secretary
#1_
It's 7:30 a.m. I arrived at the office and checked my schedule for the day. It said work starts at 9, but it's safe to say the secretary doesn't have a set start time.
"Ha, I want to go home."
I'm exhausted and worn out. I only got three hours of sleep today. Lately, I've been so busy that working overtime has become a given, but when my paycheck comes in, I'm so excited I'm going to shut up and get to work.
"You're early."
"Are you here?"
The managing director I work with. He arrives at work early, though not as early as I do. I suspect he's a perfectionist, so he glances at the schedule I've prepared and immediately gets to work.
"I prepared coffee."
"Leave it."
I prepared coffee and, as you might know, briefed him on the schedule. I even explained any additional details not on the schedule before leaving the room and taking my seat.
The manager's office has a glass wall with blinds, but the blinds on my side are usually not covered. I'm always on standby, and I frequently keep an eye on the manager through the glass as I act.
Because there are things you can discern from subtle expressions and actions. Perhaps because I've been with him for three years, it's not that difficult to grasp.
"You came early again today?"
"Oh, yes. I have a lot to do."
My colleagues were slowly starting to arrive for work. The only way to breathe amidst the cold, silent director was to be with them.
"Did you hear that?"
"What?"
"I think Secretary Yoon was really pissed off earlier. So I think she was trying to piss him off, so she put 10 pieces of sugar in his coffee and gave him that lol."
"You'll get in more trouble..."
"That's right lol I made excuses but why do people make mistakes like that..."
Don't like your boss at work? I think everyone does that. They might be tough on you in front of you, but behind your back, they're busy complaining and even cursing.
- To the maintenance room.
The call came. I tried to straighten my expression as much as possible and went into the room.
"I think I asked you to send me the summary of this project by yesterday."
"I'm sorry..."
"Do you think I called you to ask for an apology?"
Did I not send it because I didn't want to? What do you want me to do when Team 1 hasn't finished organizing it yet? You should pass it on to me or you should pass it on to me!! I wanted to say that, but I thought I'd get my balls cut off, so I decided to keep my mouth shut.
"Team 1 says they haven't finished organizing it yet. I'll get it to you right away."
"Ha, please come and get it quickly."
I don't think I've ever felt good about doing this job. Perhaps he doesn't realize how his subordinates' moods are influenced by his superiors', but because the managing director always has a stern expression, I always feel stern too.
"I've sent you a summary. Before you confirm, could you please check the payment details?"
"Yes."
After receiving the autograph, I quickly left the room. I didn't want to be in the same room for even a second.
"Secretary, are you attending the meeting today?"
Haha... I have to follow the manager on his way, so I ended up attending the meeting. Is this a secretary or a slave?
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"Nice to meet you."
Meeting with a business partner. Sitting next to the managing director, I pulled out my laptop and prepared to type.
"Is that your secretary next to you?"
I gave a brief greeting.
"You're so pretty. I thought you were a model."
"Thank you for the compliment."
I struggled to hold back the corners of my mouth from rising. I'm truly grateful for your kind words, but if I were this company's model, I'd be doomed. Seriously, I'm not joking.
The other party was a business partner. It was a position where something big could come and go depending on my mood, so I was very careful.
"Then let's do it that way this time."
I was curious. Why did they accept the offer, which was obviously smaller than the previous one?
"You should do what the other person wants at least once. Since there's no disadvantage to it anyway, there's no harm in it."
As soon as the business partners left, they opened their mouths, as if they had noticed something.
"ah···."
"Let's get moving. I need to prepare for my next schedule."
"Oh, yes."
What's the point of a working ant questioning something? It should just do as it's told...
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"Hey, did you hear the rumor?"
"...?"
"Someone caught the office workers dating yesterday!"
Office romance wasn't forbidden, but as a secretary, it was just an obstacle. It's not that I don't want to, but I'm so busy with my boss that I don't have time for anything except sleep.
Life is lonely...
- To the maintenance room.
Oh no. Another call.
"I have plans for a business trip tomorrow."
"ah..."
What the hell is this? I told you yesterday, Eva.
“I think the mechanic should go too.”
"Me...?"
"yes."
I really hate it. Are we supposed to go on a business trip together? I wish they'd just told me to go alone.
"I guess you don't like it."
Ugh. You hit the nail on the head. What kind of crazy person would want to go on a business trip with their boss?
"Whether I like it or not, I have no choice."
He pretended not to care and said he would prepare for the business trip.
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The day of the business trip. Exhausted, I waited for my manager in front of my house. I declined his offer to pick me up, but since we were going together anyway, he insisted I ride with him instead of bothering him, so I had no choice but to go.
"Please give me your luggage."
I had luggage because it was a three-day business trip. The manager helped me load my suitcase into the car, and I thanked him and got in.
The ride to the business trip with the seemingly indifferent executive was a silent one. I felt like I could fall asleep at any moment, but I knew it wasn't right to be driving next to someone, so I held on.
"If you're sleepy, go to sleep. Don't keep looking at me."
Anyway, he's really quick on the uptake.
"No, it's okay."
"Just sleep. It's more bothersome to do that."
"....."
It's truly speechless. In the end, I decided to close my eyes and apologize. Oh, you're not snoring, are you...?
While I was deep in sleep, a loud noise suddenly pierced my body, causing me to lurch forward.
"Ugh..."
"Ugh... Maintenance!! Are you okay!?"
While we were stopped at a red light, the car behind us rear-ended us and caused an accident.
"Yes... What about you, sir?"
"I'm fine. Let's go to the hospital first."
A sudden accident. I barely managed to escape the car, clutching the back of my neck, which was throbbing.
"Get to the hospital quickly..."
"No... First, you need to report it. Are you going to call the insurance company?"
"Does that matter in this situation!?"
Why were you so angry... I looked at the manager in confusion and waved my hand, as if to say, "It's really okay." Suddenly, a loud bang in my head made me stagger back.
"Secretary!!"
"Ugh..."
The manager immediately hugged me and, while comforting me as I struggled in pain, quickly ran to the nearest hospital.
"Just hold on a little longer..."
It was a manager I'd never seen before. He had a look on his face, as if he were about to collapse at any moment, as if he was in such a desperate state.
It must have been really heavy... Seeing the manager sweating profusely made me feel bad. It hurt like hell, but I wondered if I was causing trouble for nothing.
"I'm feeling a little better. You can give me a lift..."
"No. Absolutely not."
...Why on earth is the manager making that expression?
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Did you all have a vacation? I had one yesterday, even though it was only for two weeks.🥲