"Ahh… so much work," I groaned, sinking back into my chair.
I glanced at the clock.
"What the it's past 5 and the so much work is still pending? Oh god I'm exhausted."
Promotion, my ass.
I really thought it meant perks. A lighter workload. Maybe even one of those fancy pens with my name on it.
But no instead I got a mountain of tasks and a whole bundle of responsibilities thrown in for free.
Honestly… I kind of miss Mr. Kim now as least i could
But fine. Fashion Week Paris isn't something small.
For someone like me, it's actually huge.
Maybe I should be grateful… even if I want to scream into a pillow.
Jiwoo, stop whining. Be happy.
I stretched hard, arching over the chair, staring at the ceiling and then my brain decided to torture me with this morning's elevator flashback.
We were so close. His cologne. The warm air between us.
If the doors hadn't opened… we could have..
we could have… ki..
"UGHHH, what the hell?" I slapped my own cheek.
"Stop it. STOP. Writing smut has broken your brain. He's literally a ghost-man from your dreams get a grip."
"I just need a smoke break," I muttered, grabbing my lighter and standing up.
I barely took one step when some called.
"Mr. Han."
A deep voice hit me from behind.
Great. Of course. Not even a five-minute break.
I turned, and there he was:
A tall man in all black, sunglasses indoors, built like he was guarding BTS backstage.
"Uh… yes?"
He lowered his shades a little.
"Hello. I'm Seok Jin, Mr. Kang's assistant. Mr. Kang asked me to bring you."
MINJAE??
I probably made a weird noise because he raised an eyebrow.
"Oh" I mean, Mr. Kang. Why does he want to see me?"
"I'm not sure, Mr. Han," he whispered, leaning in a bit.
"Boss only told me to bring you."
I laughed awkwardlyone of those tiny "haha please don't look at me" laughs.
"Ah… o-okay."
"So, shall we? Boss is waiting."
"Y-Yes, yes… Mr. Bodyguard—sorry—Assistant Seok. Let's go."
Ughhh, what does Minjae want NOW?
After that elevator moment? Facing him again is going to feel like crawling into a live broadcast of my own embarrassment.
"Mr. Han? Are you okay? I called you multiple times."
Assistant Seok pulled me out of my mental meltdown.
"Yeah—yeah. I'm fine. Just… thinking about the project deadline."
We stepped into the elevator.
I watched the floor numbers.
…Down?
Why are we going down?
"Um, Assistant Seok?" I pointed at the panel.
"Mr. Kang's office is on the 10th floor. Why are we going to the basement?"
He stayed expressionless.
Sunglasses still on like he was in a Marvel movie.
"We're going where Mr. Kang instructed."
Huh?? Why the basement??
"Boss will explain once you meet him."
Ugh. Always the same line.
Why does this man love mystery so much?
Ding.
Basement level.
"Mr. Han," Seok said, stepping aside,
"Mr. Kang is waiting for you in the car."
I stepped out, and sure enough, a big black car was parked right in front of me.
I knocked on the window.
"Mr. Kang… it's Mr. Han. You called."
The door opened, and he gestured for me to get in.
"So uh… Mr. Kang," I said, sliding inside, "what's the matter you wanted to discuss?"
He smirked.
"What's the rush? Let's go to the place first. We'll talk there.
Don't worry, Mr. Han you'll have a great time."
Huh??
Place?? Fun??
What exactly is going on in his brain right now?
And why does it feel like I just walked straight into a tiger's den?
I looked at him with every ounce of confusion written across my face.
And on top of that, that jerk was smiling.
looked at Minjae with every ounce of anger and sadness crumpled onto my face.And of course — OF COURSE — that jerk was smiling.
Oh god.If he wasn't my boss, I would've punched that smirk clean off.
The car started moving. Outside was pitch-dark, city lights streaking past like we were in some dramatic MV.Inside the car?Pure awkwardness.
The driver and Assistant Seok were focused like they were guarding world leaders.Minjae was on his phone.And me…?
Me stressing like a lost kid wondering if I was being kidnapped for organ donation.
I still hadn't processed anything.Not the fact that I was in his car.Not the fact that we were headed to who-knows-where.Not the fact that my heart had been doing cardio the entire evening.
Then the car took a sudden turn.
Into a forest.A dark forest.
Why does this feel like the beginning of a true crime documentary?I swallowed so hard my soul almost came out.
The silence was stabbing me, so I finally spoke.
"U-Um… Mr. Kang? Could you please tell me where we're going…?"
He heard the panic in my voice. He saw the terror on my face.
And what did he do?
He reached overand lightly patted my head.
"Don't worry, Mr. Han. I won't eat you alive," he said. "You'll see soon."
MY HEART.My poor useless heart.
I immediately turned to the window so he wouldn't see me blushing like a boiled shrimp.
After about five minutes, I noticed lights through the tinted windows bright, fancy ones.
"We're here, Mr. Kang," Seok said.
Minjae looked at me."Let's go, Mr. Han. You were dying to know where we're going, weren't you?"
"Y-Yeah, Mr. Kang…"
The moment I stepped out
My jaw disconnected from my body.
A massive mansion.The type rich people in dramas use just for weekend naps.
"Wow… what the It's so big. And beautiful…"
I didn't even notice Minjae walking closer until I felt him beside me.
"So?" he said quietly. "Worth the wait?"
"Y-Yeah, Mr. Kang…" I muttered, still shocked.
"Seok," he said, "go get the things."
And then suddenly Minjae stepped closer again.
"Mr. Han," he said softly, "may I have your hand?"
"H-Huh?? M-My hand??"
He smirked."Mm. Your hand."
What in the world is happening right now?
— To be continued