BVSM 04

Chapter 04

“Should I run, or not?”

Even as I changed my clothes after the sudden acceptance notice arrived, I agonized over it hundreds of times.

But in the end, that worry was pretty much useless.

“Why are you still here, Director?”

“Ah, there was some paperwork they wanted me to bring from that place. You haven’t been in the capital long, so you don’t know your way around, right? Since I came all this way, I’ll take you there myself, ha ha!”

Because the job placement center director’s meddlesomeness exceeded my wildest imagination.

I’m not even sure this counts as kindness in the first place.

‘What if Aden told him to do this on purpose, worried I might stray off course?’

Shivering with unease, I accompanied the director and…

“……Hello, I’m Ilian Gracia. Please take care of me. Cough.”

Before I knew it, I had shown up for work at La Mar.

Never thought I’d see this pitch-black office again.

“Ms. Ilian Gracia.”

And never thought I’d face this pitch-black man again!

Without even glancing at my employment documents left on his desk, Aden called my name right away.

A spine-chillingly low, cold voice. The kind that makes you feel like you should apologize for sins you haven’t even committed.

“Yes, Director…”

“As stated in the job posting, the probation period is one month. Whether you’re confirmed or not depends on your performance.”

“Yes, understood—”

“Your work will be handed over to your senior, Jeremy Sand. It shouldn’t be difficult.”

“I’ll keep that in—”

“So.”

‘Stop cutting me off already. Don’t you know how a conversation works?’

He was like this during the interview too; it must be a habit.

What, my low-nutrient replies aren’t worth hearing? If I don’t answer, you’ll just say, “Ms. Gracia, I asked for an answer?” and scold me anyway!

Just as I was about to explode with indignation inside, Aden’s next words left me speechless.

“I hope to see a better side of you than during the interview, Ms. Gracia. I’ll be watching.”

“……”

“You may leave.”

In a way, it was a pretty unremarkable statement.

But hearing it in Aden’s voice sent a chill down my spine.

“Director! It’s time to leave.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

Whether he had outside business or not, Aden and Luther left the trading company right away.

Still standing awkwardly in the middle of the hallway, I first went to find my desk.

[Probationary Secretary]

Fiddling with the nameplate that didn’t yet have my name on it, I glanced around the desolate office.

For a trading company, oddly enough, there was no one here except me and my supposed senior, Jeremy.

An impulsive thought crossed my mind: Should I run now?

I pulled out a piece of paper and started scrawling a resignation letter—then stopped abruptly.

‘…No. To properly run away, I’d have to leave the capital. How would I find a new place to live? And what about this month’s debt?’

I’d even put my old house up for sale and moved to the capital, where there are plenty of jobs. All because of debt.

The problem was, my hometown house hadn’t sold yet, so I only had about 2 million gold on hand at the moment.

‘Of course, there is exactly one way left to get money.’

Selling my late mother’s keepsakes from 14 years ago.

But I shook my head firmly.

‘No, absolutely not. I’ve been struggling all this time, working two or three jobs just to avoid touching those things.’

That was when, after crunching the numbers in my head, no solution seemed to appear.

“Hmm?”

I noticed an envelope sitting on one corner of my desk. What’s this?

Casually picking it up and checking the contents, I shot to my feet.

“Um, Mr. Jeremy?”

My supposed supervisor, Jeremy, replied without even looking at me, clearly annoyed.

“What.”

“There’s a wad of money on my desk. What is this?”

Even as I asked, I instinctively gauged its thickness. One touch and I could estimate the amount.

This was exactly 3 million gold.

Combined with the money I had on hand, it was exactly enough to pay off this month’s interest—5 million gold!

‘Is this meant to be remitted somewhere? But even so, leaving such a large amount with a probationary employee without a word…’

While my mind raced, my senior answered irritably, as if wondering why I was even asking.

“That? It’s a hiring bonus.”

“……”

“For your information, your salary, performance bonus, and appearance maintenance allowance come separately at the end of the month.”

“……”

“What, you think it’s too small for a bonus? You’ve got big dreams for a probationary employee. That amount is one month’s salary given as a bonus, so if you have a complaint, take it up with the Director.”

I looked back and forth between the 3 million gold and the half-written resignation letter.

Just moments ago, I’d thought I needed to run away immediately.

‘Maybe… not immediately, but…’

I suppose you’d call this “financial therapy.”

‘Wait, could Aden actually not be a villain?’

Would a guy who just shoves 3 million gold at a mere probationary employee really be a bad guy? And the salary comes separately?

Sorry for cursing you out about cutting me off. I was wrong.

“The probation period is one month. Whether you’re confirmed or not depends on your performance.”

As I fiddled with the money, Aden’s words suddenly brushed past my ears.

I can’t stay at La Mar forever. I know their miserable ending.

I had no intention of becoming tied to Aden’s fate.

‘But one month—just one month of working here… that should be fine, right?’

I know this is the textbook definition of self-justification, but I had my reasons.

‘Let’s be realistic: if I can’t pay off the debt, my life is over. Plus, I need to find my father.’

The father who left me his gambling debt is currently missing.

Because the debt collectors took him away.

‘They said they’d only tell me where my father is after I pay off all the debt.’

Not that I’m doing it for sentimental reasons—he’s still my only father.

‘Given the situation, I can’t afford to worry about the father who dumped his debts on me.’

There’s something I absolutely must get from my father.

So until I face him, I have no choice but to keep up with the debt collectors.

‘If I secure an emergency fund with this bonus and the salary I’ll get at the end of the month, I might be able to breathe a little easier.’

With no idea when Sirena’s house might sell, I urgently needed this money to put out the immediate fire.

Besides,

‘If I just ran away without a good reason, Aden wouldn’t let it slide.’

That’s the real issue.

Aden is a villain who, one year from now, will have the entire empire in the palm of his hand.

And that mastermind currently has my personal information—which I so neatly summarized—in his grasp.

‘Wouldn’t it be best to avoid being chased not only by debt collectors but also by the world’s worst villain?’

So my conclusion was simple.

‘I’ll make Aden fire me!’

Clench.

My fist tightened.

‘I’ll act like a halfway useless slacker! So useless that he can’t help but cut me loose!’

Today’s meeting made it even clearer.

Aden doesn’t think highly of me. So why did he hire me?

‘The other candidates must have been so terrible that he had no choice but to pick me as the next best thing.’

So if I give him grounds to fire me, he’ll gladly kick out a probationary employee he already dislikes, right?

Then I can safely leave this villainous company without the risk of being chased!

‘Surely he won’t ask me to spit back the bonus. I’ll earn money and quit at the same time!’

I feel like I’ve found a way.

‘But I can’t act too obviously useless—that would make it seem like I have ulterior motives. …Not that I don’t, but still.’

Aden is the kind of man who would throw me into the sea as shark bait if things went wrong.

So my ultimate goal is: Be just annoying enough, just unlikable enough, to be a useless slacker.

But there’s one tiny problem with this seemingly perfect plan.

‘…Um, how exactly does one become a useless slacker…?’

Who in the world would set such a goal for their office life?