1 - FOB
Jin's POV
'There she goes...'
My boss's daughter, off on another trip around the office, looking for the head of the Finance department, walking around in those Jimmy Choo heels like she isn't going to whine in pain later on.
Ji Eun-Tak is the only child of the main Shareholder at our company. She's 26 and the head of the Operations department as she was the only one who saved the department from the 'dreaded-backlog' they've been experiencing in the department over the last few years.
Apparently, the South African liquor exporter they work with, JF Hillebrand, have been invoicing us recently for the consignments that are now over due.
Our warehouse hasn't received the stock, which means that no one's followed up with the exporter since it left the Dock.
That means that there's going to be heavy consequences on us as the contract was under FOB. Her father, being the chief investor, wouldn't be too excited to find out about such negligence.
And so, Eun-Tak is in search of the assistance of the Finance Director.
She's completely oblivious that it's me and has walked past me at least thrice already. Sure she knows who I am by name, but she's unaware that I actually work here. Because to her, I'm just the guy who helps her with photocopying.
Oh... Anyeonhaseyo!
I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Kim Seokjin, the youngest Finance Director ever to work at Hana Enterprises. And presently, I'm watching my boss's daughter walk around the third floor of our offices, looking for me, not actually knowing what Kim Seokjin looks like, because to her, I'm just Jin oppa.
"Jin oppa?" She calls me over shyly from the threshold of our photocopying room, her eyes darting over her shoulder, still in pursuit of the Finance Director.
"Ne, Eun-Tak?" I ask her innocently, hiding my amusement.
I loved messing with her.
She's easy to get along with and it was fun teasing her. To her, I'm just a regular guy. Not the Finance Director and not the handsome man every women in the office wants to date 'forever'.
Sure, I've thought about it. But I'd never date any of the women here.
Except, perhaps for Eun-Tak.
She's sweet, innocent and intelligent. Yes, she oblivious of the fact that I am the fiance director, but that is mainly because I never actually attend the stuffy board meetings with her father and the crazy CEO.
I mean, I get that it is a type of genetic disorder, but the man is so cocky, one would expect him to at least take pride in his appearance!
Oh well... Good looks aren't for everyone.
"Have you seen the director of finance oppa?" She whispers to me as she tip-toes close enough so I could hear her.
"Ani... what's their name?" I ask her seriously, observing her facial expression.
"Kim Seokjin." She enunciated, clearly hoping she'd gotten it right. "I've asked everyone here and they're all saying that I should ask you."
"Arrasso... Eun-Tak-ssi, have you seen Kim Seokjin before?"
"Aniyo oppa, he never seems to attend any of our board meetings and if he does, it's always through Zoom - and he never ever turns his camera on!" She exclaims unhappily.
"Arrasso... maybe he's world wide handsome and doesn't want everyone falling in love with him?" I smirk, though she shakes her head at my jest and insists that this wasn't the reason why.
"I heard that he's old and probably bald, he's apparently shy to meet people because he doesn't want people to know his real age." She whispered hurriedly to me.
"Pssht. I'm not- I mean he's not old! I know him." I grin at her, almost giving myself up.
"That's bullshit." She snaps at me. "You're only 32. How could you possibly know who the old man is! Besides, he's never at the office and never shows his face to meetings!"
"But the Finance department is running smoothly right?" I countered, beginning to get a little annoyed with her not seeing reason now.
It was becoming frustrating as she insisted that the rumours about me were true!
"Eun-Tak-ssi! Try to hear me out." I reason with her.
But madam was engrossed in her fake Kim Seokjin.
She spent the next two minutes describing my car to me - which I'd say was a slight exaggeration, since I didn't own a Porshe, it's actually a Mercedes Benz, C Class; and vented about how the car is just meant to make up for my poor looks because Kim Seokjin is old and bald - I'm not an old, bald man!
Like she'd so kindly just stated, I'm a thirty-two year-old young man who is perfectly single and healthy in every sense of the word! And my hair is beautifully thick and lush, thank you very much!
Just as she started talking about how the women in the office brag about dating 'him', I pulled her into the copier room, and clasped a hand around her red tinted mouth.
"Shhhhhhh......" I hushed her, pulling her closer to me and looking into her big bright brown eyes.
"Calm down Eun-Tak. You'll get your answers soon enough. He won't make you wait for an answer forever. Kim Seokjin is not a monster you know. I'm sure he's just busy with work."
But by then, I had tripped on an old toner cartridge that was precariously thrown on the carpeted floor.
She looked up at me, trying to mumble something about me 'pressing into her'.
Following her eyes, I realise what she meant and darted back a bit, apologising to her.
Oops... he was pressing into her... as I'd pulled her into the room, I had accidentally fell onto her, and pressed her to a wall with the impact.
I'm such an idiot at times.
"Miahneyo Eun-Tak-ssi." I apologise to her, bowing slightly.
"It's okay, oppa. It's not your fault. You aren't the type to do that intentionally."
"Thank you for telling me that you know I'm a good person." I say to her awkwardly, rubbing the back of my neck.
"It's the truth. I'll be on my way now oppa. I really need to ask Kim Seokjin something and he isn't answering his emails that bloody gaesaegi!" She vents, then, as if she hadnt just unknowingly sworn me, bows serenely and walks off.
Man I love her...
Uh-oh... did I just say I love her?
I guess you could say that I secretly love her, but she's oblivious to my real identity.
♡♡♡
Eun-Tak's POV
Oppa's been behaving weirdly today.
And everyone on this damn floor seems to think I got the position as Operations manager because I'm the chief shareholder's daughter!
Swines.
Instead of giving me a better idea of Kim Seokjin, they're telling me to ask Jin oppa!
"Ya, Taehyung-ah! Please take me to Kim Seokjin's office?" I asked him politely.
Tae is my friend, we've been childhood friends since we were around six years old.
We'd attended crèche and primary school together, even highscool.
But when the time came to further our studies at University, he had picked Marketing and I picked Supply Chain Management.
"Ya Eun-Tak-ssi! Ask your Jin oppa! He knows him well." He tells me and ruffles my hair annoyingly, before he disappeared off into the lift and hit the button for the 7th floor.
But before the lift doors closed, I caught a glimpse of his boxy grin and blond hair.
And then he was gone.
Finally giving up my search and deciding to listen to everyone's advice, I head over to the photocopy room on the third floor, to find Jin oppa.
Thankfully, he was there today, busy printing some documents...
I really don't know why he tolerates this job as an assistant. He's way too smart for this job - and from what he's mentioned to me, he's qualified too.
"Jin oppa?" I called him shyly. He's so handsome, I can't help but blush.
But talking to Jin was completely futile. He talks utter rubbish at times.
Like saying that he was the real Kim Seokjin.
He'd caught me and pulled me close to him today. I swear I thought he was finally going to kiss me... a sad dream I've fantasised over at least a hundred times in the last year and half since I've known him.
Alas, he was just trying his best to calm me down because I was so worked up.
After feeling better about venting to Jin about this Kim Seokjin fellow, I hurried back to my desk to send this dude a very strongly worded email.
He's the only person who can help me out of the mess my department is currently in!
We need to now pay 50 million Korean Won to the South African company, JF Hillebrand, because we entered into a FOB incoterm contract with them!
A few months ago, a large consignment of cognac and brandy was ordered for import by some imbecile from the Purchasing department. Having been just an administrator at the time, I was oblivious to the fact, until I'd discovered there were so many backlogs to our invoices.
We'd ordered the goods, paid for them, and then suddenly, we never received them - or they were written off as damaged goods.
Luckily it was just a small portion of the goods ordered.
However, this time round, I found that the contract was signed in acceptance of a Free-on-board Shipping incoterm in use.
Someone's bullshitting us.
And I'm not going to let them get away with this!
Kim Seokjin, you better pray that I don't ever find you.
Because when I do, it will be war.
♡♡♡
A/n: As someone who's been acquainted with Shipping terminology, I found it very tempting to mention this as part of the story.
FOB: Free on Board. There are two kinds of FOB.
Free on board origin or Free on board shipping: means the buyer takes responsibility at the point of origin of the freight.
FOB destination: means that the buyer only takes responsibility for freight once it reaches its destination, and the seller is liable for any damage.
The company mentioned in the story really does exist, they are based in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa. They, however, have changed their name. This company also really does do business with South Korea in terms of exporting South African manufactured wines and brandies. They export alcohol to most countries, however, I chose to focus on Korea, mainly because of the plot.
Apart from these facts, the rest of the story is a work of pure fiction.
Enjoy!
Participant in the Best Title category:
Wish me luck 😊
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen247.Pro