With just 30 minutes left before leaving work, Ji An couldn’t stay still.

She had already reviewed a document for the third time and now tapped her desk with a fountain pen.

Fortunately, the last person she had conversed with on SNS was still using that account, so she was able to easily set up a meeting.

The person was a college acquaintance named Park Hyuna, whom she had agreed to meet today.

Having spent a sleepless night, Ji An’s eyes, red and swollen, roamed restlessly.

Park Hyuna, Park Hyuna. Repeating the unfamiliar name in her mind, Ji An recalled the one name that wasn’t strange to her.

“Personal secretary to Tae Kang Hyun of Seowon Construction.”

“Tae Kang Hyun?”

“Yeah, have you heard of him? He used to be famous.”

Parents, friends, even her own name.

Everyone’s name felt foreign, so why was his the only one that didn’t?

Needless thoughts swirled in her already noisy mind.

Seokwon watched Ji An, who was clicking her fountain pen like a metronome.

Seeing her restless even after resolving her housing issue, it seemed something else was bothering her.

“Ha-ha, sorry. I didn’t realize.”

Ji An, noticing Seokwon’s gaze, put down her pen and smiled awkwardly.

“No, it’s okay. I’m also having trouble focusing on work today.”

“The director?”

“Yes.”

Ji An tilted her head in surprise. Used to Seokwon’s methodical keyboard typing that resembled an AI robot, she found his words hard to believe.

“The director’s meeting is taking a long time.”

Glancing at the clock nearing 6 o’clock, Ji An peeked at the firmly closed office door.

Worried about Kang Hyun, who hadn’t returned for over three hours after being called to the president’s office by Chairman Tae Seok Kyu, who had visited Seowon Construction without notice.

“It’s not really a meeting.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s Chairman Tae showing off his power, holding a lengthy executive meeting without any important agenda just to keep the director busy. Even if the meeting ends, it’ll likely continue into a company dinner.”

“Why is the director just putting up with it?”

Ji An frowned, recalling the face of Tae Seok Kyu she had met once in the executive office.

The thought of the general chairman, a stranger to her, deliberately tormenting Kang Hyun upset her.

She suspected that the malicious rumors targeting Kang Hyun within the company, which showed no signs of dying down, might also be the chairman’s doing.

“It’s not the right time yet. Chairman Tae Seok Kyu has long controlled the board, and the media is on his side. Even as a major shareholder, it’s not easy to act in the current situation. The four-year absence after relinquishing management control has been that damaging. It might take even longer to regain his original position.”

“It’s too much, even for family. Instead of comforting his troubled nephew, he’s keeping him in check.”

As Ji An listened to Seokwon’s calm explanation, she glanced at her phone, which had started to vibrate.
[Ji An, I’ve arrived. I’ll be waiting in front of the main gate.]

Reading Ha Joon’s message, Ji An sighed with a troubled face. She wanted to wait until Kang Hyun returned, but it was an important appointment that couldn’t be postponed.

“Director, I have a prior engagement today… May I leave work early?”

“Of course.”

Seokwon readily nodded to Ji An’s cautious request. Continually glancing towards the door, Ji An slowly packed her bag and reluctantly stood up.

If only she had scheduled the appointment a bit later.

Regretting leaving without saying goodbye to Kang Hyun, Ji An eventually grabbed the doorknob.

“Director, if the executive director looks for me…”

“Yes?”

“No, never mind. I’m leaving.”

Frustrated at herself for acting as if they were in some kind of relationship, Ji An shook her head and left the secretary’s office.

Click. As the door closed, Seokwon watched it silently, then picked up his phone lying next to the mouse pad.

His phone, usually buzzing with notifications, was unusually quiet today.

Feeling somewhat unfamiliar due to the lack of contact from Yeonju, he wondered if their well-planned date was unenjoyable.

Distracted all day by the quiet phone, Seokwon leaned back in his chair, relaxing.

In the hotel suite room, they had spent a wholesome evening. They watched a movie while drinking wine and then went home separately.

Yeonju behaved as if nothing was unusual. In contrast, it was Seokwon who was extremely nervous.

Yeonju, munching on a macaron, stayed in Seokwon’s mind, causing him to roughly rub his forehead.

His firm resolution to discourage Yeonju after three meetings was starting to weaken.

“Sigh…”

Lying back in his chair and staring at the ceiling to calm his mind, Seokwon quickly sat up at the sound of the door.

“Are you back?”

Kang Hyun returned with a face full of irritation after a time-wasting conversation.

He twisted his tight necktie and glanced at Ji An’s empty seat.

“Ji An left early due to a prior engagement.”

“Alright, upper management has arranged a company dinner, so you can go home too.”

“No, let’s go together.”