Su Bin’s voice must have been very loud, as everyone’s gaze could be felt.

Jae Yi hurriedly said,

“D-Deputy. Let’s go inside and talk.”

“Oh, shall we? Jae Yi, you know you owe me big if this works out, right? He’s really a good guy.”

It would have been nice if she had spoken quietly.

Her voice was so loud that it was even embarrassingly awkward.

Ri Na turned her head to look at Jae Yi.

Judging by Han Jae Yi’s expression, she didn’t seem to have noticed Geon Hak approaching.

No choice then. Annoying as it was, she’d have to step in herself.

“Then I’ll see you next time, Jae Yi.”

“Yes. See you next time…”

Jae Yi’s eyes wavered at the sight of the frozen Cha Geon Hak. It felt like he had caught a scene he shouldn’t have seen.

“Oh my. Director Cha.”

Ri Na smiled brightly and moved her steps.

Then she blocked Geon Hak’s gaze as if to shield Han Jae Yi from his view.

“I don’t know what to do with myself, you coming all the way to greet us.”

As Geon Hak moved his head to look at Jae Yi standing behind, Ri Na spread her arms wide to divert his gaze.

“What are you doing?”

“What do you mean? Arm exercises. Shall we go in now? I have something special to tell Director Cha, actually.”

Geon Hak almost let out a curse at her strange behavior but maintained his manners as much as possible.

“What nonsense are you trying to spout by suddenly showing up, Director Kim Ri Na.”

She whispered in his ear,

“It might be better if you don’t get involved in this situation. Han Jae Yi seems to be in a difficult position because of you.”

I see.

As she said, Jae Yi was avoiding his eyes.

I guess I have no choice but to turn back.

As Geon Hak turned around with his hands in his pockets, Jae Yi’s heart trembled.

Her conscience pricked as if she had committed a great sin against him.

“Jae Yi.”

“Yes, Deputy.”

“Did you hear me? How about this Friday?”

“Yes, that’s fine, Deputy.”

“Then. I’ll let you know the place later.”

Jae Yi nodded.

“I wish Friday would come quickly.”

Unlike Jae Yi who had no thoughts, Su Bin was very excited.

Jae Yi’s gaze was only directed at Cha Geon Hak’s back as he left the place.

Striding, striding. Geon Hak, who was moving his steps, stopped in front of the elevator.

Ding-. As the door opened with a sound, the employees inside greeted Geon Hak.

He just nodded roughly and got on the elevator.

The employees in the elevator looked at Geon Hak and all got off.

Whether they did or not, Geon Hak leaned against the railing.

As the elevator door closed, Ri Na hurriedly said,

“You looked happy earlier, but why are you suddenly in a bad mood? Are you upset because Han Jae Yi said she’s going on a blind date?”

When Geon Hak looked at Ri Na with a sideways glance, she laughed.

“Well. You must be upset. She’s a woman who makes Cha Geon Hak’s heart flutter after a long time.”

“What are you trying to say by getting on my nerves since earlier? Are you and Park Yu Jun becoming alike from being together so often?”

“People naturally become alike when they’re together often. Look at Han Jae Yi. She’s changed a lot from being with you. She’s completely different from before. She talks more and her expression has brightened, hasn’t it?”

Well. Geon Hak felt the same. Her much-changed appearance.

The woman who never had a smile now smiled prettily and spoke well in front of him.

As the elevator door opened, Geon Hak moved his steps.

Ri Na kept opening her lips as if she found the current situation amusing.

“So. What’s going on between you two?”

Geon Hak looked annoyed at Kim Ri Na who had come without an appointment.

“Welcome, Director.”

Do Yoon greeted once more, looking at Kim Ri Na who followed behind Cha Geon Hak.

“Hello, Director Kim.”

“Do Yoon, isn’t that greeting too cold? What’s with ‘Director Kim’? I told you to call me by name.”

“I’ll try to greet more warmly next time.”

Ri Na smiled brightly and looked at Do Yoon.

“I’ll look forward to it. Well then, see you later.”

Ri Na followed Geon Hak who entered the executive office without hesitation.

As the office door closed, Geon Hak plopped down on the sofa and unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt as if feeling stuffy.

“You. You didn’t even ask Han Jae Yi to date you, right?”

Geon Hak ignored her question.

“Why didn’t you? Because of Yoon Su Ah?”

As Yoon Su Ah’s name suddenly came out, Geon Hak looked at Ri Na sitting across from him.

“Why is Yoon Su Ah’s name coming up here?”

“No, just…”

“It’s not just. You have something to tell me, don’t you?”

“I just find Han Jae Yi, that woman, so pitiful. She’s even going on blind dates trying to quell the rumors. But you’re not even making any effort.”

“Kim Ri Na.”

“If you’re being nice to Han Jae Yi for the purpose of waiting for Su Ah, stop it here and wrap it up.”

Geon Hak’s eyebrows rose sharply.

“Su Ah might come back to Korea.”

“…”

His body, which had been leaning on the sofa looking at Ri Na, moved.

“What? What did you just say?”

He looked like he didn’t know anything. Even Ri Na looked a bit bewildered, as he had always been the quickest with news about Yoon Su Ah.

“You really don’t know anything?”

These days, phone calls with Su Ah had become infrequent.

In the past, they used to talk seven or eight times a day as a basic.

At some point, it became once or twice, and most days they didn’t talk at all.

These days, there was no time to talk because of the amount of work.

No, in a way, maybe Su Ah’s absence wasn’t felt because Han Jae Yi was by his side.

“Su Ah. There are rumors about her breaking off the engagement. This time, it seems to be real.”

* * *

Jae Yi was so out of it that she couldn’t remember what had happened all day today.

She just wanted to go home quickly.

She wanted to go home quickly and tell the Director about the situation that happened today.

Just yesterday, she had spent happy times kissing him.

Suddenly saying she was going on a blind date, how surprised he must be too.

Sigh.

As Jae Yi, who had finished preparing to leave work, got up from her seat, her cell phone placed on the desk rang.

Jae Yi, who checked the text message, swallowed dry saliva as if she had committed a crime.

It was a message from Director Cha Geon Hak.

She even got nervous at his sudden call.

* * *

On her way to the executive office, Jae Yi stopped several times.

Worried that someone else might misunderstand the relationship between Geon Hak and herself again, it took Jae Yi quite a long time to arrive at the executive office.

“Chief Han.”

At Kim’s secretary’s call, Jae Yi slightly bowed her head in greeting and said,

“Secretary Kim. The Director called for me.”

Do Yoon, looking like he already knew, quickly pressed the call button.

“Director. Han Jae Yi has arrived.”

― Send her in.

As his low voice was heard, Kim Do Yoon looked at Jae Yi and said,

“You can go in.”

“Thank you, Secretary Kim.”

Just as Jae Yi grabbed the doorknob to open the door, the door suddenly opened from the inside.

“D-Director.”

She almost dropped the bag she was holding at the sight of Geon Hak standing right in front of the door.

He grabbed Jae Yi’s wrist and pulled her inside.

Thud. As the office door closed, he stared at Jae Yi. He checked the watch on his wrist.

“Han Jae Yi. Did you just come from America?”

Geon Hak threw an incomprehensible question at Jae Yi.

“Pardon?”

America? What does that mean?

He, wearing only a white shirt, crossed his arms and stared at Jae Yi. He looked like he was asking if she really didn’t know.

“What do you mean?”

“Ha, you really look like you don’t know anything.”

He furrowed his brow.

“You replied to my message right away, and even if you were late, you should have been able to come in 10 minutes. 50 minutes? What were you doing to come just now?”

“I was worried that if I ran into other employees, it might cause trouble for you, Director.”

He furrowed his brow.

“What did you say?”

His eyebrows rose sharply and then returned to their place.

He looked at Jae Yi’s round forehead. Judging by the sweat beading there, she seemed to have used the stairs instead of the elevator. Then he noticed her slightly lifting her heels as if her feet hurt.

Ha. Really.

“Did you walk up the emergency stairs?”

He had already figured it out.

Worried that someone might catch her going to the executive office, Jae Yi had gotten off at the 7th floor and walked up the emergency stairs to the 18th floor.

Geon Hak let out a laugh of disbelief.

“I guess it’s true. Wow. I’m incredibly angry.”

“In case you might suffer any harm because of me-”

“You don’t think about how hard it is for you?”

He looked down at Jae Yi, displeased with her actions. His brown eyes were full of irritation.

“You have more to lose than I do, Director.”

“What did you say?”

“I’m just an employee of Cha Myung Group. But you’re the face of Cha Myung Group, Director. If any bad rumors about you were to spread because of me, that would hurt my heart more.”

This woman, really.

“Han Jae Yi has a lot of things that hurt her heart. I haven’t done anything for you. You always make me out to be the bad guy.”

He roughly messed up his hair. Then he looked at Jae Yi standing blankly.

“Sigh. I’m really annoyed, Han Jae Yi.”

“Director.”

“Please stop thinking about me. Think about yourself too. It’s annoying.”

While saying he was annoyed, his eyes looking at Jae Yi were full of apologetic feelings.

He bent down and put his hand between Jae Yi’s legs. In an instant, Jae Yi’s body lifted up.

“D-Director.”

Surprised Jae Yi blinked and looked at him.

He picked up Jae Yi and sat on the sofa. Then he grabbed Jae Yi’s slender ankle.

“W-What are you trying to do?”

“Stay still.”

He quickly took off both of Jae Yi’s shoes.

“Ah!”

Surprised Jae Yi’s lips parted. He started massaging Jae Yi’s feet covered in stockings.

“W-What are you doing!”

“Are you embarrassed?”

“Yes. I’m embarrassed and I don’t like it. Please stop, it’s dirty.”

“Who told you to foolishly climb the stairs wearing heels?”

Jae Yi struggled to lower her legs on his lap, but she couldn’t move them with his strength.

“This is punishment for making me annoyed.”