At that moment, in Los Angeles, USA.

Yoon Su Ah, who was sleeping in, tossed and turned.

‘Elder sister. Why did you do that to me?’

‘Go away!’

‘I didn’t… I didn’t do it, I really didn’t.’

Flash!

Su Ah opened her eyes, let out a rough breath, and sat up in bed. Su Ah, who had just fallen asleep for a moment, wiped the sweat from her forehead and hurriedly called someone.

– The customer’s phone is turned off and will be connected to voicemail…

Su Ah’s eyes sank.

Why aren’t you answering the phone?

She anxiously chewed on her fingernails. He was the one person who had always stood behind her, if no one else.

Even when she got engaged to the man her father wanted, putting aside Geon Hak’s confession, his heart didn’t change at all.

Rather, he was the one who always looked at her the same way.

But now. Geon Hak wasn’t even answering her calls.

* * *

Jae Yi’s eyelids slowly rolled up even before the alarm went off.

Jae Yi’s eyes trembled as she woke up in an unfamiliar space, not her usual room. Her head turned gently to the side.

Huh?

Geon Hak, who had fallen asleep with her last night, was nowhere to be seen. As a slightly disappointed feeling washed over her, Jae Yi gently lowered the blanket she had pulled up to her neck.

On the floor, traces of their passionate night together were still visible. She couldn’t forget Cha Geon Hak’s gentle touch as he stroked her hair.

She had directly witnessed a different side of the Managing Director that she had never seen in her two years of one-sided love.

The sweat glistening on his forehead and the distant breaths that escaped every time he parted his lips.

The low curses that occasionally flowed from his mouth.

‘You have a talent for driving people crazy. Han Jae Yi.’

Remembering Geon Hak addressing her informally instead of formally, Jae Yi, wrapped in the blanket, covered her face in embarrassment.

‘…Geon Hak.’

She also remembered calling out his name.

That name she called for the first time when he told her to say his name.

Jae Yi’s heart pounded loudly again as if it would burst.

“Cha… Geon Hak.”

It felt like she had gained the privilege of calling the Managing Director by name. Moreover, even the Managing Director’s name was impressive. Jae Yi got up from the bed and picked up her underwear from the floor.

Ugh. The pain that wasn’t so severe when she was still wasn’t moving became noticeable with each step.

Jae Yi took deep breaths as she entered the shower.

* * *

‘There’s a hair dryer inside, why didn’t you use it? What if you catch a cold?’

As the Managing Director said, she dried her hair completely before coming out, but Geon Hak was nowhere to be seen.

She thought he would have come back by this time.

“Did he already leave for work?”

Well, maybe so.

Jae Yi let out a deep sigh of disappointment. Knock, knock. As someone knocked on the door, her head whipped around.

The door to the room suddenly opened.

“Did you sleep well?”

It wasn’t the Managing Director.

Disappointment was evident on Jae Yi’s face. Sung Kyung chuckled at her expression.

“Oh my. I’m sorry it’s not Managing Director Cha.”

“Ah, no, it’s fine.”

“Come on, it’s not fine. Your face clearly shows you’re a bit disappointed it’s not Managing Director Cha.”

“I guess I was expecting the Managing Director to come in. If I’ve offended you, I’m sorry.”

Sung Kyung burst into hearty laughter at Jae Yi’s apology.

“Han Jae Yi seems to have a lot to apologize for. It’s okay.”

Mrs. Kim looked at Jae Yi, who kept apologizing in front of her. In all the years she had known Geon Hak, this was the first time she had seen him bring a woman into the house.

Moreover, even that woman Yoon Su Ah was never allowed into this bedroom. To Sung Kyung’s eyes, Han Jae Yi in front of her seemed to have a kinder heart and prettier face than Yoon Su Ah.

“I don’t know how this will sound, but it seems Managing Director Cha thinks quite highly of you, Han Jae Yi.”

“Of me?”

Mrs. Kim nodded and said,

“That’s why he must have prepared a gift for you.”

“A gift?”

“If you open the room right next door, there should be a gift prepared by the Managing Director.”

The word ‘gift’ naturally brought back memories of last night.

‘I’ll give you a special gift.’

‘Shall we do it one more time?’

She recalled Geon Hak making that irresistible offer to her last night. The happiness Jae Yi felt from his gift was indescribable.

Jae Yi bowed her head to Sung Kyung.

“Thank you, Mrs. Kim. I should have greeted you yesterday, but thanks to you, I ate very well and was full. I appreciated your attention to every detail.”

“Oh my, you don’t need to thank me. I just did what the Managing Director asked.”

“Even if the Managing Director instructed it, it was you, Mrs. Kim, who actually cooked and prepared everything. I’m truly grateful.”

Jae Yi bowed her head once more in thanks and left the room.

“No wonder the Managing Director fell for her.”

* * *

Jae Yi’s gaze turned to the adjacent room. As she grabbed the doorknob and turned it, her eyes widened.

She almost mistook herself for being in a department store. Several outfits hung on hangers on the rack, and below them were shoes that would match the clothes. On the long table were shopping bags from luxury brands Jae Yi had never even heard of before.

Wow. Jae Yi looked around in amazement and bent down to check the shoe size.

230. It was her shoe size.

Come to think of it, all the clothing sizes were Jae Yi’s sizes too. From the shoes to everything else, they were all items that fit Jae Yi’s measurements. She could feel the Managing Director’s thoughtful consideration.

“But this is too much.”

Even if the Managing Director gave it as a gift, she couldn’t accept such expensive presents. Jae Yi looked around. Maybe she should just wear her own clothes to work.

Ah, I see.

People would surely gossip if they saw her wearing the same clothes.

So that’s why the Managing Director prepared this in advance. Well then, let’s just borrow one set.

For clothes, she chose a two-piece suit and low-heeled shoes. As for the bag, to avoid any issues when returning them later, she chose the very first brand bag without opening any of them.

* * *

“Managing Director, Han Jae Yi has just arrived at work.”

Geon Hak, who was sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed, slowly opened them and raised his arm.

The wristwatch indicated 8:30.

“Cancel Han Jae Yi’s morning half-day off, and since I won’t be able to pick up Kim Ri Na, have Secretary Kim go instead.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Do Yoon bowed his head and left the executive office.

He had gone to the trouble of giving her the morning off, but she came to work on time.

Coming to work on time even after what happened last night. That’s so like Han Jae Yi.

Geon Hak covered his eyes with his arm, seemingly tired. He hadn’t intended to leave so early in the morning, but seeing her sleeping face brought up emotions he couldn’t understand.

At first, it was just because Han Jae Yi resembled Yoon Su Ah.

Then, he felt sorry for her always foolishly saying she was fine,

He became curious about her, always blushing yet lingering around him.

He was concerned about her not talking to people around her, always seeming comfortable being alone.

And that day.

The moment he saw her hair fluttering in the wind on the company retreat day, he thought she was quite pretty.

He should have stopped right there.

He doesn’t know what he was thinking when he crossed the line.

In a way, he was always like this when it came to Han Jae Yi.

He couldn’t understand why he only reacted and showed interest in Han Jae Yi when he was usually indifferent to others.

He just wanted her to be happy and wanted to see her smiling face.

Because Han Jae Yi’s smile was always beautiful enough to shake his heart.

Last night, when he discovered the scars on her body, he wished she would never be unhappy again.

“Sigh, Cha Geon Hak. What are you doing?”

He needed to end it here now.

He shouldn’t cross the line any further.

* * *

“Did you see? Han Jae Yi’s bag.”

“It’s not just the bag, right? From head to toe, everything she’s wearing today is luxury brands.”

“Exactly. How can a person change to all luxury brands overnight? The bag she’s carrying today is a limited edition with only 30 pieces in Korea.”

Jae Yi, who had no appetite today, even skipped lunch. Her steps, needing just a warm cup of tea, stopped at the conversation of nearby employees.

Once again, talk about her was flowing from other people’s mouths.

Unlike the exaggerated rumors from before, this time it was because of the fashion Jae Yi was wearing.

Well, it’s understandable. Someone who had never worn luxury brands before, let alone to work, was suddenly decked out in luxury from head to toe.

“Honestly, Han Jae Yi. She used to wear the same clothes all the time and only carried an eco bag. How could she suddenly carry such an expensive bag overnight? I’m telling you, the Managing Director must have bought it for her.”

Jae Yi’s heart sank.

Why… is the Managing Director being brought up here?

“But are you sure about that? That the Managing Director bought it for her?”

“I told you, our team’s Manager Park saw it. He happened to go to the third basement floor and saw Han Jae Yi getting into Managing Director Cha Geon Hak’s car.”

She thought there would be no witnesses.

The problem was that she let her guard down, thinking it would be fine since it wasn’t a regular parking lot but a space only for executives.

It was okay for them to gossip about her clothes, but she couldn’t stand the Managing Director being harmed because of her.

* * *

Seeing Geon Hak walking with a tired expression, his friend Kim Ri Na looked curious.

“What’s this? You look like you didn’t sleep a wink last night.”

“Yeah.”

“Why couldn’t you sleep?”

She leaned in close to Geon Hak’s face with a curious expression, causing him to narrow his eyes.

Seeing his openly displeased expression, Ri Na should have felt embarrassed, but she seemed used to this and burst into laughter.

“Ha, that’s too much. Really.”

“You’re giving me a headache, stop talking, Kim Ri Na.”

“Why? Tell this older sister. Unlike Park Yu Jun, I’m extremely tight-lipped.”

“You sound just like Park Yu Jun.”

“Hey, that’s harsh. Are you saying I’m like that jerk?”

Geon Hak, walking with his hands in his pockets, suddenly stopped.

Han Jae Yi?

He spotted her at the corner.

When Geon Hak suddenly stopped, Ri Na looked at him curiously.

Geon Hak was staring intently at a woman.

Ri Na was momentarily taken aback by this expression she had never seen on Cha Geon Hak before.

“I wonder what Han Jae Yi did to make the Managing Director fall for her?”

“Who knows? They say people with such expressionless faces are even scarier.”

Listening in, it was clear they were talking about Han Jae Yi and himself.

Seeing Han Jae Yi’s small hands trembling, Geon Hak let out a sigh.

Hoo.

“Our Managing Director’s taste is quite unique, it seems.”

Just as Jae Yi clenched her fist and was about to take a step forward, a voice came from behind.

“What about my taste?”

The sound of Geon Hak’s voice from behind.

It was clearly different from the voice she heard in bed last night.

Jae Yi slowly turned her head to look at Geon Hak. Her eyes, which had turned with a somewhat pleased expression, wavered.

Oh…

While the employees were startled by the Managing Director’s appearance, Jae Yi’s gaze naturally turned to the beautiful woman standing next to Cha Geon Hak.

Who is she? That woman.

The noticeable change in her expression was visible even to Geon Hak.

“Uh, Managing Director, we were just… just…”

“I don’t know what rumors are circulating again, but.”

Geon Hak let out a long sigh and spoke, looking at Ri Na beside him.

“This is my girlfriend.”

Jae Yi felt like her heart had plummeted to the ground.

The Managing Director… had a girlfriend.

It was a face she had seen occasionally before.

That woman who had comfortably conversed with Geon Hak by his side several times. The woman whose short haircut suited her so well that she had stared blankly.

A smile spread across Ri Na’s face at Cha Geon Hak’s impulsive behavior.

Could it be that Cha Geon Hak did this because of that woman?

As their eyes met, Ri Na smiled, crinkling her eyes.

“Ah, so-sorry. We’re truly sorry, Managing Director.”

The employees who had been gossiping unnecessarily quickly became flustered and started apologizing. Geon Hak’s gaze turned to Han Jae Yi.

“Team Leader Han.”

The man who had always called her name warmly now used her title, and Jae Yi responded a beat late.

“…Yes, Managing Director.”

Jae Yi also clenched her fist to hide her needlessly hurt feelings.

“Are we anything to each other?”

Yes… We crossed the line together.

We spent the night together multiple times last night.

But instead of saying that, Jae Yi answered with different words.

With an answer that was already decided.

“No. There is nothing between the Managing Director and me.”