The Woman Who Stole My Flower
Chapter 8
Chapter 8
#8.
In the end, that day’s in-house promotional event was abruptly canceled, and Kang Joo-heon walked out of the company just like that—before the video production crew they had contacted could even arrive.
The head of the Public Relations Office had turned practically pale.
“Manager Jeong Yeon-seo. Just what on earth did you say to him that made Kang Joo-heon abandon his entire schedule and storm off like that? Did you even apologize properly? Well?”
“I apologized, but it seems he hasn’t let go of his anger yet. I’m sorry.”
“Do you know how many advertisements and pictorial shoots we have lined up with him moving forward? What are we supposed to do if the athlete refuses to cooperate? How on earth are you going to take responsibility for this!?”
“I am truly sorry.”
No matter how furiously the PR head raged, Yeon-seo could do nothing but apologize over and over. If she had swindled money from him, she could pay it back; if she had struck and injured him, she could at least pay for his medical treatment. But this was a problem no compensation could fix. How was she supposed to return a stolen purity?
“It’s maddening enough when someone who actually brings in money causes an accident, but someone who doesn’t earn us a single dime had to go and ruin everything right at the finish line……!”
Even as she repeatedly bowed her head, a bitter taste lingered in Yeon-seo’s mouth. Sure, Corporate Social Responsibility didn’t bring in revenue, but companies did it because it contributed that much to the corporate image. To scold and humiliate her so openly like this…
“Write an explanation report and submit it by next week. Be prepared for a disciplinary committee meeting, too!”
In the end, it was an explanation report ending.
The other employees in the PR Office didn’t look upon Yeon-seo kindly either. Even if they didn’t say it to her face like the department head, they made sure to talk among themselves just loudly enough for her to hear whenever she walked past.
“We have so many projects to do with Kang Joo-heon from now on, this is a disaster.”
“I just feel bad for whoever’s in charge.”
“I know, right? Isn’t Kang Joo-heon famous for having a prickly temper?”
Because of that, Yeon-seo spent the entire day sitting on pins and needles.
How should I write an explanation report so that people praise it as a masterpiece?
Carrying that dilemma, she arrived at work the next morning only to find another complete uproar unfolding. The wrong person had shown up for work.
“Kang Joo-heon-ssi?”
Seeing the superstar in the office two days in a row, the PR staff were left with their mouths hanging open in shock. The difference from yesterday was that today, he was dressed in a sharp suit. What was more, the head of the PR Office was standing right proudly beside him.
Which meant this was a mutually agreed-upon arrangement. Just what on earth had happened in a single day to make the man who had stormed off in a fury yesterday suddenly reappear so brazenly?
With an expression that looked like he had conquered the world, the PR head announced:
“Now, now, everyone. Player Kang Joo-heon, our honorary director at Bellator, has agreed to work with us in the PR Office for the time being as a real Director. Everyone, give him a round of applause!”
A profound excitement and delight were laced into the word real.
Yeon-seo doubted her own ears.
For the time being?
Why did what was supposed to be a single day suddenly turn into ‘for the time being’?!
The others clapping were just as astonished. These days, fancy titles like honorary director, promotional ambassador, or muse were thrown around, but in the end, it was just an advertising model. If that made someone a director, they might as well hire a moving company director.
In any case, why on earth was a commercial model coming into the office for work?
Yet the PR head was already presenting a bouquet of flowers with a grin so wide his mouth looked ready to tear.
“A heartfelt welcome to you, Player Kang Joo-heon—no, Director Kang Joo-heon!”
“Thank you.”
Dressed in a dark gray suit and tie, his hair neatly styled, Kang Joo-heon accepted the bouquet.
“It hasn’t been decided yet exactly what duties Director Kang Joo-heon will be handling in our PR Office. Moving forward, all Bellator employees will respectfully address Player Kang Joo-heon as Director, and furthermore…….”
The PR head’s long-winded speech didn’t even reach Yeon-seo’s ears anymore. The only words endlessly echoing in her head were ‘work with us for the time being.’
“Now then, Director Kang Joo-heon. To commemorate your time working at our company, please say a few words of greeting.”
He spoke briefly.
“I look forward to working with you all.”
Was it just Yeon-seo’s imagination, or did the words sound deliberate and pointed? Strangely, it felt as though he was directing them straight at her, leaving Yeon-seo with no choice but to stare fixedly at the floor.
Applause erupted once more, and the PR head rubbed his palms together, offering a suggestion:
“Now that you’ve become part of our PR family, how about a welcome dinner to celebrate?”
Everyone thought the same thing:
He’s crossing the line.
No matter what sudden whim possessed Kang Joo-heon to work at the company, there was no way he would mingle with regular employees for a company dinner. If he didn’t snap back asking if they thought his time was that cheap, they’d be lucky…….
“Sounds good.”
Yet unexpectedly, Kang Joo-heon gave a willing nod.
“I have a schedule today so that will be difficult, but let’s do it tomorrow evening.”
As luck would have it, there was an empty office upstairs that belonged to an executive who had recently retired to an advisory role, so Kang Joo-heon’s office was assigned there.
“This way, Director Kang Joo-heon. I’ll show you up.”
Yeon-seo stared in utter daze at Kang Joo-heon’s broad back as he followed the PR head out of the office.
*
That night, while watching TV in the living room before bed, Yeon-seo suddenly froze with the remote in hand on a particular channel. A gorgeous actress was on the screen.
That actress is Ryu Chae-young, right?
She didn’t know the whole story, but rumors claimed that the culprit who had left the kiss mark on Kang Joo-heon was Ryu Chae-young. Recalling that gossip, Yeon-seo focused on the screen for a moment.
The situation in the drama went like this: The female lead, an ordinary office worker—though her beauty was far from ordinary—somehow got drunk and spent the night with a man she had just met, only for that man to be appointed as a high-ranking director at her very company.
Why does this situation look so familiar?
Somehow, it didn’t feel like someone else’s business. Gulping down dry saliva, Yeon-seo concentrated on the drama.
After dodging and fleeing from the director all day inside the company, the female lead was finally caught red-handed! To the frozen female lead, the handsome male lead spoke:
—Take responsibility.
—Pardon? For what?
—You were my first.
Yeon-seo’s eyes widened.
The female lead stepped back, trembling with fear.
—Wh-what do you expect me to do to take responsibility……?
Striding forward and successfully trapping the female lead against the wall, the male lead braced both arms against the surface, caging her in as he whispered:
—Let’s date. You and me.
Unable to watch any further, Yeon-seo snapped the TV off.
Her heart was thumping wildly.
Don’t tell me… he came here because of me? Is that it?
No matter how much she thought about it, Kang Joo-heon suddenly showing up for work at the company was ominous to the extreme. Even so, it couldn’t possibly be for the same reason as that drama; to anyone watching, Kang Joo-heon was thoroughly furious with Yeon-seo. After all, dramas weren’t reality, and Yeon-seo wasn’t a stunning actress like Ryu Chae-young.
If his sudden arrival at the company truly was because of her, there was only one possible reason.
He’s determined to get revenge!
A shudder ran down her spine unbidden. Just how deep was the grudge he harbored that he would blow things up to this scale?
[You really don’t remember? Not a single thing?]
Judging by how persistently he had interrogated her, it was certain Kang Joo-heon remembered that night. Even though he had been asleep when Yeon-seo slipped away that morning, he still recognized her, too.
If he remembered, he would definitely know it had been consensual, so she couldn’t understand why he was this angry. Sure, losing the purity he had guarded so carefully until nearly thirty must sting, but there seemed to be something more to it.
Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed she had done something terribly wrong that night, but Yeon-seo had no way of knowing what it was. If only she could remember a single thing!
Just what on earth did I do?
If she could, she wanted to go back and grab that night’s version of herself by the collar, but that was impossible. The only thing she could do now was avoid him as much as possible, just like the female lead had, but tomorrow held a company dinner in store.
I have to run.
Yeon-seo resolved firmly.
*
Since Bellator was originally a sportswear company, the dress code was relatively casual. Thus, Yeon-seo always worked in a simple T-shirt paired with cotton trousers or jeans.
On this particular morning, she wore a loose-fitting gray sweatshirt with jeans, and because the weather was slightly chilly, she threw on a somewhat thick field jacket. In other words, an outfit no different from her usual everyday wear.
However, the others were not like that. When Yeon-seo arrived at work that morning, she couldn’t believe her eyes. The attire of the PR Office employees—especially the female staff who made up the majority—was completely different from usual. As if they had all coordinated in advance, everyone was sporting full makeup and dressed up glamorously in dresses and blouses.
