It was absolutely not the case that Ji Soo had decided to take care of Seo Hoo in order to look good to Joo Hyuk, as Young Joon had misunderstood.

“Elder brother, are you really going to end it like this?”

“Yes. I can’t date girls like you who are nitpicky. Why would I need to?”

If he’s going to say that much, there’s nothing that can be done now.

“Goodbye then. I won’t hold onto you either.”

Ji Soo stood up first from her seat, holding her handbag.

“Hey! Han Ji Soo! I’m a first officer at ACS Airlines! You won’t be able to find a man like me anywhere else! Do you know that? I’m the best man you can get!”

Young Joon shouted loudly behind her back, but Ji Soo didn’t look back. She had done her best in this relationship, and it was Young Joon who had ended it. She no longer had any lingering feelings for Young Joon who had easily dismissed her pain.

Although she turned away coldly, tears welled up in Ji Soo’s eyes.

‘I absolutely won’t cry because of that jerk Cha Young Joon.’

Gritting her teeth tightly, Ji Soo left the bar as she was.

***

On Saturday morning, Ji Soo visited Joo Hyuk’s house again. It was to formally draw up the contract and begin taking care of Seo Hoo.

Upon entering the house, the first thing she saw was Joo Hyuk. Unlike usual, Joo Hyuk was in comfortable attire. Dressed in a tracksuit with his hair naturally falling down without any product. He looked at least 5 years younger than usual.

“You came on time, Han Ji Soo. Come and sit here.”

“Yes, but where is Seo Hoo?”

“He went to bed late last night and woke up frequently in the early morning, so he’s still sleeping now.”

“Ah, I see.”

Joo Hyuk handed a sheet of paper to Ji Soo with a no-nonsense gesture.

“It’s the contents of the contract, so read it slowly. Make sure to ask again about any doubts or points you don’t understand.”

“Yes, I will do that.”

Ji Soo slowly read through the contract densely filled with text.

“There are a few things not specified in the contract that you must adhere to, Han Ji Soo.”

“Yes!”

“First,”

As expected from someone with an Air Force background. His voice was overflowing with discipline.

“Yes! First.”

“There’s no need to repeat after me.”

“Yes, Director.”

Joo Hyuk raised one index finger and pointed at Ji Soo’s round face. Then he slowly moved his finger along the shape of her face.

‘What is this? Is he hypnotizing me? I feel dizzy.’

Ji Soo tensed up at Joo Hyuk’s incomprehensible gesture.

“Director, is there a problem…?”

“This face, let’s cover it up completely. Understood?”

“What? Why do I need to cover my face?”

It wasn’t a peerless beauty, but it was a face she was quite confident in, never having been told she was ugly.

I even get called a beauty quite often, you know.

“If rumors spread that Han Ji Soo comes to my house on weekends, won’t it tarnish the clean reputation I’ve maintained so far?”

A clean reputation? Ah, yes.

If you’re talking about Director Min, isn’t he the legendary Casanova acknowledged by the secretary chief? But since she couldn’t tell Joo Hyuk about the rumors straightforwardly, Ji Soo nodded her head while smiling tightly with the corners of her lips stretched.

“When entering and leaving this house, cover your face completely.”

“Yes, yes, I understand. Director.”

“And secondly,”

“No matter what happens, during the time you’re taking care of Seo Hoo, do it alone, figure it out, and do it well. Unless it’s an emergency, don’t call me whining or reporting, understand?”

“Yes…”

Ji Soo’s voice was getting smaller and smaller.

“And lastly, thirdly,”

“Your job as a secretary and taking care of Seo Hoo are completely unrelated. Even if you take good care of Seo Hoo, if your performance is bad, you won’t be converted to a full-time employee. And even if you can’t take good care of Seo Hoo, if you do well as a secretary, the conversion won’t be a problem.”

“Yes, I understand. Director.”

“Then, rest until Seo Hoo wakes up, play well with him when he does, and go home. Have meals together at the right times. There’s a variety of food prepared by Madam in the fridge, so you just need to take it out and eat.”

“Yes, Director.”

Joo Hyuk, who was walking away, turned around again and approached Ji Soo closely.

“And that ‘Director’ title, don’t use it when other people are around. It’s a secret to everyone who comes to this house as a housekeeper that you and I work at the same company. Of course, excluding Secretary Chief Hwang Jae Ho.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind. Director, are you… going out now?”

“I have a personal appointment. I’ll be back before you leave.”

“Yes… Have a safe trip.”

Without even answering, Joo Hyuk swiftly left the house. He looked so lighthearted, it was enviable.

Then, what should I do until Seo Hoo wakes up?

Stretching once, Ji Soo decided to look around the living room as big as a sports field. Next to the sofa, she saw several picture frames inside a large cabinet. It was a photo of Joo Hyuk’s entire family in one frame. Seo Hoo, who was smiling brightly, was being held by Shin Hyuk and had his arms spread out to the sides. And next to him was a woman smiling at Seo Hoo. She thought it was probably Seo Hoo’s mother.

But she looked very familiar…

As she lowered her head to take a closer look at the woman presumed to be Seo Hoo’s mother, Seo Hoo’s loud voice echoed behind Ji Soo’s back.

“Sis, let’s play!”

Ji Soo, who had been holding the frame, was startled and put it back in place.

***

“As expected, since Director Go was promoted, the sales of the Cargo Division have been skyrocketing day by day. Weren’t we selected as the best cargo airline of the year by AirRatings? It’s all thanks to Director Go’s outstanding insight.”

Managing Director Shim Yeon Seok couldn’t keep his mouth shut for a moment, making flattering remarks towards Kang Jin. Although Kang Jin was much younger than him, since his position was higher, it was natural to fawn over him like the tongue in his mouth.

Kang Jin didn’t dislike Yeon Seok, who seemed to have a clear vested interest. Yeon Seok was still a person of utility value to him. That was the reason for keeping Yeon Seok around him. To seize the vice president position, it was wise for him, who had no foundation, to gather even one person to his side.

Min Joo Hyuk was not an easy opponent even for Kang Jin. In addition to the overwhelming power of being from the owner family, Joo Hyuk’s individual abilities were also outstanding. Compared to Kang Jin who had no backing, Joo Hyuk was a man with very advantageous conditions to take the next vice president position. He was worlds apart from his brother Min Shin Hyuk, who had a soft tofu-like heart.

Perhaps Min Joo Hyuk was similar to him in some ways.

“I believe Managing Director Shim will do his best to help me. In fact, without Managing Director Shim, I won’t be able to become the vice president. You know how high the chairman’s expectations are for his only remaining son.”

“Of course, after what happened to Min Shin Hyuk, he’s pouring all his attention into that punk Min Joo Hyuk.”

“Managing Director Shim?”

For a moment, Kang Jin’s sharp eyes became even narrower. Kang Jin’s face, with its exceptionally white skin without a single blemish, exuded a strangely eerie atmosphere to the point of being bizarre.

“Yes, Director.”

“You should… be careful with your words and actions. Are you trying to tarnish my reputation by acting so vulgarly somewhere? I’ve heard rumors spreading as if it’s a known fact that you’ve joined my line, you know.”

Seeing Kang Jin emitting a chilling light, Yeon Seok belatedly covered his mouth. The problem was that he had gone too far trying to match Kang Jin’s mood.

“I’m s-sorry. I absolutely won’t make this mistake outside.”

“You should do that. Managing Director Shim and I are practically a single entity with a shared fate. So you have to be careful with each and every action. Only then can you also become an executive director next year and have your daughter marry into a good family, right?”

“Of course, of course. You are absolutely right.”

“Are you going to end as a managing director? There are quite a few among the directors eyeing your position. I’m telling you, capable people with solid foundations are climbing up like crazy.”

So, what should a incompetent executive like you do?

Kang Jin’s eyes seemed to be asking that exact question.

Even the incompetent Yeon Seok had one specialty. Catering to others. Yeon Seok was confident in that alone. That’s why he was bowing his head like this even to Kang Jin, who was much younger than him.

“You have to excel in at least one thing, even just one. Do you understand?”

“Yes, yes. Director.”

“Executive Director Min Joo Hyuk is not an easy opponent. It’ll be tough to catch up even if you start diligently laying the groundwork from now.”

“I’m keeping my eyes peeled and looking into the part you asked me about before. Even if something comes up soon…”

“Asked? When did I ask Managing Director Shim for anything?”

“No. Although I’m looking into it on my own.”

“Do tell me more.”

Kang Jin kept a smiling face the whole time. He beautifully narrowed his thin eyes and his tone was soft without any sharpness. But why was it? Yeon Seok had experienced chills running down his spine several times while talking to him.

“I’m working hard to find a pipeline to bring down Director Min, in my own way.”

“Is that so?”

Kang Jin checked his wristwatch and stood up from his seat.

“It’s time for me to go pay my respects to the chairman, so let’s meet again next time. Managing Director Shim.”

“Yes, Director. I’ll come to greet you again soon.”

Yeon Seok bowed his waist towards Kang Jin who was ending the conversation arbitrarily and leaving. Out of fear, the back of his neck tingled and he rubbed it vigorously with his palm for no reason.

Kang Jin, who grabbed and turned the doorknob, stopped in his tracks. Then he turned his body to look in the direction where Yeon Seok was standing.

“I wonder if a dirty scandal about his private life will come out someday? Since it’s been built up, it would fit perfectly, right? Ah, of course I’m talking about a drama.”

After making that remark, Kang Jin walked out the door completely without waiting for Yeon Seok’s answer.