Chapter 29: Office Wife (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 29: Office Wife (5)
Now that the targets had been narrowed down, all that remained was to investigate and make contact.
It sounded simple enough, but there were countless tedious tasks, such as checking current contract statuses and the resources held by Break Line. As the one in charge of the project, Han Ju-hee found herself working overtime more and more often.
She could afford to take it a bit easier, but she was just so passionate.
And thanks to her, I felt pressured to stay late too...
Honestly, that was what I hated most.
Just because she was working late didn't mean I had to, but seeing her like that every day made me feel like I should show my face and stay behind at least once in a while, if only to save face.
"Ah! Hng! Hehehe!"
Though it was a bit embarrassing that the "work" I stayed behind for was spanking an employee's buttocks.
Baek Bo-min, who made it a point to come by once a day to get her fix, was clinging to my thigh today with teary eyes.
Is her butt made of steel or something? Feeling a bit sorry for her, I applied some ointment to her cheeks—which had swollen to twice their original size—and rubbed it in with my palm. Baek Bo-min bit her lip and let out a suggestive moan.
When I patted her butt to signal we were finished, she pulled up her underwear, which had been hanging around her ankles, thanked me, and left.
I should probably move on to something other than her butt soon.
I was being careful not to leave permanent marks, but if the impact kept accumulating, she’d eventually end up with actual bruising.
Besides, I was getting bored of just hitting her butt.
I picked up the list Han Ju-hee had sent me and headed over to her desk.
It felt strange seeing Baek Bo-min, who had just been getting spanked by me moments ago, working right next to Han Ju-hee with a perfectly nonchalant expression.
"Let's try contacting Hero Hailey, Park So-hee, and Lee Mi-yeon."
"I understand the others, but may I ask why you chose Hero Lee Mi-yeon?"
Han Ju-hee seemed to have already memorized the information of every hero on the list; she tilted her head in confusion the moment Lee Mi-yeon's name came up.
In a world centered around Attackers, it was only natural to find it strange that I wanted to bring in a Support hero.
"Because we can get her for cheap. If I said that, would I get in trouble?"
When I said that with a smile, Baek Bo-min, who was sitting nearby, perked up at the mention of "getting in trouble" and looked over.
"Is it something you have in mind but find difficult to explain?"
"No, it's just that we need someone to assist Hero Han So-ye's skills. Hero Lee Mi-yeon's skills are great for binding large opponents, so I think it'll balance things out well."
"I see. I'll pass your thoughts along to the Strategy Department."
Han Ju-hee nodded and immediately jotted it down in her notebook.
This was the most annoying part of recruitment work.
The Strategy Department would demand this person or that person, looking only for heroes that suited their specific tastes. The Management Department would bitch and moan about having no money and tell us to find someone cheaper. We were just stuck in the middle, getting pushed around by both sides.
In truth, party composition wasn't really something we should be interfering with.
If the Strategy Department were actually good at their jobs, we could just target the names on their list and focus on getting the contracts signed. But since they were just throwing out names based on popularity, Han Ju-hee was the one suffering.
I should have suggested replacing the Strategy Department staff instead of the heroes.
As we were discussing work, Han Ju-hee's smartphone rang.
After checking the caller ID, she looked momentarily flustered. She pulled the phone close to her chest so I couldn't see the screen and looked at me.
"I'm sorry, I need to take this call."
"Sure, go ahead."
I didn't think she needed my permission, but the moment I nodded, she rushed outside.
Watching her hurried departure, Baek Bo-min leaned in close to me.
"It was her boyfriend."
So you managed to see that, huh?
She spoke nonchalantly while sipping her coffee through a straw, but her eyes were sparkling. She looked up at me with a gaze full of curiosity.
"Aren't you curious?"
I wasn't particularly interested in other people's love lives, but Baek Bo-min kept nudging me, insisting we go take a look.
I didn't think it was the right thing for a boss to do, but I let myself be dragged along by her hand. Soon, we could hear Han Ju-hee's voice on the phone in the hallway.
"No, it's just because I've been busy lately. I'm sorry... Look, what do you want me to do about the clan having more work?"
... ...
Oof, it looked like they were fighting because I'd been piling work on her.
The way she scratched her head in frustration while talking reminded me exactly of how men used to look on the phone in my original world.
"That's not it... Sigh—Yes, I sighed. I've told you so many times to understand because this is important. This is an opportunity I got because the Manager looked out for me."
Hearing that, Baek Bo-min stared at me intently.
Her "Ooh-la-la~" expression was starting to get on my nerves.
"What does the Manager being a man have to do with anything? Yes, we're working overtime together. So what? You think something weird is going to happen at the office?"
Sounds like a possessive boyfriend.
I decided it wasn't right to eavesdrop on someone else's fight, especially when it wasn't a pleasant conversation, so I grabbed Baek Bo-min by the scruff of her neck as she watched with excitement and pulled her back.
She flailed a bit, reluctant to leave, but I soon had her settled back in her seat.
"Ju-hee Sunbae's boyfriend is quite sensitive."
"You shouldn't gossip about others."
"It's not gossip, it's just... did I do something wrong?"
Don't ask me that with those sparkling eyes.
I flicked her forehead, and Baek Bo-min clutched her head with a pout.
While we were joking around, Han Ju-hee returned, looking as calm and composed as usual.
"I'm sorry. Where were we?"
We spent quite a bit more time discussing work and organizing materials.
Since today was a rest day and I didn't have to go to the Center, it didn't really matter, but it was still sad to see my clock-out time getting pushed back.
Thinking that I'd truly become a corporate slave, I looked at Han Ju-hee and Baek Bo-min as they packed up their things.
"It's late, so why don't we grab a quick dinner before we head out? You haven't eaten yet either."
"Yes! I'd love to!"
"...Yes, I'll join you."
Han Ju-hee checked her watch briefly before giving a slightly delayed answer.
I worried if I was forcing her to stay when she needed to get home, and we all headed down to the lobby together.
"Is the Manager treating us today? I'm going to eat something delicious."
"You've worked hard, so pick whatever you want."
"Wow! Ju-hee Sunbae, let's eat something expensive. Something really expensive."
"There's a decent restau—ah..."
As we passed through the security doors, chatting brightly, Han Ju-hee's voice trailed off as she looked toward the entrance.
Following her gaze, I saw a fairly well-dressed man looking our way.
Han Ju-hee, who had been standing close to me, took a step away, perhaps conscious of his gaze.
Wouldn't that just make it look more suspicious?
Sure enough, the man's expression soured.
As the man began striding toward us with an ominous aura, Baek Bo-min hid behind my back.
"Is this guy the Manager?"
"What are you doing, coming all the way to the clan?"
"So he is the Manager. He's a handsome one. Tall, too. I bet he's got all the women swooning."
Thanks for the compliment.
"What are you saying to the Manager? Don't be so rude."
"Ha! Are you really the one to be getting angry right now? Hey, Han Ju-hee. Don't you know what kind of person this guy is? Haven't you seen the things written about him on the internet?"
Most of the things written on the internet were baseless nonsense.
Of course, the commenters asking if I'd been raped by villains were technically right.
If anything, the people defending me were the ones talking nonsense.
It had been fun, though.
While I was nodding to myself, Han Ju-hee looked at me with wide, panicked eyes before snapping at him.
"You're believing distorted rumors floating around the internet? Are you crazy? How can you say something like that right in front of him..."
It wasn't exactly distorted, but Han Ju-hee was so flustered she couldn't even speak properly. She bowed her head to me in apology.
"I'm so sorry, Manager. He's not usually like this, he's just angry because of me..."
"Why are you apologizing? Did I say anything wrong—"
"Hwang Do-hoon!!"
Han Ju-hee shouted, cutting him off.
Baek Bo-min, who was pretending to be scared behind me, had eyes sparkling with excitement at the rapidly escalating drama.
Startled, the man looked back and forth between me and Han Ju-hee with a bewildered voice.
"Even if something like that happened, is that something you say to his face? No matter how angry you are, there are things you can say and things you can't."
"Ha, wow. So you're saying you're in the right? Is it right to cheat on your boyfriend with your boss behind his back?"
Ooh—he's not apologizing and just changing the subject.
Hearing the man's words, which were a perfect trifecta of deflection and wild over-interpretation, Han Ju-hee let out an incredulous laugh.
"Does this look like cheating to you? You think people cheat at the office?"
"Looking at the way you two were coming out, I bet you've been sucking and licking each other all over."
"Um... I was there too."
Baek Bo-min spoke up, cautiously raising her hand, but quickly hid behind me again after receiving a sharp glare from the man.
Han Ju-hee tried to be logical, but the argument continued for about ten minutes with the man refusing to listen to any reason. Eventually, having run out of things to say, he spat out the ultimate non-logic—that it was all her fault—and stormed off, huffing and puffing.
Why is she dating a guy like that?
Han Ju-hee stared blankly at the man's retreating back before letting out a long sigh.
The man glanced back as if expecting her to chase after him, but when she didn't, he maintained his pride and left. Han Ju-hee bowed to me again in apology.
"I'm so sorry. You had to deal with that because of me, Manager."
"It's fine. But shouldn't you go after him? He seemed really angry."
"There's no point in talking to him right now."
Han Ju-hee wore a bitter expression before forcing a smile.
"There's a good restaurant nearby. I'll lead the way."
I wondered if anyone would actually have an appetite in this atmosphere...
... ...
"I... Manager-nim, I don't like you like thaaat—it's reshpect, resh-pect. I reshpect you—do you know that, Manager-nimmm?"
Yeah, I should have seen this coming.
Han Ju-hee was completely wasted, pinching my cheek and rambling about how much she respected me.
Hey, stop filling her glass.
The wicked little devil Baek Bo-min was finding Han Ju-hee's drunkenness hilarious. She was stuck to her side, quickly refilling her glass every time it was empty.
"I mean—are you lishtening... You're usually so good at your job, so why aren't you answering?"
"I'm listening, Ju-hee."
"There you go again. Putting up walls. Treat me friendly too—is it because I'm not as cute as this one?"
"Kyang!"
Han Ju-hee grabbed Baek Bo-min, who was currently experimenting with surface tension in her glass, and pulled her into a hug.
After rubbing her cheek vigorously against the top of Baek Bo-min's head, who was dangling like a doll, Han Ju-hee leaned against my shoulder and looked up at me.
"Play with me tooo... You shouldn't play favorites, Manager-nimmm..."
"Like this?"
"Ahaha—do it more."
When I lightly flicked the tip of her nose, Han Ju-hee waved her hands in the air, delighted.
She looked like a cat playing with a toy. After I did it a few times, even Baek Bo-min reached out her hand to join in.
"Now—let'sh drink! Our cute Baek Bo, you drink too!"
"Wait, hold on—ugyagyagyagyagyalghgulgya."
Han Ju-hee picked up her own overflowing glass and shoved it into Baek Bo-min's mouth.
In the end, Baek Bo-min received her karma in full, forced to gulp down the entire glass she had filled to the brim.
"Hyaaa—"
Apparently, she had a low tolerance. Her face turned beet red, she grimaced, and her eyes immediately lost focus.
"Hey—where are you going—keep drinking—"
I realized I couldn't let this go on any longer and tried to get up, but Han Ju-hee grabbed me and insisted we keep drinking.
Even when I filled her glass with water, she was too drunk to tell the difference. She downed the water in one shot, let out a "Kyaa—the alcohol is sweet today," and then slammed her head onto the table.
Well—I know she's had a hard time, but let's never drink together again.
As I hoisted the troublesome Han Ju-hee onto my back, I saw that Baek Bo-min was also too far gone to walk straight.
In the end, with Han Ju-hee on my back and Baek Bo-min tucked under my arm, I left the restaurant.
"That guy's got some strength—"
"Leave those drunk girls and come drink with us~!"
Ignoring the annoying women I felt like slapping, I stepped out onto the street, drawing stares from the people passing by.
I decided it would be impossible to catch separate taxis for them in this state, so I looked for a motel to let them sleep it off.
"You're having a rough time. Imagine being a woman and having to be carried around by a man like that, sigh—"
The person handing me the key at the entrance—likely the owner—spoke bluntly.
I paid the bill, went up to the room, and felt a wave of relief as I dumped the two lumps of luggage onto the bed.
Han Ju-hee tossed and turned, showing off her sexy figure, while Baek Bo-min, who still had a sliver of consciousness left, came crawling toward me with a giggle.
"Go to sleep."
"I don't wanna..."
She clung to me, trying to clamber up my body.
As I held her up to support her, our eyes met. Baek Bo-min grabbed my cheeks, giggled, and gave me a light kiss.
"Han Ju-hee is right there."
"Hehehe—she won't wake up no matter how loud it gets."
Wearing a wicked smile, Baek Bo-min wrapped her arms around my head and aggressively thrust her tongue into my mouth.