16. Changed or Not?

Seol thoughtfully doodled on her notepad as her colleague talked away at the front of the room. She looked at him with a blank an expression as possible but it was hard. She kept smiling at the weirdest times, she got called out for it twice already and it wasn't even lunch yet.

"According to the numbers it appears that we can definitely re-negotiate lower prices from suppliers W and H but suppliers X and Y are going to be difficult especially with their increased foray into the mainstream market themselves." Seol tried her best to not role her eyes. She had done all the research and organized it and yet he still couldn't say the right things. But this was business and mistake like this lost money.

"Actually Manager Kim, suppliers X and Y can also be negotiated to a lower price if we can find a way to point out the disadvantages of them taking over the whole production line. Korea is after all ,not the provider of the cheapest labor force, and entering into a luxury market without a reputation is almost impossible these days. Also, the profit margin is higher for company W, we can add one more zero to the total."

"Ya! So Ji Hoo, why do you keep making these amature mistakes? Are you working for the suppliers or us?!" Manager Kim suddenly shouted. Seol held back a sigh, it was ridiculous really expecting a different result with the same actions. Seol tried to sooth things over.

"But So Ji Hoo- shi is right about H and W, we need to renew and lock them in the contract, if X or Y get to them we could lose the supply."

"Oh. Okay, then Hong Seol, I want you to take over the leadership on this case-"

"Oh no! I can't Manager Kim. I already have Daisy the perfume company and the Busan subcontracter on my plate. I don't think I can take care of this too."

"You already know all the details, just make sure everyone else is doing their job right before it gets to me."

"But-"

"No more excuses. Let's end the meeting now."

Seol sighed as she sat back in her chair, she could already imagine the sleepless days ahead.

"Ya..Good job showing me up at the meeting earlier." Ji Hoo stood next to her desk, is arms crossed over his chest and the expression on his face that of a child ready to throw a tantrum.

"Sunbae, I did the research for you and gave you all the information. All you had to do was copy it and you couldn't even do that right. Why are you getting mad at me?"

"Ya! You-"

"Is this a bad time?" a quite voice cut through Ji hoo's tirade. Seol gasped recognizing the voice immediately. She shot up and turned to face Sunbae who was standing just on the aisle with a plastic bag in his hand.

"Sunbae!" Seol gasped " What are you doing here?" Jung smiled at the shock on Seol's face.

"I cam to visit a friend. Thought I would bring by lunch because you said you would be too busy to go out. I don't want to over work yourself." Seol had grabbed onto Jung's free arm as he spoke, her eyes never leaving his face even as a blush covered her cheeks at his words.

"You didn't have to do that. I would have grabbed something eventually, it's not that late yet."

"I know, I just wanted an excuse to see you." Jung responded pulling Seol closer and smoothing his hand over her curls. Ji Soo clearing his throat interrupted their conversation. Seol winced at the reminder that they were being observed. She introduced them both to each other as she cleared her desk and took her wallet and phone, letting Ji Soo know that she wold be leaving for her lunch break.

"Excuse me but people who don't work here are not allowed to come up. How did you get here? Who let you in? Hong Seol, you need to learn how to be a professional." Ji Soo started to berate on her and Jung and just as Seol was about to interrupt , Sunbae stopped her.

"Oh, don't worry I had an appointment with Director Park Hae Jin, he let me know it was okay to come and visit Seol." Sunbae gave Ji Soo a very pacifying smile, but Seol and Ji Soo knew exactly what those words were conveying even if that expression was not. Seol dragged Sunbae away before Ji Soo or Sunbae could say anything more.

Yup, Sunbae really was back.