I’m Quitting Everything and Selling Cola

Chapter 162

Chapter 162. Love and the Culinary Revolution (6)

The following morning. Y&P Trading Company, the representative's office.

Scratch, scratch.

Nothing but the regular scrape of a fountain pen nib against paper broke the silence.

"……"

But inside Penelope's head, it was as noisy as a marketplace. A terrible dilemma was buzzing through her mind like a swarm of bees.

The scene from last night's After-party, seared into her eyes as though branded there.

'Mr. Jurgen? Do eat up. You've worked so hard.'

'My thanks.'

That wily fox Marianne, wagging her tail from side to side, personally slicing the meat and placing it on Jurgen's plate. And Jurgen, accepting it without a moment's hesitation.

Up to that point — well. That she could let pass.

'You were directing things in the kitchen right until closing — what were you doing?'

'I was observing the plates left behind after guests had finished their meals.''

Empty plates? Why so?'

'By examining the sauces and food a guest has left, one can conduct a kind of self-directed feedback.'

'My, my — I hadn't even considered that angle. Truly remarkable.'

But then the two of them going on to hold a detailed business discussion.

'……Ah, um…… W-well, if Countess Blanchard were the other party…… it would be a marriage with both legitimacy and symbolic significance in terms of reconciliation between the North and the royal family…… but Penelope has the advantage of having known him longer…… so it would be a good match……'

'Their positions do overlap in some ways, too……'

'Penelope also has a sparkling sort of charm, doesn't she? She says exactly what she thinks, and she's haughty. But Miss Marianne has a rather similar personality, doesn't she?'

'If, say, Mr. Jurgen's type happens to be a sharp-tempered noblewoman…… then Marianne could very well fall within the strike zone too, which is a terrifying pos…… mmmmph!!!'

And on top of all that, Serena's endless stream of words.

It had been more than enough to make Penelope feel a sense of crisis.

"Haah……"

Right then. She would admit it now. This was not simply a sense of crisis over losing a business partner.

Penelope liked Jurgen. And by liked, she meant liked as a man. Even if he weren't Hanbin, she desperately wanted him to stay by her side.

Having gone through all manner of trials and tribulations together, and come out the other side. It was a feeling she had come to acknowledge honestly.

But……

When something like this happened, she still had no idea how she was supposed to act. And that was precisely why she felt this sense of crisis.

So then — the question was this. How to convey these feelings to Jurgen.

"Nnnngh……"

Penelope set down her pen and rested her chin on her hand.

This was a far more bewildering and complicated problem than doubling Y&P Trading Company's revenue. How to hold onto Jurgen before he was taken from her.

Penelope was capable in many areas — but unfortunately, in this particular field, she had absolutely no immunity whatsoever.

In the first place, during the prime years when she should have been developing that kind of instinct, she had spent far too long as a useless ornament, a peripheral figure in the Social Circles. Her memory of even receiving a proper escort was hazy at best.

There was one thing she did know, however. The unspoken rule of the Social Circles.

'A woman must not make the first move — not aggressively, not blatantly.'

This wasn't a question of having confidence or not. It was the sort of social ignorance comparable to causing a scene alone in a solemn theatre. When dignity falls, so does one's allure.

In any case, Jurgen was also Hanbin, and he would surely be guided by those same norms.

"So then — what do I do?"

In that moment, what flashed through Penelope's mind was the scene from last night — Marianne gently passing her napkin to Jurgen with such easy warmth. A contact as smooth and natural as flowing water. A nonchalant tenderness that seemed to say, 'I'm thinking of you~'

And then, like an auditory hallucination, came the advice that self-proclaimed romance expert Serena had once given her.

'……The important thing is to be prickly as usual, but to take care of him in small, unguarded moments. That's your charm point!'

"Hmm…… I see."

Come to think of it, she couldn't recall ever being warmly attentive toward Jurgen in that kind of way. The majority of their conversations had been work-related, and even those were mostly her badgering him or lecturing him.

"……Can I actually do that?"

Penelope studied her own reflection in the window and straightened her expression.

Penelope was a veteran player of many years in the Social Circles, but…… The weapons she had honed were not honey and sugar. They were closer to masks and thorns.

Even just picturing herself saying 'Jurrgen~' in a soft, cloying voice……

"Ugh……"

Goosebumps crept up her spine.

If it had been a stranger, perhaps. But this was different. Jurgen knew Penelope well.

Would such a sudden change in attitude not come across as contrived — or worse, laughable?

"But if things stay like this……"

She might hold onto the position of business partner — but the seat beside him could well be stolen by that fox of a countess.

The very thought turned her stomach. Rather than witness Jurgen walking arm in arm with Marianne, she would sooner die of goosebumps.

"No."

Penelope shook her head firmly.

Who was she? Blood of the great Rosemore line. She had seized what she wanted, and filled what she lacked by whatever means necessary. What was there she couldn't do?

"There's no reason I can't do it."

Penelope rose from her seat with a resolute air. As it happened, Jurgen was sitting in his office, tiredly rolling his neck.

'This is my chance!'

The strategy was simple.

That gentle, softly attentive care Marianne had demonstrated last night. She would benchmark it.

She would show Jurgen warm, considerate attention.

Penelope made her way to the break room. She set Jurgen's coffee machine in motion.

Grrrr, grrr, grrr. Grinding the roasted beans, tamping, then drawing the espresso.

Tsssssss!!!

The aroma — perfect. The steam temperature was just right, and the coffee smelled wonderful. His coffee machine was simple enough to operate that even a cat could be trained to use it.

Now all she had to do was take it to him…… Serve it naturally. That was all.

Penelope balanced the tray and headed toward Jurgen's desk.

Steps that would ordinarily have been unhesitating were now as cautious as treading on thin ice. Her heartbeat was so loud it might have been ringing in her ears.

'Natural. As natural as possible.'

She stood beside Jurgen's desk.

He had his nose buried in documents, oblivious to Penelope's approach. His shirt collar was slightly crumpled, and his tie was loosened.

He had probably been up all night again.

A perfect opportunity.

"Ahem — er…… Jurgen?"

Penelope called to him, affecting as much composure as she could manage.

"Hmm? Oh, Penelope. When did you get here?"

Jurgen looked up. The moment their eyes met, her mind went completely blank for some reason.

"Oh — drink your coffee before you work."

She set the teacup down with a stiff, creaking motion, like a rusted doll.

Rattle, rattle, rattle, rattle, rattle!

Her fingertips trembled faintly, and the cup clinked against the saucer with a rattling sound.

"Oh, thank you. I was just thinking I could use one."

"It's…… nothing, really."

Jurgen smiled and reached for the cup. Success so far. Now for the next step.

The target: Jurgen's crumpled shirt collar. A chance to score bonus points.

Penelope swallowed drily and slowly extended her trembling hand.

'I can do this!!! It's just smoothing out a collar!!! It's nothing!!!'

But the closer her hand drew to the nape of Jurgen's neck, the more something seemed to creak inside her.

"……Hmm?"

Jurgen gave a small start and looked at Penelope. Penelope was inwardly startled, but forced herself not to show it — and patted and straightened his collar with practiced efficiency.

"Honestly, iron your shirt before you wear it. Look at the state of it."

"It got crumpled again before I knew it."

"You're also a representative of Y&P Trading Company, aren't you? The representative is the face of the company. You ought to be presentable."

"S-sorry about that."

Penelope's mask, tempered through years of training, concealed every flicker of feeling without so much as a flush — but……

She had ended up speaking in her usual sharp, biting way. Such was the terrifying power of habit.

"There's nothing to apologise for. A-anyway…… enjoy the coffee."

Penelope stumbled over her words, Serena-style, and retreated back to her seat as though fleeing. The moment she sank into her chair, the strength drained from her legs.

"Phew……"

She drew a ragged breath and clenched her fist tight beneath her desk.

"That was a success…… I think?"

It had been a success. She had naturally offered him coffee, and naturally tidied his appearance. Well, she had ended up instinctively picking at Jurgen in the middle — but surely this still counted as lively, attentive care that would make even Marianne pale in comparison?

It would have set even Hanbin's heart racing, that would.

Penelope stole a sideways glance at Jurgen through the glass partition.

But.

Sip.

"……"

Jurgen was calmly drinking his coffee as though nothing had happened, already back to concentrating on his documents. Excitement? Flustered surprise? There was none of it to be found.

"……What. Why is he so calm……"

Penelope's brow furrowed. The air went right out of her. If she was being honest, she even felt a touch aggrieved.

She had made the effort for once — couldn't he at least notice?

"Is it that I'm not charming……"

Penelope stuck out her lower lip and picked up her fountain pen with an irritable air.

"What on earth am I putting myself through this for……"

Strictly speaking, she was putting herself through it for wealth and glory, but……

In any case, she was about to get back to work when a realisation flickered through her mind.

"Wait."

Come to think of it.

Coffee? Every time they worked late together, she had practically flung mugs of it at him to stop him from dozing off.

Tidying his appearance? Straightening Jurgen's crooked tie had never been a once or twice thing.

"Oh."

Penelope stared blankly into the air.

"I've already been doing all of it."

That was right. The bold approach for which Penelope had summoned great courage — from Jurgen's perspective, it was nothing he hadn't seen before. It was simply that back then, she had done it without any ulterior motive whatsoever, as a colleague, as a partner.

"But then what on earth am I supposed to do……"

Penelope buried her face in both hands at the belated realisation.

She felt strangely wronged. What kind of cruelty was this — something she used to do without a second thought suddenly becoming this difficult?

"I'll need a different plan."

***

Around that same time.

The trio of Serena, Brigitte, and Aiden were still racking their brains in the name of preserving the peace of Y&P Trading Company.

"Does anyone actually have a good idea? Come on, everyone think harder!"

At Serena's prodding, Brigitte's eyes lit up and she raised her hand.

"How about…… a nationwide journey to discover outstanding local ingredients? We'd get to eat delicious things too!"

"Brigitte, that's just what you want to do."

Aiden shook his head and folded his arms.

"What about this? Couples' dance lessons. When bodies draw close, hearts follow."

"Aiden…… you really do sound like such a middle-aged man."

"What do you mean!"

This wouldn't work, and that wouldn't work either. All three of them clutched their heads and sighed.

"It seems like…… this is going to be a long campaign."

With no sharp solution in sight, the three continued their solemn council of war.