Seong-ho explained, in a calm voice, why he'd summoned the fuming Mun-jong here.

"There are too many watching eyes at headquarters for me to go there. If I went to head office to see you, of all people, Brother, what would people think? And if word of it reached the chairman, what would he make of it?"

Still not following, Mun-jong shouted, "What's the difference between you coming and me coming? Spare me the excuses!"

But Seong-ho held steady, answering with the same expression he'd worn from the start. "There's a difference. If I go to head office, it looks like I'm the one persuading you. If you come to the hotel, it looks like you're recruiting me. Whether I'm the one driving the matter or you are — that's a considerable difference."

"Persuading? Recruiting? What are you talking about?"

Seong-ho smiled at the still-uncomprehending Mun-jong and explained. "I want to be on your side. And if that's so, wouldn't a picture of you drawing me in look better than one of me walking in on my own two feet?"

"You want to be on my side?"

"Yes. Because I support you."

Mun-jong let out an incredulous laugh. "You, on my side? Why? You think siding with me gets you the hotel presidency?"

Bang!

He slammed his palm on the table and shouted, "Not a chance! You put up a little performance and now you've got your eye on the president's chair — but a man like you will never sit in it. Never."

"I feel the same way."

"…What?"

Mid-shout, Mun-jong pulled up short at Seong-ho agreeing with him. "What did you just say?"

"Same as you, Brother — I don't think I should be sitting in the hotel president's chair either."

"Is that… true?"

"Of course. I've not the slightest appetite for the position. If anything, the chairman seems ready to hand it to me, and it's put me in a bind. That's exactly why I asked you to come here."

Catching the tension ease from Mun-jong's hands, Seong-ho went on. "With the chairman using the word gift…