“Wow. This is so nerve-wracking, I can’t stand it. I can’t stand it. How am I supposed to wait until 2 o’clock? This is…”

Since morning, Manager Jung had been restlessly pacing around the office.

The deadline for submitting applications for the TF team had passed, and today was the day the results would be announced.

The entire company was in an uproar today, talking about the TF team results announcement.

The Yangyang branch couldn’t escape the ripple effect either.

Manager Hong looked visibly tired from colleagues constantly contacting him, claiming to have important news and asking for information.

Se Hee’s messenger had been blinking since morning with Sun Ah’s incessant chatter.

“Once I pass, I’ll have to go up right away, right? Our company policy is to start work on the day of the appointment, isn’t it? I roughly packed my things yesterday, but still…”

Manager Jung muttered as if talking to himself.

“Already? You’ve already packed your things?”

Manager Hong asked, seemingly surprised.

“Of course. If you saw my application, you’d know I have quite a few special skills.”

Manager Jung grinned.

“Sigh. Yes, of course.”

Manager Hong shook his head as if he couldn’t help it.

Finally, it was exactly 2 o’clock.

As expected, a new post appeared in the HR announcements section right on time.

The server was so overloaded that it took a long time for the post to load.

On Se Hee’s computer, the attached file wouldn’t even attempt to open.

Once again, Manager Hong, who was the first to confirm the list of successful candidates, cautiously observed Manager Jung’s reaction.

Then, catching Se Hee’s eye, he grinned.

“Is this for real?”

A moment later, Manager Jung lamented in disbelief.

“Ah. I guess I’m destined to stay rooted in Yangyang. You all take care, okay?”

Hearing the plural ‘you’ in Manager Jung’s words, Se Hee quickly checked the screen that was just now loading, her heart racing.

Oh my god, she made it!

She passed!

Se Hee’s name was on the list of successful candidates.

She quickly covered her mouth to stop the word ‘Hooray!’ from bursting out.

“Congratulations. Manager Hong. Assistant Manager Lee. Take care and live well.”

Manager Jung muttered in a deflated voice.

“Manager, are you okay?”

Manager Hong carefully observed Manager Jung’s condition.

“What’s not okay? I’m fine. I’m cut out for Yangyang, you know.”

Manager Jung laughed dejectedly, trying to lighten the mood.

Manager Hong’s expression wasn’t good as he looked at Manager Jung.

“Manager.”

Though it had been a short time, Se Hee, who had grown fond of him, also had an apologetic expression.

“Hey, don’t make those faces. Manager Hong, take good care of our Assistant Manager Lee. And Assistant Manager Lee, support Manager Hong well.”

Manager Jung, who would be left alone in the Yangyang branch, patted Manager Hong’s shoulder.

“…Yes, of course.”

Manager Hong’s voice was slow, immediately choked with emotion.

“Yes, Manager.”

Se Hee also responded with a reliable expression.

* * *

“Didn’t they say we have a meeting with the CEO as soon as we arrive?”

Manager Hong, who was driving, asked.

Manager Hong and Se Hee, who had received notification of their acceptance to the TF team, were driving swiftly down the empty highway early the next day, heading back to headquarters after brief farewells.

“Yes. I think they said it would be in English.”

“English is basic, isn’t it?”

Manager Hong said confidently.

“Let’s do well, Assistant Manager Lee.”

“Yes, Manager. I’ll do my best.”

Se Hee, sitting in the passenger seat next to Manager Hong, also smiled brightly.

“I wonder how long it’s been since I’ve been to headquarters.”

Manager Hong spoke as if feeling nostalgic.

“You’ve been in Yangyang for a long time, right?”

“Indeed. But I feel a bit conflicted about being the only one going up like this.”

Manager Hong’s voice sounded worried about Manager Jung.

“Did you come to Yangyang together?”

Se Hee asked carefully.

“Yeah, that’s right. Back when our hotel was expanding and building a new building. Do you know about the embezzlement incident that happened then?”

Manager Hong spoke candidly.

“…Yes. Was that incident…”

“That’s right. That incident involved Manager Jung and me.”

Se Hee was aware of the famous incident where a large amount of kickbacks were received from subcontractors during the building expansion.

It seemed that this was the story the two had brought up before the dinner the other day.

“I’m only telling you this now, but Manager Jung was really only involved by a hair’s breadth, no, just the tip of his pinky. The rest was all done by Director Yoon. Manager Jung was deliberately dragged into it.”

Se Hee’s eyes widened in surprise at Manager Hong’s words.

But at the time, Director Yoon hadn’t received any disciplinary action.

Se Hee remembered that he hadn’t even been mentioned.

“Everyone knew, but Director Yoon’s influence was so strong back then. Manager Jung ended up taking all the blame, and no one tried to set things right. So I, being in the same department, barged into the disciplinary committee and caused a bit of a scene. As a result, we were exiled as a set. Well.”

Manager Hong let out a bitter laugh.

“…It must have been very hard for you.”

Se Hee said in a sympathetic voice.

They say society is like a jungle.

A place where the strong prey on the weak.

Se Hee felt that Manager Hong’s pain wasn’t unfamiliar.

She had always lived experiencing such treatment herself.

Ha, she couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh.

“At least this time, with the blind application process, it seems like a good opportunity was given even to me who had received disciplinary action. But Manager Jung… Sigh. The world is so dirty.”

Manager Hong let out an even heavier sigh than Se Hee.

After hearing Manager Hong’s story, Se Hee felt even more sorry for Manager Jung who was left alone.

“Let’s keep in touch and visit him often, Manager.”

Se Hee said, thinking it might not be a solution, but could at least be a comfort.

“Shall we? I knew I judged you right. I thought Assistant Manager Lee seemed like a really kind and good person. It’s not a pleasant history, so I don’t usually talk about this to anyone. But I found myself naturally opening up.”

Manager Hong revealed his inner thoughts comfortably.

“Thank you for thinking well of me.”

“Let’s do well together in the TF team too. I’ll take care of anyone who tries to bully you, Assistant Manager Lee.”

“Really? Just hearing that makes me feel secure. Thank you. I’ll serve you with utmost loyalty.”

“Oh… Now I feel secure too.”

The heavy atmosphere brightened up again.

And so, the two drove on towards headquarters.

* * *

From the afternoon of the day the results were announced, interviews with the CEO began for those who passed the TF team selection.

Except for the headquarters staff who finished their interviews on the same day, branch office staff who received acceptance notices for the TF team started arriving one after another from the next day.

Before the interview, TF team members first stopped by the HR department to sign new three-year contracts.

Manager Hong and Se Hee, who arrived last, also headed to the HR department.

“Welcome, Manager Hong. You two are the last ones.”

“Have you been well? It’s been a while.”

“Yes. We’ll be seeing each other often now. Please come this way. First, review the contract contents, then receive instructions on important points, and finally sign.”

The HR staff member, who was already acquainted with Manager Hong, greeted them warmly.

“You must be Assistant Manager Lee Se Hee? Thank you for coming all this way. Let’s go together.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Se Hee also greeted them cheerfully and headed towards the empty conference room the HR staff member had guided them to.

The two sat down in front of the documents with their names already written on them, which were prepared in advance at their seats.

As the two opened the documents, the HR staff member began explaining.

“Please confirm your names first.”

At his words, Manager Hong and Se Hee checked their names written at the top of the documents once again.

“Alright, then you can check the clauses for Party A and Party B. If there are any phrases you don’t understand or any questions, please speak up right away.”

Manager Hong and Se Hee carefully checked the contract page by page.

The contract was cleanly and perfectly written without any special poisonous clauses.

“Do you have any questions?”

The HR staff member, who had waited for the two to calmly review the contract, asked as if they seemed to have finished checking.

“I don’t.”

“Me neither.”

Manager Hong and Se Hee answered in turn.

“Alright, then I’ll just mention one point to keep in mind.”

“A point to keep in mind?”

Manager Hong asked back.

“Yes. The contract period is 3 years. As stated, the annual salary and special bonuses have been set according to your respective positions, and will be deposited into the account you provided as soon as you sign.”

Then, after pausing for a moment to catch his breath, the HR staff member emphasized as if it was important.

“The contract takes effect from the moment the amount is deposited into your account.”

“Oh wow. This is amazing. For real.”

Manager Hong broke into a broad smile, excited at the thought of a large sum of money coming in.

“However, as stated at the bottom, in case of contract termination, that is, if the contract is not maintained due to personal reasons not attributable to the company’s fault, such as sudden resignation within the period, you must compensate 10 times the amount deposited.”

The HR staff member explained the severe content with a smile.

“Te-ten times?”

Manager Hong immediately checked the corresponding phrase in the contract as if in disbelief.

“There wouldn’t be a case of suddenly quitting, would there?”

The HR staff member smiled brightly.

“Well… unless I get fired, there’s no way I’d quit on my own, right?”

Manager Hong tilted his head once, then signed the contract.

Se Hee also carefully examined the clause the HR staff member had mentioned once more, pondering.

Ten times compensation.

It was an amount she couldn’t even dare to imagine.

But the company needed an appropriate safeguard as they were paying in advance.

It meant being tied down for 3 years without being able to move an inch.

“Wow. It really gets deposited right away. This is no joke. Oh my god, this amount.”

Suddenly, Manager Hong, sitting next to her, shouted in excitement.

“Manager Hong, you can go to the CEO’s interview room now.”

At the HR staff member’s signal, another employee who had been waiting outside came in and approached Manager Hong.

“Assistant Manager Lee. What are you hesitating for? Let’s hit the jackpot once in our lives.”

Manager Hong properly encouraged Se Hee and stood up from his seat.

After nodding and smiling at Manager Hong as he left, Se Hee looked at the contract once again.

During the TF team operation period, they would be working with an interim CEO.

Right. Surely she could endure 3 years?

Although she felt a bit uneasy, Se Hee also signed at the bottom of the contract.

When she handed it over to the HR staff member, he stamped it with the company seal.

Then he immediately scanned the document and faxed it to the CEO’s office.

“Would you like to check your bank account too, Assistant Manager Lee Se Hee?”

At the staff member’s words, Se Hee checked her phone.

There was a message from the bank notifying that a large sum had been deposited into her account.

“It’s been deposited.”

“Then please keep in mind that the contract is in effect from now on.”

The HR staff member emphasized once again as if it was important.

“Ye-yes.”

Se Hee was a bit puzzled why they were emphasizing this to her several times when they hadn’t explained it this much to Manager Hong.

Was it because Manager Hong was the head of a household, so they thought he had a stronger sense of responsibility than herself, who was single?

Thinking that way, Se Hee shook off her suspicions.

“Well then, shall we go to the interview room?”

“Yes.”

Se Hee, having finished the paperwork, headed to the interview room following the HR staff member’s guidance.

At that moment, she ran into Manager Hong, who was coming out after finishing his interview with the CEO.

“Assistant Manager Lee. It’s amazing. Be careful of your heart.”

“Pardon?”

Se Hee asked back towards Manager Hong, who was whispering quietly as he passed by.

“You’ll see when you go in. Anyway, be careful.”

Manager Hong was so excited about something, his mouth stretching from ear to ear.

The HR staff member standing in front of the CEO’s office knocked carefully.

And opened the door.

“This is Assistant Manager Lee Se Hee, the last team member.”

After informing the CEO inside, the staff member turned to Se Hee.

“You can go in.”

Se Hee bowed slightly in gratitude to the HR staff member who stepped back with a kind smile, then slowly entered.

“Hello. I’m Assistant Manager Lee Se Hee, who will be joining the newly established TF team.”

Se Hee introduced herself in fluent English, bowing her head politely.

Then she calmly raised her head towards the CEO’s seat.

At that moment, her gaze locked directly with arrogant deep blue eyes looking down at her intently.

“It’s been a while.”