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Chapter 6
Hanbom, lost in thought while staring blankly at Seol Gi-hyuk’s softly curved eyes, belatedly came to her senses.
“Ah, hello, Executive Director.”
She straightened her back with a snap.
Seeing her fluster, Seol Gi-hyuk’s face curved into a harmless smile, as if he found her endearing.
He was the only one who called her Secretary Bom.
The female employees who had been chattering away quickly made space.
“Executive Director, please—sit here.”
“You still have some lunch break left, why don’t you stay a bit?”
“I really enjoyed watching you on New Face, sir. You looked great on screen—but of course, nothing compares to seeing you in person.”
New Face was a highly popular TV program aired on a major broadcast channel. It featured ordinary people with extraordinary abilities, talents, or visuals—so-called “cheat characters” condensed into one show.
The ratings were so high that appearing on the program made one a national hot topic, even earning celebrity-level recognition.
The week of filming had left the company buzzing with excitement. After the episode aired, fan cafés were created, and actual fans even visited the company lobby to see him.
Seol Gi-hyuk scratched the back of his neck, looking bashful.
“It was purely for company promotion, but with all this attention, I really don’t know where to put myself.”
Even the smallest gestures from him drew small squeals from the female staff, like they were watching a star.
At over 180 cm, with gentle eyes and an easy smile, Seol Gi-hyuk had not only striking looks but also a warm personality that drew people’s affection.
Unlike Seol Tae-gun, who was steeped in authority and aloofness, Gi-hyuk—though also from the Ato Beauty family—treated staff with friendliness and good manners. He was admired, envied, and to many women, desired.
“Secretary Bom, did you see the episode?”
Leaning casually on the chairback, Gi-hyuk fixed her with expectant eyes.
“Well…”
She hesitated.
In truth, not only had she watched the broadcast live, she had downloaded it to keep forever. Whenever she felt down or bored, she would rewatch it—so many times that she could recite the scenes, expressions, and even lines by heart.
But she couldn’t exactly say that. Nor could she lie and say she hadn’t seen it. Her lips only moved soundlessly.
“You didn’t watch, huh?”
Seeing her fumble, Gi-hyuk trailed off, sounding faintly disappointed.
“Ah… that’s a little disheartening.”
“It’s not that, I just—”
She was about to explain when—
“Executive Director Seol Gi-hyuk. You’re not leaving yet?”
Hanbom turned her head at the familiar voice.
By the café pickup counter stood Seol Tae-gun, holding an iced Americano in one hand, his expression pinched in irritation.
Startled, Hanbom and the other women scrambled to their feet.
Seol Tae-gun gave them only a curt nod before striding out of the café.
“Ah, I’m sorry. That was fun chatting. I’ll get going.”
Gi-hyuk glanced at Hanbom one last time.
“See you again, Secretary Bom.”
With a short nod, he hurried after Tae-gun.
Hanbom’s eyes followed his retreating figure with regret.
Even though Gi-hyuk called after him, Tae-gun didn’t so much as glance back, stubbornly keeping his gaze forward.
Hanbom pursed her lips and glared at his back.
“Why would the Vice President even come to the lobby café? How long was he standing there?”
“You don’t think he overheard us, do you?”
“It’s too noisy here, he couldn’t have.”
Jung Joo-eun reassured them, and only then did the others breathe easier.
“But anyway… Secretary Han.”
Lim Hyun-joo leaned closer, lowering her voice.
“Since when have you been this close with the Executive Director?”
Still watching the two men disappear into the distance, Hanbom shook her head quickly.
“Close? Not at all.”
Another colleague piped up:
“Come on, the way he naturally calls you Secretary Bom says otherwise.”
The mood was shifting.
Flustered, Hanbom didn’t know how to defend herself, until Joo-eun stepped in smoothly.
“Don’t forget, the Vice President and the Executive Director are cousins. Gi-hyuk often visits the VP’s office, and since Bom accompanies the VP to family events, she sees him more often than we do who stay indoors. Right, Bom?”
Hanbom nodded hurriedly.
“That’s right.”
“Oh, I see. That explains it.”
Another employee, newer to the company, asked curiously:
“Exactly how are the Vice President and Executive Director related?”
Hanbom explained helpfully:
“They’re cousins. The Executive Director is the son of the Vice President’s uncle—his father’s older brother.”
“Ah, that makes sense. They do look similar, now that I think about it. One’s the cold type, the other’s the sunny type.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“Honestly, if you think about it, isn’t the Vice President a little more handsome? He’s taller too. Plus, he has that brooding tsundere vibe.”
The woman who said it blushed faintly, betraying her crush.
Several others admitted they agreed.
Joo-eun, however, only clicked her tongue.
“That’s because you haven’t seen his true self. I once overheard the chief secretary crying behind the partitions because of him.”
“Really? He’s that bad? I didn’t realize.”
“You’ll see soon enough. Though I suppose after that incident with David Young, his negative reputation has dropped a little.”
“You mean how he helped Secretary Han? Honestly, that made me respect him more.”
“Same here. He did seem kind of cool then—like a prickly prince, you know?”
The debate over Tae-gun was still ongoing when Hanbom’s phone buzzed on the table.
[ Vice President ]
One vibration was all it took. Hanbom snatched up the call and rose to her feet.
“Yes, Vice President.”
After giving a quick wave to the others, she cleaned up her cup and hurried across the lobby.
Her colleagues watched her go with sympathetic eyes.
On her feet were worn three-striped slippers.
“Poor Secretary Han.”
“Yeah. Not even allowed to wear proper heels.”
“She’s too kind for her own good.”
But while the others pitied her, Joo-eun only rested her chin in her hand and smirked.
“You really don’t know her, do you?”
“What do you mean?”
“The Bom I know always pays back what she’s given. Just watch. She’ll make the Vice President eat his words sooner or later.”
With that confident declaration, they all turned their eyes to Hanbom’s retreating figure, slippers dragging as she ran.
Ato Beauty – Executive Director’s Office
Seol Tae-gun dropped the takeout coffee onto the table as if it were a burden.
Slumping back against the sofa, he tilted his head and shut his eyes.
“So? How was it? The lobby café’s coffee isn’t bad, right?”
“Couldn’t even tell if it was coffee or just water.”
Pressing his hand to his forehead like he was exhausted, Tae-gun muttered sourly.
“Don’t act like I don’t know you. If you really hated it, you wouldn’t have touched it. You drank half already, so quit complaining.”
Gi-hyuk shrugged off his jacket, hung it neatly on the stand, and sat in front of the desk.
“But tell me, why are you picking on Secretary Bom?”
“What are you talking about?”
Feigning ignorance, Tae-gun made Gi-hyuk click his tongue.
“That call earlier—it was about getting you an Ahiel Marang tuxedo for the Lugal collaboration party, wasn’t it? You know how impossible that is, even in France.”
Ahiel Marang was a prestigious French menswear brand. Their tuxedos were so exclusive that only world-famous politicians or celebrities could commission them. Money alone couldn’t buy one.
“You know that’s abuse of authority, right? What if she decides she can’t take it anymore and quits?”
Tae-gun’s expression said plainly: So what?
Watching him, Gi-hyuk suddenly spoke up.
“In that case, give her to me.”
“…What?”
Tae-gun blinked slowly, blindsided by the demand.
“Why? Are you close with her or something?”
“Closer than you, I’d say.”
At that, Tae-gun shot upright. He couldn’t shake the memory of Hanbom’s gaze in the café—a look she had never once directed at him. A warmth she had never spared for him.
Gi-hyuk crossed his arms, amused at the reaction.
“Why so surprised?”
“What makes you close with her? She’s my secretary.”
“Oh, I get it. You don’t want her for yourself, but you don’t want anyone else to have her either?”
“No—I’m asking why you’re close with her!”
“And why wouldn’t I be? You, with your zero social skills, might have trouble making friends, but I’m different. People like me.”
“Quit flattering yourself. Why are you close with her?”
Tae-gun’s irritation was palpable, though even he didn’t seem to know why.
Gi-hyuk tilted his head, genuinely puzzled.
“Didn’t I ever mention it? I knew Secretary Bom before she joined the company.”
He lifted a shoulder, as if it were no big deal.
But Tae-gun’s brow furrowed at the new revelation.
“Since when?”
Gi-hyuk thought back, sifting through memories.
“When did I first meet our Bom…?”
Tae-gun’s scowl deepened.
“What? Our Bom…?”
