Episode 9
Seo Jaeguk, who had been waiting in advance, took a deep breath.
“What if the chairman tells me to get rid of Jiwon?”
He didn’t want to play the villain. But if someone had to take on that role, he knew it should be him—for Jiwon’s sake.
Jaeguk hoped things wouldn’t escalate to that worst-case scenario.
Standing before Chairman Moon, Jaeguk pulled out the photos he had selected the day before.
“What’s this?”
“This is the woman Taejeong is currently seeing. Their relationship seems serious, so I thought I should report it.”
“You knew about this?”
“Yes, but I couldn’t tell you right away since it’s a sensitive matter.”
Playing his role as an informant convincingly, Jaeguk pulled out several documents proving Jiwon’s identity.
As Chairman Moon flipped through the documents one by one, the wrinkles on his forehead deepened.
“She’s a lawyer.”
“A smart woman, huh?”
“She once interned at the law firm I used to work at.”
“So you two already knew each other?”
“Yes.”
“What’s she like?”
“She’s responsible and quick-witted. The lawyers at the firm praised her a lot.”
“Is that so?”
As Taejeong had advised, Jaeguk began listing Jiwon’s background—flaws in some eyes, but points the chairman might find favorable.
“She graduated from a local private university—both her undergrad and law school. That’s why Daeseoyang didn’t offer her a permanent position.”
“Daeseoyang? You mean the law firm you worked at?”
“Yes.”
“People should be judged on ability alone, but what’s with this obsession over education, tsk tsk.”
As Taejeong had predicted, the chairman’s gaze softened while looking at Jiwon’s photo.
Chairman Moon had graduated from a night high school and built his fortune from the ground up. He often emphasized to his children and grandchildren the importance of attending prestigious universities.
It was partly due to his inferiority complex about education. But that didn’t mean he lacked pride in his own struggles. On the contrary, he despised those who flaunted their academic background and was often generous toward those who had overcome hardships.
Taejeong, having long noticed this about his grandfather, had told Jaeguk to be sure to bring up Jiwon’s academic background.
“What’s this girl’s name?”
“Dong Jiwon.”
“Dong Jiwon, huh… What do her parents do?”
“Well…”
As Jaeguk hesitated, Chairman Moon tilted his head and asked again.
“They’re not around?”
“She grew up in an orphanage.”
“Hmm…”
The chairman’s brows slowly furrowed. He held out the back of the envelope the photos came in toward Jaeguk.
“Write down an address for me.”
“Whose address?”
“You think I’m curious about your address?”
“I haven’t found out where Miss Dong lives yet.”
“She probably lives somewhere obvious enough. But what’s the point of knowing where she lives? If she’s a lawyer, she must have an office, right?”
“…Yes.”
“Well then, write that down.”
Jaeguk reluctantly took out a pen and began jotting down Jiwon’s office address.
Is he planning to visit her in person?
If that was the case, it was a serious issue. Jaeguk’s heart raced at the thought that he needed to warn Taejeong immediately.
Chairman Moon snatched the slip of paper with the address and stood up.
“Mr. Kim!”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Take Lawyer Seo out for a meal.”
It was already late in the afternoon, well past lunch hour. The sudden suggestion of a meal caught Jaeguk off guard, and he waved his hand.
“Chairman, I’m quite busy. Let’s have a meal another time.”
“You mean to say your work is more important than my hospitality?”
“…That’s not what I meant.”
“Then get up and follow Mr. Kim.”
“…Alright.”
Flustered, Jaeguk stood up awkwardly while watching the chairman’s expression. Mr. Kim stepped up and held out his hand.
“Please hand over your phone.”
“My phone? Why?”
“For security reasons—we manage phones during meals to prevent eavesdropping.”
“…”
Jaeguk had no choice but to hand over his phone. He had believed he was doing a good job deceiving the chairman and playing double agent, but now it seemed that had been a delusion.
When did he catch on?
No—what mattered more right now was warning Taejeong, but there was no way to do that.
Jiwon was on her way to the office after meeting with a client’s family in the morning.
“Lawyer, I heard you have a boyfriend?”
“Pardon?”
“I heard you had a meal with him at the soup restaurant?”
“Oh, that…”
Jiwon bit the soft flesh inside her lip. This was all Moon Taejeong’s fault. Of all places, why did he have to say she was his girlfriend in the neighborhood where her office was?
The restaurant owner probably told the shopkeepers nearby that Jiwon came in with her boyfriend, and by now the story had surely been exaggerated beyond belief.
They were probably even saying things like, “I hear they’re getting married this fall.”
“When’s the wedding?”
“When the time comes…”
“I knew it! You are getting married!”
The rice cake shop owner clapped her hands and exclaimed loudly. Then the kimchi store owner cautiously sidled up to Jiwon and asked,
“Is the groom an actor?”
“An actor?”
Moon Taejeong might look like one, but where did that rumor come from?
Trying to keep her composure, Jiwon forced a smile.
“He’s just an office worker.”
“Where does he work? Is he a manager? Assistant manager?”
“…I have a meeting this afternoon, so I’d better get going.”
“A meeting? What kind of meeting do you need if you’re getting married?”
“Not that kind of meeting…”
Before Jiwon could explain, the market ladies were already deep in their own gossip session.
From what she could overhear, the butcher from the next neighborhood had an affair with the rice cake shop lady. Normally, she might’ve stayed to eavesdrop with interest, but today she feared she’d end up stuck, being grilled about everything—maybe even what color underwear Taejeong wore.
Seizing the chance, Jiwon hurried toward her office.
As she climbed the stairs, a pair of legs came into view.
“…”
Nervous, Jiwon stared at the legs as she ascended the steps.
“Oh my…”
Relieved after seeing who it was, she let out a breath. An elderly man in worn clothing was dozing against the wall, seated on the stairs.
A homeless person?
At first glance, maybe. But on closer inspection, his clothes were merely old, not dirty.
I hope he’s not sick or anything…
Jiwon cautiously reached out and tapped the man’s shoulder.
“Excuse me, sir.”
“…”
“Sir, you can’t sleep here…”
Just as she was about to ask him to leave, the old man lifted his head. Despite his weary expression, his eyes behind thick-rimmed glasses were sharp.
A client, maybe?
So what if he was? Jiwon finished climbing the stairs and opened the office door.
“Sir, please come in and have a cup of tea.”
“Are you the lawyer?”
“Yes, I’m Dong Jiwon.”
Pointing to the sign that read “Dong Jiwon Law Office,” she smiled. But the man eyed her with suspicion.
Jiwon was used to this kind of reaction. Whatever a “lawyer look” was supposed to be, her appearance didn’t seem to inspire much confidence.
She pulled a business card from her bag and handed it to him.
“Here’s my card.”
The old man finally nodded after taking it.
“I’m here for a consultation.”
“Please come in.”
“But… I don’t have any money. Is that alright?”
“Oh, you don’t have money?”
Jiwon paused for a moment. But then, thinking of the financial cushion Taejeong had provided her, she smiled brightly.
“Consultations are free!”
“Really?”
“Have you ever known a lawyer to lie?”
“I’ve seen a lot of them lie…”
“Oh my! Well, not this one. Come on in. I promise it’s free.”
She helped the man inside.
Though he had seemed like a frail old man on the stairs, his arm muscles were surprisingly firm. He had the feel of someone who exercised regularly.
“How did you find my office?”
“Someone recommended you.”
“Who might that be?”
Jiwon looked up with curiosity, eyes sparkling. After taking a sip of the water she handed him, the man pulled a crumpled business card from his pocket.
“A lawyer named Seo Jaeguk sent me.”
To be continued…
