─── ·𖥸· ───

When morning comes, Jeongguk flies back to Seoul. Secretary Kim insists he stops by his house first, get some proper rest and then continue his day's work at the office but then Jeongguk reminds him, "It's result day."

"Result? Like for the TOEIC?"

Jeongguk wonders if Secretary Kim would ever be capable of having an on-point conversation with him. What if he pays him, it should be possible, right?

"You gave TOEIC again...is it because you failed twice—"

"Magazine." Jeongguk interjects, "Persona releases their biannual edition today."

The older man nods, unfazed. "I still think you should give TOEIC again."

Jeongguk glares, walking inside BE while greeting people on his way. Unlike what he expected, he isn't nervous. And that very thought scares him, ironically, wondering why he can not feel his stomach-churning, the distaste of food, the agitation with Secretary Kim's boot against the floor, his head throb and whatever he usually feels when he is at the edge.

"If we win this, then we are probably raising our rank by two or three places." Secretary Kim says, pushing his glasses up. "Not sure if we'll be able to push ON down from fourth yet though, their skincare line did really well."

"They didn't expand their subsidiaries internationally yet, did they?" Jeongguk asks.

Secretary Kim shakes his head, "We only have three brands that have international subsidiaries or is a subsidiary itself of an international brand. Usually, they don't do well here and neither does the local brand do well outside, but we have Miranda as an exception. They have held the market quite well."

Jeongguk nods, impressed.

Soon Mr Jeong comes by the office with a glass ball in his hand, coos about Jeongguk's skin looking like clear honey and goes on about how the new interns irritate him. He tells them how he went to a professor of witchcraft and how she told him to carry a glass ball around for good luck.

Secretary Kim finds himself laughing and clapping on that, saying, "Mr Jeong, have you been watching Harry Potter with your son?"

The latter insists on it being a good luck charm, after correcting the man that his son is married and he watched Harry Potter with his three-year-old grandchild. Jeongguk glances at his watch, three minutes before they receive the mail. He has the oddest urge to eat something sweet, then the next moment he gags at the thought of eating anything but when Mr Jeong asks him if he is nervous, he says.

"I'm not."

Then, Secretary Kim peeks at the bin behind his desk, "Then explain why there are five Cadbury wrappers in there."

...

Daegu's trip brings Minhee to realise how badly she needs to see Taehyung on Persona's cover.

The company that has been operating for thirty years has gone through the least modifications in its employing policy and the benefits for the workers. It's the responsibility Minhee had left in the hands of her Mother who had claimed to be working ever since her father had established Wings' thinking it requires experience and expertise.

Turns out that the day Daegu's factory's supervisor, Mr Lee had not come to work because his wife was being questioned in Seoul. The damaged boxes were a result of his failed attempts in covering up the wiring of the money. Fucking bastard.

And that was not the end.

The officials who came in to check the working conditions marked the whole of it as 'average' bringing down the total rating of Wings. She is back in Seoul, currently staring at the document in her hand.

"So she actually has my signature on the pricing model...but how...wait isn't that my mother's signature? Did she approve of this?"

"She did, after all, she is responsible for everything related to it.." Dahyun slides another sheet towards Minhee. "Your mother will be called for questioning tomorrow..."

"What is the legal team's take on it?"

"They say there might be loose ends to the case, we can prove that no such thing was asked of Ms Lee by you and sue her."

Minhee rubs a hand on her face, nodding. It's weird. If Ms Lee actually wanted to make more money by selling the products twice their price then why did she sign it under Minhee? And why would she put herself in interrogation by the BU?

"Could you get in touch with the employees who were fired because of this?"

Dahyun shakes her head. "None of them is picking up their calls, I am considering sending a few staff to visit their homes if this continues to be the case."

"Do that," Minhee says, massaging her temples. "We need to know what actually happened."

Dahyun looks over at her, with concerned eyes. She wants to ask if Minhee's okay, if she needs a hug or wants to close her eyes for a bit. But she says nothing. The reason why people often choose secretaries that are heavily money-oriented is that they know how to keep their mouth shut, not ask unnecessary questions and do what they are asked to do, devoid of any human emotion.

But Dahyun is not like that. She is a friend first, then a secretary to Minhee and despite Minhee's distant nature towards any kind of relationship, Dahyun knows that she cares about her as a friend. She hates the fact that over years she can read Minhee like an open book and that also makes her realise that Minhee is hiding something from her.

Even though she's just two steps away from her, Dahyun feels that Minhee seems to be a mile away with every step she takes forward.

"The officials will be there in the Seoul factory anytime, ask the managing director to go with you."

A gap so big that Dahyun fears that she'll fall into it, deep, and never climb back.

Dahyun bows and walks out of the room after reminding her that the Persona cover gets released today. Minhee wordlessly logins to her computer, opening her mails.

    🗒Persona Magazine Persona Biannual Edition- Greetings! Sending you the....

    🗒From Jung's Proposal for Ego X Wings - Thank you for your offer...

She bites her lower lip, hands moving slowly as she clicks on the unopened mail. She scrolls down, her heartbeat quickening with every word she reads and then when the attachment comes into her view, she closes it.

She dials the secretary office. The phone rings.

She doesn't need to open the second mail to know what it is about.

"Mina, get me a coffee."

...

"I can't do it."

Secretary Kim shoves Jeongguk's hands away from the cursor, "You have a meeting in five, you can't spend the whole day here."

"Secretary Kim, I can't look at it."

"I am sure whichever cover you would see, the sight would be pleasing enough to look at."

Mr Jeong snorts, the glass ball in his handshaking. "CEO Jeon, don't you worry, I am telling you this works."

Jeongguk closes his eyes, refusing to look at the result. It reminds him of the day he had gotten into the University in Singapore, he had hidden in his cupboard and asked his mother to open the result. Secretary Kim logs in to the mail through Jeongguk's computer, body leaning over the CEO's desk and Mr Jeong hides behind Jeongguk's chair with only his eyes peeking at the computer over it.

Jeongguk squints open one of his eyes, unable to resist the urge. "Here we go," Kim says, skipping the formal greetings and scrolling down to the attachments.

Silence.

Jeongguk opens his eyes, still.

"It worked!" Mr Jeong shrieks, making Jeongguk flinch. He brings the glass ball to Jeongguk. "We won! The glass ball works!"

Secretary Kim stands straight, lips smiling as Jeongguk stares at the screen.

The colours look good on him. He thinks.

And the glass ball works too.

Another mail arrives while Mr Jeong is making Secretary Kim bow to the glass ball and when he opens it, he smiles. In the end, it says, 'Congratulations! Mr Jeon, regards. Mr Jung Hoseok.'

Everything's right.

─── ·𖥸· ───

i think these are better seen in my instagram (@jjkilytoo) highlight 'CEO Rivals'.

concepts inspired by the kdrama: Touch (2020)