With Ji-Won's reminder, Su-Jin let out a soft gasp.
"Are you two going to meet up with the Ma couple in order to sign the contract?"
"Yes." Ji-Won replied. "When we met on Saturday they said their daughter had just returned from abroad. They asked for a little more time to think, and also mentioned they wanted to review all the paperwork together with their daughter before signing them."
"I understand." Su-Jin nodded in understanding.
She placed the file on Ji-Won's desk, then turned to leave the office.
Just before she reached the door, though, she heard Ji-Won speaking again.
"Seo-Jun, make sure you have all the files ready. If they want us to properly present the offer to their daughter as well, we might need the complete presentation of the concept again. And make sure to take the financial analysis Jung Seok did before as well. It might come in handy if they have more questions about the revenue they will get from reservations through our touring company. I left all that in your car Saturday evening."
The last sentence came out quietly until the words eventually faded into silence.
Ji-Won let out a small cough in an attempt to hide his embarrassment. Recalling what happened that day brought him strange and conflicting feelings, especially with Su-Jin standing right there, in his office.
Seo-Jun picked up on his friend's mood and didn't act too difficult. He nodded and quickly agreed.
"The respective files are on my desk. I'll go and bring them to you now."
With that, he pushed himself off of the sofa and walked towards the door.
By this time Su-Jin had already pressed on the handle, and was just about to crack the door open, when Seo-Jun followed up on his previous words. What came out of his mouth, though, stunned Su-Jin into freezing on the spot.
"I'll get you the files, Ji-Won, but… I'm afraid I won't be able to accompany you to the meeting."
"What do you mean by that?" Ji-Won frowned.
This time, he didn't know what his friend was playing at. However, the moment he saw Seo-Jun feigning an apologetic look, Ji-Won was hit by an ominous feeling.
'What the hell is this rascal up to now? Why does he suddenly look like a kid who's seen Christmas presents arrive half a year earlier? That look doesn't bode well…'
In the meantime, Seo-Jun was very careful to maintain that regretful expression plastered on his face. Then, he slowly bent his upper body forward, curling into himself. Apart from that, a small whine escaped through his lips.
"Stomachache... I suddenly have a terrible stomachache, so I won't be able to go with you to the meeting."
"Excuse me?" Ji-Won gritted out.
By now, his tone had turned glacial. Listening to it felt just like the harsh slaps of the freezing wind during winter peak.
Su-Jin, who was still hesitating in front of the door, felt her blood running cold. She barely repressed a shiver, gripping the door handle for support.
"Do you think this is a joke?" Ji-Won continued to stab Seo-Jun with death glares.
"Of course not! Don't you know how nasty stomachaches can be? Why would I joke about something serious like that?"
With that retort the conversation slowly turned bizarre. So much so, that Su-Jin had to struggle quite a bit in order to stop herself from snorting.
But before she could amuse herself any further, Ji-Won spoke again, his tone sounding firm and resolute.
"I don't care why you're acting like this right now, but you really have to stop. You know very well that I can't do this alone."
"I know that. And that's precisely why I have a backup plan for you."
As a knowing smile spread on Seo-Jun's face, he turned to the side, fixing his eyes on Su-Jin.
"Miss Park, why don't you accompany Director Kang to a business meeting?"
The words were said in the most leisurely tone Seo-Jun could muster. Yet, the silence that followed them was very stifling.
Both Su-Jin and Ji-Won turned their heads towards Seo-Jun at the same time, their features simultaneously mirroring the same dumbfounded expression.
"Why are you both looking at me like that?" Seo-Jun blinked innocently.
He even raised a hand to scratch at the back of his head, looking positively innocent. Then, he proceeded to ignore both their looks of shock and continued to speak in the same relaxed tone as before.
"Ji-Won, did you perhaps forget who was nominated to be Director Kang's assistant? Isn't it the assistant's job to follow her boss at business meetings or help prepare the materials? Therefore, you should be the one to go with him, Miss Park." Seo-Jun said, tilting his head.
A grin continued to spread on his face until he ended up looking like a Cheshire cat.
"Eeh?! Me?!" Su-Jin suddenly yelped.
All of a sudden it dawned on her what Seo-Jun was trying to imply.
"I... I am his... I mean, Director Kang's assistant is... Me?" Su-Jin kept stuttering flabbergasted.
"Yes." Ji-Won's voice unexpectedly piped up.
He pushed himself out of his seat and went straight for Seo-Jun. He raised a hand and a loud clap reverberated inside the office, as his palm made contact with his friend's back.
Even through the fabric of his shirt, Seo-Jun could still feel a sharp sting in the area where Ji-Won's hand landed. That had been rather a forceful pat, very unlike anything friendly. But Seo-Jun knew it's meaning, namely to allow Ji-Won to vent his repressed anger.
Therefore, he immediately swallowed his complaints. After all, wasn't he the one who had sought death just now? One doesn't get hurt if he doesn't cause trouble, so there was nothing to be done but bear the consequences of his mischievousness.
The grin that had previously been so wide was now receding, leaving behind a pained grimace. Still, Seo-Jun remained quiet and waited to see what Ji-Won would do next. After that bold declaration just now, the man had better follow up with some sort of explanation.
Sure enough, a short moment after giving Seo-Jun's his warm show of affection, Ji-Won turned to Su-Jin.
"Miss Park, a while back, the Deputy Director and myself decided that, whenever he isn't able to accompany me to a business meeting, either inside the company or outside, you should be the one to replace him. It seems that we forgot to inform you, Miss Park.. That is entirely our fault."