There was a bit of a mishap on my way to work, but I wasnât late.
Now, I donât get confused by similarly named menu items, and handling side dishes or additional menu items is not particularly challenging, allowing me to work mechanically without much thought.
Usually, I would spend time chatting casually with the assistant managers or bickering with Yu Arin.
Unfortunately, todayâs duty manager was Lee Chan-song.
I heard from Se-ah at the karaoke earlier that the manager and the assistant manager had another fight yesterday.
Perhaps thatâs why, if we even tried to take a short break or work leisurely, he would come down on us hard.
As a result, we were just folding an already overflowing stack of napkins. We werenât even allowed to sit down, so we were working while standing.
âWhen we first came, we did things by the book, but isnât it fine now?â
It was as Yu Arin grumbled.
At first, we all stood up to work.
We did it that way initially to avoid getting too lax, but things are different now.
Even the managers acknowledged our skills, especially during slack times like dawn.
Manager Lee Chan-song didnât hesitate.
You could say he had a firm stance.
âYou know the seniors have been on edge lately. Of course, the manager would be sensitive too.â
âWhy take it out on us?â
Since it wasnât wrong, I just shrugged and accepted Yu Arinâs complaints.
At that moment.
âYah, an order came in.â
âYah?â
Yu Arin, glaring at Chief Lee Chan-song with his somewhat rough language and behavior, retorted, but he handed over the bill without looking this way.
While preparing the food in the kitchen, we set up the cart and check where the order came from.
âRoom 1007?â
âHmm? Room 1007?â
As I repeated the familiar number, Yu Arin, frowning deeply, tapped my shoulder, saying she remembered.
âThat blonde woman from last time.â
âOh, her.â
Honestly, itâs nice to have something to chat about each time I see her. When I talked about seeing her in her underwear last time, I became a hero in the dorm.
However, since unexpected situations arise every time I see her, personally, it wasnât a room I looked forward to going.
âIâm going with you.â
Yu Arin, glaring sharply at me, not knowing my feelings.
âWhere do you think youâre going?â
Even though I said that, Yu Arin was adamant. It seemed like she wanted not only to keep an eye on me but also to mess with manager Lee Chan-song, who had just made a rude remark.
âIf you get caught, youâll be in big trouble.â
âWhat does it matter? Iâm just going to be gone for a bit, they wonât notice. Iâll just say I went to the bathroom.â
ââŠâŠâ
When I stared at her intently, Yu Arin eventually glared back at me with her arms crossed.
âWhen Iâm with the manager, he subtly asks all sorts of things.â
âHuh?â
âAh, never mind. I didnât tell you because I thought youâd worry for no reason. But I heard he does that to Se-ah and Bom as well.â
This is something I canât just ignore. frŃeweÉηovel.coɱ
As my expression darkened, Yu Arin gave an awkward smile.
âWhat, itâs nothing major. Just subtle sexual harassment, you know? Like saying that kids these days are well-developed, or that the Gold One uniform fits you perfectlyâŠstuff like that.â
âWhy didnât you tell me? Does it keep happening?â
It was obvious from Yu Arinâs reaction that she had only mentioned the mildest examples of what happened.
âYah, I got annoyed and told him right away that it was sexual harassment and to stop. Thatâs why he dislikes me even more now.â
âWell, you did the right thing.â
âHe doesnât do it to me anymore, but it still feels uncomfortable when weâre alone together.â
âSigh.â
A bitter breath escaped. I disliked myself for only now understanding why the other guys particularly loathed Manager Lee Chan-song.
âStill, the guys say that things have calmed down a bit thanks to the recent lawsuit incident.â
Even so, the information was uncomfortable and unsettling.
âLetâs go together.â
In the end, I allowed Yu Arin to accompany me. Even though leaving her here wouldnât cause any major issues, I wasnât keen on leaving her with someone whom she felt uncomfortable with.
The 10th floor, where I arrived with Yu Arin. Since she doesnât come up here often, Yu Arin continues to look around and hums.
âBut are there really a lot of gangster-like people?â
âIâve seen a lot of people with tattoos on their bodies.â
âWow, I saw that around the hotel, there are pawn shops everywhere. They take watches, gold, car keys, and stuff.â
âThatâs why itâs a casino. I also avoid eye contact with rough-looking people.â
âDo you think there would be someone who drags a female employee in if she comes up?â
ââŠâŠâ
I canât say that would never happen. Iâve heard there were actual cases.
Knock, knock.
âRoom service.â
Knocking on the door and getting ready to dance, she looks at me with a cold gaze.
âYou know thatâs really not funny, right?â
âAhem, isnât it kind of okay?â
Awkwardly scratching my head, I wait for the guest.
Yu Arin deliberately stands next to the door, hiding from the guestâs view.
Creak.
The door opens.
âCome in.â
âHuh?â
Today, somewhat unusually.
The lady is wearing glasses and a suit, protecting herself firmly. Unlike last time when she had a more casual demeanor, she now exudes the vibe of a competent career woman.
âWhatâs this?â
She gives off an impression that makes me forget Iâm on night duty, as if sheâs about to head off to work.
With a gentle smile, she lets me in and quickly closes the door.
âHuh?â
Yu Arinâs small exclamation is heard through the door crack but doesnât continue further.
âI never thought something like this would happen.â
The conversation I just had with Yu Arin now came to mind.
She asked if there really were stories of people being taken inside.
I never imagined that I, who was not a female employee, would be the one involved.
âInside.â
The blonde woman smiled and led me in. As I was pushed inside, I wondered if I was going to be devoured like this.
If I really were to be devoured, I hoped Yu Arin would report it a little late while thinking about what underwear I wore today.
âAh, shit.â
The moment I saw the man inside, a curse slipped out, and the man frowned.
âYou have nothing you canât say to your hyung, huh.â
Hyung.
Yeah.
The person in front of me now was my big brother, Kim Jae-won.
It was extremely unpleasant to be looked down on so arrogantly by him, dressed in a suit with his hands in his pockets.
âDamn it.â
I took the fork and knife from the cart and started cutting into the steak.
âIâve been wanting to try this.â
But since we couldnât order it, it was a bit disappointing. Itâs better that our eldest brother is the one that ordered it.
As I was cutting the steak and taking a bite, the blonde lady behind me murmured in embarrassment.
âYou really are the Vice Presidentâs brother.â
âThatâs not a compliment, you know?â
When I responded irritably, she immediately bowed her head and apologized.
Until a moment ago, she was full of confidence, but seeing me cut the steak must have made her realize something unusual.
âWho orders steak at this hour? The kitchen staff must be having a hard time.â
As I sat on the bed and grumbled, my eldest brother replied bluntly.
âI ordered it because I thought youâd like it.â
ââŠOh, geez.â
So youâre saying you ordered this knowing Iâd eat it?
Feeling annoyed that I acted just as my hyung thought I would, I push the cart aside and look at him.
âWhy are you here? You know the employees are having a hard time because theyâre wary of you, right?â
Theyâre making a big fuss because the vice-chairman of the parent company is here.
Since the cause is right in front of me, I express my grievances honestly.
But my hyung calmly responded.
âIâm here because of you. I heard that youâre working here.â
ââŠâŠâ
âIt seems you really donât plan to come home during the break. At least call Mommy and Dad.â
âI talked to Mom.â
âHuh?â
I respond nonchalantly to my brother, who looks at me with a puzzled expression.
âReally. Ask Mom if you donât believe me. And whatâs with âMommyâ? How long has it been since you stopped following her around calling her âMommyâ?â
I heard the sound of a blonde woman trying to hold back her laughter from behind. My brotherâs gaze turned sharp, and he signaled me to go out with a nod.
âTell the person outside not to worry and just go down.â
âYes, understood.â
Yu Arin must be worried. There was a need to go out quickly and explain before she might call the police.
âThe, the door is open! Woojin! Kim Woojin! Are you okay?â
âYeah! Iâm fine! Just do as the lady says!â
âWhat?!â
âHello?â
Hearing my voice from inside the room seemed to have somewhat relieved Yu Arin, as her voice lost some of its tension.
There seemed to be more she wanted to say, but it was drowned out as the door closed.
âIs that your secretary?â
When I quickly turned and asked, my brother nodded.
âYeah, seeing as youâre working part-time, it seemed like you didnât want to reveal our family relationship.â
Thatâs not really the case, though.
I didnât hide it on purpose; I just didnât find it necessary to inform you.
âI intentionally had my secretary book a room alone, and then I joined her a few days later.â
âAre you dating your secretary?â
âSigh, donât say such pointless things.â
âIf youâre not dating, Iâm telling you to date her. Because of you, our middle hyung canât get married.â
My words leave my eldest hyung speechless, furrowing his brow.
I knew he hated hearing that the most, so I said it on purpose.
Now, letâs get to the main point.
âYou must have something to say, thatâs why you came, right?â
I tilt my head and ask. Honestly, I had something to confront him regarding Oh Yoon-ji, but I decided to hear him out first.
If I was going to retaliate, I wanted to hear everything he had to say before doing so.
But surprisingly.
âI donât.â
The eldest brother responded boldly.
âHmm?â
âNothing. I just came to check if youâre doing well. Mother is worried.â
ââŠâŠâ
A subtle atmosphere.
The eldest brother was staring at me indifferently without changing his expression.
âSorry, but even if you say that, I wonât let it slide.â
I frowned irritably and confronted the eldest brother.
âHow did you know I was dating Oh Yoon-ji?â
Whether it was an explanation or an excuse.
Whatever it was, he must have had something in mind to appear before me.