Hiring Help
Phone call from Kim Okja, whom she'd sent her daughter to meet on a blind date. Kim Sujung's face flushed red.
"Th-that's..."
—I had no idea she was such a loose woman... I was even thinking of making her my niece-in-law because she was pretty... Oh dear, look at me. At least I found out now.
Kim Sujung couldn't say a word in response. Her blood boiled at hearing her child insulted, but she couldn't vent her anger. It was all Kim Hyeju's own doing. Above all, she was terrified.
Of all things, why did this have to reach this sister's ears...
Kim Okja. She was the president of the apartment's women's association. What did that mean? She was well-connected, and aunties like her couldn't resist gossiping after seeing just two or three people. It wouldn't take long—word of Kim Hyeju cheating would spread through the entire complex.
"You little bitch!"
Now even Kim Sujung couldn't show her face at the association meetings. She smacked Kim Hyeju on the back in fury.
"Ow! Why'd you hit me!"
"This is no time for you to be yelling! God, you shameless girl! At least you're not completely smearing your parents' name!"
"Eek! I'm the victim too! How can Mom take someone else's side over her own daughter...!"
Kim Hyeju wailed pitifully. But Kim Sujung already knew all the details. She didn't even need to go to the table where Shin Jaewoo and Han Taeho had been sitting to hear it.
If she'd just kept quiet, no one would've found out...
She couldn't hold back and had stepped in. Kim Sujung trembled with rage at the absurd story. Why on earth would a woman with so many skeletons in her closet stir up trouble like that?
"Why make a mountain out of a molehill!"
Whose head did she get this from? Kim Sujung was seething inside.
"How did I end up raising a kid like you...!"
She was too embarrassed to even go out in the neighborhood anymore. Kim Sujung was filled with resentment. And that resentment spilled over into a marital spat that very evening. They blamed each other's bad genes or behavior for how Kim Hyeju turned out...
I knew she was an idiot, but I didn't think it was this bad.
Back home, Shin Jaewoo recalled the day's events. Kim Hyeju's reckless outburst. He'd been blinded by love back then.
Good thing we broke up.
A woman like that would've been trouble even without the cheating. A total troublemaker. Shin Jaewoo shook his head thinking about it.
But now was the time to focus on something else.
"I've decorated it to make you as comfortable as possible, Jaewoo. What do you think?"
Shin Jaewoo was with Lee Sooyoung right now. He looked around at her words.
That empty shell of a place is finally livable now.
Several pieces of furniture and household appliances had been added first. Some were ones he'd picked out himself. The bedroom had a plush, spacious bed. He'd decided that after staying at the Baekje Hotel—no skimping on the bed. He pressed down lightly on the mattress, savoring the cushion, and spoke.
"...It's good."
Not empty words; he really liked it. For reference, he'd put his bedroom on the second floor. The house had master suites on both floors, but he'd turned the first-floor one into a study. Sort of.
I'll use that as my playroom later.
Nothing special about the playroom. Shin Jaewoo wasn't into active hobbies anyway. His recent ones were things he could do with a computer or smartphone: webnovels, games, internet streams.
"Oh, and you'll need to hire a housekeeper... Do you have someone in mind?"
Lee Sooyoung asked. That's when Shin Jaewoo remembered something he'd forgotten.
Right, I need to hire people too.
Obviously, he couldn't manage the whole house himself. Even if they commuted rather than living in, he needed someone working here.
"If you don't have anyone lined up, we can find someone for you."
"Yes, please."
Honestly, Shin Jaewoo had no idea where to find people. Not just for housework, but someone reliable with security and trustworthiness—that was his real wish. And he had no clue how to find them. The Panta Bank VIP division should handle it.
Was it because 'people' came to mind?
—To put it simply... the remaining inheritance is 'people.'
Lee Jinmyeong's voice echoed in his ear. Thinking about it, Lee Sooyoung was acting as his personal secretary now, but she worked for the bank, not him.
Time to get my own people, huh?
He'd changed a lot without realizing it, even thinking like this now.
"Any preferences?"
"Pardon?"
"Usually, people hire a driver, a live-in housekeeper, and a couple who commute for chores."
With the garden, a gardener was needed too, but once or twice a week would do. The key was the housekeepers.
"Everyone has their favorites. Some insist on Koreans, others go for ethnic Koreans from China or women from Southeast Asia. Or unmarried women without families, or certain ages."
Age. Looks. Certifications. Preferences varied—even by cooking specialties like Korean, Chinese, Japanese, or Western food.
"Ah."
Shin Jaewoo nodded as he listened. He hadn't thought about it specifically, but if pressed, he had an answer.
If it's the same price, go for the red skirt...
A young woman would be nice. Even without ulterior motives. Though he wondered if such a woman would take a housekeeper job.
"The world has all kinds. If that's what you want, we can find her. Of course... the salary would need to reflect it."
That was Lee Sooyoung's response. And with it came another decision for him.
Oh. Salary too.
The budget for this. How much to pay was crucial. It was all new to him—he'd never hired or managed anyone before.
"...Someone trustworthy, please."
Vague, but that was all he could say. No betrayals or lies. Discreet. Young and attractive would be a bonus, but trust came first. And one more thing.
"Someone I can communicate with easily."
No foreigners. Well, not strictly, but fluent Korean was a must.
"I'll leave the rest to you. What about salary range?"
"The more the merrier. Around two million won a month gets you someone, but it'd probably be a foreigner with iffy Korean."
To meet his standards...
How much to get the best?
When in doubt, one way: he had money to burn. Shin Jaewoo spoke up.
"...No budget limit. Get me the best people."
If they satisfied him, money was no object. That wrapped it up.
Maybe because everything was settled.
"And..."
Lee Sooyoung's expression shifted subtly.
"To assist you properly, I think it'd be best if I were close by..."
As she spoke, her eyes gleamed faintly. Her fingertips brushed his body.
"Here's the list of candidates I mentioned yesterday."
In the first-floor study. Lee Sooyoung brought a stack of printed papers. She'd prepared it overnight—resumes for the mansion staff.
"Thanks. I'll take a look."
He took the materials she'd prepared. Resumes with photos, histories, and salary expectations.
"Hmm."
Butler, housekeepers, driver, gardener—he'd expected those. But even a professional chef for head cook.
I can hire people like this too?
Impressive. And there were others: security firms and bodyguard agency candidates. Three options handed to him.
His honest feeling after scanning them all.
"...I have no clue."
Once Lee Sooyoung left after handing them over, Shin Jaewoo muttered while flipping through.
No idea. Judging from paper alone who was good? Impossible.
Should I interview them?
But interviews would be a hassle. He couldn't just hire anyone either. Pondering as he skimmed, his hand stopped.
Huh?
A resume he hadn't noticed before. Must've skipped it because pages overlapped. His eyes locked on the school listed there, more than anywhere else.