Ji-Ah came back to the office—coffee in hand, as always.
The cup was warm, her fingers steady despite the nerves crawling up her spine. She stopped in front of Ha-Joon's door and knocked.
Once. Twice.
No answer.
"…Sir?" she tried.
The door opened abruptly.
Inside, Seo-Jun stood by the side desk, adjusting his glasses while scrolling through something on his tablet, posture relaxed.
Ha-Joon sat behind his desk, focused on his laptop, black hair neat, expression unreadable.
Ji-Ah stepped in. "Your coffee, sir."
Ha-Joon didn't look up. "Why didn't you knock?"
She frowned. "I did knock."
"No," he said calmly. "You didn't."
"I did," she insisted. "Twice."
Seo-Jun glanced at her.
Just for a second.
Then the corner of his lips twitched—so fast it was almost illegal.
Ha-Joon noticed nothing. Or pretended not to.
Ji-Ah placed the coffee down carefully. He took a sip.
His brow furrowed.
"This tastes like tea."
Her soul left her body.
"It's coffee," she said weakly.
"It's confused," he corrected.
She opened her mouth to argue—
"When you went out yesterday," Ha-Joon said suddenly, cutting her off, eyes lifting to meet hers,
"who was the man with you at the restaurant?"
Her brain stalled.
"…What?"
"The man," he repeated calmly. "Lazy smile. Casual clothes. Too close."
Seo-Jun froze mid-scroll.
Ji-Ah stared. "He's my friend."
A pause.
Ha-Joon leaned back slightly, studying her.
His tone shifted—not sharp, not cold. Just… deliberate.
"Do you live alone?"
Her heart jumped. "Yes— I mean— yes, sir."
Seo-Jun's internal thoughts screamed Oh. This meeting just turned into a drama.
Ha-Joon stood.
Ji-Ah stiffened as he walked around the desk—slow, unhurried—stopping a respectful distance in front of her.
Too close for comfort. Too calm for safety.
"Park Ji-Ah," he said evenly, "you are clumsy."
She blinked.
"Too bright," he continued. "Too energetic. You trip over nothing. You talk to inanimate objects. And you make coffee like you're apologizing to it."
Her jaw dropped.
Seo-Jun stared at the ceiling, absolutely not laughing.
Ha-Joon met her eyes. "You're my employee. Starting today—"
He paused.
"You'll be living with me."
"What?!" she shouted.
Seo-Jun flinched.
Ha-Joon turned away, already walking back to his seat. "Decision made."
"No, no, no—sir, wait!" she rushed out. "I can't! I have a cat!"
He stopped. Looked back. "Bring it."
"And— and my motorcycle. Pip."
"Bring that too."
Seo-Jun's internal thoughts Pip. The motorcycle has a name?.
She panicked harder. "Sir, how I Live is… very messy. It's not suitable for—"
"You will be living with me."
"…I snore."
"Not my problem."
"I talk in my sleep."
"You talk while awake too."
She had nothing left.
Her shoulders slumped. "…Yes, sir."
She bowed stiffly and turned, marching out before she could say something career-ending.
Outside the office, she stopped, shoved her bangs aside, and hissed under her breath—
"Bloody idiot boss."
Inside, Seo-Jun finally exhaled, rubbing his face.
This company is doomed, he thought fondly.
--
Ji-Ah returned to her desk, heart still racing.
Her phone buzzed.
Seo-Jun: Sir's address. Be there at the stated time. Don't ever tell anyone.
She stared at the screen, sighed long and deep, then typed back
Fine.
She dropped the phone into her bag just as the front door opened.
Conversation in the office dipped instantly.
A woman walked in.
She was beautiful—there was no denying it. Tall, poised, dressed in a perfectly fitted suit, heels clicking sharply against the floor.
Her hair fell smoothly over her shoulders, expression cool and distant, eyes sharp with quiet confidence.
Arrogant.
Not loud. Not rude. Just… certain.
Soo-Min leaned in close to Ji-Ah, whispering quickly, "That's Hye-Rin. Mr. Ha-Joon's secretary."
Ji-Ah's eyes widened slightly.
"She's arrogant," Soo-Min continued softly, "but really smart. That's why he chose her. She has an office right on the floor after this. She only comes out here when something urgent happens."
Min-Kyung, sitting across from them, added under her breath, "I hate her."
Ji-Ah glanced at her. "Why?"
"She never raises her voice," Min-Kyung said. "She just judges you silently. It's terrifying."
Almost on cue, Hye-Rin's gaze swept across the room.
And landed on Ji-Ah.
New face.
Hye-Rin turned and walked straight toward her.
Ji-Ah stood up immediately, smoothing her blazer without realizing it.
"Yes?" she said politely.
Hye-Rin studied her for a brief moment, eyes cool, unreadable. "Your name?"
"Park Ji-Ah."
"And your position?"
"Editor. Design and presentation team."
Hye-Rin nodded once. "How long have you been with the company?"
"Recently hired."
Ji-Ah met her gaze calmly, shoulders straight, voice steady.
Hye-Rin said nothing else.
She turned on her heel and walked toward Ha-Joon's office, heels echoing sharply as the door closed behind her.
Only then did Ji-Ah exhale.
"…Wow," Min-Kyung whispered. "You survived."
Ji-Ah blinked. "Is that a thing here?"
Soo-Min sighed. "Very much so."
---
Hye-Rin closed the office door behind her and took the seat across from Ha-Joon without being asked.
She crossed her legs neatly, placing her tablet on her lap. Calm. Composed. In control.
"This isn't the first time," she began, voice smooth but serious. "We've had two minor breaches this month already. Today's incident was different."
Ha-Joon leaned back slightly in his chair, fingers steepled. "Explain."
"The item stolen was a confidential prototype file," Hye-Rin said. "Not the physical copy. A digital extract. Someone knew exactly where to go."
Ha-Joon's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
"And the employee?" he asked.
"She was threatened," Hye-Rin replied. "No physical harm. But enough to scare her into silence—for now."
Silence fell between them.
Ha-Joon stood and walked to the window, hands in his pockets, gaze fixed on the city below. "Internal, then."
"Most likely," Hye-Rin agreed. "Security has been notified, but this should stay quiet. If word gets out, the board will overreact."
He turned back to her. "Seo-Jun will handle it."
She nodded. "I assumed as much."
A beat passed.
Then, softer—almost polite—Ha-Joon added, "Good work. As always."
Hye-Rin's lips curved just slightly. Not a smile. A confirmation.
She stood, gathering her tablet. "I'll monitor the situation. Let me know if you want the employee moved or protected."
"Do that," Ha-Joon said.
Hye-Rin inclined her head and exited.
The moment the door shut, Ha-Joon's expression hardened again.
He picked up the document Ji-Ah had submitted earlier—still lying unopened on his desk.
Outside, unaware of what had just been discussed, Ji-Ah sat at her desk, typing diligently, completely missing the fact that the company—and her day—had just taken a very sharp turn.