17. A Breather About to End

Jung and Seol went the the cafe downstairs, Jung convinced her to get a strawberry shake for old times sake. Once they sat down Seol gave him a Look.

"I was joking! I didn't really come to meet Director Park Hae Jin, I came to meet a friend. Though Director Park is a close friend of my dad's."

"A friend?" the Look was still going strong.

"Truly. We both met when I was training in London. He was finishing up his internship when I just started. We both clicked instantly and stayed in touch even after he came back to Korea. I just thought that I would meet with you after I had a talk with him."

"Hmm. Araso, I'll believe you. But... Don't tell people things like that. I don't want to become part of the rumor mill at the office. That man is already annoying to deal with, now it will be harder to fend him off."

"Fend him off? Is he bothering you?"
"How do I say it? Less then Sang Chul sunbae but still worse because a person like that got a job at the same place I worked so hard to get into." Seol gave a self deprecating smile. Some people never gained maturity, they would never understand the importance of taking accountability of their actions.

"If you don't want to deal with him, just put in a complaint to your superiors."

"I can't. It's either because he has some connections or he is just good at talking circles but he never seems to get into trouble. Instead the other person faces the consequence." Seol gave him a pouting expression as she said this.

"Do you want Oppa to take care of him?" Jung said half joking and half serious.

"Ahhh! Chincha! That is soo cring! Don't say things like that."

"Why not? You can't keep calling me Sunbae for the rest of our lives. And I am older then you."

"You know what? Your right but because of what you just said, I don't think I can ever call you that." Seol shivered recalling Sunbae's words.

"Why? I like it. You should start calling me Oppa now. We don't go to college together or do we work together. It's better to start calling me Oppa now or do you want to go directly to Yobu or Jagiya?"

"Sunbae!" Seol exclaimed blushing at the implication of his words. "Let's stop talking about this now. What are your plans? Have you made any decisions yet?"

"I am thinking of taking over a merger that Taerang is going to negotiate for soon. But I wont know until the board comes to a decision. Nothing is definite, but hopefully I can take over a director position soon." Seol just stared at Jung's words. It was a similar feeling to the first time she found out Sunbae was a chaebol.

"Sunbae...A director?"

"Seol-A, I want to take over after my father, it's not a new thing, it was something I expected to happen along the way. Are you okay with it?" Jung leaned forward reaching out to take Seol's hand into his.

"No, that's not it. I just didn't think would happen this fast...I also don't know what to expect or say when you talk about these things."

"Nothing Seol-A. You don't have to say anything, if you don't want to. But I want you to remember that these titles are just words. If you say anything to me, we are equals when we discuss it. Also, don't underestimate yourself, you know and can achieve a lot more then you give yourself credit for." Jung held onto Seol's hand looking intently into her eyes willing her to understand that he meant every word he spoke. Seol responded with a smile, the knots in her chest loosening. Seol and Sunbae talked for a while more with Jung promising to come pick her up after work.

Seol went back to her desk picking up the food to go to the break room to finish her lunch. Before she could even swallow the first bite, Ji So came in with the office gossip, Go Hyun.

"Ya. Who was that? How do you two know each other? What does that person have to do with Park Hae Jin Director?" Ji Soo asked rudely. Seol rolled her eyes this time.

"Oy, are you really rolling your eyes at your Sunbae?" Seol's temper was already at it's limit.

"Sunbae-nim!" She said loudly and sarcastically. " We aren't friends or even remotely close so please speak respectfully. I would really appreciate it. And my personal life and those of my friends is none of your business. " Ji Soo spluttered not knowing how to respond as Seol went back to eating.

"Is that really how you talk to your seniors? Be honest, that person can't know the director, right? He just said it to cover for you didn't he?" Seol snapped at the accusation, who were these people always undermining Sunbae.

"No. Your wrong. Sunabe and his family are close to Director Park. He had just come back from London so he came to see him. If I were you I would be careful." Seol packed up the rest of the lunch and put it in the refrigerator, her appetite gone. Ji So and Go Hyun stared at her as she left the room.

Go Hyun broke out of her frozen state and nudged at Ji Soo to open the refrigerator door. Ji Soo followed questioningly.

"Why? Are you hungry? You don't have to eat her food. I can buy you some if you want." Go Hyun slapped at his arm in response. She grabbed at the cover in his hand and looked inside. The cover itself was very plain, all white without anything else. Inside was a shiny, dark wooden box with elegant and simple gold lettering. Go Hyun gasped.

"What!? Is there something bad in there? What?" Go Hyun slowly looked up at Ji Soo, her expression amazed.

"Do you know how expensive this place is? You have to wait years to get a reservation and this guy got her take out from here."

Go Hyun and Ji So looked at each other for a moment and slowly turned their heads together to look at the door Seol had walked out of.