🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 2
As the legitimate grandson of the group’s head and a member of the royal family, Yuwon’s office was as comfortable and well-appointed as a hotel suite.
Reflecting Yuwon’s tastes, the office was styled like a small gallery, arranged with a sense of aesthetics, and even included a separate dressing room and bathroom.
Upon entering the bathroom, Yuwon threw off his damp clothes.
Checking the condition of his lower body, he ground his teeth tightly.
Fortunately, the right thigh where he stored items was unharmed, but the left thigh, which was hit directly by coffee, bore slight burn marks.
Irritably turning the faucet, cold water poured from the showerhead and drenched his sculpted naked body.
How much gossip will this incident cause today…?
Strangely, Yuwon was particularly prone to scandals.
He had already endured more than enough baseless rumors, and now a new piece of gossip was added to the pile.
Hoo.
That woman… I need to get rid of her somewhere out of sight.
Starting off on such a disastrous note felt extremely ominous.
He had no intention of watching a woman, who appeared like a bad omen, lingering within striking distance.
His first decision at the new organization was just to remove a mere employee.
How ridiculous.
And his own naked state from the first day at work was equally ridiculous.
Taking a deep breath, Yuwon brushed the hair stuck to his forehead back. His sharp eyes narrowed fiercely.
As a company known for fast-spreading rumors, the morning’s catastrophe rapidly spread inside the company.
It even spread beyond MW Hotel Group to all affiliated companies under Woosung Group.
“Manager, there’s a rumor going around… I thought you should know.”
“A rumor?”
“Yes, a rumor. It was even sent to me by a colleague working at Electronics. They say it was posted on Blind, too. Maybe you should consider requesting personal protection.”
The message on the messenger was quite a spectacle.
[] [13:37] Huge accident at MW Hotel’s technical office lolol
[] [13:38] YW got promoted and on the first day, a staff spilled coffee on him — right between the legs ;;
[] [13:38] Witnesses say steam was rising from the pants; must be a 100% burn? T_T
[] [13:39] YW canceled all afternoon appointments and left early. Is there really a problem?
[] [13:45] OMG lol I found out the staff’s identity
[] [13:45] It’s Han Sehee from Planning Strategy Team 1
“…Crazy.”
Sehee immediately took down the photo she had uploaded on the company portal.
But still, she had to endure a barrage of messages, whispers, and unwanted glances all day.
Thud.
While stubbornly holding her position, a paper bag with a franchise cafe logo and a coffee were placed on her desk.
“Are you okay?”
Looking up, Sehee’s face brightened with a hint of relief.
“Manager.”
Haejun, a manager from the same department, leaned on the partition.
“You even skipped lunch. Eat this and cheer up.”
“…Thank you, Manager.”
Though she didn’t really feel like eating, she couldn’t refuse a colleague’s kindness.
Sehee smiled weakly and bit into the warm bagel.
“Wow, this is good. Thanks.”
Haejun’s cheeks puffed up as he smiled at Sehee, then he shyly reddened his earlobe.
But his shyness faded quickly and he asked seriously,
“Did the executive scold you a lot?”
“Um, no. It’s a bit embarrassing, you know. He just asked why I wasn’t focused.”
“So you got a scolding.”
“He must have been speechless that a newcomer caused such a big accident.”
How could she have messed up right at the start in the Planning Strategy Office?
Sehee gave a bitter smile.
Since passing MW Hotel Group’s open recruitment, she had been in charge of marketing for MW Club Embassy, an upscale hotel brand.
The campaigns she led received great response, and two years ago, the hotel brand ranked number one in Korea for brand power.
Thanks to that, she had been invited to the group’s core Planning Strategy Office.
She thought her career would only go up from here…
“How do you see it, Manager? Do you think I’m okay?”
“Hmm.”
Haejun narrowed his eyes, thinking.
“It’s a tricky situation, but I don’t think you’ll suffer any real disadvantages from this.”
“Really?”
“It was just an unlucky accident.”
“I hope so.”
“Don’t worry too much. I guarantee this will just be something people laugh off.”
Haejun kindly encouraged Sehee. The warmth of his smile helped her mood improve slightly.
Come to think of it, she hadn’t had time to think clearly earlier…
Vice President Go Yuwon was truly a strikingly handsome man.
The ID photo on the portal was dazzling, but in person, he was unrealistically splendid.
His perfectly symmetrical features looked obsessively refined, tall and slender with an ideal masculine form.
Like the mythical sun god Apollo…
As she mulled this over, a line from the rumor message came to mind:
[] [13:39] YW canceled all afternoon appointments and left early. Is there really a problem?
“…”
Could it be that something really went wrong over there?
That kind of gene should be preserved for future generations, but if there’s a problem with his ability to produce offspring…
The thought made the office air, usually perfectly controlled for temperature, humidity, and fine dust, feel stuffy.
Sigh.
Sehee lowered her head gloomily. When she faintly smiled again, Haejun felt relieved but also a little embarrassed.
Things were heading in an unwelcome direction.
“Are you talking about Manager Han Sehee? She’s exceptionally talented in planning and was promoted two years earlier than her peers. She also has a spotless external reputation.”
“Is that so?”
“We noticed her last year and scouted her to coincide with the vice president’s appointment. The goal was to create an elite team.”
Contrary to Yuwon’s expectations, Han Sehee was quite a reputable employee.
That said, it didn’t change his mind.
“From what I hear, she’s an essential asset to the company. Planning or PR suits her better than technical office work. What do you think, Executive Director?”
“Uh? Well, that is… um.”
Understanding Yuwon’s hint, Director Cho gave an awkward smile.
Sehee was a group-managed talent. Moving her to another department after only a few months would surely cause gossip.
Especially since the cause was a frankly embarrassing accident.
They wanted to avoid clashing with a prickly superior from the start, but transferring Sehee would be a bad move in any case.
“Vice President.”
Director Cho made up his mind and persuaded Yuwon with all sorts of softening phrases. It wasn’t easy, but he succeeded.
His wrapped message made it clear that firing Sehee would only make Yuwon look petty and foolish.
As expected, Yuwon, proud and egoistic, reluctantly accepted.
“Ha, damn.”
As soon as Director Cho left the office, Yuwon sank deep into his chair and closed his eyes. A deep crease formed between his smooth brows.
He had lived his whole life under tension and pressure, but swearing that this was the first time he had procrastinated from going to work.
Upon entering the lobby, the numerous eyes shooting daggers at his crotch were not imagined.
Thinking of the culprit who had reduced him to such a humiliating spectacle, irritation flared again.
…No, better think positively.
It’s just a week of gossip at most.
No need to waste energy on a ridiculous accident.
“That woman is just…”
If he hid her somewhere out of sight, it would be fine.
Just as Yuwon was trying to rationalize this, the phone he had carelessly tossed on the desk vibrated.
It was a call from his grandfather, Chairman Go Deokhyun.
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Are you okay?”
“Excuse me?”
Chairman Go asked abruptly in a rough voice. Then his next words twisted Yuwon’s once radiant face into despair.
“I heard that thing of yours got scalded so badly the skin peeled off. I’m asking if it still works fine.”
