บท 3: New Enemy
"Are you serious right now? You hired a new assistant for me behind my back?"Seo-Jin asked, his tone rough with agitation as he glared up at his father.
His father, the CEO, didn't waver at his son's icy stare. Seo-Jin continued to complain, nostrils flaring.
"And she doesn't meet any of the credentials I wanted. She's fresh out of high school. And she'll need extensive training in order to even do this job. Is all of that correct?"
His father started to break his composure, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Yes, that's correct. I know you're upset…."
"No, I'm beyond upset. I'm livid. You of all people should know how busy I've been and how seriously I take this job. I'm the heir to this company. I'm on track to be the youngest CEO in the country. I have a lot on my plate and you give me this!"
He slams Myeong's application on the desk. Her headshot portrait smiling up at them.
The CEO prickled, furrowing his brows. "I'm not going to apologize for doing what I needed to do for the company…."
Seo-Jin didn't back down. He stood from his office chair to be eye to eye with his father.
"No, you did it to save Jeong's, the Gae's, and mother's reputation. You're throwing this poor girl into a cold corporate world that's going to chew her up and spit her out. I am not going to go easy on her. Either she thrives or she doesn't. I'm not going to babysit her."
"I'm not asking you to babysit but your mother wants you to try and make her time working here somewhat enjoyable. For obvious reasons."
Seo-Jin exhaled sharply through his nose before collapsing back into his chair.
"Fine. Now, if you'll excuse me…" He snatched Myeongs application paper in his fist, crinkling it into a wad of trash. "I have work to do."
~~~~~~~~~
Myeong felt out of her element squeezed into one of her mother's business suits. Her chest and hips were far bigger than her mother's. The tight black pencil skirt and blazer only emphasized the areas of her body she was self-conscious about. She sucked in what stomach she could as she awkwardly sauntered into the Seok Corp. building, swaying uncertainty on thin black heels.
The lobby was unnaturally bright and white. Everything was crisp, shiny, and metallic. Everyone was polished and attractive. Men's jawlines were chiseled and clean-shaven. The women were thin with creamy white skin and bright shining smiles.
No one seemed to pay her any attention, so maybe she wasn't as out of place as she thought. But the straining of her white button-up shirt under her blazer begged to differ. She could feel the top button holding on for its dear life with every step.
Please don't bust…She pleaded.
Going towards the elevators, she walked through an area of steel tables and chairs. Where people were busy clacking away on laptops, scrolling through their phones, and sipping to-go coffees.
Why is everyone so beautiful here? Why is this building so beautiful? Why is everything so beautiful??? Her inner voice screamed. She tugged on her blazer out of nervousness as she waited for an elevator.
Floor ten, the office is at the end of the hallway. She repeated to herself as she stepped into an empty elevator. She breathed a sigh of relief that she was alone and could collect herself. She leaned against the railing to try and take the pressure off her feet; trying not to catch a glimpse of her reflection in the mirrors that lined the walls.
1
2
3
4
5
Halfway there….
The elevator dinged and came to a gentle stop. She cursed and straightened her posture before a woman, who was engrossed with texting ferociously on her cell phone, sauntered in on skinny stilettos to join Myeong.
She fit the mold of being a polished and put-together beauty. Her dark brown hair was pinned elegantly into a low bun. Her suit was similar to Myongs but in a matte gray.
Myeong kept to herself as the woman finished up her texts. She seemed to not even notice Myeong until she glanced sideways into the mirrors.
"Good morning." She bowed and Myeong returned the gesture in earnest. "Where are you headed?"
"Floor ten. I'm here for my first day of work."
"You're not…." The woman's eyes widened and her polite smile grew into a Cheshire grin. "Are you THE new assistant?"
"For Seo-Jin?" Myong nodded. "Yeah, I'm Myeong Baek."
"You're so young! You're younger than me! Amazing! You must have outstanding credentials to get that position. My friend applied and was denied and she's been working here for about four years."
I'm sorry…!" Myeong started, bowing even lower. The woman just laughed.
"Don't be sorry. That's the business world for you. Ruthless. I'm Cho by the way. I work on floor nine in marketing. Speaking of…"
The elevator dinged and the doors glided open to floor nine. Cho put her hand against the doors to keep them open as she looked back at Myeong.
"Good luck today. Do you know anything about the heir of Seok Corp.?"
Myeong shook her head. Feeling timid at the question. She hadn't bothered to try and research who her new boss was. Should she have?
"No, I'm afraid I don't."
Cho's face softened, turning sympathetic.
"Well, he's a rough character. But try not to show any fear. He can smell it. He'll feed off of it."
"Oh…thank you for the warning…"
Myeong felt her stomach turn. She wasn't prepared for that.
"Don't worry. It just takes him a while to warm up to people. Or so I've heard. He treated his last assistant very well. He practically begged her to stay. Threw huge sums of money at her to try and keep her. If you try your best and work hard, he'll probably end up feeling the same way about you someday."
With that, Cho nodded in dismissal and let the elevator doors slide closed behind her. Leaving Myeong alone again. In a matter of seconds, the elevator doors opened to the hallway of floor ten.
As soon as the doors opened, a set of mahogany double doors and a foyer of black and white marble separated her from Seo-Jin's office. Her new boss was standing under the white light of a crystal chandelier. Everything, including his hair, that was slicked back with gel, was ink black. From the shoes to the buttons on his suit jacket. His pale skin was a stark contrast.
"Well, at least you're punctual." Was all he said.
She was so stunned that the elevator doors began to close again. She swung her arm out to stop them, her balance wavering as she squeezed between the gap. Myeong steadied herself and sipped into a low bow.
"I'm Myeong Baek! It's a pleasure to…"
"Save it."
"Huh…" She looked up. He was staring down at her with a look of intense distaste.
"I know who you are and why you're here and I'm not happy about it. Let's get that clear."
She straightened up. Unsure of what to do or say to that.
"I'm…very sorry? I'll do whatever I can to…"
Her pleads for peace fell on deaf ears as he dug his cell phone from his suit pocket. He rapidly sent a text and slid it back into his jacket.
"Your trainer will be here shortly. For the next couple of weeks, you'll be going through rigorous training and etiquette classes. There are no days off. You'll need to arrive early and you won't leave till late. Is that understood?"
She dropped her polite smile and replaced it with a look of determination.
"I understand." An icy undertone laced her words. If he detected it he didn't show it.
"Good."
They stood there in awkward silence as he glanced over her with cold eyes. She did her best to avoid his gaze and instead took in how fancy just the foyer itself was. She couldn't imagine what his office looked like.
The elevator dinged behind her and another woman walked out. Her hair was bleached platinum blonde and she had the same mannerisms and style as Myeong's mother. She was even around the same age. Chipper and excited, she greeted Myeong with a voice so high-pitched it could be a siren.
"Hi! I'm Mya your trainer! I can't wait to show you how you can be your best self for Seok Corp!" She didn't give Myeong a chance to introduce herself. She continued her training monologue without missing a beat. "First on the schedule is getting you accustomed to the computer systems we use and how to use them properly! There will be homework, so I hope you came prepared to take notes!"
Myeong began to internally panic.
"I….wasn't aware that I needed….." She could feel the CEO's son's eyes drilling holes into her as she confessed to being unprepared. "...any paper or writing utensils…"
"Don't give her any." He spat out before the trainer could respond. "She'll just have to be smart enough to remember everything."
Myeong swallowed an insult that was forming in her mouth and forced a calm tone through her gritted teeth. "My apologies sir. There was no mention of me needing to bring anything outside of my ID."
"Well…" He stood next to her, leaning down so his breath was hot in her ear. "...now you'll know to be prepared for anything, won't you? Maybe tomorrow you'll look a little less stupid?"
He left her to seeth in her own internal rage and proceeded to make his way inside the elevator. Without another word the doors slid closed, leaving Myeong alone with Mya.
And just like that, her new boss became her new enemy.
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