My Company Is Black

#005

However, completely capturing Manager Kang’s heart wasn’t as easy as expected. It was because Lee Gyo-ha called for Jung Hwi-kyung more frequently than anticipated.

Hwi-kyung sighed deeply as he boarded the direct elevator to the executive director’s office. As if the first day when Lee Gyo-ha acted reasonably was a lie, he kept calling Hwi-kyung to his office at the slightest pretext.

Even though he had taught him the internal extension number to just state his business over the phone, why on earth did he keep summoning people like this? Hwi-kyung couldn’t understand Gyo-ha’s behavior. The reasons for calling weren’t even significant.

The stapler is out of staples, could you bring some? We’re running low on A4 paper, could you refill it? To use someone for such menial tasks that even a first-month intern would do…

“Director, you called?”

“Yes, Hwi-kyung.”

“What do you need?”

As a result, within a week, Hwi-kyung had thoroughly stocked the executive director’s office with everything it might need. From stapler refills to mugs, tea bags, stick coffee for guests (even though he knew Gyo-ha didn’t drink coffee), A4 paper, and even checking the printer toner and ink levels.

So now, Lee Gyo-ha should have no reason to call for Jung Hwi-kyung. What else could be lacking? Hwi-kyung had even bribed the building cleaning staff he was familiar with to pay extra attention to the executive director’s office, just in case.

Thanks to this, the executive director’s office sparkled compared to other somewhat messy offices. Whatever air freshener they used, the scent filling the space was incredibly refreshing.

Cleaning status: perfect. He had also spoken to the cleaning staff about the bathroom, so it should be fairly clean. If it was dirty on a floor used solely by the executive director, that would be Lee Gyo-ha’s problem, not Jung Hwi-kyung’s.

“Which tie do you think suits me better?”

“Pardon?”

“I have an important meeting today, and I’m not sure which tie would be better.”

“……”

“I had to call you for this unavoidable reason.”

Hwi-kyung looked at the notification window that appeared over Lee Gyo-ha’s face.

Insufficient conditions: Your superior has called you for a trivial matter.

Insufficient conditions: Your superior is asking an unreasonable question.

At this point, he was grateful that the notification window covered Gyo-ha’s face. Otherwise, he might have shouted at Lee Gyo-ha to choose his own tie.

Don’t get angry. A professional office worker doesn’t get angry in any situation… Hwi-kyung did his best to control his mind. But no matter how much he tried to control his mind, what was infuriating was still infuriating.

“I heard that secretaries usually help with this kind of thing.”

Which CEO spouted such nonsense?

Hwi-kyung pressed his lips together and examined the two ties in Lee Gyo-ha’s hands. This is work too. Thinking that way, it felt like just choosing a design draft.

“The blue one suits you better. More than the black one.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“……”

“……”

“Won’t you tie it for me?”

…What the hell is this bastard saying? Hwi-kyung instantly demoted Lee Gyo-ha from executive director to bastard in his mind. Anger dominated Hwi-kyung’s thoughts, but his facial muscles, trained through years of returns, maintained a calm expression.

“These days, I believe secretaries don’t go that far.”

“I see. That’s a bit troublesome…”

“……”

“I’m not good at tying them myself. Someone always does it for me.”

This bastard, didn’t he say he was a former model? Hwi-kyung clenched his molars. He couldn’t just ignore him and return to his office when he was begging to have his tie tied like this.

If he threw it back at him to tie it himself and left, he would surely call again in about 10 minutes. Then Manager Kang would look at Hwi-kyung with trembling eyes. He couldn’t make Manager Kang any more anxious. What if he got scared and decided to change jobs?

Hwi-kyung took a big step towards Lee Gyo-ha. Turning off the notification window and seeing the bastard director’s face up close, his anger subsided a little. It would have been really bad if the bastard had an ugly face too.

“…I’ll teach you how to tie it.”

“Okay.”

“Please watch carefully. It’s not as difficult as you might think.”

Speaking mechanically, Hwi-kyung put the blue tie around Gyo-ha’s neck. It might be an option to strangle this parachute director and leave for the 14th round, but he was sick of starting over now.

How many worse superiors had he experienced until now? Since he himself had been an old-fashioned team leader who countless times bewildered his team members when he led a task force, Hwi-kyung skillfully tied the tie with the mindset of atoning for his previous round.

Gyo-ha’s gaze was steadily fixed on Hwi-kyung. Even for Hwi-kyung, who judged that it was okay as long as it didn’t cause a forced return regardless of what others thought of him, this kind of attention from Gyo-ha was a bit burdensome.

“You tie a tie well. Tying it for someone else is different from tying it for yourself.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“Do you often tie ties for others?”

Insufficient conditions: Your superior is asking about your personal life.

The notification window covered Lee Gyo-ha’s face again. Lee Gyo-ha was still staring at Hwi-kyung. It was clearly an impolite question, but seeing this behavior repeatedly made him feel strangely like he was being tested. Hwi-kyung did his best not to frown for a moment.

The other person is a parachute executive director. He shouldn’t treat him like a friend. Even if he receives a somewhat rude question, as long as he’s in the workplace, he should just laugh it off.

“I just have good manual dexterity.”

“I see.”

“You’ll get better at it if you practice often, Director.”

Hwi-kyung managed the situation while maintaining proper etiquette. However, even after that, Lee Gyo-ha persistently clung to Jung Hwi-kyung, who was looking for an opportunity to return to his office.

“Director.”

“Yes.”

I can’t take it anymore. Hwi-kyung became curious about why Gyo-ha was bothering him like this. Where did the reasonable person from the first day go, leaving only an annoying superior?

No matter how much people say you can’t judge by appearances, this level of attitude change was suspicious. It seemed like Lee Gyo-ha wanted to see Jung Hwi-kyung get angry or explode.

“Did I do something wrong? If you tell me, I’ll correct it.”

“……”

“If you tell me which part you’re not satisfied with…”

“No, no. I see you’ve misunderstood because I keep calling you.”

What do you mean, no? If it’s not to harass, why keep calling people?

“I just wanted to get to know Hwi-kyung better.”

Insufficient conditions: The parachute director is showing personal interest in an assistant manager.

“I like you, that’s why. If I don’t call you for work-related matters, it’s hard to see your face.”

“…Pardon?”

“From now on, I’ll just come down to the HR department myself. I’m sorry for calling you so often. I thought you might feel more burdened if I came down directly.”

The parachute director coming down to the office himself was more terrifying. Hwi-kyung suppressed the urge to tell Lee Gyo-ha to just stay cooped up in this office, do nothing, and waste time playing mobile puzzle games.

He couldn’t say “Don’t come!” and it was also difficult to say “I’m not interested in you, Director.” Hwi-kyung quickly racked his brain. He couldn’t figure out how to speak comfortably while maintaining politeness.

When you don’t know what to say, silence is the answer. Hwi-kyung just kept his mouth shut. He said he came from America, but Lee Gyo-ha seemed too open-minded. How could he show so much interest in a temporary secretary after meeting just a few times?

Is this some new form of harassment?

Jung Hwi-kyung came up with the most plausible assumption. It must be because he didn’t like him as a temporary secretary. It must have been a problem that he bought a café latte on the first day without prior research. You never know how the minds of these chaebol kids might twist.

He had been too reassured by his seemingly reasonable appearance. But if he said he couldn’t continue as a secretary like this, it was obvious this job would be passed on to Manager Kang. Poor Manager Kang!

“I’m glad you like me.”

In the end, that was all Hwi-kyung could say. Jung Hwi-kyung, a low-level HR employee, had no power. Those without power can’t speak carelessly.

Hwi-kyung made another resolution. He would become an indispensable talent that the company couldn’t afford to lose, and become someone who doesn’t have to face the parachute executive director.

* * *

“Hwi-kyung.”

Insufficient conditions: The parachute director is showing personal interest in an assistant manager.

However, life doesn’t always go as planned.

Jung Hwi-kyung had to feel his stomach twisting because of the executive director who brought coffee before working hours.

Why on earth was this bastard doing this to him? Kang Moon-chul, who had arrived at the office earlier than Hwi-kyung and was preparing for work, glanced at the situation.

Watching Manager Kang hurriedly leaving the office saying he needed to smoke, Jung Hwi-kyung shed tears of blood. Manager Kang, how could you do this? You said you couldn’t live without me… Don’t leave me alone with this bastard…

Kang Moon-chul had heard a lot about Lee Gyo-ha while having lunch with Jung Hwi-kyung. Hwi-kyung had gradually leaked information about why Lee Gyo-ha called him, to a level that wouldn’t be considered gossip.

After hearing Hwi-kyung’s words, Kang Moon-chul was shocked. Lee Gyo-ha, who was said to be doing his job well and was a good person for a parachute appointment, was treating Hwi-kyung so harshly. It was just a few days ago that Hwi-kyung had gently comforted Moon-chul, who was anxious that the entire HR team might have been marked.

But making that comfort meaningless, Lee Gyo-ha started showing up at the HR office first thing in the morning at some point. It was thanks to finding out that Hwi-kyung arrived at the office 30 minutes before work started.

Jung Hwi-kyung started to consider arriving at work exactly at 9 o’clock like today’s young people. Of course, after trying it for just one day as a test, he started coming to work on time again because Lee Gyo-ha didn’t return to his office until 9:30.

Lee Gyo-ha didn’t come to the office empty-handed either. He brought coffee for all the other employees too. The problem was that he pointedly didn’t bring one for himself, saying he didn’t drink coffee, which made others feel uncomfortable.

Kang Moon-chul adamantly refused to accept coffee from the executive director. From then on, Gyo-ha invaded the office bringing coffee only for Hwi-kyung. Hwi-kyung really wanted to faint.

Could this bastard really be gay and interested in me?

He had reached the point of having such thoughts. Otherwise, there was no reason to bring coffee for a whole week to a workplace colleague… no, a temporary secretary lackey.

Hwi-kyung felt a chill down his spine. A forced return was approaching, waving at Hwi-kyung. My superior has romantic feelings for me? This was clearly a crisis. A crisis of forced return.