Chapter 12
Chapter 12
The TV That Shows the Future (2)
Taking advantage of the meeting being paused, Team Leader Kim took me to the smoking room.
Even normally calm and gentle as he was, his face had flushed red—maybe because of my unilateral action without consulting anyone.
“No, Deputy Kang. That item you presented earlier was something our team had been preparing for a whole month. And we already reported it to the Director. How could you just overturn it like that?”
I had expected Team Leader Kim and the team to be disappointed, but it was a choice I couldn’t avoid.
I had to gauge Han Se-a’s reaction to respond appropriately.
What had already happened, had already happened.
It was my responsibility to manage the aftermath. Even if it was unavoidable, the fact that the team had been negatively affected was undeniable.
Right now, calming Team Leader Kim’s anger was the priority.
After confirming no one was around, I locked the door and bowed deeply.
“I’m really sorry about earlier. But even if I had tried to argue there, Director Han wouldn’t have listened. She would have tried to stop the project by any means.”
“What? That’s ridiculous!”
I wanted to tell him the truth—‘That woman is Yang Mi-jung, my ex-wife!’—but there was no way he would believe me now.
So, I had no choice.
I opted for a white lie.
“The truth is, I happened to overhear Director Han talking with her secretary in the elevator hall while I went to the restroom. She said Team 1 would be crushed as an example, no matter what.”
“What???”
Team Leader Kim stared at me, surprised. He probably wanted to check if I was serious.
Seeing the unwavering focus in my eyes, he asked again to confirm.
“Is that really true?”
“Of course it’s true. Why would I lie to you? She’s parachuted in, inexperienced, and might look down on us. She wants to establish dominance, so she’ll definitely crush Team 1. I heard it myself.”
When I gave the detailed explanation, Kim Leader exhaled as if my words made sense.
He had no reason not to believe me. After all, until yesterday, I had been the one striving the most for this project’s success.
To completely remove any doubt from Team Leader Kim, I added more reinforcement.
“You’ll see for yourself after the meeting whether I’m telling the truth.”
“How?”
“Since our team foolishly gave up the project, the other two teams will become the target. And if I’m wrong, I’ll go beg Director Han to resume the project myself.”
Of course, I wouldn’t actually be groveling to Director Han. She would act exactly as I expected.
Han Se-a never postpones her anger. Naturally, she needs to direct her scolding somewhere.
To fully convince the wavering Team Leader Kim, I presented concrete evidence.
“Remember how Director Han recited the ten reasons why the kit couldn’t succeed right after our presentation? Those weren’t improvised questions. Even the meeting being delayed from morning to afternoon was probably to analyze our project thoroughly. And she left with her secretary right after our report because my plan disrupted her target selection.”
Finally, Team Leader Kim voiced the doubts he’d kept to himself.
“True. Asking for a 15-minute break right after the presentation was strange.”
“Exactly! If I hadn’t complied then, I would have kept pressing until the meeting mood fell apart.”
Unable to restrain his frustration, Team Leader Kim took out a cigarette. I quickly handed him a lighter.
Click. Puff—
White smoke curled and dispersed each time he exhaled, as his thoughts deepened along with the haze.
Kim Leader knew that Han Se-a was a parachute from the owner’s family. Those in her position could manipulate projects and anything else to cement their standing.
Finding my explanation persuasive, he finally asked cautiously.
“You volunteered to report on the new project to prevent me from being blamed?”
“Of course. If I didn’t protect you, who would protect our team?”
I tapped my chest and answered cheerfully.
I wasn’t solely trying to help Kim Leader, but I did want to prevent him from being unfairly blamed.
If Kim Leader had presented without knowing Han Se-a’s intentions, he would’ve been left as a target, battered like a punching bag.
A bad mood from him would have ruined the team’s atmosphere, leaving everyone on edge all day.
So, I was meddling a bit to make my remaining work life more comfortable.
However, my real reason for declaring the project abandoned was different.
‘I can’t just watch Han Se-a get praise from the Chairman for an idea I suggested.’
After seeing Bu-yeo-si in the elevator hall that morning, I vowed to deliver a big “screw you” before leaving the company. I spent the last three hours figuring out how.
The plan was roughly this:
No matter how much of a chaebol parachute Han Se-a is, she can’t just fire a regular employee without reason.
So there are three options:
The most legitimate and easiest method was poor performance. To achieve this, she would try to obstruct every project our team reported.
I decided to use that to my advantage: develop the discarded project separately and successfully launch it.
‘Just a few lost hit items will expose Han Se-a’s poor judgment.’
Then, the Chairman, who loves money, couldn’t just let her get away with it. Blood relation or not.
Of course, this could threaten Team Leader Kim and the New Business Development Team 1.
‘Then I’ll just get them all to resign.’
Though inexperienced in office politics, I knew Team Leader Kim had excellent business insight. Seo Eun-ho and Jin Sun-mi were also highly capable. So, even with fewer people, our team was competing for top revenue.
Kim Leader gave me a grateful look and cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Thanks for stepping up for me. But next time, talk to me first.”
“Yes! Sorry.”
“No need to apologize. I just wanted us to discuss a response together. You don’t need to get on the bad side of the higher-ups. And you still have debts to pay.”
“Yes…”
Although I had no debts left, his considerate words touched me.
This is why I liked Team Leader Kim—he manages to care for his team even in a tough corporate environment.
“By the way, it’s a waste to just scrap the rancidity test kit idea.”
I quickly added, “No matter how good the idea is, first we need to survive. Working life is like a candle in the wind. You said you send 5 million won in child support every month to see your kids, right?”
“Phew. Yeah, you’re right.”
He rubbed his neck, worried about his children.
“Wow, 15 minutes already passed. Let’s head back. You need to see what the other teams are doing.”
I made sure he left the kit behind without regret.
“By the way, what should we do for the next project? We’ve already reported to the Director… this is tricky.”
Silly worry. Of course, I had a backup plan.
‘Don’t worry. I’ve prepared alternatives just in case.’
Even if Han Se-a ruins a few projects, I had five more ready for commercialization.
‘Let’s see who’s laughing in the end, Han Se-a!’
“Ha! Unbelievable. Who does he think he is, starting a new project?”
“Should we ask Team Leader Kim to revise and report again next week?”
“No way!”
Han Se-a’s sharp remark was met with equal sharpness by Oh Seung-won.
“But since the budget’s already allocated… if we stop now, we’ll have to explain it to the executives…”
“Do you think I didn’t know that?”
Han Se-a glared at Oh Seung-won, who immediately shut his mouth.
“Just write in the report that the expected results are unclear compared to the effort spent.”
“Understood.”
“Team 2 and 3 reports are ready too?”
Oh Seung-won hesitated, then reluctantly replied, “…Yes.”
“Bring them immediately.”
“Yes.”
After submitting the reports to Director Han, Team Leader Lee Jung-wan was waiting outside.
“Ah, Manager Oh, is our project okay?”
“I explained it as well as possible.”
“As well as possible? I told you this project is critical. If it fails, the timing is off.”
“I know, but…”
Oh Seung-won peeked at the director’s office and added,
“She has an unpredictable personality. But for Team 2, I won’t make a fuss. Even if she questions it today, it won’t stop the project.”
“Really? Then I trust only you, Manager Oh.”
“Yes.”
Lee Jung-wan turned to leave but paused.
“Oh, about that kit Team 1 abandoned…”
“Yes?”
“We’ll handle it next month in our team. If Team Leader Kim asks to restock, tell him it’s not possible.”
Manager Oh chuckled.
“Team 1 won’t let it go quietly.”
“That’s my concern, not yours. Don’t worry.”
“Understood.”
Lee Jung-wan glanced at Director Han’s office, patted Oh Seung-won’s shoulder, and left.
“Manager Oh… you have a tough life. Take care.”
“Oh… haha.”
Oblivious to Oh Seung-won quietly glaring at him, Lee Jung-wan hurried to the meeting room.
On the way out of the smoking room, I saw Lee Jung-wan coming from Han Se-a’s office.
‘What? Already brown-nosing? Impressive sense.’
Lee Jung-wan was a well-known ambitious player, even to someone like me with no interest in office politics. As long as it didn’t harm others, he could brown-nose all he wanted.
But I realized his flattery might draw Han Se-a’s attack toward Team 3.
Moreover, Team 3’s current project was in fashion—a field very close to Han Se-a’s expertise. The short presentation time made it a perfect target.
‘I’m going to owe Deputy Woo big time.’
As expected, Team 2’s presentation had almost no questions. When Team 3 presented, Han Se-a, now fully focused, fired relentless questions.
“The consumer survey data is too weak. The concept is tacky. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing to call this Iljin Group’s report?”
“Wait, metallic? That trend passed ages ago! Did you really research the market?”
“Who would buy this? Remove all functions and redo everything!”
Wow! For now, no one in our team is allowed to touch fashion items.
Team 3 couldn’t respond to her expert-level critique. Kim Leader saw this, and we exchanged a meaningful nod.
By the end of the meeting, Team 3’s members looked completely drained.
I grabbed Deputy Woo, who was staggering like a zombie.
“Deputy Woo, come here for a second.”
“Huh? Why? Our team has a meeting next…”
“I want to tell you how to handle Director Han, but if you’re busy, no choice.”
Deputy Woo’s zombie-like eyes immediately focused.
“What? Handle her?!”