The elevator closed. After just a moment of silence, CEO Seo decided to speak up, "I missed your home-cooked food, Miss Suji. How I wish I could try some of your kimbap again,"
My god.
Why is he suddenly bringing that up?! And! Is he addressing me on a first-name basis? In front of my colleagues, not to mention my Team Leader?? Our team leader already blacklists me. What will she think if she knows I am closely acquainted with the company's CEO? What if she starts dumping me all the work? What if she starts to antagonize me? What will my working hours be like?
I started to sweat so much. My heart started racing as I was getting nervous. I mean, Team Leader Bae is out there, watching my words and actions like a cat waiting for her to show her claws. Not to mention Kim Seungwoo, aka Mr. Kim, will not let any chance slip and think of CEO Seo as my boyfriend. I can imagine him teasing me every time he has the chance.
"Ah, so you are the one who received that homemade 'lunchbox' for dinner?" Seungwoo joined the conversation.
CEO Seo and I turned around.
"Yes," CEO Seo replied. "How did you know that, Mr. Kim?"
I gave Seungwoo a death glare, "Just ignore him, sir." I looked at CEO Seo and smiled, Thank you so much for appreciating my homemade cooked food that day."
"Do you cook as a hobby?" he smiled at me meaningfully.
"Yes, I always try to cook and bake at home whenever I feel the inspiration to do it." I laughed awkwardly, trying to eliminate the weird atmosphere in the room.
"I heard that you're assigned to be the content editor for the photo/quote exhibit for the launching of the novel next month?" He asked, confirming what he probably already knew.
I almost replied yes, but I remembered my agreement with Team Leader Bae, "I'm still not quite sure as I am still not finished editing the book."
He then turned to Seungwoo, "Are you going to be the assigned photographer-slash-designer for the said event, Mr. Kim?"
Seungwoo nodded.
Team Leader Bae then joined the conversation with her high-pitched voice, "Miss Li and I had an agreement. I will be taking her place if she doesn't finish her editing work within this week."
"I see,"
TING!
We arrived on the 5th floor, the offices for both the editing and design teams. I gladly stepped outside the elevator and acknowledged CEO Seo with a nod. He smiled at me and waved goodbye. Both Seungwoo and Team Leader Bae went out and bowed down slightly at CEO Seo. The elevator closed, and I heard Rina-sunbae calling me.
"My dearest Suji! You must have been hungry!" She yelled and held the plastic bag with my long-awaited lunch. "I bought your two servings of tuna kimbap! I also included pork kimbap there and two banana milk for us to share."
"Thank you!" I gave her a small hug, "I'm hungry!"
"I know, let's go to the pantry!" She held my hand as we trotted our way to the pantry. "Go, go!"
+++
"What?!" Rina-sunbae almost spat out her banana milk as I shared what happened earlier in the elevator. "I agree with you; it must have been one hell of an experience in the elevator."
The usual spot in the corner, Rina-sunbae, was sitting next to me. The pantry was air-conditioned. No one is in the pantry as it was already almost the time to end our lunch break.
"Right!! I mean," I paused and calmed myself down. "How could CEO Seo mention my homecooked food in front of Team Leader Bae and Seungwoo. How awkward!"
"You must have been so shocked," Rina-sunbae patted my head while sipping her banana milk. "Wait, did you meet with Mira? She texted me earlier, but I didn't notice as I was eating with Mr. Lim,"
"Yes, we met up and gave me some tteokbokki. I left some for you to eat. It's in the fridge. You can heat eat in the microwave later for some snack."
"Oh, yes! Thank you, and Mira too!"
I took several bites of the tuna kimbap and finished them. I was munching on them happily. I don't know, but convenience store-bought kimbap is always so unhealthily packed with sodium and preservatives, not that I have any choice, though. I am craving something spicy. I want some cup ramen.
Team Leader Bae entered the pantry; she walked like a runway model and flipped her short brown hair. She then went to stand right in front of us, who were eating peacefully. She was holding a bottle of water.
Team Leader Bae crossed her arms and spoke, "You are close with all the men here in the company, but I didn't know you were close with the CEO too?"
I glanced at Rina-sunbae, who was confused with the situation as I am.
"Umm, perhaps yes?"
She snorted, "You must be busy seducing all the men here in the company? Are you sure you should be doing that instead of focusing on your work?"
I finished chewing my tuna kimbap and stood up, "I'm not quite sure about me being busy seducing all the men here in the company since I am CERTAINLY NOT doing that. I don't even have the time to eat lunch properly as I am busy with work," I reasoned out. "I am fairly acquainted with the CEO since we were schoolmates when we were in college. And," I paused, breathing out. "I like to create a great atmosphere with my colleagues. I don't know why it is seen as seducing men,"
"You don't get my point," she raised her left eyebrow, "
"What is it in your point that she didn't get?" Rina-sunbae stood up, crossed her arms, and furrowed her brows. "I don't seem to get your point in this, Team Leader Bae."
"Are you girls teaming up and questioning my authority as a Team Leader?!" Team Leader Bae suddenly changed her tone into a whining little kid. "I am pointing out my member's faults and giving her the advice that she needs to do better at work! Why does it seem that I am the bad one here?!"
Manager Jeong suddenly entered the room, "What's going on here?
I tensed up the moment I heard Manager Jeong's voice. It was so unexpected of him to enter the pantry at this timing.
Team Leader Bae covered her face with both of her hands and started sobbing. Is she pretending to be crying?
Oh, no.
I'm dead.