Hidden Motives || Chae Hyungwon

[ fourteen ]

Baek Ha Rim

i leaned backwards and tried to relieve the tension on my back through stretching after continuous hours of working.

it was another afternoon at work and somehow, i was getting the vibe of how things usually flow in this place.

"ceo chae really snapped! right now the design department is extremely stressed." i overheard rowoon's voice.

i slowly turned my head and looked at him while raising an eyebrow. the ceo was actually mad?

"heol... poor them. he's scary without doing anything, so how much more when he actually gets mad?" one of rowoon's friends trembled.

"exactly! i heard he was extremely disappointed because an intern in the design department proposed the company to release flowery and colorful designs for the summer collection. he embarassed that poor intern for not knowing the aesthetic of chae's couture first and foremost." rowoon explained.

"aish.. what a bad move indeed. the ceo really upholds the trademark of chae's couture when it comes to style and design. proposing maximalist pieces or anything he deems tacky will only set you up for trouble."

"yeah, that's why he's the total opposite of his cousin yoo kihyun. i mean have you seen that guy's hotels? they're really grand, it's completely crazy!" rowoon exclaimed.

"well, what can we expect? yoo kihyun and chae hyungwon are the total 'it boys'. they both really have an eye for design though their styles may contradict each other's." his friend concluded.

i quickly pushed my office chair back and got up from my seat. because of that, rowoon got startled and looked up at me immediately.

"where are you going?" he asked.

"i'm grabbing coffee." i shortly replied to him and rushed out of the office.

i walked my way out thinking about the things i have just heard. whoever that intern is, i really pity her. the pressure is real.

i eventually decided to make a stop at one of the restrooms first. the moment i got in, i noticed two girls whispering to themselves about the last cubicle at the edge as they made their way out.

i looked at myself in the mirror confused as i initially tried not to mind them.

however, when i was finally all alone, i soon started to hear someone crying. i took a pause to listen where the sound was coming from.

when i had finally deciphered where the source of the sound was, i slowly moved my body and decided to walk towards the last cubicle as i felt certain that the sobbing i heard was coming from it inside.

taking a deep breath in, i courageously knocked thrice on the cubicle's door.

"hello? is anyone inside? are you alright?" i spoke gently.

i moved backwards and stood waiting outside the cubicle's door. anytime now, there would be a response.

and just as i had expected, the door suddenly opened revealing a girl with swollen red eyes from crying.

"i-i'm sorry. do you n-need to use the cubicle? i know i-i stayed there a bit too long now." she stuttered.

my eyes slowly moved down to her id. there, i was unexpectedly able to see that her position was actually an intern.

my eyes suddenly widened as i looked back at her face.

maybe she was that intern.

"n-no, it's okay. i didn't need to use that cubicle but i was just wondering if you needed help..."