Ji-Heon’s steps faltered at the sound of Jin-Seo’s voice.
When Jin-Seo confessed that she was a single mother, Eun-Bi’s expression darkened instantly.
“Oh… you’re a single mom? I’m sorry. I didn’t know…”
Even that apology felt like a calculated move.
“It’s fine. You don’t need to apologize. I don’t consider it a stain on my character. And as the manager said, my daughter is beautiful.”
“As expected of Assistant Manager Lee, you’re so cool-headed. And brave. I don’t think I could have made that decision. Regardless, you must be happy that your child is pretty. You’re truly amazing.”
Jin-Seo felt the urge to let out a dry laugh at Eun-Bi’s pathetic, pitying smile, but she kept her composure.
An awkward silence descended upon the office. The members of Planning & Production Division 1, who had risen from their seats to watch the scene, quietly averted their gazes.
Assistant Manager Go Eun-Ju furrowed her brows in displeasure and glared at Eun-Bi. Gihun looked dazed for a moment before turning a worried expression toward Jin-Seo.
Jin-Seo glanced at Ji-Heon. His expression, which betrayed nothing, once again made her fear the inevitable end.
Team Leader Mi-Ran Seong, quickly grasping how to resolve the situation, followed Ji-Heon.
“Director, there’s something I need to discuss regarding the PT. Do you have a moment?”
“Let’s go.”
Ji-Heon readily took the lead at Mi-Ran’s request. Even as his footsteps faded, every step he took felt like a nail being driven into Jin-Seo’s chest.
“Assistant Manager, you’re going home, right? I’ll give you a ride. Let’s go.”
A moment later, Gihun spoke up supportively.
“Oh, sure. Thank you.”
Gihun even reached out to carry Jin-Seo’s bag for her.
***
Ji-Heon went to his office with Team Leader Mi-Ran Seong.
Mi-Ran found it odd that Ji-Heon kept walking without even asking what the business was. Moreover, Ji-Heon’s gait was strangely slow and heavy, as if his ankles were weighted down or his mind was miles away.
At that sluggish pace, Ji-Heon silently opened the office door and ushered Mi-Ran inside, remaining by the door himself.
“Director, it’s about the fact that Manager Eun-Bi Chae is… for this PT.”
“Wait a moment. Just a second.”
Just as Mi-Ran began to speak, Ji-Heon swung the door back open. Before she could stop him, he left her alone and exited the office.
Unlike when he had entered, his steps were now swift. Striding toward the office of Planning & Production Division 2, he confirmed that Jin-Seo’s seat was empty and went straight outside.
When the 9th-floor exit door opened, a voice drifted over from the elevator.
“Are you okay, Assistant Manager?”
“Of course I am.”
It was Gihun’s worried voice, followed by Jin-Seo’s relatively calm response.
“Then that’s a relief. Ugh, I’m so angry.”
“Why are you getting so worked up, Gihun?”
“Manager Eun-Bi Chae is just so mean. I didn’t think she was like that.”
“……”
“Whew. I didn’t know it would come out like this. I wanted to protect you.”
“I’m fine, really. Thank you for worrying.”
“Should we go down to the parking lot together, or would you like to wait on the 1st floor?”
“Let’s go down together.”
As their conversation continued, Ji-Heon’s fists tightened.
***
The office grew quiet again.
Eun-Bi sat at her desk, basking in the ecstasy of having landed a clean blow on Jin-Seo Lee.
The PT preparation meeting seemed to be over, so she could have gone home, but Eun-Bi wanted to talk to Ji-Heon. She wanted to tell him more about what she had overheard and see the look on his face once he’d been shocked and hurt.
“If you don’t know anything for sure, you should at least keep your mouth shut.”
Assistant Manager Go Eun-Ju muttered this while packing her things. It was a self-directed remark, but it was clearly intended to be heard. Eun-Bi knew immediately that it was aimed at her.
*How is everyone in Planning & Production Division 2 so stupid? Like idiots boarding a sinking ship without even realizing it.*
Eun-Bi deemed it beneath her to get angry and sat at her desk, pretending to organize her work.
A moment later, Mi-Ran appeared. Her consultation with Ji-Heon must have finished. Soon, the extension phone on Eun-Bi’s desk rang.
“Yes. This is Eun-Bi Chae.”
[Manager Eun-Bi Chae, can I see you for a moment?]
It was Ji-Heon’s voice.
“Yes. I understand, Director.”
After answering cheerfully and hanging up, Eun-Bi even hummed a quiet tune as she headed to his office.
At the end of the hallway, she spotted Ji-Heon. He hadn’t even bothered to walk all the way to his office.
For some reason, a sudden wave of anxiety made Eun-Bi stop. Ji-Heon approached her until he was standing right in front of her.
“There’s no need to do the Sori Telecom competitive PT anymore. I’ve decided to exclude you.”
“Uh… why?”
“Because there’s no need, that’s why. Just know that and focus on your main duties.”
It seemed that was the conclusion of Team Leader Mi-Ran Seong’s consultation. Her pride was wounded, but Eun-Bi accepted it quickly. She hadn’t been particularly keen on the PT where Planning & Production Division 2 took the lead anyway.
“I understand. Is that all you wanted?”
“Am I your property?”
To Eun-Bi’s question, Ji-Heon posed one of his own. The inquiry was so aggressive that Eun-Bi recoiled with a stiff expression.
“……Huh?”
“You said that to Assistant Manager Jin-Seo Lee. Am I your property?”
Ji-Heon pinpointed it exactly.
The hallway was a place where one could eavesdrop as much as they liked. Eun-Bi was nervous that someone might hear, but Ji-Heon seemed completely unconcerned.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Did Jin-Seo Lee say that?”
“I heard it myself. In front of the cafeteria.”
*I wasn’t the only one!*
Jin-Seo Lee said all that nonsense about him being *her* man, too! Even after hearing all of that, he was only cornering her? Even though he’d smiled at Jin-Seo Lee just a while ago?
“I told her to sort out all the lies she told, and now she’s spreading even stranger things.”
“……”
“If you damage my reputation any further, I’ll have no choice but to resolve this through legal means.”
At his cold-hearted words, Eun-Bi’s hands began to tremble. *To talk about the law to someone like me, who comes from a legal family.*
Eun-Bi asked, tearfully.
“But Oppa, don’t you have anything to be grateful to me for?”
At Eun-Bi’s accusatory question, Ji-Heon tilted his head and crossed his arms.
“Aren’t *you* the one who should be grateful? Jin-Seo Lee was also going around blabbering that you were her man. I revealed what kind of person Jin-Seo Lee is—a single mother who lied to you like she was eating a meal—so don’t you think you should be grateful to me?”
Just as Ji-Heon had been, Eun-Bi didn’t care about her surroundings and retorted.
After she shouted at the top of her lungs, the man she looked at wore an even more terrifying expression.
Ji-Heon took half a step closer and said calmly:
“Shut your mouth. Okay?”
It was a rough and chilling warning delivered in a polite, coaxing tone.
*
Late at night. Jin-Seo lay down next to a sleeping Yena and quietly brushed her hair aside.
Although she had come home earlier than usual, she hadn’t been able to show Yena a bright face.
*I’m sorry. Mom is sorry.*
A mother is always sorry to her daughter.
It had been a roller-coaster of a day. Her heart had sunk, soared, and now it felt like it had plummeted to the soles of her feet. She had tasted much of the bitterness of life, but she realized that bitterness came in many varieties. However, she didn’t cry today.
Ji-Heon Jeong was a man who could never be hers. It had always been that way. Perhaps because of that resignation, she wasn’t entirely desperate.
*It doesn’t matter.*
Jin-Seo hardened her resolve. She had been a little anxious because it seemed he was trying to push forward without thinking of the consequences. Now that the brakes had been applied, he would keep his distance again. In the current situation, that might be for the better. In any case, it would be dangerous for her name to be dragged into the rumor that Eun-Bi Chae and Ji-Heon Jeong had broken up.
While she was sorting through her thoughts, her phone vibrated. Team Leader Mi-Ran Seong’s name appeared on the screen.
“Yes, Team Leader.”
[Are you okay, Assistant Manager Lee?]
Mi-Ran asked in a worried voice.
“Yes. Of course.”
[I told the Director. I suggested that it would be better to remove Manager Chae because she isn’t of much help to our competitive PT.]
“Oh, you did?”
[The Director readily agreed. Manager Chae was very rude today. The rumors say that Manager Chae and the Director have broken up. I wonder if she was just venting that frustration on you for no reason.]
“…….”
[Even so, don’t get caught up in those rumors, Assistant Manager Lee.]
Mi-Ran recounted what had happened that night briefly before adding her plea. Jin-Seo let out a faint, powerless laugh.
“Yes. I’ll do that.”
[I’m sorry if this sounds like overstepping, but I’m just worried that something might happen to hurt you, Assistant Manager Lee. Give it some time; let things settle down for them. That way, you’ll be more at ease, too.]
“Yes. Don’t worry, Team Leader.”
[Ugh. All right. Get some sleep now.]
“Yes. You get some rest too, Team Leader.”
Jin-Seo hung up immediately.
*
Although he had given Eun-Bi a warning, Ji-Heon couldn’t just sit idly by.
On his way home from work, Ji-Heon called Eun-Yeop.
[Oh. Ji-Heon. What’s up?]
Eun-Yeop answered the phone warmly. Ji-Heon went straight to the point.
“You met with Eun-Bi today, right?”
[……Did you hear that from Eun-Bi?]
“No. I just figured you would. Did you talk to her properly?”
[Talk about what?]
“Tell her to stop making up baseless rumors.”
Law firm office.
The smile vanished from Eun-Yeop’s face the moment he received Ji-Heon’s call while working overtime.
[Since you’re her older brother, she might listen to you. I told her clearly last week, but she’s still going around telling people that I’m her man. You know that’s defamation, right?]
*Mentioning defamation in front of a lawyer. Truly an arrogant bastard.*
Eun-Yeop sneered silently. However, he didn’t show it and replied kindly.
“I’ll tell her again.”
[Thanks. I’m counting on you. And I recorded this call. You understand, right?]
[Recording a conversation between friends? That’s very disappointing.]
[After getting burned by a friend’s younger sister, I’ve realized how scary the world can be.]
“…….”
[I’m hanging up now. Take care.]
*Click.*
It was an unpleasant phone call from start to finish. After the line went dead, unable to suppress his anger, Eun-Yeop swung his arm and swept everything off his desk.
*Crash.*
The computer, along with papers and miscellaneous items, fell to the floor in a chaotic clatter.
The office assistant opened the door in shock. Eun-Yeop looked at the assistant coldly before stepping out of the office and saying,
“Clean it up.”
***
Seven years ago.
Eun-Yeop had discovered that Mrs. Jang Young-mi, Ji-Heon’s mother, was searching for a young male voice actor. Since Ji-Heon was in a coma due to a hit-and-run accident, Mrs. Jang’s behavior was even more suspicious.
Afterward, Eun-Yeop secretly approached the voice actor, feigning coincidence. By figuring out the actor’s schedule and orchestrating about three “chance” encounters, he became friends with him.
“I work at a law firm, mostly providing consultation for large corporations, but the children of the group chairmen are all such troublemakers. It’s incredibly difficult. Have you ever met anyone from a chaebol family, Mr. Voice Actor?”
“There are so many weird people in chaebol families. I don’t have any personal connections, but I did go into a chaebol mansion once for work.”
Once Eun-Yeop baited the hook, the actor spilled the information readily. Eun-Yeop’s eyes glinted.
“You went into a chaebol mansion? For what?”
“Oh, but Attorney, you must never tell anyone else about this.”
“Of course. Naturally. Secrecy is the lifeblood of a lawyer.”
The actor’s voice lowered.
“They said it was some food group, but I didn’t ask which one as I thought it might be rude. Anyway, once you go inside the mansion, there’s a marble fountain right in the front—that kind of mansion.”
*Food group, mansion with a marble fountain.* Eun-Yeop didn’t find it difficult to deduce that it was Ji-Heon’s house.
“I’d been in contact with the lady of the house, and when she called, I went over. But I received a very strange order.”
“What kind of order?”
“She gave me a phone and told me to call someone and say terrible things to a woman I’d never even met. There was even a script. Things like, ‘You’re a burden, so could you stop contacting me?’ or ‘You’d better be prepared if you contact me again.’ You get the gist, right?”
Chills ran down Eun-Yeop’s entire body.
The voice the actor had performed was, without a doubt, a perfect imitation of Ji-Heon Jeong.
“The woman was clinging to the son of the house, and since the son was in a situation where he couldn’t make calls, they wanted me to pretend to be him and drive her away.”
“……Was that the only time? Were there any other orders?”
“I haven’t heard from them since. I was a bit curious if my acting worked or if that woman really was driven away.”
“Chaebols really are something, aren’t they? Ordering someone to say such things to a woman whose name and face you don’t even know.”
“I do know her name. I remember it.”
At the actor’s reply, Eun-Yeop’s eyes narrowed.
“Jeong-o Lee. That was the name. Jeong-o Lee.”