MFYBS 08

Chapter: 08

In truth, she already had a rough idea. But this time, no one had even given her a hint, so she had no real information.

She had only heard that someone new was coming. Since rumors would have already reached everyone’s ears, she had assumed it would most likely be Chae Han-mi.

Curious, everyone looked toward her at the end of the line. She slightly raised her head and watched the red floor indicator above the elevator.

They were on the eighth floor. The elevator was currently on the fifth.

“Everyone, stay quiet and lower your heads. The president is coming.”

She had no desire whatsoever to leave a bad impression during their very first meeting.

Following her instructions, everyone bowed at the same angle. Not long afterward, the elevator doors opened, and the sharp click of high-quality dress shoes echoed through the hallway.

After taking a quiet breath, everyone greeted the newcomer as if they had rehearsed it together.

“Good morning, sir.”

All of the secretaries bowed in unison and greeted the new president loudly, exactly as she had instructed.

The new president stepped out of the elevator.

The clicking footsteps came closer before stopping directly in front of Haeru.

Still bent over, staring only at the floor, she noticed a pair of polished dark brown dress shoes gleaming as if they had been freshly shined.

The toes of the shoes turned toward her.

A moment later, a large man’s hand appeared before her eyes.

Since she had expected Chae Han-mi to become the new president, she was so surprised that she couldn’t immediately accept the offered hand.

Regaining her senses, Haeru quickly reached out with both hands and shook his.

Their hands moved two or three times at a steady rhythm before the president spoke.

“Ms. Yoon Haeru. I look forward to working with you.”

He knew her name.

Even more surprising, however, was that his voice sounded strangely familiar.

Frowning slightly, she slowly lifted her head.

“No… I should be the one who looks forward to working with—”

Her lips froze before she could finish.

“…you.”

Standing before her was Chae Muhyeok.

Dressed impeccably in a tailored suit with his hair neatly swept back to reveal his forehead, he looked like an entirely different person.

Her already complicated thoughts immediately drifted back to the kiss they had shared, and warmth spread across both of her cheeks.

She couldn’t even close her mouth in shock.

At the company, only two important positions had been vacant—the team leader and the president.

Even if Muhyeok returned, she had assumed he would begin as team leader.

No matter how much experience he had gained, starting there would have prevented internal opposition.

That was why this development was completely unexpected.

Unable to believe what she was seeing, she continued holding his hand while staring blankly into his face.

As the two continued looking at each other, the surrounding employees began watching them suspiciously.

Realizing their gazes, Haeru hurriedly let go of his hand and stepped back.

Still smiling, Muhyeok continued greeting the others with handshakes.

After finishing, he walked to the front of the group and bowed politely.

“I’ll be counting on all of you.”

His greeting was simple and refined, prompting all the employees to bow deeply in return.

“Yes, sir! We look forward to working with you as well!”

Haeru couldn’t take her eyes off Muhyeok as he greeted everyone.

After finishing, he smiled faintly and turned to walk away.

Just as the employees straightened up and prepared to return to work, he suddenly stopped and turned back.

His gaze landed directly on Haeru, who still stood frozen like a statue.

“Ms. Yoon Haeru.”

“Y-Yes!”

Lost in thought, she snapped back to reality, lifting her head with wide eyes.

“Come see me for a moment. My office.”

“Yes!”

Startled, she answered immediately before hurrying after him into the president’s office.

Once inside, she carefully closed the door.

Still holding the doorknob, she steadied her breathing before walking over to Muhyeok, who was seated on the gray sofa.

She gave a slight bow.

“What do you require, sir?”

Her professional tone made him frown as he looked up at her.

She, however, kept her eyes lowered to the floor, refusing to meet his gaze.

She had certainly been surprised earlier, but she couldn’t honestly say she had never imagined this day would come.

She hadn’t expected it to happen so soon, but since he belonged to the owner’s family—and because she already served his friend—she had long thought that one day she might also have to serve either that friend or his younger brother.

That was why she had quickly regained her composure and focused on fulfilling her duties as a secretary.

His voice carried obvious dissatisfaction.

“My name.”

Confused by the strange question, she thought for a moment before answering.

“…President Chae Muhyeok.”

He let out a long sigh.

“Right… I’m Chae Muhyeok. Can’t you speak to me more casually when we’re alone?”

Apparently, he found her formality uncomfortable.

But she had no intention of treating him casually.

Because of her upright and disciplined personality, unless she was drunk or seriously ill, she never let herself become careless.

“No. I can’t.”

Their altered fate had even changed the past, leading them to do something only lovers should have done.

If Muyeon ever found out about it, it would be a disaster.

Before that could happen, she felt it was necessary to keep a clear boundary between herself and Muhyeok.

Watching her continue standing with her head lowered, he bit his lower lip.

“Why?”

“It wouldn’t be appropriate. If someone happened to overhear us, rumors would spread, and that would only make things troublesome for you.”

“What kind of rumors?”

His voice turned cold.

“People can create far more stories than you can imagine.”

Despite his icy tone, she remained just as formal.

His brow twitched.

Without warning, he reached out and grabbed one of the hands she had folded together in front of her stomach, pulling her toward him.

“Ah!”

She instinctively cried out, but quickly covered her own mouth with her free hand, muffling the sound.

Before she realized it, she had been pulled right beside him.

Their eyes met.

Blinking beneath his piercing gaze, she tried to stand back up, but he refused to release her arm and instead pulled her even closer.

The sudden closeness allowed her to feel his warm breath.

Her heart pounded violently.

Still staring at her intensely, he asked,

“Are you afraid people might start rumors that we’re dating?”

“Don’t even say something so ridiculous. Rumors spread in an instant.”

She frowned and pushed against his chest.

But he only wrapped an arm tightly around her waist.

“Why is it ridiculous? We’ve kissed, and we’ve even slept—”

Startled, she immediately looked toward the tightly closed office door before covering his mouth with her hand.

The distance between them became even smaller.

His heart pounded so hard that he worried she might actually hear it.

“Have you lost your mind? Why would you say something like that? We agreed to pretend that never happened.”

He gently removed her hand from his lips.

“I never agreed to that.”

“Please keep your boundaries. Let’s remain nothing more than a president and his secretary.”

With determination, she pushed him away and sat up properly, putting as much distance between them as possible.

Unable to look away from her, he asked unhappily,

“Is that really what you want?”

Even after all his teasing, she continued acting exactly like a secretary, causing his voice to become noticeably more serious.

Crossing one long leg over the other, he leaned back crookedly and watched her.

Pretending not to understand his feelings until the very end, she answered as though he were nothing more than her employer.

“Yes.”

“You really only want to be my secretary?”

“Yes. Of course.”

Her firm answer caused his eyes to narrow slightly, pain flickering across them.

But her expression never changed.

She had endured too many hardships over the years.

Perhaps all those experiences were helping her now.

No matter how wildly her heart raced, she had learned how to appear completely calm on the outside.

She sat with perfect posture, her back straight, both hands clenched into fists on her knees, her gaze fixed ahead without wavering.

Muhyeok disliked that composed expression.

Still leaning lazily to one side, he stared at her silently, as though thinking something over.

After a moment, he lowered his head and rubbed the back of his neck.

When he looked up again, his eyes had turned sharp.

“Very well, Ms. Yoon Haeru. Then let’s see how well you can keep it that way.”

His words carried an unmistakable challenge.

She turned her head slightly to look at him.

A faint smile spread across his lips.

Though she felt somewhat unsettled, she showed no change in expression and continued behaving like the perfect secretary.

“Then, is there anything else you need, sir?”

“No.”

“Do you have any other instructions?”

Their eyes met.

As if a clever idea had just occurred to him, his smile gradually deepened.

“You can come to my house before coming to the office, can’t you?”

“…What?!”