Flattery Tastes Best When Done Openly
The next day.
I went into the office and got on with my work as if nothing had happened…
"Assistant Manager Choi, the department head wants to see you."
"Ah, yes."
At a junior's message I rose from my seat at once and headed into the department head's office.
Knock knock—
"Assistant Manager Choi Jichan."
"Yeah, come in."
A polite knock, a polite introduction, and a polite greeting to finish it off.
"Good morning, sir."
"Yeah."
The department head returned the greeting half-heartedly and waved me closer.
He looked ready to pick up yesterday's conversation.
"…So how did it go?"
"First, this…."
I held out the business card Jung Minjae had given An Jihye.
"What's with the card?"
"I think it's this guy."
"…Give me the details."
"Jihye and I were walking around together when this Director Jung Minjae approached us. He must have taken us for a couple of chicks, because he gave us something like a tour… and at the end he mentioned that they'd have to raise their unit prices soon."
"We're already matching Yuseong at the highest rate—what unit price? And why the hell would he tell you two that?"
"That's exactly why he's the one who looks most suspicious."
"……."
Of course it was still only a hunch.
And even calling it a hunch was generous—it wasn't exactly earth-shattering evidence.
But office workers have a sixth sense for these things, and the department head stared at Jung Minjae's card as if he meant to set it on fire with his eyes alone.
I added,
"This is what Jihye told me."
"What?"
"What I just said, sir."
"Ah… the unit-price bit?"
"Yes. While I was talking with another employee, that guy seems to have approached Jihye."
"Ahh…."
Well.
The department head might be a little older, but An Jihye was the kind of woman who could make any man look twice.
He seemed to piece the situation together roughly, and with a look of pure disgust he crumpled Jung Minjae's card in his fist.
"Ever since that… trouble last time, Jihye's been working really hard—and well."
"Seems that way. She's the one who first noticed this, after all. Hooo… all right, I get it. From here the legal team will take over, so you and An Jihye won't be bothered any further."
"Not at all, sir—it was only what I should have done. If there's anything else I can help with going forward, please just say the word. I only regret that I wasn't more useful this time."
"You little shit, with the flattery."
Exactly.
Flattery tastes best when you do it right out in the open.
"You put in the work, so I'll put in a bonus recommendation for you and An Jihye. But as you know, these things don't happen overnight. Bear with me on that."
"No, sir—I wasn't much help, so I'll decline the bonu—"
"Ah, cut the first verse already."
He said that, but the department head looked to be in a pretty good mood.
Part of it was having a lead on the case, and part of it was pure disbelief at my shameless flattery—enough to make him snicker.
…Office life is hard as hell, fuck.
"Ah, and here—the corporate card you gave me yesterday."
"You filled the tank?"
"Yes. Thanks to you, I filled it all the way up."
"Good. Ah, what car did you end up buying?"
"I bought a Grandeur."
"Went for the expensive one, huh…."
"It's used, so it was fine."
"That so? Used, then… you must've picked a decent one. I drive a Grandeur myself."
"Ah, right. I see you driving it every day, and I figured if it's the car the department head drives, it has to be solid, so I chose the Grandeur—"
"Ah, you little shit, ease up already."
By this point he could tell I was doing it on purpose, and the snicker on his face turned into the kind of laugh you get watching a comedy show.
"What year is it?"
"The year model… is 2020."
"That's basically a new car."
"Yes. I got lucky with a good listing."
"Could still be a lemon, so get it checked."
"As it happens, I know a guy who runs a repair shop—I'm planning to take it over soon."
"Ohhh, perfect. Get a full inspection, and… well, I can't help much, but the Grandeur's fuel economy is decent. Still… if the gas money starts pinching later, just say the word."
…As he said it, the department head casually flashed the corporate card.
"Yes, sir! Thank you."
Ah, but.
"…Um, Department Head."
"Hm?"
"If it turns out the team leader was involved in this… what happens to him?"
"Why ask the obvious? He's out."
That was so obvious it wasn't what I was really asking.
"Would it be an internal promotion, or an outside hire…?"
That was the real question.
Please… let it be internal.
Not that I was hoping for my own promotion the moment the team leader got the boot.
That would be ridiculous.
I wasn't even thirty yet… jumping straight to manager from here was pure fantasy. I wasn't even thinking it.
Someone above me would move up.
And that was exactly how I'd climb faster myself.
"Hmm… they'll probably just pull someone in. Looking around, there's no one really ready to step up to team leader."
"Ah… yes."
So not internal, then.
"Still, don't look so down. Even if I said you didn't do much, I know how you work. You played a pretty central role—I know that."
…At least I could confirm the department head's favor. That was something.
"Thank you, sir."
"Okay, good work. Head back. Next time something comes up, I'll look out for you first."
"Thank you. If you need anything, just say the word. I'll break my bones to be of use to the department head whenever—"
"Ah, just get out already!"
An Jihye had felt strange ever since she stepped out of Jichan's car the day before.
"Haaaaaa…."
…Was she ovulating? No, that wasn't it.
From the moment she started sucking Jichan's cock, An Jihye had felt her body heat up past warm—straight into scorching.
That heat had run down her like steam turning to water on a pot lid, soaking her pussy and panties until they were dripping wet.
And it didn't stop there.
Even after she got home the excitement refused to fade, and An Jihye had been forced to suffer the humiliation of taking care of her own lust for the first time in years.
But there was a bigger problem.
"…Fuck."
Jichan's cock just wouldn't leave her head. It wouldn't go away; it kept floating right in front of her eyes.
It had been so thick.
So long.
And he had cum so much.
…Plus, according to him, he needed to go at least four times.
That didn't seem like a complete lie—after dumping that much into her mouth, his cock had stayed rock-hard the whole time.
And yesterday she had sucked him for so long just to finally make him cum.
"……."
If a cock that big went inside her…
But if he had to pound her pussy for that long just to cum once…
And then, after dumping one load, just kept pounding…
"Jihye."
"Yes?!"
"Whoa, easy… what were you thinking about so hard by yourself?"
"Ah, nothing. What is it…?"
The finance department head snapped her out of it.
"Come with me a second."
"…Yes."
She watched the finance head leave first, then hurriedly stood—
…Fuck.
—and felt it.
Because of the thoughts just now, she could feel herself getting a little wet down there.
The sensation was unpleasant, but An Jihye didn't show a single hint of it. She walked into the department head's office with her usual arrogant stride.
"I heard you went with Jichan yesterday."
"Ah, yes."
"I heard from the senior department head. He said you played a pretty important role."
And she heard that Jichan had truly downplayed his own contribution and made sure to highlight hers.
"Ah, no, not really."
"Don't be modest. The senior kept emphasizing that I should praise you a lot. Said Jichan was singing your praises too."
"……."
"Of course nothing's confirmed yet. From here the legal team moves, and… from what that guy told you and Jichan, it looks certain he's up to something shady even if it isn't this particular matter."
"…Yes."
"Either way, you played a big part. Good work."
"Thank you."
"Mm-hmm, good."
For once, the finance department head—who usually looked so soft—smiled brightly and sent An Jihye out.
An Jihye…
"……."
…glanced once at the finance head, then flicked her eyes toward where Planning would be, and that gaze somehow landed on Jichan—who wasn't even nearby—and on Jichan's cock again.
Or rather, made her picture it again.
"…Fuck."
An Jihye clenched her teeth hard and staggered back to her seat on unsteady legs.
"Hmm… yeah."
Maybe it was because of what the department head had said.
I'd already planned to get a full inspection from that hyung, but because of scheduling I'd been thinking of going this weekend.
Still, something told me it would be better to go as soon as possible.
So I stood up for a moment, grabbed a cigarette, and walked out toward the terrace to call Jung Minjun.
But I didn't call Jung Minjun first.
Can you talk?
I called Park Eunseo first to check her schedule.
"Eunseo, any plans tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow? Nope, nothing."
"Then. Hmm…."
…I ran a quick calculation.
"When you come to work tomorrow, bring the clothes you'll wear the day after, too."
"The day after? Why?"
"Tomorrow evening we'll go somewhere together, stay the night, and head to work from there."
"Uh-uh-uh-uh…."
She clearly hadn't expected me to say it so bluntly; I could feel her fluster over the line.
But then,
"…O-okay."
"In exchange, can I ask one favor? It's a little unfair to you, though."
"What is it?"
"You remember the hyung who looked at my car last time?"
"Ah… yeah."
"Can you come with me to his shop tomorrow evening? He said if I bring you, he'll check my car even if we get there late. But since he has to work on my car, he won't be able to hit on you. And I already told him dinner's just with the cohort, so no eating with him either."
"Mmmmm… yeah, sure. That's not hard."
"Then… Eunseo."
"Yeah?"
"Bring all those toys tomorrow."
If Park Eunseo was going to help me this much, the least I could do was help her in return. Fair's fair.
"…Tomorrow I'm going to mess you up for real."
"Choi Jichan, you're the worst—."
She said that, but Park Eunseo was clearly loving it.
"Okay, got it—."
"Yeah, I'll text you later."
I hung up.
Only then did I call Jung Minjun.
"…Ah, hyung."
"Yeah?"
"What time does your shop close?"
"Ours? We're usually there till seven."
Seven was cutting it close.
Even if I left as early as possible it would be six, and getting to his shop in rush hour… even at best we'd be well past six-thirty.
So…
"…Hyung."
"Yeah?"
"That… full inspection? How long does it take?"
"Hmm… under an hour. It's an inspection, not actual repairs."
"…I'll bring Eunseo tomorrow. Can you still look at the car if we get there by six-thirty?"
"Eunseo-ssi?!"
"Yeah."
The moment I played the Park Eunseo card, Jung Minjun seemed a lot more open to the idea.
"…But why are you and Eunseo-ssi going somewhere at that hour?"
…Unlike last week, Park Eunseo wasn't standing right there, so Jung Minjun asked a pretty sharp question.
But,
"Tomorrow evening we've got a cohort get-together. We're meeting around eight, so before that… I figured I'd let you see Eunseo again and get my inspection done early. I mean… you'd want to see her again, right?"
"Uh, well… uh-uh…."
"From my side it's a bargaining chip. I'll let you see Eunseo if you do the inspection."
"Uh-uh… well, yeah. If that's the case, uh-uh. Okay."
"Sweet—. See you tomorrow."
I hung up and immediately found myself looking forward to tomorrow all over again.