DHG Ch 43

Jang Seungyung recalled an encounter with Kwon Heewoo more than fifteen days prior. It was in the hallway outside this very office. The black plastic bag he had taken from Heewoo’s hand. He vaguely remembered seeing the outline of a spray bottle inside.

As if possessed, he glanced again towards the pantry. He could hear the sound of dishes being washed, even though the door was clearly closed. That meant the sounds from his office would be easily heard from there as well…

He had never discussed any truly confidential business matters at Benny, but he had spoken carelessly about “other things.” Jang Seungyung’s face crumpled with a strange unease. The sixth sense that had brought him this far, despite having nothing but his fists, was ringing alarm bells.

“Secretary Hwang.”

The person in charge of checking the pantry happened to be close by. At Jang Seungyung’s call, Secretary Hwang, who had been silent, shifted his stiff gaze to the left for a moment before returning it to the front.

“Did you know?”

It was an accusation, asking if he knew that Kwon Heewoo was the cleaning fairy.

Secretary Hwang briefly considered pretending not to understand, but then decided there was no point in delaying his answer for a few seconds, and replied honestly.

“Yes.”

“How?”

Jang Seungyung immediately retorted. Giving him no time to breathe. Secretary Hwang forced his wandering eyes to focus and answered in a formal manner.

“I happened to see him in the pantry, by chance.”

Actually, when he discovered Kwon Heewoo in the utility room, he thought it was a good thing. Because lately, even he had noticed that the life that had been blooming in Heewoo’s eyes, like a flower, had died.

Of course, he knew Kwon Heewoo was pitiful and not a bad person, but precisely because of that, he thought it would be better for him to face reality quickly. Frankly, it was better to know in advance and prepare, perhaps even gaining some advantage, than to be played without knowing his boss’s intentions.

“I see.”

Jang Seungyung said monotonously.

“You happened to see him in the pantry.”

“…….”

But facing those eyes, teeming with malice, which were completely different from his tone of voice, he wondered if he should have kept his mouth shut. He had never seen such an expression, not even when his collar was grazed by a switchblade that had suddenly appeared from behind him.

He had needlessly considered Kwon Heewoo and now his own safety was precarious, like a candle in the wind. Secretary Hwang deeply regretted it.

“Then, what did Kwon Heewoo, who happened to be in the pantry, hear there?”

His boss continued to question him. Secretary Hwang couldn’t control his expression. And Jang Seungyung understood the meaning implied in his secretary’s expression and attitude.

“Don’t tell me it was the last time I was here… three days ago, was it?”

Jang Seungyung recalled the date. He could immediately remember what he had said then. Because even after saying it, he felt uncomfortable and his mood had been sour.

‘Yeah. That I wanted to sleep with Kwon Heewoo. What else could it be?’

Kwon Heewoo had heard those words, words that he had blurted out in a fit of pique, a mixture of unprocessed emotions.

“And you didn’t say a word? You—.”

Jang Seungyung, who had jumped up and was approaching him as if to devour him, grabbed the back of his neck and turned around. He wanted to yell at him like an idiot, threatening to fire him on the spot, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Secretary Hwang was too competent to be fired impulsively.

“—It’s fine.”

He forced himself to catch his breath. Jang Seungyung forced the corners of his lips upwards and adjusted his clothes, desperately scraping together some semblance of composure.

“I can fix it. I can do it.”

What couldn’t be solved? Just as Jang Seungyung was tightening his loosened tie and regaining his manic arrogance, Madam, who had stepped aside, stopped him as he was about to storm out.

“I apologize for interrupting while you’re busy, but I came up here because I have something to tell you.”

She hadn’t been involved in the tense atmosphere, but her tone implied she couldn’t delay any longer. Jang Seungyung felt the composure he had barely managed to gather evaporate.

“Later. Can we talk later? Huh?”

The rising inflection at the end of his sentence, betraying his loss of composure, carried a clear threat, but Madam Won also had her reasons. She quickly spilled what she had to say. It was clear that getting this matter off her chest quickly would be safer for her in the long run.

“There’s a man named Yoon, the CEO of a company that invests in music overseas, and he wants to take one of our employees.”

Speaking without taking a breath, Madam placed CEO Yoon’s business card on the table. Jang Seungyung only frowned, without even glancing at it. It happened occasionally. Someone becoming infatuated or falling in love with an employee and paying off their debt to take them away. So what?

“Oh, just let him take them!”

Finally, all his composure shattered. He didn’t care about Yoon’s music or whatever. Jang Seungyung yelled and strode off. He had to see Kwon Heewoo immediately. Even though he didn’t know what to say, he was desperate to pour out some kind of excuse to him. He stormed out of the office, leaving Madam Won behind. But frustratingly, Madam followed him, saying, “The thing is, Mr. President….”

“Can we really let him go? The employee is Kwon Heewoo.”

Madam blurted out, with great difficulty but all at once. Jang Seungyung’s brisk strides across the hallway came to an abrupt halt.

“…What?”

A mixture of bewilderment and sharpness in his reaction.

His eyes, gleaming with a mix of emotions, swiveled back. Eyes half-lidded, like a wounded animal on the verge of lashing out. The chilling effect was momentary; Madam Won felt a surge of irritation.

She recalled Yoon, who had barged in like a debt collector as soon as the restaurant opened half an hour ago. The man who had unceremoniously dumped a stand caddy bag filled with cash onto the desk, accompanied by his lawyer. His insistent demand to take Kwon Heewoo away that very day, even offering extra money.

‘Rules are rules. I’ll make sure our CEO Yoon doesn’t have to wait long. I’ll tell the president right away. Please wait just a moment.’

After appeasing Yoon, who seemed ready to kidnap Kwon Heewoo, Madam hurriedly searched for him on the CCTV. Heewoo wasn’t in the kitchen. She eventually rewound the recorded footage instead of watching the live feed. As expected, she found Heewoo in the footage of the staff-only passage. He had snuck out and disappeared towards the rooms. It was probably Room 13, the one Yoon had reserved.

He’s dressed nicely, too.

She had never thought his usual attire was strange, but whenever Heewoo dressed normally, Madam realized that he truly did stick to a bizarre fashion style. Just taking off that shabby-looking hoodie made him shine, even on the CCTV screen, as if a dull filter had been removed. Oh, he’s beautiful. Madam, admiring him unconsciously, realized this wasn’t the time and immediately went up to the president’s office. Jang Seungyung had been out, so she had done the dishes, and that was the current situation.

Surely she hadn’t stopped him for nothing?

He hadn’t even listened to her properly. Reading the clear panic in the sharp glare that met hers, even her fear faded. Madam crossed her arms.

“The one CEO Yoon wants to take is Heewoo!”

The one trying to snatch Kwon Heewoo, whom you have your eyes on!

She blurted it out, relieved, as if she had just decisively completed an unpleasant task.

✮⋆˙

“You seem to have waited a long time.”

Yoon immediately approached and put his arm around his shoulders.

Only then did Heewoo sit on the sofa, following Yoon. Feeling the blood returning to his numb legs, he tensed his toes. He stared blankly at Yoon putting down the caddy bag and replied belatedly.

“No. …Yes.”

Confused about which answer was more appropriate, Heewoo contradicted himself. Yoon chuckled, saying, “What.”

Soon after, a waiter came in. Heewoo’s heart pounded, but thankfully it was a familiar waiter. The one who often relayed messages from Yoon.

Glasses of water and alcohol, an ice bucket, and snacks were quickly set up. Heewoo clasped his hands together under the table. Was it because his tension had eased somewhat? His body was trembling slightly for some reason.

Get a grip. Don’t act like a child. He dug his nails into the inside of his wrist, which showed no signs of calming down. Only then did the trembling seem to subside a little.

Until then, Yoon hadn’t taken his eyes off him. Heewoo couldn’t bring himself to look up, afraid his poor complexion would appear as a flaw. He silently fixed his gaze on the caddy bag Yoon had put down. Had he come from playing golf?

The server soon left. Only after the door closed and they were alone again did Heewoo force himself to speak, his throat tight.

“Thank you for coming.”

Now he had to explain the situation well. Even though Yoon had offered to pay off his debts several times, he might refuse if he found out that there was some kind of deal between Kim Jinhwan and Jang Seungyung, complicating the repayment process.

“Don’t mention it.”

Yoon’s response was subtle. He still hadn’t taken his scrutinizing gaze off him. Heewoo swallowed his nervousness and considered how to broach the subject. Then Yoon spoke first.