Warm Focus

"I'll fill you in on the details later. For now, two more interviewers will be joining us."

Under the table, Seo-ah clasped her trembling hands tightly together.

"When they come in, they'll ask a few questions to see whether you have the qualifications to be a secretary. Just take it easy—there's nothing here that should give you trouble."

Seo-ah had barely finished her short "Yes" when, just as Tae-kyung had said, Team Leader Cha Myung-hoon walked in with a woman who looked to be in her thirties.

The moment Seo-ah spotted them, she shot to her feet and bowed politely.

"Hello, I'm Jin Seo-ah."

"A pleasure. I'm Cha Myung-hoon, Team Leader and HR coordinator for the Future Strategy Division."

"And I'm Ahn Ji-sun, Section Chief in the Director's office, handling support work for Director Kang Tae-kyung."

By the time the two introductions were over, Tae-kyung had risen from his seat across from Seo-ah and moved to the head of the table, where the two interviewers now sat facing her.

As expected, a series of formulaic questions followed. They were similar to the ones she'd fielded in her earlier interview, and just as he'd promised, none of them were difficult.

What unsettled her was Ji-sun's gaze. There was something about it that felt burdensome—the way she stared, her eyes constantly sweeping up and down Seo-ah's body, left Seo-ah so tense that she went rigid.

Or was it just her imagination? The way Ji-sun's fingers flipped through her résumé, her cover letter, and the evaluation documents from the Brand Strategy Office felt oddly, unmistakably irritable.

"You were notified about the department transfer—how did that make you feel?"

Feel?

She could just as easily have asked what Seo-ah had thought, or whether everything had been all right. Even with the same word, the phrasing she'd chosen landed somewhere aggressive.

Seo-ah answered carefully, taking pains not to look at Tae-kyung. She couldn't afford to let it seem as though the two of them knew each other.

"I was a little surprised, but not flustered. I thought, exactly as I did when I first applied, that I needed to do my best to learn and contribute faithfully, no matter which department I was assigned to."

Having answered calmly, Seo-ah stole a glance at Ji-sun's expression.

But Ji-sun wasn't looking at her at all—she kept darting glances at Tae-kyung. To Seo-ah's eyes, it looked as if she were checking her superior's mood, hesitating over whether or not to ask her next question.

"Is that so? With a music major, it can't be easy finding work outside the Brand Strategy Office……"

What is that supposed to mean?

Seo-ah was watching Ji-sun trail off, opening her mouth to offer some kind of answer, when Tae-kyung—who had been listening in silence—spoke first.

"What exactly are you trying to say, Section Chief Ahn Ji-sun? If there's an answer you're hoping to hear, then ask the question properly."

Ji-sun's face flushed red in an instant, and she stammered in confusion.

"Oh, it's just…… people from the arts tend to be a bit, well, free-spirited and prone to mood swings, so I wondered how well she'd adapt as a secretary……"

Ji-sun trailed off again, and the air in the interview room grew heavy.

That was when Team Leader Cha, who had been observing, spoke up.

"Well, the Future Strategy Division is rather businesslike and stiff by nature. It seems Section Chief Ahn is simply worried our intern might not adjust."

At his measured smoothing-over of the mood, Ji-sun hastily nodded along.

"Oh, yes. That's right, Team Leader Cha."

Tae-kyung let out a hollow laugh but didn't bother sparing a glance at Ji-sun as she bobbed her head. Instead, he looked Seo-ah straight in the eye and asked,

"This is a predictable one, but tell me your greatest strength as an intern—and think about how that strength would benefit the organization."

Seo-ah opened her mouth with composure.

She hadn't expected the question from Tae-kyung, but it was one she'd already prepared an answer for while getting ready for her interview.

"My strength is warm focus and attention to detail."

"Warm focus?"

Tae-kyung echoed her, as though her answer had taken him by surprise.

"Yes. Music is never the domain of one person alone. Only when a variety of members each bring their own instrument or voice and blend together does it finally become a single piece of music."

Tae-kyung's gaze remained fixed on her.

"That's why a warm, delicate kind of focus is needed—one that can read and attune to the flow of others. I intend to make the most of that quality, looking ahead and checking things in advance so that I can devote myself fully to supporting your work, Director."

There is a power in a person's voice and presence. Even a common answer carries a little more weight when it comes from someone who has that power.

Does Jin Seo-ah realize that she herself is the strength—that she herself is the competitive edge?

The corners of Tae-kyung's mouth curved upward. Team Leader Cha, too, nodded with a thoroughly satisfied expression.

"That's reassuring."

"Ha! Exactly. Looks like Section Chief Ahn's workload is about to get a bit lighter."

The banter between Tae-kyung and Team Leader Cha continued, as if to loosen the young intern's nerves. In that warm, convivial atmosphere, Ji-sun alone wore an uncomfortable face.

She managed a reluctant reply.

"Ah…… yes, I suppose so."

The fifteen-minute meeting was short, and the moment the two interviewers left the room—

"Whew—"

Her tension finally broken, Seo-ah let out a long breath without realizing it.

"You did well. I know you must have been nervous."

"I thought my heart was going to burst."

"Really?"

"Yes. Haah—"

A faint smile on his lips, Tae-kyung studied her quietly.

Seeing her in the middle of an ordinary day left him feeling pleased, and at the same time, vaguely guilty. It was probably because of the shameful things he'd said and done to Jin Seo-ah when she'd appeared before him as 'Lin'.

Convinced that an apology was owed here and now, he broached the subject.

"About that day."

"……Sorry?"

"The truth is, I'm finding it hard to forget what happened that day."

At the sudden turn, Seo-ah looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Putting on airs. Pretending to be tough. Overdoing it."

"……"

"For treating you carelessly and judging you however I pleased—I apologize. I'm sorry."

"……!"

At the abrupt apology, color rose unbidden in both of Seo-ah's cheeks.

She had tried hard to bury it, but the feelings of that day hadn't been shame alone. Granted, it had all been her own doing, and she'd had a clear purpose—so she had simply let the tangled knot of emotions lie where she'd buried it.

And now, with one sincere word of apology from him, even those buried feelings had begun to melt.

"It won't be easy, but forget it for me. And I'll forget it too."

Just a few words—yet somehow her tension drained away, and the ache in her heart quieted.

Even so, Seo-ah couldn't bring herself to say that she was fine. If anything, it had been her who had judged him carelessly.

She bowed her head.

Her guilt toward him welled up all over again.

And—someday, she wanted to tell him the truth.

That day, I was an escort called 'Lin' deceiving you. I approached you believing nothing but false information.

When the time came, she wanted to apologize to him properly, formally.

She bit down hard on her lower lip, then released it, exhaling a long breath inwardly. Then she lifted her head with a face composed once more and changed the subject.

"It was thanks to your recommendation that I passed. Thank you."

Tae-kyung, who had seemed to be studying her face, quickly spoke as if nothing had happened.

"I appreciate you inflating my abilities, but I'm not quite at that level yet."

"Surely not."

"I'm serious—so don't go shrinking anywhere. I'm in the middle of poaching talent from another team right now."

"I'm sorry?"

Seo-ah looked at him, bewildered.

"Actually, before I ever recommended you, the Brand Strategy Office had already submitted your file. They said they wanted to hire you—that your deep understanding of the field seemed like an excellent fit for the direction of this new project."

"The team…… wanted me first?"

Tae-kyung nodded.

"And I stole that talent away. Out of my own greed."

"……"

"So carry yourself with confidence. No matter what anyone says, you're a valuable hire, Jin Seo-ah. And until the Won Electric matter is resolved, you'll be working as my secretary for the time being, Intern Jin Seo-ah."

As she listened, Seo-ah's eyes had quietly steadied themselves. With the change in how he addressed her, the playfulness at the corners of Tae-kyung's mouth had hardened anew.

Like a true grown man.

Seo-ah regarded him in silence.

The truth was, the Kang Tae-kyung who had walked into the interview room had been anything but lighthearted—not the way he'd been at the funeral home or the hotel. Part of it was his position, but when he dealt with people other than her, his entire aura changed. His words were brief, his expression businesslike, and he seemed remarkably sharp-edged and keen.

"From now on, under my protection—go get what you want. Let's lay the board out properly, you and I."

Tae-kyung said it with modesty, but Seo-ah could already see that he was a boss who commanded trust.

She answered without hesitation.

"Yes, Director. I look forward to working with you."

"I'm sorry—the Director did it himself?"

In front of the elevator leading to the Director's office of the Future Strategy Division.

Ji-sun, chatting with the division's HR staff member, wore an expression that looked distinctly uncomfortable. She had just heard something she'd known nothing about.

The HR employee nodded.

"That's right. They say he reached out to that intern personally."

"……"

"You know about the scandal that broke in the Brand Strategy Office, right? The intern from there has been left in limbo. Oh—wait, come to think of it, didn't you go on the intern interviews with Team Leader Cha a while back?"

At that, Ji-sun frowned slightly and answered, looking a touch embarrassed.

"Well, yes…… but the Director never mentioned anything about it, so I didn't know."

"Oh, I see."

Just then—

Ding— The elevator's notification chime rang out.