86화 1월

새해가 됐다.

1월 둘째 주, 지사에 손님이 왔다. 현지 물류업체 대표였다. 계약 갱신 협의였고, 태경과 은호가 함께 나갔다.

협의는 세 시간 걸렸다. 상대는 단가 인상을 요구했고, 태경은 물량 확대를 조건으로 걸었다.

중간에 상대가 은호를 봤다.

"And you are?"

"Operations. I built the supplier risk model this contract is based on."

상대가 잠깐 표정을 바꿨다. 그러곤 태경에게 말했다.

"You brought him for a reason."

돌아오는 차 안에서 태경이 말했다.

"잘했어요."

"…뭘요."

"본인이 뭘 했는지 말한 거요."

은호가 창밖을 봤다. 여전히 더웠다.

"작년이었으면 안 그랬을 거예요."

"알아요." 태경이 말했다. "그래서 잘했다고 한 거예요."

English

The new year came.

In the second week of January the branch had a visitor — the head of the local logistics firm. It was a contract renewal discussion, and Taekyung and Eunho went together.

It ran three hours. The other side asked for a rate increase; Taekyung made it conditional on volume.

Partway through, the visitor looked at Eunho.

"And you are?"

"Operations. I built the supplier risk model this contract is based on."

The visitor's expression shifted slightly. Then he said to Taekyung,

"You brought him for a reason."

In the car back, Taekyung said,

"That was good."

"…What was."

"Saying what you did yourself."

Eunho looked out the window. It was still hot.

"A year ago I wouldn't have."

"I know," Taekyung said. "That's why I said it was good."