In a sleek conference room at a leading beauty product company, tension crackled in the air as Ma-Ri, the manager of Team A, found herself in a heated argument with Joo-Young, the manager of Team B. Both teams, part of the company’s core department, were vying for an exciting new project—a revolutionary beauty product that promised to be the next big thing.
Ma-Ri stood her ground confidently, emphasizing her team’s track record of success. “Let’s not forget,” she declared, her voice steady but sharp, “most of this company’s top-selling products were developed under my team’s leadership. Team A has proven time and again that we’re the backbone of this brand’s innovation.”
But Joo-Young wasn’t one to back down. Rising from her chair, she shot a piercing look at Ma-Ri. “And yet,” she said, her tone laced with sarcasm, “you seem to forget the reality of your current situation. Three of your key team members are leaving soon—quitting to get married, if I recall correctly. With such a glaring weakness, are you really in a position to handle this project? Maybe it’s time for Team A to step aside and let someone more capable take the lead.”
The tension in the room escalated as the two managers exchanged sharp words. Joo-Young’s jab hit a nerve, but Ma-Ri refused to show any cracks in her composure, firing back with pointed remarks about Team B’s past failures.
As the argument threatened to boil over, Eunbi, the department’s senior manager, finally intervened. “Enough!” she said firmly, her voice cutting through the noise. “This is neither the time nor the place for this. We’ll revisit this discussion next week when cooler heads can prevail. For now, this meeting is adjourned.”
Reluctantly, both Ma-Ri and Joo-Young sat back down, their tension palpable. As the room began to clear, Ma-Ri clenched her fists under the table, silently vowing not to let Joo-Young undermine her. With a week to prepare, she knew she needed to rally her team—and perhaps find a creative solution to counter the unexpected challenges ahead.
The battle for the project was far from over.
In the bustling cafeteria during the lunch break, three members of Team A sat across from Ma-Ri, their expressions a mix of guilt and hesitation. They were part of the core team that had worked side by side with Ma-Ri through countless late nights, deadlines, and triumphs. Today, however, they weren’t gathered to discuss strategy or brainstorm ideas. Instead, they were here to deliver difficult news.
“Ma-Ri,” one of them began cautiously, her voice tinged with regret, “we’re really sorry, but we’ve decided to resign. All three of us. It wasn’t an easy decision, but... we’ve each chosen to prioritize our personal lives. We’re getting married soon, and juggling work with the next chapter of our lives just doesn’t seem feasible anymore.”
The words hung heavy in the air, and the other two nodded in agreement. One added softly, “You’ve been such an incredible leader to us, and we’ll never forget everything we’ve accomplished together. This team feels like family, which makes this decision even harder. We hope you can understand.”
Ma-Ri sat silently for a moment, her usual composed demeanor giving way to a flicker of sadness in her eyes. She looked at each of them, remembering the countless memories they’d shared—the late-night brainstorming sessions fueled by coffee and determination, the stress and exhilaration of launching successful projects, and even the occasional heated disagreements that had only strengthened their bond.
“I won’t lie,” Ma-Ri finally said, her voice steady but tinged with emotion, “this isn’t easy to hear. Losing three of my best team members all at once feels like losing a part of myself. But... I understand. Life moves on, and so must all of us.”
She took a deep breath before continuing, a small smile playing on her lips. “Don’t worry about me, or the team. We’ll find a way to manage. What matters is that you’re making the right choice for your lives. I’m proud of everything we’ve achieved together, and I hope you carry those memories with you as you move forward. No regrets, okay?”
The three of them looked visibly relieved, their guilt easing with Ma-Ri’s words. “Thank you, Ma-Ri,” one of them said, her voice wavering. “It means so much to hear that from you. We just hope Team A continues to thrive, even without us.”
Ma-Ri’s smile widened, though a hint of melancholy lingered in her eyes. “Team A will survive,” she said with quiet determination. “We always do. But more importantly, I wish you all nothing but happiness in this next chapter of your lives.”
As the group exchanged bittersweet smiles, Ma-Ri felt a wave of mixed emotions—pride for the friendships they’d built, sadness for their impending departure, and a quiet resolve to ensure that Team A would remain strong, no matter what challenges lay ahead.
In the restroom, Ma-Ri stood in front of the mirror, carefully reapplying her lipstick. She took her time, ensuring her makeup was flawless as always. Her reflection stared back at her, calm and composed, though a flicker of hesitation lingered in her eyes. Once satisfied, she straightened her posture, pulled out her phone, and dialed a familiar number.
The line rang twice before Man-shik, her boyfriend, picked up. His voice was warm but slightly hurried, a tone Ma-Ri had grown accustomed to in recent weeks.
“Ma-Ri,” he greeted, “what’s up?”
“Are you free tonight?” she asked, her voice light yet hopeful. “I know you’ve been busy lately, and I don’t want to take up too much of your time. But I was thinking... maybe we could have dinner together?”
There was a pause on the other end, and Ma-Ri could almost hear the gears turning in his head. She continued quickly, trying to sound casual. “It’s just... there’s something I want to discuss with you. You know the position that’s opening up in my team soon? I think it would be perfect for you. It’s a great opportunity, and it would mean we’d get to see each other more often. I mean, you’ve always talked about wanting to work on something meaningful, and this could be a chance to—”
“Ma-Ri,” Man-shik interrupted softly, his tone unusually serious.
Her words faltered. “What is it?”
There was a long silence, and for a moment, Ma-Ri felt a pang of unease. Finally, Man-shik sighed, his voice dropping to a gentler register. “Dinner sounds good. Let’s meet tonight. But... there’s something I need to tell you too. It’s important.”
His words lingered in the air, and Ma-Ri tightened her grip on the phone. “Is everything okay?” she asked, trying to keep her tone even.
“Yeah,” he replied after a brief pause, though his voice lacked conviction. “We’ll talk tonight. Seven o’clock at our usual place?”
Ma-Ri forced a small smile, even though he couldn’t see it. “Alright. I’ll see you there.”
When the call ended, she lowered her phone slowly, staring at her reflection once more. Something about his tone felt off, as though there was a weight behind his words that he wasn’t ready to reveal. Shaking off the creeping anxiety, she squared her shoulders and gave herself a reassuring nod.
Whatever Man-shik wanted to say, she would deal with it tonight. For now, she had a job to do, and Ma-Ri never let anything—or anyone—distract her from her goals.
Ma-ri who has to make Shin-Woo her replacement boyfriend after she just broke up with her boyfriend. She did all that to fill a position in the office where she works that should have been filled by her ex-boyfriend who previously worked on her recommendation.
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