Chapter 5 (Part 1)

However, Jinwon’s happy smile didn’t last long. 

As the launch of the furniture designed by In-ah approached, it was time to establish a full-fledged marketing strategy. 

During the days of planning the marketing strategy, anyone could see that Sang-wook seemed like ‘the happiest man’ in the company. It was because he had to sit with In-ah day and night in the conference room to draft the marketing strategy.

“Is there no one else in the marketing department besides Go Sang-wook?”

Jinwon muttered as he looked discontentedly at the conference room made of glass walls. Hye-yoon, who understood his words like a ghost, asked back.

“Why do you ask? Did Sang-wook make a mistake?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Jinwon cleared his throat unnecessarily and entered the Team Leader’s office. Watching him, Hye-yoon tilted her head in curiosity.

Jinwon’s work hours were getting longer. The office seemed to have all the lights off as if everyone had left, with only the conference room lights brightly on. From Jinwon’s office, one could only confirm whether the door was open or closed and if the lights were on. Jinwon frequently looked up from his computer monitor to gaze at the conference room lights. It seemed as if he was glaring.

At that moment, the conference room door opened, and the lights in the break room turned on.

“I could use some coffee.”

Jinwon mumbled words that no one asked for and headed to the break room. As he opened the break room door, Sang-wook, who was secretly doing something, turned around in surprise. Then he stood hiding something behind his back on the table. Jinwon couldn’t help but find his actions suspicious.

“What is that?”

“It’s a personal matter, so no comment.”

Sang-wook’s firm response made Jinwon slowly move his neck side to side.

“Are you saying you’re doing personal things at the company, Go Sang-wook?”

With these words, Jinwon strode towards Sang-wook. He raised his hand to make Sang-wook step aside. 

Jinwon froze when he saw what was behind Sang-wook. It was colorful macarons that looked like they had just popped out of a fairy tale book. Sang-wook coughed awkwardly.

“A little snack like this is okay in the conference room, isn’t it?”

Jinwon’s stiff expression didn’t soften, as if he hadn’t heard Sang-wook’s voice. It was because macarons and iced coffee were what In-ah loved dearly. Then Sang-wook added regretfully.

“But it seems we’re out of coffee in the break room.”

At this, the corner of Jinwon’s mouth lifted into a grin. Not seeing Jinwon’s smile, Sang-wook offered politely.

“Would you like some macarons, Team Leader?”

***

“So, you’re saying Team Leader Lee ate three out of five? Really?”

In-ah’s eyes widened as she took the two remaining macarons from Sang-wook. 

No way. Jinwon dislikes sweet things. Has his taste changed? Well, that could happen.

“Then one for Sang-wook and one for me, I guess.”

“No, I brought them for you, In-ah. Enjoy them.”

Sang-wook repeatedly urged In-ah to have the macarons. In-ah, a macaron enthusiast, was inwardly delighted. Worried for a moment if it showed on her face, she quickly dismissed thoughts about Jinwon and focused on the macarons. However, it was disappointing not to have iced coffee to go with the macarons.

Just then, iced coffee appeared in front of In-ah. When she looked up, it was Jinwon who had brought the coffee.

“I got it while buying mine, so I got some for you two as well.”

As Jinwon said, there were three cups of coffee. But the cup handed to Sang-wook was obviously hot coffee. With a puzzled expression, Sang-wook questioned Jinwon with his eyes. Jinwon explained in a very caring voice.

“I saw you coughing earlier, Go Sang-wook. So I got you a hot one.”

“Ha ha ha… on a day as hot as this. Team Leader, you really…”

Sang-wook swallowed his words after seeing Jinwon’s smile. Instead,

“You’re more attentive than you look, Team Leader.”

Sang-wook subtly added a thorn to his words. But Jinwon pretended not to hear, merely raising an eyebrow briefly.

“Ah! It’s cold!”

In-ah exclaimed softly. She was startled when coffee splashed out as she inserted the straw.

Both Jinwon and Sang-wook reached out lightning-fast for the napkins next to them. 

But in the next moment, they hesitated. Jinwon and Sang-wook had both grabbed the napkin simultaneously.

One side of the napkin was held by Jinwon, and the other by Sang-wook.

Soon, a silent staring contest began over the napkin. Neither seemed willing to let go first. A brief moment of silent struggle ensued, with sparks flying between their eyes.

“What are you doing right now?”

At In-ah’s voice, both of them let go of the napkin simultaneously. As In-ah picked up the napkin and wiped her hands, she glanced at both of them alternately, seemingly clicking her tongue inaudibly. Unaware of this, Jinwon and Sang-wook continued their secret staring contest for a while.

***

The next day.

From the morning, Hye-yoon came running as if her hair was on fire.

“Seo In-ah! In-ah! Look at this.”

Hye-yoon snatched the mouse from In-ah’s hand and urgently started searching.

“What is it now?”

“Doesn’t this look familiar?”

The article Hye-yoon found was about a new product from their competitor, JM Furniture. In-ah’s eyes widened in disbelief as she saw the furniture in the photo. It was In-ah’s next project. The unique design of the study cabinet she personally designed was right there in the article.

“Seo In-ah, come see me.”

The expression on Assistant Manager Jeong’s face, calling for In-ah, was serious. In-ah immediately followed him into an empty conference room.

“The situation is serious. Copying a hit product happens often, but this is a design leak.”

In-ah listened to Assistant Manager Jeong with a tense expression.

“In-ah… it’s not you, right?”

In-ah looked at Assistant Manager Jeong with a speechless expression. 

Was I someone who couldn’t be trusted in this company?

“Who else has this design draft? Or who can access it?”

“I reported it to you, Assistant Manager Jeong and Team Leader Lee…”

“No one else?”

“No.”

Assistant Manager Jeong shifted his eyes, lost in thought.

“Even though there’s a password, it’s not impossible to access if someone tries. How should we handle this… JM has already started media play.”

Could it be handled? 

But as time passed, the blame landed elsewhere. Jinwon was pinpointed as the culprit who leaked the design. The audit office staff turned the entire office upside down and found evidence.

A printed copy of In-ah’s design draft was found in Jinwon’s desk drawer. Since there was no particular reason to print a design draft still in the planning stage, it caught the radar of the audit office. But that alone wasn’t enough to pinpoint Jinwon as the culprit. The problem was that an identical draft received from an external source was found in Jinwon’s office trash can.

“It’s not me. How many times do I have to say it?”

Jinwon was accused as the person who leaked the design in front of all employees. But there was no change in the expression of Seong-jun, who was listening to Jinwon.

“We’ll find out once it’s revealed.”

Seong-jun turned his body towards the Director’s office and subtly glanced at In-ah.

In-ah was lost in other thoughts. 

The person who secretly talked on the phone in the furniture storage room. Was it the person who plotted to kick Jinwon out?

Did they leak my design to get rid of Lee Jinwon? That’s an exaggeration, Seo In-ah.

In-ah shook her head vigorously as if trying to shake off the thought.

On her way home, In-ah got on the elevator after leaving the office. As the closing doors opened again, Jinwon got on the elevator. Inside the elevator, it was just In-ah and Jinwon.

Without looking at In-ah, Jinwon spoke in a low voice.

“I’m sorry about this. For getting you involved in…”

Without looking at Jinwon, In-ah replied.

“Apologies come so easily, don’t they?”

Jinwon flared up at In-ah’s words.

“Why say that to someone who’s apologizing…”

“Then why apologize if you haven’t done anything wrong?”

Jinwon froze. It was true.

Without looking at Jinwon’s face, In-ah spoke in a leisurely voice as if she could see him.

“That can become a habit.”

“Do you believe I didn’t do it?”

Only then did In-ah turn her head to look at Jinwon and speak.

“I’m not a fool. What would you gain by leaking my design, Team Leader?”

“Well…”

Again, without waiting for Jinwon’s answer, In-ah continued.

“Oh! You could gain more of my anger and hatred.”

“More?”

“Of course. Did you think my anger and hatred had disappeared in that short time?”

Jinwon’s mouth closed again at In-ah’s words.

‘Ding!’

As she stepped out of the elevator, In-ah added one more thing.

“Being grateful and being angry are entirely different.”

Jinwon watched In-ah walk away for a long time. Seeing In-ah who believed in him, he didn’t know whether to be glad or to feel heartbroken that she still harbored anger and hatred towards him… Jinwon’s feelings were complicated as he watched In-ah’s retreating figure.