and composure in him that she’d never felt from the other candidates.
“He’s lacking in tact, but he knows how to handle things properly.”
Now she thought she understood what that meant. When she asked for a lawyer recommendation after being told to have the contracts reviewed, Kanghyeon refused immediately. He said it would be a conflict of interest for someone competing in the contract to recommend a lawyer.
He had set clear boundaries. No matter how much Hyeji had the advantage as ‘Party A’, Kanghyeon never put himself in a position of absolute submission. The other candidates did, but not him.
Hyeji had a feeling. Just because someone bows and scrapes before the contract doesn’t mean they’ll keep doing so afterward. Especially with Espers, who have strong pride. One day, they might want to see Hyeji bowing to them instead. The fact that Kanghyeon never groveled actually made her feel less burdened.
She also liked his honest and businesslike attitude, even while being cool-headed. He was there to pursue his own interests, sure, but he also looked out for hers. That was a surprising thing.
It was impressive. Everyone else had been desperate to sell their strengths.
That’s why, from the inside out, Han Kanghyeon was the most memorable candidate.
Even if she didn’t sign, she figured she should at least thank him. Maybe send a gift.
Anyway, they would keep crossing paths in the industry. Even if not now, there was always the chance they’d work together in the future.
Of course, the same could be said for the other Espers.
Eleven contracts. Just looking at the amounts written on them already made Hyeji feel rich. It was too early to say she was truly rich, but at least her escape from the semi-basement room was now certain.
She’d move first, and when she got her first paycheck, she’d take her grandmother to a hotel restaurant.
Every time she came home after being treated to an expensive meal by the Espers and saw her grandmother napping on the living room floor, she thought about that. She wanted to see her grandmother lying comfortably in a place that wasn’t monthly rent or a semi-basement but their own home, before her grandmother left her forever. Now she finally felt like that day wasn’t far off.
On the tenth day of her grace period, the lawyer’s review of the contracts came in. That day, Hyeji called the only number on a business card worn smooth by use among the many she had.
– Hello, this is Han Kanghyeon.
“Ah, um… Hello, this is Noh Hyeji. We met before.”
Unlike their last call, she felt awkward this time. The warm, deep voice on the other end of the line soon fell silent, and it was her turn to speak.
Hyeji took a deep breath to calm her pounding heart and finally managed to say,
“Let’s proceed with the contract.”
Her first guiding took place a month after that.
