Tae Hong’s gaze took in each employee one by one. He was the one leading the atmosphere in the conference room. Everyone was busy reading the room at the suddenly called meeting.

Even scheduled meetings can’t hide the tension, so how flustered must they be at a sudden summons. But leaving that to the team members, Tae Hong leisurely rolled his pen.

“I’m thinking of adjusting the work assignments.”

Though called work adjustment, in the Strategic Planning Team it was no different from a second personnel transfer.

Everyone sitting in the conference room was buzzing, but Hae Jin remained calm. This was a situation she already knew about. She just didn’t know how he would adjust things.

“It may be sudden for all of you, but this was decided for work efficiency.”

Everyone was holding their breath watching the real-time personnel changes.

“First, Manager Lee Byung Soo, hand over all but a few major tasks to Manager Kim Yeon Jung.”

“What? Team Leader, that’s-”

Yeon Jung couldn’t hide her surprised expression, urgency plainly showing on her face. She and Byung Soo were the main pillars for this brand launch.

But dumping Byung Soo’s work onto Yeon Jung was tantamount to implicitly excluding him from the project.

Yeon Jung had her own expectations for the brand launch. She thought once hotel planning started, she would have more time with Tae Hong instead of Hae Jin.

So it was something she had been eagerly anticipating, but now it had flown far out of reach.

“Take it over, Manager Kim Yeon Jung.”

“I understand.”

Knowing Tae Hong rarely changed his mind once decided, Yeon Jung could only reluctantly agree.

Hae Jin pretended not to care, but observed Yeon Jung’s expression. Her deflated look was somewhat amusing, but also made Hae Jin feel a bit sorry for her.

Oh compassionate Jung Hae Jin. Have you already forgotten how she tried to trip you up?

“Deputy Jung Hae Jin, participate in the brand launch with Manager Lee Byung Soo.”

“Yes, understood.”

Hae Jin remained calm. She already knew, and her mind was already full of thoughts on how to build the initial stages of the project. Filling her head with work certainly chased away stray thoughts.

So for a moment, she carelessly failed to notice Yeon Jung’s face turning red and blue.

“Team Leader, I thought this brand launch was Yeon Chang’s most important project.”

Tae Hong’s cold gaze turned to Yeon Jung. She flinched for a moment, but seemed determined not to let it go this time.

“Deputy Jung originally came in as your executive assistant, but now project participation? This isn’t planning just anyone can do.”

Byung Soo could only look at Yeon Jung with worried eyes, unable to stop her. Other team members nodded in agreement with Yeon Jung’s opinion, but didn’t add anything.

“Just anyone.”

Tae Hong’s face contorted. Saying “just anyone” was a naked expression of how Yeon Jung viewed Hae Jin. But Hae Jin maintained her composure.

“Does Deputy Jung even know what planning is? She probably doesn’t know the first thing about branding. Putting someone with no experience or skills in charge will just make things harder for the rest of us.”

Though her pride was scratched, that was understandable since Yeon Jung didn’t know her. People surrounded by prejudice against parachute hires knew nothing about Hae Jin.

Plus, she was just an executive assistant, so project participation was like stealing their rice bowls. It was understandable to be dumbfounded and angry.

“Manager Kim Yeon Jung, how long have you worked in Strategic Planning?”

“Two and a half years, sir.”

“That’s not a short time, yet you still don’t know me?”

Yeon Jung knew better than anyone what it meant to disobey a superior’s decision. But she judged this was going too far and had mustered the courage to speak up.

“This project is tied to my position as well. Would I involve just anyone in such a matter?”

He gestured for her to answer, but neither Yeon Jung nor anyone else could open their mouths.

“I’m assigning it because she’s capable. I’ll make sure your rice bowls are full, so focus on your assigned work.”

Assigning it because she’s capable – those simple words were reassuring. Hae Jin knew better than anyone what it meant to have someone believe in and support you.

Even at Sion, when everyone said it couldn’t be done, her father was the one who believed in her planning efforts to the end.

“Deputy Jung Hae Jin, this is about these people’s livelihoods. You understand?”

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

Tae Hong nodded, seemingly having heard the answer he wanted.

“Good. Give it a try. Since you’ll be working closely with Deputy Jung anyway, you can report directly as needed.”

“Yes, I understand.”

With Hae Jin’s answer, no one else raised any more objections on this issue. As the morning meeting ended and people filed out one by one, only Hae Jin and Byung Soo remained in the conference room.

“Deputy Jung. Will you be alright?”

After jotting down her final notes, Hae Jin looked at Byung Soo.

“I’ll be fine. I understand what you’re worried about, Manager.”

Hae Jin gathered the scattered documents on the desk into a pile.

“If I get overloaded, I know you’ll help me out.”

Byung Soo had created opportunities to work with Hae Jin and tipped her off about important points.

As someone with more affection for the Team Leader than anyone, he would surely roll up his sleeves to help with this important project.

“But it seems the Team Leader thinks highly of you, Deputy Jung.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s the Team Leader’s direct line. If you perform well, rapid promotion is guaranteed for this project.”

Hae Jin, already knowing this, just nodded.

“Manager Kim was bragging about that one thing so much.”

This doesn’t bode well.

“Manager Kim must be feeling quite disappointed.”

Is this the opening act of workplace tribulations?

“Haha, I feel a bit sorry now.”

It was an insincere statement.

“I’ll talk to her, so don’t worry too much.”

How can I not worry about this?

“Alright. I’ll just trust you, Manager Lee.”

Hae Jin bowed with a face full of apologies and gratitude. Byung Soo patted her shoulder a couple times, telling her to do well, then returned to his seat.

Knowing the inside story made her throat feel parched. Thinking to get some water before returning to her desk, she entered the pantry.

But as they say, you meet your enemy on a narrow bridge. Unlike Hae Jin, Yeon Jung seemed thirsty for other reasons.

She used the water purifier next to Yeon Jung, who was gulping down water. Hae Jin planned to take the water with her without drinking, hoping to quickly leave this space. But things didn’t go as planned.

The moment her hand touched the pantry door handle, she felt a stinging sensation on the back of her head.

“Deputy Jung Hae Jin.”

As expected, she ended up turning around without even opening the handle.

“You called, Manager?”

“You must have badmouthed me a lot while sticking close to the Team Leader every day?”

Huh? What kind of development is this?

“Was I such a scary presence to you, Deputy Jung?”

Hae Jin’s face crumpled as her brows furrowed. She couldn’t hide behind a social smile or mask. Does she not understand the concept of a scary presence? She had wanted to quietly pass by, but even that wasn’t easy.

“So you tattled everything to the Team Leader?”

How could she think this way even with an imagination factory running? Hae Jin was starting to find it ridiculous.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

She carefully placed the water cup she was holding on the table. Yeon Jung took a step closer to Hae Jin.

“It’s not over just because you say you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

What is she trying to say without even grasping the context properly?

“You think things have changed because the Team Leader is being a bit nice to you?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about your rank.”

Wow, even that slight feeling of pity from earlier completely evaporated.

“Manager Kim Yeon Jung, I’m starting to feel a bit upset when you talk about rank.”

“Oh really? That’s why I said it.”

Hae Jin clenched her molars and endured. After all, it was true that she had taken Yeon Jung’s rice bowl.

“I wonder if you feel worse than me. I even feel a bit dirty. I don’t know where you parachuted in from, but you should know your place.”

Yeon Jung spoke without hesitation. Hae Jin wondered if the words had even passed through her brain.

“Manager Kim Yeon Jung?”

Hae Jin spoke each syllable with all her might.

“If you feel dirty because of what you lost to me, I have nothing to say.”

Yeon Jung was trembling, clenching her fists.

“I didn’t wag my tail at the Team Leader asking for it, nor have I ever badmouthed you to him.”

Yeon Jung’s face gradually contorted.

“You were the one who backstabbed me first, Manager Kim.”

She continued speaking calmly and deliberately.

“And it’s your own doing that your trustworthiness with the Team Leader has dropped because you haven’t shown proper abilities so far.”

This time Hae Jin took a step closer to Yeon Jung.

“And Manager Kim Yeon Jung. You seem to be misunderstanding something, but if I had really wanted to tattle to the Team Leader, do you think it would have ended at just this?”

Hae Jin quietly looked down at Yeon Jung trembling before her. She felt no sympathy. Not much regret either. She just felt the need to calm down someone throwing a childish tantrum.

“You should stop making a fuss and go protect what other work you have left.”

It was telling her to get lost. Yeon Jung trembled so much her cheeks quivered. Then she pushed past Hae Jin’s shoulder and left the pantry.

The door slammed shut, and Hae Jin picked up the glass of water she had set down on the table. It was time to cool the steam rising above her head.

When her dad was doing well for a while, she attended a few social gatherings disguised as friendly meetings. It was a gathering where the family’s sales determined the children’s rank. What’s with that ranking. That’s when she felt it.

No matter how much Sion’s sales performance improved, Hae Jin was always of low rank at the gatherings. Among kids living off their own conceit, Hae Jin seemed to have learned survival instincts.

At least when someone attacks, you need to know how to bark back a bit so they don’t look down on you. And for those who even backstab you, you need to bark even more.

Recalling past memories at the mention of lowered rank, her eyes grew moist. She had resolved to do well confidently, but it was still difficult to control the emotions that welled up occasionally.

Thoughts of her parents stimulated the tears even more. Feeling her eyes burning hot, Hae Jin quickly fanned herself. By now the moisture gathered in her eyes should have disappeared.

Hae Jin puffed out her cheeks, then walked to the pantry door. Taking another deep breath to compose herself, she opened the door.

“Team Leader?”

Hae Jin’s face was shadowed.