“What are you talking about?”
“He’s the kind of person who can’t rest until he takes whatever is in my hands. Whether it’s an object or a person.”
Seunghyeok tilted his head and gave a short laugh.
“Gu Jinhyeok doesn’t care about women or men. But it seems he likes ones who look like you. Pale and thin, but with eyes still alive.”
“……”
“He plays with them, then throws them away when he gets bored. No way he’d leave you alone at my side.”
Seunghyeok pulled out a cigarette, bit down on it, and flicked his lighter. With the cigarette between his lips and his gaze lowered, he continued in a muffled voice.
“Whether you seduce him with your body or your face, try wrapping him up the way you’re best at.”
“……”
“If you bring me the password properly, I’ll erase your debt.”
His hesitation at the impossible sounding task lasted only a moment; at the words erase your debt, Ihyeon lifted his head. Seunghyeok watched him with folded arms as if studying him. Ihyeon met his gaze without avoiding it.
The Gu Jinhyeok he had seen at the storage room and at Taeseong headquarters looked like a flawless corporate executive with no openings at all. Nothing about him resembled Seunghyeok, whose flashy appearance and gangster like manner clung to everything he did.
He didn’t know why the password had to be taken from him, but it was clearly an opportunity for himself. Ihyeon stared at the file in front of him, then clenched his hand tightly.
“…What do I have to do?”
“I set up a short term intern position in Gu Jinhyeok’s secretary office. Details will be passed through my people. Start going there next week.”
At the sudden news, a crease formed between Ihyeon’s brows. He had already broken his savings just to gather money, and now he would even have to quit his soup shop job while worrying about immediate living expenses.
I’ll have to find a night job. Maybe I should ask if the bar I worked at before has a spot.
Swallowing a sigh, Ihyeon nodded. Somehow his life was about to become even busier. When the voice stopped, he lifted his head and met Seunghyeok staring directly at him. Leaning back on the sofa, Seunghyeok idly swung his shoe clad foot.
Was there more to say, or something else behind it.
He couldn’t understand why the man kept looking at him. As he held the gaze, a knock broke the silence. Even though Seunghyeok didn’t answer, someone cracked the door open and peeked in.
“Boss, the food’s here.”
After glancing sideways at Ihyeon, the man closed the door and left. Silence returned. Seunghyeok lowered his leg first and stood.
“I don’t need to tell you to stay for a meal.”
“……”
“We’re not close enough to sit facing each other and eat.”
A self mocking smile passed briefly over his handsome face. Ihyeon looked at him expressionlessly and stood as well.
“Good. I wasn’t planning to.”
“……”
“Don’t forget. If I succeed, you erase the debt.”
If someone sat as head of a company like Taeseong, he wouldn’t be easy to deal with. It bothered him slightly that nothing had been said about failure, but either way Ihyeon had nothing to lose.
He stared straight at Seunghyeok, then extended his hand with a calm expression. The faint curve at Seunghyeok’s lips slowly fell before a large hand clasped his.
The warmth through the firm palm felt unfamiliar. More unfamiliar was Seunghyeok’s gaze fixed on him. Ihyeon quickly pulled his hand away. As he turned, he felt a burning stare on his back.
***
To think I’d come here again on my own.
Ihyeon clenched his fist while looking up at the glass shining skyscraper. The monument engraved with Taeseong seemed larger than before.
It was a rigged game, but it was his first time coming to such a proper company as an employee. Behind his neat expression hid tension and worry about deceiving others.
People in tidy suits glanced at him as they passed, perhaps because he stood stiffly at the entrance. Snapping out of it, Ihyeon hurried forward.
When he entered the lobby and handed over his ID, an employee who recognized him gave a faint smile. This time, apparently informed beforehand, the gate opened immediately unlike last time.
Following the commuting workers up the elevator and reaching the secretary office, tension belatedly set in. He would have to stay near Gu Jinhyeok and get close to him within less than two weeks. Ihyeon exhaled deeply and lightly knocked on the door.
At the click of it opening, four staff at desks peeked up. Avoiding the mixed curious and wary gazes, he bowed, and a woman from a desk on the right stood.
“Kwon Ihyeon?”
“Yes.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Secretary Office Manager Yoon Jiyeon. Everyone, say hello. This is Kwon Ihyeon, who will work as an intern for the next month.”
“Hello. I look forward to working with you.”
He bowed again and light applause followed. Jiyeon led the still standing Ihyeon to a desk in the corner.
“You can use this seat. You’ll only be here a month, so please understand if it’s inconvenient. It wasn’t originally a desk space.”
As she said, the surface was messy, clearly once a storage spot for various equipment. Ihyeon sat before a hastily placed laptop. His reflection on the dark screen looked more tired and shabby than usual.
“Oh, and…”
Her trailing tone made him raise his head. The secretary manager wore an awkward expression. She brushed near her eyebrow and spoke.
“We have a dress code.”
“Yes?”
“The company rules are strict, and especially the secretary office has an image to maintain.”
At her words, Ihyeon looked down at his clothes. It was a casual suit he sometimes wore at the club.
Looking at the male employees, he noticed ties and vests forming stiff attire. Thinking back, others he saw on the way to work dressed similarly.
“Ah…”
No wonder he had stood out among conservatively dressed people. The glances earlier suddenly made sense.
His face heated, and as he showed embarrassment, she smiled gently.
“It’s your first day, so it’s fine today. Starting tomorrow, please keep it in mind.”
“Yes, understood.”
He answered confidently, but he owned no formal suit like theirs. He would have to go to a department store after work. Numbers spun in his head and a sigh escaped.
“And here. Take this.”
The woman handed a thick bound book to Ihyeon, who was pressing his lips together. When he looked up, she checked the time and gestured to it.
“It’s a compilation of basic manuals you need to learn. Look through it before greeting the director shortly.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Opening the heavy book revealed a table of contents with over ten chapters.
Reading detailed explanations about mindset, conduct, arranging dining venues, and proper speech made him realize again how unsuitable this place was for him.
The secretary manager returned to work, and others began calling or typing. Among people who had mastered such a thick manual and performed smoothly, it felt ridiculous that he alone sat here with ulterior motives. Ihyeon suppressed a rising scoff and lowered his gaze to the manual.
After some time, someone lightly tapped his desk.
“Ihyeon, you’ll go greet the director now. Stand up.”
“Ah… yes.”
Standing before the office door, his mouth went dry. It had been a chance meeting, but would the man remember him, and if so would he find his presence strange?
Knock knock.
With a light knock the door opened, revealing a dark toned interior completely different from Seunghyeok’s desolate office. While his attention was caught by golf clubs in one corner, the secretary spoke first.
“Director, this is Kwon Ihyeon, who started today as an intern. Ihyeon, greet him.”
Ah. He came to his senses and turned. The man at the desk raised his eyes. Ihyeon bit his lower lip and bowed quickly.
“Hello, I’m Kwon Ihyeon. I will… do my best.”
When he lifted his head, their eyes met. The man’s expression seemed both smiling and not.
“Kwon Ihyeon, Kwon Ihyeon…”
Rolling the name on his tongue, he curled his lips with interest, set the document down, and leaned back.
“Ihyeon.”
“Yes.”
“Director Gu’s office is downstairs. Are you sure you came to the right place?”
“…Yes. I did.”
He remembers.
A scrutinizing gaze slowly traveled over Ihyeon’s face.
When the strange look drifted downward to the suit he used to wear instead of a club uniform, the man let out a soft laugh.
“Interesting.”