THEP 18

Chapter: 18

Promotion (1)

Lee Nam-hoon, the Vice President, stepped up and drove the opening tee shot.

As expected from someone who had played golf for many years, his skill showed from the very first swing. The ball flew powerfully through the air and landed exactly where he had aimed.

“Nice shot!”

“Bravo!”

“As expected of our Vice President! Hahaha!”

Cha Ji-hoo, along with everyone else, applauded and gave him a thumbs-up.

Next, Executive Director Go and Team Leader Jang each took their turn with a full swing.

Executive Director Go’s shot fell slightly short of the Vice President’s distance but still landed in a satisfying position. Team Leader Jang’s ball, however, drifted far away from the direction he had intended.

“All right, let’s see what Assistant Manager Cha can do.”

As expected, the two executives were highly skilled. Ji-hoo decided there was no need to deliberately tone down his own abilities. If he tried too hard to hold back, it might instead look like he was patronizing them, which could backfire.

Yeah. I just need to give the impression that I’m doing my best.

Trying desperately to win and simply giving one’s best effort were two completely different things. He understood that distinction well.

Crack!

With a smooth, effortless swing, the golf ball sliced through the sky.

Its direction was similar to the Vice President’s and Executive Director Go’s shots, and Ji-hoo’s ball came to rest neatly between theirs.

“Oh, that’s good!”

“Nice shot!”

“What’s this, Assistant Manager Cha? You told me you barely knew how to play. That’s definitely not beginner level.”

Team Leader Jang looked genuinely surprised.

“I’ve been practicing at the driving range for a few days, and I think I’m in good condition today.”

“At this rate, Team Leader Jang might end up in last place. The rookie’s got quite the skills. Hahaha.”

Executive Director Go laughed in agreement with the Vice President.

“As expected, the strength of youth coming from that tall frame and surprisingly solid muscles more than makes up for a lack of experience. I was worried you’d be such a beginner that the game wouldn’t be interesting, but now I’m getting competitive myself. This is exciting. Hoho.”

When you play with someone for the first time, you can usually judge their level just by watching their tee shot.

Anyone could tell that Cha Ji-hoo possessed solid fundamentals and tremendous power.

Right from the beginning, he was living up to expectations.

They moved on across the course and continued the remaining shots.

Not long afterward, the results of the first hole were in.

“…Sigh.”

The one who let out a deep sigh was Team Leader Jang.

On the par-four hole, he had needed a staggering nine strokes, finishing with a quintuple bogey.

“Honestly, Team Leader Jang, your inconsistency is your biggest weakness. You’re the man who scored a hole-in-one last year. What’s going on today?”

“I know, Vice President. I’ve completely ruined the mood.”

Meanwhile, Executive Director Go finished with par, the Vice President recorded a bogey, and Ji-hoo completed the first hole with a double bogey.

Not bad. Though… Team Leader Jang isn’t doing this on purpose, is he?

If he was acting, he deserved the Best Actor award of the year.

Each of them climbed into their golf carts and headed toward the second hole.

The four of them continued their round until late in the afternoon.

By the time the sun was setting, they had completed nine holes. They decided to play the remaining holes the next day and left the golf course.

They headed to a restaurant near their accommodations that specialized in Jeju black pork and fresh seafood.

To relax after the day’s round, they also decided to have a few beers.

Ji-hoo opened the bottles and carefully poured beer into everyone’s glasses.

If this had been an ordinary company dinner, they probably would have mixed bomb shots, but this wasn’t that kind of occasion.

“Thank you all for your hard work today.”

“Assistant Manager Cha worked hard and made today enjoyable. If we’re only looking at today, Team Leader Jang came in dead last. What happened? Hahaha.”

“I know, Vice President. I’m embarrassed. Tomorrow I’ll redeem myself and make sure not to disappoint you.”

“Good. Get some rest tonight and recover your condition.”

It wasn’t just a little intimidating.

Sharing a meal with superiors who were not only much older but also far higher in rank made it impossible for Ji-hoo to even taste the food.

Still, he did everything he could to avoid looking overly stiff. Being polite was good, but making everyone uncomfortable was the worst.

“So, Assistant Manager Cha, how does it feel joining your new team? Does the work suit you?”

Executive Director Go showed a genuine interest in him.

“Yes, Executive Director. It suits me perfectly. Thanks to that, I’ve been enjoying work very much.”

“That’s good to hear. Team Leader Jang really has an eye for talent. You probably don’t know this, Assistant Manager Cha, but your new team leader practically wore us down trying to recruit you. He kept preaching about putting the right person in the right place. We really had a hard time because of him.”

Ji-hoo felt deeply grateful upon hearing how much effort Team Leader Jang had made on his behalf.

“At that point, we realized just how desperately he wanted you on his team, so we made up our minds too. Hoho.”

Team Leader Jang looked awkward at Executive Director Go’s teasing.

Of course, it wasn’t criticism at all.

If anything, it was subtle praise.

“…Sigh. I really acted too boldly toward you and the Vice President. If I crossed the line, I’d like to apologize while I have the chance.”

“Haha, there’s no need for that. Passion naturally makes people proactive, and we completely understand that. Besides, as I told you then, both the Vice President and I had personally witnessed Assistant Manager Cha’s abilities, and his reputation from his previous team was excellent, so we were happy to approve the transfer. Though… there’s something I never got around to telling even Team Leader Jang.”

“…?”

“Assistant Manager Cha’s department transfer was also reported to the Vice Chairman.”

At those words, both Team Leader Jang and Ji-hoo’s eyes widened in surprise.

Ji-hoo nearly dropped the meat he was grilling.

“What? To Vice Chairman Lee?”

“That’s right. Because the Vice Chairman instructed us during the seminar to keep an eye on you, we informed the Executive Office about your transfer. As it happened, he had recently asked about you again, so the Chief of Staff reported it to him immediately.”

“Ah… yes!”

“Seeing that, it’s obvious the Vice Chairman made a very favorable impression of you. More than we originally guessed, in fact. He’s always telling us not to neglect discovering hidden gems, but even so, I never imagined he’d remember you so clearly and personally keep track of you. Hoho.”

Goosebumps spread across Ji-hoo’s body.

It was something he had never expected.

The overwhelming emotion sent a thrill through him.

What would I have done if I hadn’t gone to Spain?

Executive Director Go smiled warmly as she continued.

“You earned this through your own abilities. I look forward to seeing what you accomplish next.”

“I’ll work even harder so I can live up to everyone’s expectations.”

“There will be another gift waiting for you. Just be patient.”

“Huh? Ah… yes.”

Ji-hoo had no idea what she meant.

He assumed it was simply a word of encouragement.

Beside him, Team Leader Jang smiled and patted him on the back.

Just as I thought. I’ve always been an expert at discovering promising talent! Haha.

After dinner, everyone returned to their respective hotels.

Ji-hoo checked into the hotel Team Leader Jang had reserved for him.

Although it was different from where the others were staying, it was right next door, so getting there was easy.

“Whew… Today wasn’t easy. But I feel great. I even received direct compliments from the Vice President and Executive Director—people I could hardly even look in the eye before. Hahaha.”

The moment he lay down on the bed, his phone rang.

It was Team Leader Jang.

“We didn’t come all the way here just to sleep. Let’s grab a cocktail or a glass of wine at the bar.”

“Yes, I’ll be right there.”

Ji-hoo headed to the bar where Team Leader Jang was already waiting with the drinks ordered.

“You must be tired, and we’ve got another round tomorrow, so let’s keep it light.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

Glasses were placed before them.

They clinked them together.

“You’re probably mentally exhausted too, aren’t you? This kind of thing really drains you.”

“Haha, not that much. Actually, both the Vice President and especially Executive Director Go treated me so well and gave me so much encouragement that it almost felt therapeutic.”

“If that’s really how you feel, then that’s good. Executive Director Go seems to have taken quite a liking to you. I don’t know if you know this, but she’s a member of the owner’s family.”

“What? Really? I had no idea.”

“Most people outside the executives of the group don’t know. I only found out by accident myself. She’s keeping a low profile for now, but before long she’ll make her presence known. Don’t misunderstand and think she became an executive just because of family connections. She’s incredibly intelligent—a genius who studied overseas from a young age. She graduated from Harvard and also earned an MBA from New York University.”

The mention of New York University immediately caught Ji-hoo’s attention.

Lately, he seemed to hear Claire’s school more and more often.

Maybe it was just his imagination.

“Not only that, but she’s personally acquainted with many world-famous figures. In terms of connections, she’s second only to the Vice Chairman. She has lived not only in the United States but also in the United Kingdom and France, so she knows many influential people in politics and business there as well. She’s especially close with Queen Mohena since they attended New York University together.”

“What? She’s friends with Queen Mohena?”

“Mm. I believe they’ll be meeting again during this year’s New York Fashion Week. I heard several members of the royal family will be attending.”

New York…

Mohena…

Whether it was coincidence or fate, Ji-hoo couldn’t shake the feeling that his world and Claire’s world were gradually intertwining.

It was becoming harder and harder to dismiss it as mere coincidence.

I wonder who Team Leader Jang will be traveling to New York with.

After finishing just a single glass of wine, the two returned to their respective hotels.

The next day.

Starting early in the morning, the four resumed their round.

Only after completing the remaining holes did they finally stop for a late lunch.

“Assistant Manager Cha played just as well as yesterday, and thankfully Team Leader Jang recovered his form today, so I had a wonderful time. Wouldn’t you agree, Executive Director Go?”

“Absolutely. Though I ended up finding my rhythm at the end and barely beat you, Vice President. I almost feel guilty.”

“What are you saying? There’s no place for apologies in sports. You won because you played better than I did, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. That’s all that matters. Hahaha.”

The atmosphere couldn’t have been better.

The weather had turned out warmer than expected, and surrounded by Jeju Island’s breathtaking scenery and crisp, clean air, it had been an unforgettable golf trip.

Ji-hoo had displayed just enough of his true ability to finish in third place.

That allowed the executives to preserve both their pride and their good mood while also demonstrating that he had genuinely given the competition his all.

“Oh, Team Leader Jang.”

Just as they were finishing their meal, Executive Director Go addressed Ji-hoo’s boss.

“Yes, Executive Director?”

“You’re going to this year’s Spring/Summer Fashion Week, right?”

“Of course. I’ll head there after finishing the annual meeting in Los Angeles. I’ll personally accompany you.”

“Thank you. But before Fashion Week begins, I’d like someone to accompany me during the pre-opening gala. The Executive Office can’t spare any personnel because of scheduling issues. There will be a series of meetings with VVIPs, so I’ll need someone.”

“Oh, I see. Then I’ll select an appropriate employee.”

“Why look elsewhere? The perfect person is sitting right here.”

“…Pardon?”

Executive Director Go’s gaze landed directly on Ji-hoo.

Quick-witted as ever, Team Leader Jang instantly understood what she meant.

“Ah! Assistant Manager Cha?”

“Exactly. Why search far away when the ideal candidate is already here? It’s rare enough to find someone fluent in both English and French, with excellent communication skills. And someone who looks so naturally elegant in a classic suit that they leave a favorable impression on everyone? That’s even rarer.”

Ji-hoo felt himself floating with happiness at the unmistakably direct praise.

She really does think highly of me. That’s a relief.

Team Leader Jang quickly supported her suggestion.

“Haha, as expected of you, Executive Director. Actually, I was already planning to bring Assistant Manager Cha with me on this U.S. business trip.”

“Really? Then should he come to Los Angeles too? That won’t fit my schedule.”

“No. I’ll attend the meetings there myself as originally planned. Assistant Manager Cha can fly directly to New York.”

“You’d really do that? Thank you! Hoho.”

The person most affected by the decision hadn’t said a single word.

While Ji-hoo simply sat there blankly, his two superiors had already decided his trip to New York for him.

Now that’s the kind of coercion I can appreciate! Haha.

He was thrilled.

He had wanted to go to the United States anyway.

Of course, he kept that excitement hidden.

I get to see Claire in New York.

He would have the opportunity to accompany one of the company’s future power figures while also meeting the woman he loved.

It was, without question, shaping up to be the perfect business trip.

Once again, Cha Ji-hoo found himself filled with anticipation.