I’d Rather Live as a Villain - I’d Rather Live as a Villain chapter 48

48 Can I tear this up?

“But seriously, isn’t this just too unfair from a human perspective?”

I was in the car heading to the distribution headquarters.

While waiting for the signal, I decided to stir up some baseless complaints and strike up a conversation with Mr. Moon.

“What is?”

“About Manager Roh.”

“What about Manager Roh?”

“If you’re going to make me work like this, just pay me half my salary. These days, instead of going to Pyeongchang-dong, you make me come straight to the headquarters, and you’re the one who decides when I go to work.”

“Why? What’s the problem if I want to commute in a car driven by my husband?”

“It just seems unfair. When I was your attendant, was there ever a weekend? I’d rush over even on Saturdays, Sundays, and even on public holidays. Compared to that, Manager Roh has it way too easy.”

“So, your true feelings are finally coming out?”

“It’s about time. How long am I supposed to be Assistant Manager Yoon?”

“So, you’re saying you feel wronged because you worked that hard, and now Manager Roh seems to have it easy compared to you back then?”

“Of course, I think about getting my due.”

“Didn’t you always say that it’s good to have someone with eating luck but no work luck around? That’s all Manager Roh’s luck.”

Luck, my foot.

I know better than anyone just how tough Manager Roh’s situation is right now.

The secretariat of the group’s headquarters.

Even within that, the protocol work.

Manager Roh is currently in charge of the protocol for the spouse of someone who knows all about that work.

If he wanted, excluding commuting hours, he could spend all day on standby for calls coming in through his phone, taking personal time as part of the VIP protocol work.

But could Manager Noh even do it now?

“When will you keep such a lucky person by your side as just a manager?”

The words I really wanted to say were different.

“Manager Noh. There’s less than a year’s difference in our hiring dates. If nothing special happens, we’ll continue to work together, won’t we?”

“Well, that’s true, isn’t it?”

“It’s not just about Manager Noh, but you’re not just an executive anymore, you’re the president. Having an executive secretary who’s still a manager seems a bit awkward, not just for Manager Noh himself but also to others.”

“I was actually thinking about it. But Manager Noh isn’t part of the distribution team, and ever since he moved up to the president’s office, it’s been non-stop, so I haven’t had the chance to contact the group’s secretariat.”

“Today, when you get to work, make that the first thing you do—call the group’s secretariat. It’s about time for Manager Noh’s promotion, whether it’s for your tasks or not.”

I added this.

“And try to have a longer talk with Team Leader Son, if possible.”

“Why? Because of the general meeting?”

“No. Team Leader Son was just following orders too, so why bring up that story with a happy ending and make things awkward?”

“But?”

“If you know everything and still don’t bring it up, even if it was an order, you’ll inevitably feel guilty.”

“……”

“Make them feel guilty. So that even if they receive similar orders from the grandfather in the future, they’ll at least have to reconsider once more on our behalf. When the grandfather wants to be certain about something and asks Team Leader Son, make sure they think of us at least once before answering.”

“So, you want me to call Team Leader Son under the pretext of Manager Noh’s promotion and have a long chat about everyday things? Wow… Do I really have to go that far with Team Leader Son? It’s like showing off.”

So I said.

“You’re struggling to be polite to someone who came to the general meeting with just a week’s notice and acted high and mighty, but you find it hard to do the same for someone who takes care of all the odd jobs related to the owner, right here in the group’s headquarters? Even though you can do it.”

“……”

“My firstborn is entering middle school this year. Even if you heard it from me, it would be nice if you could touch on that topic, even briefly.”

“A son or a daughter?”

“A daughter. She has her daughter’s picture as her computer’s wallpaper.”

It was almost time to arrive at the distribution headquarters.

“That’s strange.”

Out of the blue, she tilted her head and muttered to herself.

“What is?”

“Doesn’t it feel like our positions have suddenly switched?”

“What positions?”

“Yours and mine. Since when have I been doing the things you tell me to?”

I chuckled and replied,

“President Kang Moon-jung.”

“What?”

“I’m just doing what I’ve always done since my days as a deputy manager and executive secretary.”

As she began to narrow her eyes at the joke I started, I chuckled again and said,

“Always considering what’s absolutely necessary for you, President, and explaining why you need to do it. Maybe what’s changed isn’t our positions, but rather the tone I use, now that you’ve allowed me to speak more comfortably?”

She burst into laughter. “Now that I hear it, it does seem that way.”

“What about dinner tonight?”

“Do you have something in mind to eat? If so, let’s go out and have it together.”

“I’m checking to see if you have any other plans for the evening, not the menu.”

“No plans.”

“Then, are you coming home early?”

“Why? Are you going to be late?”

“Not at all. I have something to tell you this evening, but it’s a bit sensitive to discuss outside.”

“Sensitive? I’ll be leaving work as usual.”

“Understood. I’ll make a left turn in 5 meters ahead.”

“Phew, stop it already!”

* * *

“Thanks to the director, what am I dealing with now?”

With a gloomy face, Executive Director Jeon Chung-heon from the Overseas Construction Division entered the office.

I quickly put down the report I was reading and turned around from my desk to head to the sofa.

“What’s wrong now?”

He’s been looking gloomy every time he sees me lately.

It’s his own way of expressing friendliness, which isn’t too burdensome compared to others, and I can easily respond in kind.

“You’ve been running away all morning to avoid the president.”

“How is that my fault?”

“Why did you have to schedule the overseas branch tour during the Lunar New Year holidays, forcing our Overseas Construction Division to prepare or else be seen as traitors?”

Executive Director Jeon is indirectly acknowledging that I’m doing my role justice.

“How long has it been since you returned from the contract negotiations in Singapore?”

“The president says that’s one thing, and the tour is another.”

“Am I not the one providing you with an opportunity, Deputy Director?”

“Opportunity? What opportunity?”

“You said it yourself during last Chuseok. You begged to be left alone and not hassled by family during the holidays. Take this chance to set up a schedule.”

“That’s rather selfish of you.”

I barely managed to suppress my laughter as I asked.

“How am I being selfish?”

“While the Director gets to tour picturesque European buildings, we’re stuck touring the sandy deserts.”

“Isn’t it my dream to travel the desert? Take this chance to quietly spend the holiday alone by setting up a tour schedule.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Why not?”

“I have a golfing appointment already set. You should learn to play golf too, Director.”

Sitting down, Executive Jeon made a swinging motion with an imaginary golf club.

Executive Jeon Chung-hun’s love for golf is well-known.

And now, I’m considering whether I should learn golf… that’s what I’m thinking.

He seemed to think enough idle chatter had passed, and carefully began to reveal the reason for his visit to my office.

“I have a university friend named Gong Woo-yeol, who’s currently an executive at Yoo Sung Cosmo.”

Yoo Sung Cosmo.

The company where my great-aunt Kang Soon-im serves as vice-chairwoman.

“Out of the blue last week, he contacted me to hit some balls together after a long time. A friend who can’t even play. So, we went golfing over the weekend.”

“…Yes.”

“He seemed very interested in you, Director.”

“In me?”

“Whether you’re as skilled as the rumors say, what the reputation is among the company’s executives… It’s not like him to be interested, but from the start to the end of the round, he tried to keep the conversation on you.”

“Somebody I don’t know is interested in me? That doesn’t sound too bad.”

At my response, Executive Jeon nodded and said.

“I found out that he also had a meal with Director Lee from finance recently?”

“Oh, is Director Lee also an alumnus of the same university?”

“He’s our junior by three years.”

“Oh, I see. I didn’t know that.”

It seems my great-aunt has taken an interest in me.

I was grateful to Executive Jeon for coming all the way to my office to share such a story without reservation.

Before I could even express my gratitude, Executive Jeon spoke as if he had already received it on his own.

“Tired of being constantly asked about the director, I pre-empted any further questions by saying that for the first time in eight years, our Haegun might be overtaken by the European division you’re overseeing.”

“Overtaken? There’s no such thing as overtaking.”

“I’m just saying that such an event happened… and it’s not happening, right?”

“Yes.”

“Please, go easy on us.”

“What do you mean, ‘go easy’?”

“Right now, because of the European division, our Haegun family’s eyes are shooting lasers. They’re determined not to be overtaken. I can’t even go down to the Haegun office for fear of being zapped by those lasers.”

“Hahaha. You must be enjoying this.”

“What does enjoyment matter now? If we’re overtaken by year-end turnover, I’m the one who has to deal with the aftermath.”

He’s a person of remarkable confidence.

Executive Jeon, who had been joking all along, stood up straight from his seat as if it was all serious business.

I stood up as well.

“I can’t take any more of your busy time, so I’ll be on my way.”

“Won’t you have a cup of coffee?”

“I’ve already had one. Now I need to get back to work.”

“Thank you always, Executive Jeon.”

“Always? Me?”

“Of course. Isn’t there anyone who doesn’t know that you’re always looking out for me behind the scenes?”

From noble mtl dot nete

“Do you know that too? Ah, shoot… That shouldn’t be the case. Hahaha…”

“I really am always grateful.”

“Don’t mention it.”

It’s clear now that it’s not just my own thought.

Hearing that even my great-aunt has people gathering information about me, I began to feel the reality that I, and my capabilities, have become a significant variable in the succession race.

I left work and returned home.

As always, Moon Jung, who claims to be a homebody, had arrived first.

I wonder if it’s the house that has become more comfortable, or if it’s me who has settled in.

When we first moved our belongings into this house to start living together, there were many things we had to be careful about, and things we hid or staged to maintain illusions for each other.

But at some point, our true selves began to seep into each other, little by little.

Still in her suit, she sits on the sofa without even taking off her stockings.

“When did you get here?”

“About 30 minutes ago?”

She waved at me once as I opened the front door and came in, then continued to sit on the sofa, looking at her phone.

I leaned over to see the phone screen she was viewing.

She was checking work-related emails.

“Are you going on a business trip too?”

“No, it’s a support request sent by Deputy Manager Im Hyung-jun, not me.”

It looked like a business trip proposal.

“Goldline is also planning to expand into Mongolia right now. This time, a few of their representatives are going over, and they asked for confirmation to coordinate with the local convenience store division and supermarket division representatives.”

“Ah…”

“I’m almost done checking. Let’s have dinner after I finish this.”

“Take your time. I’ll go up, take a shower, and come back down.”

During dinner, she asked if I had something to say on the way to work earlier.

“Let’s talk after we finish eating. It’s a bit too heavy to discuss over a meal.”

While she went to take a shower, I cleaned up the dinner we had eaten together, did the dishes, and prepared some simple snacks to put on the table in advance.

Before she came out, I opened a can of beer to quench my thirst.

A little later, she came out in her pajamas, her hair loosely wrapped in a white towel.

Looking at the plate of nuts I had prepared on the table and the already opened can of beer, she asked,

“Huh? Are we not talking on the third floor, but here instead?”

“Do you want a can of beer too?”

“No, I’m fine.”

As she sat down at the dining table, she said,

“How serious is this talk that you even opened a beer?”

But I didn’t sit down.

“Just wait a moment. I’ll go up and bring something down.”

A marriage contract.

To avoid the chance of my aunt accidentally finding it while cleaning my room, I had carefully hidden the marriage contract in a space only I knew about.

And with it in hand, I went back down to the first floor to sit across from Ms. Munjeong.

Ms. Munjeong, upon seeing the marriage contract I brought down, briefly furrowed her brow, trying to guess why I had brought it down.

“Did you really mean what you said that day?”

“That day? When?”

“At your mom’s house in Daejeon. You even thought about tearing up the contract.”

She didn’t answer.

It wasn’t necessary to hear her answer now.

I was certain of her feelings, and it was time for me to break down the walls standing between us.

“So, can I tear this up?”