🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 5
“Do-won Construction? You mean that’s for real?”
“Careful what you’re saying. That kind of talk could get you in serious trouble.”
“When have you ever known me to talk nonsense? I swear, it’s because of that company that Chairman Jung ended up like that. Truth is, the night before old Granny Yong-sun collapsed, I was out on patrol and I saw her going into Chairman Jung’s house all by herself.”
“Why the hell are you only telling us now?”
“You really saw that? You’d better not be spreading dangerous rumors based on a mistake.”
“I’m only telling you what I saw.”
“Then why would Granny Yong-sun be visiting Chairman Jung’s house?”
“Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear that it was Do-won Construction that caused Su-yeon’s parents’ deaths? Do-won Group, owned by peach farm’s very own Chairman Jung.”
“So that’s why Yoon-jae ended up like that too?”
“And how do you think I know all this?”
“My nephew used to work at Do-won Construction before he quit, and he—”
Unable to take it any longer, Su-yeon cut the men off.
“What are you talking about?”
Startled by her sudden appearance, the men’s faces flushed red and they looked around awkwardly.
“That my parents died because of Do-won Construction—what does that mean?”
“Wh-who said such a thing? We didn’t say anything.”
“My grandmother went to Chairman Jung’s house? Are you sure you saw her there with your own eyes?”
“Girl, what are you babbling about? You must be hearing things ‘cause you’re heartbroken over your grandma.”
“Exactly, you must’ve misheard. None of us ever said a word about Do-won.”
“Stop lying!”
The men scattered in all directions, leaving Su-yeon pale and trembling where she stood.
The thought that her grandmother’s collapse, and her parents’ deaths, were all connected to Do-won Group burned itself into her heart like an iron brand. Blood surged backward through her veins, her teeth clenched, and her fists curled tight.
Looking back, everything had been strange.
Every year she had attended the peach harvest festival, but suddenly Granny Yong-sun always had some excuse not to go.
And then there was Yoon-jae. He had treated Su-yeon like his own little sister, scolding her when she acted distant, cherishing her. But one day, Granny Yong-sun began hiding Su-yeon whenever Jung Yoon-jae came around—
As if the two of them must never meet.
Her ears rang violently. Leaning against the wall, Su-yeon’s eyes drifted to her grandmother’s memorial photo. Yong-sun smiled from within the frame, brighter than she ever had in life.
***
Still damp hair clung loosely around his face.
Deep black eyes.
Languidly curved lips.
Half-opened robe, baring a chest carved in solid ridges.
As Yoon-jae pushed his hair back and reached for his coffee, his phone began buzzing insistently.
“Executive Director, just calling to confirm. You haven’t forgotten what today is, have you?”
“And what day would that be? Not your birthday, surely, Chief Han.”
“Sir.”
The voice of Han, now promoted to chief secretary, rang through the room.
“Don’t tell me you plan to repeat yourself today?”
“And why wouldn’t I?”
“Do you even realize how many personal secretaries you’ve gone through already?”
“I didn’t fire them—they admitted their faults and left on their own.”
“That makes five now. Word spreads fast in this industry. No one wants the position anymore, and it took everything to hire this new candidate.”
“And those five? You’ve forgotten who was really behind it?”
Yoon-jae’s brows rose as he studied himself in the mirror.
It had been three years since he became Executive Director of Do-won Group. In less than a year, five secretaries had quit. And the reason, to be precise, was his stepmother, Kim So-hye.
“First, Secretary Kang got caught stealing data from my external hard drive. Second, Secretary Ahn was reporting my private life straight to Madam Kim. Third, Secretary Park forged my signature on documents I never approved. Fourth… who was it again… ah, she tried to seduce me, even though she wasn’t remotely my type. When it didn’t work, she resigned.”
“All true… but still—”
“And who do you think set all that up? Yet you still want to blame me?”
Every one of those women had been planted by Kim So-hye to monitor him.
“This one’s different,” Han insisted. “I verified it myself—no involvement from Madam Kim. The recruitment was fair, the candidate exceptional. You’ll see for yourself.”
“Enough.”
Yoon-jae ended the call. His long fingers tugged at the robe’s belt, letting it fall open. A body sculpted like marble gleamed beneath the morning light.
Dressed moments later in a custom Italian suit, a rare limited-edition watch on his wrist, Yoon-jae exuded a chilling, unapproachable aura. He sprayed one of his weekday perfumes—carefully arranged in sequence—and finally picked up the keys from the table.
***
She stopped and stared.
Her heart thumped harder than she expected as her eyes fell on the logo—Do-won Group.
Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined walking into this place of her own accord.
Drawing in a sharp breath, Su-yeon stepped inside. Instantly, dozens of employees in the lobby snapped into formation, bowing in unison.
A tall man walked slowly through their ranks toward a private elevator. Su-yeon’s eyes locked onto him.
From head to toe, his appearance screamed luxury worth tens of millions. His striking features seemed to glow beneath the bright lights.
Only after the elevator doors closed on him did the employees rise again.
Su-yeon entered a service elevator, pressing her lips together against her rising nerves.
You can do this, Chae Su-yeon. Don’t be afraid. This is just the beginning.
The doors opened on the 17th floor.
Wearing the same suit her grandmother had gifted her as a college entrance present, Su-yeon glanced at her reflection in the corridor mirror.
Her neatly tied hair and light, natural makeup shone with understated elegance.
A knock. The reception room door opened.
“Come in. The Executive Director is expecting you.”
Inside, a man leaned back with his eyes closed.
“Sir, the new secretary has arrived,” Han announced.
With a flick of his hand, Yoon-jae dismissed Han. The door shut. Slowly, his eyelids lifted.
Tall—easily over 190cm.
A face sculpted in light streaming through the window.
He rose, footsteps ringing sharp across the floor. Stopping close enough that Su-yeon could hear his breath, he extended a hand.
“Welcome.”
“Pleased to meet you. From today, I’ll be serving as your secretary. My name is Chae Ha-yoon.”
Their hands touched.
Eighteen years later, no longer the twelve-year-old boy she once knew, Jung Yoon-jae stood face to face with Su-yeon—now under the name Chae Ha-yoon.
His palm radiated heat against her cold fingers.
“Your hands are freezing.”
“They tend to be.”
“Almost like a vampire’s.”
The corners of his mouth lifted as his eyes stayed fixed on her.
“Miss Chae Ha-yoon.”
“Yes?”
“Sit down.”
Crossing his long legs, he laced his fingers together, gaze never leaving her face.
“Where do you live?”
“…Excuse me?”
“Your address. Where do you live?”
“It’s written on my résumé.”
“So I should look it up myself?”
His voice was calm, but his deep eyes pierced her without pause.
“Tell me then, why are you here? You must’ve heard the rumors. Not a single secretary lasts a year with me. My name isn’t exactly welcomed in those circles. So why apply to this company—why apply to be my secretary?”
His words were composed, almost casual. Not mocking, not rude. And yet—
Something stirred violently in Su-yeon’s chest.
