Today was a strangely hectic day. My condition wasn’t good, and work suddenly increased, giving me a lot to worry about. I was about to lose my mind making both the basic desserts sold at the cafe and the menu the executive director had separately ordered. Even in the midst of all that chaos, I had to check whether the executive director’s guests were having any discomfort while eating.
Originally, observing customers’ reactions was the principle anyway, and I was extra concerned since they were the executive director’s guests. Fortunately, the response seemed okay. I saw satisfaction on their faces, so I was relieved for now. My stomach had been turning from the smell of eggs and butter all day, so I wore two masks while making them, but it was worth it.
“Phew, but at least there’s a breeze here so I feel alive.”
The moment I felt my stomach was upset by the food smell, I instinctively knew this was the morning sickness I’d only heard about. I’d been fine until now, so I thought I was constitutionally okay. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. If this condition continues, far from enduring the two months the executive director mentioned, I might have to hurriedly quit my work.
When I searched the internet, it said it gets worse and worse…. With the executive director’s reminder and to avoid straining my health or the fetus, I need to really pull myself together. To calm my stomach and cool my head, I stopped my headache-inducing thoughts.
With the wind blowing, I could feel the pleasant smell of trees on the breeze, so I looked around. Looking at it again, this is such a nice space. What do you call a place like this? It’s not as wide as a rooftop garden, but the space was too large to call it a balcony or terrace. It was an outdoor terrace-concept garden on the executive director’s floor, and even to my unknowing eyes, it was tasteful.
Even without being flashy, the clean landscaping without any excess was elegant. Thanks to the subtle lighting shining between the grass, the atmosphere was even more luxurious. Evenly shaped stones created paths over the neatly laid grass, and water even flowed between the beautifully colored gravel.
Really pretty, isn’t it? Where does the water come from? Additionally, the tables that brought to mind traditional Korean soban tables also matched this place very well.
They said the executive director created it as a place to clear his head, and because he was the Chairman’s grandson, the class was different. Well, for the next head of Korea’s top company, something like this would be nothing. I might seem unsophisticated for being impressed by something like this, but I haven’t been exposed to places like this much, so I was amazed by everything I saw.
“Mm, Gyuho’s house was really rich too, but it’s different from there…”
I recalled Gyuho’s house, which ran several hospitals. Back when I lived at Gyuho’s house due to circumstances, everything there seemed amazing. But suddenly I have this thought. Even Gyuho’s house, which I felt was amazing, is nothing compared to this place. It wasn’t even that great of a house, though it can’t be compared to a chaebol family, I still came to realize these things.
When I recalled Gyuho’s hospital, memories of being looked down on at that house naturally came along like an appendix. And even Gyuho’s figure turning away coldly.
When I remembered things I didn’t want to remember, I squeezed my eyes shut. He’s someone who became cold in an instant and disappeared to America without a single word. I know I don’t need to torment myself by recalling him like this, but he keeps bothering me like a fishbone stuck in my throat.
I shook my head to regain my senses and quickly began organizing the empty plates. Just then, people seemed to have finished their snack too, as they were busily organizing their seats. As I was carefully moving the empty containers to a cart, I felt a strange gaze from somewhere.
At the feeling of someone staring, I turned my head in that direction. I was soon able to spot someone watching me from near the door.
“…Executive Director? Wait, but why are his clothes like that?”
Right. That person was, of course, none other than Executive Director Cha Juheon. Wearing something like a quarantine suit, he was looking at me with his usual arrogant expression. Then he nagged the people finishing their meal and heading into the office to brush their teeth, spraying disinfectant at the same time. At that sight, I couldn’t help but be shocked. How can he so blatantly do that to people…
“He must be crazy. They said they were executives from another company—is it okay for him to do that?”
But the people getting sprayed with disinfectant didn’t seem to mind much, as if his behavior was familiar. That’s also quite a remarkable reaction. But on top of that, what was even funnier was the executive director’s outfit. I was curious where he got those clothes.
Isn’t that really a quarantine suit? I gaped at the sight of the executive director spraying disinfectant while wearing a quarantine suit. The sight of him spraying disinfectant here and there was, how should I put it, really excessive.
Right now, from his outfit to his behavior, nothing about him wasn’t excessive. Whether he knew my thoughts or not, the executive director pulled up the mask that had been hanging on his chin to cover his nose as he approached me.
“Hello, Executive Director.”
“Mr. Baek Eunwoo. Thank you for your hard work today. I’m sorry for the sudden order. Those people made a fuss asking for something to eat before the meeting. Messily.”
He clicked his tongue and sprayed more disinfectant in the direction where the people had disappeared. While he did that, I quickly put on the mask I’d prepared in case my stomach acted up. I shouldn’t get scolded today.
“But didn’t you only ask me to make the food today?”
He looked around at the employees cleaning up the plates and asked as if curious.
“Pardon? What do you mean…?”
“I hired separate serving staff, so I’m asking why Mr. Baek Eunwoo was here. Did you absolutely need to be at this place?”
Well, of course. The person in charge should naturally be there. Who knows what problems might arise…
“Even if there’s serving staff, the person responsible for preparing the food should be there. Today the variety and quantity weren’t that much, but I still need to check. I need to see the reactions—whether it suits their tastes, whether there are any problems. There are often people who ask about the dessert types too.”
“I see. Then, where is the owner here?”
I couldn’t tell at all whether he understood what I said or properly listened, since his expression remained consistent. Because he suddenly asked for the owner, I ended up doing that behavior he dislikes again. He told me not to ask back but to understand and answer in one go, yet I repeated that behavior.
“The owner?”
“Yes. The owner here. If you need someone responsible, wouldn’t it have been better to have the owner rather than an employee?”
“The owner is working at the cafe right now. The time before closing is surprisingly busy. There are people packaging leftovers, and people taking coffee to go, so quite a few customers gather. The owner always does the closing.”
“…I see. I understand. Mr. Baek Eunwoo should finish organizing and go down too. Thank you for your hard work.”
His attitude telling me to go now with a thoughtful look strangely felt unsettling.
“Ah, Mr. Baek Eunwoo.”
The executive director stopped me as I was turning around, as if something had occurred to him.
“Have you moved now?”
He seemed to be asking if I’d moved to the apartment or building specified in the contract.
“Yes, I did move, but I’m temporarily staying at an apartment close to the foundation hospital for now. The Chairman said to keep receiving treatment and check my condition until childbirth, so I decided to stay somewhere close to the hospital.”
“Really? That must be bothersome. Still, please understand—it’s because the Chairman’s expectations for his great-grandchild are high.”
“Of course. I’m fine. Rather, maybe because the hospital is close, I feel more mentally stable, so it’s not bad.”
“Then that’s fortunate. Well then.”
Confirming that people were returning, the executive director finished the conversation and entered the conference room. As I stared blankly at the executive director who coolly said what he had to say and turned around, I desperately had this thought. I don’t want to run into him anymore. The executive director made me too uncomfortable and was too difficult.
I should probably ask hyung to find someone as quickly as possible. I can’t do it twice, dealing with that person face to face. Once I wrap things up and leave, there won’t be occasions to run into him like this again. Whether it was because I lost energy and got nervous from the short conversation with the executive director, my forehead was drenched with sweat.
***
Juheon, sitting in the conference room, watched Eunwoo who was visible through the glass wall. Today too, he felt absolutely no aversion. Rather, he even felt a sweet smell.
This is really strange. What principle is this even? A person’s face that had only felt dirty his whole life—why does it feel sweet? It felt like he’d become a pervert.
“Could it be because he’s the person carrying my baby? Is this a pheromone issue or what…”
It was something he was experiencing for the first time in his life, so Juheon couldn’t know at all. Since it was something he couldn’t find the answer to, he should probably consult his attending physician about this. Juheon was confused enough to need medical help. And as a result of observing Baek Eunwoo continuously today, his condition looked quite uncomfortable.
Even when standing still and serving customers, it was clearly visible that his stomach was upset. Sometimes he put his hand to his mouth in discomfort, and occasionally he hit his chest. Then he would drink the beverage he’d prepared and take deep breaths.
“…Grandfather chose him so I stayed still, but he’s someone who really doesn’t listen. Maybe because he’s young, he has pointless stubbornness.”
It’s true that he ordered in a hurry since the meeting time was at an awkward dinner hour. Maybe I should have selected a catering company instead. Though he was the one who ordered the work, he didn’t know Baek Eunwoo would come himself and insist on being in charge or whatever, keeping watch over the place. Moreover, he’d been fine until yesterday, so he couldn’t have predicted such an uncomfortable appearance.
Whether his body was struggling, he stood there blankly and even swayed while walking. He said he’d be lenient for one or two months, but it seems like it can’t go on anymore. Not being able to take care of his body during the most sensitive period of pregnancy was clearly a contract violation.
“How did what you looked into yesterday turn out?”
Juheon, who slightly called his secretary, casually asked her something.
“I received contact a little while ago and was going to tell you after the meeting ended.”
“How many came?”
“There are more applicants than expected. The hotel’s head chef sorted through them and sent them. You can decide after looking. They all have decent experience and are people who said they can readily commute here. Should I give you the file now?”
“No. Let’s do it after work finishes. Have them interview by tomorrow, and don’t forget to specify in the contract that I’ll pay them a separate salary if they’re hired there. Of course, the fact that we recruited them and they went for an interview shouldn’t reach their ears.”
“Of course. I’ll proceed without mistakes.”
The frustrated Juheon moved first. The thirsty one digs the well. He asked for help from the head pastry chef of the affiliated hotel. Since they were the head chef of a five-star hotel, they had wide connections and knew many people, so he asked them to find a good employee. Though he asked for help because it was urgent, he didn’t know the work would proceed this quickly.
But fast is good for anything. If he moves slowly like that, when will he find someone and when will he even finish the handover? There’s no need to wait for such uncertain promises. Also, if his body is uncomfortable and he shows such a concerning appearance, there’s nothing more to see.
Juheon didn’t accept his grandfather’s surrogate proposal without any thought. It was something he accepted after countless worries and deliberation.
In this plan he chose so carefully, not even a small defect can occur. The baby to be born must be born healthy on the scheduled day. For that, above all, the health and psychological stability of the person carrying the baby are the top priority.
Juheon doesn’t know how tightly Baek Eunwoo is bound to his owner with what kind of humanitarian bond, proclaiming human duty, but that’s none of Juheon’s business. What Juheon needs and what’s most important is his own child in Baek Eunwoo’s belly. For the sake of that existence, which would probably be his first and last baby, Juheon could do anything for a few months.
