Prologue

It was the first day of the month-long TK New Employee Training Camp. All parents of new TK employees were sent large flower baskets to congratulate the family on their child’s employment. Sitting near the entrance of ‘Kang’s Makguksu Restaurant’, in the small town of Gongju-si, sat one of these baskets. The restaurant was lively in celebration, filled with joy and laughter. Above the flowers hung a large, worn banner reading  [Celebration event for Kang’s eldest daughter, Kang Min-kyung, for her employment as a senior at TK Group]. It was obvious the banner had been reused multiple times to save money, surely. The old words about entering university were crossed out and replaced with the new employment in different colors. The restaurant was lively not only in celebration but also, sunce they were running a deal for the day; if you ordered a Makguksu set for two, you would get a mung bean pancake for free. Everyone laughed and enjoyed each other’s company sharing their meals, but the person they were celebrating wasn’t there.

Min-kyung smoothed the collar of her black tailored suit jacket, ensuring there were no wrinkles. Although she found it on the sale rack, it was the first professional outfit she bought just for her interview with TK Group. She especially liked that the suit was a three-piece set, with a jacket, skirt, and pants. Spending 260,000 won felt like a lot of money, but if she took care of the clothes, she planned to wear this set to work for a while. Min-kyung even calculated that if she wore this to work 5 days a week, for 52 weeks which equals 260 times, half that 130 times. Even if you only wore it three times a week, that’s still 87 wears, and for 3 days a week for 3 years, then the set only cost 1,000 a wear… So it was an excellent and practical buy. Of course, she spent so much money that she would have to wear it for the next three months until her pay could cover the initial cost.

Min-kyung walked briskly, dragging a small roller suitcase behind her, which she even had to borrow from her friend Se-ah, when her phone began to ding. Quickly looking at the screen, she answered the call as she strode.

— Min-kyung?

“Uh, yes, Mom?” She asked as she kept walking.

— I may not know much, but I just wanted to say: If you want to get ahead at the company, make sure you don’t get in anyone’s way. And just remember to smile. Smile… smile when you make eye contact. Oh, yeah, one more thing… Always try when possible to tell the people what they want to hear.

“Um, okay…” 

— Min-kyung, remember you have been studying alone, but you have to look good in front of others to get ahead. Unlike studying alone, working at a company is a place to move up and be seen. And anyone who helps you earn money or gives you more, be grateful for them. You need to remember everything with all your heart

Acknowledging her mother’s advice, Min-kyung said her goodbyes before her mother hung up. As she walked, she realized what her mom said was true. Smile… Min-kyung practiced turning the corners of her lips up, smiling over and over while she walked with her suitcase. “Smile. Tell them what they want to hear… Anyone who helps or pays me, I should be grateful for,” she thought while she practiced manipulating the shape of her mouth into a smile.

Even now, 11 years since that first day, Min-kyung reminds herself of how great her mother’s advice had been. On that first day of training, they were placed in the same group and, afterward, in the same department for work. After years, even when their positions changed and they had fewer conflicts, whenever they were under the same management team, she had to endlessly reflect on her mother’s advice, “Smile. Tell them what they want to hear… Anyone who helps or pays me, I should be grateful for.”

There he was, beautiful looking with good posture, fantastic body, captivating body with a petty and stubborn personality behind that facade. He was the Master of Hypocrisy, Tae Yi-seop. The beautiful and annoying Crown Prince of TK, who despised Min-kyung since they met. He didn’t even bother putting on his charming mask when he was around Min-kyung. He just continued being his hypocritical self.

The advice helped Min-kyung survive at TK. Even when it was wrong and unfair, Min-kyung smiled. When she was sad or embarrassed, Min-kyung smiled. She told him what he wanted to hear while reminding herself, muttering through gritted teeth, “He pays me, I’m grateful.”

****

Min-kyung took a deep breath, standing before a large, tightly closed iron door.

Five days ago, she met with Director Tae Jun-seop after he called her into his office to tell her about new personnel appointments. Although the Director was Yi-seop’s cousin, he looked completely different. He was also arrogant and overbearing but in a completely different manner.

Tae Jun-seop looked at Min-kyung and spoke nonchalantly, “An official announcement will be made soon. You will be moving to be Executive Secretary and Assistant to the Managing Director… no, Executive Director Tae Yi-seop.” he said with a smirk. Throwing his hands up with a regretful look and shrugging his shoulders, “I know these are extraordinary circumstances, I’m sorry. But Song Baek-jae has started to become worried, so I recommended you for the role.”

Min-kyung was stunned. This is ridiculous… she had only been fully assigned to the public relations office three months ago. She had barely gotten used to the work before this news. Not to mention, Tae Yi-seop’s personality was… This is a dream; no, this is an absolute nightmare, Min-kyung thought.

Almost stuttering, she responded, “Did I not perform well or do my duties here, Director?” Her voice had a slight tremble as she asked.

Seeing her reaction and hearing her voice crack slightly, Jun-seop burst out laughing, clapping his hands together, “No, not at all. It’s actually quite the opposite! To put it bluntly, you were too great. We even expanded our search with an open mind; we examined each and every one. But, we couldn’t find anyone as good as you, Deputy Director Kang, to serve as Assistant to Executive Director Tae Yi-seop. This idea pleased Song Baek-jae, so don’t worry; he will make a very reasonable offer for the role.

Min-kyung was so surprised she couldn’t open her mouth to speak, so she just stared at Director Tae’s face.

Song Baek-jae.

Song Baek-jae, as in the Chairman of TK Group, Tae Si-hwan… Jun-seop sat back to further explain to the stunned Min-kyung, “This means that Song Baek-jae directly decided on this assignment for Deputy Director Kang Min-kyung.” 

This meant that now it was all or nothing. It would be a lottery or a loss. However, the probability of the latter was overwhelmingly high. 11 years after Min-kyung joined TK Group, she was given her most significant opportunity and biggest crisis, at the same time, side by side.

*** 

Room 2501, River Officetel, Cheongdam-dong.

Min-kyung looked at the large iron door with the address written on it and took a deep breath. Letting out her breath, she reached out and rang the doorbell. The first day as assistant to the petty Crown Prince Tae Yi-seop has begun.