Chapter 45
45. My Man 2021.10.02.
“Did Jo Si-nae say that? That the Director and I broke up? So now, you’re believing the words of someone who caused an incident and got kicked out of the team?”
Eun-bi’s face turned red as if it would explode at Go Eun-ju's attack, and she left the conference room first. It was clear she was going to go and confront Jo Si-nae. Eun-ju clearly had a complete victory, but Eun-ju’s expression hardly changed even after leaving the conference room.
“How dare they touch me?”
Jeong-o silently watched, gauging her mood as Eun-ju muttered to herself very quietly.
“Did they put a head on your shoulders so you wouldn’t feel lonely?”
Ugh. That’s really original and terrible……. Jeong-o carefully grabbed her own head, imagining putting a head on her shoulder. Trying not to show it, she tried to exhale a breath that was neither laughter nor embarrassment, but ended up sucking it in. At that moment, Go Eun-ju's eyes met hers. Eun-ju stared intently and asked accusingly.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“…….”
“Assistant Manager Go, you don’t swear, right? You said everyone who swears is vulgar.”
“There are times when you need to show a human side, right?”
Eun-ju replied without batting an eye.
“Assistant Manager Lee, why don’t you try swearing once? You’re screwing people over while smiling. It’s such a bright kind of crazy.”
Pfft.
“Assistant Manager Lee, don’t laugh. If you don’t swear at times like this, you’ll get bruises inside.”
Far from getting bruises inside, she felt even more cheerful thanks to Go Eun-ju. Soon, the news that the two had broken up would spread. Since there were things she had said in the meantime, Chae Eun-bi would receive even more glares. Eun-bi went straight to Jo Si-nae. She was fuming when she left the conference room, but as she climbed the stairs, she began to rethink. What was the smartest way to act now? With tearful, melancholic eyes, Eun-bi opened the door to the reading room. She saw Jo Si-nae sitting at the librarian's desk, endlessly fiddling with her phone.
“Jo Si-nae.”
“Oh, yes. Manager Chae. What’s the matter?”
Si-nae looked at Eun-bi with wary eyes. Last Friday, Si-nae had been called in by Ji-heon. And she learned that all the stories Eun-bi had told her about marriage were lies. Ji-heon hadn't explicitly stated it, but Si-nae could sense it. No, she got the impression that Ji-heon was indirectly speaking as if he wanted her to notice Eun-bi's lies. After leaving Ji-heon's office, Si-nae's mouth was itching. She felt like she was going to die wanting to tell someone what she had learned, but no one would talk to her. The only person who came to see the isolated Si-nae was Go Eun-ju. Si-nae grabbed Eun-ju, who had come to receive the handover, and talked about various things. Adding more interesting details to the story she had heard. She also knew that Chae Eun-bi would come running to her someday. But Si-nae was not intimidated. If Chae Eun-bi was not Jeong Ji-heon's bride-to-be, then Chae Eun-bi was useless to Si-nae. So she treated her indifferently, as if looking at a speck of dust, but Eun-bi asked about Si-nae's well-being with teary eyes.
“How have you been? I miss you so much, really. Jo Si-nae was my best friend. It feels like I’ve lost an arm.”
Si-nae's eyes wavered. Eun-bi, quickly sensing this, asked cautiously.
“……Did you hear something from Ji-heon Oppa?”
“…….”
“That’s not true. There’s a complicated issue right now.”
Eun-bi treated Si-nae with a sincere look. She knew how to move Si-nae's heart to some extent.
“There’s another culprit. We talked about it in the bathroom once, remember? Don’t you remember?”
“…….”
“Jo Si-nae and I were exactly right. Do you know how I feel?”
“……So Lee Jung-oh stole Director Jeong?”
As expected, Si-nae quickly reacted.
“……I’ll tell you everything someday. Anyway, what Jo Si-nae knows isn’t true. I’m really upset and dumbfounded, but I’ll overcome it.”
“…….”
“Jo Si-nae, you’re here because of Lee Jung-oh, right? Let’s overcome it together. Let’s work hard and restore everything to its original state.”
Telling her that she was also a victim like her. The two were in a perfect position to form a bond. Eun-bi was someone who could never fall.
* 5 minutes before 10 AM. After finishing the meeting preparations, Jeong-o went to call Ji-heon. Ji-heon was already out in the hallway. Ji-heon, upon discovering Jeong-o, slightly curved the corners of his lips. Jeong-o didn't show any reaction and went next to him and asked.
“You’re going to the meeting, right? Director.”
“I should be.”
While walking side by side for a few steps, her mouth kept itching. Jeong-o asked with suspicious eyes.
“Did you perhaps tell Jo Si-nae that Eun-bi lied?”
He didn't answer. But Jeong-o read the silent affirmation. Wow……. He’s really amazing, really amazing. This person is plotting for the truth, and Chae Eun-bi is plotting for lies, which is the difference, but somehow, it seemed like the two had a similar tendency to use people well. I didn't know this man's true colors seven years ago. For some reason, she felt provoked. She stuck to his side and retorted sharply.
“But is it okay for you to be so relaxed? I think you’re also very much at fault, Director.”
“What fault is that?”
“Isn’t a fake relationship wrong from the start?”
“Is that jealousy?”
“No, it’s not! I’m giving you advice as a friend!”
Ugh, there’s no reasoning with him. Jeong-o abandoned Ji-heon and went into the conference room first. Soon, the first planning and production meeting began. The planning team leader presented the planning proposal, and Seong Mi-ran presented the production proposal. The reaction was good. Everyone in the planning team was also satisfied with the production proposal. Ji-heon also added only the things that needed to be supplemented without any major criticism of the production proposal.
“The advantage of an in-house agency is that we can receive cooperation from other affiliates. I hope that some ideas that utilize the benefits of the affiliates are included. Since there’s no time, if you prepare it by tomorrow, I’ll review it and request cooperation from the affiliates.”
I thought he wasn't very interested in working, but he does do a little bit. Jeong-o chuckled in the corner. At that moment, Ji-heon's eyes met hers from afar.
“By the way, who is going to do the production presentation?”
“I was going to do it for now, but I’m worried because the target is 2030.”
Seong Mi-ran replied.
“How about Manager Chae Eun-bi? Manager Chae Eun-bi has a good expression.”
The planning team leader recommended Eun-bi. Eun-bi smiled with a good expression. Ji-heon didn't even glance at Eun-bi and asked Mi-ran.
“Assistant Manager Lee Jung-oh prepared the PT diligently, right?”
“Yes. Assistant Manager Lee Jung-oh always works hard.”
When Mi-ran praised Jeong-o, Ji-heon also glanced at Jeong-o and smiled faintly.
“She’s also quick-witted.”
Jeong-o didn't like Ji-heon's praise for some reason. It felt sarcastic. The quick-wittedness she had shown in front of Jeong Ji-heon was nothing more than criticizing Jeong Ji-heon. Nevertheless, her heart fluttered a little when he praised her in front of everyone.
“Let’s have Assistant Manager Lee Jung-oh do it.”
After a while, Ji-heon made a decision. Jeong-o was a little surprised, but nodded calmly. Everyone was satisfied with Ji-heon's decision, but Eun-bi, who was shocked, bit her lower lip tightly. After the meeting, all the Competitive Presentation participants had lunch together. Jeong-o talked more with the planning team AE and Seong Mi-ran. Jeong-o had never met the Sori Telecom officials, so she didn't know the atmosphere properly. She needed to be aware of the tendencies of the Sori Telecom executives and the precautions to take at the PT venue. She listened to so many stories that she didn't know whether the abalone stone pot rice that Director Jeong Ji-heon bought her went in through her ears or her nose.
“But Assistant Manager Lee isn’t eating much today. Is it because you’re nervous?”
“Haha. No. I’m just listening to the team leader carefully.”
“Pfft. That’s why I’m relieved about Assistant Manager Lee. She doesn’t get intimidated no matter where you put her.”
Seong Mi-ran praised her once again. But Mi-ran was busy and couldn't stay by her side all the time.
“Then I’ll leave you alone so you can eat slowly and deliciously.”
Mi-ran got up from her seat first, and other team members left the restaurant one by one. Gi-hoon waited for Jeong-o until the end, but eventually Gi-hoon was also called by the client and had to rush back to the company. Jeong-o, who was the last to get up from her seat, was about to leave the restaurant when someone stuck close to her side. It was Chae Eun-bi.
“Do you know why Ji-heon Oppa is showing interest in you?”
“…….”
“It’s because of you. Lee Jung-oh. Because it’s you.”
She felt like the lunch she had eaten was getting stuck in her throat. But Jeong-o quickly gave up. Okay. Chae Eun-bi. If you, who have been driven into a corner, want to vent somewhere, I’ll gladly be your opponent. What must have been on your mind, waiting for me in front of the restaurant, wanting to say that one thing to me? Jeong-o stood there and listened to Eun-bi's words.
“Oppa was born a chaebol, so he has a natural sense of compassion. He can’t just pass by scruffy little kids, and he’ll readily give money to someone who’s starving.”
“…….”
“If I were you, if I were you, who comes from a single-parent family and evokes compassion without anything, Oppa would willingly show interest in that shell.”
As Jeong-o just stared without saying anything, Eun-bi seemed to be having fun and went on even more fiercely.
“Did you try to look more pathetic on purpose? Is that your only competitive edge?”
“……”
“Still, you know. Even if you're uneducated, there are things you shouldn't covet. How could you go after your friend's man?”
“Friend's man?”
Jeong-o arched her eyebrows and asked curtly. She corrected Eun-bi's words.
“Ah. 'Friend' is a bit much between us. Anyway, it's not good to get into the habit of touching other people's men, other people's things, Jeong-o.”
Jeong-o raised one corner of her mouth and smiled quietly.
“Okay. Thanks for the advice. Listening to you, I guess so. It must be because I'm Lee Jung-oh. But what can I do?”
Now it's time to fight back. Jeong-o wasn't someone who just took it. This situation, with no one around, isn't only advantageous for you. I can say whatever I want too. Chae Eun-bi.
“You must be dying of envy, not even getting that kind of attention. Because you can never be Lee Jung-oh.”
Eun-bi's eyes widened at Jeong-o's blow.
“And, other people's men? Other people's things?”
“……”
“How is that person yours? He's never been yours, has he?”
Now, at Jeong-o's confident question, a film of angry tears appeared in Eun-bi's eyes. Jeong-o realized one thing.
‘The two of them really weren't anything!’
Once she realized that, Eun-bi's actions became even more incomprehensible.
“You're the one who's sick, clinging to someone without hope, Eun-bi. You can never have Jeong Ji-heon.”
“……”
“He's my man.”
Well, he's the father of my child. Jeong Ji-heon, I'm sorry. I don't want to talk about you like you're an object either. But she's being so rude. So, excuse me for a moment. Jeong-o politely asked Ji-heon for his understanding in her heart and then smiled brightly at Eun-bi. She wondered if she was being too malicious. But remembering what happened in Ji-heon's office last Wednesday, this seemed like nothing. Eun-bi's face twitched at Jeong-o's words. She seemed frustrated that she couldn't grab her hair first because of her pride. Eun-bi, who was staring at Jeong-o with her fists clenched so tightly that it seemed like her nails would break, strode towards the company. I'm not sorry at all. Jeong-o stared at her retreating figure for a long time and then muttered to herself.
“Hmph. So small.”
“Heh. I agree.”
Huh…? Jeong-o was startled by the voice coming from behind and quickly turned around. A chilling feeling ran through her, draining all the blood from her body. No, why are you coming out from there… From behind a pillar in the pilotis parking lot right next to the building, which she didn't even know was there, a person emerged. She didn't know there was space behind the pillar. Jeong-o almost fell without tripping on anything. Does he think he's caught her weakness? Ji-heon was looking at her with a very satisfied expression, as if he was having a hard time holding back his laughter. Jeong-o thought. I'm probably going to kick my blanket thinking about today for the next 20 years. No, the next 20 years weren't the problem. What… what exactly did I say?
“He's my man.”
The crazy words she had spat out at Eun-bi as a threat were replaying in Jeong-o's head.
