Of all times, there was no one passing by the reserved parking area. He seemed determined not to back down easily as he waited for an answer.

There was no choice. Anyway, even if I ran away from here, what more could I do but lie.

I didn’t want to do that. It’s not like he didn’t know about my parents’ circumstances, and I didn’t want to plant any seeds of doubt between us from the beginning.

Hae Jin took out the tear-stained paper from her bag. The note in her hand was passed to Tae Hong.

Tae Hong’s brow furrowed tightly. Whether it was because of the smudged letters or the tear-stained paper, I wasn’t sure.

“My parents came at dawn.”

His gaze, which had been fixed on the blurred letters, immediately shifted to Hae Jin. Now he focused on her lips.

“Did you meet them?”

The head that gave no answer moved from side to side. Hae Jin’s gaze gradually lowered. The weight of the side dish container hanging on the front door came to mind again.

What must have been the feelings of her parents who had to leave just the side dish container without even being able to ring the doorbell?

Her vision blurred as their feelings finally dawned on her.

“They just left a note and the side dish container.”

Though she swallowed her tears, she couldn’t stop her voice from becoming damp. Her lowered head was lifted by his hand.

His face, trapped in her blurry vision, appeared. She couldn’t move one way or the other for fear that if she blinked even once, the welling tears would spill over.

What kind of face was he making? She thought it fortunate that his face looked somewhat swollen. She didn’t want to convey her emotions to him as well.

“So that’s why you cried.”

Plop, a tear fell at his empathy. The fallen tear disappeared between his index fingers.

The tears didn’t stop at his comfort. On the first day when others are happy and excited, I showed tears in front of him.

“Don’t cry. Your parents will be fine.”

That’s how it should be, and that’s how it will be. I had been praying alone, but his single sentence gave me certainty.

I thought I would cry my eyes out, but no more tears flowed on the face that had turned bright red around the eyes.

After checking if she was done crying by looking at her face from various angles, Tae Hong stroked her head.

It was a hand telling her it was okay.

“I keep crying only in front of you, Team Leader.”

The pantry, and now. I absolutely hate showing tears to others, but both times were in front of him. Why do tears follow him, contrary to my heart?

“Don’t cry anywhere else.”

The hand that had been stroking her head dug into the nape of her neck. Hair tangled between his fingers that had settled a little deeper.

“Do all your laughing and crying only in front of me.”

At this command-like request, a smile finally began to bloom. Who knew that being told to cry only in front of him would give such strength. The wall-like man had become a reliable fence for her.

The hand that had dug into her hair firmly took its place and pulled Hae Jin’s head. The distance between them gradually closed.

Their noses touched, and his lips met hers. Finally, his heart mixed with hers.

**

It’s been two weeks since we met, but it felt like only two or three days had passed. The brand launch had officially made things busy, and Tae Hong and Hae Jin focused on their respective tasks.

Tae Hong had many external schedules, but he always commuted together. If he couldn’t come to the office, they met separately near the company. And in the end, it was a commute home disguised as a drive.

He always asked. How was today? This had become a procedure since the day she cried because of her parents.

The man with sharp eyes and quick wits always cared for her emotions and mood. While feeling sorry on one hand, she was grateful and happy for the attention and heart he gave.

The last words before getting out were always to call him. The man’s words to call first if anything happened were more reassuring than any CCTV.

The regret of parting while promising tomorrow grew richer as time passed. The ripening feelings made the mornings even more affectionate.

And so, she waited for every morning to see him.

**

Today was the day of signing the MOU. But a variable arose.

−An urgent external schedule came up, you see.

“Why? Did something happen?”

Though she couldn’t see his face, she could tell he was holding back words over the receiver.

“I understand. Then can you make it to the meeting time?”

−Let’s postpone it.

It didn’t work. Trust was more important than anything in business, and promises were meant to be kept. Moreover, this MOU was beneficial to Yeonchang, so it was awkward to postpone it carelessly.

“This is the most critical period, we can’t postpone it.”

Hae Jin was more determined than ever. No matter how much of a superior he was, she pulled things in the direction she wanted even if it meant clashing on different points in work.

−Jung Hae Jin, I’m the one with signing authority, and I can’t send you there alone. So postpone it to next time.

At Tae Hong’s firmness, Hae Jin could no longer object.

Because she understood his heart, she couldn’t push any further.

The schedule was disrupted. She had spent days pondering and writing the signing provisions. She had arranged it to be as favorable to Yeonchang as possible while not offending Tosan, but it had become useless.

It was regrettable, but she had to look forward to next time. It was just that they couldn’t do it right away, but wouldn’t they do it someday?

Thinking that way made her feel much better.

She looked for work to fill the empty space in the disrupted schedule. It wasn’t difficult since work always popped up here and there if you looked for it.

She started with tasks that could be begun lightly. In the middle of working, her phone rang. It was a moment that disrupted her perfect concentration.

Hae Jin slightly furrowed her brow and answered the phone without taking her eyes off the documents.

“Yes, this is Deputy Jung Hae Jin speaking.”

Most of the calls coming in lately were either Tae Hong or business partners. Thinking it would be a business partner if not Tae Hong who was out on field work, she answered, but the caller was an unexpected person.

−It’s Moon Jun Tae.

Ah, her gaze fell from the documents and looked at the phone screen. It really was the Chairman, Moon Jun Tae.

“Ah, yes.”

She was about to say “Chairman” but looked around first. Everyone was focused on their work, their gazes on either monitors or papers, so they weren’t interested in Hae Jin.

But would it be the same if she uttered the title “Chairman”?

Hae Jin hurriedly left her seat. And though she quickly racked her brain about where to go, she immediately realized that the office was not safe.

The place Hae Jin barely found was the emergency exit.

“Yes, Chairman.”

Jun Tae’s laughter was heard over the phone. It was as if he knew everything Hae Jin had done.

−There’s no need to broadcast that you’re talking to me to the whole neighborhood.

As if knowing everything, Jun Tae immediately grasped the situation.

−Well, I heard from Tae Hong.

Thud, Hae Jin’s heart sank. She knew what that one sentence of hearing from Tae Hong meant. That day when she went up to the 45th floor, it must have been then.

−That you’re taking on the project.

Hae Jin couldn’t see his face, but she could tell. This was no different from asking why she was wearing clothes that didn’t fit her.

“Yes. I was given a good opportunity to participate.”

−A good opportunity, you say.

He was still saying she was wearing clothes that didn’t fit her. But Hae Jin pretended not to know even though she knew. What could Hae Jin do in this situation?

−When Tae Hong came up and told me this story, I was quite taken aback.

The coolness of the emergency exit was felt throughout her body. But Jun Tae didn’t stop.

−I had no intention of using Deputy Jung Hae Jin like that.

Although she knew, hearing it directly was a different matter. So she could only listen silently without saying anything.

−But what can I do? I have to trust Moon Tae Hong not as my son, but as the successor of Yeonchang Group.

Successor Moon Tae Hong, Jun Tae implanted his presence in Hae Jin once again.

“I will do my best.”

So in the end, that was all she could say. Her best, just barely those words.

−Yes. You should do your best. Since things have turned out this way, I’d like to help Deputy Jung Hae Jin too.

Help, she wondered if that could be established. The thought suddenly occurred to her. After telling her she couldn’t do it, to take off clothes that didn’t fit, now he talks about help.

How should she take this?

−You have to earn your keep. Don’t you agree, Deputy Jung Hae Jin?

Hae Jin couldn’t refuse. If she refused, he would surely come back with another offer she couldn’t refuse.

−You shouldn’t disgrace Tae Hong’s face.

In the end, he tied Hae Jin’s hands and feet tightly by bringing up Tae Hong. Jun Tae, who had acted as if he knew everything, seemed to really know even her weaknesses.

“May I ask what kind of help it is?”

−Haha, it’s someone Deputy Jung Hae Jin should know, so it won’t hurt to meet. How about having a meal together?

Is this poison or medicine? In the end, thinking it would probably be a manageable poison, she made an appointment.

−Tae Hong is out on field work now, right? So there’s no need to contact him separately and talk about this in advance, is there?

It meant to keep her mouth shut and act discreetly.

“Yes. Don’t worry. I’ll see you later.”

Even after hanging up the phone, she sat on the emergency stairs for a long time. The powerful punches that always came without warning each jabbed at an undefended vital point.

His punches always hurt. Conversations with Jun Tae tended to bring a sharp sense of reality each time.

But checking the time, Hae Jin quickly got up. Her appointment with Jun Tae was right around the corner. She didn’t want to be late for that too.

**

It was a hotel she was visiting for the first time. Whenever she came to such places, she was always busy looking around first. It was closer to an occupational habit than curiosity.

She had been in the midst of looking at thousands of photos of hotels from all over the world and famous hotels in Korea.

But there was a feeling that even photos couldn’t capture. To feel that, it was best to run around on your own feet, but since that was difficult in reality, she was busy taking it in with her eyes whenever she had the chance.

Of course, she had come here for an appointment with Jun Tae, but in the end, she was doing her best as she had promised him.

Where was the restaurant again? Hae Jin turned around in the lobby to look for the restaurant.

But in the distance, a familiar silhouette caught her eye. It was a figure that stood out even from afar.

She could recognize him at a glance even from a somewhat far distance.

Moon Tae Hong, it was him.

But why was he here now?