The woman’s lips were beautiful.

He wanted to touch them, to caress them, to taste them. Her smooth, soft skin would surely be like delicate flower petals.

If he were to bite and devour them, their fragrant scent would take root and vibrate endlessly.

He wanted to engrave himself into her until his waist broke. He wanted to see the heat trapped in her eyes.

Would she be frightened like now, or would she still be cold? Or would she burn up as if her whole body had become a wick in hot flames?

Whatever happened, it had to be him who set fire to the woman’s heart. His emotions became clear as if standing before a flame.

No other bastard would do.

As her hunched shoulders seemed to indicate she didn’t want any further approach, Tae Ha withdrew his unsettling gaze.

Though his hands hadn’t touched her anywhere, the places where his gaze had lingered felt burned and hot.

“Let’s work.”

His voice, cracked with thirst, scattered the intense tension.

By the time Tae Ha turned away with his hands in his pockets to create distance, Eun Seo closed her eyes with a sigh.

Whether her eyes were open or closed, the places his gaze had lingered remained vivid.

When she opened her eyes again, he had turned his chair around.

* * *

“Good morning.”

“Good morning.”

After passing through the busy lobby filled with greetings, receiving guidance from security, stopping by the HR department, and arriving on the 18th floor, it was already past 9:30.

Eun Seo took a deep breath and stood in front of the desk to greet.

“Hello, Manager Han Yu Jung. I’m Song Eun Seo, starting work today.”

“Ah, Ms. Song Eun Seo. I’ve heard about you. Nice to meet you.”

Manager Han stood up and extended her hand. She had a bob cut, grey pants, and gave a neat impression.

“We’re part of the CEO’s direct secretary team. Manager Yeon went on maternity leave, so we’ve been really busy. Anyway, I’m glad you’re here, Eun Seo. I thought I was going to die from overwork because we couldn’t get more staff. Let’s get along well, Eun Seo.”

For a while, Eun Seo followed Manager Han around.

“Before the CEO arrives, check his office and organize newspapers and periodicals to give him. For mail, open minor items but leave important ones unopened.”

“Yes.”

“Check both meeting schedules and external schedules, and report them with tea at 9:20.”

“Yes.”

“Record meetings you attend and update immediately, submitting them that day.”

“Yes.”

Manager Han explained everything to Eun Seo in detail. After about a week, she started to get a handle on the work.

“From today, Ms. Song Eun Seo will be in charge of organizing newspaper articles and schedule reporting. You’ll learn and do other tasks together with me.”

Manager Han gestured to Eun Seo while organizing meeting materials from various departments.

Knock knock.

Eun Seo knocked on the door, holding a cup of Kauai coffee, city roasted to Tae Ha’s taste, and a tablet.

About 3 seconds.

Though no words to enter were heard, that time was agreed upon. When Eun Seo opened the door and entered, Tae Ha looked up from reading summarized articles.

“You came alone.”

“Yes. From today, I’ll report alone without the manager.”

“Report the schedule.”

“There’s a joint meeting with Marketing and Planning in Conference Room 1 at 10 AM. And at 3 PM, there’s a final selection meeting for new uniforms with the Purchasing team leader in the same room.”

“Please tell them to bring samples. I want to see them in person.”

“Yes.”

“By the way, did you update the previous planning meeting materials?”

“Yes. I delivered them to the department immediately.”

“And I want to have a general manager meeting. I’m thinking the third week. How’s the schedule?”

Eun Seo quickly checked the schedule on the tablet.

“Wednesday and Thursday of the third week are relatively free.”

“Then contact each hotel and gather dates. Manager Han will handle event-related tasks.”

“Yes.”

“Are you managing?”

Only then did Eun Seo look up from the tablet. It was the first time he’d asked for a personal opinion since the department store shopping.

“Thanks to your consideration, I’m also studying.”

“Going back to university?”

“Yes.”

“You’re working hard. I heard you can’t drive.”

“I didn’t have the chance to learn.”

“I’ll register you for driving school. You’ll need to accompany me on business trips soon, and sometimes only the secretary will come along without the chauffeur.”

“Do you mean I should accompany you?”

“Originally Manager Yeon and Team Leader Choi shared accompaniment duties, but since Manager Yeon went on leave, it’s too much for Team Leader Choi alone. Sometimes you’ll have to come along too. When you go out, tell Team Leader Choi to come in.”

Tae Ha took a sip of coffee and lowered his eyes again.

Eun Seo put down the meeting-related report in front of him and left the office. Only after she left did Tae Ha put down his fountain pen and quietly gaze at the door she had disappeared through.

* * *

Tae Ha’s finger stopped at one point while reading a report in the back seat of the car. After flipping to the front page of the report and skimming it once, he rubbed his chin and spoke softly.

In his hand was a report from the company where Jung Woo’s mother, his aunt, was the representative.

“Mirae Bio, the purpose of this rights offering is debt repayment and raising operating funds. Plus, entering a new business. Health functional foods? Expanding their domain?”

“What are you going to do? Are you thinking of investing through Active?”

Active VC was an investment company where Tae Ha was the de facto representative, unlike what was known publicly. There were quite a few other investment companies under his influence as well.

“No.”

“Then why did you ask to look into it?”

“I’m curious. Well, I could help if the situation calls for it.”

Mirae Bio was a small but solid company.

Even when they acquired a small pharmaceutical ingredient production company, Jung Woo had taken the lead instead of his aunt who lacked business skills, and he was always full of enthusiasm.

It was a company Jung Woo had poured his affection into.

Moreover, Mirae Bio seemed to be on a roll as it entered the cryptocurrency business led by MJ Asset Management.

Until the cryptocurrency business was revealed to be a scam and MJ, which had entrusted massive investment funds, went bankrupt.

“For now, I’ll have to watch the progress of the rights offering.”

There was a need to properly understand Mirae Bio’s situation. To find out the exact reason why Jung Woo had given up his mother’s company and come to the hotel.

While welcoming Jung Woo’s entry into the hotel, and also welcoming fair competition, checks were necessary.

Competition and checks. That was something inseparable from being born as the heir to the group.

Always tiring, but an inescapable fate.

There would be no problem if Jung Woo established his position in the hotel and achieved remarkable results like this.

Provided that, unlike his uncle who had embezzled company funds, there was no impure purpose in Jung Woo’s employment.

“Hey, that looks like Song Eun Seo.”

It was Woo Young who interrupted Tae Ha’s thoughts.

Eun Seo was standing on the way to the subway station outside the car window. She was half-bent over, talking through the open window of a white sedan in front.

Looking at the number plate, it was Jung Woo’s car.

Even though they lived in the same house, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings at the company, Tae Ha moved with Woo Young, and Jung Woo moved separately.

Eun Seo commuted to work using buses and the subway.

“Looks like they might go together.”

Together?

Tae Ha put down the report to the side.

Would Song Eun Seo really get in that car? If she did, it would be too disappointing.

The smoothly running car stopped at a signal. Tae Ha lowered the window and turned his face diagonally to the back.

Jung Woo’s car showed no signs of leaving, as if they were having a long conversation.

“Woo Young, didn’t you have plans today?”

“Plans? No.”

Woo Young replied indifferently, then tapped the steering wheel with his fingers while waiting for the car in front to move.

“You have plans. Drinking plans.”

“You had plans?”

“Not me, you.”

“I have drinking plans? How do you know about plans I don’t even know about?”

“With Jung Woo.”

Only then did Woo Young, sensing something strange, watch Tae Ha through the rearview mirror. Tae Ha was still staring behind without taking his eyes off.

“I’m feeling very uneasy and serious right now, but you, are you interested in Ms. Song Eun Seo?”

“I’ve been interested from the start. What kind of person she is, how she’s lived.”

“If you’re going to chase her away anyway, why interfere in Eun Seo’s life? Don’t give people false hope.”

When there was still no particular response, Woo Young’s brow furrowed seriously.

“No, what reason are you giving Jung Woo to drink? And suddenly at that! After staying quiet all this time!”

“Heartbreak.”

“What? Where do I have a girlfriend?”

“I know. That’s why you can say you broke up without feeling guilty.”

“Ha, you bastard. Your mind works really well.”

Weaving through the lanes, Woo Young got out of the car. Then he seemed to call Jung Woo, and shortly after, Jung Woo’s car left, leaving Eun Seo behind.

Tae Ha switched to the driver’s seat and waited for Eun Seo to come closer. Wearing a black coat with an eco bag slung to the side and heels, she now looked quite like a proper office worker as she walked hurriedly.

“Ms. Song Eun Seo!”

Tae Ha called through the open passenger window. Eun Seo looked around, then saw Tae Ha’s car and approached.

“CEO?”

“If you’re going home, let’s go together. It’s quite far from the company.”

Eun Seo hesitated for a moment, looking around, then opened the car door. She had stood in front of Jung Woo’s car for a long time, but this decision seemed faster, which satisfied Tae Ha.

“CEO, it’s not something to say after work, but I have something to tell you about the Guam Tourism Office party at the hotel the day after tomorrow. Earlier, from Seoul Hotel’s banquet department…”

As soon as she fastened her seatbelt, the words that rushed out of Eun Seo’s mouth were just that. A normal greeting would have been better, he thought.

“Is this about work?”

“Yes.”

The reason she got in the car without hesitation was because of work. Not because she felt closer than to Jung Woo.

“I knew it wasn’t something to tell me. I don’t work after hours.”

“I’m sorry.”

Feeling his clear displeasure, Eun Seo turned her gaze outside with an apologetic expression. Promotional materials for an upcoming musical were hung at every streetlight and bus stop.

Eun Seo changed the subject as the silent car became awkward.

“There must be a theater nearby.”

“There is. Do you like musicals?”

Tae Ha asked, looking at the promotional flags passing by outside.

“I don’t know since I’ve never seen one. Oh! I have been to see ballet. A senior took me when I was in university.”

“A man?”

“Yes.”

“Was it fun?”

“No. I couldn’t watch properly because I was shivering.”

Shivering.

“So you’re someone who can shiver too. Did you like that senior?”

Tae Ha glanced at Eun Seo. He didn’t know what this damn feeling was.

“No. It was cold inside the theater. That senior liked someone else. But that person didn’t want to go alone with the senior, so they forcibly dragged me along. As a third wheel.”

Tae Ha’s lips curved up smoothly on one side.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because that senior was stupid. How could he see another woman with Song Eun Seo by his side?”

Thinking it must be just a polite compliment, Eun Seo replied.

“There must have been women who looked at other men even with Kwon Tae Ha around.”

“There were no such women. They all liked me.”

“Pfft.”

“Why are you laughing? I’m feeling a bit offended.”

“It’s nothing. I was sneering. I like narcissists. Confident people are charming.”

“That sounds like you’re saying you like me.”

The gaze falling at an oblique angle weighed heavily on the air.