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Chapter 4 …
“……What?”
Doa’s eyes widened into perfect circles, her gaze trembling slightly.
She wondered if she had really heard him correctly.
But the man in front of her was astonishingly serious and expressionless. In a voice devoid of laughter, he repeated himself.
“I’m saying that if you agree to a contract relationship with me for six months, I’ll overlook the enormous damages you caused our company.”
Why exactly…?
The man’s face was flawless no matter how closely one examined it. On top of that, he was an executive director at Hyunsin Department Store, so he must have been highly capable as well.
Why would someone like him want a contract relationship with me? How does that even make sense?
Tightening her grip on the strap of her bag, Doa carefully asked,
“Why… me specifically? May I know the reason?”
“Of course, you can rest assured that I’m not making this proposal because I’m interested in you.”
Ah, yes. I already know that. What I want to know is why you’re proposing a contract relationship in the first place.
“Since it’ll be over in six months anyway, is there really any need for me to open up my personal circumstances to you?”
The man looked at Doa with arrogant eyes as he spoke.
“In this situation, I’m the one in power, and you’re the subordinate.”
W-What an absolute jerk.
Even though she was in an incredibly disadvantageous and difficult position, his tone was so lacking in basic manners that she momentarily forgot about it.
“Even so, I’m still one of the parties involved in this contract. Shouldn’t I at least know why I have to enter a contract relationship?”
“Must you? It’ll end cleanly after six months anyway, and I have absolutely no interest in you. You only need to pretend we’re dating.”
His arrogant attitude, acting as though she would naturally accept the proposal, scratched painfully at Doa’s pride.
If you’re going to ask for something this absurd, then at least—
At the very least, he should explain the full situation properly and politely ask for her help!
Did he really think she was the kind of person who would obediently go along with anything just because he forced her with that condescending attitude?
“If you don’t like it, then it can’t be helped. If a 220 billion won lawsuit sounds more appealing to you, then let’s do that.”
“N-No! When did I say I wouldn’t do it? You’re a little impatient, haha.”
The man asked in an indifferent voice,
“So you’re agreeing to it?”
“I mean… p-please give me a little time to think! Even if it’s a contract relationship, it’s not something I can decide so carelessly.”
Fortunately, the man gave a short nod.
“Fine. I’ll give you some time to think.”
Then, as if to annoy her further, he added one more thing.
“But not much. Decide within three weeks. If it takes any longer, I might feel inclined to call the legal team.”
Doa nodded and hurriedly escaped from the executive director’s office.
The moment she stood in front of the elevator, her shoulders dropped heavily.
The next day, Doa went to work as usual. Her expression looked calm, but inside, her heart was pounding wildly.
There was the self-loathing from failing to properly get revenge on Gyeongjun, and the confusion from suddenly being proposed a contract relationship.
Her mind was a complete mess.
“Hey. I’m surprised you actually showed up to work.”
As soon as the elevator doors opened, Nahui, who happened to be passing by, spotted Doa and greeted her.
“Why? Is there some reason I shouldn’t come to work?”
“Gyeongjun was talking about you yesterday. He said you caused a huge scene at his company and completely embarrassed yourself. Apparently security guards dragged you out and everything. I figured you’d be too humiliated to show up today.”
Doa felt fury boiling inside her.
If Gyeongjun had wounded her faith in love, then Nahui had destroyed her trust in people.
To Doa, who had grown up without parents, friends were “like family,” and among them, Nahui had been the most special.
The friend she believed was the safest person in the world had not only stolen her boyfriend, but had also joined in the plan to take her wedding savings.
The betrayal and hurt Doa felt were beyond words.
“What exactly should I be embarrassed about? Was I the one cheating with my friend’s boyfriend? Or was I the one who stole my friend’s man?”
At those words, Nahui snorted mockingly.
“Do you even realize how pathetic you look right now? You still can’t get over Gyeongjun?”
How was it that the people doing terrible things were always the shameless ones?
Looking utterly dumbfounded, Doa spoke to Nahui.
“You’ve always loved copying me. Remember? You joined clubs because I did, and you begged me to let you join my contest teams too. Looks like this time you wanted my boyfriend as well. Don’t worry. I won’t take him back, so you can keep him!”
“Hah, unbelievable! As if Gyeongjun would ever go back to you.”
“Then he doesn’t have to. I only want my money back. I have no interest or lingering feelings for either of you, so just return my wedding savings!”
The moment she said that, Nahui’s brows twisted, and something ridiculous came out of her mouth.
“What wedding savings? Weren’t those just gifts you gave willingly? Why should I return them to you? Stop using that as an excuse to cling to us!”
After spitting out those words, Nahui spun around and walked away.
Inside Doa’s chest, a tiny spark flared with a pop.
Just wait! If I can’t get my money back from the two of you, I’ll change my last name!
Conference room at Abe Headquarters.
Because of the meeting called first thing in the morning, a strange tension filled the room.
Doa also took out her notebook and pen before sitting down.
Since the meeting had been announced so suddenly, the employees were murmuring all around her.
“What’s this meeting about all of a sudden?”
“I know, right? The team leader told everyone to come.”
“Nothing serious happened, did it? Like a client complaining about an ad or asking us to completely redo a proposal?”
“Junseong! Take that back right now. Words have power, you know.”
“Ah, sorry.”
Just as everyone was murmuring in confusion, the conference room door clicked open.
Doa instinctively lifted her head.
Behind the team leader, dressed casually in a shirt and slacks, two men in immaculate suits walked in side by side.
One was a middle-aged man in his forties with a warm and approachable appearance, and standing stiffly beside him was another man.
……Wait a second. Am I just too tired right now?
Why is that bastard here?
The moment their eyes met, the man curled one corner of his lips upward diagonally.
That signature nasty smile nearly made Doa drop the pen she was holding.
‘Ha! That’s really Woo Gyeongjun?’
Her heart slammed violently against the floor of her chest.
After trying so hard to meet him and even going all the way to his company without success, she was now seeing Gyeongjun at her own workplace!
But the shocking developments didn’t end there.
“This may be sudden, but our company has been selected to handle Hyunsin Department Store’s brand image advertising campaign for this year.”
A Hyunsin Department Store ad campaign out of nowhere? Hadn’t they already failed to secure that contract after losing to a competitor?
While Doa was still confused, the middle-aged man standing next to the team leader greeted the Abe employees.
“Hello. I’m Assistant Manager Park Junghwan from Hyunsin Department Store’s Marketing Team. I’ll be overseeing this campaign and handling the main promotional video. The gentleman beside me is Coordinator Woo Gyeongjun, who will be in charge of the online division.”
“Hello. I’m Woo Gyeongjun, in charge of the online division. I look forward to working with you all.”
As Gyeongjun straightened up after bowing, his eyes met Doa’s once again, and this time he shot her a fierce glare.
‘Excuse me? Who exactly is glaring at who right now?’
Gyeongjun acted as though he were the victim and she were the wrongdoer, which made him seem unbelievably shameless.
After the introductions ended, the team leader spoke again.
“Since this project began very suddenly, the schedule is extremely tight. The online division especially needs immediate hands-on work, so we’ve assigned two employees to work directly with Coordinator Woo Gyeongjun.”
The team leader raised a hand and pointed toward two people.
“Seong Doa and Lee Nahui. The two of you will be handling the online and social media side from now on.”
A terrible premonition brushed past Doa’s chest.
