As Joo Hyuk pressed a button on the small remote control, the steel parking lot door creaked open. Inside, several sedans were lined up.

“You can take the passenger seat, Han Ji Soo.”

“Yes!”

As Ji Soo was about to get into the passenger seat, Joo Hyuk walked towards the driver’s seat.

Huh? This isn’t right.

“Sir? Isn’t the driver… coming?”

“I usually drive myself to work.”

That meant Ji Soo had to sit next to Joo Hyuk while he was driving. There was no way she could do that. How could she sit comfortably in the passenger seat while her boss, who was like the sky, was driving? Ji Soo shook her head vehemently.

“Sir! I’ll drive.”

Joo Hyuk stared at Ji Soo, who was talking nonsense, as he was about to open the driver’s door.

“I don’t think I can ride in a car that you’re driving, sir. I’ll comfortably drive you to the company.”

“No need.”

“No! As a secretary, I absolutely can’t do that!”

Even though she was still treated as a half-baked secretary, she couldn’t sit comfortably in the passenger seat while her boss was driving. No, that was absolutely not allowed.

“Alright then. Let’s see how well you do.”

Joo Hyuk tossed the car keys over the sedan. Holding the keys in her hand, Ji Soo was genuinely happy. It felt like her boss trusted her and entrusted her with the task.

“Thank you! I’ll make sure you have a comfortable ride.”

Hearing Ji Soo’s loud voice, Joo Hyuk slowly shook his head.

The moment she put the key in and started the engine, Ji Soo immediately realized.

This wasn’t an open road, but an alley with a mix of uphill and downhill slopes. She didn’t know it was a high-difficulty course because she rode in someone else’s car on the way here. The sedan was much bigger and heavier than she thought.

The conclusion was… that she was doomed.

Her hands on the steering wheel trembled slightly. Joo Hyuk’s house was located on a slope where foreign embassies were gathered. The width of the alley was quite narrow and winding, making it a high-difficulty driving course. Joo Hyuk’s sedan was large and long, both side to side and front to back. It was an environment where it was very easy to scratch the car body.

With both hands gripping the steering wheel, she buried her face. No matter how she thought about it, she felt like she would cause a big accident today if she didn’t get her mind straight.

Should I just go back down like this? Should I apologize for being cheeky and then quietly sit and go? Then, someone inside her mind voiced an objection. If you received the car key, you should drive, what kind of nonsense is that?

It was when she was suffering from internal conflict.

Joo Hyuk, who was watching Ji Soo’s pathetic appearance, casually made a remark.

“Han Ji Soo, can we get to work by the end of today?”

“Yes! Of course.”

Maybe we will.

In the end, Ji Soo straightened her back and tightened her grip on the steering wheel.

I just need to keep my mind straight. How many years have I been driving?

It’s just that I’m nervous because Joo Hyuk is sitting next to me. There’s no need to be afraid of driving, she thought as she stepped on the accelerator. The sedan slowly began to leave the alley. If it were Ji Soo’s compact car, it would have quickly gotten out with ease. But this car wasn’t that easy to handle. A chill ran down her spine.

This car must cost more than the deposit on our house, right? Not just the deposit. It must be much more expensive than the actual house.

Get your mind straight, Han Ji Soo! The moment even a single scratch appears on this car, you’ll be asked to resign.

Even though her hands were trembling slightly, her mind was focused to the maximum. Gently turning the steering wheel, Ji Soo’s head moved busily, looking left and right. Beads of cold sweat formed on her forehead. She had never concentrated this much since taking the college entrance exam.

“Han Ji Soo, how long have you been driving?”

“I… I… well… I got my driver’s license as soon as I turned twenty!”

That would mean she’s an 8-year veteran now. It was hardly believable given her skills.

“And you’ve been driving continuously without a break?”

“Yes, of course.”

It was even more unbelievable that she had been driving continuously. You can consistently do something and still be bad at it. Joo Hyuk gained a new realization.

“But… I’ve never driven on the highway.”

“Then… did you only move within the parking lot after starting the engine?”

A hollow laugh escaped from disbelief.

“I went to the mart in front of my house.”

“Get out, right now.”

This woman, seriously. Joo Hyuk frowned and shouted.

“No, sir! But I’ve never caused a major accident.”

When merging onto the main road, Ji Soo suddenly lowered the window on the driver’s side. Then she stretched her neck out and turned her head to the left. She was checking if there were any cars coming from behind.

“Han Ji Soo… there’s something called a side mirror.”

“Yes! But I feel more at ease when I check with my own eyes.”

“……”

In the end, Ji Soo, who missed the last chance to change seats with Joo Hyuk, managed to merge into the main road with a creak. After flowing into the big water, Ji Soo became even more tense, sharply turning the steering wheel and slamming on the brakes.

Joo Hyuk’s hand quietly gripped the inside handle of the vehicle.

“Hey, Han Ji Soo, if you were trying to replace Kim the driver with this level of driving skill, I’m really dumbfounded. Have you no conscience? Are you trying to kill someone?”

Joo Hyuk closed his mouth tightly due to the sudden stop.

How much is my life worth? To entrust my life to such a novice driver.

If he had known Ji Soo’s driving skills were at this level, he would never have allowed it.

“I’m… I’m sorry! I’m not usually like this, but I’m too nervous……”

“Talk while looking ahead!”

“Yes, sir.”

As the morning rush hour approached, the road began to get crowded with cars. Ji Soo’s expression also became more rigid. Trying to focus her mind, deep wrinkles formed between her eyebrows.

“Han Ji Soo, you’re gradually encroaching on the lane.”

At that moment, Joo Hyuk’s large hand covered Ji Soo’s hand on the steering wheel. He turned the steering wheel to the right. As if an electric current was flowing through her body, a tingling sensation made her body tremble.

Ji Soo stretched her neck out the window again to check the lane. It was as Joo Hyuk said.

“Hey! Han Ji Soo! Sticking your face out the window is very dangerous. What are you doing without basic knowledge as a driver?”

“……I’ll correct it.”

Now, even saying sorry was a luxury. For the 20 minutes driving to the headquarters, the two remained silent. Ji Soo was too nervous to speak, and Joo Hyuk was at a loss for words out of disbelief.

Joo Hyuk closed his eyes and clenched his teeth, as if his stomach was churning. Seeing that, Ji Soo became even more tense and kept sharply turning the steering wheel. Ji Soo didn’t disappoint Joo Hyuk until the moment she turned off the engine.

***

When they arrived at the executive office, no one had come to work yet. Joo Hyuk, who was still pressing his palm against his chest due to his churning stomach, slowly opened his mouth.

“Wait… let’s talk for a bit, Han Ji Soo.”

“Yes, sir.”

Would she be fired right away like this? Ji Soo anxiously followed Joo Hyuk into the executive office. Joo Hyuk, who was sitting on the sofa, pressed near his temple.

This was all because of Han Ji Soo sitting in front of him. But he didn’t want to mention this issue. That woman wouldn’t have to drive from now on anyway. He just wanted to quickly erase the nightmare.

“You worked hard playing with Seo Hoo yesterday.”

“No, sir. I had fun too, in my own way.”

Although I was a bit drained from playing hide-and-seek for three hours without eating.

“I’m well aware that Seo Hoo is a difficult child to handle.”

When Shin Hyuk was alive, he didn’t know that Seo Hoo was this difficult. But for two months now, watching Seo Hoo by his side, he realized that Seo Hoo was very different from other ordinary children.

Even Kim Kyung Hwan, a college senior and psychiatrist, had given up.

“I’m asking if Han Ji Soo can take care of Seo Hoo on weekends as well. Of course, until we find a new full-time caregiver.”

“……”

Ji Soo recalled yesterday evening with Seo Hoo. Seo Hoo was a child full of energy. Sometimes he was unpredictable, but the time spent together wasn’t bad. It also reminded her of her younger brother Eun Soo, so even though it was a short time, she wanted to be nicer to Seo Hoo.

However, she had Grandma Hyun Sook. She wanted to spend time with Hyun Sook on weekends. It was Hyun Sook who took care of her when Ji Soo lost her family and gave up on her life. That’s why Ji Soo always resolved to do her best for Hyun Sook.

“I’m sorry, sir. I haven’t been with the company for long, so I think it will be tight for me to focus on my work and family.”

“One million won, how about it?”

“One million won?”

It wasn’t a bad additional income to work two days on the weekend and earn one million won a month. In front of Joo Hyuk, she said she wasn’t short on money, but in fact, her contract salary was tight in this era of high prices.

But what if there was an additional income of one million won? That would be great, right?

Ji Soo’s heart wavered slightly, but she soon made up her mind and slowly shook her head.

“I’m sorry, sir.”

“If one million won per day is not enough, how much does Han Ji Soo want?”

“O-one mi-million won per day?”

On a month with 8 weekends, that would be a whopping 8 million won. 8 million won! Ji Soo’s mouth gradually opened wider as she couldn’t believe the amount Joo Hyuk offered. This was enough money to break her beliefs. But Ji Soo once again thought of Hyun Sook’s face. The time spent with Hyun Sook, who was over eighty years old. The value of that precious time.

Ji Soo shook her head very slowly and with great difficulty.

“I’m sorry, it’s not about the money.”

Joo Hyuk nodded with a bitter smile.

“I understand your thoughts, Han Ji Soo. The talk is over, so you can go now.”

“Yes, sir.”

Although she felt a little guilty for not being able to accept Joo Hyuk’s earnest request, it was something that had nothing to do with her from the beginning. Ji Soo thought it couldn’t be helped.