“CEO-nim, I’ve brought your coffee.”
“Thank you.”
Kangjun, who had been leaning back comfortably in his chair, straightened his posture. He picked up the coffee cup Seoyoung had placed on the desk and quietly inhaled its aroma. Hmm, his exhaled breath conveyed leisure and satisfaction. Seoyoung’s gaze naturally lingered on him. His well-groomed hair, perfect features, and wrinkle-free suit and shirt. His impeccable appearance, befitting the morning hours, naturally evoked admiration. Sensing her gaze, as Kangjun was about to look up, Seoyoung quickly and naturally asked a question.
“This is my first time, so I’m not sure if I made the coffee correctly. How does it taste?”
“It’s good.”
He answered with an unguarded smile. While his characteristic solid energy remained, today he seemed softer than usual.
“Did you treat your injury well?”
“My injury?”
Seoyoung didn’t immediately understand and asked back. Then, noticing his gaze reaching her foot, she blushed. Fortunately, today she wore comfortable shoes she had worn before.
“Yes. It’s fine now.”
“That’s good.”
Kangjun still maintained his kind tone. But strangely, Seoyoung didn’t find his friendliness entirely comfortable. There was a peculiar sense of dissonance from the still-relaxed man. Only then did she notice that the monitor on Kangjun’s desk was turned off. The newspaper on his desk also remained folded. Was this his style—having this leisure time before starting his work?
As Seoyoung inwardly questioned this, Kangjun leaned back in his chair again and said:
“Ah, the weather’s nice. I don’t feel like working—should I go out on field duty?”
After glancing out the window, he looked back at Seoyoung and said:
“Would Secretary Yoo like to come along? You’re wearing comfortable shoes today too.”
“No, thank you. I have a lot to learn. And this.”
Somehow it felt like she shouldn’t continue the conversation. Seoyoung firmly declined and then handed him his card that she had brought. Looking at her with a “what’s this?” expression, he belatedly seemed to remember and accepted the card.
“Ah. Did you take a taxi?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I can’t use someone else’s card without a reason. Your thoughtfulness was more than enough to appreciate.”
Seoyoung answered politely. Though she was a secretary, there was no reason to use her boss’s card for personal matters. Especially Sa Kangjun’s card—she didn’t want to use it. Kangjun looked at her quietly as if he couldn’t understand, then said in a low voice:
“Do you think I’m hitting on you?”
“What? No. That wasn’t my intention at all.”
Seoyoung waved her hands hastily in surprise. He seemed to have brought this up with So Yujung’s comment from the interview in mind, but she had never thought of it that way. She couldn’t even imagine someone like Sa Kangjun hitting on women. Especially with her—it would never happen, not in a million years.
“Don’t worry. I’ve never once hit on a secretary before.”
“…!”
Despite his reassurance, his way of hammering in the point momentarily left Seoyoung speechless. It was probably meant to reassure her, but perhaps due to his personality, it also sounded like a warning. She hadn’t even considered it, but he had drawn a line and placed her beyond it.
Momentarily overwhelmed with confusion, Seoyoung quickly cut off unnecessary emotions. Now she needed to get used to Sa Kangjun’s ways to remain steady by his side.
“Of course. I didn’t misunderstand.”
Seoyoung bowed her head and then turned away without lingering.
***
Outside, she saw So Yujung had come around from her desk. On a call, she appeared more rigid than usual.
“Yes, Security Team Leader-nim. Please send them up.”
Having finished speaking, So Yujung hung up. Security Team Leader? Wondering what was happening, Seoyoung looked at Shin Jihoon, but he seemed just as clueless.
“People from the Prosecutor’s Office are coming up now. Stay at your posts until I give further instructions.”
Having turned around, So Yujung finally gave her attention to the two of them.
“What?”
“Director So.”
Seoyoung and Shin Jihoon called out simultaneously, but So Yujung simply raised a finger without answering. It seemed another call had come in. After signaling them to be quiet, she focused on the call again. From the conversation, it sounded like the Legal Team. Seoyoung instinctively knew something serious had happened.
Just as So Yujung finished her call, the elevator door opened. Soon, two men in suits appeared along with the Security Team Leader. They were holding documents stamped with the Prosecutor’s Office mark. Seeing the three secretaries, they approached and showed the documents to So Yujung.
“We’re from the Central District Prosecutors’ Office. Where is CEO Sa Kangjun?”
“This way.”
Despite the surprising development, So Yujung guided them to the CEO’s office with an unwavering, calm face. Seoyoung exchanged glances with Shin Jihoon and together they carefully followed behind. Beyond the group walking ahead, the distinctly rising head of Sa Kangjun, already standing from his seat, was visible.
“CEO Sa Kangjun, this is a summons from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. Please accompany us to the Prosecutor’s Office immediately.”
“Do you have a warrant?”
“This is a voluntary accompaniment. Your name is currently specified in the final record of a deceased employee, and we need you as a reference for the related investigation.”
“Is that so? Then I should go.”
Sa Kangjun said with a shrug. From his relaxed attitude, Seoyoung realized the nature of the awkwardness she had felt earlier. Sa Kangjun clearly knew the prosecutors were coming. So was So Yujung.
Two who moved with knowledge. Two fools who created a natural atmosphere while floundering. A perfect combination.
It was when the investigators and Sa Kangjun brushed past her as she stood in a daze.
“Come with us.”
So Yujung whispered to Seoyoung.
“What? But I don’t know anything.”
Seoyoung questioned in confusion. Today was her first day at work. This situation was a first, and her mind was a tangled mess. She didn’t know what to do if she went along, as this wasn’t in the manual.
“Just do as the CEO tells you. Let’s go, hurry.”
So Yujung pressured in a low voice.
As Seoyoung turned her head, she saw Kangjun who had just boarded the elevator. He pierced Seoyoung with his gaze, as if pulling her to the spot beside him. As if saying, why aren’t you following quickly? Seoyoung walked toward him like a magnet, rapidly.
***
– There was an accident in the weapons testing room. An employee died, and the prosecutors seem to be treating it as murder.
“M-murder?”
– I have to go into a meeting with the Legal Team now, and Shin has to handle the practical matters in my place, so he can’t move either. So Secretary Yoo, just stay by the CEO’s side and follow his instructions.
“Director So!”
– Remember what I said over coffee.
So Yujung delivered her instructions calmly, as if it were nothing special, and then hung up. Thinking it was an even more serious matter than expected, Seoyoung was momentarily stunned. With a heavy heart and lips, recalling the advice that didn’t really resonate, Seoyoung opened the rear door. Since the front seat was already occupied by another investigator, she had to sit next to Sa Kangjun.
“Director So says she’s going into a meeting with the Legal Team. She didn’t say anything else.”
“Unnecessarily dramatic.”
Kangjun snorted. While the atmosphere in the car was tense, he alone seemed relaxed as if going on a picnic. The word “murder” echoed in her head like a refrain as she tried to do her job well. But she couldn’t ask Sa Kangjun about the situation either.
“Why are you trembling so much?”
“What?”
Startled, Seoyoung turned her head. His gaze was on her trembling fingertips.
“Anyone would think Secretary Yoo is the one being arrested.”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
Seoyoung hastily clenched her hands as she answered. Tsk. Kangjun clicked his tongue and casually asked the investigator in the front seat:
“Our secretary is still young and scared. I suppose she can’t come into the interrogation room with me?”
“CEO-nim!”
“She cannot.”
Words burst simultaneously from Seoyoung and the investigator. Seoyoung shrunk further at the investigator’s attitude, who seemed to laugh in disbelief. He seemed to have misunderstood the relationship between her and Kangjun. At the same time, she felt embarrassed—how unreliable must she have seemed for Kangjun to say such things? Even so, treating her like a child? She had resolved not to be shaken by his unpredictable behavior, but it seemed she was still far from adapting. As she turned her head toward the window, she heard Kangjun’s chuckle. Surprised, Seoyoung looked at him with wide eyes. Haah, he sighed perfunctorily and sent a text message to someone.
“I was planning to give them some time, but it looks like I’ll have to come out early because of our Secretary Yoo.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
