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As soon as Tae-ha closed the car door, sealing off any chance of their conversation leaking out, Jisoo dove straight into the heart of the matter. She was determined to make full use of the ten minutes she had proposed.
“Please put the personnel transfer on hold for now. I’ve only recently become a team leader, and there’s still so much I need to learn and do in my current role. I don’t want my value to be tossed around like this. And…”
Jisoo felt a pang of frustration as she spoke to Tae-ha, whose expression hadn’t shifted once throughout her words. It was like talking to a wall. Was he even listening? The timing of this sudden transfer—outside of the usual organizational restructuring period—raised suspicions about its true motives.
Though it was presumptuous of her to challenge an order from above, especially when she depended on her paycheck, Jisoo knew Tae-ha’s decision wasn’t entirely devoid of personal feelings.
“If you think there’s more to learn after six years in your previous role, then that just proves Han Jisoo’s incompetence.”
Tae-ha wanted to stroke Jisoo’s pale cheek. Was this really such a dire situation?
The transfer stemmed from his desire to keep her close, but the HR manager’s advice and evaluation played a significant role.
Candidates for the position needed over five years of diligent service with excellent performance reviews, and most importantly, they couldn’t clash with Vice President Cha’s notoriously picky preferences.
The HR manager recommended Jisoo as a candidate for the vacant Secretary Office Message Team Leader role, and out of three finalists, Tae-ha made the final choice.
“Aren’t you underestimating yourself by refusing before even trying? Is this something worth rushing to me over?”
“I believe I’m not yet capable enough to take on this responsibility.”
“That’s my judgment to make. If you can’t handle it, I’ll fire you.”
Jisoo looked up at him with unwavering determination. From his lofty position—able to move between the 10th and 45th floors at will—this must seem like nothing more than a trivial issue to chase after.
“I… still have debts to repay. I need to work a few more years. So leaving the company isn’t an option.”
“Han Jisoo. No one here has asked you to resign.”
“I apologize for disobeying your directive despite knowing I should follow orders. I’ll ensure a smooth handover and start working in the Secretary Office next week. Thank you for the opportunity.”
Knowing Jisoo wouldn’t end it there, Tae-ha waited patiently for what came next.
“And… if I join the Secretary Office, I won’t sleep with you anymore.”
Was this what people meant by striking a nerve? He wanted to ask why the outcome of the department transfer led to this conclusion. Instead, Jisoo calmly bowed her head to a stunned Tae-ha and stepped out of the car.
Who was teasing whom? An irked Tae-ha followed her. Before she could press the elevator button, he grabbed her slender wrist.
“Who gave you permission?”
“I don’t want to hear whispers that I got the position through means other than merit.”
“For example?”
Did he really need her to spell it out? Tae-ha loosened his grip on her hand.
“If I earned this position through the proper procedures you mentioned, I’ll act accordingly.”
“You’re saying sleeping with me isn’t ‘accordingly’?”
Unlike Tae-ha, who was simple, decisive, and fast-moving, Jisoo approached everything with complexity, deep thought, and meticulousness.
He lived as a staunch individualist, while Jisoo had always been mindful of others’ opinions and reputations, navigating life carefully. In a harsh world, people’s attention and words were among the few things that softened reality—and she didn’t want to lose them.
“There are no secretaries who sleep with their bosses.”
In Tae-ha’s world, clear goals and desires reigned supreme. Everything else blurred past like scenery outside a speeding car window.
She would be one of those fleeting points disappearing beyond the glass. She knew her relationship with Tae-ha couldn’t last forever—it would fade into memory once his interest waned. That’s why she couldn’t throw away her stable job and reputation for momentary happiness.
________________________________________
Back at her desk, Jisoo prepared to leave when her phone buzzed briefly.
[Yoon-mi Oh here. Let’s meet.]
At first, she thought the abrupt request was mistakenly sent to her. After all, Tae-ha’s fifth stepmother had no reason to contact her.
[It’s about Tae-ha. Nothing tacky or outdated. I’ll send a car to the back gate of the company.]
With one text, Yoon-mi answered all the questions swirling in Jisoo’s mind—about Tae-ha, about outdated notions. Determined to remain calm and act as if nothing unusual was happening, Jisoo left the office.
The car Yoon-mi sent led her to a luxurious café exuding European royal vibes. Even though it was nearing evening, the place was bustling with customers. Amidst the lively atmosphere, a refined face stood out. Jisoo immediately recognized Yoon-mi and approached her.
“Um… Han Jisoo? Please sit.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“You feel familiar somehow—I’ve heard so much about you. What would you like to drink? It’s almost dinnertime, so how about a sandwich? They’re delicious here.”
“No, thank you. I’m fine.”
“Trust me, their sandwiches are amazing. Fresh ingredients too.”
“My digestion’s been off lately. I’ve been skipping dinner.”
Despite meeting for the first time, Jisoo found Yoon-mi oddly familiar and confessed honestly. Lately, even drinking milk upset her stomach, and sleepiness overwhelmed her. No matter how hard she tried to stay active, she’d drift off the moment her back touched anything.
“Then we’ll get it to go.”
Determined to have Jisoo taste the café’s sandwiches, Yoon-mi ordered takeaway. Truthfully, she wanted compliments on her impeccable taste.
“How long have you known Tae-ha?”
As soon as the steaming tea arrived, Yoon-mi cut to the chase.
Jisoo’s plan to answer vaguely while buying time crumbled completely.
“Vice President Cha and I…”
“You went to university together, right? Let’s see…”
Yoon-mi counted on her fingers, then widened her round eyes dramatically.
“You two go way back! Like a fresh college romance?”
Jisoo pressed her lips tightly together, unsure how to respond.
“I’m not judging. Considering Tae-ha’s stubborn personality—which you’ve witnessed for over a decade—you know he doesn’t listen to adults. Despite being male, he acts like royalty.”
Yoon-mi’s complaints echoed Jisoo’s own frustrations, prompting a faint smile.
“He hasn’t dated anyone either, so while Han Jisoo is quite the catch…”
Yoon-mi scrutinized Jisoo from head to toe with critical eyes. Preferring beauty, she found Jisoo far more elegant in person than in photos. Her mysterious aura captivated, but her graceful demeanor truly drew attention. If older women found her charming, how must young men react?
“Our status may not align perfectly, but pairing him with you beats dealing with perverts or homosexuals…”
Still unclear why Yoon-mi wanted to meet, Jisoo listened quietly.
“So I called you here to encourage you—to give it a shot with Tae-ha.”
Ah, unable to come up with a suitable response, Jisoo clutched her teacup.
“Chairman Cha is cool about these things. Our family’s different from other chaebols. We don’t rely on in-laws’ connections; we just need to get along.”
Confused by the conversation’s unexpected direction, Jisoo briefly wondered if Tae-ha had orchestrated this. But even someone unfamiliar with the family dynamics knew Tae-ha and his fifth stepmother weren’t close enough for such discussions. Moreover, Tae-ha wouldn’t discuss her with anyone.
________________________________________
Half of Jisoo’s assumptions were correct, and half were wrong. Tae-ha was currently sharing drinks with Stefan, who had just returned from overseas.
Tae-ha rarely enjoyed drinking or boisterous gatherings, so when he initiated this meeting, Stefan’s sharp instincts sensed it was serious.
“Face reading is science! Judging by your face, this is about a woman, right?”
As always, Tae-ha remained silent, pouring another round of drinks instead.
“Who could make Cha Tae-ha drink? That scarf girl?”
Downing another shot, Tae-ha set the empty glass down. Why did this guy pop into his head during frustrating moments? He couldn’t exactly call Kim, the lawyer connected to Jisoo, so spotting an article about Stefan’s return felt like fate intervening. Expanding his social circle suddenly seemed necessary as Tae-ha reached for another drink.
“What’s the problem? You know I specialize in these matters. Speak up if you want help.”
Despite his cheerful demeanor, Stefan’s lips were sealed unless necessary. Much like Tae-ha, who rarely spoke, they made surprisingly compatible drinking companions. Perhaps that’s why Tae-ha considered Stefan his only friend.
“The worst flaw among countless ones is his inability to express himself. Without telepathy certification, how is anyone supposed to understand if he stays silent?”
Annoyed by Stefan’s rambling lecture, Tae-ha sporadically recounted events from the recent workplace broadcast to today.
A line of bottles formed between them.
“If you promise not to hit me, I’ll say one thing here.”
Tipsy, Tae-ha leaned back deeply into the sofa and nodded.
“He’s really a bastard!”
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