“How about a team dinner today?”

Kyle said to everyone.

Standing right behind Se Hee’s back.

He could clearly see Se Hee flinching momentarily at the sound of his voice.

By purposely standing right behind her, Kyle was able to hide his subtle gaze directed at Se Hee from her.

But that was it.

Unlike the other team members who showed various reactions like being flustered or delighted at the unexpected proposal from the CEO, Se Hee showed no further reaction.

She just sat there, as if holding her breath, not making a sound.

The team members were gauging each other’s reactions to Kyle’s dinner proposal.

Sun Ah’s expression of “what luck!” contrasted starkly with Manager Hong’s grimacing face.

Manager Byun Woo Seok, rapidly darting his eyes, was assessing the current situation to somehow find his opportunity.

Not getting the desired answer immediately, Kyle asked again.

“I heard that usually there’s a team dinner on the first day of work for bonding. Is that right?”

“Yes, yes. That’s right. As expected, sir, there’s nothing you don’t know. I’ll prepare so that everyone can gather right after work without exception.”

Manager Byun quickly stepped up and answered as if he would take care of everything himself.

Kyle just nodded lightly in response and headed to the CEO’s office.

However, Kyle’s expression as he turned away was cold.

Kyle, who had approached the team with a light heart, ended up hearing all of Manager Byun Woo Seok’s insulting words directed at Se Hee just before entering the office.

Unable to tolerate it, Kyle immediately stepped into the team area.

Kyle frowned at Manager Byun’s behavior, who came running up with an oily, sickening smile as if nothing had happened.

Manager Byun Woo Seok.

Whether he knew Kyle’s gaze had turned cold or not, Manager Byun’s spit-flying flattery, who had come up close, seemed endless.

Kyle turned around and headed to his seat in the CEO’s office.

A team dinner, huh.

He thought it might be an opportunity to naturally strike up a conversation with Se Hee.

And it could also be a chance to deal appropriately with someone he didn’t like.

Kyle’s gaze, now seated, went straight to Se Hee.

She was right in his line of sight.

Se Hee was focused on her work, sitting with her back straight.

Kyle stared blankly at that back view.

It was an intentional seating arrangement.

When Kyle raised the blinds from where he sat, Se Hee’s figure was immediately visible.

The unpleasant emotions that had been weighing heavily seemed to be purified and eased just by Se Hee’s back view.

Letting out a low sigh, Kyle leisurely appreciated the sight.

Without realizing it, a satisfied smile spread across his face.

Kyle was watching Se Hee, neglecting his own work.

How long had he been watching like that?

Se Hee, who had been deeply focused on work, seemed to be checking if there was any coffee left, shaking the empty cup she had placed beside her.

Even Se Hee’s frowning expression full of disappointment was caught in detail by Kyle’s gaze.

Kyle pressed the button on his personal phone to call his secretary.

−Yes, sir.

And shortly after, refreshing iced Americanos were gifted to the team members.

During the time when everyone was deeply focused on work, praises for Kyle poured out for the coffee delivered from the CEO.

Everyone was praising Kyle in unison, but just one person sat with a hardened expression.

Glaring at the iced Americano offered by the CEO.

Se Hee’s heart was uneasy as she looked at the coffee placed at her seat.

The moment her coffee ran out, miraculously, a new coffee arrived.

Even the type was tailored to Se Hee’s taste.

Though it was just a basic coffee.

Se Hee’s instincts were signaling that this situation couldn’t possibly be a coincidence.

But she couldn’t go into the CEO’s office and demand what this was about.

There was a high chance of being misunderstood for overreacting.

So Se Hee decided to make a small rebellion in her own way.

Se Hee refused her share of coffee.

“You really won’t drink it?”

Sun Ah asked with an incomprehensible expression.

“No, I’m fine. I feel like having sweet mix coffee right now.”

Se Hee’s coffee, which she adamantly refused, eventually became Sun Ah’s.

Se Hee defiantly filled a mug with mix coffee.

And she placed the cup where Kyle, sitting behind her, could see it well and drank that coffee.

One corner of Kyle’s mouth, who was watching, curved up long.

Is she protesting?

He immediately realized it was clearly a demonstration directed at him.

Se Hee also seemed to have roughly noticed that the current seating arrangement was intentional.

A small exclamation escaped between Kyle’s teeth.

Kyle’s mood improved with even the smallest gesture from Se Hee.

Though it wasn’t a conversation exchanged with eye contact, it was enjoyable enough.

Lee Se Hee.

Just keep coming into the trap I’ve set like that.

Naturally, as if seeping in.

Kyle’s blue eyes deepened even more.

* * *

When it was time to leave work, Manager Byun Woo Seok was the first to stand up.

“I’ll escort the CEO. Go ahead and prepare the place. Lee Se Hee! Don’t dawdle and move quickly.”

Se Hee glared with an unpleasant expression at Manager Byun’s shouting.

But Manager Byun turned away as if he didn’t care at all.

“It’s your first day. Just attend today.”

Sun Ah soothed Se Hee.

Sun Ah had already arranged everything including the location.

Se Hee took reluctant steps at Sun Ah’s urging.

She decided to choose the method of briefly joining at the beginning and then quietly disappearing.

Se Hee, who came out first with Sun Ah, prepared the seats at the dinner venue and sat at the very end.

The seat close to the back door was perfect for quietly slipping away.

Shortly after, Kyle entered with Manager Byun.

Kyle checked Se Hee’s position first.

As expected, she was sitting as if hiding in the innermost seat.

“Here’s the seat of honor, sir.”

Manager Byun guided Kyle to his seat while bowing, then sat right next to him.

“Wow, how can you speak Korean so well? It seems there’s nothing you can’t do, sir. Hahaha.”

Manager Byun, whose flattery and adulation flowed endlessly every time he opened his mouth, was giving his all to somehow catch the CEO’s eye.

Whether the other team members frowned at his excessive behavior or not, Manager Byun Woo Seok didn’t seem to care at all.

In complete contrast, Se Hee quietly emptied her glass while sitting as inconspicuously as possible, holding her breath.

She was just wishing for this moment to pass quickly.

But suddenly, Manager Byun Woo Seok called Se Hee.

“Assistant Manager Lee Se Hee. Come and fill the CEO’s glass. It’s empty. The glass.”

As if ordering a maid, Manager Byun Woo Seok even frowned and glared at Se Hee.

Moreover, he even nodded his head up and down as if telling Se Hee, who was staring blankly in bewilderment, to get up quickly.

But Kyle’s brow next to him properly furrowed.

As the CEO’s gaze sharpened, the team members tensed up in an instant.

Only Manager Byun, who couldn’t observe Kyle’s expression because he was sitting too close, was still glaring at Se Hee who wasn’t moving.

“Really, this friend? Lee Se Hee! Aren’t you going to get up right now? Sir, your glass is empty, you fool.”

Manager Byun even resorted to harsh words, severely pressuring Se Hee.

Just as Se Hee was slowly starting to move with a low sigh.

“Manager Byun Woo Seok.”

Kyle’s low voice flew in.

“Yes? Yes, sir.”

Only then did Manager Byun Woo Seok turn his head to check Kyle’s expression.

But feeling that something was not right, Manager Byun quickly scanned the team members in surprise.

The moment their eyes met, he felt a chill.

“I enjoy pouring my own drinks.”

Kyle’s following frosty voice weighed down on Manager Byun.

“Ah. Yes. Is, is that so?”

Feeling an eerie chill throughout his body, Manager Byun even stumbled over his words.

“Do you know? The words Manager Byun just thoughtlessly blurted out constitute workplace sexual harassment.”

Kyle said quietly as he filled his own glass right in front with a cold expression.

“Pardon?”

The blood drained from Manager Byun’s face as his hair stood on end for a moment.

“Does Manager Byun Woo Seok know what Evans Group punishes most heavily?”

Kyle’s gaze slowly shifted to Manager Byun as he reflected his glass in the light.

Manager Byun’s mouth clamped shut as he met that dark gaze.

“It’s the ‘sexual harassment’ that Manager Byun Woo Seok just committed. Evans Group punishes it more severely than any other matter, but.”

Kyle’s sardonic voice froze even everyone else already seated.

Manager Byun, directly receiving Kyle’s gaze, couldn’t move an inch.

“What do you think? About your actions just now.”

Manager Byun’s expression turned whiter and whiter at Kyle’s quiet question.

Not only Manager Byun Woo Seok, who was the subject, but even the team members present could barely breathe properly due to the charisma emanating from Kyle.

“Aren’t you going to apologize?”

“Yes? Yes. I’m, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Sir……”

Manager Byun Woo Seok, who suddenly came to his senses, bowed so low his head almost hit the floor and barely spoke with his stiff mouth.

But,

“……Isn’t the target wrong?”

Manager Byun froze again at Kyle’s mocking question.

“You should apologize to Assistant Manager Lee Se Hee, shouldn’t you?”

The CEO’s tone was extremely polite, but also sharp as a knife.

“Yes, yes. Of course. You’re right, sir. Se, Se Hee. Se Hee. I’ve committed a mortal sin. Huh? I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”

As soon as the CEO finished speaking, Manager Byun Woo Seok crawled on his knees to Se Hee and pleaded while grabbing her hands.

“Ah, no. It’s, it’s okay. Manager.”

Se Hee, who became very uncomfortable with Kyle’s overwhelming atmosphere and Manager Byun Woo Seok’s burdensome behavior, quickly pulled her hands away.

“Is it really okay?”

Kyle asked Se Hee in a gentle voice.

“Yes. It’s fine. That’s enough now, please stop. Manager.”

After answering Kyle, Se Hee helped Manager Byun up.

For a moment, Kyle’s brow moved slightly as if unsatisfied.

Se Hee understood the meaning of his expression but nodded as if she wanted to just wrap it up now.

As if there was no choice if that was Se Hee’s wish, Kyle shifted his gaze to his glass.

“Well then, shall we start the dinner in earnest now?”

And he spoke to the employees as if nothing had happened, with a relaxed expression.

However, the team members were frozen with expressions as if they had watched a horror movie.

As silence fell, Manager Hong bravely stepped up to change the atmosphere.

“A, actually, I was very curious if there was a special reason for Evans Group to expand to Korea. I wonder if I could ask.”

And he nudged Sun Ah’s side.

Support fire!

“Huh? Ah, yes yes. Me too. Do you have any special connection to Korea?”

Sun Ah, who quickly understood Manager Hong’s signal, chimed in with an awkward smile.

Kyle’s gaze turned to Se Hee again.

His gaze that lingered on Se Hee for a while finally returned after a long time.

He emptied the glass he was holding and slowly let out a long breath.

At last, Kyle’s voice flowed out softly.

“I came to find my beloved wife.”