The eyes followed the smart key held in the palm, tracing a gentle parabola. Seeing the smart key with a clear brand logo engraved on it made the heart pound.

Driving was the area of greatest confidence. Hae Jin loved driving.

If asked how much she liked it, joining a club was basic, she was knowledgeable about various tunings, and with the ambition to drive all cars, she obtained a Class 1 license.

It was a smooth start from the first task.

She carefully grasped the smart key. How long had it been since she drove? Her heart started racing.

But Hae Jin went into maximum expression management. After all, showing through actions rather than expressions gives the highest credibility.

“Yes, I know how to do it.”

Suppressing her curiosity about what kind of car it was, she answered with a calm gaze and without wavering. Not having received the schedule yet, she couldn’t know the exact departure time.

“That’s good. Hae Jin can be my chauffeur then.”

From the moment the smart key was in her hand, she knew it was a driver’s job, but there was a tense atmosphere. Based on years of experience, it didn’t feel good.

The driver constantly sounding like a designated driver must just be her imagination.

“Are you going on an outside errand?”

“Not an errand.”

After throwing the smart key, Tae Hong kept looking at documents. She didn’t expect an immediate answer, but time kept passing with a person standing in front.

Only after turning the last page did the tense atmosphere dissipate.

“There’s a meeting in the evening.”

Hae Jin’s Adam’s apple moved with a gulp. The first external schedule was in the evening, and it was a meeting with a client. The initial excitement about the first task was momentary.

“I was hoping Hae Jin could be my designated driver.”

Ah, indeed, the intuition from experience cannot be ignored. You’re telling me to wait outside and then gently take your drunk self home.

Hae Jin quietly clenched her fist at Tae Hong’s task. But what could she do? Wasn’t she hired as Tae Hong’s dedicated mark?

“Yes, I understand.”

Unlike her crumpled thoughts, there was no excess in her answer. After all, obeying the superior’s instructions is the only way to survive.

Thinking of the virtual bank balance that would gradually increase, she left the team leader’s office.

**

It wasn’t until late afternoon that she finally finished grasping Tae Hong’s schedule. From Monday to Sunday, there were no empty slots. It was packed daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly, too much to count on fingers.

He digests such a schedule?

She carefully checked today’s schedule first. The outside errand he mentioned earlier caught her eye.

5 PM. Grace Hotel, meeting.

With no additional materials beyond the schedule, anxiety started to build. The quickest way was to check directly.

Just as she was about to take notes, even faster, whoosh, the door opened. Startled, she reflexively took half a step back.

The sturdy physique in a perfectly fitting suit couldn’t be captured at once. It felt like a large wall had been erected in front.

“What are you doing?”

To see Tae Hong, who was already prepared to leave, she had to take a step back and look up. Without time to calm her startled heart, she asked.

“Where are you going, Team Leader?”

But wasn’t that wall approaching her gradually?

“Hae Jin, what are you doing not preparing?”

Hae Jin immediately retorted to Tae Hong’s answer.

“Team Leader. We still have about an hour before Grace Hotel.”

Tae Hong approached even closer without hesitation at Hae Jin’s immediate response. As the shadow on his face deepened, she could only swallow dry saliva.

Was he blaming her for not being prepared? His wrinkled face showed no signs of smoothing out. Please, just relax your eyes a bit. Team Leader.

“Let’s depart now.”

Was he dissatisfied with her objection? Still keeping the tension in his eyes, he was urging her to move quickly, asking why she wasn’t moving.

“I have a separate schedule. Let’s leave now.”

Leaving only those words, he passed by Hae Jin indifferently. She should have said that if he had told her earlier, she would have prepared faster than anyone, but instead of words, she was busy following his actions.

There was only one car in the dedicated parking lot. When Hae Jin pressed the smart key, the car responded nimbly, flashing its lights.

The incongruous appearance that didn’t seem like a work car, should one say it resembled its owner?

“Have you driven a car like this before?”

Honestly, it was a dream car. A car that couldn’t be easily bought and wasn’t sold to just anyone. In front of a car that would be an honor to drive once in a lifetime, Hae Jin became naturally humble.

“No. I’ve never driven one before.”

“Yet starting the engine seemed too natural?”

Unlike someone who would fumble even finding where the start button was, Hae Jin was natural.

Trying not to consciously feel the suspicion from the passenger seat, she entered the address into the navigation. But Tae Hong canceled the route and entered a different destination.

“The department store?”

“Let’s go buy clothes.”

It was an unexpected destination and a bewildering answer, but Hae Jin didn’t ask further.

Rule 1, Article 1 of workplace life: When the boss says peel it, you peel it.

“I’ll start driving.”

Hae Jin acted like a chauffeur. The car carrying Tae Hong left the parking lot with smooth cornering.

“It really seems like you’ve driven a car before?”

As the car entered the road, Tae Hong seemed to relax a bit, pushing his seat back and stretching out his long legs. Hae Jin still focused on her role instead of answering the question.

“Have you ever done various part-time jobs?”

There seemed to be no hostility in his voice. Rather, it was closer to the feeling of watching a monkey at the zoo.

“You drive well.”

Even naturally mastering the job becomes a problem, huh. Just as she was about to self-praise,

“Have you ever done valet parking part-time?”

Only then did a dry laugh escape from Hae Jin’s tightly closed lips. There was a time when she carried valet fees in her wallet. But that dreamlike past was all gone.

“Reasonable suspicion.”

Tae Hong drew a clear line and reclined his seat. It was a silent action telling her not to speak anymore.

When the car stopped at a signal, Hae Jin finally glanced at Tae Hong. The side profile of the man with his hand on his forehead and eyes closed came into view.

It wasn’t clearly visible, but feeling that his complexion had darkened more than before must be just her imagination.

Did I look too obviously? Suddenly, Tae Hong opened his eyes and returned his seat to its original position. Like a thief caught in the act, Hae Jin unnaturally looked straight ahead.

Was I caught? Just then, seeing the changed signal, in her urgency, she stomped on the accelerator, causing the car to lurch forward with a sudden start.

“Hae Jin.”

Not missing the moment, Tae Hong’s low bass struck her eardrum. Oh no. Hae Jin gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands. She should have stopped self-praising, even monkeys fall from trees, and today was that day.

“I’m, I’m sor-”

“I understand you can’t take your eyes off my appearance, but why don’t you drive properly?”

Unable to finish her words, Hae Jin bit her lip. Her right cheek tingled as if electricity was passing through from his gaze.

“If my body gets hurt, will Hae Jin compensate?”

The subtle mix of formal and informal speech tormented Hae Jin even more. It was a new technique.

“I’ll be more careful from now on.”

She clenched her molars. After that, like someone who couldn’t turn their neck, she stubbornly stared straight ahead. They had already arrived at the department store, and before Hae Jin could get out, Tae Hong moved first.

“Do you want to wait? Or follow?”

What does he want?

Hae Jin examined Tae Hong’s expression but couldn’t find an answer. At times like this, stay true to your main job. Now it’s time to be a dedicated mark, not a driver.

“I’ll follow.”

“Suit yourself.”

Tae Hong responded indifferently and strode ahead. As they entered the men’s clothing section, a person approached.

Ignoring the clothes recommended by the employee, Tae Hong suddenly turned around. Their gazes met in the mirror. Tae Hong was holding two pieces of clothing.

“Which one looks better?”

“To be honest, the clothes you’re wearing now suit you better.”

Neither felt like the clothes he was currently wearing. Not knowing the mood of the meeting, she couldn’t readily recommend or answer.

“Do you know how much this outfit costs?”

He cunningly held each of the two clothes under his face once.

“I can’t have even a drop of alcohol stain it, you see.”

Alcohol, so it is designated driving after all. The worry about what time she might be able to go home on her first day was momentary.

“I think whiskey bottles will be going back and forth at today’s gathering.”

He’s going to drink a lot of alcohol. So he meant the clothes shouldn’t get wet when he falls over drunk.

Having grasped the core point, Hae Jin put her finger on her chin and examined the two outfits from various angles. Not satisfied with just looking in the mirror, she stood in front of him.

“I actually have quite a knack for coordinating outfits.”

Who would have thought that maxing out dad’s credit card in the past would come in handy like this?

“I pride myself on having excellent taste.”

She had never failed. So she was confident about Tae Hong’s clothes too.

So focused that she didn’t even realize her lips were pursed, she held the hangers this way and that below Tae Hong’s neck. Then, as if finally decided, she chose one.

“This is my choice.”

It was a decision without hesitation. Not only the design but it would fit in well at any occasion. With his height and looks, he could pull off any outfit.

“Let’s go with this one then.”

At that moment, Tae Hong suddenly rose up. Come to think of it, she had to stand on tiptoes to barely match his height, but while holding up the clothes, both feet hadn’t left the ground.

Then that means he had lowered himself to her height. Tae Hong, having finished paying, headed towards the changing room. It happened so suddenly that Hae Jin was bewildered.

A rugby ball with manners, huh. Ah, I really can’t tell what his true self is.

The confusion dissipated the moment she saw Tae Hong standing there wearing the clothes she had chosen. The perfectly fitting pants needing no alterations and the slightly loosened shirt accentuated his appearance.

Oh, he wears clothes well.

While she was internally appreciating, satisfaction spread across Tae Hong’s face as he checked the outfit he had put on in the mirror. Their gazes met again in the mirror.

“Hae Jin looks more satisfied than I do.”

As if her thoughts had been exposed, Hae Jin hastily lowered her gaze. Then she seemed to faintly hear Tae Hong’s laughter.

“You chose well. You said you had excellent taste, and you really do have a good eye.”

It was the first compliment. She pondered for a moment whether to take this as work. Of course, the initial joy was short-lived.

“By the way, Hae Jin.”

At the sound of her name being called, her face was full of anticipation, wondering what else he might ask her to choose.

“Another question comes to mind.”

Shoes and other accessories caught her eye, but Tae Hong, the rugby ball with one corner of his mouth slightly raised, didn’t move as Hae Jin wanted.

“Have you also done part-time work selling clothes?”

Reasonable suspicion, was it? She felt like she was hearing the words he had said earlier again.