Episode 26
Tae-jun’s reaction wasn’t much different from Ha-yoon’s.
“…Got it. Team Leader Chae doesn’t deserve any more mercy.”
Byung-wook frowned, clearly annoyed.
“Director, I may not look it, but I’m actually a pretty innocent guy, you know? What you just said really hurts.”
Innocent? Since when did ‘innocent’ mean something else? Ha-yoon didn’t even feel angry anymore—she was just
curious how long he could keep pretending like this.
Does he even know what’s on that phone? Can he keep acting like this after hearing the recording?
Right after Byung-wook finished talking, Tae-jun, as if he’d had enough, pressed play on the phone. The recording of
the factory workers’ conversation started playing again—the same one they had played for the factory manager.
The things being said were clearly serious, but Byung-wook didn’t flinch at all. Instead, he tilted his chin up even
higher like, So what? Why are you playing this for me?
Alright, so you’re going to keep acting like that?
Sure, this part didn’t have his name in it. So maybe he could pretend it had nothing to do with him.
But let’s see how he reacts to the next recording.
“What’s this, Director? I thought you called me in here to show me something big, but it’s just this?”
“What’s that even supposed to mean? What does it have to do with me—?”
As he laughed mockingly and kept talking, Tae-jun didn’t wait for him to finish. He played the next recording.
This one was important—it had the factory manager’s voice, explaining everything.
As soon as his name was mentioned, Byung-wook’s confident look changed.
Of course, Ha-yoon thought. Now he hears his own name—of course his face changes.
The factory manager clearly said Byung-wook was behind everything. And for the first time, Byung-wook’s face
twisted.
When the recording ended, the room went completely silent, like cold water had been poured over everything.
Byung-wook’s arrogant attitude was now gone.
“…So,”
Tae-jun broke the silence first, looking down at Byung-wook with one hand in his pocket.
“You still want to say you did nothing wrong?”
“T-this… what’s the big deal here? Don’t you see? This is all a setup to take me down!”
Tae-jun let him talk.
“I never did anything! You know how careful I am at work these days, just trying not to get on anyone’s bad side. Do
you really think I had time to go and do something like this?”
Tae-jun let out a dry laugh.
“Oh, so you’re saying you never met the factory manager?”
“That’s right. I’ve never gone there, never met him. And seriously, why would you believe some outsider over your
own team? You should be backing up your subordinate, not throwing me under the bus.”
Byung-wook looked genuinely upset.
“I swear on my reputation. This is all just a trap to ruin me!”
“A trap, huh…”
Tae-jun’s eyes suddenly turned cold. That was not a good sign. Ha-yoon, after spending ten years by his side, could
read his expressions like a book. And this one—this was the danger zone.
He’s barely holding in his anger. If Byung-wook says one more dumb thing…
Before she could finish the thought, Byung-wook sneered again.
“Director, if you really don’t trust me, then just bring more proof. If you can prove I did it—”
Oh my god, Ha-yoon shut her eyes. How can someone be this clueless?
“Team Leader Chae.”
“…Yes?”
It was the lowest tone of voice they’d ever heard from Tae-jun, and it startled Byung-wook.
“So, you thought you were clever, avoiding the CCTV areas. I’m guessing you either erased your car’s dashcam
footage or said it was broken, right?”
Byung-wook’s fingers tensed slightly on the table.
“You thought your plan was perfect. But you missed one small thing.”
Byung-wook gulped.
“You didn’t notice the car parked behind you. Oops. And guess what? I now have clear dashcam footage of you
walking into that factory. And if that’s not enough, we can just check the highway toll records.”
“T-that’s…”
“What? Are you going to say you were in someone else’s car? Fine. Then we’ll just look up everything you did that
day. I know people who can track that down real fast.”
Byung-wook started turning pale. Tae-jun stepped closer.
“You can either keep denying it and go down hard, or admit it and try to save some face. It’s your choice.”
“B-but…”
“Doesn’t matter what you choose. The result will be the same.”
Byung-wook couldn’t say anything back.
Tae-jun finished it off.
“But if you’re going to go down, at least don’t make it disgusting. Step down on your own. Don’t make me have to kick
you out.”
Byung-wook started trembling. Then, suddenly, he shouted loud enough for the whole office to hear.
“No! This isn’t right! I’ve worked here for years—how can you just throw me away like this?!”
“So you’re going to fight it to the end?”
“Yes! I won’t go down like this!”
“Alright then.”
Without a hint of mercy, Tae-jun turned away.
“If you won’t leave quietly, I won’t bother being nice. Just watch what happens to your position.”
Then he coldly told him to get out. Byung-wook opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, then slumped his
shoulders and left the office.
Ha-yoon fidgeted with her fingers, unsure what to do. She cleared her throat awkwardly.
“Um… good job, Director.”
“Good job? I didn’t even do much.”
“No, you really did.”
Tae-jun unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt and stood up. Then he stared straight into Ha-yoon’s eyes.
His stare was so intense that Ha-yoon swallowed hard.
“Jung Ha-yoon.”
“…Yes?”
“Well done.”
She blinked in surprise at the unexpected compliment.
“If it weren’t for you, we could’ve been in serious trouble. You stopped it.”
He reached out and patted her on the head. Ha-yoon gasped, covering her mouth as she looked at him.
Tae-jun also looked surprised by his own action and froze mid-air. Then he cleared his throat and coldly said,
“Get out. Now.”
Ha-yoon let out a quiet laugh, biting her lips. You told me not to have feelings for you. You told me to give up…
You’re such a bad person.
But even with those thoughts… she couldn’t stop smiling.
“Why’d you pat my head like that, huh? Why’d you do that to me just now? Director!”
