Couldn't Help But Love You - Chapter 24
An annex room with a wall adorned with photos showcasing the four seasons of Flore Resort and families enjoying happy moments there.
The calm and leisurely atmosphere disappears the moment one observes the bustling activity in the annex.
The sound of copiers spewing paper busily and the smell of ink.
Eyes staring intently at monitors as if to pierce through them, and fingers moving deftly over keyboards.
Employees appear to be running rather than walking.
“It’s like seeing myself when I was at J Chemical.”
Han Gyeo Wool looked at the annex employees with sympathetic eyes.
She seemed to be the only person not busy here.
It was Gyeo Wool’s third day of work at the annex.
Until she started working, she had thought of this place as merely an outpost of Flore Resort.
Kang Tae Wook had told her nothing except that it was a suitable place to avoid the eyes of his family.
However, the moment she got out of the taxi and looked up at the building, she realized her assumption was wrong.
Flore Resort occupied 11 floors of the 45-story building.
Of course, it had an organizational structure like any other company.
It was only after coming here that she learned about plans to open two more Flore Resorts in Yeosu and Busan next year.
“Last year, we purchased a small castle in France, and renovation work to convert it into a hotel will begin soon.”
“We are also focusing efforts on partnering with Golden Wellness, a global resort group.”
These were the words of Deputy Manager Yoon from the annex to Gyeo Wool.
While she was away from Tae Wook, he had been doing remarkable things.
“Why on earth is the CEO…”
Gyeo Wool turned her gaze from the employees to the small conference room next to the CEO’s office, her expression troubled.
Tae Wook, who had come over from J Chemical, was now in a meeting with team leaders.
As he entered the conference room, Tae Wook didn’t even glance at Gyeo Wool.
“It’s been like this since that day.”
Ever since he had fallen asleep after saying he would stay up all night, Tae Wook had been treating Gyeo Wool coldly.
It felt different from mere icy disregard.
The feeling that he was deliberately keeping his distance made her quite uncomfortable.
“Is he angry because I fell asleep first? Or because I overslept?”
Gyeo Wool had ended up being late that day.
“She was late because she took a morning flight from Jeju Island, so please understand.”
If it weren’t for Tae Wook’s lie, she would have been branded as an inconsiderate person who was late on her first day of work.
“I need to know the reason to at least apologize.”
Whenever Gyeo Wool tried to make eye contact, Tae Wook seemed to avoid her gaze.
So she could only suffer inwardly, unable to ask for the reason.
Just as the small conference room door opened, Deputy Manager Yoo from the annex came out.
He was on his way back after delivering documents requested by Tae Wook.
“The CEO looks so tired.”
At Yoo’s concerned words, Gyeo Wool’s eyes lit up.
“I’ll prepare some drinks. Does the CEO have a particular tea he drinks when tired?”
Gyeo Wool rushed to the pantry.
In the conference room, the PR team leader had just finished reporting on the TV advertisement set to begin next January.
Instead of using a famous celebrity, it was an advertisement featuring a virtual model created using deep learning technology.
Even before the advertisement, photos and posts had been uploaded on social media, already garnering over 50,000 followers.
“I hope the advertisement proceeds without any issues.”
Tae Wook rubbed his temples with his fingers as he watched the PR team leader return to his seat.
His head was aching from fatigue.
It was due to visiting J Chemical’s Pyeongtaek factory in the morning.
“Let’s call it a day…”
“CEO, are you not considering adjusting the water park package prices?”
Tae Wook was about to end the meeting.
But Team Leader Moon brought up the issue he had raised at the beginning of the meeting.
This was because another resort in Jeju had drastically lowered their prices for packages that included both water park and accommodation.
“CEO, I think we should adjust our prices too.”
Team Leader Moon argued with a serious voice.
“I cannot agree to lowering the prices.”
Tae Wook maintained a firm stance.
“CEO, we can’t compete on price. I believe we should lower it even a little.”
This time, the bespectacled Team Leader Song lent support to Team Leader Moon’s opinion.
As opinions were exchanged, they only confirmed the difference in views between those who wanted to lower prices and those who wanted to maintain current prices.
“Lowering prices will affect our services and staffing. Above all, if safety issues arise due to staff shortages, we’ll be in an irreversible situation.”
Just then, there was a light knock, and Deputy Manager Yoo from the annex entered.
Gyeo Wool followed behind him.
The two quickly set down warm lemon tea in front of the team leaders.
“I was just thinking I needed something to drink after finishing my coffee.”
Someone said appreciatively.
Tae Wook realized this was undoubtedly Gyeo Wool’s initiative.
Never before had the annex staff come in twice to prepare drinks.
Only Gyeo Wool would be thoughtful enough to take care of such details.
“It’s chamomile tea.”
Gyeo Wool said as she approached Tae Wook and set down the cup.
She had deliberately prepared an herbal tea to clear his head.
“You don’t need to do this.”
Tae Wook said quietly so only she could hear.
He was grateful to her, but he didn’t want her wasting time on such things.
“Here’s the headache medicine you requested.”
Gyeo Wool unexpectedly placed a small plastic container with a single pill next to the teacup.
Headache medicine?
Tae Wook stared at Gyeo Wool with a puzzled look.
But she bowed her head and left the small conference room with Deputy Manager Yoo.
What’s this?
Tae Wook’s gaze shifted to the pill in the plastic container.
“Ah!”
Seeing the familiar pill, he realized the true nature of the “headache medicine.”
It had been a long time since he’d received fatigue recovery pills disguised as headache medicine.
Gyeo Wool used to take care of Tae Wook separately like this before.
The corners of Tae Wook’s mouth stretched lazily as he took the pill out of the plastic container.
It felt real that Gyeo Wool had returned to his side.
.
.
.
Even after ending the meeting, Tae Wook had no time to rest.
He had to sign documents postponed due to the meeting and move to meet with the presidents of partner companies.
[The car is waiting.]Receiving a call from Driver Choi, Tae Wook opened the office door and went out.
Before leaving the CEO’s office, he glanced around the annex.
Gyeo Wool’s faint voice on the phone could be heard from the innermost part of the annex.
Regret flickered in Tae Wook’s eyes.
He had hoped to at least make eye contact with Gyeo Wool to say “Thank you for the headache medicine.”
Thanks to that, his head was now clearer and he felt less tired.
“You can go home when you have time.”
Tae Wook told the employees and left the CEO’s office.
“This doesn’t look like a light rain that will stop soon.”
Tae Wook muttered as he looked out the car window.
Contrary to the weather forecast that predicted only many clouds, the sky full of dark clouds was pouring rain.
Suddenly, he thought of Gyeo Wool.
She knew he was going straight home from the hotel where he had a meeting with the management team.
So today she had to use public transportation to get home.
He was worried about her using public transportation in the rain.
“I feel sorry too…”
For several days, Tae Wook had been cold towards Gyeo Wool.
To be honest, it was more accurate to say he had been avoiding her.
Every time he saw her, he was reminded of the moment he secretly kissed her while she was asleep.
And he had to face the desire that kept raising its head again and again.
As a result, he tried not to turn his gaze towards her.
When he had to talk to her inevitably, his voice came out cold due to suppressing his desire.
Whenever he saw her surprised by his attitude, he felt bad.
And after receiving the fatigue recovery pill during the meeting, he felt even more apologetic.
Tae Wook called Gyeo Wool.
[Yes, CEO.]She answered the phone right away.
“I’ll come pick you up when the meeting is over, so wait.”
[Pardon? Why…]“It’s raining heavily. Let’s go home together.”
[No, it’s okay. I’ll take a taxi, so don’t worry.]Tae Wook frowned, hearing her words as rejection.
Couldn’t she just say ‘okay’ and accept?
“I might be a bit late.”
Tae Wook said only what he needed to say briefly and hung up.
[This is the timeline separator]“I’m leaving first.”
“See you tomorrow.”
The annex employees hurried to leave work.
“Aren’t you going, senior?”
In Young, the youngest employee in the annex, approached Gyeo Wool’s desk and asked.
In Young consistently called Gyeo Wool “senior” after hearing that she was older and had previously been Tae Wook’s secretary.
“I have a little work left. Go ahead.”
Gyeo Wool’s work had been finished long ago.
She was now doing work on behalf of another employee.
“It’s raining outside. There’s an umbrella at the front door, so take it.”
“Thank you.”
“See you tomorrow, senior.”
A long time passed after In Young left.
“All done!”
Gyeo Wool turned off the computer and stretched widely.
Her gaze fell on the large wall clock.
“It’s already past 7?”
She lowered her arms that had been stretched up and made a serious expression.
“It’s going to be very congested…”
Rush hour on a rainy day was traffic hell like no other.
The distance from the hotel where Tae Wook was for the meeting to the apartment wasn’t far.
However, if he had to come to the company and then go back to the apartment.
Not only the distance but also the time would obviously double.
Considering the rain, no one could know how many times longer it would take.
“This doesn’t seem right.”
Although Tae Wook had said to wait, on a day like today, it made sense for Gyeo Wool to move.
Gyeo Wool called Tae Wook.
He didn’t answer even after several rings.
“I guess it’s not over yet.”
Gyeo Wool thought it was fortunate.
If Tae Wook had finished the meeting and left the hotel, she would have had to wait until he arrived.
She hung up and immediately sent a message.
[I’m leaving work now. I’ll take a taxi. See you at the apartment.]She put her phone in her bag and got up from her seat.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
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