Deal Breaker - Chapter 87
Ugh, why did I bring up the law in front of that man who actually knows the law and dig my own grave.
“That was a slip of the tongue. I’m sorry.”
“If you’re sorry then—”
“Ah, a call’s coming in.”
There wasn’t even a ringtone. She answered as soon as the company phone display lit up, and the caller sounded flustered.
“This is the Director’s office. Yes, is the Director available right now?”
“No, I’m not.”
“He has plenty of time.”
“I don’t.”
“He’s right here next to me. Should I put him on?”
“I said I don’t.”
What started as a childish argument eventually turned serious, and just like that the atmosphere turned cold again.
* * *
I’m really not giving this guy any more yanggaeng.
Making that vow, Hyeji left work the moment it hit six. Kanghyeon was behind the tightly closed door of the Director’s office, but she didn’t say goodbye. Leaving right on time without even saying goodbye to her boss, what kind of secretary does that. Just like he said, she really was fearless.
Still, it felt awkward to see his face again so soon after fighting. It was also disconcerting that fights, which hadn’t even been possible between them before, now were.
Hyeji let the leader of her security team know that she was leaving work and got into the elevator. She was crossing the lobby toward the exit where her car would be waiting on the first floor when,
“Hello.”
A tall, big-built handsome man saw Hyeji and greeted her in a loud voice.
“Me?”
They were meeting for the first time, yet he greeted her warmly as if he had been waiting, so she wondered who it was.
“You’re Guide Noh Hyeji-nim, right? I’m Son Joohwan.”
She hadn’t answered his calls or replied to his text, and he came in person. At his request to spare him a moment, Hyeji headed to the café on the first floor of the building. Even if not now, she would have to hear him out someday.
As soon as they ordered drinks and sat across from each other, the first thing Joohwan said was a polite apology.
“I’m very sorry for showing up so suddenly.”
“Ah, yes.”
She made a living out of saying empty pleasantries like it’s fine, but it didn’t come out now. Maybe because she was off work.
“I got a notice from the Center that we were matched six years ago.”
Joohwan brought up the matter, which she already knew, by going back six years.
“The reason I couldn’t make a contract offer back then was because I already had a dedicated Guide at the time…”
“Oh, is that so?”
“I don’t anymore.”
Back then she had wondered why no contact came, but now it wasn’t something she needed to know.
“So I’ve been wanting to work with you, Hyeji-ssi.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Still, since you were my colleague’s Guide, it felt disloyal to try to scout you before your contract ended, so I actually gave up…”
“Ah, yes.”
“But this time I heard Kanghyeon got matched again and is looking for a new Guide…”
“Yes.”
“Then does that mean your contract with him has ended?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
Joohwan smiled brightly and opened the document envelope he was holding, pulling out a bundle of papers. It was a contract.
“You can start working after you give birth, and the work arrangement will be flexible…”
He rattled off the contract terms, but none of it registered. That was because instead of a number or a blank space in the signing bonus section, there was a slip of paper the size of a bill attached.
A blank check.
Hyeji waited until Joohwan brought up the signing bonus himself before asking,
“Then what’s the limit on this?”
“As much as you want, Hyeji-ssi.”
“Then if I write three billion won here…”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“……”
She had to stifle a laugh at how absurd it sounded coming out of her own mouth, but when he accepted without hesitation, the laugh turned into stunned silence. On the outside she might have looked like her mind had stopped, but inside Hyeji’s head was moving faster than ever.
Then even after taxes I could pay off my current apartment loan and still buy another apartment on the outskirts. No. If he’s so casual about three billion, that means I could write more.
“Hmm…”
Hyeji pretended to hesitate and started up her negotiation tactics.
“Actually, someone else has already offered me a signing bonus around this level…”
There was no such person. She hadn’t even listened to anyone else’s terms.
“I was leaning toward that offer.”
Joohwan’s eyes grew anxious.
“I’d need something better than that to even consider it…”
“How about five billion?”
“Hmm…”
Hyeji continued to put on a thoughtful act, but inwardly, she was popping champagne.
Wait, my price is that high?
It seemed Borodin’s madness had driven Hyeji’s value up even more.
This is insane. Completely insane.
The salary Kanghyeon paid her, saved up for five years, had covered eighty percent of a Han River view apartment. But with just one signing bonus, she could pay off the loan on her current apartment and buy a larger unit in the same complex outright in cash. Turning that down to stay as Han Kanghyeon’s Guide would earn her the title of S-Class fool. It was that outrageous of an offer.
If she stayed as Han Kanghyeon’s Guide…
“Ah.”
I must really be crazy.
“Hyeji-ssi?”
Joohwan asked carefully when her expression suddenly darkened.
“Did I leave something out of the contract terms…”
Nothing at all.
“The most important thing is missing.”
Noh Hyeji, twenty six. S-Class Guide, S-Class secretary, and S-Class fool.
