26

I felt sick to my stomach when I entered 6C the next day—multiplex of reasons involved. Mr Han, my mother's irritant chase to investigate why the New Jungkook was out of my dating picture, the coffee that tasted like vomit in the office pantry and maybe just the fact that I had to see Jungkook for the last time as my mentor today. As I said, it was a multiplex.

6C was a meeting room with bad Jungkook memories for some reason.

Mr Min and Park Bo Gum were present too. Now that I had officially completed my training and assessment in the memory of the phishing links I clicked, Jeon Jungkook's team member was officially submitting a report to Mr Min about my progress and what was covered. Just like a neighbour telling a child's parents what they did at daycare. Something like that. God, my comparisons were taking a serious hit lately.

I had walked in feeling all guilty and ashamed from last evening. Even though Mirae tried to soothe me and promise that she was happy that I took a stand for her, I knew that I didn't do shit for her. For all that I knew, I had maybe made things worse for her with Mr Han. He was going to walk around like a predator with claws and I fucking painted his nails.

I had debated telling Mr Min about this but no. He would pull my hair out if he realised I hadn't even informed him about this. And honestly, at this point, if he did pull my hair, I'd give him the baton in my purse to whack me too. Because I failed as an assistant manager and, more importantly, as a woman.

"Morning, Haerin." Mr Min fixed his glasses, his eyes on the keyboard as he typed away on his laptop.

Jungkook just gave me a short nod as if we were backstreet mates. I didn't return it. I simply put my laptop next to Mr Min and settled down.

"Morning." I pushed the screen up.

"Everything alright?"

"Huh?" I glanced at Mr Min and he was looking at my face now. "Yeah! Why?"

"You look a bit down today." He muttered, touching the handle of my seat.

I shook my head. Because heck yeah. I purposely made sure I didn't look that put together today. Just a slash of BB cream, mascara and a nude shade of lipstick to make sure I didn't look like I was at a funeral. Guess it worked. Who am I kidding? I was really buzzed out since morning! My sleep was compromised and I kept thinking about how easily Mr Han slapped me across the face without even doing it.

"I'm just fine, Mr Min..." I smiled and sighed at my laptop.

"If you say so."

"Alright." Bo Gum said. "Should I start?"

"Yes please." Mr Min nodded, his spreadsheet open to jot down any points he might want to raise.

Bo Gum cleared his throat. "I'll begin with a briefing on the main issue. The phishing link. The reason for this session was the prevention of further such instances. We have a criterion to decide who needs the training. Miss Kang Haerin, reportedly clicked an erroneous link twice. The first time it asked for permission, the second time, the files were almost uploaded. It was identified late that evening on Friday and Mr Jeon then acted promptly to retrieve the files and take legal action on the emails. We had to recheck our firewalls and basic cyber protection tools to make sure this was addressed too."

Alright, Bo Gum. Rub it in my face like sunscreen now, okay?

I dared not look at Jungkook during all of this. He was probably smirking at me. I wasn't in the fucking mood for a showdown in front of Mr Min. I respected Mr Min.

"We also had to address the issue with the Board of Trustees and our American clients to let them know how we had dealt with this."

Oh goodness. I might have just ruined the company at this point. Neureva was almost destroyed because of a fucking employee. It felt weird and added to the sickness in my stomach.

Bo Gum continued, "We made Miss Kang Haerin aware of the issue and created tests that made sure it couldn't pass her through unless she recognised the errors herself. We also added her to the basic training schedule for the new employees in her department so that she is versed in the basics. Tests were conducted on that and Miss Kang has fared well. Therefore, we come to the official closing of the training. I hope this covers the important parts. I will share the schedule of her training for the past four weeks in the email I'll be sending to you, Mr Min."

"Alright." Mr nodded, clicking the keys on his laptop like it was a typewriter.

It scared me a little.

"We do have certain programmes and seminars to help with digital knowledge coming up this week. If Miss Kang wants, we can add her to it." Park Bo Gum said and I almost rolled my eyes.

Give me an IT job at this point. How much more did I have to go through just to recover from this mess?

"Unfortunately, that won't be possible." Mr Min stepped in. "If she can manage it, I won't stop her but we have some help required of her for this week. Haerin, I need to talk to you about it."

"Oh." I blinked.

"Mr Han just got promoted and their team is struggling to find an assistant manager who can take care of things for a while." He continued. His eyes shifted to Jungkook and Park Bo Gum.

My blood froze.

Mr Min tapped on his head as he continued, his eyes still on the screen. "He has requested Haerin's help, so unfortunately she won't be able to attend any other seminars at the moment. We will divide her working hours between my team and Mr Han's team."

Oh my fucking dog days.

My eyes met Jungkook's on cue. He had stilled too, his thumb on his chin. We both knew what this was about.

Oh hell no.

"Mr-Mr Min, I don't think I'll be able to do this task," I said it so fast that I forgot the words once they slipped my mouth.

Look, I knew exactly how to make sure I wasn't getting stuck in this prostitution business. I needed to involve this bastard—Jungkook—too.

"What?" Mr Min raised his head, curious. Then, he sighed. "We will set up a separate meeting to discuss this, Haerin."

"No, no." I placed my hands on the desk. "I need Mr Jeon present when I say this."

Their eyes met and then Mr Min looked at me.

"Mr Han made inappropriate advances towards Mirae yesterday," I confessed in a shaking voice. "Mirae tried to help me out but Mr Han just turned the whole incident on us! He even talked about how I didn't have the right to speak because I was having an affair with the department downstairs."

Mr Min's mouth parted. He pulled his glasses off, as if trying to see me clearly, which was ironic, but anyway. His brows furrowed. I almost saw telephone wires sizzle as if this room was about to explode.

"And why wasn't I informed about this?"

There we went.

"I thought I could handle it but clearly, he's not backing down." I shrugged. "The only reason I want Mr Jeon here is because he was there when Mirae came crying to me. You saw it, didn't you?"

I looked at Jungkook. His jaw had hardened and he looked like he was going to flip the table. And he should. Because this was fucking insane! He dragged Jungkook's name through the mud too!

For a second, Jungkook peered at my face. I almost thought he would back out. I don't know why but that fear that he wouldn't be on my side just combusted in my head. He didn't owe it to me either.

Then, he nodded. "Yes."

I let out the breath I was holding in anticipation. Thank god, he didn't back out.

"Haerin, you're impossible." Mr Min turned to me completely. "Do you understand who I am to this team? Do you understand what I am for?"

Oh god no.

I hung my head, blinking at my laptop. The fuck this was turning on me now.

"Mr Han could have complained about you to the HR first." He snapped and I clenched my eyes shut because it was true.

He could have done that.

"And this is my team. I must know about incidents like this. We have a good amount of girls here and I hate to see you guys so scared." He continued scolding. Then, paused for a second before he began again, "Haerin, do you find me unapproachable?"

"No!" My head shot up. I saw Bo Gum's pale face too and realised these people were still listening. "Yea—I think I'd like to continue this meeting personally with you now, Mr Min."

He pinched the bridge of his nose and then nodded.

"Thank you, Director Jeon and Mr Park." He said. "I'll take this up with her now."

They had no choice.

"Yeah, sure!" Bo Gum huddled out of his hair and trailed his way out behind Jungkook.

Once they were gone, Mr Min turned to me again like he was going to electrocute me. "I asked you something. Am I not approachable?"

"That's not it..." I pressed my lips together, out of words.

"Have I ever not believed you, Haerin?" His voice softened now. "Had you told me, I'd have set up a discussion about this with him and looped his seniors in too. This is a big thing, Haerin. And him making remarks about your character? That's unacceptable."

"I know..." I sighed. "I promise Mr Min, I didn't mean to make this such a big thing. I was just worried about Mirae. She's new and—"

"She's my responsibility before she is yours, Haerin." He quipped and I fell silent. "You're responsible in the absence of me. Not when I'm there. And behavioural issues are my department. You are an assistant to me and only manage the tasks I allot to you. You don't make new tasks on your own."

I nodded. "I'm sorry."

He leaned back in his seat and sighed. "And Director Jeon saw all of this too? Do you think he will keep quiet? If he raises this first and I didn't even know about it, people would judge my stance as the manager."

I nodded again, biting my lip.

"Just—go and continue your tasks. I'll take care of this now."

"Okay..." I winced as I got up from the chair and trudged outside.

Damn that was some phenomenal scolding I got from Mr Min. My heart almost came out of my ass.

I shuffled my hair, sighing and stepping out when Mr Audience blocked my way.

"What are you—" I tried to step aside but Jungkook blocked me again.

His eyes were cold, distant—and maybe too dark. Like he wasn't in the mood for jokes. Meh, not like I cared. I had much to think of already.

"What did he say about you and me?" His voice dropped.

My throat bobbed and I stepped away.

"That we look good as a couple?" I sneered and rolled my eyes but he towered over me like some monster from a castle. Dracula is the word I'm looking for.

Why was he getting so worked up? Of course, he would, Haerin. His name got dragged through this too.

"What. Did. He. Say?" Fresh mint on his breath.

I cleared my throat and created some space between us because whoa boss man. Rumours were already bad enough.

"Are you serious?" I grimaced, my wrist hurting from holding the laptop. "You know it started because of those rumours at the start of the training sessions. What are you going to do about it? Punch a hole in my face? Because I won't mind. It's my fault, I know—"

"Miss Kang," he scolded. "Just answer the damn question. I want to know what he said. That's all."

I heaved a sigh and then looked away, ashamed, "He said that I didn't have the right to defend Mirae because I had an illicit affair with the department head downstairs. Now, can you stop scolding me for once? Everyone's scolding me!"

He didn't even wait. He just turned and walked out of there, his veiny hands in his pockets.

Damn it, these men were acting like they'd been assaulted and not me.

I walked back to my desk where Mirae waited.

She was quieter too. Her smile was softer and afraid. I hated myself like a bitch.

"I told Mr Min about what happened." I put my things down on the desk.

She turned a complete ninety on her desk chair, shocked. "Really? What did he say? I thought you wouldn't—"

"I had to." I shook my head, warming in the face even as the scene replayed in my head. "Mr Han requested my help as his assistant next week."

"Oh my god!" She slapped her hand on her mouth. Then, she desperately leaned closer. "Is he doing this deliberately?"

"Seems like it, and I don't want to take any risks." I tilted my head, "Mr Jeon supported my complaint, and Mr Min believed me, but he was livid that I didn't tell him beforehand."

"Understandable." Mirae nodded. "But he believed you, right? I'm happy that he did."

"I guess so." I returned to my screen. "He said he will take care of it. So you can expect him to catch you too."

"Argh..." She groaned, slumping in her chair. "I guess it's okay if he's dealing with it. I just hope they don't turn this on us..."

I wiped the sweat off my upper lip, trying to concentrate on my work when a notification pinged on my screen.

Outlook.

A meeting invitation. I froze.

----

From: Jeon JungkookSubject:Clarification of Conduct - Han JaewonTime: 11:30 AMParticipants:Director Jeon JungkookDirector Seo Tae MiMr Han JaewonMiss Kang HaerinMr Min YoongiMiss Yoo Mirae

------

I gasped. No way.

"This is scary. It's in an hour!" Mirae mumbled, her voice shaky. "What do you think is going to happen there, Haerin?"

"I don't know..." I gawked at the screen but then switched back. I couldn't act so clueless to her. She was already scared. "I mean, this will probably be to address the issue. Mr Min believed me so it won't be against us. Mr Jeon is there too. He's probably mad because he was dragged into the rumours with me."

I bit my lip, changing tabs to Cirq immediately. I need to talk to this bastard. He was acting so calm that it was worrying me. I was already sick. I didn't need more of this bullshit.

[Private Chat] Me: 10:35 AMIf you wanted me dead, you could have just used that sewing kit. Why did you have to schedule a whole meeting for that?? O⁠_⁠o

I stared at my message, too worried to do anything else. This man was seriously fucking me up.

After a good two minutes, he responded.

[Private Chat] Jeon Jungkook:10:37 AM:Yes.

What the fuck?

[Private Chat] Me: 10:37 AM:That's it? That's all you have to say? I'm not kidding here, Mr Jeon. I'm really worried and so is Mirae!!! (⁠T⁠T⁠)

[Private Chat] Jeon Jungkook: 10:38 AM:Stop panicking, Miss Kang. This is just to discuss.

[Private Chat] Me: 10:39 AM:Discuss what? My funeral? =⁠_⁠= Because no. I'm not dying here. Can you please at least speak with Mr Min about this first?

[Private Chat] Jeon Jungkook: 10:40 AM:I did. He's in on this.

In on this? Was this a fucking criminal syndicate or what?

[Private Chat] Me: 10:40 AM::⁠-⁠O Can you at least push this meeting to EOD? I can die after I fill out my Timesheet :⁠^⁠)

He didn't even respond to that. He just changed the meeting timing to 4:45 PM. I realised it through the notification.

What the hell was up with the stinky attitude all of a sudden? He was acting like I had personally wronged him.

[Private Chat] Me: 10:45 AM:I'm not going to say a word at the meeting. If you put me in a tight spot, I'll find you and kill you. You better handle this yourself 8⁠-⁠)

[Private Chat] Jeon Jungkook: 10:46 AM:Ma'am.

I wanted to punch him through Cirq. Why was he being like that? It was making me stress.

"You...two seem close." Mirae's voice made me snap back. "Of course, I don't mean it in a bad way. You both just look like you have a good bond. Close like that." She hastily added.

"Close? Close to pushing each other off the building, I think." I rolled my eyes. "I just—had to deal with him a lot due to my cybersecurity sessions."

"No, it makes sense." She tried to smooth the situation. "When you spend some time with each other, it does bond with you. I just think that Mr Jeon is the perfect type of man. When he sewed my skirt, I was so shocked."

I sighed uneasily, pressing a hand on my stomach. "I was too. He does such unexpected things sometimes." I glanced at her. "But we're not close like that. I hope you know that."

"Of course." She smiled. "In fact, I think I might have a crush on him. He's just so ideal."

My face twisted like I had tasted something bitter. What the fucking fuck was this information?

"Don't judge him on the basis of one day," I advised. "He's insufferable."

"To you, right?" She grinned. "I hope he stays as sweet to me as before. I really like the type of men who don't shy away from things because they are a woman's job. Secure in their masculinity, you know?"

Ugh.

This was a downfall event.

Clearly.

"I mean, go for it." I nodded. "If you like him, it's worth a try. I hope he won't give me such a hard time if I'm friends with his girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?!" She blushed. "Stop it, Haerin!" She pushed my shoulder and I grinned lazily.

"What's so wrong with imagining a future. The more you say, the quicker it will happen." I nodded like a sage.

Maybe his mind will stay on track if he has a girlfriend. But wait. Why was I so sure that he didn't have one already? Did I ever even check with him?

I just hoped Mirae didn't end up hurt in all of this.