Chapter 16
In life, you really do end up experiencing all kinds of things.
Wow.
It wasn’t a careless splash—it was a precise, well-aimed strike. This wasn’t the work of someone who’d only done it once or twice.
I breathed in at the wrong moment, and the juice went straight up my nose. The absurdity of the situation made me want to lash out immediately, but all I could manage was coughing violently, my face turning beet red.
Heidi stared down at me as I choked, her eyes filled with disdain.
“Miyeon. How did you even get hired if you can’t tell the difference between coffee and juice?”
“Manager Jung, I asked for a coffee.”
Ah. Right. Coffee.
I remembered it clearly too. Heidi had ordered coffee. This was definitely Miyeon’s mistake back in the break room.
‘I should’ve noticed!’
But still, this was too much. If you had a problem, you could’ve just said something. Why dump juice on me?
“I’m sorry. I’ll bring you the correct drink right away.”
Despite my inner frustration, I kept my apology polite, but it clearly wasn’t enough to placate Heidi.
“Hey. What did you say earlier?”
“What did I…?”
“Do I look like some idiot who’d mix up my appointment date?”
Confused, I rolled my eyes before remembering what Miyeon had said when greeting Heidi. I quickly waved my hands.
“No! Of course not! How could you interpret it like that…?”
“Cut the crap. You’re doing this because you think it’s funny, aren’t you?”
“I’m sorry. I’ll bring you the coffee right away. It was my mistake—”
“Mistake? You think everything’s just a mistake? If you kill someone, can you just say it was a mistake and walk away? Must be nice living in your delusional little world.”
Is this really comparable to killing someone?
I blinked stupidly.
Was this the same Heidi who had playfully stuck out her tongue and acted cute earlier? The subtle chill I’d sensed back then definitely wasn’t just my imagination.
She deliberately called me out to bring her a drink just for this.
Wiping the dripping orange juice from my chin with the back of my hand, I met Heidi’s gaze squarely.
At this point, I didn’t need to waste any more time figuring out what kind of person she was.
The only thing left was to quietly leave this space without causing a scene that would damage the salon’s reputation.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Quit.”
“Huh?”
“Get lost. I don’t want to see your face while you’re working here.”
The demand was outrageous.
Clasping my hands together, I asked calmly, “Heidi. What did you just say?”
“I said get out on your own. Or do you want me to make you leave?”
“I can’t do that. It makes no sense for you to demand this just because I confirmed your appointment, and I don’t see any reason why I should comply. Yes, bringing the wrong drink was my mistake, but I already apologized and offered to correct it.”
“Oh, so you want me to make you leave? Manager Jung!”
“If I get fired over this, I won’t stay quiet. It’s clearly unfair dismissal.”
Heidi raised an eyebrow at my steady retorts.
“You won’t stay quiet?”
Her tilted brow exuded a dangerously decadent aura. My heart pounded.
Pfft.
A cold laugh escaped her perfectly shaped lips. Heidi stepped so close I could feel her breath.
“What, you’ll sue me?”
“If… necessary.”
“Go ahead. And then what? You think you’ll ever work in this industry again? It’s nothing to me. You’ll just have to find another job.”
Then, her long, slender finger pressed against my forehead.
“Are you really this stupid?”
Tap. Tap.
The force behind her fingertip made my head jerk back helplessly. Humiliation burned my cheeks.
I was stunned that Heidi could act like this. Wasn’t she someone who always had to be mindful of the public eye? Given how well she’d managed to stay active despite all the dirty gossip, the world really was unfair.
There’s no way Cha Wook should be involved with someone like this.
But my resolute expression must have finally chipped away at the last of Heidi’s patience.
Her eyes flashed with anger.
“You really don’t understand the situation, do you?”
Unable to contain her fury, she shoved me hard. Losing my balance, I fell backward in an instant.
Thud—!
My phone slipped from my hand.
The dull clatter drew both our gazes to the cracked screen now glaringly exposed. Heidi’s face stiffened instantly.
[● Recording…]
“……”
I’d started recording the moment she poured the juice on me.
I’d come up with the idea to ensure that the junior employee wouldn’t become Heidi’s scapegoat after my disguise wore off…
For a brief moment, I froze in shock at the unexpected turn of events—but then, without hesitation, Heidi and I both lunged for the phone at the same time.
I gave it my all, but unfortunately, Heidi was faster.
No!
I kicked out desperately, sending the phone skidding across the floor until it hit the door. As I scrambled to my feet, I blocked Heidi’s path.
Heidi stared blankly at the abandoned phone before lowering her voice to a venomous whisper.
“Since when… You fucking— Are you insane?”
“If you promise to leave me alone, this recording will never see the light of day.”
“Don’t push your luck. You think I’m scared of some stupid recording?”
“Maybe not, but aren’t you filming a drama right now? A scandal could hurt the production.”
“……”
Her glare was sharp enough to cut, but Heidi bit her lip and stayed silent.
Was it true that the drama had a huge investment? Even Heidi seemed afraid of jeopardizing it.
Now, if I can just get my phone back…
Knock, knock.
Just as I hesitated, a short knock sounded before the door swung open.
What if it’s someone connected to Heidi? Or worse—what if it’s the real Miyeon, back from the shampoo room?
While my mind raced with worries, a pair of clean sneakers stepped into view.
“Do Eunseok…?”
Heidi’s voice made my head snap up. It was Do Eunseok—he had come looking for Heidi.
His gaze flicked between Heidi and me before landing on the phone at his feet.
In an instant, his brow furrowed.
He’d realized it was recording.
I had no idea how he’d interpret this situation.
More importantly—were Do Eunseok and Heidi acquaintances? They’d both been in the industry long enough that they couldn’t be complete strangers, but were they close enough to acknowledge each other like this at a salon?
As I weighed the possibilities, I reached for my phone—but Eunseok moved first.
He picked up my battered, cracked phone.
Sigh… I still have 12 installments left to pay.
Before I could mourn my phone’s fate, Heidi shouted.
“Turn that off and give it to me!”
“……”
“I’ll explain everything later, just hurry!”
I stared at Eunseok nervously. I didn’t know what their relationship was, but I could tell the tide was turning against me.
People in the same industry naturally stick together, and to Eunseok, I was just a stranger.
I’m screwed.
Just as I was about to resign myself to defeat—
Eunseok’s finger, hovering over the stop recording button, suddenly froze.
“No.”
