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chapter 22
“What will my tasks be for today?”
He hesitated while flipping over the next stack of approval documents.
“First, you’ll tour the inside of the building. Seo-guk Bio and Seo-guk Construction are nearby, so we’ll take a look there as well. After that, you can go with the secretary and start training. Your position is Team Leader of the Secretariat. Depending on your performance, you could be promoted quickly.”
Do-heon added that ever since Yeon-seo was hired by the Seo-guk Group, the Secretariat had been upgraded to a “Department.” It was obvious this had been done just to create a position for her.
“Yes.”
“If you eventually become an executive, the position will remain even after the contract ends.”
“……”
“For the time being, there’s no need to come here. Focus on learning your duties. I’ll call you if I need you.”
His sharp gaze glinted through his glasses. As if he had nothing more to say, Do-heon turned his attention back to the pile of documents.
Not knowing what else to do, Yeon-seo slowly stepped back. Their conversation hadn’t even lasted a full minute.
It was understandable given the amount of paperwork on his desk, yet there was a lingering feeling of disappointment. Did last night mean absolutely nothing to him? Or was he just that strict about separating public and private life?
Soon, a rather thin man with glasses entered the office. He bowed to Yeon-seo and gestured outward with his palm.
“Shall we move along? Ah, I’m Director Seo’s Chief Secretary. You can just call me Chief Choi. I’ll guide you according to the Executive Director’s instructions.”
Yeon-seo blinked, then returned his bow.
Leaving busy Do-heon behind, she followed his secretary out toward Seo-guk Bio. The interior of Seo-guk Bio’s building gave off a calmer atmosphere.
“Today, Madam—ah, I mean, Team Leader Woo—you’ll be touring departments to get an overall sense of the work. You’ll be working with them a lot, so it would be good to greet people as well.”
As someone under the Executive Director, Chief Choi seemed to be a meticulous type. Yeon-seo listened carefully to his explanations while they went around each department.
Everywhere, she was greeted politely.
She bowed back each time, but it felt as though everyone already knew she was connected to the Seo family, handling her with caution.
After visiting R&D, TF, and HR, the last stop was where new employees received GMP training.
“Here, new hires spend a week in GMP training. After obtaining the necessary qualifications, they’re deployed to the field.”
When the door opened, all eyes immediately turned to Yeon-seo. Sena wasn’t there. Smiling politely, Yeon-seo introduced herself.
“Hello. I’m Woo Yeon-seo, the new Team Leader of the Secretariat. I look forward to working with you.”
But the atmosphere was no different here. Even though she spoke brightly, no one was willing to meet her eyes comfortably.
Then, the door opened again, and in walked a familiar woman. Her face went pale the moment she saw Yeon-seo.
Park Sena. So we meet again.
Her mind replayed his words.
“Next time, at least curse. Don’t just swallow everything alone. If you really can’t, call me instead….”
Just then, the lunch bell rang over the speakers.
The tense faces around her suddenly lit up.
A curly-haired woman cautiously approached Yeon-seo.
“Team Leader, would you like to join us for lunch?”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
Yeon-seo nodded and followed them.
In the cafeteria, bowls of steaming samgyetang were laid out on long tables.
Even after they picked up their spoons, she sensed they were stealing glances at her, which made it hard to relax. The silence lingered until they had finished their meals, leaving her drained.
At the far end of the table, Sena was watching her. Those eyes weren’t kind. They scanned her up and down with the same contempt as before. It was infuriating. While tidying up her empty bowl, Yeon-seo considered how she should deal with her.
Back in the office, employees whispered quietly among themselves.
Just as Yeon-seo was about to leave with Chief Choi, there was a knock. Standing at the door was Kang-jae.
“Team Leader Woo, congratulations on your first day! Everyone, have some coffee and keep up the good work!”
He carried a drink carrier filled with coffees. Yeon-seo’s eyes widened.
“How did you know I was here? You really didn’t have to…”
“I heard from the secretary. I figured you must be nervous today, so I came to cheer you on!”
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
“See you later, then.”
With that, Kang-jae left after handing out the coffee.
Though he likely only wanted to support her, the appearance of yet another member of the family made the atmosphere in the office sink even heavier.
Oh no… Am I already going to be seen as a parachute hire on my first day?
She bit her lip. No… actually, that word might be spot-on. I have no skills, no experience, and yet I’m sitting in a position far too good for me…
From among her tense teammates, she felt a particularly sharp gaze. She followed it and found it was Sena.
“Chief Choi, would it be alright if I stayed a little longer?”
“Of course. Should I wait outside?”
“That would be best. I won’t be more than 30 minutes.”
After getting his understanding, Yeon-seo motioned to Sena, who had been staring at her. Sena hesitated but followed her out.
They walked silently down the hall until Yeon-seo slipped into an empty office.
“I had a hard time pretending not to know you.”
“What?”
As soon as the door closed, Sena’s demeanor shifted.
“We know each other. We were… close, once, weren’t we?”
Her suddenly sweet tone felt unnatural. There it is, Yeon-seo thought. Sena was clearly looking to use her position for advantage.
“You’re really shameless.”
“Shameless? Me?”
Strangely, Do-heon’s words gave Yeon-seo courage. She stepped closer and corrected her.
“I was too shocked to say it before, but you and I were never ‘close.’ Don’t twist the past to cover things up. It’s disgusting. You….”
“I what?”
“You weren’t just a bystander. You took part in the bullying—hell, you even instigated it.”
“D-do you have proof? Stop making up stories.”
“You must have gained plenty from slandering me. And yes, there’s proof—more than enough. Even after graduation, someone confessed to me about it.”
“What are you talking about? You’re accusing me falsely!”
“Keep your voice down. This is a company. If you’d just treated me decently back then, you might be in a much better place now. But that’s just the kind of person you are.”
Startled by her fierce tone, Sena clamped her mouth shut. For Yeon-seo, finally voicing what she had bottled up all these years felt liberating. So this is why Do-heon told me to always say what needs to be said.
She gave her final warning.
“Don’t cause trouble. Stay quiet.”
She was about to leave when—
“Woo Yeon-seo!”
“……”
“I’m sorry. I’ve really regretted it.”
Tears fell down Sena’s cheeks.
“I just… hated you. I think I kept ignoring you without realizing it. Your family situation was worse than mine, but you still got better grades, and even the boy I liked was interested in you.”
“……”
“So I was jealous. I was childish. Watching you get hurt so badly—I regretted it every time. I wanted to apologize, really!”
It was a lie. Sena had always smiled while Yeon-seo was being tormented.
“If you wanted to apologize, you should’ve done it before I entered the Seo family. It’s too late now. I don’t believe you.”
“What?”
“And you should stop relying on tears to get out of things. When a grown adult cries every time they can’t fix something, they just look pathetic.”
Sena’s face shifted through emotions before hardening again. She spoke in a threatening tone.
“Can you really handle it?”
“Handle what?”
“Your marriage to Director Seo. It’s already shaky, but what if bad rumors spread about you?”
“……”
“I could ruin your image here. After all, I’m an old classmate.”
Yeon-seo shivered inside. How could someone reveal such ugliness without shame? Whatever tiny thought she’d had of understanding Sena melted away completely.
“Do whatever you want. I wonder if anyone will believe you.”
Sena’s threats no longer scared her.
She had endured it once before, long ago, and she wasn’t the same powerless girl anymore.
The only thing she worried about was Do-heon. Yet perhaps this was for the best. If ugly rumors spread, it would only make parting from him easier when the time came.
