Chapter 49
49. The Man I Can't Have 2021.10.16.
Jeong-o's voice made Ji-heon stop in his tracks. When Jeong-o confessed that she was a single mother, Eun-bi's expression suddenly darkened.
“Ah… you were a single mother? I'm sorry. I didn't know that…”
Even that apology must be a calculated move.
“It's okay. You don't have to be sorry. I don't think of it as a flaw. Like the Director said, my daughter is pretty.”
“Assistant Manager Lee is so cool. And brave. I don't think I could have made that decision. Anyway, it must be nice to have such a pretty child. You're really amazing.”
Jeong-o almost burst out laughing at Eun-bi's pitiful smile, but she didn't show it. An awkward silence filled the office. The members of Production Team 1, who had been watching Jeong-o from their seats, quietly averted their gaze. Go Eun-ju, the Deputy Director, frowned unpleasantly and glared at Eun-bi. Gi-hoon was momentarily stunned, then looked at Jeong-o with a worried expression. Jeong-o looked at Ji-heon. His expression, devoid of any emotion, hinted at the end once again. Team Leader Seong Mi-ran, who quickly grasped how to resolve the situation, followed Ji-heon.
“Director, I have something to discuss regarding the Competitive Presentation. Do you have a moment?”
“Let's go.”
At Mi-ran's request for a meeting, Ji-heon readily took the lead. Even as his footsteps faded away, Jeong-o felt as if a nail was being hammered into her heart with each step he took.
“Assistant Manager, you're going home, right? I'll give you a ride. Let's go.”
A moment later, Gi-hoon spoke reassuringly.
“Oh, yeah. Thanks.”
Gi-hoon even carried Jeong-o's bag for her. Ji-heon went to his office with Team Leader Seong Mi-ran. Mi-ran was puzzled that Ji-heon was simply walking without even checking what the matter was. Moreover, Ji-heon's steps were strangely slow and heavy, as if he had iron balls attached to his ankles, as if his mind was elsewhere. With those slow steps, Ji-heon silently opened the door to his office and led Mi-ran inside, while he himself stood holding the office door.
“Director, the thing is, in this Competitive Presentation, Chae Eun-bi, the Deputy Director…”
“Wait a moment. Just a moment.”
Mi-ran was about to start talking, but Ji-heon reopened the door he had been about to close. Before she could stop him, Ji-heon left Mi-ran alone in the office and left. His pace quickened, unlike when he had headed to the office. Ji-heon strode towards the Production Team 2 office, confirmed that Jeong-o's seat was empty, and immediately went outside. As the door to the 9th floor opened, a voice was heard from in front of the elevator.
“Assistant Manager, are you okay?”
“Of course.”
It was Gi-hoon's worried voice and Jeong-o's relatively calm voice.
“That's a relief then. Ugh, I'm so angry.”
“Why are you getting so worked up, Gi-hoon?”
“Deputy Director Chae Eun-bi is really awful. I didn't think she was like that.”
“……”
“Hoo. I didn't know it would be revealed like this. I wanted to protect you.”
“I'm okay, really. Thanks for worrying.”
“Shall we go down to the parking lot together, or would you like to wait on the first floor?”
“Let's go down together.”
As the two continued their conversation, Ji-heon's fists clenched tightly. The office became quiet again. Eun-bi, filled with elation at having dealt a proper blow to Lee Jung-oh, went back to her seat. It seemed like the Competitive Presentation preparation meeting was over, so it would be okay to go straight home, but Eun-bi wanted to talk to Ji-heon. She wanted to tell Ji-heon in more detail what she had heard. And, she wanted to see Ji-heon's shocked and hurt face.
“If you don't know anything, you should just stay quiet.”
Deputy Director Go Eun-ju mumbled as she gathered her belongings from her seat. It was a soliloquy, but it was meant for someone to hear. Eun-bi knew immediately that the words were directed at her. How could everyone in Production Team 2 be so foolish? Like idiots boarding a sinking ship. Eun-bi dismissed it as words not worth getting angry over and pretended to organize her work at her seat. After a while, Mi-ran appeared. It seemed that the meeting with Ji-heon was over. Soon, the internal phone on Eun-bi's desk rang.
“Yes. This is Chae Eun-bi.”
[Deputy Director Chae Eun-bi, can I see you for a moment?]
It was Ji-heon's voice.
“Yes. I understand. Director.”
Eun-bi answered cheerfully and hung up the phone, humming quietly as she headed to his office. At the end of the hallway leading to the office, she saw Ji-heon. As if there was no need to go all the way to the office. Feeling uneasy, Eun-bi stopped. Ji-heon approached her.
“There's no need to do the Sori Telecom Competitive Presentation anymore. You've been excluded.”
“Uh… why?”
“It must be because there's no need. Just know that and focus on your main job.”
So that was what Team Leader Seong Mi-ran's meeting was about. Although her pride was slightly hurt, Eun-bi quickly accepted it. Eun-bi was also not very keen on the Competitive Presentation where Production Team 2 would be the main team.
“Okay. Is that all you needed?”
“Am I yours?”
At Eun-bi's question, Ji-heon asked a question in return. The question was so aggressive that Eun-bi asked back with a stiff expression.
“……Huh?”
“That's what you said to Assistant Manager Lee Jung-oh. Am I yours?”
Ji-heon pointed it out again precisely. The company hallway, where anyone could eavesdrop. Eun-bi was anxious that someone might hear Ji-heon's voice, but Ji-heon didn't seem to care at all. Tears welled up again.
“Lee Jung-oh said that?”
“I heard it myself. In front of the cafeteria.”
I wasn't the only one! Lee Jung-oh also said nonsense about me being her man! Even after hearing all that, you're only cornering me? You were smiling at Lee Jung-oh just a moment ago?
“I told you to clean up all the lies you've made, but you're spreading even stranger rumors.”
“……”
“If you damage my reputation any further, I'll have no choice but to resolve it legally.”
Eun-bi's hands trembled at his cold words. Moreover, to mention the law to me, who comes from a family of lawyers. Eun-bi asked, holding back tears.
“But Oppa, aren't you grateful to me at all?”
At Eun-bi's accusatory question, Ji-heon tilted his head and crossed his arms.
“Shouldn't you be grateful? Lee Jung-oh also went around saying that Oppa was her man. I revealed what kind of person Lee Jung-oh is, a single mother who lied to Oppa like it was nothing, and you don't think of being grateful to me?”
Just like Ji-heon, Eun-bi also argued without caring about her surroundings. When she looked at him after shouting with all her might, his face was even more terrifying. Ji-heon, who had taken half a step closer, said quietly.
“Shut your mouth. Huh?”
It was a rough and eerie warning, uttered in a polite and coaxing tone. \ Late at night. Jeong-o lay down next to the sleeping Yena and gently stroked Yena's hair. She had left work earlier than usual and come home, but she couldn't show Yena a bright face. I'm sorry. Mommy's sorry. Mommy is always sorry to her daughter.
It was a day like a roller coaster. Her heart dropped, then soared, and now it felt like she had fallen to the bottom. She had tasted a lot of the bitterness of life, and she realized that there were many kinds of bitterness. But she didn't cry today. Jeong Ji-heon was a man she could never have. It had always been that way. Perhaps because of that resignation, she wasn't completely despairing.
‘It doesn't matter.’
Jeong-o steeled her heart. She had been a little uneasy because it seemed like he was trying to push forward without considering the consequences. Now that there was a brake on it like this, he would keep his distance again. In the current situation, that might be better. Anyway, it would be dangerous for her name to be attached to the rumors that Chae Eun-bi and Jeong Ji-heon had broken up. As she was organizing various things in her head, her phone vibrated. Team Leader Seong Mi-ran's name appeared on the screen.
“Yes. Team Leader.”
[Assistant Manager Lee, are you okay?]
Mi-ran asked with a worried voice.
“Yes, I am.”
[I told the Director. I said that Deputy Director Chae wouldn't be of much help in our Competitive Presentation, so it would be better to exclude her.]
“Oh, you did?”
[The Director readily agreed. Deputy Director Chae was very rude today. Rumor has it that Deputy Director Chae and the Director broke up. I wonder if she's taking it out on Assistant Manager Lee for no reason.]
“……”
[But don't get too close to the rumors, Assistant Manager Lee.]
Mi-ran briefly mentioned what had happened that night and then added a word of caution. Jeong-o chuckled weakly.
“Yes. I will.”
[I'm sorry for being so nosy, but I'm saying this because I'm worried that Assistant Manager Lee might get hurt. After some time has passed, after they've sorted things out a bit. That way, Assistant Manager Lee will feel more comfortable too.]
“Yes. You don't have to worry, Team Leader.”
[Oh my. Okay. Go to sleep soon.]
“Yes. You rest too, Team Leader.”
Jeong-o said goodbye and hung up the phone. \ Although he had warned Eun-bi, Ji-heon couldn't just stand by. On his way home from work, Ji-heon called Eun-yeop.
[Oh. Ji-heon. What's wrong?]
Eun-yeop answered the phone cheerfully. Ji-heon went straight to the point.
“You met Eun-bi today, right?”
[……Did you hear it from Eun-bi?]
“No. I just thought you would. Did you talk to her properly?”
[About what?]
“Tell her not to spread rumors.”
At the law firm office. The smile completely disappeared from Eun-yeop's face, who had received Ji-heon's call while working late.
[Since you're her Oppa, she'll listen to you. I told her clearly last week, but she's still going around saying I'm her man. You know that's defamation, right?]
Talking about defamation in front of a lawyer. He really is an arrogant bastard. Eun-yeop sneered silently. But he didn't show it and answered kindly.
“I'll tell her again.”
[Thanks. I trust you. And I've recorded this call. You understand, right?]
“Recording between friends? I'm so disappointed.”
[After being betrayed by a friend's younger sister, I realized the world is a scary place.]
“……”
[Then I'll hang up. Take care.]
Click. It was an unpleasant call from beginning to end. After the call ended, Eun-yeop, unable to contain his anger, swung his arm and overturned everything on the desk. Crash, bang. The PC, documents, and miscellaneous items all fell, creating a chaotic noise. The office assistant was startled and opened the door. Eun-yeop glared coldly at the office assistant before leaving the office and saying,
“Clean it up.”
7 years ago. Eun-yeop learned that Ji-heon's mother, Ms. Jang Young-mi, was looking for a young male Seong-woo. Since Ji-heon was in a coma due to a hit-and-run accident, Ms. Jang's actions were even more suspicious. After that, Eun-yeop secretly approached the male Seong-woo, pretending it was a coincidence. After figuring out Seong-woo's movements in advance and having about three chance encounters, he was able to become friends with Seong-woo.
“I joined a law firm and mainly advise large corporations, but the children of the group chairmen are all troublemakers. It's so difficult. Have you ever met anyone from a chaebol family, Seong-woo?”
“There are a lot of really strange people in chaebol families. I don't have any personal connections, but I went to a chaebol's mansion once for work recently.”
Once Eun-yeop gave him an opening, Seong-woo readily spilled the information. Eun-yeop's eyes lit up.
“You went to a chaebol's mansion? What for?”
“Ah, but Lawyer, you absolutely can't tell anyone else about this.”
“Of course. Absolutely. Confidentiality is essential for a lawyer.”
Seong-woo's voice lowered.
“It's some kind of food group, but I didn't ask which group it was because I thought it would be rude. Anyway, when you go inside the mansion, there's a marble fountain in the front, it was that kind of mansion.”
A food group, a mansion with a marble fountain. Eun-yeop could easily deduce that it was Ji-heon's house.
“I contacted the lady of the house in advance and then went when I was called. But I received a very strange order.”
“What kind of order?”
“She gave me a phone and told me to call someone and say harsh things to a woman I didn't even know. There was even a script. Things like, 'You're being a burden, so please don't contact me anymore?' 'You better be prepared when you contact me again.' You get the idea, right?”
Eun-yeop felt goosebumps all over his body. The voice that Seong-woo had performed was undoubtedly a perfect Jeong Ji-heon.
“A woman was clinging to the son of the house, but since the son couldn't make the call himself, they wanted me to imitate the son and drive the woman away.”
“……Was that the only time? Were there no other orders?”
“I haven't heard from them since then. I'm a little curious if my acting worked well, and if that woman really left.”
“Chaebols are amazing after all. To suddenly tell someone they don't even know to say those things.”
“I know her name at least. I remember it.”
Eun-yeop's eyes narrowed at Seong-woo's answer.
“Lee Jung-oh. That was her name. Lee Jung-oh.”
