Was it because I wore high heels for the first time in a long while?

Or was it because I hadn’t dressed up like this since I was twenty, so it felt awkward?

Jae’s heart started to pound. Her entire style from head to toe had changed overnight.

She had been busy shopping all weekend. She always stuck to the same style and tightly tied hair. For the first time in a while, she went to the salon to get a wave perm and change her hairstyle. She neatly trimmed her bangs that used to cover her eyes.

Jae had arrived in front of the company but couldn’t go in.

Why am I so nervous?

She took a deep breath.

“Whew.”

She could see her reflection in the building’s glass.

She was wearing a light pink tie blouse and a navy high-waisted skirt, with makeup she usually didn’t wear. Even to herself, it was somewhat unfamiliar.

Alright, Han Jae. Let’s go in now.

Click, click. With each step, the stiletto heels felt like they were sticking to the floor like a fly trap.

Jae stopped in front of the automatic revolving door, clenched her fist, and stepped inside.

Contrary to her worries, no one was whispering about her. Feeling relieved, Jae slowly walked and tapped her employee ID card.

Beep―

Monday morning felt somewhat refreshed, and with her vision clearer, everything seemed brighter.

Jae walked familiar steps, got off the elevator, and entered the office.

Seeing Su Bin, who had unusually come to work earlier than other days, Jae walked over. As she always did, she sat down at her desk and greeted her.

“Good morning, Manager.”

“Oh, Han Team Leader, have a good…”

As Su Bin shifted her gaze, her lips parted slightly at Jae’s appearance.

She froze for about 10 seconds, seemingly surprised.

Su Bin’s eyes slowly, very slowly, scanned Jae from top to bottom. Still not believing it, she blinked repeatedly before speaking.

“Who… are you?”

“Pardon?”

At Jae’s confused expression, Han Su Bin’s eyes widened even more. Then she stared intently at the employee ID hanging around her neck.

The overly simple black bangs covering her eyes, the pale face without even a hint of color on the lips. The expressionless photo of Jae. Su Bin stared at it intently before looking back at Jae’s face.

“No way. Is it really… Jae?”

Su Bin was so surprised that she was even using formal speech, which she didn’t usually do. Jae smoothed out her clothes. Did she look that different?

“Do I look that different, Manager?”

“Wow. Your voice is totally Jae’s.”

“It is me, Manager.”

Jae gave an awkward smile.

“Wow, I thought you were a completely different person. I was so shocked I almost drooled. What on earth happened over the weekend to change you from head to toe overnight? Don’t tell me you won the lottery?”

Maybe it was something like that. The promise with Cha Geon Hak was like winning the lottery.

As a gentle smile spread across Jae’s face, Han Su Bin leaned in close.

“What? Is it true?”

“It’s nothing like that.”

“Then why did you suddenly become so pretty, hm?”

“You’re making me uncomfortable, Manager.”

“Hold still. I’m still not used to it. How can a person change 180 degrees overnight?”

Thanks to Su Bin’s big, amusing reaction first thing in the morning, Jae ended up laughing too.

Just then, Manager Kim came in, tapping his shoulders with a bamboo massager. Su Bin jumped up from her seat.

“Good morning, Director?”

“Han Manager seems to be in a great mood this Monday morning.”

“Director. Do you know who this person in front of me is?”

Manager Kim narrowed his eyes and stared intently at Jae. Seeing an unfamiliar employee sitting there, his hand stopped mid-tap with the bamboo.

“What’s this, isn’t that Han Team Leader’s seat? Did Han Team Leader change departments without my knowledge, like Park Min Ju Manager?”

Su Bin had an “I knew it” expression. A cute smile spread across her face as she grabbed Jae’s shoulder and said,

“It’s Han Jae Team Leader. Isn’t she pretty today?”

* * *

From the morning, people in the department were startled to see Jae, and even other female employees who usually didn’t talk much came to ask what cosmetics she used.

This sudden attention was a bit overwhelming, but not unpleasant.

“Whew, I really had no idea until Han Su Bin Manager said something.”

“Me neither.”

“But what sudden wind blew? You wouldn’t listen when we told you before.”

“Right. That’s what I’m most curious about too. I wonder who shook up Jae’s heart to make her transform completely overnight.”

The one word that changed her heart in an instant was from Director Cha Geon Hak.

‘But I wish Han Jae would stop hiding herself.’

That one sentence made Jae change.

“I just wanted a change.”

While chatting with her coworkers, Jae kept staring intently at the entrance. However, Cha Geon Hak was nowhere to be seen, apparently not planning to eat here today.

He’s not here today.

“Han Team Leader?”

Seung Woo, who was about to pass by with his tray, took a startled step back.

“Hello, Kang Team Leader.”

Surprised by Jae’s changed appearance, his face showed clear signs of bewilderment.

“It is you. The voice is definitely Han Team Leader’s, but you look like a completely different person. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

“Really? Everyone’s been saying that.”

“Ah, I don’t mean different in a bad way, but because you look so pretty. No, I mean, you’re always pretty, but today even more so…”

Unlike usual, he was stumbling over his words, making the other employees laugh.

“Wow, I’ve never seen Kang Team Leader so flustered before. But it’s understandable. We were all surprised by Han Team Leader today too.”

Seung Woo nodded and said to Jae,

“Your new style really suits you well, Han Team Leader.”

“Thank you, Kang Team Leader.”

Though embarrassed by others’ compliments, she seemed pleased as a gentle smile spread across her face.

* * *

“Oh my, everyone’s going crazy over Han Team Leader. Is it Han Team Leader Day today?”

As he entered the cafeteria, Geon Hak looked at Manager Kim chattering beside him. Cha Geon Hak’s gaze soon turned to where Manager Kim was looking.

He spotted Han Jae sitting among the employees, having her meal.

Her hair, which used to be tied up, was now loose and flowing, and her usual plain style was gone. A round, small face, large eyes, and dimples that appeared slightly when she smiled were visible.

“Executive Director.”

Her cheeks were tinged pink, as if filled with freshness.

“Executive Director?”

Geon Hak pulled his gaze away from Jae, whom he had been staring at blankly, and looked at Manager Kim.

“Aren’t you going in?”

“I’ve suddenly lost my appetite. Don’t mind me, everyone go ahead and eat first.”

As the managers standing beside Geon Hak bowed their heads and went in first, Geon Hak stared at her intently.

Her clear eyes were shining beautifully, as if facing the world for the first time. Geon Hak watched her smiling brightly as she mingled with people, then turned around.

* * *

Jae stared fixedly at the monitor screen.

Current time: 5:55 PM.

At the thought of having dinner with him again, Jae felt nervous and her heart pounded. However, she still hadn’t received any contact from him.

If she had known where they were dining today, she would have gone there right away. But since it was at his house, she didn’t know the exact location.

“Why did it have to rain just before quitting time?”

Hearing Manager Kim’s grumbling, Jae’s gaze turned to the window. Rain was pouring down heavily, as if it were a sudden shower.

I didn’t bring an umbrella. What should I do?

Bzzt. As her phone on top of the monitor vibrated, Jae quickly reached out to check it.

Ah, it’s not him.

It wasn’t a message from Geon Hak, but spam.

Did he forget, perhaps?

She had clocked in and even sent him a text, but still no reply from him. She wondered if the appointment had been canceled without her knowing.

As the monitor clock hit 6:00 PM exactly, she saw employees getting up from their seats one by one.

“Whew, another hellish Monday is over.”

Han Su Bin, finished tidying up, stood from her seat and looked curiously at Jae, who wasn’t preparing to leave. Jae, who always left right at the hour, was still at her desk.

“Jae. Why aren’t you leaving early as usual?”

“Ah, I still have some work left, so I’m planning to leave a bit later.”

“That’s unusual for efficient Jae. Well then, see you tomorrow Jae.”

“Yes. Have a good evening.”

Unlike the others leaving the office one by one, Jae just stared intently at her phone screen.

Soon, Jae was left alone in the office.

Bzzt―

As [Executive Director Cha Geon Hak]’s name appeared on the screen, Jae quickly checked her phone.

[I forgot to contact you. Can you come down to the 3rd floor of the underground parking lot?]

At the long-awaited text from Executive Director Cha Geon Hak, Jae hurriedly replied and got up from her seat.

[Yes, Executive Director. I’ll be right there.]

Perhaps because it was raining outside, the company was unusually quiet today.

Jae walked with an excited heart. Click, click. The sound of her heels, unlike earlier, made her heart flutter.

Before she knew it, Jae had reached the 3rd basement floor and stopped in front of the glass door.

A password was needed to enter here. Jae entered the password Geon Hak had given her in the message earlier and went in. This was her first time coming down here in all her time at the company.

This was a space where regular employees couldn’t park.

This area, where only executives could park, was filled with jaw-dropping foreign cars. Jae looked around.

“Where is the Executive Director?”

Jae swung her bag back and forth with an excited feeling. Her body moved on its own as if humming.

Honk―

At the sound of a horn, Jae’s head slowly turned.

A luxury foreign car glided over smoothly and stopped right in front of Jae.

The passenger window rolled down smoothly, revealing the car’s owner. It was Cha Geon Hak, whom she had hoped to bump into even by chance all day.

The corners of Geon Hak’s mouth lifted slightly as he looked at Jae.

“Get in, Han Jae.”

A smile naturally spread across Jae’s face as soon as she saw his face. She carefully opened the car door and got in. The expensive cushion wrapped around her back.

“Did you wait long?”

“No.”

As Geon Hak’s gaze lingered on her, her palms began to sweat for no reason.

It wasn’t the first time they were meeting alone.

But her heart started racing uncontrollably as if it were the first time today. Jae even felt scared that he might hear the sound of her pounding heart.

“Han Jae.”

“Yes?”

Cha Geon Hak’s mysterious and alluring brown eyes stared intently at Jae.

“You look pretty today.”