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The atmosphere in the Strategic Planning Division conference room was thick with foreboding.
Team leaders and department heads, hastily summoned since morning, couldn’t hide their anxious expressions.
Thanks to Secretary Byun’s efforts to silence witnesses, the details of last night’s commotion hadn’t fully spread, but there was an unmistakable sense that something had gone terribly wrong.
“Director Kwon. Is the rumor true?”
“Huh…?”
Kwon, who had been pale and jittery all morning, flinched and widened his eyes at the sudden question.
“Didn’t some young employee cause trouble by taking documents to GB Group yesterday…?”
Even though IR Team Leader whispered the question, Kwon deliberately raised his voice loud enough for Jang Wook—sitting farther away—to hear.
“How can you gossip about such matters as if they’re trivial? Pull yourself together!”
His overly dramatic reaction earned him a dismissive snort from the IR Team Leader, who returned to his seat.
Jang Wook, however, remained indifferent, flipping through papers without sparing a glance.
Just then—
The conference room door slammed open, and Kwon nearly had a seizure.
He trembled so violently that he didn’t even hear colleagues asking if he was okay.
Haunted by Min-hyuk’s warning from the previous night, he’d pulled an all-nighter and even taken sedatives before coming in—but nothing could have prepared him for the sight of Min-hyuk now.
The man exuded a presence a million times more terrifying than any verbal threat.
It felt like it was all over.
Min-hyuk entered the room, every detail of his appearance immaculate—from his perfectly styled hair to his sharply tailored suit. His overwhelming charisma dominated the space as he took his seat at the head of the table.
With piercing eyes, he scanned each team leader and department head one by one. Most avoided his gaze, lowering their heads guiltily.
His stare lingered particularly on Kwon, sharp as ice carving through flesh.
Even Gam Team Leader, who had some idea of the situation, began trembling uncontrollably under the mounting tension.
Without preamble, Min-hyuk cut straight to the point.
“The reason I called everyone here this morning is simple. It seems we have managers who lack basic qualifications.”
“Cough, cough!”
Kwon choked on his saliva, spilling water everywhere. Gam rushed to assist his direct superior.
Min-hyuk continued unfazed.
“Who received communication regarding the meeting with GB Group yesterday?”
Employees hesitantly raised their heads, exchanging confused glances.
“I... I did,” Kwon stammered in a barely audible voice. A deep crease formed between Min-hyuk’s brows.
“Did you personally receive it?”
“No... President Hong instructed me to handle it. They specifically asked for Marketing Team Leader Song Joo-eun. He told me to assign her the task of delivering the documents…”
“Did you know what those documents contained?”
“O-of course! Since they were created by our Strategic Planning Team, I naturally assumed...”
“You entrusted such important documents to Song Joo-eun despite knowing their significance?”
“...”
“To an employee from another department who had no understanding of the contents?”
“P-president’s orders... How could I refuse...?”
“Why couldn’t you refuse?! Even if it came from the president or chairman himself, you should’ve stopped it if it was wrong!”
Bang!
Min-hyuk slammed the table, causing everyone to flinch simultaneously.
The vast conference room fell deathly silent.
“I... I’m sorry...”
Kwon wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, bowing deeply.
Though Min-hyuk rarely showed emotion during work, thinking about the humiliation Joo-eun endured due to Kwon’s poor judgment made anger boil inside him uncontrollably.
He clenched his teeth, struggling to suppress the rage threatening to erupt.
“Why didn’t you report this to me?”
His muffled words, spoken through gritted teeth, sounded even more menacing.
“The president said he would handle it directly, so I assumed you were already informed...”
“Tsk. How did someone so careless even climb to the position of department head?”
Kwon’s eyes widened further as Min-hyuk raised his fist mid-air, only to pause it abruptly.
“I... I’m sorry. I should’ve double-checked everything. It’s entirely my fault... If the MOU with GB Group falls through because of this, I’ll take full responsibility and step down from my position...”
“How insignificant do you think your position is?”
At Min-hyuk’s muttered remark, Kwon nearly broke into sobs.
Min-hyuk finally relaxed his rigid expression, closing his eyes deeply before reopening them.
“If there’s another mistake in the future, you’ll bear full responsibility for your words today.”
“Huh...?”
In other words, this incident would be forgiven—for now.
Everyone exchanged bewildered glances, unable to believe the ferocious man moments ago was speaking calmly.
Min-hyuk sighed softly, glancing at his phone.
If not for the text message he’d received just before entering the meeting, he wouldn’t have let things slide so easily.
―I heard there’s a meeting this morning and got worried... I’m really fine... I just wanted to let you know.
He understood exactly what she was trying to convey.
Thanks to her calming influence, his anger had subsided somewhat.
‘Your concern helped me stay rational. Thank you for stopping me when I needed it most…’
He was grateful she had intervened, preventing him from losing control.
Despite her own wounds yet to heal, she still worried about others—it made his heart ache for her.
A complex mix of emotions escaped once again in the form of a sigh.
Already, it was morning, and he longed to see her.
“Ahh…!”
Out of sheer anxiety, Joo-eun had bitten her lips raw, drawing fresh blood.
After dabbing at the wound with a tissue, she moved on to gnawing the opposite side.
Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking; her nerves were frayed.
“How much chaos are they causing in there… Why isn’t anyone coming out?”
She alternated glances between the director’s office and the empty team leader’s desk, muttering under her breath.
“Stop biting your lips and put this on. I bought it yesterday for myself, but consider it a gift.”
Startled, Joo-eun’s eyes widened at the sight of the transparent lip balm being offered.
“Manager Choi…”
Rarely seen so subdued, Choi wore a solemn expression.
“I heard how tough yesterday was for you. I should’ve insisted on going with you, even against Team Leader’s wishes. I regret doing nothing and letting you face it alone.”
“No, it’s not your fault, Manager Choi…”
“Why would Team Leader agree to such an unreasonable request in the first place? Ugh, what’s the use of saying that now? Both Director Kwon and Team Leader must be getting torn apart in there.”
So… it’s happening, huh?
Joo-eun’s face darkened further.
“Don’t worry. Whatever happens, it’s definitely not your fault. GB Group likely used you as a pawn to find an excuse to break the MOU from the start.”
Though she knew he wasn’t entirely wrong, Joo-eun couldn’t bring herself to explain further.
“Yes…”
“What kind of nonsense is this? If they wanted to cancel, why drag an unrelated marketing team leader into ruining things?”
Just then, Kim Daeri called out.
“Oh! Team Leader’s coming!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Joo-eun shot up from her seat.
Gam Team Leader’s visibly exhausted expression hinted at the heated exchange during the meeting.
‘So my text didn’t help at all…’
Unaware that Min-hyuk had spared the team leader thanks to her message, Joo-eun watched Gam with pity.
“Team Leader… Are you okay?”
“That’s my line… Are you alright, Song Joo-eun?”
“Y-yeah, I’m fine…”
“Right. You can’t say otherwise here. My apologies for asking such a foolish question.”
Though his excessive confidence sometimes irritated her, seeing him now—deflated and self-reproaching—made her miss his usual arrogance.
“Team Leader…”
“Ha. Office life is tough, isn’t it?”
“...”
“Anyway, don’t dwell too much on what happened yesterday.”
“Yes…”
“But, Team Leader. What if GB Group decides to scrap the entire MOU? Will Song Joo-eun take the blame?”
It was a fear Joo-eun shared but hadn’t dared to voice.
Everyone tensed, waiting for Gam’s response.
Suddenly, Gam clenched his fists tightly, his eyes blazing.
“If that happens, neither Director Kwon nor I will stand idly by. Once is enough—do they think we’ll let them pin this on us? Protect Song Joo-eun. Understood?”
“Of course.”
“Absolutely!”
The newfound resolve among the team members brought an unexpected sting to Joo-eun’s nose.
Even if it was just words, she was genuinely touched.
“Oh, right. Director Kwon is waiting outside in the lounge. He’s probably too embarrassed to come in. Could you go see him, Song Joo-eun?”
“Yes…”
Nodding, she headed straight for the lounge.
Perhaps due to Director Kwon’s gloomy aura, the usually bustling lounge was eerily empty, leaving him sitting alone.
Even as Joo-eun approached, Kwon failed to notice her—so consumed was he by his melancholy.
“Director Kwon…”
“Oh. Song Joo-eun.”
He stood up and gestured for her to sit.
After a slight nod, Joo-eun took the seat across from him at the round table.
An awkward silence hung between the two, who rarely exchanged words under normal circumstances.
“You must’ve suffered greatly yesterday. I’m sorry.”
“Not at all. I understand you were following orders from above.”
“Thank you for understanding. Hmm… Song Joo-eun.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
Kwon cleared his throat nervously, his demeanor suspicious.
“Is there… something between you and Director Jeong Min-hyuk?”
Ah, so it had come to this.
Despite her attempt to appear nonchalant, Kwon’s knowing gaze froze Joo-eun in place, rendering her speechless.
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