Dominating MIL

[POV Change]

Tap...Tap...Tap...Tap... Tap…

The quiet office was filled only with the sound of keyboards clicking. Though everyone seemed to be working hard, many employees kept glancing at the clock, then at someone else, gauging the atmosphere.

It was 5:54 PM. The end of the workday was near. But any office worker would understand—if the highest-ranking person in the room doesn't leave, no one else feels comfortable doing so either.

This was especially true in a large corporation like Choi Han Group. Employees received high salaries, but they were expected to work two to three times more than usual. As a result, very few departments actually left work on time.

"It's almost time to go home. Everyone, wrap up and head out," said the team leader.

"Yes, understood."

The members of Sales Team 3, except the team leader, were visibly pleased. They had a rare chance to leave early and quickly began finishing up.

In truth, they had already wrapped up most of their work in anticipation. They knew the team leader would eventually tell them to go, so they stood up, gathered their things, and got ready to leave.

"See you tomorrow."

"I'll head out first."

"Good night, everyone~"

One by one, the employees left their desks. Meanwhile, the team leader remained, working alone.

This was nothing new in Sales Team 3. Their leader always worked the longest hours, often staying far later than everyone else. No one questioned it.

The team's performance was steady, and no one had any complaints. In fact, leaving early had become routine for the members.

Other departments often looked on with envy. Their own leaders, especially those who had fought with their spouses the night before, were in no mood to go home early. So those teams were stuck doing overtime yet again.

As the building gradually emptied out, one person remained. The team leader of Sales Team 3, who had let everyone go home early, was still at her desk, working.

"Hoo… That's enough for today… Ugh!"

She stretched and let out a groan, trying to ease the stiffness in her body. The office was now completely empty.

Team Leader Kim Miyoung glanced at her watch.

"9:30 PM… I'm leaving earlier than usual."

Even after everyone else had left, she had continued working. She finally stood up from her desk, ready to go home.

If she had assigned the work to her team, it could've been done with just 30 minutes of overtime. But Miyoung had taken it all on herself—not out of kindness or naivety.

Her reason was strategic. By handling most of the work herself, she could subtly reshape the ideas her team members proposed and present them as her own.

In a way, she was stealing their ideas. But this method helped her climb the corporate ladder quickly.

Despite being only 33 years old, she had already become a team leader. Her rapid promotion was due to her calculated use of reward and discipline, and her dedication to working late every night.

Most of her peers were still at the level of section chief. A few had become deputy general managers. Some less capable ones were still assistant managers.

Only Miyoung had risen this quickly.

Even though the ideas originated from her team members, no one complained. She was the one actually executing and finalizing the work.

Her team members had it easy. They contributed ideas, did less intensive work, got off early, and still earned high salaries.

In return, their team leader sacrificed her own time and took responsibility for everything. Thanks to her, the rest of the team enjoyed a comfortable work-life balance.

While this might hurt their long-term promotions or evaluations, most employees today prioritized freedom and a relaxed lifestyle. And for that reason, they were satisfied.

It was a win-win system. Her team had some of the highest job satisfaction in the company.

Of course, Miyoung had given up her personal life in the process. But for someone chasing greater success, it was a worthwhile trade.

"Well, time to go."

By now, the sun had long since set. But for Miyoung, who hadn't left the office during daylight in years, the night felt more familiar.

She packed up and went downstairs. The security guard greeted her with a smile in the lobby.

"You're leaving late again."

"I'm used to it by now. Here, have a drink while you work."

"Oh… Thank you! By the way, this weekend…"

"Have a good night."

As soon as the conversation took a personal turn, Miyoung ended it abruptly and walked out of the building.

To an outsider, their interaction might seem friendly. But the truth was different.

She had purposely built a relationship with the guard—not out of affection, but for convenience.

As someone stationed in the lobby, the guard was the first to know about unexpected visitors or events. It gave her quicker access to valuable information.

Executives and even the president sometimes came in late at night. Knowing about their arrivals in advance gave her a chance to score points. That was the only reason she maintained her friendliness.

"The last guy was better… He didn't try to get close like this one."

The previous guard, who had been a great source of information, had been suddenly fired. Now, she had to build new connections from scratch.

"Well, the weekend's here. Time to rest."

Though many might assume she worked weekends too, Miyoung did her best to rest during her days off.

She worked late into the night every weekday and got up early to go back in. By the weekend, she was exhausted and tried to relax as much as she could.

Of course, she was always on standby. If anything urgent came up at work, she was ready to return immediately. It was a draining lifestyle, but she endured it for a reason.

She had worked harder than anyone else to reach her goal.

'Even if it's tough, I have to push myself to reach the top.'

Some people might say she was going too far. But Miyoung had been preparing for this moment for almost 20 years.

She had first set her sights on becoming the president of a major company back in middle school.

Back then, she was just like any other student. But everything changed when a new transfer student joined her school.

The new girl lived in a completely different world. Though they were the same age, her clothes, lifestyle, and even the car she rode in were on another level.

It was Miyoung's first encounter with someone from the top 1%. What she felt wasn't just awe—but a deep sense of emptiness.

She had never been unhappy with her life before. Her family was relatively well-off. But after visiting her friend's house, everything changed.

The house was several times larger and more luxurious. Housekeepers managed everything. It was the lifestyle of the upper class.

Cosmetics that Miyoung had begged her mom for were lying around as everyday items in her friend's home.

Her friend's father was an executive director at Choi Han Group. That explained everything. And it was enough to spark both envy and ambition in Miyoung.

While most people might simply feel jealous, Miyoung made a decision.

She would rise higher.

From that day on, she studied with relentless focus. She consistently ranked in the top three, got into the best university, earned all the certifications companies looked for, and joined Choi Han Group's headquarters by the age of 25.

She pushed herself harder than anyone else and earned her team leader position at a record pace.

Even her mother had begged her to take breaks while she was studying. But Miyoung didn't stop.

She rose faster than anyone, yet she still wasn't satisfied.

"At this pace, I could make executive in a few years… But the problem starts after that."

Becoming an executive was hard, but not impossible for someone like her. She had the skills and results to back it up.

But going beyond that—that was the real challenge.

In Korea, it was nearly impossible to reach the top without strong connections: school ties, regional ties, or family background.

Even with talent and results, the presidency of a company was not something one could reach on merit alone.

That's why Miyoung wasn't just focused on work. She was also working to leave a strong impression on upper management.

Thanks to that, several influential executives held a favorable view of her. She didn't worry much about her promotion to executive.

"For now, I need to rest."

Though she chased her dream with determination, she was still human.

Tomorrow was the weekend. For the first time in a long while, she'd be able to sleep more than six hours. Finally, she drifted into a deep sleep.

(Team Leader Kim Miyoung!!!!)