As the final votes were tallied, the screen displayed the result in bold numbers, clearly projected for all to see. The votes in favour of Matthieu's proposal had won by a significant margin—over three-quarters of the gathered CEOs had voted "for," leaving only a small cluster, Jin-ho included, standing against it. It was a landslide, undeniable and decisive.
Jin-ho's eyes flickered across the room as the reality sank in. He had anticipated a challenge, but seeing the overwhelming support for the competitive addition—especially from those he had counted on, like Hye-su and Hae-won—stung deeper than he'd imagined. He remained composed, though the hurt was visible in his eyes, a reflection of the loss he felt not just for his stance, but perhaps for the dream he'd once shared with his friends.
Hye-su, sitting at her designated stand, kept her gaze fixed ahead. She knew Jin-ho would look her way, and that his stare might have asked questions she wasn't ready to answer. She voted for what seemed best for the company, for their future—a decision not rooted in betrayal but rather necessity. The world of gaming was evolving, and competition was the lifeline that often kept games from fading away into obscurity. She thought about games that had made it through the years because they tapped into something fierce within players—a desire to compete, to push boundaries. In that moment, she had to be pragmatic, even if it meant hurting someone she cared for.
Matthieu exhaled, relief washing over his features as the results were announced. He caught Jin-ho's eye, offering a respectful nod. There was no mockery there, only understanding, an acknowledgement of Jin-ho's principles—even if the majority chose differently. Hae-won sat still, her fingers loosely intertwined as she stared at the screen. Her expression was hard to read, almost impassive, yet beneath it lay the weight of her decision. She had voted with Hye-su, understanding the reality of sustaining NexaCorp's meteoric rise. But watching Jin-ho, she couldn't help but feel the rift that had just formed, quietly, between friends.
The room buzzed with murmurs, nods of approval, and a sense of resolve, but amidst it all, a silent realization loomed over those closest to Jin-ho. This was not a win or loss of a vote—it was a choice that shaped NexaCorp's path. And for Jin-ho, this path diverged from the vision he had once cherished.
Prince Tarif resumed his place at the front, gracefully commanding the attention of the room once more. With the discussion of the anniversary event now settled, it was time to wrap up the meeting. He moved smoothly into summarizing the topics they'd covered—logistics, upcoming content updates, and plans for regional expansions. Though none of these topics required as much debate as the competitive proposal, they still marked significant decisions for NexaCorp's growth.
With the final words spoken, Prince Tarif brought the meeting to an official close. The CEOs began to leave, their steps echoing through the spacious hallways of the grand building. Amidst the chatter and occasional laughter of people heading toward the celebration, the weight of the earlier decision hung heavy on Jin-ho's shoulders.
As Jin-ho walked among the crowd of CEOs, his gaze shifted across the corridor and found Matthieu, who was on the opposite end, separated by the ocean of people. They both paused, looking at one another—a silent acknowledgement of the opposing sides they had just stood on. Despite the distance, something unspoken passed between them. Jin-ho sighed, his lips pressed into a tight line, while Matthieu's expression remained impassive, a small, unreadable smile tugging at his lips. Without a word, they continued toward the destination—the party awaited them, and appearances had to be kept.
A few moments later, the venue shifted to an empty corridor, secluded from the ongoing hustle and the celebrations being prepared in the grand hall. Here, Jin-ho and Matthieu stood facing one another, their eyes locked. The tension that had simmered during the meeting now took a more personal turn.
Matthieu broke the silence first, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"Well, Jin-ho, I must admit, your opposition was... unexpected. Going against my brilliant idea like that?" His tone was teasing, almost playful, but Jin-ho could sense the slight edge beneath it.
Jin-ho crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes narrowing.
"I'm not here for games, Matthieu. You know as well as I do that, by our original contract, decisions regarding the core of NexaRealm rest with me, Hye-su, and Hae-won. Yet you decided to push through with something we never agreed on, something that doesn't align with the NexaRealm I envisioned."
Matthieu's smile softened, and he spread his hands slightly in a gesture of understanding.
"Jin-ho, you have to understand—this is not about undermining you. It's about growth. NexaCorp is ready for the next phase, and that means tapping into new opportunities. Competition keeps things alive; it keeps people coming back. It's about time we embraced that."
Jin-ho's expression hardened, a hint of frustration flickering in his eyes.
"Maybe, but not like this. NexaRealm wasn't built to be just another competitive game. It was meant to be an experience—an open world where people could escape, not a battleground for rankings and leaderboards."
Before the conversation could escalate further, the sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor. Both men turned to see Hye-su approaching them, her expression a mixture of concern and frustration. She had been searching for Jin-ho and wasn't entirely surprised to find him with Matthieu, the tension between the two palpable.
Though she hadn't heard the details of their exchange, the way they stood—stiff, staring each other down—told her all she needed to know. She approached cautiously, her eyes moving between them.
"Jin-ho, Matthieu," she said softly, her voice carrying the weight of someone trying to prevent something fragile from shattering. "It's time for the party. Let's leave this for now."
Jin-ho glanced at Matthieu one last time, a silent challenge in his gaze before he nodded at Hye-su.
"Yeah, let's go."
Matthieu, his confident facade unbroken, offered Hye-su a charming smile and shrugged.
"Of course. No sense arguing when there's a party to attend," he shot one last look at Jin-ho, his smile tightening. "We'll continue this another time."
And with that, the tension dissipated slightly, though the undertone remained. They turned, falling into step with Hye-su as they made their way toward the festivities, a thin veneer of camaraderie masking the growing divide.
As they made their way back from the empty corridor, Hye-su walked beside Jin-ho, her mind filled with questions she wasn't sure she wanted the answers to. Eventually, she broke the silence.
"Jin-ho," she said softly, careful not to push too hard, "what were you talking about with Matthieu back there?" She turned her head slightly to glance at him.
Jin-ho sighed, a small, tired smile forming on his lips.
"It's nothing," he said, his voice dismissive as if he could just brush the encounter off. "Just a disagreement, that's all."
He looked ahead, his eyes clouded with thought. Despite his nonchalant response, there was something else hidden beneath the surface—a quiet frustration that she could see.
Hye-su frowned slightly but decided not to press him any further. She knew Jin-ho well enough to know when to give him space, even if it pained her not to understand what was going on. She simply nodded, walking alongside him in silence, a silence that felt heavy with unspoken words.
The hallways of the grand building were adorned with luxury, the elaborate decor catching glimmers of light as they passed. When they finally reached her room, Hye-su paused, turning to face him. Her expression shifted, a mixture of guilt and sadness in her eyes.
"Jin-ho," she started hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm... I'm sorry. About the vote. I—"
But Jin-ho cut her off, shaking his head slightly.
"You don't have to explain, Hye-su. I get it." His eyes met hers, and he offered her a reassuring smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You wanted security for everyone, for the company. It's the logical decision—securing NexaCorp's future and looking at things in the long term. Competition has done that for other games, and it could do the same for us. I know all of that."
He looked down for a moment, his gaze fixed on the ornate rug beneath their feet before he continued.
"But... maybe it's just my ego. Maybe I'm too attached to what NexaRealm was supposed to be when I started this," his voice dropped, barely above a whisper, his vulnerability slipping through despite his efforts to keep it hidden. "I don't know, Hye-su. Maybe I'm wrong, and everyone else is right."
For a moment, Hye-su was at a loss for words. She'd known Jin-ho to be confident, sometimes stubborn, but rarely this unsure. It was like seeing a part of him that he rarely let show, and it tugged at her heart. She wanted to tell him he wasn't wrong, that his vision mattered just as much as everyone else's—but before she could find the right words, Jin-ho straightened up, his vulnerability vanishing behind a composed exterior.
He took a small step back and gave her a polite nod.
"Anyway, it's getting late. We still have a party to attend, right?" He tried to smile, though it was laced with exhaustion. "I'll see you there, Hye-su. Don't worry about me."
Hye-su nodded, her throat tightening slightly.
"I look forward to it, Jin-ho," she replied, her voice gentle.
She watched as he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing softly down the empty hallway. There was something almost haunting about the sight of him retreating, his back straight but his head slightly bowed.
She sighed, turning back to her door. Even if she couldn't say it now, she hoped Jin-ho would understand one day that his vision, his passion for NexaRealm, was what made it special. That it wasn't just about securing the future or maintaining growth—what made NexaRealm unique was the heart and soul that people like Jin-ho put into it.
But for now, all she could do was prepare herself for the celebration and hope that somehow, through all the noise and excitement of the party, she'd get a chance to help Jin-ho find his footing again.
With one last look down the hallway where Jin-ho had disappeared, Hye-su opened the door to her room and stepped inside. The day was far from over, and there was still much to be done. But a part of her remained in that hallway, thinking of her friend who was caught between the legacy he wanted to build and the future that everyone else was choosing for them all.