Chapter 8.3

Out of all the 53 apartment buildings in the complex, Building 123 was said to have the best feng shui location. Executive Director Tae Yi-seop’s house was, of course, in building 123. Min-kyung waited in front of the underground parking lot entrance, it was still 5 minutes early to the time he said, but Driver Kim hadn’t arrived yet.

Min-kyung quickly texted a message. [Driver Kim and Executive Director, it’s time for the dinner meeting. Are you on the way?...]

“I told Driver Kim to take off work.”

Min-kyung raised her head at the voice right next to her. He was standing in front of the glass entrance to the elevator, but she hadn’t seen him come out of the elevator. ‘When did he get here?’

Lee Seop grinned at Min-kyung, who was looking confused.

“Get in, Director Kang.” Lee Seop politely extended his arm and pointed to the car parked behind him. It wasn’t a company sedan with a chauffeur but a large SUV. “Is this the first time you’ve seen my personal car?”

“Yes.” Min-kyung hurried and followed Lee Seop to the driver seat.

“Manager.”

“Yes?”

“You think you’re driving?”

“Then who?”

“I am…” Lee Seop opened the door and looked at Min-kyung. Patting the car with his hand, he said, “This is my favorite car.”

“That is… I’m not very good at driving large cars, I’ll try…”

“Don’t worry, we will test the Deputy Director’s driving skills later.” Lee Seop smirked and nodded his head towards the passenger seat.

‘Isn’t this a bit much?’ Min-kyung pondered, hesitating.

Noticing her hesitation, he said cynically, “What? Should I open the door?”

“Oh, no, no.”

Min-kyung quickly walked to the passenger side and opened the door. She wanted to hurry, but the car, being an SUV, was very tall, so she found it uncomfortable trying to climb in while wearing a tight pencil skirt with a high waist. Even more so, it was more cumbersome climbing in wearing these small heels over her normal flat shoes.

Slipping, she lost her balance while getting in the car. “Ah!...”

Lee Seop, already sitting in the driver’s seat, instinctively threw his hand out towards her to help.

Instead of grabbing the extended hand, she held onto the back of the chair and steadied herself. “Sorry… I guess I’m a little embarrassed.”

“What?”

“Well, I’m being driven by the Executive Director in his personal car.”

Lee Seop laughed but didn’t respond while gently starting the drive and turning the wheel. 

The heat vents were turned on, moving the scent of a new car and cologne throughout the cab. As they left the parking area and turned onto the main road, Lee Seop reached over to the air vent in front of her. 

“Shall I turn it down a little?”

“What?”

“The temperature, it’s hot.”

Stopping at a stop light, Lee Seop turned his head towards Min-kyung. 

“Is this blush?” He asked as he raised his index finger to graze her cheek before falling away. “Your cheeks are red.”

“Oh, I’m just warm.”

Nodding, Lee Seop turned his attention back to the road.

Frustrated that she couldn’t see her face, she began to worry. ‘Is the blush really bright? It didn’t seem so at home.’

“My friend I live with did my makeup. Is it too much? Should I remove some?” Min-kyung asked as she rummaged through the bag for a tissue.

“It’s okay, we’re almost there anyway.”

There was still a long way to go, but he said that anyway. Min-kyung removed her searching hand and calmly looked ahead.

“Tonight, did you have a plan like at the hotel before, but I interrupted it?”

“No,” Min-kyung answered sharply and pressed her mouth shut. What happened last time would only happen once in her life, and it wouldn’t happen again in the future. But she wouldn’t say anything like that; it was best to avoid talking about what happened that night.

“Then, do you usually put on makeup and dress pretty on the weekends?”

She had worn contacts instead of her standard glasses since she put on eye makeup, ‘Did I wear the eye makeup pretty? Are the clothes that different?’ Min-kyung looked over at Lee Seop to understand the meaning behind his question right as they pulled into the hotel valet zone.

Two employees approached the car and opened their doors. Looking over, Lee Seop made a gesture. As the employee opened the passenger door and stepped over a little, Lee Seop walked over to their side and held out his hand toward her.

‘What?’ Min-kyung couldn’t get her lips to move and just stared at him blankly. He smiled that oh-too-familiar smile and lowered his head to her. Speaking in a low voice that only she could hear.

“If you fell, what would you do with that embarrassment?”

“Ah, yes.”

As Min-kyung placed her hand on his palm, his finger wrapped around hers and pulled her lightly. Feeling the attention of everyone around, focusing it on the two of them, Min-kyung pressed her lips and swallowed.