3 The Ghost Of The Past

After resting for about an hour, there was a knock on Daehuyn's door. He got out of bed to open the door to find Yeonseul there. Daehuyn bowed slightly, as did Yeonseul.

"The chairman has called for you. I'll be escorting you there since you aren't used to the place yet," Yeonseul explained, and Daehuyn nodded and followed him after locking his door.

They both walked in silence as they walked into the main family building. They made their way down a family corridor and to the same white door he had been at just that afternoon, only that different guards were stationed there now.

Yeonseul told him to wait outside as he informed the chairman of his arrival. Yeonseul knocked lightly on the door, going in. After a few seconds, he opened the door, nodding for Daehuyn to come in. Immediately, Daehuyn went in. The door was locked behind him. He sprung around, surprised by the action since it hadn't happened before. Then Mr. Moon spoke,

"It's fine, I don't want any disturbance during our conversation. Now, please sit," Mr. Moon said, his voice soothing yet commanding. Daehuyn bowed before sitting on the chair Mr. Moon pointed at.

"I'll get right to the point. I'll ask you a few questions and you'll answer them for me. You don't have to worry about information getting leaked from this room because it's totally soundproofed," Mr. Moon assured Daehuyn, who only replied with a nod.

Mr. Moon started by saying, "Now that we're comfortable, why don't we introduce ourselves again?"

"Hello, my name is Moon IL-Seok. I'm the chairman of Moon Industries."

"Kim Dae Hyun, it's a pleasure to meet you again, sir," Daehuyn introduced himself formally, making the chairman laugh.

"I like you, kid; I just want to know if saving you all those years ago was the right decision," the chairman said as a joke, but underneath it sounded like a warning and a threat. Daehuyn got off his chair and bowed face down to the chairman.

"I owe my life to you now and I will forever work towards paying back such a priceless gift as the life you've given me, even at the cost of it all. To the chairman," Daehuyn declared.

"I'm glad you know where your loyalty lies, and just a friendly warning..." The chairman continued, "If you fail or turn your back on me, I'll make sure everyone at Seonamsa pays for your mistake," the chairman said with a straight face.

Daehuyn slowly raised his head to look at the chairman. Were the lives of everyone he knew at stake here? The chairman suddenly broke into a burst of laughter patting Daehuyn in the back and nodding.

"Don't be such a stick in the mud. I've been helping that foundation since the beginning, even my father before. Do you really think I would hurt the same people I take care of?" The Chairman said, still laughing, but Daehuyn was sure what he said was more than just a joke.

"Now, on a lighter note, tell me what it was like to live in Chamsari?" The Chairman asked.

"Yes sir..." The chairman began to explain how they lived, and their schedule, and even went as far as to ask what he would do on his free days. For some strange reason, Daehuyn became comfortable talking to the chairman, but for some strange reason, he felt like he could never let down his guard no matter what.

"That's quite an experience. I'm impressed you survived such harsh living conditions. When you were little, you seemed so fragile when I picked you up. You were barely three and couldn't even walk properly." The chairman remembered getting Daehuyn's attention again.

"If I may, sir," Daehuyn started, and the chairman nodded, permitting him.

"Thank you, sir. Can you tell me where and how you found me?" Daehuyn asked curiously. The chairman smiled at the fond memory that popped into his head. He stood up and walked closer to the fireplace.

"I believe it was 1997. I was on a business trip to Daegu. I was meeting investors to open a company there. While driving, we came across this huge land, but it looked like there had been a fire earlier. I didn't know what had caused it or when it happened, but the land looked just right for what I needed to do," the chairman narrated.

"You see after the deal had been finalized, I asked around about the burnt land, and according to the locals, there had been a huge fire about a month earlier, and the family were unfortunate not to come out alive, so I saw an opportunity and took it. I asked for the land to be sold to me, and after almost six months of talking, I finally got the land," the chairman said, smiling.

"On the day we got the land, I immediately hired constructors to start work while I supervised myself, the machines were at work when we heard a loud cry, we stopped everything to go look, and then there you were, your clothes were dirty and had burnt marks, you were badly injured and it was already getting infected, you cried as you held on tightly to a log of wood, most probably the one that killed your parents."

Flash images of what happened that night, things he only saw in his dreams crossed his mind making his headache, Daehuyn fell back in his chair as his head tried to remember.

"We took you in and cleaned you up and identified you, and honestly, I was surprised that such a small child could have survived a big blowout that even wiped away his family," the Chairman paused, then continued.

"I had already planned to keep you, but a competitive company had a scandal while I was away, claiming that I wasn't gone for business but to play with little girls and that I had even gotten a few of them pregnant." His voice was now laced with anger, but after a few deep breaths, he was fine.

I couldn't bring you home with me. You see, my wife was pregnant then and was due the week I was to be back, so I took you to Chamsari and asked them to keep you in exchange for a monthly donation. The chairman finished returning to his seat.

Daehuyn was mortified. These were bits and pieces of his past that for years he tried to recall but couldn't, plus the fact that without Chairman Moon, he would have been dead a long time ago or at least living on the streets without purpose. Daehuyn felt the tears gather up in his eyes but would not let them fall. Daehuyn stood up again and knelt, bowing at the feet of the chairman.

"I was foolish not to see all that you have done for me behind the scenes, and I am forever grateful. I will serve and protect you and your daughter with every being that I am. I will not let your generosity go to waste, chairman," Daehuyn swore.

Yeonseul shifted uncomfortable for a second, but it was unnoticed by the two immersed in their moment. He knew Daehuyn didn't know what he was up against, but at the same time, he had also sworn loyalty to the Moon family, so he might as well keep his opinions to himself.

"Get up, dear, I know you'll do a good job of taking care of my daughter, now stand up, don't embarrass me in front of Yeonseul now," Daehuyn shot up and bowed before taking his seat.

"I'll admit, my daughter can be a handful, but she's all I have, so I need you to do as she says and always keep her safe," the chairman said. Now that he had made Daehuyn indebted to him, there was nothing the young man wouldn't do if asked.

"As you wish, chairman," Daehuyn answered.

"Ah, before I forget, you'll be having a 3-day training session with Yeonseul here before you'll be able to watch my daughter, and you'll need to spend at least a month here studying to make sure you don't embarrass the Moon family, should you have a mission outside these walls, and you will be tested," the chairman graciously explained.

"Yes, sir."

"That will be all for tonight," the chairman said with a smile.

"Yes, chairman." Daehuyn stood up. "Yeonseul will take you back. You'll be in his care for a while."

"Yes, chairman." Daehuyn turned toward Yeonseul, "Please take care of me again," he said, bowing, and Yeonseul bowed back.

"Ah, before you leave, would you do me a favor by visiting often? You're a special child, Daehuyn, and I want you to know that." These words completely broke him as he already held the chairman in high esteem.

"Yes, chairman." Daehuyn bowed before leaving the room.

Yeonseul stayed behind for a bit after telling Daehuyn to wait outside.

"Was it really that necessary, sir?" Yeonseul asked.

"What do you mean?" The chairman gave a warning look, knowing what it meant. Yeonseul bowed and left the office after Daehuyn.

They went back to their quarters and as soon as they reached Daehuyn's room, excited, he fiddled with his keys and Yeonseul felt bad for him. Daehuyn bowed, but before he could close the door, Yeonseul stuck his foot in the door. Confused, Daehuyn opened the door.

"A word of advice: being the chairman's lap dog does nobody good. Keep your distance for your good." And without any explanation, Yeonseul walked away, leaving Daehuyn confused himself.