JK

I watched all the directors step into the CEO's office one by one for exactly thirty minutes and then leave. Mr. Park was getting to know all of us on his first day. I wondered if he made notes for all of them or just me. I couldn't say his working style didn't astonish me — most people would've taken it easy on their first day — but one didn't become a CEO at the age of thirty-three by taking it easy. Every great man I've come across had something different about him, and so did Mr. Park.

With nothing else to do, I decided to download the product portfolio of the company to look at.

I spent time reading through every resource that was available on the company's private site and then decided to claim the amount spent on the relocation. Almost every company used the same tool for recording expenses, and GLZ was no different.

I didn't need help to open the reimbursement tool and started adding my expenses. The house was provided by the company, but the internet expense was redeemable. I put the amount I spent in setting up the connection with the invoice. The company also provided a car, but I had my own from before, so I claimed the fuel charges for two weeks, the transfer fee, and then I went ahead to add the moving expenses, everything that was written in my contract to be borne by the company.

I submitted the claim right before the lunch break.

Li was absent today, so I got up to go for lunch but stopped when I found the smiling faces approaching me. "Ready for lunch?" Taehyung asked, bringing his hand over to my shoulder.

"I hope they have my favorites today," I said conversationally, moving with him and seeing the others following right behind us.

"Not a chance. It's the CEO's first day, so they must've prepared everything to his liking unless you and him have the same taste."

What were the chances?

I didn't say anything as we all entered the elevator to go to the executive floor where the cafeteria was situated. Seokjin and Namjoon were in deep conversation, while Yoongi was listening, but when the doors opened, the former male's eyes flashed to me with warmth. "Hey, Jungkook. How is it going?"

"Not too bad, but getting bored. I am a creature of work. I have none at the moment."

He barked out a rackety laugh, his voice loud and welcoming. The others joined him. I wondered if Mr. Park was joining us, but prevented myself from asking that. Instead, I asked, "How was the session with the boss?"

Yoongi was the one to match steps with me. "Not what I expected, but you can never. The guy's a hawk. Nothing gets past his eyes. Did you see him doing math? It's like he had an AI calculator in his head. You'd take time to type and he'd already tell you the answer."

Impressive, but not unexpected.

I didn't say anything again.

We reached the counter and picked up the plates. The food station was indeed lined with an extensive menu. It wasn't like the food was any lesser in the days I ate before, but I noticed the multi-cuisine dishes spread across the vast buffet. If I weren't wrong, they were an ode to Mr. Park's legacy in many countries. Japanese, French, Korean, and many more items compelled people to overfill their plates.

A young girl bowed her head and greeted me when her eyes met mine. She didn't seem more than a teenager. If my indication was right, she must have been an intern. The executives on this floor always looked equal parts wary and fascinated with the twenty-eighth-floor employees, or the upper management. Every time I came to eat, anyone who caught my eye would bow and greet me.

A woman in her mid-age beamed at Namjoon, talking to him as the younger male made her laugh. I could see she respected the man.

Taking food one by one, we moved to a big table that the staff had reserved for us. It didn't happen every day, but someone must've made the arrangement today.

"Is Hoseok going to join us?" Seokjin asked.

Namjoon, who had skirted around to sit near me, took out his phone. "Yes," he glimpsed down. "On his way."

On one side of the table, the couch's side, I let all the older members sit, the silent etiquette I followed. Namjoon had then chosen to sit on the chair side, which was his call. Before Taehyung could bring the plate and settle beside me, Mr. Park slid in from behind and took the other chair on my right.

Taehyung sat beside Jimin without hesitating, leaving the space on the couch side for Hoseok. I stiffened a bit, unsure why. Everyone started to speak at once and laughed.

"Do you guys usually eat together?" Mr. Park's questioning and casual gaze on everyone made me slacken.

"I've been eating alone so far," I answered first because I was sitting closest to Mr. Park.

"We didn't generally get time all at once, so we tried to coordinate as best as we could," Namjoon added his few cents.

One of the staff boys brought a plate for Jimin. It was loaded with some meat and mostly greens. The boy then got a big, square, glass tiffin box and placed it in the center of the table.

"I can't guarantee I'll be here every day, but if we can help it, let's do at least one lunch together weekly." Mr. Park proposed as he picked up the fork and the knife from his plate. It wasn't a demand unlike his commands before, but a friendly suggestion.

"We'd love to pick your brain," That was Seokjin from across the table.

Everyone's neck craned when the loudest and cheeriest voice entered the cafeteria as the door opened behind my back. Hoseok accompanied an employee. He nodded at us before directly aiming for the counter to get food.

We continued to make small talk until Hoseok joined us. "I am sorry for being late," he beamed.

"Don't make food wait for you, Hoseok. My mother always reprimands me. Even now." There was amusement in Mr. Park's tone and Hoseok ate it up.

The conversation flowed easily.

After we finished our food, Mr. Park opened the container and the sweet fragrance of vanilla mixed with coffee invaded us. "I made a mousse cake this morning because I wasn't particularly sleepy. Help yourselves, gentlemen."

If anybody was surprised by that bit of information, they only focused on the cake. I waited for my turn, but when only Jimin was left to take his portion, he indicated for me to go ahead before him.

I cut a sliver of the softest and jiggliest cake I'd ever seen or touched. When I scooped the first spoonful in my mouth, I couldn't help a moan that I immediately stifled. Everyone was already singing praises, and I found Mr. Park's eyes on me when I said with my filled mouth. "So good."

He looked away and at everyone else. "Glad you all enjoyed it."

"Hopefully we get this every week, too." Namjoon was the only one at that seniority level who could joke with Mr. Park. But it didn't mean all of us didn't laugh.

"I can't vouch to wake up this early every day, but all of you are more than welcome. I'd love to host you at my home any weekend."

I kept my mouth shut for the most part and only observed. Mr. Park was a bit different when he wasn't in the boardrooms, but I knew better than to believe that he was a people person. Everyone was diplomatic, but I wondered just how much was this man.

"What time are you guys getting free this evening?" Everyone checked their phones to see their schedules. Some said six, some said five-thirty. I knew I had nothing going on. "Perfect. Let's have dinner together tonight." His voice left no room for bargaining this time. The subtle shift in his authority made everyone agree with him. "Hoseok." He then turned to the HR director.

As though the man understood what Mr. Park would ask, he gulped the last bit of cake and took out his phone. Within the next few seconds, we were all added to a WhatsApp group, GLZ Boys paired with a fist-in-the-air emoji.

"I'll share the details," Jimin stood up. "Gentlemen." He nodded down and excused himself.

The same boy who had brought him food rushed to pick up the finished plate and the empty container. Hoseok patted the cleaning boy's shoulder while we all got on our feet one by one to bring our plates back to the dishwasher.

Having eaten too much, I decided to go for a short walk in the basement while my peers stalked back into their offices.

Putting on my headphones, I reached the basement and began to walk slowly. There weren't a lot, but quite a few people were walking, too — some in groups and some in duos. I saw my car and suddenly remembered that I'd put mail from the bank inside this morning right after taking it out of my mailbox.

I already had keys in my pocket, so I sauntered towards the car and unlocked it. Getting inside, I started the engine for the AC while I took out the envelope with my new credit card that had been provided by the GLZ.

I took a few more minutes to activate it by following the instructions that were provided in the letter that came with it.

Setting up a new PIN, I put the card in my wallet. I had completely forgotten that I was on a break and the office wasn't over yet when I swiveled the steering wheel. Right as I forgot, I also remembered at lightning speed that I wasn't supposed to leave for home yet.

In my effort to right my wrong as quickly as I could, I brushed off against the car that was parked beside me. A brand new white Audi, no less.

"Fuck," the curse slipped past my lips naturally. I reached back into my car and pulled out a pen and a sticky note.

Hi, I work here and I scratched your car by mistake. Please give me a call on this number 010-2-3270-4818 and I will be happy to pay for the damage. I am sorry for the trouble. 

I made my way back and remembered that we had dinner with Mr. Park tonight.

What if the person called tonight? I would just have to apologize and ask them to meet tomorrow.

Shit happened. I didn't want to feel too bad about it.

When I returned to my desk, my intercom rang. I picked it up, wondering if it had been ringing for a long time. "Jeon Jungkook."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Jeon. I am Kyla Saina from Mr. Park's office. He'd like to see you when you have time."

"I can be right over," I told her.

"Okay. I'll let him know."

The line disconnected and I got up with my notepad. When I walked inside Mr. Park's office after a knock, I found Namjoon already sitting there. "Jungkook," Mr. Park regaled me before shuffling a few papers in front of him. "I have your first assignment."

Finally!

"Sure," I sat down on the empty chair and kept my eyes straight at him. "You need to interview three candidates for your team. Think you can coordinate with Hoseok and finalize by the end of the month?"

"If the candidates are already shortlisted, I think I can do it," I spoke confidently. "What level are the employees going to be?"

"One is a junior position and two are mid-senior," he replied without a thought and then turned to Namjoon. "Namjoon, should we continue later tomorrow?"

The clever man immediately sprang to his feet and left the office soon after. Mr. Park then turned his focus on me. "I have talked to everyone and after careful consideration, I know you'd need people to get the work done. Namjoon has a team of one hundred and fifty-six people ranging from R&D, production, and supply chain. Seokjin will lead a team of thirty people, Taehyung will have ten under him, and Hoseok has at least eight, which leaves you...with no one. Think you can handle three and we will see as we go if you need more?"

What? He wanted me to manage a team of my own. I didn't sign up for that. I was good at my job because I knew what I was doing. How could I take responsibility for other people's work? And juniors no less. Who would even teach them and bring them up to speed?

My silence was long stretched.

"Problem?"

"Mr. Park, it's just that...I've never managed a team before. I don't think I am the right candidate to be a people manager."

"That's what I am here for. You'll get all the support and training you need to learn about people management skills," he said without looking at me, already opening a document and gliding through it.

Did that leave room for discussion? He could've asked me to do anything. But this? "Thank you, Mr. Park." It wasn't like I could deny it. Rule number two. I stood up, my mood dwindling.

"See you at dinner." He said without looking at me.

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༻10 Jan 2025༺