The two of them were silent the entire way home. Tae Hong just kept his eyes closed, as if deep in thought. Hae Jin didn’t speak up either.

The car, making no noise at all, soon arrived at the parking lot of Tae Hong’s house. Tae Hong still had his eyes closed, as if sleeping.

Should I wake him up, or not?

It was already well past midnight, and public transportation had stopped running long ago. But she couldn’t just sit there doing nothing. At this rate, she felt like she’d never be able to go home.

“Team Leader, we’ve arrived.”

She shook Tae Hong’s shoulder. He opened his eyes, though he had seemed unlikely to budge. Recognizing the familiar place, Tae Hong opened the door and got out. Hae Jin also got out of the neatly parked car.

“I’ll be going now.”

She bowed politely and was about to turn around. Just as she was about to perfectly wrap up her first day of work, Tae Hong refused to move as Hae Jin wanted until the very end.

“Deputy Jung Hae Jin.”

His voice sounded clear, as if he had sobered up, stopping Hae Jin in her tracks.

“For your first day at work, you did better than expected.”

At his words, Hae Jin’s movements slowed. The distance between them was just a couple of steps at most.

“Your driving is fine, you have good taste, you judge situations well, and above all, you seem perceptive.”

That one sentence summed up the evaluation of her first day at work.

Should I be happy about this, or not?

While she was glad she wasn’t fired on the spot, it felt like a rather bitter declaration that things would continue like this from now on.

“Take the car. Taxis don’t come here often.”

As it was her first time at Tae Hong’s house, she didn’t know where the bus stop was or even the exact address. Tae Hong gradually closed the gap between them, approaching Hae Jin.

And now he was standing within arm’s reach.

His long arm stretched out towards Hae Jin. She reflexively extended her hand as well. With a click, the smart key was placed in her palm.

“Tomorrow morning at 7. Let’s meet here.”

Leaving just those words, Tae Hong walked past Hae Jin. By the time she came to her senses, feeling the weight in her palm, he had already gone inside the house.

“Hah.”

Only when he was completely out of sight did the breath she had been holding suddenly burst out. It had started from the moment he began slowly closing the distance. The moment when her inhales and exhales fell out of sync.

“He’s really draining my energy from the first day. Seriously.”

Feeling as if Tae Hong’s afterimage still lingered, Hae Jin glanced around before getting back in the car. The car driven by Hae Jin quickly left the parking lot.

Once again, she was alone. The only difference was that her destination was home. She never dreamed her workday would extend past midnight.

The cold air of dawn, beyond twilight, cooled her entire body. It had been an eventful day. Her self-introduction felt like it happened in the distant past. However, she couldn’t let her guard down yet.

Successfully parking this expensive car in the narrow alley would complete today’s mission. Even without him, the journey home remained challenging.

**

Perhaps due to being too tense the previous day, her whole body felt stiff from the moment she woke up in the morning. But she moved as if nothing was wrong. Even before her family went bankrupt, Hae Jin had always been diligent. It was like a habit ingrained in her body.

Do something as soon as you wake up. That’s why she learned whatever she wanted to learn. She also bought whatever she wanted with her father’s credit card.

Of course, now it’s just a faint memory of the past. Does he know how much of an impact the real second-generation chaebol, Moon Tae Hong, whom she suddenly became in charge of, would have on her life?

While preparing for work, her eyes fell on her body reflected in the bathroom mirror.

Suddenly, last night’s events came to mind. She could feel the touch of the hand that caught her as she was about to fall backwards, the firm chest she came into contact with as a result. Even though it happened just a few hours ago, the unfamiliar sensation was still vivid.

His body temperature was hot, and his touch was sticky. She almost got lost in the glances that met briefly now and then.

You’re crazy, Jung Hae Jin. Get a grip, Jung Hae Jin.

“If you’re not useful, I’ll cut you off without hesitation.”

Unnecessary thoughts are a luxury. He’s someone who will cut people off without hesitation. If the lifeline is cut, the source of income will naturally be cut off too. Everything will disappear.

Hae Jin quickly shook her head. The dedicated mark who needs to arrive at her boss’s parking lot by 7 am just needs to move diligently.

The luxurious car that didn’t fit Hae Jin’s neighborhood flashed its headlights. Fortunately, she was able to arrive on time.

“Team Leader, I’ve arrived.”

She had only said one word after making the call, but Tae Hong was already walking towards the car. Hae Jin hurriedly hung up the phone and got out of the car. Tae Hong lightly waved his hand at Hae Jin and got into the passenger seat.

She first checked his hand. A new bandage was applied.

“Are you alright?”

“This?”

He waved the bandaged hand vigorously. It looks fine, thank goodness.

“You look really worried over something this minor.”

“Of course I’m worried!”

The injured person seemed nonchalant, which was odd. Just as she thought she worried for nothing, her eyes kept drifting to the wound while driving.

“Pull over for a moment up ahead.”

Wondering what was going on so soon after they started, Hae Jin turned on the hazard lights and stopped the car where Tae Hong pointed. As soon as the car stopped, Tae Hong asked,

“What coffee do you drink?”

“Pardon?”

“Let’s have some coffee. My head’s not clear.”

Huh? Didn’t he say tea clears his head before? Recalling yesterday’s events, she blurted out “Iced Americano” without thinking. Tae Hong said okay and got out of the car.

“Something feels off. Shouldn’t I be the one buying it?”

She stretched her head out over the steering wheel, closely observing Tae Hong’s actions. Just as she was about to get out after seeing Tae Hong return with coffee in both hands, she heard a knock on the passenger window.

Hae Jin lowered the window in a daze and received the coffee from Tae Hong’s hand. With one hand free, Tae Hong opened the passenger door and got back in the car.

“Let’s go.”

Hae Jin started the engine, watching Tae Hong take a sip of coffee.

“But Team Leader, shouldn’t I be the one buying the coffee?”

“The parking time here is short, so we need to move quickly if a car comes from behind.”

Ah, now she understood. Hae Jin nodded.

“And there’s something else I’m curious about.”

“Ha, what is it?”

Tae Hong stopped drinking his coffee because of Hae Jin’s various questions from the morning. But Hae Jin, full of curiosity, didn’t stop.

“Didn’t you say yesterday that tea is better for clearing your head?”

Ah, that? Tae Hong responded lightly.

“Many guests visit my room.”

Right, I was also kind of a guest yesterday.

“People I want to meet, and those I don’t. People I need, and those I don’t.”

Hae Jin pouted at Tae Hong’s logic of dividing people so dichotomously.

So, in other words…

“When someone I don’t want or don’t need enters my room.”

My thoughts probably aren’t the correct answer.

“I offer them tea.”

Ding dong dang, perfectly understood. You rugby ball.

Hae Jin clenched her molars tightly. And she asked one last question.

“Then may I ask what the meaning of today’s coffee is?”

“The opposite of those people.”

If it’s the opposite, does that mean someone he wants to meet and needs? While lost in her own thoughts, Tae Hong pulled her out.

“So you can judge well.”

“Judge what?”

“Whether to report or not, things like that.”

She could understand who he was referring to without him saying it. He must mean the Chairman. It was understandable. It was natural to predict what Hae Jin’s role might be, given that she was suddenly parachuted in next to him.

Should she say there’s no reporting at all, or would he not believe her even if she said so? She decided it would be better to show it through her actions slowly.

“Deputy Jung Hae Jin. And one more thing.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

Thinking it was an extension of the warning, she tensed up. Geez, every moment feels like a test and a thorny path.

“From now on, come here by 7 am.”

“Yes, huh?”

“Do you have any complaints?”

It’s not that I have complaints… Of course, I shouldn’t. His words came to mind again. An executive assistant who sticks by his side everywhere. From clocking in to clocking out, from domestic to overseas business trips, everything.

“I understand. I’ll do that.”

I shouldn’t be cut off by him so easily. Hold on as much as you can, don’t fall even if he openly shakes you. Jung Hae Jin will stubbornly hold on.

Upon arriving at the company, he walked half a step ahead of Hae Jin. Of course, Hae Jin followed closely behind him. Hae Jin’s presence, appearing alongside Tae Hong, was enough to instantly draw attention.

First, because of the two people’s style and appearance, and second, because it was a scene of Tae Hong walking with a woman.

The gazes of the arriving employees were focused on Tae Hong, but he didn’t seem to mind, while Hae Jin felt unnecessarily restless.

Only when they entered the elevator, where others’ gazes were blocked, did Hae Jin let out a deep sigh.

“Hah.”

“Were you nervous?”

“Would you believe me if I said I was more nervous than on my first day?”

Pfft, Tae Hong showed her a smile instead of an answer.

“By the way, all the employees know that I’m the owner’s son.”

As expected, you openly reveal it. You have no hesitation about such things.

“And I’ve never had a secretary or hired an executive assistant before. So to other people’s eyes, this sight must be very strange right now.”

It seemed like he was mocking the picture his father had painted.

“For a while, people will be talking about how I have a woman by my side.”

“Ah, I see.”

It was just as she was nodding without thinking.

For a while, a woman, by my side. The intermittent sounds echoed in her ears.

“Te-Team Leader.”

Tae Hong, still holding his phone in one hand and coffee in the other, looked down at Hae Jin with languid eyes.

“Just in case, out of concern. Hahaha.”

An awkward smile spread across her face. She tried to laugh nonchalantly, but the corners of her mouth kept moving on their own.

“Well, I mean…”

She didn’t know which words to choose herself.

“Words like office scandal and such come to mind.”

It’s not like that, right? It can’t be.

“Am I running a factory of unlimited imagination?”

Say it’s not like that. Say you’ve never caused an office scandal.

But Tae Hong remained silent. His languid gaze gradually loosened, becoming slack, then started to tighten, as if emitting an unusual light.

With that kind of look, you’re making me misunderstand.

Hae Jin clutched her unfinished coffee with both hands. The water droplets on the surface cooled her palms, which had become hot.

“Why aren’t you answering?”

Tae Hong shook his head from side to side. As if telling her to answer for him.

“Don’t tell me, is that why the Chairman put me in as your dedicated mark?”

Tae Hong’s gaze suddenly wavered, as if something had upset him.

“Let’s not get carried away with delusions.”