“Prepare for the soft opening without any problems. These aren’t just regular custors; they’re VIPs.”
I guess when a madman gets obsessed with work instead of romance, this is how it goes. While Yoon Taeo stayed on Jeju Island, the TF team mbers turned half-zombie. Thanks to that, what had been a slow, draggy preparation suddenly wrapped up in no ti. The opening, which was thought absolutely impossible, was now right around the corner. And finally, the day ca to return to Seoul after an unusually long business trip.
“We’ll prepare without any issues.”
The TF team leader’s voice held strength for the first ti in a while. He seed desperate to get Taeo gone quickly now that he was leaving.
“That’s how it should be. No small mistakes allowed.”
Is this the right ti to say “it makes my blood run cold”? Just hearing Taeo’s threats nearby makes my blood run cold. It’s terrifying to the bone.
“Let’s get going, sir.”
Kang Seokho took the wheel, I sat in the passenger seat, and Taeo sat in the back. Maybe because it was such a long trip, I found myself wanting to get ho quickly. Not that living in Jeju was uncomfortable, but I missed the ho I’d gotten used to — not my own, but Taeo’s.
“Chief of Security.”
“Yes, sir.”
While the car headed straight for the airport, Taeo’s low voice echoed inside.
“Is anyone from the secretarial or security team traveling with us?”
“No. So returned earlier, and the rest left beforehand to wait at the airport.”
“Is that so? Then what’s that car behind us?”
Maybe because of his job, Taeo had sharp instincts, especially in life-or-death situations. Kang Seokho didn’t ignore his words and kept an eye on the rearview.
“Should we catch them?”
“Whoever they are, we should.”
Convinced it was a suspicious car following them, Kang Seokho told to hold tight and pressed the accelerator. The car sped forward like a chase, then made a sudden 180-degree turn, ignoring lanes, and charged straight at the trailing car.
“Ti, Chief!”
The speed was terrifying. If this continued, it looked like a head-on collision was inevitable. Was it really worth risking all our lives over a tail? I gripped the seatbelt hard and shut my eyes. With a screech of tires, the car spun sharply and stopped. Carefully opening my eyes, our car was blocking the middle of the road, turned sideways, but it wasn’t the worst-case scenario.
“Are you okay, Secretary Baek?”
“Ah... yes, sir.”
Following Kang Seokho, who got out first, I stepped out too. Though startled, rembering soone had been tailing us quickly made forget the recent danger. Because our car blocked the road, the black sedan behind had also stopped abruptly. Familiar faces got out of that car, flashing hazard lights.
“I thought there was going to be an accident, sir.”
Despite the voice pretending to be surprised, the Chief Secretary’s relaxed smile and... Choi Hyunjin.
“Thank the head of security. If I’d been driving, we’d have crashed for sure.”
It was supposed to be a joke, but coming from Taeo it felt sincere. Maybe it wasn’t just — the Chief Secretary’s fake smile briefly vanished.
“But why haven’t you gone up until now?”
“I was hesitant to leave Hyunjin alone.”
“I thought that was settled.”
“But he helped you during the rut, didn’t he?”
“Are you seriously saying I should take responsibility for sothing as small as sending one rut?”
The Chief Secretary’s intention was obvious. He wanted to set the stage for Hyunjin, who was on my side, to get closer to Taeo. But Taeo’s words stabbed my heart like a thorn. Just one rut, that’s all. Maybe it wasn’t intended, but it sounded like he wanted to not give that incident any aning.
“That’s impossible. I’m only bringing him because he’s useful. Don’t misunderstand.”
This was a clear refusal. Taeo, who seed to sense it sowhat, shifted responsibility to Hyunjin, not the one who actually sent the rut, and ignored orders by bringing him to Seoul anyway.
“Or... is there so special reason not to, sir?”
The Chief Secretary’s gaze scanned , as if asking if the reason was .
“...No, whatever you like. Now that I think about it, the Chief Secretary’s right. Anyway, he helped .”
After a brief silence, Taeo finally gave permission. His voice sounded half annoyed, half amused as I looked at him. For a mont, I wondered if so “force” had made him answer against his will, but this ti it was different. Taeo’s eyes held countless emotions — negative and incomprehensible — but I could tell it was by his own will.
“Then I’ll see you at the airport, sir.”
Leaving the bowing Chief Secretary behind, we got into the car first.
“Do you think it’ll be okay?”
“For now, just go along with it.”
I knew Taeo didn’t like the Chief Secretary, but handling him wasn’t easy either. The Chief Secretary had been by Taeo’s side for a long ti, building his power. No matter how temperantal Taeo was, he wasn’t soone who could be handled recklessly. Nor was the old man ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) soone who would just take it.
“Baek Sieon.”
“Yes?”
I turned to look at Taeo, surprised by the sudden call. It was the first ti he’d called that way in front of soone — not ‘Secretary Baek’ or ‘Secretary Kim.’
“I’m sorry for not being able to keep my promise.”
What followed was even more confusing.
“I guess this ti, it can’t be helped.”
To be honest, I wasn’t unaffected. I secretly hoped Taeo wouldn’t change the order forbidding Hyunjin to co. I even hoped the retraction wasn’t really Taeo’s intention. For a mont, I couldn’t show how disappointed I was. Even knowing Hyunjin hadn’t helped , I let him co to Seoul.
“...It’s fine, of course.”
But now wasn’t the ti. I was actually embarrassed to have thought that way about Taeo, even for a mont. Taeo believed Hyunjin had entered the rut location, despite my denials. I hoped that was true. But if I joined the charade of lies between Hyunjin and the Chief Secretary, there must have been a reason, though my baseless distrust grew.
Looking at Taeo’s faint smile, the most untrustworthy man in the world suddenly seed more trustworthy. Maybe it was okay after all.
“Haah. I really want to get off...”
...Let’s just pretend Kang Seokho wasn’t here for a mont.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Secretary Team 1 will only handle managent of the CEO’s residence.”
“Didn’t dividing the work by team cause problems due to lack of substitutes?”
“That’s a matter of the team leader’s capabilities, Team Leader Baek.”
Only now did regret settle in. As Taeo said, I should have grabbed the Chief Secretary position with all my might. The old man returned and imdiately redistributed the secretarial tasks. Employees even slightly friendly with were completely excluded from company work, assigned only to Taeo’s personal affairs.
“But...”
“What is it?”
The 2nd Secretary Team leader cautiously spoke, watching the tension between and the Chief Secretary.
“The CEO always asks for Secretary Kim... no, Team Leader Baek. What about that?”
“Haah... well, you’ll get used to it eventually. I’ll take care of it, so Team Leader Baek, focus on managing the residence.”
In a way, this was exactly what I’d wanted. Managing the company and ho would be harder than managing just the house. But knowing the Chief Secretary was scheming made everything he did seem suspicious.
“Aren’t you getting up? You need to go clean the house, Team Leader Baek.”
“...I’ll get up first.”
Ignoring the sideways glances like daggers in my back, I left the conference room. Passing the office, I thought about greeting Taeo, but decided against it. Wouldn’t it look like I was complaining about a task assignnt he didn’t like? Besides, I could see Taeo at ho anyway — no need to talk now.
“Secretary Baek...”
They say clothes make the man. Thanks to the Chief Secretary’s skill or just my own good looks, Choi Hyunjin looked like a complete stranger when we passed in the hallway. Unless it was a minor problem, no one would mistake his flashy shirt and jacket for an office worker.
“How did you get here?”
“The Chief Secretary told to co to work. But I’m not sure I can do this well...”
Scratching his cheek, those words were probably sincere. But wasn’t it funny? Soone who couldn’t do anything right suddenly acting like they don’t know what they’re talking about.
“Do well.”
I don’t think I’m particularly spiteful, but I can’t forgive Hyunjin. You know how it is — getting stabbed in the back by soone you trusted hurts more than being stabbed by an obvious traitor. That’s exactly how it felt.
“Um, about us...”
I wasn’t in the mood to give him any encouragent and tried to pass by, but he spoke again.
“We could have been friends, right? If you hadn’t misunderstood and trusted a little more, we would have. You were like my first real friend...”
“Hah.”
Ridiculous. He might be talking about so scene in Jeju where he thought we were friends, or acting like the twisted relationship was my fault for doubting him. The responsibility lies fully with Hyunjin.
“Hyunjin, was that really my misunderstanding? You know the answer best.”
I turned to face Hyunjin, curious what kind of face he made while saying that.
“Of course... it was a misunderstanding.”
Ah, that face was just his default setting. Hurt expression, eyes full of sorrow. With one expression, he made the villain and lied without hesitation. Anyone seeing this scene would want to throw stones at .
“Think whatever you want. I’m leaving.”
Both the Chief Secretary and Hyunjin — I don’t need to be played by their innocent, pitiful faces anymore. Their greed and desire inside are clearly different from their shells.
“Soone once said...?”
I didn’t want to talk long and started to walk away.
“The closer you are in the eyes, the closer you are in the heart.”
“That only works if you can see properly.”
The Chief Secretary was explaining why he brought Hyunjin to the company. He wanted to hang around Taeo and get his attention... sothing like that. But maybe he doesn’t know? Taeo is terrible at recognizing people.
“What does that even an... Anyway, I haven’t given up on you, sir.”
I didn’t know why he was saying that to . Not wanting to respond, I left Hyunjin behind. Let him try.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Team Leader, I finished organizing.”
“Go ho already.”
I’d lost my temper at the company earlier for no reason. It felt like a relief that my work was changed to just managing the residence. I’d handled so much work that cleaning one house felt almost embarrassing to call “work.” Plus, there were team mbers, so I hardly had to move.
By two in the afternoon, I finished and sent the team ho before Taeo left. At first, the secretaries who were assigned solely to residence managent protested, but the early leave made them happy. As soon as they left, I took off my jacket and collapsed onto the sofa.
“Hyunjin...”
After returning from Jeju, I fell into deep conflict. How should I tell Taeo what he didn’t know? I had a plan.
I would confess that I was the one who entered during the rut. Then I’d gauge the mood and even reveal that I was an Oga. I knew Taeo hated Ogas, but if anything ever developed between us, it would be a secret impossible to hide. Better to confess before getting caught.
But the real worry was whether it was okay to do so. The end of this world was already decided. It had to end with Taeo and Hyunjin’s love. From the mont I opened my eyes here, that was the clear goal: bring the two together and return to the original world. What would happen if I ruined that by coming between them and taking Hyunjin’s place?
“No, that’s not the problem...”
I shook my head hard and stood up. The important thing now wasn’t that distant future. First, I had to check Taeo’s feelings. If he didn’t feel the sa, I might get my neck twisted and be forced out before even confessing. For daring to harbor disrespectful feelings toward my boss. Though... I did have so belief he wouldn’t do that.
Vrrrr—
Entering the kitchen to prepare dinner early, my phone vibrated in my pocket. The caller was an unpleasant figure.
“Yes, Chief Secretary.”
If you’ve finished cleaning, co to the company.
“What is it?”
Just co when I say so.
How do I kill this old bastard... The Chief Secretary finished his words and hung up. His rank was like a gangster’s; he seed to want to unload all the piled-up crap at once now that he was back. I had no choice but to return to the company with a bad mood. Of course, early leave was impossible for .
❖ ❖ ❖
“Sir, we need to prepare dinner.”
I still hadn’t cald down facing the Chief Secretary, so I deliberately emphasized “sir.” aning Taeo might skip dinner because of you.
“The CEO doesn’t need dinner taken care of. Go to the departnt store.”
“Departnt store? All of a sudden?”
“You’re the only one free, Team Leader Baek. Hyunjin, you can go with him.”
Saying we’re free, Hyunjin... I didn’t understand the situation. The Chief Secretary briefly explained: buy Hyunjin so proper clothes.
Why ? I was stunned by the nonsensical order, and the Chief Secretary whispered in my ear.
“He’s a new Beta, so of course we have to take care of him.”
...New Beta? Taeo’s Beta? I had no idea what happened while I was away. Half-pushed, I had to take Hyunjin to a nearby departnt store. Throughout the trip, distrust and suspicion blossod inside .
“How about this, Team Leader Baek? Do you think the CEO will like it?”
Seeing Hyunjin picking clothes made my negative feelings grow. But at the sa ti... I wondered if I should let such words affect .
“This looks better. Your face is bright, so bright tones suit you.”
“Really? Then I’ll go with this!”
“I’ll pick out a few more for you, so you have sothing to wear later.”
“Ah... not too many, that’s a bit much...”
Beta or whatever, that’s just the Chief Secretary and that fox’s opinion — not sothing Taeo said.
“What does it matter? While you’re at it, buy so for your little brother too. It’s cold, so dress warmly.”
Don’t blow a gasket one by one. Show the composure of the rich, even if you actually have nothing. I gave Hyunjin the sa smile I’d often seen on his face.
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