#37
“Ah…”
The suit cuff crumpled under Eunsol’s fingers. Song Do-ye, uncharacteristically flustered, alternately looked at Hyun-oh and Eunsol.
She had clearly been told by Kim Myungjun that Hyun-oh would wear the suit sent from Eunsol’s side. That’s why she had also relayed to Eunsol that Hyun-oh had liked the suit.
But why…
“Mr. Lee Eunsol.”
Just as Song Do-ye was frantically trying to figure out what had happened, the car came to a smooth stop. Hyun-oh opened the back door and bent his upper body.
Eunsol, who had been frozen, barely managed to extend his hand. Hyun-oh had offered his hand in a gentlemanly manner so that Eunsol could hold it while getting out.
Unlike Eunsol’s cold hand, Hyun-oh’s was warm. At any other time, Eunsol’s heart would have been racing just because he was holding hands with Hyun-oh.
But now, Eunsol’s heart was beating slowly, as if ice water had been poured on it.
“Thanks for coming.”
“No, not at all…”
While reflexively answering Hyun-oh’s words, Eunsol’s gaze continued to examine the clothes Hyun-oh was wearing. The black suit that suited Hyun-oh well fit perfectly, as if made by a master craftsman just for him.
…Only the design was different from the suit Eunsol was wearing.
Though suit designs are often said to be similar compared to women’s dresses, this makes people examine the details more closely when looking at the design.
Both Eunsol’s and Hyun-oh’s suits were double-breasted, that much was the same. However, the suit Eunsol had chosen had a clover lapel, while the suit Hyun-oh was wearing had a peaked lapel, making the design different from Eunsol’s.
Though the colors of the suits were different, he had ordered the same cufflinks, matching the color and design of the gemstones. Not only the suit but also the cufflinks Hyun-oh was currently wearing were not the ones Eunsol had sent him.
Eunsol’s mind became tangled in confusion. Ye-ryeong had clearly said that until now, Hyun-oh had not rejected the suits she sent and had worn them.
This time, for the first time, Eunsol had personally chosen the suit for Hyun-oh to wear instead of Ye-ryeong. …With the same design as his own.
Could it be that Hyun-oh knew this and deliberately chose to wear a suit of a different design?
As this thought reached him, Eunsol’s steps gradually slowed. It was then that Hyun-oh, who was walking a step ahead toward the venue, looked back.
Eunsol was standing there blankly, like a lost child.
What happened this morning suddenly came to Hyun-oh’s mind. Recently, with work being busy, Hyun-oh had practically set up house in his office.
As this had happened occasionally before, he had created a small business hotel-like space inside the office.
‘Director, you can wear this suit today. Mr. Eunsol prepared it.’
The suit brought by Kim Myungjun hung on a hanger. Hyun-oh, despite being told it was prepared by Eunsol, merely glanced at the suit before going back to reviewing the final guest list for the charity auction party.
While distinguishing between those who were aligned with him and those who were still connected to his half-brother, a short scream pierced his ear.
‘I-I’m so sorry!’
One of the secretarial staff was bowing with a pale face. He had spilled coffee on the suit while bringing a tray with a light snack for Hyun-oh.
‘…Prepare another outfit, Manager Kim.’
Hyun-oh didn’t think Kim Myungjun had prepared just one suit. It was clear that he would have spare suits for work and parties, just in case.
The fact that Eunsol had prepared it briefly crossed his mind, but Hyun-oh had simply glossed over it. For Hyun-oh, as long as a suit had an appropriate design for the party venue, it didn’t matter who had prepared it.
“What are you doing there?”
The design of the suit Eunsol was wearing came into view. It was the same design as the black suit that remained as an afterimage in his memory.
While thinking that the light blue color suited Eunsol well, Hyun-oh didn’t feel the need to explain to Eunsol about the mishap that had occurred this morning.
“I-I’m sorry…”
Only after meeting the eyes that were staring at him did Eunsol come to his senses. Hadn’t he thought in the car? That he wasn’t even qualified to feel hurt just because Hyun-oh didn’t reply to his messages.
Even if Hyun-oh didn’t wear the suit he sent, Eunsol was not supposed to show his disappointment.
…Maybe he didn’t like the design. Not because it was a suit sent by Eunsol, but simply because it didn’t match Hyun-oh’s taste. Eunsol tried to change the direction of his thoughts as he approached Hyun-oh.
Unconsciously, Eunsol walked behind Hyun-oh rather than beside him. Hyun-oh let out a small sigh and placed his hand on Eunsol’s shoulder, pulling him close.
Eunsol’s eyes widened at the unexpected exposure to Hyun-oh’s body scent and pheromones. Their gazes intertwined at close range.
It was then that Eunsol’s heart, which had sunk in disappointment, began to beat fiercely.
“Smile. No matter what you hear from now on.”
By then, Eunsol had reached the entrance of the banquet hall with Hyun-oh. Eunsol smoothly raised the corners of his mouth, which had stiffened at the dozens of pairs of eyes focused on him and Hyun-oh.
Only after a smile bloomed on Eunsol’s face, as if painted on, did Hyun-oh lower his hand that had been wrapped around Eunsol’s shoulder.
“Director Han, the atmosphere in the banquet hall is not looking ordinary today.”
“Congressman Lee. It’s been a while. I hope you’ve been well.”
Hyun-oh bowed his head to an elderly gentleman who approached with a hearty laugh. He was one of the neutral figures among those invited to today’s party, whom Hyun-oh needed to bring to his side.
“I heard you got married recently.”
The old man’s gaze fell on Eunsol standing beside Hyun-oh. Eunsol realized that despite his wrinkled eyes, his gaze was as intense as a young man’s. It was a gaze so powerful that his fingertips involuntarily curled.
Eunsol put strength into his toes hidden in his shoes to keep the smile on his face from wavering. Eunsol bowed his head to the old man, just as Hyun-oh had done.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Lee Eunsol.”
“You have such a lovely spouse. This old man is envious.”
It was just as the old man raised his hand to touch Eunsol’s shoulder.
Hyun-oh naturally took half a step forward. Then he took two glasses of champagne from a tray held by a passing server and handed one to the old man. He had noticed the strange heat permeating the gaze that swept over Eunsol.
Just by moving half a step, thanks to Hyun-oh’s large build, Eunsol was completely hidden from the old man’s view.
“Thank you. Shall we move over there?”
Hyun-oh gestured toward a table where the congressman’s close associates were gathered. In the blink of an eye, the old man was gradually led away from Eunsol by Hyun-oh.
Eunsol remained standing near the entrance, looking around the banquet hall. It was full of strangers. More accurately, he knew their faces, names, social backgrounds, and positions, but had no personal relationships with them.
He briefly saw the faces of those who had been at the gathering where he first met Ryu Jeong-woo. But they were busy laughing, glancing at Eunsol while whispering among themselves as if sharing amusing stories.
It was obvious at a glance that if Eunsol approached them, he wouldn’t have a pleasant experience.
It seemed Kang Ye-ryeong hadn’t arrived yet. It had been a misconception to think he would continue to stay by Hyun-oh’s side. Even if Ye-ryeong came, she would also surely be busy moving around to build connections, just like Hyun-oh.
While people were clearly chatting and laughing, Eunsol, despite the smile on his face, felt isolated.
“Mr. Eunsol, I’m sorry I’m late.”
It was Song Do-ye who filled the empty space beside Eunsol. After Eunsol had gotten out of the car with Hyun-oh’s escort, she had contemplated before contacting Kim Myungjun.
She knew it was presumptuous, but she couldn’t remain silent when she recalled Eunsol’s disappointed expression.
When she first received the order to be assigned as Eunsol’s personal secretary, she had even thought she was being relegated to a minor position because she hadn’t properly demonstrated her abilities.
That was understandable, as among the secretarial staff of the TH Group, Eunsol was like a powerless, influenceless doll.
Hyun-oh hadn’t even held a wedding ceremony. It was the tacit understanding of everyone that if he had registered marriage with someone who could strongly support him, he would have held a lavish wedding.
For Song Do-ye, who was ambitious about her career, it couldn’t have been satisfying to just clean up after Eunsol.
But… she realized that the more she watched over Eunsol, the more she found herself thinking from his perspective without even realizing it.
Today too, following Eunsol’s instructions, she had delivered the suit for Hyun-oh to wear via Kim Myungjun. That alone had completed her duty. But the moment Hyun-oh appeared before Eunsol wearing an unfamiliar suit, she felt an uncomfortable emotion, as if something had gotten into her eye.
Eunsol was trying hard to maintain a composed expression, but his long eyelashes trembled aimlessly, as if caught in the wind.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
