Fox Studio Century Lot – CFO's Office
In the heart of Fox's sprawling studio lot, tucked away in the executive wing, sat David, the company's Chief Financial Officer.
He wasn't just the man who handled numbers; he was one of the board members—and more importantly, the mastermind quietly pushing for the full acquisition of Jihoon's HCU project.
Across from him sat Jason, still uneasy from his earlier meeting with Jihoon.
He carefully relayed the conversation—Jihoon's firm rejection, his warnings, and the thinly veiled reminder that the HCU was still in its infancy, far too early for a takeover.
David listened with a faint smirk, and when Jason finished, he let out a dismissive chuckle.
"Ha! Who does he think he is? Some upstart kid trying to play with the giants? Don't waste your breath on him. Just proceed with the purchase."
Jason lowered his gaze.
Deep inside, he knew this wasn't the right call.
Jihoon's words still echoed in his mind on the drive back: The HCU is just beginning.
One success doesn't guarantee a future—but with the right foundation, it could grow into something far larger.
Jason knew the truth—'GET OUT' hadn't succeeded by accident.
It was Jihoon's vision, Jihoon's execution.
Without him, the project's momentum could collapse overnight.
But Jason also knew better than to voice doubts.
He had worked under David for years.
The man was arrogant, overconfident, and intolerant of dissent.
To David, hesitation was weakness, all he need is a good lackey to do his dirty work.
Just as Jason forced himself to nod and prepare a token response of agreement, the office door suddenly slammed open with a thunderous bang.
Both men turned sharply.
It was Jim.
Fresh off a business trip, the chairman stormed in, his face red with fury.
Without a word of greeting, he jabbed a finger straight at David and roared.
"WHAT THE HELL IS IN THAT THICK SKULL OF YOURS?! WHO GAVE YOU THE AUTHORITY TO MOVE ON HCU WITHOUT BOARD CONSENT?!"
Jason froze in his chair.
The air in the room turned electric.
David, momentarily stunned, shot up from behind his desk, his own anger igniting.
"Jim! Being chairman doesn't give you the right to barge into my office screaming like a madman!"
Jim barked back, his voice shaking the walls.
"I WOULDN'T HAVE TO IF THE PEOPLE AROUND ME DID THEIR JOB WITH A BRAIN!"
"YOU'RE NOTHING BUT DEAD WEIGHT! OTHER THAN MEDDLING IN OFFICE POLITICS, WHAT CAN YOU DO?"
"If you had any sense, you'd sit down, shut up, and wait for your year-end dividend instead of interfering in things you don't understand!"
David's face went crimson. "Watch your mouth, you prick! I'm making sure the company's interests are protected!"
Jim let out a sharp, mocking laugh, as if David had just told the most ridiculous joke in the world.
"For the company's good? Don't kid yourself."
"This has nothing to do with the company—you're just trying to undermine me and grab my chairman position!"
"So don't bother to dress up your ambition as corporate duty!"
His tone grew colder, more cutting.
"And don't forget—you broke the rules."
"You don't have the authority to bypass the board. If you keep pushing this, you'll have to answer for it at the next board meeting."
"You'd better come up with a damn good excuse… or you'll be finished."
David slammed his fist against the desk and barked back, his voice shaking with frustration.
"This is for the company's good! You have no idea what kind of boost Fox would get if we fully acquire HCU! Jim, you'll regret it if you don't let me follow through!"
Jim's glare darkened, his voice rising once again.
"DAVID! I'm the chairman—not you! Remember your place!"
With that final outburst, Jim spun on his heel and stormed out, the heavy office door slamming shut behind him.
The room fell into silence.
David stood frozen, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
As much as he hated to admit it, Jim was right.
By invoking the board's authority without approval, he had crossed a dangerous line. If word spread, the fallout could cost him his seat at the table—and perhaps his entire future at Fox.
That possibility, more than Jihoon's defiance, was what made David's stomach twist in knots.
If Jihoon had been present, he might have chuckled at the sight—it was almost like a scene ripped straight from Naruto: Danzo and the Third Hokage clashing over power, the one line echoing in the air—"I am the Hokage."
While that battle raged inside Fox's boardroom, Jihoon's world moved on at its own pace.
The release of 'GET OUT' was behind them now, and the numbers told a clear story.
The box office had surpassed expectations—$158 million worldwide.
America accounted for sixty-five percent of the revenue, Europe for twenty, and the remaining fifteen percent came from Asia.
It was an undeniable success.
"Boss, did we make money again?" Mara asked brightly, tapping her fingers as if she were physically counting each digit on the sales report.
Jihoon glanced at her, his usual playful demeanor replaced with a rare seriousness. "I did," he corrected firmly. "All the money belongs to JH."
Mara tilted her head, puzzled by his phrasing.
Something about the way he said it felt off, but she didn't linger on the thought. Instead, her face broke into a smile, and she nodded with conviction.
"That's right! Company development comes first! Boss, you've finally understood that. As the first employee of this company, I'm very proud of you!"
She clapped her hands together in delight, almost like an overexcited seal, her eyes sparkling as though she had just witnessed history being made.
Back in school, she had read countless articles about young entrepreneurs who discovered a hit project, secured angel investment, and rode the wave of success.
Now, standing here with the sales report in hand, Mara couldn't shake the feeling that she was living one of those stories.
In her anime-style daydream brain, she already pictured herself as an angel investor who had placed the perfect bet on a hidden genius.
Except, in this case, the genius happened to be her boss. Because as the first employee of the company, she is bound to receive a huge pay-check at the end of the year.
That's why to her, it wasn't just Jihoon's success—it felt like her own as well.
Jihoon noticed the look on her face, a mix of innocence and pride so genuine it almost made him laugh.
For a fleeting moment, he thought about explaining what business truly meant—profit margins, reinvestment strategies, long-term planning, and the profit isn't hers to be calculating.
But as he watched her clapping with pure joy, he realized there was no need.
She already believed wholeheartedly in the company's growth, and more importantly, loyalty.
Little did Jihoon know, Mara's brain operated on a completely different frequency—one that now saw JH as both her personal adventure and her greatest asset.
He sighed and wiped an imaginary bead of sweat from his forehead, muttering silently in his mind:
"It's hard to find a boss as generous as me."
But Mara's mood shifted when another thought crossed her mind.
"Boss, are we really not going to do anything about Fox's purchase attempt? It's been days since they made the request, but they haven't followed up with a response." Her tone carried a trace of worry.
As Jihoon's assistant, she had been briefed on the situation.
Ever since Jason had shown up weeks ago with Fox's proposal, the matter had gone strangely quiet.
No updates, no pressure, no follow-ups.
Jihoon, however, wasn't worried. Jim had personally called him, assuring him that he would handle the internal politics.
Jihoon's only job was to keep making films.
With a casual wave of his hand, Jihoon dismissed her concern.
"Don't worry. There's nothing urgent about it."
He slipped his hands into his pockets, his voice calm and steady.
"If you really want reassurance, just wait for Saw's premiere. The audience's reaction will prove my point. At the end of the day, nothing speaks louder than profit—and results."