RB - 41

41. The Other Woman and the Farewell Taxi

Kim, the department manager, had always portrayed herself as a gentle and agreeable person with her soft nasal tone and characteristic warmth. However, in reality, she was someone who harbored an intense desire for promotion and carried an inflated ego. She constantly compared her life to that of her colleagues, plagued by the pressure to succeed even more. There were many sleepless nights where jealousy consumed her after seeing friends who lived wealthier lives than her own.

And so, it began—her affair with Goh Myung-soo, the head of the HR department.

The perks she gained from her relationship with the HR manager were substantial. He knew how to leverage connections with other department heads and fully understood how to use his position to his advantage. Thanks to him, Kim received only the easiest tasks during inter-departmental collaborations and consistently received top evaluations. All of this was due to her illicit lover, Goh Myung-soo, pulling strings behind the scenes.

There was another perk to the affair. One of JB Company’s benefits was access to the building’s basement “Fitness Center” after work hours. Around 4 PM, Kim would sneak off to exercise. It was blatant dereliction of duty, but thanks to her illicit partner, Myung-soo, who altered her attendance records, no one ever questioned her.

To be honest, their sexual chemistry wasn’t bad either, and she enjoyed the designer bags he gifted her every quarter. As long as they weren’t caught, she intended to continue the affair indefinitely.

But then, Kim’s life took a drastic turn. Her husband, upon discovering the affair, demanded a paternity test for their newborn baby just a few months prior.

“How dare you, a married woman, have an affair? I’m getting a paternity test, so get ready.”

“Are you out of your mind? How can you say that in front of the baby? I absolutely refuse, so don’t even dream about it.”

“You’ve got some nerve. I became a weekend husband for you, and when the baby was on the way, I even worked as a designated driver at night.”

“If you dare do a paternity test… You’re not fit to be a father! This marriage is over!”

“Well said. Whether we do the paternity test or not, we’re getting a divorce. Since you’re the guilty party, you better start looking for an expensive lawyer.”

Kim’s dream of appearing as a capable working mom while enjoying the sweet life at work had turned into nothing but a mirage. All that remained now was her downfall, and like moss clinging to a damp floor, she could only lie there silently.

“Hey… Did you hear? Mr. Jung isn’t coming home again tonight?”

With her mother-in-law stepping in daily to help with childcare and housework, Kim’s situation might have seemed manageable, but inside, she was still trapped in hell. After work, she locked herself in her room and cried endlessly. Even her concerned mother’s presence felt suffocating.

“Are you okay? Open the door. I made some soybean paste stew; come have a bite.”

“Mom, please leave me alone. I feel like I’m going crazy.”

She alternated between thinking, I deserve this punishment for my sins, and questioning, What sin did I commit to deserve this? Several times a day, ugly feelings of wanting to kill Han Seo-yeon, who had blown the situation out of proportion, surged within her.

They say tomorrow brings a new sun, but that meant facing suspicious stares at work again. Should she quit instead? But as the guilty spouse, what would happen if they divorced? Would she get any assets divided? Amid these thoughts, Kim wiped her tears roughly.

Then she started counting on her fingers, muttering ominous calculations under her breath.

“…There’s no need to worry about the paternity test. The dates don’t match up. Myung-soo’s child—it’s definitely not his.”

As Kim predicted, the next day dawned brightly, and the morning dragged on until lunchtime.

At noon, in the company cafeteria, Kim sat alone like an island, forcing herself to eat. Now, people openly avoided her, suspecting her of adultery.

“Oh, Manager Kim, are you eating alone?”

At that moment, three female employees approached with their trays and sat near Kim. Their expressions were fierce, like boxers moments before a fight. Of course, they didn’t sit near her out of affection—they came to torment the mistress.

“Ah… Yes, enjoy your meal. Today’s side dishes are good.”

After exchanging awkward pleasantries, Kim picked up her spoon again. She chewed mechanically, unsure whether she was eating rice or sand. Did they know about her affair? Were they testing her? Kim suspected everyone’s intentions whenever their eyes met at work.

“Manager Kim, is the food good? Is it going down well?”

One of the older female employees spoke up. This woman was known for her moral rigidity, and she had been at the forefront of condemning Seo-yeon when rumors first surfaced.

Confused by the question’s intent, Kim rolled her eyes briefly. Before she could respond, the other woman cut her off.

“Oh, no need to answer. I was just curious.”

Curiosity without wanting an answer? Flustered, Kim’s cheeks reddened as she pressed back.

“What did you just say? Are you mocking me?”

The surrounding women began to snicker, and Kim realized with certainty:

Ah, they know about my affair. They’re here to humiliate me.

The older employee scolded Kim loudly enough for the entire cafeteria to hear.

“Listen, Manager Kim, marriage is a sacred institution. Betraying it is a filthy act. Am I wrong?”

Another snickering colleague chimed in, scraping at Kim’s already raw nerves.

“And worse than adultery? Blaming your sins on someone else. Poor Mr. Han.”

These women acted as if berating Kim was a righteous act for Seo-yeon’s sake, though it was really just self-justification for having torn apart an innocent woman’s reputation.

Kim’s hands trembled, and seaweed soup dripped steadily from her spoon.

“Heh, Manager Kim’s mother… Did she drink seaweed soup after giving birth?”

Mocking her mother too? Unable to bear it any longer, Kim burst into tears and shouted.

“Shut up! Do you have proof?”

All eyes in the cafeteria turned toward Kim. Everyone witnessed the showdown between the accused mistress and the office queen bees seeking to punish her. The situation spiraled into chaos.

“No… It’s not me.”

Muttering repeatedly, Kim shoveled food into her mouth desperately. She felt close to breaking down completely. Overwhelmed with shame, she wanted to rip apart Goh Myung-soo, the HR manager who had brought her to this point.

“I’ve lost my appetite. Let’s go. I’ll treat you all to coffee.”

The women stood up, still casting scornful glances at Kim. One of her peers muttered quietly:

“Do we avoid poop because it’s scary? No, because it’s dirty. Poor Ms. Han.”

Though choking on the food she forced herself to swallow, Kim felt her future closing in even tighter.

After leaving the cafeteria, Kim didn’t return to the office. Instead, she exited Yeseong Building and spotted a taxi waiting nearby. She ran toward it as if it were salvation.

Before she could state her destination, the driver, a man in his early forties, turned around and asked:

“Did you call for this ride?”

“Ah… No, but I’m in a hurry.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t take you. Please get out.”

The driver’s firm voice finally broke Kim, and she burst into tears.

“Sir, I’m really in a rush. Please, just take me. I’ll pay extra.”

This wasn’t some dramatic farewell taxi scene, but the driver hesitated before refusing once more.

“I’m waiting for a reserved customer… Sorry, but you’ll have to get out.”

Rejected even by the driver, Kim slammed the taxi door shut with a bang and muttered bitterly:

“For whose benefit am I leaving the company like this? Fine, I’ll endure till the end. Let’s see who wins.”

---

Meanwhile, at the same time, Assistant Manager Kim Min-a practically forced Jin-hyuk to meet her for a small gathering. Jin-hyuk casually chose a smoking section in a café. He lit a cigarette nonchalantly, leaving Min-a flustered.

“Jin-hyuk, since when do you smoke?”

The Jin-hyuk she knew would never puff smoke in front of a woman. Yet, he mocked her expectations by taking a deep drag.

“Why haven’t you been answering my calls? I called all weekend. Didn’t you see my missed calls?”

Min-a felt a baseless sense of humiliation, believing Jin-hyuk was avoiding her. His voice, however, remained icy.

“Why should I answer your calls on the weekend?”

Her heart shattered, but she tried to steady her voice.

“W-well, it’s not that, but I had something urgent…”

“What is it?”

Tears welling up, Min-a confessed everything. But Jin-hyuk maintained a cold demeanor devoid of sympathy.

“So… You went through my phone and snooped around my stock trading app?”

His question made Min-a’s heart burn.

“I’m sorry about that, but the important thing is… All my money is tied up in there. I even took out private loans…”

“This conversation is extremely unpleasant. Are you in your right mind, Assistant Manager Kim?”

Despite his words, a sly smile crept onto Jin-hyuk’s face. Min-a felt his features growing blurry, the surroundings spinning dizzily. The acrid smell of cigarettes seeped into her light blue dress like drizzling rain.