Chapter 1

Untouchable

Jae-hee stepped into the heavy creaking of the front door. The sunlight poured through the window, and a cruise ship slowly slid across the Han River below, like a snail.

Breaking the silence, Jae-hee walked slowly. Her shadow stretched long across the marble floor. At the boundary between light and shadow, her hesitant steps came to a halt.

A person deep in languid sleep. The sunlight streaming through the sheer curtain, the soft light spilling over smooth skin. The glimmer caught at the tips of long eyelashes.

A sigh escaped her lips. He slept like an unreachable mirage, like a beautiful painting hanging beyond the line.

Cha Kang-joo, a tree too tall to climb.

Her first love from long ago.

The unfulfilled emotions from the past left traces, like sediment in her heart. Though she had long given up, standing in the shadow while he lay in the light made her feel that their worlds were different. Even though they were in the same space, it felt like there was an unfathomable abyss between them.

It wasn’t just because he was the heir to a wealthy family, and she was the daughter of a maid from that family.

It was probably because...

“Ah…!”

Jae-hee gasped in surprise, flinching. He had slowly opened his eyes, as if sensing her presence.

Their eyes met in a moment of collision. His eyes, slowly revealed, gleamed like those of a beautiful beast. Jae-hee inhaled sharply and turned away. It felt as though her collar was grabbed, and she was violently pulled back to reality.

His still, heavy gaze warned her.

Are you still coveting me?

“I didn’t want to wake you while you were sleeping. I hope you weren’t startled.”

Jae-hee mumbled hurriedly, turning her back without waiting for a response.

The reason it always felt like she was in a different world from him, the reason she always felt a distance even though they were in the same space, was because of those eyes.

“I brought galbi jjim (braised short ribs) today. It won’t taste good if I freeze it, what should I do?”

As she opened the fridge, she spoke as if to herself, but his indifferent voice followed.

“Just leave it there.”

Jae-hee glanced back. Kang-joo was sitting loosely at the edge of the bed. He was stretching with his eyes half-closed. His movements were graceful and languid, like a lazy beast. His upper body, revealed over the fallen blanket, was covered in smooth muscles, glistening under the sunlight. His toned abs and muscles looked as if they might bounce back if touched.

Jae-hee turned her head without a word.

“The atmosphere is nice, right? It’s gotten so popular here that you can’t come without a reservation.”

“Yeah, it’s beautiful.”

Jae-hee nodded in acknowledgment of Min-cheol’s boasting.

Jeong Min-cheol. He was the man sitting across from Jae-hee, who had followed her around for three years and finally managed to secure the seat beside her after that day. However, they still hadn’t had any real physical contact. Rather than being lovers, their relationship felt more like a close friendship.

Jae-hee looked out the window. The duck boat floating peacefully on the water caught her eye. Min-cheol, who had been craning his neck to look at the duck boat as well, finally spoke.

“Jae-hee, you’re going to stay with me late tonight, right?”

“I’m having dinner with Hyo-jeong tonight, sorry.”

Jae-hee rejected him indirectly, saying that she was meeting her younger sister, Hyo-jeong, for dinner. Recently, Min-cheol had been saying strange things, like asking her to go on an overnight trip or spend the night with him.

Min-cheol pouted.

“You’re always so busy going to that ‘executive’ guy’s house on weekends, but now you’re ditching me for dinner?”

“Sorry.”

Jae-hee immediately apologized.

The “executive guy” Min-cheol referred to was Kang-joo. Her first love, and Cha Kang-joo, the only son of the chairman of Seon-gang Group. They had known each other since childhood, and Jae-hee often visited his house on weekends to deliver side dishes, which Min-cheol seemed to resent.

“Why does that guy only eat your family’s side dishes? I mean, he’s a high-ranking executive at a big company, so he must have plenty of money.”

“True.”

“Your mom used to work as his family’s maid, right? So that’s why he eats your side dishes… Ah, was that rude?”

Min-cheol looked at Jae-hee as if realizing his mistake.

The daughter of a maid, continuing the tradition of delivering side dishes. It wasn’t exactly a flattering title. But Jae-hee nodded nonchalantly. What was there to be embarrassed about?

“Yeah, he’s been eating my mom’s side dishes since we were kids, so I guess the ones I make suit his taste.”

An awkward silence followed. Min-cheol cleared his throat, and at that moment, several dishes were placed on the table.

“Your tomato seafood pasta, salad, and steak are ready.”

The steak and salad Min-cheol had ordered, along with the tomato seafood pasta, were placed in front of them. Jae-hee silently stared at the red pasta in front of her before raising her gaze and speaking to the waiter.

“This isn’t the right dish.”

Jae-hee’s dish was supposed to be aglio olio, with no shrimp in it.

The flustered waiter quickly checked the order. Min-cheol, who had been watching, casually pulled his plate of pasta closer.

“Just eat it. It looks good.”

Jae-hee’s face hardened. She easily sensed the childish emotion in Min-cheol’s gaze as he looked at her. Are you being picky again? But she said nothing.

“Min-cheol, I’m allergic to shrimp.”

She had a shrimp allergy. It meant she couldn’t just eat something because it looked good, as Min-cheol suggested. She had reminded him about it twice already. Now, saying it again felt almost unnecessary.

Min-cheol shrugged and looked at the waiter.

“She says she’s allergic to shrimp. Please bring the aglio olio.”

After a while, the aglio olio was brought out. Min-cheol had already eaten half of his steak. Chewing on the meat, Min-cheol spoke.

“By the way, Jae-hee, you’re really unlucky.”

“……”

Jae-hee’s hand, which had been twirling the pasta, froze.

“Are you just unlucky? Other people don’t have this problem, but you always end up with the wrong orders, and things just don’t work out, right? Or is it that you’re just being too sensitive?”

Jae-hee stopped chewing and lifted her gaze toward Min-cheol. His words, meant as a joke, felt like hooks piercing her heart.

“Why am I unlucky? I ordered correctly, and it’s this restaurant that messed up the cooking.”

She had heard this many times before. Her father was absent, her mother was sick, and she had a younger sister to support. People often clicked their tongues, pitying her for the way life had turned out.

Min-cheol laughed and casually dismissed her response.

“Okay, okay, I take it back. You’re not unlucky, you’re very lucky. Meeting a girlfriend who doesn’t even give you a kiss but still takes care of you, that’s real luck!”

“……”

“You’re not mad, are you?”

Instead of replying, Jae-hee just shook her head. What was there to say to someone so shameless?

Min-cheol’s words, you’re really unlucky, lingered bitterly in her mind. She had heard it so many times that it had become a worn-out phrase in her heart, but it still stung, as if it were fresh. Yet, the reason she couldn’t treat Min-cheol coldly was that…

Jae-hee moved her hand again, trying to act nonchalant. If it weren’t for that day with Min-cheol, she might have already fallen apart by now. So, she decided to overlook his little mistakes. After all, he was Hyo-jeong’s savior, someone she was thankful for.

“Huh? You said we’d have lunch together today.”

Jae-hee spoke to Min-cheol as she passed the entrance of the mansion. On the other end of the phone, Min-cheol’s voice sounded a bit awkward.

Ah, a junior at work asked to meet for a consultation.

“A junior? What kind of junior? From our school?”

No, a colleague from work.

Jae-hee slowly closed her eyes and then opened them again. A colleague from work? Was it even possible for Min-cheol, who had just become an accountant, to have a junior at work? But Jae-hee decided not to dwell on it.

“Okay, I get it. See you next time.”

Thanks, Jae-hee.

Min-cheol still spoke in an awkward tone. As soon as she hung up, Jae-hee stuffed her phone into her bag and placed her thumb on the fingerprint scanner. The heavy door soon opened. She held her breath and carefully stepped inside.

“Hello, I’m here.”

The large house, with few pieces of furniture, echoed her voice, making it seem even louder. Looking around, she noticed no one was there. It seemed like they had all gone out today. Like a stranger, Jae-hee walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Just like the empty house, the fridge was also empty.

“Unnie, why does Kang-joo oppa keep eating our side dishes?”

Suddenly, Hyo-jeong’s voice popped into her mind. Why was that? Why did the executive keep eating their family’s side dishes? Was it out of pity? Sympathy for the former maid family who had once lived under the same roof? Or if not...

“Well, what does it matter.”

Whatever his reasons, what was the problem? He paid, and she got paid in return. It was a clean and fair transaction. As she continued to fill the fridge, a businesslike voice rang out from behind her.

“You’re here?”

It was a low, quiet voice with no warmth.

Jae-hee jumped in surprise, causing the containers of side dishes to crash down.

“Oh my!”

“I’m not your mom.”

The voice was dry and ambiguous, as if unsure whether it was a joke or not. Jae-hee quickly turned around, and there, on the sofa, sat Kang-joo in a bathrobe, casually lounging. It looked like he had just come out of the shower, as droplets of water were dripping from his hair.

The clear water droplets slid down his cheek like tears. The arrogance embedded in his delicate features. Below his neck, the loosely worn bathrobe revealed a glimpse of his firm chest. His pure and innocent appearance was accompanied by a strange, seductive aura, making him oddly alluring.

Jae-hee rubbed the back of her neck, which was flushed, and turned her head away.

“I brought japchae and shrimp rolls today. I’ll put the shrimp rolls in an oven-safe dish and wrap them. You just need to unwrap and heat them up.”

She forced her trembling voice to stay steady. Kang-joo, who had risen from the sofa, glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Where was he going? His every breath and every footstep felt overly noticeable.

Trying to ignore it, Jae-hee held the plate, but she could feel his presence behind her. His soft, deep voice came again.

“Are you okay?”

“Huh?”

Jae-hee, unable to understand the meaning of the question, awkwardly turned around to face him. He was leaning against the marble countertop, lazily observing her. His eyes, slightly tired, had a strange, seductive glow. He asked again, his voice casual yet probing.

“Jae-hee, are you sure it’s okay to handle the shrimp like that?”

“…Huh?”

She was drawn in by the soft tone of his voice, and her mind let the question slip by. His gaze, which had been on her face, slowly traveled down her hand and stopped.

“You’re allergic, right?”

“Ah…”

He murmured to himself as if wondering if it was okay to touch it.

Jae-hee’s fingers twitched as if they were itchy. Though he was only looking at her fingers, an unusual tension began to build.

“Didn’t it happen before?”

His calm statement was thrown out without any explanation.

“What do you mean?”

“I think you had an appetizer with shrimp in it once, and you couldn’t eat anything afterward.”

His gaze, which had been on her hand, slowly moved upward again, pausing at her lips. Kang-joo tilted his head slightly and whispered as if recalling something.

“Your lips were really swollen too…”

His languid voice wrapped around her like honey.

Jae-hee, feeling the heat of his gaze on her lips, instinctively bit her lip. She barely managed to swallow the saliva that had gathered in her mouth. His focus was clearly on his own lips, but somehow Jae-hee felt more nervous than ever. It felt as though his explicit gaze was exploring her, in a strange and almost unsettling way.

His gaze, which seemed indifferent but deeply intense, was too much for Jae-hee to endure. She couldn’t look at him any longer. She bit her lips tightly and lowered her head. Her hand holding the plate trembled slightly.

“If it’s not for eating, it’s fine. When I cook, I’ll use plastic gloves, and now I’m using chopsticks.”

Jae-hee hastily mumbled, and only then did Kang-joo get up and leave. His final words, delivered casually, lingered.

“But don’t make shrimp dishes in the future. You don’t need to eat them anyway.”

His presence, which had filled the kitchen, was gone. Jae-hee finally let out a deep breath.

It had been chaotic since Monday. After answering endless phone calls and handling piled-up work, she grabbed a thick black folder without even having time to stretch. There were tasks she had to take care of before going out for her fieldwork in the afternoon.

Jae-hee walked over to Manager Kim Inmoo’s desk, diagonally across from hers, and quietly stood next to him. Despite sensing her presence, Manager Kim didn’t even glance at her.

“Manager.”

“…….”

“Manager Kim.”

“…….”

Even after calling him twice, there was no response. He was deliberately ignoring her.

She didn’t have a good relationship with Manager Kim. A few months ago, at a company dinner, when he had been drunk and flirtatious, Jae-hee pushed him away, which seemed to have embarrassed him. He then went around telling people she had come onto him first but treated him like a pervert. When that didn’t work, he started holding a grudge and began making things difficult for her.

He wouldn’t accept her greetings. When she submitted documents, he would leave them unread, not reporting them to higher-ups. He would take charge of team dinners, excluding her. Small but malicious acts of revenge. Jae-hee was used to people ignoring her, but the problem was that he was her direct superior.

“Manager, you haven’t reviewed the proposal yet, so I’ve brought it again.”

“…….”

“Manager Kim Inmoo!”

Only then did Manager Kim turn his head.

“Hey, my ears aren’t dead.”

Jae-hee silently extended the black folder toward him.

“Team Leader Jeong asked for the first plan by 3 p.m. He’ll look at it in the car on his way to the provinces.”

“So?”

“You need to review it before I can hand it over.”

“So?”

“So? So what?” Jae-hee suppressed her boiling anger and glanced at the clock. There wasn’t much time. Manager Kim casually tapped the piles of documents stacked on his desk like a mountain.

“I’m busy. Put it on top.”

The pile of papers was a graveyard. A stinky graveyard where everything was piled up and left to rot until it started to stink. If it went up there, it wouldn’t be dealt with until well into the afternoon.

“If it’s urgent, you should’ve brought it earlier. If you don’t like it, you can leave the approval box empty and submit it.”

“Okay, I’ll just leave the approval box empty and submit it for now.”

At Jae-hee’s sharp response, Manager Kim slammed his hand on the desk with a loud thud and jumped up from his seat.

“Hey! Are you making sense? Are you ignoring me now?”

Eventually, a loud argument broke out, echoing through the office, where the planning, accounting, and legal teams all sat.

“I’ll approve it! I’ll do it however I want! Who are you to give me orders?!”

With his eyes raised in a threatening manner, Manager Kim stuck his head out, as if trying to intimidate her. After muttering some curses, he slapped Jae-hee’s shoulder and stormed out.

“Damn it, you’re ruining my mood!”

Jae-hee staggered but caught herself by leaning on the desk. Turning around, she saw Manager Kim pulling out a cigarette case from his pocket. It seemed like he was heading to the smoking area outside the building.

Jae-hee alternated between staring at the documents in her hand and the mound of papers on Manager Kim’s desk, then placed her papers on top of the pile.

She tried to remain calm, but inside, she was burning with anger.

How should she get revenge? Throw an egg at his car’s hood? His bangs have been thinning lately, so should she pretend to trip and pull them all out?

—beep—beep. The phone connection failed, followed by a busy tone...

Walking to the company car, Jae-hee dialed Min-cheol’s number. It went straight to voicemail. She fiddled with her phone screen displaying Min-cheol’s number before turning it off. Lately, she felt oddly reluctant to talk to him, especially when he was at the office. It was strange.

Meanwhile, at a coffee shop near Min-cheol’s office.

Min-cheol checked his phone but didn’t answer, instead sliding it into his pocket.

“Who was that?”

“Huh? My girlfriend.”

“You have a girlfriend? I didn’t know.”

His junior, Park Hanna, sitting across from him, widened her eyes. Although she was a junior, she had joined the company just a month after Min-cheol, making them almost the same age.

“We haven’t been dating for long.”

Min-cheol awkwardly muttered, leaving out the part about how he had been chasing after Jae-hee for years, and said something half-true. They had just finished a client and group meeting and were using the break to chat in the café. Though they were busy, they joked that if they didn’t take a break now, when would they?

“Is she pretty?”

At Hanna’s question, Min-cheol scratched the bridge of his nose and thought of Jae-hee.

“She’s pretty, really pretty. But she’s a bit...”

“A bit?”

“A bit cold, and she puts up a lot of walls.”

Hanna’s lips curled into a smirk.

“Ah, that type? Beautiful and aloof, making men uncomfortable.”

Min-cheol didn’t bother denying it and fiddled with his straw.

“I guess she must be pretty, your girlfriend.”

“Why?”

“Well, you’re handsome. It’s natural for pretty people to be around handsome people.”

Min-cheol laughed in a silly way, fiddling with the straw, and a laugh escaped from him.

After all, people are animals too. Just as we trust the instincts of animals, we should trust human instincts. No wonder I felt so uneasy during the meeting.

Jae-hee rushed into the office and frantically opened the file window. The file that was supposed to be delivered to Team Leader Jeong hadn’t been passed on. It had been taken over by Manager Kim. He had said he would review it and then pass it on, but this was what happened.

“I think the statistical figures are wrong, so I’ve been holding onto it. Not my responsibility, okay?”

She could hear Manager Kim’s mocking tone from behind. But no matter how much she looked, she couldn’t find the error he was referring to.

“Manager Kim, the figures are correct.”

“Really? I thought they were wrong.”

Manager Kim opened the shared file and pretended to check it, then shrugged his shoulders.

“I must have been mistaken. Still, it’s better to double-check before sending it out, right? Better than making a mistake, huh?”

“……”

“You should’ve answered my call, you know. I tried calling you.”

Ah, that call. How could she answer the phone during the meeting? When she called back after the meeting, Manager Kim had ignored it. He’d been ignoring her the whole time she was in the office.

Jae-hee sent the file to Team Leader Jeong and buried her face in her hands. A quiet laugh escaped from beneath her palms. It was a laugh that transcended everything. For a long while, she muttered Manager Kim’s name over and over in her head. Then she raised her head and began filling out the application for extending PC usage time for overtime.

Manager Kim was still Manager Kim. Today, she’d focus on the work first. To avoid being scolded tomorrow, she had to finish everything.

Soon, she was planning to stick gum on Manager Kim’s chair.

In the dark night, the sparkling night view of Seoul spread out like a painting outside the window. Jae-hee stood by the window in the company hallway and smiled into the phone.

“Did you just get home? You must be tired, our Hyo-jeong.”

“Didn’t you get off work yet, unnie?”

“Yeah, work got piled up. Don’t worry, go ahead and sleep first. Make sure to lock the windows, and lock the door too. Got it? You’re not scared sleeping alone, are you?”

“Am I? Be careful on your way back too, unnie.”

“Yeah.”

Jae-hee hung up the phone and bought a chocolate drink and cake gift card. She then sent it to her younger sister with a message: “Our Hyo-jeong, fighting!”

She remembered how Hyo-jeong had said she couldn’t go to the café with her friends because she didn’t have enough pocket money.

Our Hyo-jeong is a test taker, and she can’t even eat what she wants. I’m sorry, my dear.

After sending it, Jae-hee felt much better.

Manager Kim, no matter what you do, am I going to quit the company? I’ll work harder and buy my little one gift cards.

“Did I tell Jae-hee in advance or not?”

Team Leader Jeong shouted, ripping off his tie in frustration.

“If you thought you couldn’t give the proposal, you should’ve dealt with the work first before going out on a field visit! Don’t you know the priorities of work yet? Is this how you’re going to do your job?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Is my order a joke?”

Team Leader Jeong shouted, his eyes red with anger.

With her head lowered, Jae-hee clasped her hands together, trying to appear as remorseful as possible. After all, the fact that the document hadn’t been submitted to Team Leader Jeong was true. Yesterday, she had been severely scolded by Manager Kim, and today, she was being torn apart by Team Leader Jeong. One single document was causing all this trouble.

Manager Kim, who had sneaked up behind her, pretended to intervene and added fuel to Team Leader Jeong’s fiery mood.

“Team Leader, I tried calling Jae-hee yesterday about the statistical figures, but she didn’t answer. She was distracted with something, maybe a meeting or something.”

Jae-hee bit her lip tightly and calmly relayed the facts.

“After checking, there was no issue with the statistical figures. I double-checked them and immediately sent them to Team Leader Jeong’s email. I sincerely apologize for the delay.”

Despite her calm response, Team Leader Jeong didn’t calm down. He struck her shoulder with the paper documents he was holding.

“What good is it being almost time to leave work? When have I ever said that? Why has your attitude changed? You’re disrespecting your supervisor, and your behavior is so arrogant! Is this how you’re going to work?”

…Ah.

She decided to stay silent. There were too many nitpicking reasons to criticize her. What could she say to someone who had already decided to crush her?

Team Leader Jeong had a lot of grievances with her. Once, she had rejected his invitation to go to karaoke alone after a company dinner. Another time, she had turned down his suggestion to have dinner with just him and the female employees. Since then, whenever he found even the slightest fault, he would make sure to crush her like this. Today was just another one of those days.

Behind Team Leader Jeong, she saw Manager Kim’s lips twitching into a small smirk.

Are you happy? Fine, enjoy it. Jae-hee thought to herself as she imagined pulling out a handful of his just-starting-to-thin bangs.

Anyway, she was just a junior, thoroughly a subordinate. They were the managers, the bosses. It was dirty and petty, but that was the reality. A complete subordinate, Jae-hee lowered her eyes even more and tightly clenched her hands.

At that moment, a firm voice suddenly rang out from the entrance of the office.

“What’s going on here?”

It was a cold and indifferent voice, as if pouring cold water into the office. Jae-hee raised her head at the familiar voice.

There stood Cha Kang-joo. He occasionally came up to the 8th floor when he had something important to say, and today seemed to be one of those days.

Everyone held their breath and focused their gaze. Cha Kang-joo, having handed the file to the secretary, approached with long strides. His calm voice addressed Team Leader Jeong.

“Don’t you know there have been a lot of outsiders coming and going because of the merger? This atmosphere is getting tense—what kind of commotion is this?”

Team Leader Jeong rolled his eyes and gave a sheepish laugh. Cha Kang-joo, the executive, was someone who was difficult to respond to properly. There was no choice but to bow down first. He had been scarce recently, but of course, today was the day he had to show up.

“Ah, Executive, I was just teaching my team member some work...”

“I could hear your voice all the way down the hall, Team Leader. What’s this important matter? I’m curious, should I come listen?”

“Ah… well...”

Team Leader Jeong nervously adjusted his eyebrows. Even he thought the reason he had shouted earlier was ridiculous.

It seemed a bit much to get that angry just because the file was an hour and a half late. Now that he had been promoted from team leader to an executive, he knew he needed to gain Cha Kang-joo’s favor, but it would be troublesome to make a bad impression on him over something trivial.

Team Leader Jeong kept his mouth tightly shut.

Cha Kang-joo, who had been scrutinizing him with a cold gaze, placed a hand on his disheveled attire.

“With so many outsiders around these days, Team Leader, your appearance...”

Cha Kang-joo fastened Team Leader Jeong’s undone buttons and tied his necktie. His neat and well-groomed face was mirrored in the freshly adjusted clothes.

“Team Leader, our employee seems a bit anxious from the loud noises, so I intervened. Are you upset about that?”

“Not at all, Executive.”

“I see. If our employees can work comfortably, our results will go up this year, and that will boost your results as well.”

“Yes, yes.”

After Team Leader Jeong’s servile response, Cha Kang-joo’s languid voice continued.

“If you want to rise in the ranks, Team Leader, you’ll have to be more than others. You understand what I mean?”

“Ah, yes, yes. I understand!”

Team Leader Jeong nodded vigorously, and Cha Kang-joo patted him on the shoulder before turning around without another word. The employees on the 8th floor, peeking over the partitions, watched his retreating figure.

As Cha Kang-joo reached the front of Product Planning Team 3, he stopped. The small knock on the partition echoed.

“Manager Yoo, how is the sample comparison test data for the UJ Korea project coming along?”

The real reason Cha Kang-joo had come to the 8th floor was now revealed. Manager Yoo, who had been staring blankly, quickly got up from his seat.

“Ah, yes! The two partner products haven’t arrived yet, so I’m analyzing the ones that have come in!”

“I see. Since it’s the end of the year and things are getting busy, please make sure there are no delays. If the samples are delayed, just organize what you have and send it to me first.”

“Yes, Executive!”

Cha Kang-joo nodded and left the 8th floor directly. The quiet office was filled only with the sound of keyboards tapping. Instead of speaking, hands were moving. Did you see? Team Leader Jeong got crushed? The office messenger lit up.

Inside Cha Kang-joo’s personal office, Jae-hee looked toward the bright light. Cha Kang-joo, the Executive of Strategic Planning Coordination, sat in front of a stiff nameplate.

Cha Kang-joo was the Executive of the Planning Coordination Office for the food, beverage, liquor, and coffee businesses, which was part of the Seon-gang Group. Jae-hee, too, was in the Beverage and Liquor Marketing Team under him.

However, it was rare for her, as a junior, to encounter him, an executive, in the office. Unless, of course, he summoned her, as he had today.

Jae-hee, noticing his silence after calling her in, spoke first.

“Executive, I heard you called for me.”

Cha Kang-joo, who had been inspecting something, finally raised his head. With the light behind him, Jae-hee squinted slightly at the brightness. Leaning back in his chair, Cha Kang-joo asked casually.

“What was all the commotion about earlier?”

“It was a small issue. Nothing that the Executive needs to worry about.”

His brows furrowed. There was a hint of irritation in his otherwise expressionless face.

“It seems like it’s a trend in the marketing team to remain silent and say nothing when something isn’t important, whether it’s Team Leader Jeong or you, Jae-hee.”

“That’s not it.”

“...”

“Well...”

He didn’t ask any further and just continued staring at her. She wanted to remain calm, but the silence unsettled her. Finally, Jae-hee cautiously spoke.

“You asked for the documents by 3 PM, but I delivered them at 5:30.”

“Were the documents important?”

“Hmm...”

They weren’t all that important. In fact, it didn’t matter whether they were delivered today or tomorrow. But Jae-hee kept her mouth shut. Regardless of how trivial she thought it was, the importance of the documents was for her superior, Team Leader Jeong, to decide.

Cha Kang-joo seemed to have deduced the answer from her silence. He lazily rested his chin on his hand.

“Didn’t you have an off-site meeting yesterday?”

“Ah, yes. I did. How did you know—”

“Then why didn’t you deliver the documents before you went out?”

Before Jae-hee could finish her sentence, Cha Kang-joo cut her off in a nonchalant voice.

“I was going to deliver them before the off-site meeting, but I couldn’t due to unavoidable circumstances, so I went to the meeting first.”

“What was that unavoidable circumstance?”

“I couldn’t get approval from Manager Kim Inmu. It’s my fault I couldn’t deliver them earlier.”

“Couldn’t deliver them earlier? I don’t think you would have suddenly handed them over, knowing your personality.”

“...”

“Wasn’t there some friction with Manager Kim Inmu before?”

He kept probing, asking with a sharp tone.

Jae-hee bit her lip. Cha Kang-joo easily understood the relationship between her and Manager Kim, and the events surrounding this situation. It was as if he could see everything, despite being on the 22nd floor while everything on the 8th floor seemed clear to him. It was like the education supervisor of Gyeonggi-do knowing that the students Minseok and Cheolsoo in Class 2 of Cheoncheon High had fought.

“From what I can tell, it looks like that bastard Kim Inmu and that bastard Team Leader Jeong are at fault. Seems like it’s all getting sorted that way...”

Muttering to himself, he suddenly lifted his gaze and stared at Jae-hee, as if trying to dismantle her.

“But since you’re keeping your mouth shut, I’ll make it your fault.”

“Yes.”

There was a moment of silence. Then, Cha Kang-joo looked down, grabbed the document, and threw it at her.

“Alright, you can go now.”

He was staring at the paper, his forehead leaning against his hand.

Jae-hee bent deeply at the waist, bowing toward his forehead.

“Then, I’ll be leaving. Thank you for your concern, Executive.”

With her final words, she left. Cha Kang-joo remained alone in his office, staring at the documents before finally setting them down.

He tilted his head back, slouching into his chair. A languid light fell over his face.

Team Leader Jeong flicked the half-smoked cigarette to the floor and stomped it out with his foot. After Kang-joo left, he was grumbling alone and had just brought Manager Kim with him to the outdoor smoking area on the 6th floor.

“That Cha Kang-joo executive, he’s definitely trying to impress the female employees by giving me a side glance. I could tell from the moment he started hanging around here.”

It was unbearable. He had been staying in the beverage and distribution departments for a few years, but it was clear he was going to move to the central control tower of Seon-gang Group. Why did he keep coming down here whenever there was a chance, instead of staying comfortably in his office on the 22nd floor? It wasn’t like the president was coming for an inspection.

One phone call, one secretary, and the work would be done. Yet, he had to come down here and get involved in everything.

“That guy’s got a prince complex, you know? He comes down here to enjoy the female employees squealing when they see his face. I know exactly what he’s up to.”

“You’re right, Team Leader.”

As Team Leader Jeong lit a new cigarette, Manager Kim agreed with him. With an angry expression, Team Leader Jeong suddenly slammed his fist into Manager Kim’s head.

“Right? What the hell do you mean by that, you bastard! It’s your fault I got scolded! I was trying to deal with that Jae-hee who was climbing up the ranks!”

“I’m sorry, Team Leader!”

Manager Kim bent his back in apology. Team Leader Jeong took a deep drag of his cigarette and exhaled the smoke with a sigh.

“That Yoon Jae-hee, she’s really something. I was trying to be nice to her because she’s pretty, and then she goes and causes a fuss about sexual harassment. What the hell? She always complains about labor unions and whatever, and now I can’t even fire her.”

“It’s the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Team Leader.”

“I know, you bastard.”

Team Leader Jeong clicked his tongue in annoyance. The cigarette tasted bitter today.

By the way, should he send a flowerpot to Executive Cha to apologize for his bad mood today? Whether he liked it or not, he had to make a good impression on that executive. It was all because of Yoon Jae-hee...

After leaving the subway station, Jae-hee walked down a deserted street. She had gotten on the subway in a good mood after working late, but then Manager Kim’s call had reached her. Apparently, the overseas sales team suddenly needed some data.

It wasn’t really her responsibility, but since he kept making such a fuss over the phone, she was on her way. What could she do? They seemed intent on bothering her.

“Why is it suddenly raining too?”

As if things weren’t bad enough, a light rain began to fall. Jae-hee covered her head with her cheap leather bag. The street of office buildings, now empty with all the workers gone, felt desolate. Even around the gleaming buildings, there were narrow and shabby alleys.

Perhaps the season had changed, for the scenery on the street looked different from a week ago. As she passed through the empty office buildings, Jae-hee’s steps suddenly slowed.

There was someone who shouldn’t have been in this shabby street.

Someone was walking alone. Their suit, perfectly wrinkle-free, was slightly damp from the rain. No matter how you looked at it, they didn’t seem like the type to be in a place like this.

Jae-hee wasn’t sure what to do… After some hesitation, as she got closer to the person, she carefully called out to them.

“…Hello, Executive Director.”

His empty gaze lifted towards her. He slowly blinked as if a little surprised, then stared at her blankly, as though she were a mirage.

“Are you leaving work now?”

When Jae-hee awkwardly asked how he was doing, he replied flatly.

“Yes. What about you, Jae-hee?”

“Oh, I suddenly have something to do.”

He slowly ran his wet hand through his hair and gave a slight smile. His hair was disheveled between his solid, straight fingers.

“Is it that Manager Kim again?”

The wet voice asked.

Jae-hee paused, feeling raindrops fall onto her cheek. Just as she thought. She’d merely mentioned she was going back to the office tonight, and he had already figured out the situation. After all, apart from that person and Team Leader Jung, there was no one else who bothered her day and night. She had nothing to say and, glancing at his back, changed the subject.

“What about your car? You’ll catch a cold if you get wet in the rain...”

He was always accompanied by secretaries or drivers.

Instead of answering, Kang-joo just stared at her intently. Then, with the faintest smile at the corner of his lips, he spoke to himself.

“You know, on rainy days, I turn into a fool.”

Under the yellow streetlamp, the droplets on his eyelashes gleamed faintly.

Jae-hee bit her lips and looked away with unsteady eyes.

Still the same. Still like that day.

As Jae-hee remained silent, tightly biting her lips, Kang-joo stepped closer. Unknowingly, Jae-hee took a step back. Perhaps it was the strange tension of the rainy night, or perhaps because of what had happened that day.

Watching Jae-hee step back, he asked in a low voice, his eyes darkened.

“Being alone in this dark alley... are you scared?”

For a moment, his figure overlapped with the past.

Kang-joo, as a child, hiding his blood-soaked fist behind him, looking at her with unstable eyes.