OWWHM 02
< Office Worker Who Hears Memories – Episode 2>
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Notes:
MD → Managing Director
AMD → Assistant Managing Director
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3. Very Regrettable
Director Jung Geun-young laid out the blueprint for the new commerce business.
Director Choi Gu-yeol and I focused silently on our meal.
Meanwhile, CEO Kim Jae-yeol was busy agreeing with everything Director Jung said.
Finally, the long dinner came to an end.
The server brought out a simple plate of fruit and tea.
Director Jung, who had led the conversation the entire meal, slowly opened his mouth.
“CEO Kim, then let’s wrap things up this week. The legal team will send you the final contract by tomorrow. Team Leader Won, you agree as well, right?”
Until now, it had been difficult for me to join the conversation—mainly because CEO Kim kept interrupting with “We’ll work hard” at every turn.
But this time, Director Jung had asked me directly, giving me the chance to step in.
“No. I don’t agree.”
“…What?”
“In the past two years, with only six employees, we’ve achieved results that are hard to believe. Yet, the outcome is merely 2.2 billion won? That’s very disappointing.”
CEO Kim turned his head toward me, startled.
So did Directors Jung and Choi. Director Choi, who had hardly spoken during the meal, widened his pupils behind his glasses and spoke.
“Disappointing? At 2.2 billion?”
“Yes.”
“Onesmall is just a small commerce company with an operating profit of 200 million won. BO Food is investing 2.2 billion because they see great value in talents like you, Team Leader Won.”
“Yes, yes, of course, we know that well. Our Team Leader Won is so bold, after all… ha ha ha.”
Flustered, CEO Kim put his hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me down.
But contrary to his hopes, I had already crossed the line.
“Last month’s sales rose 37% compared to the beginning of the year. And the purchase rate compared to inflow has been steadily increasing by more than 2% every month. The operating profit recorded on the balance sheet may only be 200 million won, but future expected profit is far greater. If you had made this offer next year instead of this year, we would have demanded at least 5 billion won.”
I recalled touching that memory—and decided to bet on it.
The table fell into silence.
Breaking the heavy air, Director Jung chuckled in disbelief.
“Ha ha ha, Team Leader Won, you really live up to your reputation.”
“…Sorry?”
“Do you know what the manufacturers say about you?”
“I’m not sure.”
“They say your confidence surpasses even Director Choi sitting here. Ha ha ha.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed my head slightly, and Director Jung adjusted his glasses before continuing.
“Of course, I understand how you feel. You built and ran this yourself, so naturally you’re attached to it. But right now, we must face reality, not ideals. If you demand more than this, we’ll have to walk away.”
“That’s fine with me.”
“…!”
“With this growth rate, we’ll be worth at least 5 billion won next year. And the big players targeting social commerce will come knocking on our door again.”
CEO Kim glanced at my expression, forcing an awkward smile.
“Ha ha ha! Team Leader Won, why are you acting like this after such a nice meal?”
“…”
“Director Jung, I’m sorry. I think he’s just nervous—it’s his first time at a table like this. Ha ha ha.”
CEO Kim tried hard to smooth things over.
But I ignored his efforts and pressed forward.
“Please reflect the effort we’ve put in, and the expectations for our future. We may have been just six people in a small company, but they were right, and they’ve done well. Please acknowledge them.”
Once again, silence.
Then CEO Kim suddenly sniffled.
A signal to me that he understood my intention.
As someone who thrived on lobbying, he had an uncanny sense for situations.
“Whew… Director Jung—no, I suppose I should call you President Jung now. I’m really sorry to bring this up, but…”
“What is it?”
“The employees’ severance pay…”
“That’s why we agreed on 20% in cash!”
“Yes, yes, I know. But the truth is, just as Team Leader Won said, the employees really worked hard. Two people handled all the customer calls and claims, bringing the return rate down to under 3%. And the MDs relentlessly pushed claims at the manufacturers, while the developers barely kept the servers from crashing. You know how hard it is for a small commerce business like ours to keep returns low.”
“So?”
“At the end of all this, I’d like to give them performance bonuses…”
“Shall we increase the cash portion?”
“No… that’s not it.”
“Then what are you asking?”
“What meaning would it have if I gave them bonuses? These aren’t my employees anymore—they’ll now be working under President Jung. If BO gave them the bonuses, they’d think, ‘Wow, BO really is different.’ They’re truly capable people. If BO values them, show it with a reward. Isn’t that right, Team Leader Won? That’s what you wanted to say, isn’t it?”
CEO Kim delivered a flawless performance without a flicker of expression.
When I nodded silently, he seized the momentum and continued.
“President Jung! Please, just 300 million won more. I want to give each of the six, including Team Leader Won, at least 50 million won.”
“How could employees possibly receive such a large amount?!”
“A 3% return rate… does that even sound possible in online commerce? My people made that happen!”
Director Jung cleared his throat and lifted his teacup, while Director Choi smiled faintly.
“President Jung, may I say something?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“CEO Kim has a point. If BO shows goodwill first, the employees will respond with results.”
“But still, 300 million is…”
“If it’s difficult, I’ll report directly to the chairman myself.”
“Hmm…”
At Director Choi’s words, Director Jung bowed his head slightly.
He downed the remaining tea and fiddled with the cup.
“…Fine. Let’s do it.”
To decide on such a large sum of 300 million right there…
It confirmed that the 2.7 billion figure from his memory had indeed been referring to us.
CEO Kim leapt up with a broad smile. He bent at a perfect 90-degree angle and shouted loudly:
“As expected of President Jung! Thank you. Thank you so much.”
And so, the meal ended. CEO Kim and I left the restaurant together.
“As expected of you, Ji-hoon! Ha ha ha. How did you suddenly come up with that idea?”
“It looked like they had more budget. If you’d stayed quiet, we could’ve pulled out even more…”
“Stop it. Greedy people end up in trouble.”
“But, CEO… you’re not planning to use BO’s bonus payout to cover the employees’ severance, are you?”
“What, do you think I’m a crook? The employees worked hard. I’ll pay every last won properly.”
“What’s gotten into you?”
“Wow… is that how little you think of me?”
He smirked and put his hand on my shoulder.
“I was joking.”
“Ha ha ha, fine. But Ji-hoon.”
“Yes?”
“You’re not just going home, right? On a day like this, we’ve gotta have a proper drink! We just got 300 million out of them with a few words.”
“Of course. Let’s go. Tonight’s on me.”
“Ha ha, that’s only fair. Should we call the others too?”
“Oh, please don’t. I can handle you, but the others won’t.”
“Fair enough. Ha ha.”
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One month later.
The merger and acquisition was completed smoothly.
With the 50 million won bonuses and 20% cash upfront, about 110 million won was deposited.
After taxes, it looked more meager than expected.
After a sweet seven-day vacation, my employees and I reported to BO Food headquarters in Gangnam.
At the entrance of the BO building, Lee Eun-ji was standing against the wall in a neat suit. The moment she saw me, she called out loudly as if she had been waiting.
“Team Leader!”
“You’re early, Eun-ji. But why are you standing here?”
“Well…”
“What is it?”
“I noticed all the employees going in had access cards. Did you get one?”
“No, I didn’t.”
As always timid, she had been worrying alone over something as small as an access card.
I took her to the info desk and got us temporary passes. Since everything had been arranged, it took less than a minute.
“You’re in the health food department, right?”
BO Commerce placed us in different teams to help us adapt.
I, who had worked as MD, was assigned as head of the Special Sales Team.
Eun-ji, who had been my AMD, was placed in the Health Food Team.
The developers and designers were sent to support teams.
The CS staff were reassigned to the CS department.
It was the proper procedure, but after nearly two years together, being separated from my team made me uneasy.
“Yes. But, Team Leader…”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think I can really do well?”
“Of course.”
“I can’t even handle basic Excel…”
“But you’ve got passion. And if anyone gives you a hard time, come straight to me. I’ll hit them head-on.”
“Really? You’d do that?”
“Of course. You know how I get when I lose my temper.”
“I’m glad you’re here, Team Leader.”
The elevator arrived. Eun-ji smiled brightly and pressed the 17th-floor button.
Then—
“Hey! Ji-hoon Won! You’re Dust, right?”
“Dust” was the nickname I got in high school because of my name.
Someone grabbed my shoulder, and I turned quickly.
A black suit, thin blue tie.
Hair slicked neatly back—it was Kim Tae-ha, my closest friend from school.
“Tae-ha?”
“Yeah! It’s me! Dust, it’s been forever.”
Inside the crowded elevator, Tae-ha shouted without a care for others. He immediately pressed 25th floor with a faint smile.
“Starting work today, huh?”
“How do you know that?”
“I have my ways. There’s a café on the 25th floor. Want to grab a coffee? We’ve still got 30 minutes before work.”
“Sure.”
Kim Tae-ha.
This guy was born with everything.
Good looks, tall height.
Top grades in school, class president, student council president—he held every leadership position.
And thanks to martial arts training since childhood, he was so good at fighting that nobody dared mess with him.
I had always been curious about this perfect guy.
So I spent a month digging around his things—and found out he was the third son of Kim Sang-man, chairman of BO Food.
“Eun-ji, go ahead without me, okay?”
“Yes.”
I let Eun-ji get off at the 17th floor and went up with Tae-ha to the 25th.
“The coffee here tastes way better than the chain store across the street—and pricier too.”
“Tasty, I get. But why pricier?”
“It’s basically hotel-level coffee.”
“How much?”
“12,000 won for an Americano.”
12,000 won for coffee—definitely a high-end hotel price.
I had assumed this café was just an employee welfare perk…
But looking around, there weren’t many people here.
Tae-ha leaned close and whispered in my ear, covering his mouth with one hand.
“With an employee card, you get 10% off. Today’s on me. Once you get your card, you treat next time, got it?”
“Got it.”
“You smoke?”
“Sometimes.”
“Then let’s grab our coffee and head up to the rooftop.”
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