* * *
The moment of fate was approaching.
15 minutes until quitting time.
Time to start making moves.
“Assistant Manager Gil, why are you glaring at your monitor? Something not going well?”
Maybe he looked too serious.
Assistant Manager Kim took the chance to butt in.
“I’m figuring out the fastest way to get home after work,” he said, throwing out a random excuse just in case.
“That’s what you’re worrying about? Just bolt the moment the clock hits six. Sprint to the subway and hop on the first train. That’s the best way.”
“Maybe he should just buy a car.”
If avoiding another unpleasant situation with Director Choi was the goal, maybe that was the smartest move.
“What, Assistant Manager Gil? Have you been saving up? Thinking about buying a car now?”
Assistant Manager Kim scooted his chair closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially.
“If you are, you should’ve told me! I know a dealer—want an introduction?”
…Of course.
Why did he even say anything?
Assistant Manager Kim always tried to rope people into something at the first opportunity.
“I’m good,” he said, shutting it down before Kim could go any further.
Assistant Manager Kim pouted.
“You’re so defensive. It’s not like I was setting you up on a blind date. Cars and houses—you should always buy through people you know. Connections are everything!”
“Summarize the benefits in 300 words or less.”
“Three… hundred?”
Assistant Manager Kim faltered, hit with an unexpected challenge.
Or maybe he was just too stunned to speak.
Either way, it didn’t matter.
The important thing was that he had successfully shut him up.
…Except now Assistant Manager Kim looked like he was actually trying to think of an answer.
What the hell?
Why even bother?
Figures. The downsides outweighed the benefits.
Just look at the company.
HK Furniture was a web of family ties, school connections, and regional allegiances—never a dull moment.
From the outside, it looked like a solid corporation with steady profits and brand credibility, but inside…
“Manager Shin, step into my office for a moment.”
It wasn’t just the junior employees counting down to quitting time.
Ten minutes before six, Director Min stormed in.
Instantly, every employee shifted their focus to their monitors, fingers poised over keyboards.
And just like that, the company messenger app lit up again, flickering like a camera shutter.
[Assistant Manager Kim: Hey, did you hear the shouting in the hallway earlier? Is that Omega from the park thing still unresolved?
Senior Associate Park: Don’t care, didn’t ask. 😑
Assistant Manager Kim: Come on, it’s weird. This one’s dragging on longer than usual. Think there’s another reason?
Senior Associate Park: Don’t care, didn’t ask. 😑
Assistant Manager Kim: Hey! No copy-pasting! At least try to be sincere!]
Assistant Manager Kim’s annoying persistence was effortlessly shut down by Senior Associate Park’s expert-level indifference.
[Assistant Manager Kim: Speaking of, you know what I just realized from talking to Assistant Manager Gil?
Assistant Manager Kim: It’s about Director Choi…]
He was about to close the chat when a keyword notification popped up.
Of all things, it had to be about the one person making life difficult today.
Ignoring it would have been easier.
But curiosity had other plans.
As he stared blankly at the messenger app, Assistant Manager Kim took his time, filling the conversation with all sorts of small talk.
He dragged out the introduction, saying he had heard this from somewhere, before finally getting to the point.
As if he had heard it from someone.
He probably found out while enjoying a leisurely afternoon smoke break with his HR department buddy.
[Assistant Manager Kim: So, get this… Director Choi took the subway to work.
Senior Associate Park: I thought he was a chaebol. Guess not?
Assistant Manager Kim: But considering he timed it exactly with rush hour, don’t you think he was secretly investigating the employees?
Assistant Manager Kim: Maybe he wanted to observe the workers he’d be managing from now on… or something like that. ]
Damn it, he shouldn’t have looked.
But wait—how did people even find out that Director Choi took the subway?
Could there be an employee who knew about that little scuffle from that day?
At the time, Director Choi had definitely done something that could have been misunderstood, and Wookyung had every right to call him out on it.
But if anyone had actually witnessed him arguing with the director, that could become a whole different kind of problem.
‘This is no help at all!’
From the very start, this has been a doomed relationship.
Seriously!
So Wookyung had no choice but to quietly watch the messages continue to appear in the chat.
[Senior Associate Park: But isn’t the whole ‘owner’s bloodline’ thing just a false rumor?
Assistant Manager Kim: I’m telling you, it’s not. It’s obviously corporate surveillance.
Assistant Manager Kim: Think about it—first thing he does after arriving is come straight to our team, introduce himself, and make sure we all notice him.
Assistant Manager Kim: That just proves why he took the subway, doesn’t it?
Associate Choi: He probably just didn’t have a car.]
Associate Choi suddenly interjected into Assistant Manager Kim and Park’s conversation.
[Senior Associate Park: That’s a fair point.
Assistant Manager Kim: No way, I’m telling you—it was surveillance.
Senior Associate Park: But he’s only recently moved back to Korea after living in the U.S. for years, right? It’s possible he just doesn’t have his own car yet.
Assistant Manager Kim: Then he would’ve taken a taxi. It’s not like he doesn’t have money.
Senior Associate Park: If he hasn’t gotten his first paycheck yet, maybe he doesn’t.]
Watching Assistant Manager Kim stubbornly push his surveillance theory while Senior Associate Park countered, Wookyung suddenly flinched.
While he had been zoned out, the time on his computer screen had changed to 5:56 PM.
There was no more room to hesitate.
He really didn’t want to do this, but he also didn’t want to hold onto someone else’s card for more than a day.
It wasn’t something that suited him.
Bracing himself, he was just about to open the chat when—
[Director Choi: Assistant Manager Wookyung, are you free after work?
Director Choi: I think you have something of mine. Want to grab dinner together?]
Shit. Of all times—now?!
The read receipt instantly appeared, and Wookyung clutched his head in despair.
“Assistant Manager Gil! What’s wrong? Having trouble? I told you, I can introduce you to someone.”
Assistant Manager Kim, who had been swiftly packing up to leave on time, didn’t miss the chance to ask.
“No, I’m just leaving.”
“Wait… Assistant Manager Gil, did Director Choi ask you to dinner? Since when were you two so close…?”
Springing up like a coiled spring, Wookyung clamped a hand over Assistant Manager Kim’s mouth.
‘When the hell did he even see my screen?!’
And with his loud voice, there was no way the entire office hadn’t heard him.
Senior Associate Park, who had just picked up her handbag, gaped.
Associate Lee’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
And Director Choi… Director Choi was glaring daggers at him.
Damn it.
‘Why didn’t I close the chat immediately?!’
Not only had he been caught, but of all people, it had to be Assistant Manager Kim.
By tomorrow, the entire office would know.
“I mentioned it to Director Choi,” Manager Shin said, looking proud of himself.
“Since we’ll all be working together, I suggested he have a meal with the employees sometime.”
‘Seriously, Manager? Couldn’t you just focus on your own work instead of pulling unnecessary stunts like this?’
The giant, stone-faced Alpha from earlier was nowhere to be seen.
Even when people talked about him, he pretended not to hear.
Yet somehow, he’d taken the time to pass this little suggestion along?
Would it have killed him to discuss it with me first?
“Oh, that makes sense. Assistant Manager Gil will be reporting to the TF team for now. Too bad, huh?”
“Assistant Manager Kim, it’s past six.”
Just go.
Please, just take the elevator straight to the bus stop and leave, exactly as you planned.
“Oh, right! I’m heading out first!”
As if a single extra minute in the office was unbearable, Assistant Manager Kim quickly bowed to Manager Shin and Director Min.
And before leaving, he made sure to give Wookyung’s shoulder a firm squeeze.
“Tell me all about it later.”
Tell you what, exactly? It’s not like I’m going on a food tour.
Senior Associate Park and Associate Lee hurried out after him, as if afraid someone would stop them.
And they didn’t forget to drag along Associate Choi, who was obviously trying to linger.
Even as he protested, they pulled him along, scolding him for trying to stay late for no reason.
When it came to leaving work on time, their teamwork was truly unmatched.
“Asisstant Manager Gil, you should go too. Director Choi is probably waiting downstairs.”
Director Min smiled warmly as he shoved him toward the metaphorical lion’s den.
‘I haven’t even replied yet…’
Seeing Director Min looming behind him like the Grim Reaper, Wookyung decided the smartest move was to get out of here first.
He could figure things out in the elevator.
He’d tell Director Choi to meet him in the lobby and wait exactly five minutes.
If he didn’t show up, Wookyung would just say he assumed he wasn’t coming and went home.
Tomorrow’s me can deal with the consequences.
“Haaa…”
Sighing, he pushed open the office door.
“You’re just getting off work? Perfect timing. Let’s go.”
Startled, Wookyung looked up—
Director Choi was standing there, smiling.
* * *
