Chapter 115: Blonde Beauty
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 115: Blonde Beauty
There was a bit of a scene on my way to work, but I managed to make it on time.
By now, I’d reached a point where I didn't mix up similar-sounding menu items, and the side dishes were no longer a challenge. I could work mechanically without having to think at all.
Normally, I would have spent the time chatting with the assistant managers or bickering with Yoo Ah-rin.
But of course, the duty officer today had to be Department Head Lee Chan-song.
According to what I heard from Lee Seo-ah at the karaoke bar earlier, the Department Head and the Department Head had another blowout yesterday.
Maybe that was why, but the moment we tried to take a breather or slack off even a little, he was on our cases like a man possessed.
Thanks to him, we were stuck folding napkins we already had more than enough of.
He’d even forbidden us from sitting down, so we were working on our feet.
"It made sense to go by the book when we first started, but isn't this a bit much now?"
Yoo Ah-rin was right to grumble. In the beginning, we all worked standing up.
It was necessary back then so we wouldn't get too lax right out of the gate, but things were different now.
The assistant managers had acknowledged our competence, and they usually loosened the reins during the quiet dawn hours.
But Department Head Lee Chan-song didn't hesitate.
In a way, you could say he was a man of unwavering principles.
"You know the seniors have been on edge lately. It’s only natural the Department Head is sensitive too."
"Then why take it out on us?"
She wasn't wrong, so I just shrugged and let her vent.
Right then.
"Hey, an order's in."
"Hey?"
Yoo Ah-rin glared at Department Head Lee Chan-song for his rough tone, but he just handed over the slip without even looking at us.
While the kitchen staff started on the food, we set up the cart and checked where the order was going.
"Room 1007?"
"Huh? 1007?"
The number sounded familiar. As I was mulling it over, Yoo Ah-rin, her brow furrowed, suddenly tapped my shoulder as if she’d just remembered.
"It's that blonde lady from before."
"Ah, her."
To be honest, I liked that every time I saw her, I got a new story to tell. I’d become a hero back at the dorms after telling them about seeing her in her underwear.
But personally, it wasn't a room I looked forward to visiting, since something unexpected always seemed to happen there.
"I'm coming with you."
Ignoring my hesitation, Yoo Ah-rin gave me a sharp look.
"What do you mean, 'coming with me'?"
Despite my protest, she was adamant. It wasn't just to keep an eye on me; she seemed to want to spite Department Head Lee Chan-song for his rude behavior earlier.
"You'll get in huge trouble if you're caught."
"Who cares? I'll only be gone for a second, so he won't know. I'll just say I went to the restroom."
"..."
When I stared at her, Yoo Ah-rin eventually crossed her arms and glared back.
"Whenever I'm alone with the Department Head, he keeps asking me weird stuff."
"What?"
"Ugh, I don't know. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry. But I heard he does it to Seo-ah and Bom-i, too."
Now, that was something I couldn't just ignore.
As my expression darkened, Yoo Ah-rin gave a sheepish laugh.
"I mean, it's nothing major. Just that subtle sexual harassment, you know? Like saying kids these days are well-developed, or that the Gold One uniforms fit us perfectly because they're so tight... stuff like that."
"Why didn't you say anything? Does he still do it?"
Looking at her reaction, it was obvious she was picking the mildest examples to tell me.
"Hey, the moment I heard it, I snapped at him and told him it was sexual harassment and to stop. That's why he hates me even more now."
"Good for you."
"He doesn't do it to me anymore, but I still feel gross being left alone with him."
"Sigh."
A heavy breath escaped me. I felt a pang of self-loathing for only just realizing why the girls hated Department Head Lee Chan-song so much.
"But the others said he's been quieter lately because of that lawsuit that broke out."
Even so, it was deeply unsettling information.
"Let's go together."
In the end, I let Yoo Ah-rin come along. Nothing major would likely happen if I left her there, but I didn't like the idea of leaving her with someone who made her uncomfortable.
We arrived on the 10th floor.
Since it wasn't a floor we visited often, Yoo Ah-rin hummed as she looked around.
"But are there really a lot of gangster types here?"
"I've seen plenty of people with tattoos."
"Whoa, I saw that the area around the hotel is nothing but pawn shops. They take everything—watches, gold, car keys."
"It's a casino for a reason. When I see scary-looking people, I just keep my eyes on the floor so I don't accidentally make eye contact."
"Do you think someone would actually try to kidnap a female employee if she came up here?"
"..."
I couldn't say for sure that it would never happen. I’d heard rumors of actual cases, after all.
Knock, knock.
"Room service."
As I prepared to do my little 'dance,' she looked at me with dead eyes.
"You know that's really not funny, right?"
"Ahem, I think it's okay."
I scratched my head awkwardly while waiting for the guest. Yoo Ah-rin stood to the side of the door, staying out of the guest's line of sight.
Creeak.
The door opened.
"Come in."
'Huh?'
Today was a bit different.
The lady was wearing glasses and a suit, her body fully covered. Unlike her loose appearance from last time, she radiated the aura of a highly capable career woman.
'What the...'
She looked so ready for a day at the office that it almost made me forget I was on the night shift.
With a soft smile, she ushered me inside and promptly closed the door.
"Oh?"
I heard Yoo Ah-rin's small gasp through the closing gap, but it was cut short.
'I didn't expect this.'
The conversation I just had with Yoo Ah-rin flashed through my mind.
About whether people actually got dragged inside.
I never imagined that I, not a female employee, would be the one it happened to.
"This way."
The blonde woman led me further in with a bright smile. As she nudged my back, I wondered if I was about to be devoured.
If I was really going to be eaten alive, I hoped Yoo Ah-rin would wait a bit before reporting it. I found myself wondering what underwear I’d put on today.
"Ah, for fuck's sake."
The moment I saw the man inside, a curse slipped out involuntarily. The man's brow furrowed.
"You certainly have a way with words when speaking to your Big Hyung."
Big Hyung.
Yeah.
The man standing before me was my eldest brother, Kim Jae-un.
He stood there in his suit, hands in his pockets, looking down at me with an arrogance that made my skin crawl.
"Ugh, seriously."
I grabbed a fork and knife from the cart and started slicing the steak.
"I've been wanting to try this."
It was a shame we couldn't order this for ourselves, but if Big Hyung was the one who ordered it, I might as well enjoy it.
As I took a bite of the steak, the blonde lady behind me muttered in bewilderment.
"He... he certainly takes after the Vice Chairman."
"That's not a compliment, you know."
When I snapped back, she immediately bowed her head and apologized.
She’d seemed so composed until a moment ago, but seeing me hack away at the steak must have made her realize I wasn't exactly normal.
"Who orders a steak at this hour? You're making the kitchen staff suffer."
I grumbled as I sat on the edge of the bed. My brother replied bluntly.
"I ordered it because I knew it was something you'd like."
"...Dammit."
So he ordered it knowing I'd be the one to eat it.
Feeling annoyed that I’d played right into his hands, I pushed the cart aside and looked at him.
"Why are you here? Do you have any idea how much the staff are suffering because they're walking on eggshells around you?"
The whole place was in an uproar because the Vice Chairman of the parent company had graced them with his presence.
Since the culprit was right in front of me, I didn't hold back my complaints.
But my brother remained calm.
"I came because of you. I heard you were working here."
"..."
"It seems you really have no intention of coming home for the break. At least call Mother and Father."
"I talked to Mom."
"Hmm?"
As my brother looked at me with a puzzled expression, I replied indifferently.
"It's true. Ask her yourself. And 'Mother'? It hasn't been that long since you were following her around calling her 'Mommy'."
I heard the blonde lady behind me stifling a laugh. My brother's gaze sharpened, and he jerked his chin toward the door, signaling her to leave.
"Tell the girl outside not to worry and to just go back down."
"Yes, sir. Understood."
Yoo Ah-rin would be worried. She might even call the police, so I needed her to be told I was fine.
"The—the door's open! Woo-jin! Kim Woo-jin! Are you okay?"
"Yeah! I'm fine! Just do what the lady says!"
"What?!"
"Hello there."
Hearing my voice from inside seemed to put her at ease, as the tension left Yoo Ah-rin's voice.
She seemed to say something else, but it was drowned out as the door closed.
"Is she your secretary?"
I turned back and asked. My brother nodded.
"Yes. Since you're working a part-time job, I figured you didn't want your family background known."
It wasn't really that.
I wasn't trying to hide it; I just didn't see any reason to broadcast it.
"I had my secretary book the room alone first, and I moved in a few days later."
"Are you dating her by any chance?"
"Sigh... don't talk nonsense."
"If you're not, I'm saying you should. Little Hyung can't get married because of you."
My brother frowned, seemingly at a loss for words.
I only said it because I knew it was the one thing he hated hearing most.
Now, to get to the point.
"You must have something to say since you came all this way, right?"
I tilted my head and asked. To be honest, I wanted to grill him about Oh Yun-ji right away, but I decided to hear his reason for coming first.
If I was going to tear into him, I wanted to hear what he had to say first.
But surprisingly.
"I don't."
My brother answered firmly.
"Huh?"
"I don't. I just came to see if you were doing okay. Mother was worried."
"..."
The atmosphere turned subtle.
My brother stared at me bluntly, his expression unchanging.
"Sorry, but saying stuff like that won't get you off the hook."
I scowled and confronted him.
"How did you know I was dating Oh Yun-ji?"
Whether it was an explanation or an excuse.
He must have had something prepared since he showed up in front of me.