BR - 26

“Finish organizing this by today, get it checked by me tomorrow morning, and then pass it to the management support department. Got it? This kind of work is usually done by the newest member of the department.”

Yang Deputy spoke with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, then turned sharply to stare at the monitor.

Eun-chae suppressed her rising anger, picked up the pile of documents, and returned to her seat.

From the moment she first entered the planning department, Yang Deputy had disliked Eun-chae.

Partly because they were similar in age, and it was obvious that she resented Eun-chae, who, unlike herself, handled work quickly without making any minor mistakes.

However, Eun-chae never complained about Yang Deputy’s unfair treatment.

There could be countless reasons why one person dislikes another, and she didn’t have the energy to ask why she was disliked.

As Yang Deputy said, if she, a contract worker, got into a dispute with a permanent employee, she would be the one to suffer.

“Should I stay and help?”

Hyun-jung approached and asked cautiously.

“No, unnie. I can handle it.”

Eun-chae refused, not wanting to borrow someone else’s help for this kind of task.

As the end of the workday passed, everyone in the department left. Yang Deputy, who had assigned the work to Eun-chae, got up precisely at the end of the workday and was the first to leave the office.

Without even having time for dinner, Eun-chae made another cup of coffee mix from the office supply and stared at the monitor.

Just then, Hyun-woo entered the office.

“Still here?”

“Manager? You haven’t gone home yet?”

“I couldn’t leave you working alone like this. You haven’t had dinner, have you? I bought sushi, let’s eat together.”

Hyun-woo held up the shopping bag in his hand.

“It feels like I’m always indebted to you, like last time.”

Eun-chae approached Hyun-woo, who was spreading out sushi boxes on the department meeting room table.

She felt a fear that if she kept accepting favors like this, something decisive would happen.

“Indebted? I’m doing this because I want to. Sit down, they said the sashimi is fresh today.”

Hyun-woo sat Eun-chae down and handed her chopsticks.

Since she couldn’t refuse the food he had brought and was hungry, Eun-chae ate the sushi with thanks.

Hyun-woo smiled brightly at her, who gave him a thumbs up, saying it was delicious.

After chatting and laughing for a while, Eun-chae put down her chopsticks when she was somewhat full.

“I ate well, Manager. Please tell me how much it was, and I’ll pay you back.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Hyun-woo waved his hand.

“Still...”

“I told you, I’m doing this because I want to.”

His gaze, which stared at her, held emotion. It wasn’t a gaze that looked at her as a colleague, but a gaze that felt something deeper, and Eun-chae lowered her head.

“Eun-chae-ssi, are you seeing anyone?”

Her heart sank, thinking that the moment she had been dreading had finally arrived.

“No.”

“Then, is there anyone you have feelings for?”

Eun-chae didn’t answer. Her heart ached because she had feelings for Seok-kyung but couldn’t be confident about their relationship in front of others.

Not just others. Her feelings were something she couldn’t even tell Seok-kyung.

“I see, so there is someone...”

Hyun-woo said with a sigh.

“I’ll wait.”

“Yes?”

When she looked up at his answer that he would wait, Hyun-woo smiled faintly and sadly.

“I’ll wait until your feelings become clear, Eun-chae-ssi.”

“But Manager, I...”

“You haven’t even thought about evaluating me properly because you have someone else in your heart, right? So, don’t answer now. Later, when your feelings have reached a proper conclusion, think about it then.”

“Manager...”

It was a very kind offer, but there was no way she could give Hyun-woo a good answer, no matter when.

Even if it wasn’t Seok-kyung, she wasn’t in a position to accept Hyun-woo.

“The atmosphere has become awkward. I’ll go now.”

Hyun-woo pushed back his chair and got up with an awkward smile.

“I’m sorry.”

Eun-chae also quickly got up and bowed to him. She knew how painful it was to like someone who didn’t reciprocate, so she felt sorry for Hyun-woo.

“Don’t worry about me. Okay? Let’s get along just like before.”

“...Yes, I will.”

Somehow, his words about getting along just like before sounded like a plea, so Eun-chae smiled slightly and nodded.

Fortunately, her guess was correct, as Hyun-woo left the office with a slight sense of relief.

After cleaning up the lunch boxes and returning to her seat, Eun-chae fell into thought.

If she hadn’t married Seok-kyung, there wouldn’t have been a divorce. If that were the case, would she have accepted Hyun-woo’s confession?

Strangely enough, she came to the conclusion of “no.”

She had been using Seok-kyung or the situation as an excuse to reject Hyun-woo, but in reality, she had no intention of accepting his feelings, regardless of all that.

She knew he was a good person, but her heart wasn’t drawn to him.

Unlike Seok-kyung, whom she didn’t know if he was a good person, but her heart was drawn to.

“Let’s work. If I keep this up, I’ll be up all night.”

Eun-chae quickly shook her head to clear her mind.

This wasn’t the time to worry about such things. She wanted to go home, dragging her tired body.

She wanted to soak in the bathtub and open a bottle of wine from the full wine cellar.

Crazy. How long has it been since I moved into the apartment, and I’m already this used to it?

Looking at the documents that were still more than half done, she let out a long sigh. She quickly erased the disappointment and annoyance that appeared on her face reflected in the monitor.

________________________________________

Eun-chae, who had barely finished her work last night and returned home on the last train, felt heavy and sluggish on her way to work this morning.

It was fortunate that her apartment was much closer to the company than her previous basement apartment; otherwise, her body would have been completely exhausted.

Even though it was forced, Seok-kyung’s actions were beneficial to her, so Eun-chae felt a bit grateful to him.

Of course, that gratitude disappeared quickly after arriving at the company.

[To the rooftop.]

A cold wind blew from the short message.

Making an excuse that she was going to another department for a moment, Eun-chae cautiously went up to the rooftop.

Since it wasn’t a rest area with vending machines or a smoking area, it was always only Seok-kyung on the rooftop.

She suddenly wondered how he, who had become the CEO late, knew about this space.

When she opened the door, she saw Seok-kyung leaning against the railing, staring directly at the entrance.

He didn’t change his gaze or expression as he watched Eun-chae approach him after closing the door.

He looked cold and harsh, like winter.

“Why did you call...”

“Why did you come up so obediently?”

“Yes?”

“Why did you come up so obediently, without making excuses like ‘I’m busy, let’s schedule an appointment’?”

“That’s...”

Because I have no reason to be angry with you.

Unable to say that, Eun-chae kept her mouth shut.

“You’re so arbitrary, with your standards.”

“Did you call me to find out my standards?”

“No.”

Seok-kyung straightened up from leaning, grabbed Eun-chae’s wrist, and made her stand with her back against the rooftop railing.

“Why, why are you doing this?”

Trapped between Seok-kyung, who held onto both sides of the railing with his arms, Eun-chae asked with wide eyes.

“What’s your relationship with Kang Hyun-woo?”

“...Yes? Manager Kang?”

“Yes. What’s your relationship?”

“We’re nothing...”

“Don’t lie, tell me straight!”

Seok-kyung shouted.

The blue veins slightly protruding on his white forehead and his low growling voice indicated his state.

Why is he angry?

“Is Kang Hyun-woo the man you said you loved when we divorced?”

“Yes? Wh-what nonsense...”

“Answer me straight. Yes or no?”

Eun-chae couldn’t understand why he was asking such a thing.

“Why are you asking that?”

“What?”

“Just as you have Ha Joo-eun, I can have someone too.”

“...What?”

Seok-kyung narrowed his brows, looking incredulous.

“Just as I don’t care about your fiancée, I wish you wouldn’t care about who I meet.”

“So, are you saying... you have feelings for Kang Hyun-woo?”

“That’s not what I meant...”

“Answer me straight. Is that what you’re saying?”

Eun-chae bit her lip.

Why does he twist people’s words and not listen properly?

Bang!

Seok-kyung’s hand, which had been on the railing, slammed down hard.

“Answer me, quickly.”

But his voice was a garbled mess of pain.

He slowly brought his face closer to Eun-chae. Very close, until their breaths mingled and their noses almost touched.

“Answer me.”

“I...”

Eun-chae’s answer disappeared into Seok-kyung’s mouth.

After demanding an answer and urging her, he devoured her lips as if he didn’t want to hear it.

His hot breath, along with his tongue, entered her mouth, moistening the dry space.

Eun-chae closed her eyes. There was no room to step back, and she had no desire to, so she gripped the railing tightly with her hands.

Just as she was about to melt like candle wax in that spot, Seok-kyung’s lips moved to her neck.

“Seo, Seok-kyung-ssi... this is...”

Surprised, she called out to him, but Seok-kyung had already grabbed her breast over her blouse with his hand.

“Hiss.”

Now, every time he touched her, her body tingled involuntarily. She desperately wanted to hold him closer, harder, deeper.

Crunch.

Seok-kyung bit the tender skin below her left collarbone through her clothes.

Eun-chae closed her eyes tightly at the dizzying sensation of pain, but she pulled his head closer with her hands.

I want more. I want him to do more.

I want him to hold me like that night.

Suddenly, the memory of that night flashed through her mind, and Eun-chae opened her eyes wide and gently pushed Seok-kyung away. She quickly fastened her blouse, taking advantage of the gap he left.