The Office is Not a Castle
More unbelievable than a change in the president, a sight unfolded before her eyes.
“M-Mr. Manager!” the deputy roared, his face pale. “Call me Team Leader! Are you out of your mind?!”
And he shoved Yeong-a’s back while bowing alongside him.
“Aigoo, Team Leader. The newbie must have been pretty nervous.”
“That’s possible. Thank you for your hard work, Deputy. You can leave now.”
Sa Hwigyeom stood tall and imposing in the center of the office, radiating easy confidence.
Yeong-a immediately lowered her eyes, unable to bear the sight.
“H-hel, then I’ll go.”
The dizzy deputy staggered backward and fled the office.
“Good morning?”
A worn-out old uncle with sagging shoulders greeted her cheerily.
“Good morning, Manager. Nice to meet you again. I’m Yu Yeong-a.”
Yeong-a nodded instead of bowing. She was clearly out of sorts.
“Didn’t you hear what the deputy said? You should address me by my title, Yu Yeong-a. A newbie, but I really don’t know anything about you.”
Staring at the floor, Yeong-a answered coolly.
“I was rushed into the TF team without receiving the new-employee orientation.”
“My fault?”
He was about to deliver another confirmation kill. Since she didn’t answer, Hwigyeom smirked.
“Your team members look displeased. Are you planning to resign right now?”
“Ah……”
Yeong-a jerked her head up. That’s right! I have labor rights, and I didn’t even think I could just quit.
“What else is there to say? Why shuttle between two places when you can handle everything in one? I brought in experienced employees because it’s more convenient for me, too, but I’ve adjusted everything here. You should be grateful, Yu Yeong-a.”
This time Yeong-a smirked. A manager who could afford to hire someone with experience had to have a lot, but even so, calling the deputy and vice-president team members was awkward.
In any case, the situation couldn’t be changed.
“I see. Thank you.”
To Yeong-a’s lifeless greeting, Hwigyeom gave his first order.
“How about making me a coffee first?”
“Ah! It’s right here?”
Yeong-a’s eyes sparkled with sudden interest. She had known the machine would be there on her first day and had spent the weekend reading the manuals, watching YouTube, and practicing simulations. She really wanted to try it.
Being able to quickly accept any tough environment and find small happiness within it was Yeong-a’s specialty and advantage.
“Wow, barista……”
When Yeong-a reached the spot Hwigyeom pointed to, she gasped in admiration. The baristas truly praised the dream machine.
She had done part-time work at many cafés, but this was a completely different league.
“I preheated it. The office newbie was late.”
“Don’t you usually say that if there’s only one rank?”
Yeong-a frowned at the absurdity, but Hwigyeom ignored her and continued in his calm voice.
“Really? Then is the office my only child?”
“Ugh, I really hate that.”
She didn’t even want to respond, so Yeong-a immediately started the machine. From then on, she forgot everything around her in her concentration.
Espresso double shot with a lemon slice for breakfast, right? Was it really that good? While brewing the coffee, Yeong-a glanced back.
“Where’s the lemon?”
Hwigyeom leaned against the large desk. The tall man bathed in morning sunlight literally glowed. Even in the same suit, he looked far more luxurious than Suho.
Was it because he wore a vest under his jacket? She unconsciously stared blankly at his self-assurance.
“Your eyes are too obvious when looking at your superior?”
Hwigyeom’s voice carried a hint of laughter, and Yeong-a snapped back to reality.
“It’s not like that at all.”
“I understand. You can’t help it if your eyes wander. As long as you don’t harbor personal feelings, fine.”
Yeong-a snorted.
“Me? There’s no way I’d do that.”
“Oh? Did you receive a confession from Yu Yeong-a?”
Yeong-a turned her body away as if she hadn’t heard and looked around.
“Manager, is the lemon in the refrigerator?”
Hwigyeom stared at her for a moment, then gestured with his chin toward the huge speaker behind him.
“Open the door over there and go in. There’s a refrigerator and sink in the break room. For now, just give me coffee today.”
“Yes.”
Yeong-a poured the pre-warmed espresso shot into the cup and handed it to Hwigyeom on a small tray.
He took a sip and nodded with satisfaction.
“Not bad for a first try. Yu Yeong-a, make one for yourself too. Let’s start the meeting.”
Hwigyeom walked toward the round table while holding the cup and spoke. A state-of-the-art whiteboard and screen were installed in front of the table.
While brewing her own coffee, Yeong-a looked around.
It was a large conference room. In addition to the break room and restroom, it had a massive desk with a guest sofa and table, speakers and audio equipment, and all kinds of small items. It was better than the president’s office in the dramas.
When she shifted her gaze, she noticed a small desk placed in a straight line from his desk. It was the only ordinary-looking item in the office, the same type used by outside employees.
There was a serious problem with the one that belonged to her. From Hwigyeom’s perspective, her side profile was directly visible.
“May I move the desk?”
“No.”
She had no choice but to focus anyway, and she wouldn’t have noticed the surroundings. It was a doorway, so she could see who entered right away. Maybe that was better.
Yeong-a carried her finished Americano and sat in the seat across from Hwigyeom.
“First, look at this.”
While licking the double shot, Hwigyeom pushed a tablet toward her. Six large titles held multiple files. Yeong-a opened the first one.
The document had dozens of pages, explaining the rundown building, its theme, and detailed explanations under each item.
Why so thoroughly? He said the team leader was just patching things up with a parachute. Wasn’t he supposed to watch a movie with a beam projector and listen to music with speakers?
Yeong-a tilted her head and continued opening files.
“These buildings are really resorts?”
All the old buildings were large, but many were dilapidated and creepy places where experiences would be hard.
“That’s right. There are six in total, and I’ve sketched the concept, but there are many details to handle.”
Yeong-a had no knowledge of buildings or design. She hadn’t even built walls for aesthetic sense.
“The department specialists are all ready, so we just need to give big commands.”
Hwigyeom said that, as if he had read Yeong-a’s worried expression.
“Big commands aren’t the only thing, right?”
“There’s plenty of work in every department. If we handle it alone, it’ll be a bigger help for my career.”
Yeong-a nodded. It didn’t sound like empty talk. Moreover, even with her newbie eyes, Hwigyeom’s plan looked clean and flawless.
“I was thinking of half-assing it and moving on, but it looks more fun than I expected. And if I can’t do it properly in the TF team, I’ll transfer to the management planning team, and I absolutely hate that feeling.”
Yeong-a didn’t like half-assing it either.
“I don’t like that either!”
And the task force team would be disbanded once the tasks were completed, right? She would handle it beautifully and bid farewell to the deputy and safety!
“But why is there no material for number five?”
Not even an address was written.
“There’s a site issue. I plan to solve that first and then proceed.”
“Ah……”
A common problem. The owners of the land had to be contacted, and the surrounding sites had to be secured to get the resort permit. Grandma, how did you buy all this?
Hwigyeom looked too normal now, making it almost abnormal. When she looked at him with strange eyes, he lifted his shirt cuff and checked the time.
“I have to go out for a bit. I’ll be back before lunch, so while I’m gone, check the materials I gave you and arrange the routes.”
“Routes?”
Yeong-a looked puzzled as Hwigyeom explained.
“Six simultaneous openings, so we have to rush. Report the construction scale and current progress, decide where to start, and group the stops that are convenient to go back and forth between.”
“Are you telling me to visit all of them?”
“Tsk tsk,” Hwigyeom clicked his tongue sharply.
“The newbie is already trying to eat for free? You don’t know the planning?”
“Is that so? Isn’t planning done in the office?”
Even though her last sentence was barely a murmur, Hwigyeom didn’t miss it.
“You’re subtly mocking me.”
Only after hearing his words did Yeong-a realize she had been too honest.
Her superior was a Sahan Group chaebol third-generation, even if he was a worn-out old uncle with a parachute. Yet strangely, she felt comfortable with him.
She had met all kinds of bosses during part-time work, but she had never felt this way before. Was the warm feeling from their first meeting still stuck in her heart? Anyway, it was strange.
“I was just muttering to myself.”
Yeong-a secretly made an excuse.
“Just talking, you think I’ll spare you?”
She hadn’t realized it, but Hwigyeom was the same. It was rare to receive such unreserved acceptance.
With an unpleasant expression, Hwigyeom looked down at Yeong-a for a moment, then turned and walked quickly away.
Yeong-a followed at a trot. And the moment the automatic door opened, she quickly bowed.
“I’ll be back.”
Anyway, being alone in this huge office seemed like a good thing. Hwigyeom didn’t look back and only waved with his hand before disappearing.
Yeong-a turned around as well, but a voice called from far away.
“Yu Yeong-a!”
After confirming that Hwigyeom had disappeared to the other side, Chaemi rushed over, leaned out, and looked into the open office.
“Wow, is this the manager’s office or the president’s office? Can I come in?”