The afterparty venue was deserted. Several housemaids, including the lady of the house, Youngcheon, were bustling between the garden and the main building. A couple of maids, groaning with effort, carried a long table back into the house.

Looking on with eagle eyes, Nam Tae let out a fake cough. He was summoning Youngcheon.

“Chairman, do you need something?”
“Don’t let anyone upstairs. I have important matters to discuss with Secretary Lee.”
“Yes.”
Nam Tae headed straight upstairs to the study. Secretary Lee was already waiting. He was standing straight at the desk.

“How dare you come here.”
Growling, Nam Tae scowled fiercely. Unperturbed, Secretary Lee stood still. Without asking, he knew Nam Tae was referring to Se Ah.

Nam Tae’s stride to the sofa was irritable. Without a word, Secretary Lee followed and stood by, waiting for Nam Tae’s instructions.

On the table was a cup of Earl Grey tea that Youngcheon had prepared. Nam Tae took a sip to suppress his simmering anger.

“Well, what was it?”
“The young madam is resisting more than before.”
“Huh. What can she do?”
Furious, Nam Tae undid his tie knot with a snap. Automatically, Secretary Lee politely held out both hands to take the tie.

Secretary Lee remembered the conversation he had with Se Ah in the back garden.

‘Young madam, you should not come to the main house unannounced. Didn’t I tell you?’
At that, Se Ah had scoffed.

‘Tell your master that I don’t listen to a mutt.’
Se Ah’s sharp eyes suddenly softened, and she hushed.

‘Kang Woo is nearby. I can smell Kang Woo.’
Lee was surprised. His senses heightened, he too could detect the scent of someone other than Se Ah. But how could she detect such a subtle scent? They had only been married for a year.

There was worry in Se Ah’s eyes. It was different from the hostility she had shown him a while ago.

Regardless, thanks to Se Ah, he was able to set up a ladder to the back door warehouse and gather the tools.

“Put more pressure. If I step in and she records everything, we won’t be able to get out of it.”
There was no automatic ‘yes’ of obedience. Nam Tae turned his head to look at Secretary Lee.

“It may be impertinent of me to say this, but it does not seem like the right time.”
With a cynical look, Nam Tae stood in his place and glared at Secretary Lee.

“Considering the young madam’s attitude and especially, the chairman is watching.”
“There’s no way Kang Woo would know.”
“That may not be the case…”
“Se Ah.”
The low, ominous voice resounded. Despite the chilling call, Secretary Lee maintained his calm demeanor, resembling a trained secret weapon.

Nam Tae lightly patted Secretary Lee’s right shoulder.

“Haven’t my efforts helped you graduate law school and live like a human?”
“I am grateful.”
“Good.”
Nam Tae slowly walked around Secretary Lee, who was standing tall.

“How’s your mother’s health? If there’s any inconvenience in her treatment, let me know. You’re like my child since I raised you.”
“Yes.”
“Just do what the master tells you. I don’t know why there’s so much rebellion.”
After a sigh, Nam Tae kicked the study door open and stormed out.

((()))((()))((()))

At that time, Kang Woo and Se Ah were on their way back to their newlywed home.

They had stopped at a particularly long traffic light. Kang Woo rested a hand lightly on the steering wheel, waiting for the light to change.

Glancing at the passenger seat, he noticed Se Ah’s gaze fixed on the car window.

The deeply thoughtful side profile made him automatically replay the events at the main house.

After warning Secretary Lee, he took a walk around the back garden, but Se Ah was nowhere to be found. The exit had two paths, and she had probably slipped away to the opposite side and returned to the main house.

A ladder propped up against the window on the second floor of the outbuilding caught his eye. It seemed to prove Secretary Lee’s words that they were fixing the window.

Maybe he was being overly sensitive. Lately, he had been obsessing over Se Ah so much that his thoughts often veered off track.

There was no connection between Secretary Lee and Se Ah. She must have run into Secretary Lee while walking around the back garden and exchanged a few words. Indeed, their conversation had ended quickly.

The situation didn’t make sense no matter how she tried to reason it out.

“Annoying.”
Se Ah looked at Kang Woo as he let out a cold voice. A beat later, Kang Woo met Se Ah’s eyes. His eyes stretched sharply as if peering deep within her.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m curious about what you’re thinking.”
“Ah. Just because.”
“Just because what.”
Kang Woo steered the car into the mansion’s entrance. He avoided eye contact, perhaps to avoid inducing her to speak. As if to say, feel free to speak up without any pressure.

For instance, if there was an issue with this manager.

Damn it. An idea once taken root refused to leave.