"By Haegang, the author... do you mean the author Haegang who wrote *Water Flower*?"
"Yes. That Haegang."
"Of course I know them."
It was a name no one who read even a little could fail to know.
Haegang's debut work, *Water Flower*, had held its place at the top of the bestseller list for so long that it was called the unshakeable number one, and it was even adapted into a film, achieving great success.
And not only that—their next two works also became huge sensations in succession, gaining fame even overseas, and with the rights contracts signed, they were currently in production as films.
"The person you'll be helping, Saebom, is author Haegang. There was originally someone working as an assistant, but due to circumstances, they won't be able to work for about half a year, so we urgently needed to find someone for a short-term position."
Only then did Saebom guess why the CEO had personally come to this interview.
Author Haegang was so famous that they had not merely propped up the publishing house but could have easily built it an extra building or two and still had influence to spare. So it seemed the company was personally handling the hiring process with care.
"Gijun told me to think of it as work similar to what a secretary or manager does. Could I hear exactly what kind of work I'd be doing?"
"Well, the most important duty is managing the author's condition. There may also be times when you need to accompany them to external schedules. Other than that, it'll include miscellaneous tasks like organizing materials at their request or running errands. And—"
"..."
"I heard you read a lot, Saebom, and looking at your resume, you even have a Level 1 Korean Language certificate. If the author makes a separate request, it would be nice if you could occasionally look over manuscripts or write brief critiques."
She had only learned at this meeting that her employer was a famous author, but the work itself didn't differ much from what Gijun had explained.
It was vastly different from what Saebom had done before, but nothing about it felt difficult.
"Gijun confidently vouched for you, and I'd like to hire you, Saebom."
Hyeongu placed the contract he had prepared in advance in front of Saebom.
"I'll take a call, so please review it at your leisure."
Once she confirmed Hyeongu had stepped away, Saebom began scrutinizing the contract.
The term was six months, working hours from 10 AM to 5 PM. For Saebom, who had wanted a short-term position, the conditions seemed perfectly tailored.
'The pay is...'
The most important compensation clause was written right below that.
'High.'
Saebom's mouth fell open. The pay was excessively high.
As she stared intently at the letters on the page, her gaze drifted to Hyeongu's back as he stood by the window talking to someone. Her eyes were highly suspicious.
'...Can I really receive this much?'
Nothing in this world is free. Such high compensation compared to the workload meant there had to be a reason, but she couldn't find it in what Gijun and Hyeongu had explained.
While Saebom's deliberation stretched on, Hyeongu finished his call and returned.
"Have you checked everything?"
"Not yet."
"You looked at me like that even though you haven't finished reviewing. It seems you have questions. Feel free to ask."
"It's just... the pay seems extremely high compared to the work."
At Saebom's pointed question, Hyeongu made a slightly troubled expression and let out a playful groan.
"The reason the pay is high is on the next page."
At his words, Saebom turned the page, and her eyes soon widened in shock.
"Why is the penalty fee ten times as much?"
Saebom was dumbfounded by the outrageous clause she'd never heard of.
Gijun had mentioned there was one difficult condition when introducing the job; this must have been it.
"Actually, there have been people who came in with other motives, so this clause was made to filter them out from the start."
"Other motives?"
"The author greatly dislikes their private life or personal information being exposed, but since so little is known about them, some have applied with the intention of selling information or stealing manuscripts."
As Hyeongu said, almost nothing was known about author Haegang despite their fame. So little that no one even knew their exact age, or even gender.
"There were actually two close calls with the author's next manuscript being leaked."
One had been committed by someone hired as an assistant, and another by a housekeeper who frequented the house. After that, Hyeongu explained, anyone working at author Haegang's house had to go through him, as was the case today.
'Even so, isn't ten times a bit much?'
If Saebom accepted the contract, Surim would pay all six months of compensation upfront.
Even if Saebom had no ulterior motives, if she quit before completing the six months, she would have to pay an enormous penalty.
A heavy silence fell between them once again.
Reading the hesitation on Saebom's face, Hyeongu broke the stretching silence.
"I know this clause is a bit forced. It's not much of a consolation, but that's why the pay was set so high."
"..."
"It's not just the security issue—the author is actually very sensitive about people coming and going in the studio changing."
That was why Hyeongu needed to find someone who would unconditionally complete the stated six months, and why he had attached such conditions despite knowing they were forced—to make that promise absolutely clear.
"Is it too much after all? If you're not comfortable—"
"No, it's not that..."
"..."
"It's not an ordinary clause. Please give me a little more time to think."
Hyeongu nodded and moved away so she could have time to think alone.
Saebom looked at the contract again. Right below where the tenfold penalty was stated, there was an exception clause.
It stated that if personal circumstances arose that made it impossible to perform the work, or if she was forced to do unlisted tasks, she could resign without any conditions.
The penalty clause was absurd no matter how many times she checked it, but when she considered the exception clause, the contract wasn't written entirely to her disadvantage.
'What should I do?'
It was a time when even part-time jobs at cafes or convenience stores were hard to find. To make it through the next half-year and join the TF Ugyeong had proposed, she needed to find work immediately.
'I was planning to stick out the full six months and quit anyway.'
A slight uneasiness remained, but she had no better options.
After mulling it over, Saebom discussed her duties clearly with Hyeongu once more, then signed the contract.
And within five minutes, she confirmed that all six months of pay had been deposited at once. Seeing them rush like this, they must have been quite desperate to hire someone.
"By the way, Saebom, have you—"
Saebom lifted her head at the voice cutting through her thoughts. Hyeongu, holding the signed contract, stood up and looked down at her.
"CEO?"
She waited for him to continue, but he trailed off and suddenly clamped his mouth shut.
When Saebom made a bewildered expression, Hyeongu drew a kind-looking smile on his lips and diverted her attention elsewhere.
"I think it would be good to greet the author today while we're at it. Do you have any plans after this?"
"No. I'm free."
"Then let's go see the author."
His voice was exceedingly cheerful.
* * *
After an hour's drive, author Haegang's house was located in a quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of Seoul, somewhat removed from the city's bustling districts.
The house looked strikingly different from ordinary homes from the outside—so large and luxurious that the word 'mansion' suited it better than 'house.'
"The house is incredible."
"Right? My wife is an architect, and she designed it herself."
Hyeongu, wearing a proud expression as if bragging, gave a brief explanation and then called author Haegang.
Saebom had unconsciously slowed her steps looking around the garden blended with trees and shrubs, but she hurried to follow behind him.
"We've arrived, Author. We're at the front door. Ah, then I'll open it and go in."
After the call, Hyeongu opened the door without ringing the bell. The fact that he even knew the door lock password made it easy to guess that he and author Haegang were very close.
"I'll go get the author. Please make yourself comfortable."
After guiding Saebom to the living room, Hyeongu climbed the stairs to the second floor. Left alone, she looked around awkwardly before settling onto the sofa.
'The house is really nice.'
Unable to wander around the ownerless house, Saebom was only looking at what her eyes could reach when her gaze landed on a flowerpot near the window.
'Eucalyptus.'
As she quietly looked at the vivid green leaves, a sudden memory surfaced. A memory she recalled at least once whenever this season of strong sunlight came around.
She stood motionless, staring only at the flowerpot for a long while as if bound by that memory.
"Saebom."