SURE 7

Monday. The day that office workers hate the most had dawned, a day filled with meetings all morning to review the past week and set the direction for the current one.

‘Jeong’s Cafe,’ one of the businesses under JW Foods, is a brand known for its good value, selling a large-sized iced Americano for 2,000 won in keeping with recent trends. Before we moved, it was on the first floor of our company building, so JW Foods employees could get a 50% discount and get a caffeine fix for just a single thousand-won bill. Back then, every employee, myself included, drank more coffee than water.

Although it’s common knowledge from experience that businesses that sell drinks make a lot of profit, in cases like this that involve low-profit, high-volume sales, you can assume that they only take a minimum profit margin. To put it bluntly, it’s just enough to barely wet your throat with money. Instead, the key to the business was to serve customers quickly, like in a factory, with no indoor tables, so a startup space of about 8 pyeong, just enough to place the machines, was sufficient.

The core of the cafe’s appeal was that the headquarters handled the facility setup, reducing the initial burden on the business owner, so we received a lively number of inquiries compared to our competitors. Since the cafes were small, most were businesses with fewer than five employees, and the resulting physical exhaustion was always a chronic problem. However, for a single business owner to pay their part-timers’ wages and still have enough for their own living expenses, they had to push their bodies even harder. This was the case for any business, but sometimes when I visited the branches, the owners would openly complain.

“The minimum wage keeps going up, my body is getting sick, and there’s nothing left over, nothing.”

is what they’d say. I heard the exact same words at four different stores. It’s less so for snack bars that have higher-priced items, but for cafes, since the prices themselves are low, the impact must feel much greater.

Unlike the employees who entered a war of meetings from the morning on Mondays, I only participated once a month. Instead, I would stop by notable branches to hear the business owners’ suggestions directly. There’s no need to get red in the face over something that’s meant to be mutually beneficial, and if an opinion is reasonable, we just have to actively accept and improve it.

Rising minimum wage, health, and income are representative difficulties for the self-employed. No way of making money has only advantages. Office workers, civil servants, and part-time workers all have their own hardships. I understand, but I have to take it all with a grain of salt.

Realistically, to raise coffee prices, there had to be an issue of rising raw material costs, or we had to expand the stores and add tables. However, there was no need to get needlessly smug and lecture them as they endured their fierce lives in their own ways.

Still, most of the business owners greeted me with a smile. There were also quite a few who would pat me on the back and make polite remarks about how I’d make a good son-in-law. In any case, since it was work done by people, affection still overflowed even amidst the harshness of life.

—Mr. CEO. Are you available for a quick call?

It was Team Leader Im. I wedged the phone between my head and shoulder and opened the back-seat door. After loading the coffee carrier I was holding, I counted, and that made sixteen sealed cups of coffee.

“Yes. What is it?”

—I called because I thought I should report it right away… I’ve scheduled the second meeting with Shinyoon F&B. The date is next Wednesday at three p.m. This time, it’s at the Shinyoon main office. Are you going to go, Mr. CEO?

It seemed Team Leader Im, who couldn’t hold back his anger at Shin Taeyoon’s attitude and ended up picking up a cigarette again after quitting, had a change of heart. I thought he would get angry, saying he would never work with that bastard, but there was no word from him all weekend. Maybe he was able to make a proper judgment after cooling his head.

“Yes, let’s go together. You, me, and the head of the sales team.”

Maybe I can just give him Shin Taeyoon’s tablet PC then. I thought of the flat pad inside the briefcase on the passenger seat.

‘Yes. Tell those two to contact me that way.’

If he went so far as to say that, it must have meant he wanted me to contact him separately. And Shin Taeyoon had said he wouldn’t be at the second meeting. Is it right for me to go to a meeting where the other side’s team leader isn’t present?

—Then I’ll let Chief Han know in advance to prepare for your trip out of the office.

“No, never mind. You guys go without me. Just negotiate the terms well and let me know the results.”

—Huh? You’re not going? We’re supposed to do a tasting, too.

“They must be confident in their product if they pushed a composite photo on us without even a test. Give it a cold, hard evaluation. You’re ruthless when it comes to tteokbokki, Team Leader Im.”

—That’s true, but…

His voice trailed off, as he had a history of having already followed the recipe, made it, ate it, and said it was delicious. I started the engine, mounted my phone on the holder, and searched for Shin Taeyoon’s business card in my card wallet. The main office is in Yangjae-dong…. It’ll take about an hour from here if I give myself plenty of time. I can just drop off the item, have lunch, and come back.

“I think I’m going to be a little late to the office, okay? Hand over the meeting materials to Chief Han.”

—Kay.

“Team Leader Shin isn’t coming to the second meeting, so don’t be intimidated.”

—He’s not coming?!

But instead of sounding pleased as I expected, his voice grew louder. I took out my personal phone and started dialing Shin Taeyoon’s eleven-digit number, then paused.

Ah, that’s not right. I ended the call with Sojeong and was supposed to contact him with this phone…

“I guess he’s too busy to come.”

—Crazy bastard, is he the only one who’s busy? Does he think I’m going all the way over there because I’m free?

“Are you still mad?”

I thought he had calmed down, but it seems his inner rage still remained. Team Leader Im fumed.

—Ugh, I really hate that guy, but when I think about our company, I think it’s right to work with them. Ugh. I don’t know. I’ll just go and wipe the floor with them.

“Stop blowing a fuse and go eat something good for lunch.”

—The best I can do is the company cafeteria. I’m hanging up. See you later.

“Alright.”

The company cafeteria was definitely better before we moved. As soon as I hung up with Team Leader Im, I switched to the text message screen and typed in Shin Taeyoon’s number.

This is Lee Jungwoon from JW Foods. I’m contacting you to return your iPad. Would you be able to come down to the company lobby for a moment in about an hour?

Message sent. I took out a cup that looked like an iced Americano from the back seat, peeled off the seal, and stuck a straw in it. My stomach churned as I was about to drink my third cup of coffee after skipping breakfast.

The reason I was going to the Shinyoon headquarters without setting a separate meeting place was to prevent an unnecessary extension of our relationship. It was because the look in Shin Taeyoon’s eyes last Friday night, hoping for a response as soon as possible, kept lingering in a corner of my mind.

In my experience, if a meeting leaves a lukewarm, uncomfortable feeling, it’s best to quickly wrap it up and clear the table. If Shin Taeyoon said he was too busy to come out, I could just leave it at the first-floor information desk. I pulled the parked car out.

My necktie fluttered in the wind, perhaps because I had the driver’s side window down the whole time I was driving on the empty road. My hairstyle, fixed with wax and spray, didn’t get messed up, so I left it open. Just as the back of my hand on the steering wheel was growing cold, a call came in from an unknown number. But one that looked familiar. I pressed the button on the steering wheel.

“Yes, this is Lee Jungwoon.”

—What are your food preferences? Korean? Japanese?

“…Excuse me?”

Asking about my food preferences out of the blue without even identifying himself? No, of course I knew it was Shin Taeyoon.

—How can the person who contacted me first act like they don’t know who I am. I guess you didn’t save my name.

“Is this Team Leader Shin Taeyoon?”

—You knew it. I’m busy, so could you just answer me first?

I have no intention of sitting across from you and eating a meal, you know? More importantly, loud noises were bursting through the speaker, making me wonder if his claim of being busy was just an excuse to advance the situation. There was someone raising their voice, the ceaseless ringing of a telephone, and then businesslike voices responding.

“No. I will just give you the pad and go back. I won’t take up your time.”

—Since it’s our first meal together, maybe Korean food would be good. Park in the underground parking garage of the building, and let’s meet in the lobby.

“Team Leader.”

—…Put them on hold. I have a lunch appointment, so I’ll see them after lunch. Oh, Ms. Youngeun, if you have time, take down all those copies plastered all over the conference room. There was nothing useful, so why did you print them out. Such a waste of paper.

That didn’t seem to be directed at me. A flustered voice sounded like it was chattering right next to me. I mean… you shouldn’t even be making a phone call in a situation like this. You have to consider the employee’s position, having to hear their coworker getting scolded.

“You really don’t have to go to the trouble when you’re so busy. I’ll just leave the pad at the first-floor information desk…”

—See you soon.

The call ended just like that. …What’s with this bastard? I stared blankly at my phone, which had returned to the navigation screen, but the disconnected call did not come through again.

The Shinyoon F&B headquarters was a 20-story building with a parking garage that went down to the fifth basement level. The first basement level was a dedicated parking area for executives, while regular employees used the levels from the second basement down.

Mere visitors had no choice but to go all the way down to the fifth level, and after circling around and around with no spots, I ended up double-parking. I’d have to move my car right away if I got a call, so I figured I could use this as an excuse to avoid lunch with Shin Taeyoon. I called him as soon as I got off the elevator.

—I’m on my way down. You got here right on time, huh?

“The parking garage is full…”

—Ah, I see you.

This time too, he hung up without even properly listening to my answer. In the distance, a tall man was striding towards me. Dressed in a perfectly fitted suit, just like when he came to our company.

“You said the parking garage is full?”

he asked as soon as he saw me. First, I took the tablet PC out of my bag and handed it to him. I planned to quickly finish my business and leave, thinking I might unknowingly get swayed by that man if I stayed with him.

“I’ve had a good look at it. I handled it with care, so there shouldn’t be any scratches.”

Shin Taeyoon didn’t take his eyes off me even as he took the tablet PC.

“Which floor did you park on?”

“I parked on the fifth basement level.”

“Ah, the fifth floor is always a madhouse. Were there no spots on the second floor?”

My reason for needing to move the car quickly because I had double-parked should have followed, but I couldn’t add it because Shin Taeyoon beat me to it. He took the tablet PC I gave him to the information desk and flashed an affable eye-smile.

“Can I leave this with you for just a moment?”

The desk clerk, far from being displeased, accepted it even though Shin Taeyoon didn’t state his department or title. Shin Taeyoon, now empty-handed, returned and gestured towards the elevator with his eyes. He looked ready to grab my wrist if he had to.

“Where are we going?”

“To a place where you can drive straight out after your meal without having to turn the car around, Mr. CEO.”

Damn it…. I was swayed again. I also felt a little like I was being held hostage, as if he were saying he would send me back nicely if I just had a meal with him.

People wearing the same company ID badges poured out of the elevator that arrived on the first floor. Shin Taeyoon casually accepted their greetings and entered the empty elevator first. I, too, followed without a word.

We reached the fifth basement level in no time. As I silently walked to my parked car, a steady set of dress shoes followed behind me. I was about to unlock the car when I asked.

“Are you riding in my car with me?”

Shin Taeyoon retorted as if I were asking something obvious.

“You don’t know the way to the restaurant, do you?”

“Give me the address and let’s go separately.”

“I’m parked in a prime spot, so if I move my car now, someone will take my space. So, with that said, could you give me a ride?”

Even his requests sounded like commands. He was an utterly ill-mannered person. I was starting to get tired again, so I decided it was better not to engage him than to drag out the conversation and unlocked the car. The moment Shin Taeyoon opened the passenger door and saw the coffee trays packed into the back seat, he looked at me with an incredulous expression.

“Did you, by any chance, lose a coffee bet?”

It was an understandable misunderstanding. It’s not easy to carry that much coffee in your car.

“One of our brands is called Jeong’s Cafe. I bought these because it felt strange to leave empty-handed while visiting the franchise locations.”

I could have ignored him, but I added the reason anyway. I had realized from experience that arguing with Shin Taeyoon was a considerably tiring affair. Shin Taeyoon sat in the passenger seat, adjusting the seat distance as if it were his own car, and asked.

“Are you short on staff to manage the branches?”

“It’s not so much that, but rather, when I look around myself, I tend to see problems that the staff might have missed. Let’s go. Could you give me the address?”

“It’s close, so you don’t need to turn on the navigation. I’ll tell you on the way.”

Shin Taeyoon, who had leaned back leisurely in his seat, gestured forward with his chin. One would expect to feel awkward and uncomfortable getting a ride from someone they barely know, but he acted as comfortable as if it were his own car. He had seemed quite sensitive, but perhaps he was surprisingly extroverted.

I started the engine and drove out of the maze-like parking garage. On the main street, office workers who had already finished lunch were striding along with coffee in hand, bathed in the sunlight reflecting off a new building. The smoking area was so filled with hazy smoke that I felt sorry for the trees used as partitions. The smoking areas here are just as unpleasant as they are anywhere else.