Uncover the Death of the Villainess - Chapter 8

Since I personally hired her, I already knew how pretty Elisha was and how good her sales performance was. The department store sparrows kept chattering, not knowing I was nearby listening to their conversation.

‘You know too, right? These days, counts and barons, even soldiers, are buying unnecessary things just to see her once.’

‘I know. If Elisha wanted, she could meet a good man and get married. I did think it was strange that she’s struggling here.’

‘You know how much Mr. Cedric adores employees who sell well? But he even rejected Elisha, whom he adored so much, when she asked him to date. What else could it be? It means his preference isn’t women, but that side.’

As expected, sensational rumors are interesting. Even though I know I shouldn’t, I keep wanting to put my ear closer to the wall. I eavesdropped for a moment without realizing it, but soon regretted it.

‘I shouldn’t be doing this as the boss.’

The wall by the stairs needs to be repaired.

At first, when I realized there was such a fatal mistake in my perfect department store, I was angry.

Clearly, the builders must have embezzled materials or there was a problem in the design process. So I confronted the construction supervisor and the construction company. I asked how much material they had stolen, robbing me of my money.

‘Of course, I got back the cost of the unused materials after confronting them.’

When I tried to renovate just this area, it cost more money, so I left it as it was since there was no safety issue.

But that space kept bothering me. It felt like the only flaw in the department store.

I would go there every day after arriving at work, touching the wall and feeling bitter, until I realized. If you stand in a certain position there, you can hear the sounds from the employee break room next door very well.

Eavesdropping on the employees’ conversations was secretly fun. It felt good to have people telling me interesting stories, as I had few friends. I gave them the nickname ‘department store sparrows’.

Of course, it’s a bad habit. It would be quite troublesome if I got caught, a bad habit indeed.

But listening to their conversations made the start of the day pleasant as I learned things others didn’t know. Thanks to the department store sparrows, it became much easier to discover incompetent employees who were stealing money.

‘In the end, I had to close the staircase door.’

Because I kept wanting to go there, unable to resist the temptation, I eventually locked it so that no one, including myself, could go. It would be the first place to demolish if we ever expand the department store.

Anyway, according to the department store sparrows, Cedric might be interested in the same s*x rather than the opposite s*x. Whatever the truth is, I’ll support my secretary with an open mind. My habitual unrequited love already ended last year. Of course, my body was still attracted to him.

“I hope a male employee who can capture our Cedric’s heart appears soon.”

Was my supportive gaze too intense? Cedric wrinkled his nose in disgust.

“What good would it do to capture my heart? Such an employee will never appear.”

“Your standards are too high. There are quite a few male employees who secretly admire you. They’d be hurt if they heard this.”

“What are you saying? I meant your heart is more important, Boss.”

“Right, right.”

Yikes, if I tease him more, he might realize I already know his preferences. I changed the subject out of embarrassment.

“The letter hasn’t come yet, right?”

“No. I think it might arrive in the afternoon.”

I turned my head to look out the window. The weather was cloudy. It looked like it might pour heavily at any moment.

“With weather like this, the letter might arrive even later. We might even get two tomorrow.”

The joy of teasing Cedric was short-lived. Remembering the deceased Laura, my mood became somber.

Why is my friend sending me such letters only after her death?

Perhaps she devised this plan because she didn’t want me and Michael to get close. But Laura, who was so confident, was jealous of me? That can’t be.

‘Laura. What are you thinking?’

I understand from Laura’s letter. She got engaged to Michael through blackmail, and that he was initially interested in me. But so what? It’s all in the past now.

Cedric’s figure was clearly reflected through the glass. He was waving an envelope in one hand.

He’s quick with work. He’s indeed my capable employee.

“You need to go to the Marquis’ house with the contract, Boss. I’ll accompany you today.”

“Alright. It seems like you’d follow me even if I said I’d go alone.”

“Yes. Even if you refused, I was planning to take a cab and follow you.”

I turned my head towards him and tilted it curiously.

“But today, you’re quite dressed up, aren’t you?”

“What do you mean? It’s the same as usual.”

“No, it’s not.”

His appearance was slightly different from usual. While he usually wore plain wool suits for work, now he was wearing clothes made of luxurious silk with embroidery, even his coat. His pants and shirt all seemed to be perfectly fitted to his body. Not ready-made, but yes, custom-made!

He was wearing quite expensive-looking custom-made clothes. What’s going on with this guy who always wore cheap ready-made clothes sold in the department store?

“What’s this? Do you have a date after work today? Why are you putting so much effort into your clothes? Eh? You even have a ring and put on perfume.”

As I sniffed, a scent that matched Cedric’s image very well wafted faintly.

“It’s my first time visiting a great noble’s mansion. I’ve only met great nobles in the department store, never visited where they live, so I’m looking forward to it.”

“If you were so curious about great nobles’ houses, maybe I should transfer you to the delivery department next time.”

“That’s just a figure of speech. I’ll stay by your side even if a knife is held to my neck, Boss.”

He takes it so seriously when I’m just joking. Well, to someone receiving a salary, even a single word from the boss must sound heavy. That’s why I gave up on my unrequited love last year without forcing my feelings on him.

‘It’s good I gave up early. I almost made a fool of myself. I didn’t know Cedric likes men.’

We took a carriage to go to Marquis Paine’s house. Inside the carriage, I checked the contract to be presented to Marquis Paine over and over again.

“Couldn’t we have written an even lower price for this?”

As I pointed to the number written on the document with my finger, Cedric made a troubled expression.

“Boss. If we cut it any more than this, the Marquis will notice. What if he gets angry and refuses to make the contract? Try bragging to others someday that you bought the department store land at this price. Everyone will call you a robber.”

“Tch.”

Even if I’m called a robber, it’s more beneficial for me to buy the department store site cheaply.

“At least get rid of the numbers at the end. What’s with all this clutter?”

Cedric sighed and took out another document from his bag and handed it to me.

“I expected this, so I prepared one more. I just slightly modified the land price. The rest is the same.”

“You should have shown me this one from the start.”

“If I had, you would have told me to cut it down even more from here.”

I see.

If I scold him more, my employee might get upset. I smiled and looked out the carriage window. It seems it will pour heavily on our way back. Only gray clouds filled the sky.

***

Only after arriving at the Marquis’ residence did I realize why Cedric had dressed up like this today.

‘He didn’t want to be compared.’

My employee, who is quietly confident about his appearance, probably didn’t want to feel inferior next to Marquis Michael Paine, who is rumored to have outstanding looks.

Ironically, Michael, who was reading the contract, didn’t show any particular interest in him.

“I thought you’d come alone.”

Michael muttered softly.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t interested. He pretended not to see my employee but was subtly paying attention.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I’m late with the introduction. This is my secretary and the department store’s general manager. Say hello, Cedric.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Cedric Whisker. It’s an honor to meet you in person, Marquis. I’ve only heard about you in rumors.”

Michael, who offered a handshake, looked at Cedric and raised the corners of his mouth.

“I’m curious what kind of rumors you’ve heard about me.”

“I heard rumors about your outstanding appearance. Now that I’ve met you in person, it’s not much different from looking in a mirror. I think I had too high expectations.”

“My, I haven’t heard rumors about you, but you’re quite ordinary too.”

The two men were having a long handshake, seemingly very pleased to meet each other. The look in their eyes was peculiar.

“Um, if you’ve finished reading, shall we sign?”

I was constantly uncomfortable, worried that my little trick might be discovered. I felt I could breathe a little easier once Michael quickly signed the contract. I tried to signal Cedric with my eyes, but he pretended not to see.

‘Let go of that hand quickly. We need to close the deal.’