A few days later.

– Attention all staff. Please gather at the Artni Hall Center. Once again, attention please.

Everyone headed towards the Artni Hall Center in response to the announcement echoing throughout the company. As everyone moved, only then did Jae Yi slowly start to move as well.

On the way to the Artni Hall Center, Jae Yi’s footsteps stopped several times.

She repeated to herself over and over that she could go, she couldn’t go.

Though one person missing wouldn’t be noticed, Jae Yi had overheard Manager Kim earlier saying that Cha Geon Hak would be on stage today, so she finally forced her heavy steps forward.

“Hoo.”

As she took a deep breath and entered the Artni Hall Center, she could already see the employees packed tightly from the front rows.

Should I just leave?

‘We need employees like Han Jae Yi who work diligently without complaint. So please continue to work hard as you have been. That’s enough.’

Right. That’s what the Executive Director said. And it wasn’t just anyone, but the Executive Director himself.

Despite her resolve, Jae Yi’s body began to tremble involuntarily as she stood at the very back. As people looked at Jae Yi and whispered again, her head drooped down, and she ended up having to move to a corner.

The bright lights suddenly went out and a video started playing on the large screen.

As the workplace harassment prevention training video began, even the noisy chatter died down as everyone started to focus on the video.

They’ve never gathered everyone like this to watch a video before.

Is today some kind of special day?

By the way, where is the Executive Director? Surely he’s not skipping this?

* * *

Cha Geon Hak’s gaze shifted as he looked down at the employees from the upper floor.

This large windowed area allowed those inside to see everything outside, but was completely invisible from the outside. Moreover, a system was installed to allow close-up views of employees’ faces, so their expressions could be seen in vivid detail as if up close.

It was a place Chairman Cha Seong Gu had installed with the stated purpose of wanting to personally witness employee satisfaction levels up close.

Last night, Geon Hak had stared at the resignation letter she wrote before opening the envelope to check the paper. Her neat handwriting, befitting her personality, caught his eye.

[Reason for resignation: It’s too difficult.]

And next to it, there was writing that had been crossed out multiple times with a pen in an attempt to erase it.

[I want to quit. But I can’t.]

A strange emotion crossed Geon Hak’s face as he looked at the resignation letter.

‘If it was that difficult, you should have said something.’

As Geon Hak whispered to the paper like a madman, Secretary Kim’s voice was soon heard.

‘Yes, Executive Director?’

‘No. Not you, Secretary Kim.’

Suddenly recalling Secretary Kim questioning him back, Geon Hak rubbed his smooth forehead.

“Executive Director. I found her.”

Han Jae Yi’s face was shown in close-up.

Geon Hak’s gaze, arms folded as he looked at the screen, turned to her face. He noticed that her face, which was already rarely seen smiling, looked even more hardened.

Why is she so tense? The guilty one seems unbothered.

For a moment, as her image overlapped with her pretty eye-smile, Geon Hak pressed his fingers to his eyelids.

Hearing movement behind him, he turned his head. Geon Hak’s gaze, arms still folded as he looked askance, fell on Do Yoon.

“Any progress?”

“She still hasn’t admitted to it.”

“She’s more brazen than I expected, though I anticipated it.”

Geon Hak laughed lowly, as if in disbelief.

“Guide her this way.”

“Yes. Understood, Executive Director.”

As Do Yoon moved, Geon Hak also followed behind him.

He couldn’t understand why he was going this far.

He was just irritated.

Because of Han Jae Yi, who kept entering his field of vision. He was angry at Han Jae Yi suffering alone, at her dejected appearance as she became the subject of everyone’s gossip for a crime she didn’t commit.

Geon Hak moved. As he walked to the area right behind, he saw Park Min Ju sitting there for no apparent reason.

Seeing Geon Hak enter, she jumped in surprise and hurriedly stood up. Geon Hak’s eyes crinkled as he looked at the flustered Deputy Manager Park.

“Well? Have you given it some thought?”

“Y-Yes? What thoughts?”

“For example. Deeply regretting and realizing your mistake, or thinking that you should never do such a thing again?”

Though his mouth was smiling, his tone was as cold as ice, causing Min Ju’s body to flinch and tremble involuntarily.

“…I, I didn’t do anything wrong, Executive Director.”

As she continued to feign ignorance, Cha Geon Hak looked at her with indifferent eyes before nodding slightly to Do Yoon.

Do Yoon placed a tablet in front of her.

“What is this…?”

“This is the IP address of the person who posted on the company bulletin board pretending to be Han Jae Yi.”

“W-What does that have to do with me…”

“Where were you at the time that post was made?”

Her eyes wavered at Geon Hak’s question.

“I, I left work early because I wasn’t feeling well.”

Though she tried not to let her voice shake, her throat kept tightening. Cha Geon Hak’s brown eyes blazed like the sun. As if they would burn her up.

“Deputy Manager Park.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Are you looking down on me? Or are you looking down on our entire group?”

“Ex-Executive Director.”

His face now showed that he knew everything. It was a face that seemed to say he absolutely would not let this go if she didn’t confess the truth.

* * *

As the workplace harassment prevention training video ended, the video playing on the large screen also came to an end. The Artni Hall Center was still dark.

The darkness brought some peace to Jae Yi’s heart. She wished the lights would just stay off here.

A few minutes passed like that. One of the executives came out onto the stage and gave a brief speech.

“Now, we will welcome Executive Director Cha Geon Hak.”

At the executive’s introduction, the long-awaited Geon Hak strode onto the stage with large steps. Wearing a dark gray suit, he scanned the faces of the audience before adjusting the microphone and speaking.

“Did everyone watch the workplace harassment prevention training well?”

Everyone answered in unison to his question. Jae Yi in the back also quietly responded.

He started his speech by making a light joke to ease the mood.

Everyone burst into laughter at his words. The atmosphere had already softened. As he casually led the mood while speaking, he got to the main point.

“An anonymous post was made on the company bulletin board, unfortunately causing harm to an employee.”

Jae Yi’s head drooped naturally as she felt people’s gazes flicking towards her again.

“That employee was unintentionally harmed by a post written by someone else, and everyone acted as if that employee had really written the post. Our Cha Myung Group has found the actual employee who wrote that post in order to rectify this situation.”

At his words that they had found the culprit, everyone was greatly stirred and began murmuring.

Geon Hak took out a paper from his suit pocket and spoke while showing the apology letter from the employee who posted on the anonymous board.

“This is that employee’s letter of apology. That employee has also admitted their wrongdoing and even written a pledge not to commit such acts again.”

Jae Yi, who had been looking down, raised her head.

“Another employee was harmed due to personal emotions, and that employee has been suffering from malicious rumors. Our Cha Myung Group arranged this meeting to correct these wrongs.”

Jae Yi’s eyes wavered. Cha Geon Hak had arranged this meeting for no one else but her.

“I ask that all employees work together to ensure such incidents do not occur again.”

His gaze slowly moved until it reached Jae Yi at the very back. Jae Yi’s eyes wavered at the feeling that he was looking right at her.

“On behalf of the company, I would like to apologize to the employee who must have been greatly hurt and distressed by this incident.”

All the difficulties she had endured flashed before her eyes like a fleeting dream. He had stepped forward for Jae Yi’s sake again this time.

When she first joined the company and he reached out to her, when no one else would be her partner, and even now, he had helped her.

“Cha Myung Group will also strive to pay more attention and listen more closely to each and every employee to prevent such unfortunate situations from happening again.”

With those words, the department heads came out and all bowed to the entire staff.

* * *

As Jae Yi entered the meeting room at Geon Hak’s instruction, she apologized to Jae Yi with tears streaming down her face.

Jae Yi also accepted her apology, not wanting to make the issue any bigger.

Though it was handled quietly to prevent rumors from spreading, some people learned that Park Min Ju was the one who posted on the company bulletin board and talked about her for a while. In the end, she didn’t come to work for several days, unable to bear people’s gazes.

Above all, she was transferred to Team 4, so she would no longer have to clash with Jae Yi.

As each day became more peaceful, Jae Yi’s gratitude towards him grew even more.

If she had another chance to meet Cha Geon Hak alone, there was so much she wanted to say to him. But it was difficult to see Geon Hak again as he had gone on a business trip to the U.S.

Today, as usual, Jae Yi was walking through the lobby when she glanced out the window.

I wonder when the Executive Director will return.

It feels like it’s already been over a month. I wish I could at least see his face.

Jae Yi’s footsteps came to a halt.

Executive Director…

It was Cha Geon Hak’s back, seen for the first time in almost a month.

The person she had wanted to meet so badly.

Jae Yi clenched her fist tightly and walked towards him. Now standing behind him, Jae Yi took a deep breath and greeted him.

“Executive Director. H-Hello.”

Jae Yi’s voice trembled with nervousness.

Cha Geon Hak turned his head. The corners of his lips slowly curled up and Cha Geon Hak’s eyes crinkled as he looked at Jae Yi.

“It’s been a while, Assistant Manager Han.”

He raised his gaze to meet Jae Yi’s eyes. Cha Geon Hak’s beautiful brown eyes sparkled prettily as always.

“Executive Director.”

“Yes, Han Jae Yi.”

“Um, by any chance-”

“Executive Director. Hello.”

Manager Kim rushed over and spoke to Geon Hak.

Ah… What an opportunity I managed to get.

As Jae Yi continued standing there as if she had something to say, Manager Kim gave her a look as if telling her to hurry and leave. Jae Yi had no choice but to bow her head and move.

“Then, I’ll be going first.”

Stupid Han Jae Yi.

Why couldn’t you say those words? I really wanted to say them.

I gathered my courage thinking this might be my only chance if not today.

Jae Yi dejectedly began to walk away slowly.

“Han Jae Yi.”

Jae Yi’s steps halted again at the sound of Cha Geon Hak’s voice calling her from behind. Surprised, Jae Yi whipped her head around as he asked with a gentle smile.

“Didn’t you have something to say to me?”

“What? Ah…”

Jae Yi glanced at the hastily disappearing Manager Kim before approaching him again. Jae Yi took a deep breath and clenched her fist tightly.

“Executive Director.”

“Yes, Han Jae Yi.”

Her palms were drenched in sweat from clenching her fists.

“If you don’t mind, would you like to have a meal with me today?”

“Sure.”

“…Yes. What??”

“Then where would you like to meet?”

He smiled, his eyes crinkling into half-moons.

She hadn’t misheard. He had readily agreed. Jae Yi calmed her pounding heart and continued speaking.

“Then, do you perhaps have any food preferences?”

“Let’s go wherever you had in mind.”

“Alright, Executive Director.”

“Then text me the time and place.”

“Yes!”

Jae Yi answered enthusiastically.

* * *

Just 5 minutes after making plans with him, the smile disappeared from Jae Yi’s face. In her excitement, she had readily agreed to contact him without even knowing his number.

Ah ah. Stupid Han Jae Yi.

How could she make such a mistake after managing to set up this appointment?

As Jae Yi’s face remained gloomy from after lunch, Deputy Manager Han Su Bin asked curiously.

“Jae Yi, do you have something on your mind?”

“Um, Deputy Manager Han.”

“Yes?”

“By any chance, does our department head know all the employees’ phone numbers? For example, people like directors, managing directors, and executive directors?”

Unable to directly ask “Can I get the Executive Director’s number?”, Jae Yi asked in a roundabout way.

At Jae Yi’s question, she rubbed her chin and said:

“Hmm, I’m not sure. Why do you ask?”

“Just curious.”

As Su Bin smiled as if it was a silly question and turned back to her monitor, Jae Yi’s gaze also returned to her screen.

Ding- As the phone on the monitor stand rang, Jae Yi picked it up to check. Her eyes wavered as she read the message.

Oh, oh…!

For a moment, she almost let out a scream in surprise but quickly covered her mouth.

[010-XXXX-XXXX This is my number. Executive Director Cha Geon Hak.]