That Won't Work
The woman, with a stature reminiscent of a model, and shiny, straight hair that reached down to her waist caught my eyes. This beautiful woman was carrying a Hermos bag worth tens of millions of won and was dressed in a black Channy tweed belted dress. She walked slowly toward us, seemingly oblivious to the people waiting for her inside the elevator.
Ju Yung-In walked into the elevator with a haughty expression and frowned for a moment when she saw me.
"Sixth floor."
Kang Myung-Gil ordered me to press the floor button.
"Yes, sir."
After pressing the button, I stepped aside and averted my gaze. She was the woman who left me while I was facing death. However, I had no choice but to endure her presence.
As of now, everything related to her and Kim Dong-Soo was a part of the future known only to me.
When the elevator doors closed, Kang Myung-Gil acted as if he had done me a great favor.
"Yoon-Ho, you punk. I'll let it slide this time, but you better take care of Yung-In first next time. Do you know how much the company lost because Yung-In's schedule got messed up?"
Kang Myung-Gil's gaze was fixed on Ju Yung-In while speaking to me.
'Was he trying to inform her that I was the talent agent who didn't go to pick her up in Namyangju?'
Then Ju Yung-In started to scrutinize me slowly from head to toe. And when our eyes met, she turned her head away in a cold demeanor.
Even though she was my wife in my previous life, I had to admit she wasn't a very likable person.
At that moment, Ju Yung-In turned her head toward Kang Myung-Gil and started to take her anger out on him.
"Mr. Kang. Why is the discipline in our company so terrible these days? A regular staff member is ignoring instructions from the chief and doesn't even respond to a team lead's advice."
Kang Myung-Gil's expression was distorted upon hearing Ju Yung-In's gentle voice.
"T-that's because this bastard doesn't understand hierarchies."
"Oh, is that so? But you must be very kind-hearted considering that you are letting it slide like this."
Upon hearing Ju Yung-In's sarcastic remark, Kang Myung-Gil turned to me angrily.
"Hey, Jung Yoon-Ho. Why aren't you responding to me? Did you not hear what I said about prioritizing Yung-In next time? Do I look like a joke to you?"
A smile that only I could recognize flickered across Ju Yung-In's face as she looked at Kang Myung-Gil.
'Ju Yung-In is the same as always.'
I must have been out of my mind to marry such a woman in my past life.
'How did I accept someone who manipulates others and vents her frustrations on them as my wife? Hold on, wait a minute.'
Come to think of it, she was the one who proposed to me—and that was right after I became the executive director at Top Entertainment. Now that I think about it, perhaps the most important thing about a man to Ju Yung-In was his usefulness to her.
'Well, that's probably the reason she left me upon learning that I was dying.'
At that moment, Kang Myung-Gil's voice echoed through the elevator again.
"Hey! Are you not going to answer me!?"
I felt a bit sorry for Kang Myung-Gil blustering out of anger. After all, he was only a puppet under Ju Yung-In's control.
If I hadn't gone through the five stages of grief when faced with death and traveled back into the past, and if I didn't know what kind of person Ju Yung-In was, I might have been helplessly caught up in this situation.
'I would probably be apologizing at least a hundred times if that had been the case.'
I contemplated how to respond, but soon decided to just avoid the situation.
'It takes two hands to clap—and I don't want to be part of this situation.'
"Sir, I'll be more careful next time."
"Look at this punk. Trying to brush it off again! Answer properly!"
I spoke in a calm tone, but Kang Myung-Gil was out of his mind.
'What the heck does he want me to do, exactly? Does he want a heartfelt apology? Should I split my chest open and show him my sincere heart?'
I tried my best to hold back my emotions, but I began to feel the anger slowly rising within me.
Fortunately, I heard the sound of the elevator stopping on the fourth floor at that moment.
Ding!
-Fourth floor~.
The elevator announced our arrival on the fourth floor. I took thirteen deep breaths to calm myself down, then spoke to Ju Yung-In with a stoic expression.
"It seems like there has been a misunderstanding, Miss Ju. I couldn't pick you up due to an urgent matter that came up, not because I intended to leave you stranded. Now please excuse me, I have a meeting to attend."
I bowed slightly before stepping out of the elevator. However, Kang Myung-Gil reached his hand out to me, cursing.
"How dare a damn first year newbie turn his back toward me and get off the elevator before I am done talking?"
At that moment, I turned and grabbed his hand instinctively.
My nickname used to be 'Lightning' when I was a child, because of my quick reflexes and sharp eyes. I even considered becoming a professional boxer at one point. However, I had never laid hands on anyone after becoming an office worker—until yesterday, that is.
Irritated by Ju Yung-In, I almost threw a punch at Kang Myung-Gil's face.
"W-what do you think you're doing right now!?"
Kang Myung-Gil was quite taken aback by my grip on his hand. Holding on to Kang Myung-Gil's hand, which was turning increasingly red, I warned Ju Yung-In.
"Miss Ju Yung-In. If you need anything, please speak to the senior talent agents in Division 3, where there are many competent staff. I am simply someone who belongs to Division 2.
The moment I finished speaking, I lightly flicked Kang Myung-Gil's hand away. He lost his balance, staggered, and went back into the elevator.
I watched the elevator door close and turned my body toward the meeting room. But at that moment, the closing elevator door opened again.
Soon, I heard Kang Myung-Gil's furious voice.
"Why, you fucking bastard! Hey! Stay right there! Stop! I said stop right there!"
'Oh my goodness. Can he get any more annoying?'
Just when I thought I might have to teach him a lesson, my savior appeared.
Chief Gu Seong-Cheol walked out of the meeting room at the end of the hallway and shouted as he scratched his head.
"What's with all the noise so early in the morning!?"
Upon hearing Gu Seong Cheol's shout, Kang Myung-Gil and Ju Yung In's expressions were distorted.
"Oh, no. It's nothing, sir."
"Hm, is that so? Then you should really get going. Didn't you say you're busy today with the KBC special event?"
Kang Myung-Gil and Ju Yung-In turned around with awkward expressions.
'But what's up with those salty glances?'
No matter how upset those two were, I belonged to Division 2, not their division. As long as Hoop Entertainment didn't fail, there was no reason for me to heed their words. With a petulant air, the two turned around and walked back into the elevator.
Then, Gu Seong-Cheol smiled at me.
"Wow, Star Jung. You've become quite popular, haven't you?"
"It seems so. They were being so bossy this morning that I thought I was part of Division 3 for a moment."
Gu Seong-Cheol chuckled upon hearing my sarcastic tone.
"Let's start the meeting. Everyone is waiting for your coffee."
"I'm sorry?"
"It's the rule to make coffee for the division members if you're late, remember? You're one minute late."
Because of Ju Yung-In, I was a minute late and had to make coffee first thing in the morning.
"Ah…I see. I'll get to it right away."
I definitely had to get back at Ju Yung-In for this.