Taehyung rose from his chair without saying a word. His tall frame moved with quiet purpose as he walked toward the cabinet. He picked up the delicate flask of flowers that had been sitting on the table—right in front of Sooyaa—and gently placed it on a higher shelf, away from her.
Sooyaa's eyes followed him, her heartbeat fluttering.
Did he remember…?
He returned to his chair, adjusted his cuff, and said in a calm, composed tone.
"I have an allergy to flowers."
That's it. Nothing more.
There was a brief, stunned silence.
Then one of the department heads stood and bowed slightly, "We're sorry, sir. We didn't know that."
The others followed, murmuring quiet apologies.
Taehyung simply nodded. "It's okay."
He flipped open the file in front of him. "Let's proceed with the meeting."
Sooyaa stared at him.
"Ohhh… I thought he remembered that...",
Taehyung glanced at the first page.
Taehyung nodded once, signaling the start of the meeting.
Kang Hye-jin finance head of the company stood confidently, her tone sharp and focused.
"As you all know, due to the previous incident, irrelevant and impulsive decision-making, our company's share price has taken a significant down fall," she began, eyes scanning the room. "To add to that, our sales have dropped by 10% in the last quarter alone."
She let the silence settle before continuing.
"And there's more. In our mall division, several key brands we've partnered with are showing signs of withdrawal. Some are even eager to cancel their contracts altogether. Their trust in our stability is slipping—and we need to address it immediately."
A few department heads shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
"We can't afford another misstep," Hye-jin said firmly. "The board is watching. Investors are growing impatient. And the public... well, they're waiting to see whether we rise or fall.
Kang Hye-jin took a breath, She sat down, the atmosphere thick with tension.
Taehyung leaned forward, his fingers interlaced as he finally addressed the room.
" He starts with his voice calm but razor-sharp.
"First, of all mall brand partnership contracts will be reviewed within the next 48 hours. I want a report on which brands are eager to withdrawl, and what terms we can renegotiate to retain them. I'll personally take care of the brand partnership contracts."
Gasps echoed softly around the room. It wasn't common for the CEO himself to step into direct negotiations.
"If we lose trust, we lose position—and I'm not here to lose."
He glanced at the marketing head.
"Prepare a brand reassurance campaign. Focus on stability, transparency, and future growth. Make the public see the shift in leadership—and feel the difference."
Then he turned to the finance department.
"Also, initiate a margin audit. I want to identify underperforming units and cut costs where needed—without affecting our top-line vision."
He leaned back slightly, eyes still cold and calculating.
"We don't fix this by panicking. We fix this by controlling the narrative and tightening every loose thread."
Taehyung turned to Sooyaa with a steady gaze.
"As the head of marketing, you'll take charge of this," he said. "I want a full-scale strategy in three days—focus on reassuring our partners and rebuilding public trust."
He paused.
"Start with our coffee brand. Then shift to the malls. Use strong visuals, digital engagement, and strategic messaging. Keep it sharp and confident."
Sooyaa gave a small nod, then added, her tone clear and composed
"We've recently come across a new type of coffee product through our R&D team. It's bold, unique, and aligns perfectly with the rebranding campaign. If we launch it alongside the strategy, it could send a strong message—this company is evolving."
A few heads turned her way in surprise. Taehyung's gaze lingered on her for a moment, unreadable.
"Interesting," he said. "Prepare a proposal with the product details. I want it on my desk by tomorrow."
"Yes, sir," she said, her voice steady, betraying none of the pressure building in her chest.
Another team member stood up, trying to maintain his composure as he spoke.
" sir, Our current assets are 2.024 trillion won, and our current liabilities are 0.94 billion won. So, the current ratio is… approximately 275%."
Just then, Taehyung slowly raised his eyes from the file in front of him, fixing a steady, unreadable gaze on the presenter.
The room tensed.
A beat passed before Taehyung spoke, his voice low and exact.
"It's 215.319149%."
Silence.
Every pair of eyes shifted to Kim Taehyung in pure disbelief. His tone had been so effortless, like he'd known it all along—no calculator, no notes, just… memory and brilliance.
Yeonjun, standing beside him, couldn't help but smile with pride.
Taehyung leaned back slightly in his chair, still looking at the now-nervous team member.
"If the current assets are 2.024 trillion, and the current liabilities are 0.94 billion, then the current ratio is 215.319149%." He tilted his head just a bit. "Isn't it, Mr…?"
The members swallowed, nodded quickly. "Y-Yes, sir. You're absolutely right."
Whispers spread quietly around the room.
"He calculated it in his head…"
"Seriously, how does he do that?"
Sooyaa watched him, heart skipping again.
"This man… he's impossible to ignore."
As Sooyaa finished outlining the next steps, she looked up, her eyes meeting Taehyung's.
Taehyung's gaze lingered on her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, in his usual cold tone, he said,
"Don't disappoint me, Ms. Park."
With that, he turned and left the room, leaving behind a trail of unspoken expectations.
Sooyaa stood there for a few seconds, the weight of his words sinking in.
Then, sooyaa thoughts raced "I wouldn't disappoint him.'
End of chapter....
Author's Thought – Chapter 7
Power isn't always loud. Sometimes, it speaks in decimals — sharp, cold, and absolute.
In this chapter, Kim Taehyung reminded everyone that a true leader doesn't need to shout to be heard. One correction, one number, and the entire room went silent. That's the kind of authority only he commands — precise, calculated, and completely in control.
But beneath that flawless exterior, something deeper brews. A glance at Sooyaa, a test disguised as a task, and a challenge hidden behind,
"Don't disappoint me."
The boardroom is just the beginning.
Thank you.