At precisely 12:30 p.m., Sung Jin-Hun strode into the office, his arrival heralded by the faint scent of expensive cologne and the soft, deliberate echo of polished leather shoes on marble.
The sound carried through the quiet space like a signal, commanding attention without a single word.
Tall, handsome, and impeccably groomed.
The kind of man who turned heads without even trying.
Every detail of his appearance was deliberate —
His tailored suit.
The subtle sheen of his cufflinks.
The perfectly styled hair that never dared to fall out of place.
Even the way he adjusted his tie seemed calculated, as though he were perpetually on stage.
But today, just like many other days, he didn't arrive alone.
Clinging to his arm was a blonde model. Breathtakingly beautiful and dressed to perfection.
Her hair, cascading waves of gold, reaching her hips, framed a face so flawless it bordered on surreal.
As if she'd stepped out of a luxury magazine spread. Which she probably did —
Since Jin-Hun never missed out on fucking high-end women, as if they were fine wine.
That was his style after all.
The woman moved with the practiced grace of someone accustomed to admiration.
Her every step a performance. Someone used to having all eyes on them.
Yet her very own, very sparkling eyes betrayed her — Wide and foolishly captivated.
Gazing up at Sung Jin-Hun.
Entirely swept away by his charm.
As if he were a god incarnate.
When, in truth, he was the devil in disguise. She just didn't know about it yet.
But she'll find out very soon.
She was so swept away that she didn't even notice the indentation on his right ring finger.
Which was the only trace of his quiet betrayal.
A subtle reminder of the golden wedding band tucked safely away into a far corner of his desk drawer.
Hidden from the women he brought into his orbit — mistresses, clients, and anyone else who fell for his carefully curated allure.
Sung Jin-Hun was a master of the game.
His sly smile and smooth words could disarm even the most guarded individuals.
A fresh, sometimes even boyish charm that swept away the floor under their designer heels.
Divorce cases were his specialty, particularly those involving wealthy husbands and their disillusioned wives.
He knew how to play both sides. How to make himself indispensable to those who sought his help.
And yet, beneath the polished exterior lay a dangerous arrogance.
He always carries himself as though the world revolved around him, as though no one could challenge his authority or resist his advances.
And, like every day, his gaze lingered just a little too long on me as he entered.
Within them, a calculated look that spoke volumes.
I was his next conquest — or so he believed.
Counting the number of secretaries he'd had before me was an almost impossible task.
Every single woman, just another trophy to him, while they always ended up heartbroken.
But I wasn't just any assistant. I wasn't filled with needless hope or desires.
I met his gaze with the same practiced smile I reserved for clients and colleagues alike.
Polite, professional, and utterly unreadable.
If Sung Jin-Hun thought he could outsmart me, he was in for a surprise.
He sauntered into the office, the blonde goddess still clinging to his arm as if he were the only man in the world.
Her laughter, light and melodic, echoed through the workspace, though it fell on deaf ears.
My focus remained firmly on the documents spread across my desk —
Cases that were his to overlook but mine to handle.
▸°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°◂
I couldn't care less about who he brought in, so long as he didn't make her my concern.
But, as always, Sung Jin-Hun wasn't one to be ignored.
Hell, I think he'd die of attention deficit if ignored for longer than two minutes.
With a deliberate air, he pulled the blonde closer, his hand resting possessively on her waist, and positioned them squarely in my line of sight.
The second I looked up, his gaze locked onto mine, sharp and unwavering, the corner of his mouth twitching into that infuriatingly smug smile.
One that seemed to say, "You can't resist me."
»Good morning, Hye-Jin,« he called, his tone dripping with mock warmth. »I trust you're ready for the day?«
Without waiting for an answer, he turned his attention back to the model, his voice dropping into a soft murmur that made her giggle and blush.
A blatant attempt to lure me out of my reserve.
He just had to make it obvious that the display of affection wasn't for her benefit —
But for mine.
And the worst part?
He knew it was working.
Though not in the way he thought it was. All it did was make me dislike him even more.
Then again, he was so desperate for attention that the flicker of annoyance in my eyes, no matter how brief, was exactly what he craved.
I barely suppressed the urge to roll my eyes.
My practiced smile didn't falter as I stood, clipboard in hand.
»Good morning, Chief Sung. I have cleared up your morning appointments, as per your request.«
»Excellent,« he acknowledged, making the word sound more like a command than praise.
And then, as if proving a point, he casually grabbed the model's ass, pulling her even closer.
»I'll need you to take a call from a new client soon — someone very important. Make sure they're handled… delicately. And, oh, I am not to be disturbed until I say otherwise.«
Translated: I'll be too busy screwing this chick to do my work, so scurry and handle it for me.
»Of course,« I responded, my voice calm and professional. Not matching my thoughts.
Not a trace of the irritation he was so determined to draw out of me.
But as he brushed past me, still holding onto his newest accessory, my gaze followed him, if only for a second.
Well, at least that meant I could plan my day how I liked.
▸°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°◂
Once his office door clicked shut, I spun my chair around, facing my desk.
The soft hum of fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, and the faint murmur of voices seeped through the walls - muffled, distant, like ghosts lingering in the corridors.
I logged into my account, eyes scanning the familiar icons.
Mail.
Corporation Chat.
Both waiting, both inevitable.
I noted the unread notifications with vague disinterest before clicking past them, deliberately choosing something else.
WhatsApp.
I typed in the name - Park Gyeong-Ja.
The woman who made my mundane, corporate-filled life less suffocating.
Her latest message blinked back at me, sent at 1:52 p.m.
Not even twenty minutes ago. My lips curled in a quiet snort. Of course.
‖Park Gyeong-Ja: ▸I'm back in town, girliepop! Got time to meet up maybe grab lunch? Do ya think Jin will mind if I kidnap you?◂‖
Yes, Sung Jin-Hun was my boss.
But before he was my boss, he was my best friend's cousin.
Which meant he was the last person to lecture me about office etiquette.
Because he knew I had his balls in a vice – in multiple ways at that.
‖Cho Hye-Jin: ▸Sure. Do you already have something in mind?◂‖
‖Park Gyeong-Ja: ▸ Yes, since I know he's always pissy whenever you're not within a five-foot radius-
The Restaurant next to the Corp. building in 10?◂‖
‖Cho Hye-Jin: ▸Fine by me, meet you in 10.◂‖
For a moment — just a second — I debated informing him.
A flicker of obligation. Which passed quickly.
Instead, I scrawled a note onto a small slip of paper:
I'm off for lunch. Back by 3, latest.
- Hye-Jin.
I slapped it onto my desk, not bothering to straighten it.
He wouldn't notice.
Not with the giggles leaking through the door, sharp as whispers.
Standing, I reached for my coat, the fabric cool beneath my fingertips.
The air felt thicker than before — maybe just the weight of things unspoken.
The hallway was quiet, save for the distant hum of conversation behind closed doors.
I adjusted my coat and exhaled, feeling something loosen in my chest.
Time to step away — if only for a little while.
▸°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°◂