Office Worker 2
Extremely Unfortunate
Director Jung Geun-young spoke as director Choi Gu-yeol drew a blueprint without a word and solely focused on his work.
CEO Kim Jae-yeol focused on pleasing and confronting Director Jung Geun-young.
And just like that, our meal had come to a start.
A simple serving of tea and fruits.
Director Jung Geun-young, who was leading the conversation throughout our meal, spoke of something unexpected.
“CEO Kim. Let’s get this finalized by this week. The legal team will send you the final version of the contract tomorrow. Is the team leader fine with it?”
Until then, it had been difficult for me to interject in the conversation. This was because CEO Kim would lose his cool if something went out of his path. However, now, Director Jung Geun-young directly asked for my opinion which gave me a valid reason to be involved in the conversation.
“Sorry, but I don’t agree.”
“What?”
“We have achieved incredible results over the past two years with just six employees. But the result of such hard work is just 2.2 billion, isn’t that unfortunate?”
At my words, CEO Kim’s angry expression turned into a shocked one. The same was the case for Jung Geun-young, even Choi Gu-yeol, who hadn’t said much throughout the entire meal, opened his mouth and stared through his glasses.
“2.2 billion is an unfortunate number?”
“Yes.”
“One Small is a small-scale commerce with an operating profit of 200 million. The reason why BO Foods is investing 2.2 billion won is that it highly regards talented ones like Mr. Won.”
“Yes, yes, we know that too. Our team leader is full of energy… hahaha.”
Kim Jae-yeol, who was flustered with my words, placed his hand on my shoulder.
But unlike what he wished, I was ready to cross the line.
“Last month, our sales rose 37% from the beginning of the year and the purchase rate to inflow has grown steadily over 2% every month. The operating profit in the financial statement is just 200 million, but I know that the expected profit in the future will be a lot higher. If not this year then the next year, you would be offering us more than 5 billion won and not the current said amount.”
This was from the memory of touching the coat, so I tried betting on it.
The dining room went silent for a while. It was director Jung Geun-young, who was the first to be shocked, to speak and break the cold atmosphere.
“Hahaha, the rumors do justice about team leader Won.”
“What?”
“Do you know what the manufacturing managers were talking about?”
“I am not aware.”
“They said that you had more confidence than Director Choi Gu-yeol. Hahaha.”
“Thank you.”
As I lowered my head a little, director Jung Geun-young spoke after pulling down his glasses.
“I understand. I know where Mr. Won’s heart lies. Since you created and operated on it yourself, you must be feeling more affectionate towards it. But now is the time to see reality and not assume. If you ask for more than this, we will have to back out of this proposal.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“…”
“With this level of growth, we will surely be worth more than 5 billion won next year and the big players who are aiming for social commerce will approach us.”
CEO Kim Jae-yeol, looked at my expression and laughed awkwardly.
“Hahaha, Team leader Won, why do you have to pull this?”
“Director, this is the first time that he is involved in such a situation. Hahaha!”
Kim Jae-yeol tried to make the deal stand.
However, I took another step ahead without worrying about his efforts.
“Please look at the efforts we have put in so far and our hopes for the future. It’s a small company with six members but please recognize their effort and for doing it so well.”
The silence continued again.
Director Kim Jae-yeol began to sniff his nose. It was a sign that he was thinking about what I said. One of the things he noticed was how natural the new proposal had been placed.
“Phew… Director Jung. No, I should be calling you CEO Jung now. I am sorry for saying this, but…”
“What is it?”
“About the severance pay…”
“Didn’t we make the cash ratio to 20%?!”
“Ah… I know that. But I am just saying. As team leader Won said, these kids really put in a lot of effort. The two kids on calls handled all the claims, reducing the return rate to less than 3%. Where do we see such a thing? The MDs (E/N: Managing Directors) put the manufacturers’ claims on dead and the developers hold on until the server fails. You do realize how difficult it is for small commerces to lower the return rates.”
“And so?”
“I want to increase some incentives during the end.”
“Would you wish to raise the proportion of the cash?”
“Ah… no.”
“Then, what are you trying to imply?”
“What do you mean by incentives? These are the people that you are trying to act alongside.”
“Think about it. If BO, which we will work with in the future, pay the incentives for their hard work, BO will be considered on a whole different level. These are really capable kids. Show them that BO is buying them high and they will also be rewarded accordingly. Right, team leader Won? You were trying to put this out to us, right?”
CEO Kim Jae-yeol did a perfect act of adding along with his intentions without being flustered. As I nodded lightly, he spoke again, “CEO Jung! Please think about 300 million more. I would like to give to the six including team leader here.”
“What kind of an employee gets paid so much!”
“A return rate of 3%… has that ever been achieved in online commerce? It was done only because of the kids in our company who worked their asses off!”
Jung Geun-young choked on his tea, while director Choi Gu-yeol looked up with a slight smile, “CEO Jung. Is it fine if I add something?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“CEO Kim’s words are reasonable. If BO can show sincerity, they will respond to us with results.”
“But 300 million won…”
“If it’s difficult, I will take this to the chairman.”
“Kuem…”
At the words of Choi Gu-yeol, Jung Geun-young lowered his head.
He took another sip of the tea and opened his mouth while fiddling with the teacup.
“I understand. Let’s do that.”
To decide on a payment as large as 300 million on spot isn’t a decision one could take… Also, the amount running in their heads was 2.7 billion.
CEO Kim Jae-yeol smiled brightly as he jumped up from his seat and bowed to them while shouting, “You are great CEO Jung. Thank you. Thank you very much!”
As the meal came to an end, CEO Kim and I left the restaurant.
“Wah, Won Jihoon! Hahaha! How could you even think about it?”
“Because it looked like they had more to spare. If you left it alone, I would have pulled a little more…”
“Come on now. You are being too greedy.”
“But, CEO. You are not going to pay the employee’s severance pay with the incentives from BO, right?”
“Am I some kind of thug? The kids struggled, there is no way I would do that. I’ll take out a small portion of 1,000 won and give them the remaining.”
“What is this change?”
“God… How do you see me as?”
CEO Kim Jae-yeol smiled and touched my shoulder.
“No, I was just joking.”
“Hahaha, I know. But, Jihoon-ah.”
“Yes?”
“You aren’t going to head back home, right? Shouldn’t we have a strong drink on a day like this? Talk among ourselves as we got a raise of 300 million.”
“Yes, let’s go. I’ll buy it today.”
“Hahaha, of course, you will. Should I call the other kids too?”
“Ugh… Don’t. I can accept you, but not the other kids.”
“Is that so? Hahaha.”
***
A month later.
The mergers and acquisitions ended smoothly.
The amount deposited in the name of 5,000 for each employee as an incentive and 20% upfront shares was around 110 million.
After deducting the taxes, the amount seemed shabby than expected.
My staff and I went to work at the BO Foods headquarters in Gangnam after a seven-day honey-like vacation.
In front of the entrance door of BO Foods office building, Lee Eunji wore a neat suit and was leaning on the wall. As soon as she saw me, she shouted loudly, “Team leader!”
It was as if she was waiting for me.
“You came early Miss Eunji? But, why are you here?”
“About that…”
“What is it?”
“I was looking at the staff and everyone had a pass on them before entering. Have you gotten your pass?”
“No?”
She was a passive kind of person, so she would wait and wait until something happened.
I took her to the info desk and obtained a temporary pass. It seemed like they have been informed in advance, so we were given the passes in less than a minute.
“Miss Eunji is on the health food part, right?”
BO Commerce placed each one of us in different teams. This was in the name of making us adapt to the company work structure.
With the role of MD, I was assigned as the special sales team leader, and Lee Eunji took an AMD position under me but was placed on the health food team.
Development and designers were each sent to their respective support teams, employees who were in charge of the CS were also sent to the CS team. (E/N: CS is Customer Support/Customer Service..)
That was the correct procedure, however, I couldn’t help but feel anxious about being separated from the employees with who I had been around for years.
“Yes, but team leader?”
“Yes?”
“Would I be able to do well?”
“Surely.”
“But I am not good at basic excel?”
“Eunji, you are passionate. If anyone bullies you, come to me. I will punch them.”
“Will you really do that?”
“Of course. You know that I go blind when I decide on one thing.”
“I am glad to know you, team leader.”
When the elevator arrived we entered, Lee Eunji smiled wide and pushed the button on the 17th floor. That was when…
“Yah! Won Jihoon! You are Dusty, right?”
Dusty was the nickname I was given in high school. Someone grabbed onto my shoulder, making me turn my head.
A thin blue tie, black suit, and neatly combed hair. This man was none other than Kim Tae-ha, my close friend in school.
“Tae-ha?”
“Right! It is me! It has been so long Dusty!”
The elevator was filled with a lot of people. Kim Tae-ha, who was shouting loudly and didn’t even worry about other people’s glances, pressed the button to the 25th floor.
“Are you heading to work?”
“How did you know that?”
“I know everything. There is a café on the 25th floor. How about a cup of coffee? There are 30 minutes left before the working hour hits.”
“Okay.”
Kim Tae-ha.
He was born with everything in his grasp.
Great height and handsome looks.
He was the highest-scoring student in the entire school and had all the executive positions from class presidents to student council president. He was also taught martial arts since childhood so he can even fight well. No one messed with him.
I was curious about the handsome guy, so I fiddled with his stuff for an entire month, and thanks to that, I was able to find out that he was the 3rd son of BO Foods chairman, Kim Sang-man.
“Miss, Eunji, you can go ahead. Alright?”
“Yes.”
I made sure Lee Eunji got down on the 17th floor and headed to the 25th floor with Kim Tae-ha.
“The coffee here is much tastier and expensive than the one from star coffee shop across the street.”
“It makes sense for being delicious but expensive?”
“Americano costs 12,000 won.”
A coffee costs 12,000 won, that is the price of a luxury hotel coffee.
I thought it was a café for the welfare of the employee…
Come to think of it, there weren’t that many people around us. Kim Tae-ha covered his mouth with one hand and whispered into my ear.
“If paid with an employee ID, they’ll give a 10% discount. I will get it for you today. No, next time get an employee ID, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Do you smoke?”
“Sometimes.”
“Then, let’s get coffee and go up to the rooftop.”
