“Ha Jun, the approval request from the support headquarters has been rejected. The team leader in charge is being summoned to the executive director’s office right now.”

Yeon A, who had carefully closed the executive director’s door lest any sound escape, quickly whispered to Ha Jun in a low voice.

“I see.”

Ha Jun quickly picked up the phone and relayed Executive Director Oh’s instructions. Meanwhile, Yeon A, who had sat down at her desk, let out a sigh.

“The executive director is in a completely low mood right now. Ugh~ It’s like ice is falling from his eyes.”

“If there’s anything that needs to be taken in, I’ll go.”

“Really? Hee~ Thank you. But Ha Jun, why did you suddenly cut your hair? It suits you so well and looks pretty.”

“Thank you.”

As Ha Jun smiled very slightly, Yeon A shook her head, going “Ung~”

“Ha Jun, I think you’d look really pretty if you smiled broadly~ Smile a bit more~ Come on. Please?”

“It’s… a bit awkward for me.”

“Aw~ Smile for me~~ Please? Please?”

Seeing Yeon A puffing up her cheeks and fidgeting in front of her, Ha Jun finally let out a soft laugh. Seeing this, Yeon A also smiled brightly.

“See! It’s really pretty, isn’t it? Much more than a blank expression!”

“Thank you.”

Just as Ha Jun raised the corners of her mouth once more, the door opened and Team Leader Choi, who had been summoned earlier, rushed in hurriedly.

His urgent footsteps came to an abrupt halt upon seeing Ha Jun’s smiling face. Then, as if feeling embarrassed himself, he cleared his throat with a “Ahem, ahem.”

“Hello. Secretary Lee, you seem to be having a good day today. Your hairstyle too… It looks very pretty.”

At the man’s sudden compliment, Ha Jun unknowingly blushed.

“Thank you……”

Having come in all excited to be scolded, but now with even his nape turning red, he quickly greeted and knocked on the executive director’s door.

A moment later, when a sharp voice saying “Come in” was heard from inside, Team Leader Choi took a deep breath, glanced at Ha Jun once more, and then entered the executive director’s office.

Seeing Team Leader Choi’s behavior, Yeon A nodded as if to say, “I understand that feeling completely.”

“As expected~ Everyone likes a beauty. This is the truth, I’m telling you~ Hoot. But Ha Jun, are you really not having something good happen? Really? It seems like there’s something… If you got a lover, make sure to tell me, okay? I’m really good at keeping secrets, you know~”

“Ah… It’s really not like that.”

“Hmm~ This is suspicious~~”

“Really, I don’t have a lover. Ah, the door isn’t fully closed.”

Trying to avoid Yeon A’s gaze out of embarrassment, Ha Jun noticed the door that Team Leader Choi had left slightly ajar when he entered and stood up abruptly.

But just as she put her hand on the door to close it, the door swung open and Yi Hyun appeared.

Her flushed face froze the moment she saw Yi Hyun. Ha Jun, quickly returning to her usual expressionless face, greeted Yi Hyun formally.

“Hello, Director.”

“Well…, I’m not sure if I’m doing well or not right now……”

Yi Hyun’s gaze was truly enigmatic.

The momentary good mood from hearing Ha Jun’s shy voice from outside turned cold the instant she adamantly denied having a man.

And seeing her turn into a stiff doll the moment she saw him, he plummeted to the depths of despair.

Ridiculously so.

“Director, there’s someone else inside right now, so you’ll have to wait a moment.”

“I’ll wait, of course. Ha Jun, please get me some coffee.”

Yi Hyun said as he strode into the inner lounge. Ha Jun bowed her head in acknowledgment and went to the pantry.

“Haah……”

It had been too long since she’d seen him during the day. Stroking her pounding heart and steadying her breath, Ha Jun opened the lounge door with coffee in hand.

“I’ve brought your coffee.”

The hand placing the coffee on the table trembled slightly, but Yi Hyun, staring intently at Ha Jun’s expressionless face, didn’t notice it.

As Ha Jun bowed and turned to leave, Yi Hyun pulled her back and embraced her from behind. His long arms crossed, completely restraining Ha Jun’s body.

Feeling Yi Hyun’s firm muscles against her back, Ha Jun’s face turned bright red.

“It’s nice to see you during the day.”

Ha Jun’s breath quickened at his breath tickling her ear. However, she spoke as calmly as possible.

“Let go. This is… the company.”

“You were laughing and chatting well with other employees earlier, why are you so prickly with me? Hm? You’re not like this at night.”

“……Don’t do this.”

Ha Jun twisted her body to escape Yi Hyun’s embrace. However, Yi Hyun’s arms binding her didn’t budge an inch. No, rather, they pressed Ha Jun even more tightly.

“Why? Ah~ Because it’s the company now? Am I only supposed to acknowledge you at the officetel?”

Red sparks flew in Yi Hyun’s cold eyes.

In the decent life I found for you. You’ve never shown such delicate emotions to me, yet you so easily display them to others so shamelessly.

An overwhelming anger, possessiveness, and jealousy that made him dizzy enveloped Yi Hyun’s entire body.

“You’re mine. So don’t let your emotions show to just anyone.”

As Yi Hyun’s cold words ended, the arms pressing against her body loosened, and his fingertips suggestively brushed Ha Jun’s stiff side.

And then, as if nothing had happened, he elegantly sat on the sofa and grasped the coffee cup.

“You may go now, Ha Jun.”

Although her jaw was trembling from how much strength she had exerted, Ha Jun still managed to bow politely to Yi Hyun before leaving the lounge.

A moment later, Team Leader Choi, looking as if he had been mercilessly scolded by Se Ra, his eyes seeming darkened, came out of the executive director’s office weakly.

Following him, Yi Hyun entered the executive director’s office, exuding a chilly aura.

Se Ra, glancing at him as he entered, clicked her tongue slightly as if annoyed and then focused back on her documents. Yi Hyun’s slanted and cold gaze was directed at Se Ra.

“A few days ago, I went to your house but you didn’t even open the door or answer the phone, and now you’re not even acknowledging me?”

“You were the crazy one for coming at that time. And you don’t have any particular business now either. From now on, only visit through the secretary’s office with an appointment when you have actual business. Do you think anything good will come from rumors about a sister-in-law and brother-in-law being close?”

“Sister-in-law… Ha, sister-in-law… Are you really going through with this marriage? How much higher do you need to climb that you need this kind of political marriage?”

“Climb? Ha, why are you overreacting like this? And… No, never mind.”

Se Ra, suddenly feeling irritated, was about to say something but seemed to change her mind and shook her head. Then she closed the document she was looking at with a thud and stood up from her chair.

The clear sound of high heels clicking headed towards the executive director’s door.

Se Ra, opening the executive director’s door with her own hand, gestured to Yi Hyun with her eyes.

Get out. Now.

Yi Hyun shrugged in response.

“Fine. Do as you please. I’ll stay out of whatever you do and with whom. Future. Sister. In. Law.”

With a smirk, raising one corner of his mouth, Yi Hyun’s cold eyes looked at Se Ra’s incredulous expression one last time before turning away.

Unlike other days, as Yi Hyun left the executive director’s office with a chilly expression as if a cold wind was blowing, all the secretaries bowed their heads at once.

Yi Hyun’s cold gaze, which had touched Ha Jun’s slender nape as she bowed with lowered eyes, soon passed over her indifferently.

From behind, Se Ra, with an annoyed expression, slammed the executive director’s door shut with a loud bang.

“What’s with the atmosphere? Did they fight?”

“I don’t know.”

Ha Jun, answering Yeon A’s question softly, lowered her gaze to her vibrating phone.

[ Hello. This is the real estate agency. There’s someone who wants to sell a house and we’ve agreed to show it today. If you like it after seeing it, they said they want to sign the contract tomorrow. Are you available tomorrow afternoon? I’m texting because I think you might be working hours. ]

“Ah……”

Ha Jun immediately typed a text message.

[ Yes. I get off work at 6 PM, so anytime after that is possible. It takes about 30 minutes to travel. Please keep this in mind when setting the appointment time and contact me in advance. ]

After sending the text, Ha Jun turned her attention back to the computer. Even though she tried not to mind, the relationship between Yi Hyun and Se Ra felt like a heavy stone pressing painfully on her chest.

Although Yi Hyun had said with his own mouth that they weren’t lovers, these occasional behaviors were enough to make her feel that there was something more than friendship between those two.

Could they have been dating in the past? So their feelings still…

At that moment, the intercom in the executive director’s office rang and Se Ra’s voice was heard.

− I have a very important schedule next month. We need to adjust the schedule, so check it. It’s the last Saturday of the month.

“Yes, Executive Director.”

Soon, a new schedule was added to the work messenger. Yeon A, who checked it first, covered her mouth with her hand to stop it from dropping open.

“What is this! An engagement? Our executive director is getting engaged? This is big news! The fiancé must be Director Kim Yi Hyun, right?”

The excited voice buzzed in Ha Jun’s ears. Her gaze was fixed on the messenger window with the new message notification.

That night, even though Ha Jun had already overheard that Se Ra was getting engaged to his brother, she couldn’t bring herself to open the messenger.

After hearing about the engagement over the phone and getting so angry, rushing to Se Ra… In the meantime, the absurd imagination that the fiancé might have changed to Director Kim Yi Hyun began to swirl confusingly in her head.

“Huh? CEO Kim Il Jun? Whoa~ Ha Jun. Our executive director’s engagement partner isn’t Director Kim Yi Hyun, but his older brother. What is this? Why is a lover suddenly becoming a sister-in-law? What’s going on, really~ Is this a battle between brothers?”

Ha Jun felt completely drained by the chaotic words pouring out from Yeon A.

There was… no change.

Only then did Ha Jun move the mouse and start checking the schedule.

Apart from the engagement dress fitting and the engagement ceremony, there were no additional schedules, and everything was set outside of work hours, yet giving instructions to adjust the schedule already is just like Executive Director Oh Se Ra.

Ha Jun, after modifying the schedule table, let out a small sigh. As she recalled Yi Hyun’s cold expression from earlier, it felt as if someone was pricking her chest with a small awl.

It seems the shadow of the man named Kim Yi Hyun was already cast too deeply and darkly in her heart.

The feelings that deepened more and more with each day spent with him were causing Ha Jun just as much pain.