Chapter 17 : Chaebol Scoundrel (2)

A bright spring day.

The view beyond the full-length window of the conference room was as calm as ever.

Completely contrary to the situation unfolding now.

This conference room, where I had been appointed as the Director-General, was now nothing short of a pandemonium.

At the words of a partner lawyer from the corporate litigation team in his early 40s, Cha Kang-hyuk slammed the table and stood up.

“Calm down, Team Leader. It’s a miracle you avoided arrest, given that the victim is in the intensive care unit.”

“How much money have I poured into this? How can you say something like that?”

This time, it was a senior lawyer from the criminal team.

Naturally, our chaebol delinquent shouted in excitement.

“How many times do I have to say I was just trying to stop a fight? I got hit by a sudden punch and my hand just went out without me realizing it. So why is everyone only saying frustrating things?”

“Mr. Cha, Managing Director. No one will believe you if you say that now.”

I silently picked up the scattered documents and conference room equipment under the table, focusing on the meeting.

In this life, too, no secretary wanted to enter this conference room.

The reputation of the chaebol delinquent was so widespread throughout the company.

Although there was not enough evidence to present yet, as I hadn’t received the records, I perfectly understood why Attorney Ahn didn’t believe me.

“Team Leader, we are sorry to say this, but this case is really not easy. In the worst-case scenario, you should be prepared for a prison sentence…”

“Ugh!”

Finally, the trigger was pulled.

It was the phrase ‘prison sentence.’

Even though it was a foregone conclusion rather than the worst-case scenario, they spoke that way because their opponent was Team Leader Cha Kang-hyuk.

“I’m innocent. I’m truly innocent. But a prison sentence in the worst-case scenario? Do you think that makes sense?”

A suffocating silence fell over the conference room.

The more they spoke of reality, the more frantic Team Leader Cha became.

The lawyers naturally shielded themselves and averted their gaze.

“Enough. I’m done listening to the nonsense of people who have nothing to do with this.”

“So who is it? Who will take my defense?”

In short, he meant he was tired of their lengthy nonsense and wanted to speak with the person in charge.

A simple-minded, Team Leader Cha-like remark.

A deep silence once again filled the conference room.

Team Leader Cha Kang-hyuk’s prison sentence was virtually a set future; taking on the case was tantamount to self-destruction.

It was so bad that even Go Jong-tak, of all people, clenched his fists and remained silent, despite the client being his own.

‘Above all, if it’s Go Jong-tak, he’ll definitely shift the responsibility to the attorney in charge.’

The reliability of Team Leader Cha’s prison sentence, coming from a former chief prosecutor-turned-lawyer, was unquestionable.

But would the CEO of Cha Han Construction think the same way?

No matter how much it’s a case that all of Korea points fingers at, and they know it’s a losing battle, it would be hard for them to accept it emotionally.

Especially if they had to watch their own son receive a prison sentence and be dragged out of court.

‘This meeting is practically about finding a scapegoat.’

The legal fees would undoubtedly be substantial.

Of course, wouldn’t it be, with the successor of Cha Han Construction about to be imprisoned?

But it was a poisoned chalice.

Cha Han Construction was not only a crucial client for Go Jong-tak but also a VVVIP for Lee & Yeon.

That meant facing the full wrath of the Cha Han Construction CEO, even if the failure was foreseen.

Who would willingly step forward for that?

“I want to talk to the person who will take my defense, so why is no one stepping up?”

A hellish silence strangled the conference room.

A situation where absolutely no one wanted to come forward.

It was then.

“Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hun said he would take it.”

Everyone’s gaze fixed on me at the unexpected, radical declaration.

But I couldn’t help it.

Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hun had expressed his reluctance until the very end.

And right now, I lack the cards to persuade him.

But we must take on this case.

It is for Mr. Lee Chil-hong, but also for Attorney Ahn, and above all, I ultimately need Cha Kang-hyuk for my plan.

‘An opportunity for us to snatch Go Jong’s VVVIP.’

This is a blow not only to Go Jong-tak but also to CEO Lee Han-woong.

Because he’s one of the important clients in CEO Lee’s line.

If we can reduce his power even a little, we can get one step closer to protecting CEO Yeon Ji-gun.

Of course, it’s difficult right now.

And strictly speaking, we’re not snatching him.

He’ll walk in on his own.

What I can offer Cha Han Construction in the future is not all there is.

‘So, first, I’ll just blurt it out.’

In fact, my statement just now was nothing short of overstepping my bounds as a secretary.

It was impossible to even offer an opinion in a meeting, let alone recommend a lawyer in charge.

Even if it was substituting for a lawyer’s opinion, it was an unreasonable appearance.

And besides, wasn’t it not even Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hun’s intention?

But I was confident. Now was the time for me to speak boldly.

“Attorney Ahn?”

“Attorney Ahn?”

“You mean Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hun?”

No one pointed fingers at a secretary stepping forward.

In fact, the justification probably didn’t matter.

No one could save this, no matter who came.

Former officials or connections were useless in the face of angry public opinion.

I quickly looked around.

The inside of the conference room was shattered, as if creditors had stormed in and caused a ruckus.

They had already been tormented enough before I came in.

The lawyers would probably feel that anyone was fine, as long as someone would take him away.

I had only pretended to slap the cheek of a crying child.

There was only one person who was struck by a bolt from the blue here.

“Huh? Me?”

The last question was from Attorney Ahn, who looked stunned as if struck by lightning.

To cut off Attorney Ahn’s voice, I quickly began speaking the moment he opened his mouth.

“Yes, that’s right. Our Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hun has been exclusively handling unfair cases like Team Leader Cha’s here at Lee & Yeon.”

“Oh, that’s absolutely true.”

A partner attorney who was friendly with Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hun nodded emphatically at my words.

Then, the surrounding lawyers chimed in like a wave, agreeing with him.

“Didn’t Attorney Ahn handle the Grandma Guk-soon case last time?”

Attorney Ahn’s friend, the partner attorney, brought up the previous case.

In short, it was the Jean Valjean Grandma case.

It was a case where she was accused of stealing ramen because she was hungry, and it was, of course, pro bono.

True to Attorney Ahn’s usual character, he took on the case without receiving a single dime, and the result was a decision of non-prosecution.

It ended at the prosecutorial level and didn’t go to court, so it was essentially an acquittal.

“That’s right. Our Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hun, upon hearing Team Leader Cha’s story this morning, was so moved by the injustice that he resolutely rose up. He said he had to take on this case himself.”

“So, me?”

“How unfair must Team Leader Cha have seemed for him to do that!”

Again, Attorney Ahn’s voice was drowned out by mine.

This was due to my quick timing, speaking simultaneously with Attorney Ahn, and my intentional loudness.

Attorney Ahn’s usually gentle way of speaking was also a reason.

It was then.

A loud round of applause echoed through the conference room.

“Cough, I like it too. I can trust a righteous lawyer like this.”

Cha Kang-hyuk’s voice was filled with emotion.

With this, Cha Kang-hyuk’s defense lawyer was assigned, regardless of Attorney Ahn’s wishes.

‘It worked, as expected.’

There was a good reason why I emphasized that I was a lawyer who resolved injustices.

This is because even Team Leader Cha’s father doesn’t believe his current claim of injustice.

‘He has built up karma over time, after all.’

This is why the old saying about choosing your friends wisely holds true.

As a result of associating with those people and causing trouble, Cha Kang-hyuk has now become the boy who cried wolf.

No one genuinely believes his words.

In short, he was in a very unfair situation right now.

And then, a lawyer specializing in injustice?

Since everyone said it was hopeless anyway, he had no choice but to be tempted.

Moreover, the Grandma Guk-soon case had even made it to the media, thanks to the efforts of Lee & Yeon’s public relations department.

I gazed at Cha Kang-hyuk with a triumphant smile.

“I know about the Grandma Guk-soon case too. I wondered who defended her, and here he was.”

Yes.

It was such a famous case that even Team Leader Cha Kang-hyuk, the epitome of simple-mindedness, knew about it.

It was then.

An attempt to escape the fiery pit was detected.

“Excuse me, please listen to me.”

Attorney Ahn raised his hand and stood up, as if he couldn’t take it anymore.

At that moment, I moved closer to Attorney Ahn, cleared my throat, and spoke so only he could hear.

“Lee Chil-hong.”

The moment he heard the name, Attorney Ahn’s gaze trembled slightly.

There was agitation in his heart.

Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hun himself wanted to win that case more than anyone.

But I’m just as desperate as Attorney Ahn.

Because I know very well the pain of losing family.

For over a decade, I lived every day in regret.

Even until the moment I died.

Even though it wasn’t my fault.

But what about the person involved in that accident?

I can’t even imagine.

So I want to tell him.

That it’s not your fault. Mr. Lee Chil-hong, you are also a victim.

To shout that one sentence to the world, I need that delinquent.

‘This opportunity will probably lead to him breaking up with his bad friends.’

Then, rehabilitation is fully possible.

Because he’s not inherently a bad person.

It was that moment.

A sharp voice pierced between me and Attorney Ahn.

“What is it, Attorney Ahn?”

Go Jong-tak, who had presided over this meeting, asked with sharp eyes.

In the previous life, Go Jong-tak eventually took on Team Leader Cha Kang-hyuk’s case.

Since no one else would, he took on his own client.

The result was court custody.

Go Jong-tak only managed to recover in the second trial.

Strictly speaking, it was a joint defense with another law firm.

Although Cha Kang-hyuk himself couldn’t admit it, everyone expected a prison sentence in the first trial, so a thread of opportunity was given.

Of course, the glory of the second trial went more to the newly appointed law firm.

Because no matter the reason, they lost in the first trial.

They had to relinquish their position as Cha Han Construction’s main law firm.

I know the truth of this case very well because Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hun was laid off then, and I became Go Jong-tak’s secretary.

‘Please, Attorney Ahn.’

If he says no here, everything will turn to nothing.

I gazed at Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hun with desperate eyes.