Chapter – 59
“Ruby Park. What are you doing here? Are you crying?”
“W-well….”
“Is it because Manager Oh said something earlier?”
Ruby had once gone up to the rooftop after making a work mistake and cried alone.
Back then, Taeuk, looking out over the sprawling city with his calm, steady gaze, spoke to her.
“How long have you been with the company?”
“Two months.”
“At that time, it’s understandable. I’ve been watching how you work since you joined my team. You’re still a newcomer, so it’s natural that you’re not yet fully accustomed to the job. You’re meticulous, so I’m certain that as time passes, you’ll become a highly competent employee.”
Back then, Taeuk’s words—full of encouragement, recognition, and comfort—brought Ruby to tears.
From that moment, she had been drawn to his thoughtful, leadership-filled presence and quietly began to harbor a crush on him.
“The role of a team leader is to improve communication among team members so that conflicts don’t arise, and to motivate the team to achieve goals and deliver results. So if you face difficulties, don’t hide away in a corner crying—come talk to me. Understand?”
But now, Ruby’s tears were spilling for an entirely different reason.
“I have no doubt that Ruby will overcome this period and grow into an excellent team member, becoming a strong asset under my guidance.”
Two years ago, it was Taeuk’s words of belief in her that had helped Ruby endure and keep going.
Recalling that moment, she couldn’t hold back her tears.
Today, in the same place, with the same two people standing, time had passed, but the reason for her tears was entirely different.
Realizing this, a feeling of utter despair washed over her. The clear drops rolling down her cheeks fell onto the gray cement, darkening it.
Yet Taeuk, gazing at the whitened clouds, spoke again in a detached, emotionless voice:
“Back then, you cried because you were frustrated at having made mistakes despite trying hard at work. You wanted to do things perfectly, wanted to handle things cleverly, wanted to manage everything sharply.”
“Sniff…”
“But as a newcomer, you didn’t know everything, and things didn’t go well, so you were upset and cried. I encouraged you, cheered you on, and believed you would become a valuable member of JK Corporation.”
“Sniff, sniff.”
“But now, you nearly destroyed my team. I trusted you, yet you betrayed that trust. Isn’t that right?”
“I was wrong, Team Leader.”
Ruby recalled how pure and shining her passion had been back then, running around the office with sparkling eyes.
And now, in comparison, how darkened, faded, and corrupted she had become.
“If there was conflict among team members, you should have come to me first. If you had handed it to me to resolve, things wouldn’t have escalated this way.”
His voice, now colder and firmer, struck Ruby sharply.
“I told you to come to me first when difficulties arose. Seeing you act independently to incite other employees and disrupt the team’s atmosphere makes me question whether I even have the qualifications to be a team leader.”
“No, Team Leader, it’s not your fault! Everything is my fault! I did wrong… sniff…”
Unable to control the rising emotions, Ruby collapsed to the floor, crying her eyes out.
Why had she acted like that? Blinded by jealousy at Seola, who seemed close to the team leader, she had tried to hurt her.
“I was wrong… I lost control of my emotions and treated Seola badly.”
Tears dripping down, Ruby looked up at Taeuk, who was staring down at her with an unreadable expression.
He let out a low sigh and spoke in a dry, monotone voice:
“It’s enough that you realized it yourself.”
Taeuk’s calm, non-emotional demeanor was terrifying to Ruby because she couldn’t fathom what he was thinking.
Without raising his voice, he had made a subordinate recognize her grave mistake and feel remorse—a true sign of responsibility.
Now, in her fallen, powerless position, Ruby felt pathetic and couldn’t stop crying.
“And… go apologize to Kim Seola, not me.”
“Ah…!”
Ruby, her eyes shaking, looked at him. His icy, emotionless face was so cold it made her shiver, and she quickly nodded, standing up.
“Yes, I’ll apologize right now.”
Ruby brushed her knees, wiped her tears, and bowed.
If it was something her long-time crush, the team leader, asked her to do…
She followed Taeuk back to the office and called Seola to the team leader’s office.
Seola, puzzled at being summoned while working, entered with a bewildered expression.
Seeing Ruby in a haggard state and Taeuk at his desk, she asked,
“What is this about…?”
Seola blinked in confusion as Ruby suddenly knelt.
“Seola, I’m sorry. I did something terribly wrong to you. I lost my initial mindset, I forgot what it was like to be a newcomer, and I let negative feelings toward a junior affect you. I’m truly sorry.”
Seola, staring at Ruby bowing her head and crying, couldn’t even speak.
“I’m sorry for hurting you. I won’t ever do it again.”
“Alright, you can stand now, Assistant Manager.”
Seola still didn’t understand what Taeuk had done to make Ruby act this way. She simply stood dumbfounded, looking between Taeuk and Ruby.
“Ruby, you will face the consequences. Wait for my decision. You may leave now.”
Taeuk’s voice remained calm, as if he already knew the outcome.
Ruby bowed and wiped her tears as she left the office.
With only Seola and Taeuk left in the office,
Seola, staring blankly at the door Ruby had exited, turned to Taeuk.
“What is going on?”
Taeuk simply rose from his chair and approached her.
“What did you say to Ruby for her to suddenly kneel like that…?”
Seola stammered under his imposing, tall frame.
“Come here.”
He wrapped his slender hand around her waist and pulled her onto the long sofa.
Seola, realizing where she was, found herself sitting across his thighs.
“T-Team Leader. What if someone comes in…”
“No one will.”
Taeuk pulled her closer, pressing her body to his.
“T-Team Leader…”
“I failed to fulfill my responsibility as a team leader.”
Taeuk held her firmly, gazing at her with soft eyes.
“And I’m sorry I left you alone during that painful time. I should have noticed sooner.”
He let out a deep sigh and rested his head on her shoulder.
“You couldn’t tell me because you still see me as your team leader, I think.”
“No, Team Leader, you’ve been doing your best to resolve everything for me.”
He tilted his head and pressed his lips to her delicate neck.
“We need to get closer.”
He hugged her waist with both hands, firm yet steady.
A soft sucking sound echoed, and Seola involuntarily made a sound of pleasure.
“Uh.”
She covered her mouth in surprise.
“Seola.”
“…Yes?”
She bit her lips to suppress the sound.
“I want to be someone who solves everything for you immediately and protects you.”
Even as he spoke sincerely, his lips teased her sensitive neck.
“So, you think we need to become more comfortable and close, right? That way, you can tell me anything freely. Right or not?”
“…Yes. I think so too.”
“Good.”
Hearing her obedient response, Taeuk finally kissed her lips, moving up to her nose.
“But…”
His deep, resonant voice whispered in her ear.
“If we’re alone, how long are you going to keep calling me ‘Team Leader’?”
“Excuse me? Then what should I call you…?”
Seola, trembling from his touch, asked hesitantly.
“You know… you can call me oppa. Taeuk oppa. Choi Taeuk oppa.”
