While holding coffee in both hands, a familiar car approached. I faced him again in less than 12 hours.

The driver’s side window opened, and a long arm suddenly stretched out. In a daze, I placed the coffee in his hand.

“Having coffee for a hangover cure?”

Then, as if he had finished his business, he rolled up the window.

“Huh? Wait, wait a moment.”

Through the slightly opened door, I could see his sharp gaze. Still, I had to ask. Even if it’s weekend work, shouldn’t I be the one driving?

“Just get in. Wouldn’t it be better to think about what you need to do at the office at this hour?”

Hae Jin finally got into the passenger seat. As Hae Jin fastened the seatbelt, the car started moving again.

While drinking the coffee Hae Jin had bought, Tae Hong naturally shared his impression.

“The coffee in this neighborhood is delicious too.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

I had to say what I couldn’t say yesterday. I decided to be a bit more courageous at his words about the coffee being delicious. I didn’t want to betray the opportunity and trust he had given me.

On a holiday morning, there weren’t many cars heading into the area where companies were concentrated.

“Team leader.”

I called him cautiously. Though he wasn’t looking directly due to focusing on driving, I could clearly tell he was listening to my words.

“About what you said yesterday.”

“The brand launch?”

Ah, that too. There was a pause before I tried to speak again. At that moment, my phone vibrated.

It was a message, so I was just going to quickly check, but as soon as I saw it, the words I was about to say to Tae Hong got stuck in my throat.

The title ‘Chairman Moon’, it was a message from Jun Tae. I read it over and over, but it was definitely him.

“Manager Jung Hae Jin, don’t you want to do it?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Why did he contact me, what could it be about? I couldn’t make any guesses based on just the words in the message.

“If you give me the chance, I’ll work hard.”

For now, I’ll think about it later. Showing Tae Hong my strong willingness to work was the priority.

“Alright.”

**

In the office, there were only Tae Hong and Hae Jin. From the lobby to the 28th floor office, Hae Jin saw only a handful of employees.

As soon as they arrived at the 28th floor office, Tae Hong went straight into his room. Hae Jin stared blankly at the closed door before sitting at her desk.

There was a mountain of updated materials from Yeon Jung, but she couldn’t properly focus on the documents.

Why did he contact me, could it really be to report as Tae Hong said?

Her mind was becoming a mess. She had to reply to the message. Glancing briefly at the team leader’s office, she got up from her seat and headed to the pantry.

With no one in the office and even Tae Hong in his room, the surroundings were so quiet that silence seemed to drip.

Cautiously, she dialed the number from the text message. After a few rings, Jun Tae answered.

“Hello, this is Jung Hae Jin.”

Even though she was alone in the pantry, her voice inevitably became quieter.

−It’s me. Manager Jung. Now that you’re a Yeonchang employee, it would be natural to call you Manager Jung.

“Yes, that’s fine.”

−Is today okay for you? I’d like to meet once.

“Today?”

Tae Hong’s schedule was the first thing that came to mind. Since he had no separate schedule in the afternoon, late afternoon should be fine.

“I’m at the office now, would the afternoon be okay?”

−Haha, our Tae Hong must be working hard.

Wondering if this would also be reported, she bit her lower lip finely, feeling like she had just revealed Tae Hong’s location.

−Then I’ll send a car to your home.

“Pardon? If you tell me the location, I can go there myself.”

−How about doing as you’re told, Manager Jung.

At those words, “Do as you’re told,” Hae Jin could only answer, “Yes.” Holding the phone after the call ended, Hae Jin couldn’t easily leave the pantry.

What could be the reason for wanting to meet, before she could even think about it, Chairman Moon had already made her bow her head by emphasizing that she was a Yeonchang employee.

If we meet in this state, surely any instructions he gives will establish a relationship where I must obey. Then can I really not disobey orders?

Although I didn’t know what kind of instructions, judging by his words to do as told, there was no guarantee that it wasn’t what Tae Hong had suspected.

This is crazy, where did the Jung Hae Jin from just a few hours ago, standing with coffee, go?

She returned to her seat with her shoulders heavily lowered. Not long after, Tae Hong came out.

“Manager Jung Hae Jin.”

“Yes?”

At her startled response, as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have, Tae Hong stopped in his tracks.

“Did you do something wrong?”

Oh no, I might be about to commit a sin. Hae Jin shushed herself, holding back her words.

“Do you need anything?”

“Let’s have lunch and then go home.”

Ah, has it already become this time? Just one phone call, and time had passed without properly looking at a single document. With my head full of worries, I didn’t even notice the time passing.

“Yes, understood.”

Lunch was quickly taken care of nearby. Eating halfheartedly, honestly, I couldn’t tell what it tasted like or whether it went into my mouth or nose.

As I was about to drive to Tae Hong’s house, he suddenly said he would take me to my house instead.

“Why, why?”

“Come with a clear mind in the morning.”

I guess it was obvious I was distracted. From my fidgeting to my unfocused eyes, it would be strange if he hadn’t noticed. I felt embarrassed by my unprofessional behavior.

“If you get into an accident driving in that state, you won’t be able to afford the repair costs.”

I had no choice but to do as Tae Hong said. Hae Jin also didn’t have the confidence to drive in this state. Agreeing with his words, she couldn’t argue any further.

Why did the way home feel like sitting on pins and needles? Even though nothing significant had happened yet, just the fact that Jun Tae had contacted me made my heart flutter uncontrollably.

I can’t live with guilt, and I found myself unnecessarily conscious of Tae Hong’s gaze.

Has home ever been this welcome? My bottom fidgeted at the sight of the familiar building in front of me. I wanted to get out quickly and escape from his gaze.

Looking at his eyes watching me silently, I felt like I might start talking freely without even being asked.

“Then, I’ll be going in.”

As soon as we arrived home, Hae Jin quickly went inside without even looking back at Tae Hong. Before meeting Jun Tae, she needed time to think alone.

After Hae Jin went in, Tae Hong stayed in the car with the engine completely off.

What could it be, why is she so out of it? She certainly wasn’t like this until this morning. No, she started showing signs of confusion after checking a message on her phone.

The hand tapping on the steering wheel suddenly stopped. And quickly opened the phone.

“It’s me.”

The coldly sinking voice was fierce. The temperature in the car dropped sharply.

“Chairman, check the schedule. Is there anything unusual?”

He focused intently on the voice coming through the receiver. And the expected name he heard hit his prediction exactly.

He heard a report that there was a pickup scheduled in front of Jung Hae Jin’s house, and they would meet in the chairman’s private space.

Jun Tae probably doesn’t know. That he had planted one of his own people among his secretaries.

Some might say, what parent-child relationship involves spying on and doubting each other, but that’s only possible in families with normal structures.

How could there be trust in someone who grew up with a father living two separate lives, completely ignoring his mother?

That’s why he personally recruited employees for the Strategic Planning Team. Having felt a great sense of betrayal from his closest family, he was determined to handpick his own people.

But what should be done about Jung Hae Jin? It seems the truth is that there was no instruction to report.

Although she tried hard not to show it, her anxious appearance was clearly visible. After meeting Jun Tae, this would just be the beginning.

Tae Hong dialed the number at the top of his call list again.

“Send me pictures of Jung Hae Jin and the chairman meeting privately. Make sure Jung Hae Jin’s face is clearly visible.”

Yes, understood. With the heavy male voice behind him, the screen darkened again. He looked at the entrance she had quickly disappeared into with no expression.

Jung Hae Jin, a card worth using, or one to discard?

**

I thought I’d feel a bit better when I got home. But as the time for the car to arrive approached, I couldn’t think of anything.

What if he asks me to report every move Tae Hong makes, wouldn’t that be betrayal when I’ve already decided to side with Tae Hong?

Then should I just pretend to report? Can that really last long? Would Jun Tae, who even came to my house, not know?

That wasn’t easy either.

Should I truthfully tell Tae Hong that the chairman wanted to meet? Wouldn’t that be the action that truly shows I’m Tae Hong’s person?

But I still don’t know what kind of proposal Jun Tae is trying to make, what kind of demands he’s going to make. I don’t know anything.

It could be jumping to conclusions, or I might be needlessly scared.

I didn’t want to do anything that could cause misunderstandings when nothing had been decided yet. I wanted to be an employee he needed, not a burden.

Hae Jin’s phone rang. It was an unknown number again.

−Is this Manager Jung Hae Jin?

After answering yes, the next words came immediately.

−We’ve arrived in front of your house.

It meant to come down. I hung up after saying I understood. I took a deep breath.

At first, I met Jun Tae when he came unexpectedly without knowing anything. But now I was on my way to meet Jun Tae. The first time was difficult, and now is difficult too.

At first, I was scared because I was flustered, and now I’m scared because I don’t know why.

Nothing is easy. While waiting for the elevator, nervously pressing various buttons on my phone, I saw the last photo in my gallery.

It was a picture of Moon Tae Hong. It was a photo I took of the picture he showed me on his phone the day Jun Tae first came and made his proposal.

The fierce and intense gaze was captured perfectly in the photo. Although it lacked some of the spiciness compared to the real person, it still seemed like I could see his reproachful look.

On the way to meet Jun Tae, with my head full of worries, it felt like the Tae Hong in the photo was whipping me.

Telling me to judge properly where I should stand.

Ding, the arrived elevator doors opened. Hae Jin slowly turned off Tae Hong’s photo.