RB - 39

39. The Dizzying Unfolding of Office Affairs

Meanwhile, Attorney Jeong strode confidently toward the elevator after leaving the conference room. 

“Hey, Shin Jin-Hyuk.” 

Jin-Hyuk turned at the sound of his name. Seeing Jeong’s mischievous smile, he chuckled lightly and waved. 

“Oh? Assistant Manager Han happens to be here too? Let’s have lunch separately today. Since you’re my client, I should treat you to a meal.” 

Seo-Yeon nodded awkwardly with a strained smile. The reason for Jeong’s behavior was obvious: he wanted to broadcast a clear message to everyone—”Han Seo-Yeon has hired Gahan Law Firm, and the infamous thug-lawyer Jeong Seung-Min is handling her case.” 

The JB Company employees gathered in front of the elevator began whispering among themselves. Among them was Kim Min-Ah. 

A female section chief narrowed her eyes as she observed Attorney Jeong. Suddenly snapping out of her thoughts, she exclaimed, 

“Wait! I know that guy—I’ve seen him on TV. Ga... Gahan, right?” 

“Yes, Gahan Law Firm. It’s Jeong Seung-Min, the lawyer who frequently appears as a panelist.” 

That very Jeong approached and casually placed his hand on Jin-Hyuk’s shoulder, appearing extremely close to him. Watching her colleagues tense up at his mere presence, Seo-Yeon couldn’t help but marvel at Jeong Seung-Min’s reputation. 

At that moment, the elevator arrived with perfect timing. Though no one inside said a word, their minds were racing with complicated thoughts. 

The vulgar gossip and sexual harassment they had directed at Han Seo-Yeon—what would happen now? Would they face a lawsuit? 

An oppressive tension filled the cramped elevator. Beads of sweat trickled down Kim Min-Ah’s back, and those around her weren’t faring much better. 

Seo-Yeon felt every nerve in her body sharpen. While part of her anticipated the sweet satisfaction of justice being served, the growing weight of the “office scandal” loomed heavily over her. 

After what felt like an eternity, the elevator doors opened, and people spilled out like a receding tide. Seo-Yeon, Jin-Hyuk, and Attorney Jeong left through the revolving door, leaving behind the bustling crowd of employees. 

---

That afternoon, groups of employees began gathering around Seo-Yeon’s desk. Some greeted her warmly, grabbing her sleeve or waving enthusiastically, while others awkwardly nodded from afar. Despite their differing approaches, one thing was clear: their attitudes had changed dramatically. 

“Assistant Manager Han, I heard you were hurt. Are you feeling better now?” 

“Oh dear, your face looks so thin… Here, try this. It’s ginseng I eat every day—it works wonders.” 

From Seo-Yeon’s perspective, already disillusioned with humanity, this sudden shift in attitude only deepened her cynicism. 

They must feel guilty, she thought. A few kind words won’t erase the malicious gossip they spread about me. 

Their inconsistency revealed their lack of sincerity. If it were up to her, she’d snap, “I’m busy, so stop bothering me,” but such honesty wasn’t an option in office life. Swallowing her bitterness, Seo-Yeon forced a bright smile. 

“Thank you for worrying about me. Your kindness warms my heart.” 

As several employees continued their insincere chatter, a loud male voice boomed from afar. It was HR Manager Ko Myung-Soo. 

“Ah, our Assistant Manager Han has returned?” 

His appearance was disheveled—unkempt stubble dotted his chin, his shirt was wrinkled, and his tie hung crookedly. Deep furrows creased his brow, making him look even more pitiful. 

The fact that his wife, Kim Hyun-Ae, who had managed both childcare and household chores, had disappeared was painfully evident. Seo-Yeon suppressed a sneer. 

“I almost forgot your face, our oh-so-capable Assistant Manager Han. That smug face of yours still shines brightly, huh? Did you take leave to eat some nourishing food?” 

As the unwelcome guest approached, the employees parted like the Red Sea, avoiding him as if afraid of contamination. 

Ko Myung-Soo was practically ostracized these days. Even his close friend, Director Jung, had begun distancing himself, and the audit team openly pressured him to resign. On top of that, his wife and daughter had left home. While reviewing Kim Hyun-Ae’s emergency room records, he discovered that Han Seo-Yeon had paid the hospital bill. Convinced that Seo-Yeon had brainwashed his once-obedient wife, his resentment grew. 

Seo-Yeon saw no need to mince words with him. Sarcasm was the only language Ko Myung-Soo understood. Crossing her arms, she glared at him. 

“You’ve got nothing left to lose, huh? Picking fights so openly.” 

“Hmph, Han Seo-Yeon, always flipping your lid and lashing out.” 

Seo-Yeon felt a wave of disgust. How could Deputy Manager Kim stand being intimate with someone like Ko? He rarely brushed his teeth, and his breath reeked of stale food and cigarettes. 

Eating meals with him was unbearable. His habit of gargling loudly with water before swallowing it made matters worse. 

Regardless, Ko Myung-Soo truly had nothing left to lose. His devoted wife had vanished with their daughter and filed for divorce through Gahan Law Firm. Meanwhile, his mistress, Deputy Manager Kim, falsely accused him of rape, spreading absurd rumors. With his reputation in tatters, finding another job after resigning seemed impossible. 

One wrong step, and he’d fall off the cliff—and standing at the edge was none other than the cunning Han Seo-Yeon. If only she had stayed quiet, if only she had yielded just once! Bloodshot eyes glared at her. 

“Assistant Manager Han, I’ve known all along how sharp-tongued you are. You may act sweet on the outside, but you can’t fool me. I always knew you were dangerous.” 

Unable to hold back, Seo-Yeon burst into laughter. She didn’t want to become a spectacle again, but Ko was setting the stage perfectly. 

“Do you remember who my lawyer is? Should I call him now? Gahan Law Firm is nearby.” 

Ko scowled, placing his hands on his hips, and let out an exaggerated sigh. After huffing a few more times, he spat, 

“Han Seo-Yeon, you’ve grown bold. I warned them not to hire you from the start. Why pick an orphan when there were plenty of qualified candidates? This is why family upbringing matters.”

The HR manager, who had been shouting so loudly that the entire office reverberated, let out a choking groan as if his throat were being squeezed. This was because Shin Jin-Hyuk, who had been quietly seated until now, had grabbed the HR manager’s tie. 

“Stop before you make a bigger fool of yourself. By the way, Han Seo-Yeon’s lawyer is a close acquaintance of mine. Another thing to note: Kim Hyun-Ae, your wife, hired Gahan Law Firm through my referral. Lastly, I received an excellent upbringing in a family so prestigious that we could employ Gahan Law Firm as mere butlers. So tread carefully.” 

The HR manager swallowed hard, feeling the veins on his temples bulge with rage and humiliation. 

The employees, who had been standing by like passive spectators, began speaking up one after another as they sensed the HR manager’s weakened stance. It was a nauseating display of mob mentality. 

“Hey, HR Manager. You’ve really gone too far this time. An apology wouldn’t even begin to cover it.” 

“That’s right. Why are you speaking so recklessly? I’ve been recording everything since earlier. Assistant Manager Han, do you need this audio file?” 

“Because of you, Assistant Manager Han got slapped. If anyone deserves punishment, it’s the real cheater.” 

Kim, the finance team manager nearby, trembled uncontrollably at the mention of “the real cheater,” her hand shaking on the mouse. 

The HR manager, unable to endure the flood of criticism directed at him, tensed up like a dog about to pee. True to the saying, a frightened dog barks the loudest. With a thunderous roar, he shouted, 

“I won’t leave any of you alone! How dare you speak to the HR manager like this? Do you have no fear? Do you want to end your careers here?” 

It was his last desperate attempt, and it was all nonsense. The HR manager was just another employee of the company—he had no power to dictate others’ careers. Naturally, not a single person was intimidated by his words. Finally, the HR manager fled down the office corridor like a man running for his life. 

Watching his pitiful retreat, Seo-Yeon erupted into a fit of coughing, shaking her upper body violently. Jin-Hyuk quickly rushed to support her. 

“Are you okay? You still seem unwell. Why don’t you leave early today? I’ll take you home.” 

It was the kind of conversation that would naturally raise eyebrows about their relationship. Hearing it, Kim Min-Ah clapped her hands over her mouth in shock. 

“I’m fine. Just choked on my saliva.” 

Though Seo-Yeon pushed Jin-Hyuk away and insisted she was okay, another bout of coughing overtook her, and she headed toward the office exit. The sound of her heels clicking against the marble floor of the hallway echoed sharply, each step ringing out like a clear burst of sound. 

Left behind, Jin-Hyuk coldly ignored the stares directed at him and followed after Seo-Yeon.