Chapter 5.1

She had to admit it: Yesterday was an exciting day. For the first time in her life, Min-kyung was treated like a wealthy lady in the lap of luxury. Everything looked pretty, all done up, and it all looked even better once she took her glasses off, blurring things like they were behind a soft-focus lens.

The dinner with all those French courses? They were works of art with a beautiful plated presentation. The flavor was subtle and savory, sticking to your palette. Even if it was all a ruse, she was willing to deal with it for that fantastic meal. 

By chance, the man she also had to deal with was at least a pleasant conversationalist, albeit awkward. She reciprocated his friendliness in order to have a lucky day of being someone other than herself. But because of her friendliness, that luck was all ruined… she was so screwed.

Min-kyung ran like crazy on the treadmill in the hotel fitness room instead of her regular apartment track. She sprinted until she was almost out of breath so that, hopefully, she wouldn't think about the weight of her absolute embarrassment on her shoulders. She wiped away the sweat dripping down her face with her towel. Even after the run, her embarrassment was still there, but luckily, the sweat that soaked her back and thighs had drained the alcohol from her, which had lingered into the morning.

She walked over to the weights to begin to deadlift. ‘After this… take a shower… one… blow dry your hair… two… sneak home, don’t wake Se-ah and her… three… lover… who was five years their younger, ick… four… That's all that's left before work.' She measured the time in her morning between reps, laying out all her tasks. Even after exercising all her muscles to their brink, the embarrassment remained, and in no time, she would have to go to work with Lee Seop.

Fortunately for her timeline, the apartment that Tae Yi-seop had officially moved into about a year and a half ago, since leaving the family home, was in the same sprawling apartment complex as Min-kyung's. She didn't have to hoof around town for a new officetel he decided to stay at. The location was a natural choice for his official residence since the complex was built by TK Corporation, but unfortunately, Min-kyung also lived there thanks to Se-ah.

*    *    *

Every step she took stirred up the memories and commotion of last night, even though she wanted to, Min-kyung did not stop walking.

"Hello, Assistant Manager Kim Ki-cheon." Greeting him cheerfully when she met with the driver in front of the underground parking lot of Lee Seop's apartment building.

"You haven't heard from the Executive Director yet, right?"

"Correct, not yet…"

"We have some time, so let's just wait and see." She checked her watch to determine if she should go up to Lee Seop's room, but surprisingly, as she thought this, he walked out of the building's elevator—and three minutes early. Their eyes met through the glass front doors. 

'Ahhhh…' Min-kyung felt like she was shriveling under his cold gaze. Did he look at her in this manner last night as well? Was the bastard looking at her pathetically like this?

In 11 years of corporate life, there had been countless occasions to drink with Lee Seop. During the first few years, he occasionally attended the company's camp alum gatherings and several times attended the departmental dinners. But she had never seen him drunk before. No, not just her; she had never even heard about it from colleagues. Lee Seop was the perfect TK prince who never lost his elegance with coworkers and would smile pleasantly until the very end. 

'What on earth have I done?' Min-kyung lowered her head to 90 degrees. "Good morning, Executive Director."

"I guess so." He stated as he walked towards her.

'I guess so' rose and fell over her like a cold wave. When she raised her head, Lee Seop was already walking towards the car. Min-kyung turned to follow at almost a run, but his strides were long and faster than hers.

Min-kyung settled into the passenger seat and turned, looking behind her, saying, "Director Yoo In-mok will meet you at Songbaekjae this morning. You will report on the current status of the product to him, and Director Yoo will then connect with the overall group to provide the briefings with supplementary content. You've already seen the report, but let me summarize briefly as we go. And the Chairman will most likely have questions, so I have created a list of expected questions and responses."

Min-kyung turned the pages on her tablet, swiping with her fingers. "First, there is an article that was posted this morning. I thought it would be a good idea to read it, but I can summarize it."

"Give it to me." Looking out the window, Lee Seop extended her hand into the front toward Min-kyung. 

"Yes?"

"Let me see it." After Min-kyung gave the tablet to his open hand, he pulled it back and started scanning the article. "Fashion Slump. Deteriorating profitability. Brands withdrawing. They've written enough about this in the past, but they're bringing it up again?"

"This was an addition to the article about the strong performance of the construction and trade sectors." Min-kyung continued the explanation. "We need to explore how to discuss the ways we see that will improve the fashion group's profitability. It will be good to mention this briefly and then emphasize how the establishment of the new construction of Sales Headquarters will affect the group's profitability."

Lee Seob nodded in a daze.

"And then…"

“Deputy Director Kang.” Without looking up at Min-kyung, he lifted his index finger and drew a circle in the air. "It's all organized, and I can read it myself, so turn around."

"Ha haa… yes." Min-kyung lowered her head slightly and then focused her gaze forward.

"When I ask a question, you answer it. That's it, no more, no less."

"Yes, Executive Director."

The radio was off in the car, and only the sounds of the tablet pages turning occasionally and the sound of a pen marking on paper almost echoing within, were heard. No questions were asked, or words were spoken as they drove to Songbaekjae. Min-kyung occasionally held her hand against her chest and her fluttering heart. It was a strangely comfortable and uncomfortable atmosphere, and her face felt hot.

*   *   *

Lee Seop's eyes flashed open. It was definitely a dream… But even after waking up, Lee Seop was dazed for a moment. It all felt more like a memory than a dream… yet it was too unrealistic to be a memory. Thanks to this dream, he woke up long before his alarm went off. Lee Seop lifted his blanket and looked below his hips, frowning. 'What is this…'

'Shit.'

He dragged his hand over his face and ruffled his hair before climbing out of bed and heading to the shower.

'I'm going crazy.' He went into the shower stall, still wearing his bed shorts since he felt it didn't matter. He felt the water hit his neck and complained about his situation. Taking off his now water-soaked pants, which had already been soiled by the dream, Lee Seop looked down in frustration at the part of him that was still fully upright and not going down.

"F*ck, guess I'm really healthy..."

He closed his eyes to escape and recall the nocturnal memories. Even with the sound of the water falling and splashing In the shower stall, the song "It's On" that he heard throughout the dream, echoed in his mind.

It was the last day of the new employee training when the problem arose because of Song Eun-joo, who played the female lead in the performance. Her ankles were swollen, and her temperature was well over 38 degrees due to a cold. She had overexerted herself during her Jiri Mountain climbing program that she had done over the weekend, even after insisting to the group that doing that wouldn't harm her performance. They had all worked so hard to prepare, but right before the performance, she ended up going to the emergency room.

Eun-joo's partner and male lead was Lee Seop. Min-kyung, who had choreographed and directed the entire performance, had been skeptical about him in the lead from the beginning. Her distrust and harsh assessment that he wouldn't work, whether in terms of his strength to stably lift a woman, his physique, or his personality, actually provoked and frustrated him. He had received overwhelming support from his group members by showing off his wit, and with that, he took on the leading role.

'I'm crazy. Why would I volunteer for something so annoying and embarrassing?' Lee Seop immediately regretted it.

"Now I'll have to remove the highlight of the choreography." In the waiting area behind the stage, Min-kyung spoke calmly, trying not to sound angry or disappointed. Only two women were in the group, and since Eun-joo was out, Min-kyung had to take her place.

Facing her new partner, "First, Eun-joo and I have different physiques, and we haven't worked together, so that that lift will be impossible. When I go to the center of the stage, I first face you, Tae Yi-seop, who will already be standing there, and I'll spin in a circle. Then you put your arms around my waist, in the end, I will raise my left arm, and Tae Yi-seop, you will raise his right arm. For everyone else, there is no change in the choreography." 

Only spinning and raising their arms for the finale. Min-kyung suddenly lowered the performance to that of an elementary school program. Looking at Lee Seop, she asked, "Are you okay with that?"

"It's dumb."

"Everyone will have a good time, that's what matters." Min-kyung cut off Lee Seop's words and held out her hand in front of the team. "It's our turn next. Let's go in and win!"

As the group circled around, a dozen hands were shoved to the center and layered on top of each other, with Lee Seop's hand on top.

"Let's win!" Everyone shouted together and threw their hands up in the air. As they scattered, the group started to catch their breath in anticipation, and people reviewed their moves. Lee Seop's hand immediately reached out and grabbed Min-kyung's, who was about to turn around. She opened her eyes wide and looked up at Lee Seop.

"How many kilos?"

"I don't know what you're saying."

"Hmmm..." Lee Seop looked Min-kyung up and down, then, without hesitation, grabbed her waist with both hands. Awkwardly, he said, "Excuse me for a moment." At that moment, Min-kyung's feet floated into the air and then came down.

"Uhhh…" she looked uncharacteristically embarrassed. Over the loudspeaker, the announcement warned they had 1 minute before the performance.

Lee Seop patted her on the shoulder and said in passing, "I'll lift on the 'one, two, three.'"

"This is impossible." Min-kyung looked up at Lee Seop as if he was insane.

"Stop underestimating me."

In his dream-obscured memory, it was only them when Min-kyung came running towards him. Instead of the black pants and long T-shirt they wore during the performance, she wore a tight mini skirt and camisole.

She held onto his hand, and Lee Seop wrapped his arms around Min-kyung's waist. She nimbly spun her body and jumped up towards his shoulder. She was as light as a feather, and he felt as if there was no weight. Soon, Lee Seop felt his feet leave the ground, and they floated into the air as he held her. Min-kyung spread her arms wide like wings in the air. She leaned further into him, causing the tip of his nose to start burrowing into Min-kyung's chest. He held his breath; he felt his body tighten as if something was about to explode; if Lee Seop opened his mouth, he wasn't certain if he was about to gasp or moan. His stomach flipped, and his heart was beating hard and fast.

He splashed cold water on his face one more time before going down to the parking lot, where he knew Min-kyung was waiting for him. The doors slid open and Lee Seop noted her as he left the elevator. She was wearing a black skirt that hit below her knees, a black jacket, and neat ponytail hair. And she was looking at him. 

Even after waking from the dream and caring for himself in the shower, his hands twitched, wishing they could reach out and touch her. 'This… what are you thinking, you crazy bastard?'. When their eyes met, they greeted each other aggressively. 

"Executive Director, Good morning."

He looked at her as he passed, examining her. 'That's right, it's just you... skin is looking so smooth and shiny… you must've had a good night sleeping well, and of course have no hangover.' He thought of last night.

Min-kyung sat herself in the car's passenger seat, turning her head towards him and reporting on work. He didn't want to see her face or hear her voice. Lee Seop started to feel nervous at the annoyance of what she was doing to him. The energy of his dream still hadn't entirely left him; his chest began to throb from his heart down to his navel, and the area under his lower stomach became hardened and tightly packed.

'Shit.' Lee Seop bit his lip.

Because of the Chairman's antagonism, he had planned on leaving her for a while and then resigning the position of 'Executive Secretary', but he realized he should bring that plan forward now. Lee Seop, not looking at her, drew a circle in the air with his index finger.

He let out an inaudible sigh and thought to himself. 'Turn your head away; I don't want to see your face, hear your voice, or feel your breathing. Kang Min-kyung.'