Although subtle rumors were going around, the position hadn’t been fully confirmed yet, so the secretary hesitated to address the title and trailed off. Na-yoon responded instead.
“President Goo Jae-ha.”
“Yes. President Goo Jae-ha stopped by suddenly, and I had no choice but to let him in. I’m sorry, Executive Director.”
She had every reason to be angry about someone being let into her office without permission, but Na-yoon simply smiled.
“You did well. Do the same next time.”
There was nothing to be angry about. It was just hard to grasp Goo Jae-ha’s intentions.
When she entered the office, Jae-ha, who had been looking out the window, slowly turned at the sound of the door opening.
He was always impeccably dressed in a suit whenever she saw him, but today his shirt buttons were undone.
Bathed in sunlight pouring through the window, he waved a hand, the other tucked in his pocket.
“Good morning.”
His low, calm voice pulled Na-yoon out of her blank daze.
She glanced briefly at the clock, wondering if it was still morning.
Was it even appropriate to say ‘good morning’ at this hour?
Sensing her question, Jae-ha chuckled.
“Just call it morning. No need to be so strict about the time.”
Having been caught staring, Na-yoon responded calmly.
“What brings you here so suddenly?”
“Do I need a reason to visit?”
His deep black eyes quietly stared at her.
That gaze, as if it could see through everything, made Na-yoon flinch slightly. Trying not to show it, she picked up a file and walked across the room.
“If there’s nothing urgent, I need to get back to work…”
As she laid the file down on the desk, he walked over to her.
Their eyes met, and Na-yoon instinctively tilted her head up. Jae-ha gave a short laugh.
“Let’s get something to eat.”
The unexpected suggestion made the back of Na-yoon’s neck go numb. She tilted her head slightly in confusion.
“…What?”
Jae-ha leaned forward, resting his hands on the desk, looking straight into her eyes. The corners of his lips curved gently.
“Let’s have a meal together, Na-yoon.”
His soft voice dropped right in front of her.
Na-yoon slightly parted her lips, startled. A strange sense of déjà vu surged up inside her, and she clenched her fingers tightly.
Wasn’t he supposed to be a workaholic?
A weirdo with a broken personality and odd tastes?
All the facts she had about him tangled in her head, and she unconsciously stammered.
“I-I mean…”
Jae-ha let out a short laugh.
“Well, since it’s come to this, let’s just act natural. It’s obvious when you’re uncomfortable. Like at the family meeting.”
He was pointing out the awkwardness of their first formal meeting.
‘Na-yoon, if Jae-ha acts out, be sure to let us know.’
‘No, he’s been nothing but kind, really…’
Just once, she had called him “President” by mistake.
Her family’s puzzled looks had made her flustered, and Jae-ha had quickly intervened with a smile.
‘She called me President because I like it that way, so I asked her to.’
‘Still, you rascal. You’re getting married—don’t make her call you President.’
‘It’s time we changed that.’
Despite the chairman’s scolding, Jae-ha had calmly looked at Na-yoon as if to say, “Right?”
“Ah…”
“If we’d known each other longer, it would’ve been a bigger deal.”
Recalling that moment, Na-yoon slowly nodded. She had to admit that was true.
“That’s fair, but…”
“So, I’m just going to speak casually from now on.”
At his implied question, Na-yoon nodded again.
“Whatever’s comfortable for you.”
As she responded, she noticed how close they suddenly were and took a step back.
At that exact moment, the door burst open without even a knock.
“Executive Director, there’s a visitor for—!”
“What visitor? Hey, Jin-na—!”
Su-hyuk barged in with an angry face before the secretary could stop him. But upon seeing who was actually there, he froze like a statue.
Why… why was Goo Jae-ha here?
He stood there dumbfounded, unable to process the situation.
Meanwhile, Jae-ha slowly straightened up and turned his head. His gaze was like ice.
“Looks like my brother-in-law had something urgent. You didn’t even knock.”
He was just stating facts, but Na-yoon’s face burned with embarrassment.
Su-hyuk felt like everyone—including the secretary—was silently judging him, which made him even more irritable.
“I was heading to a meeting… What about you, brother-in-law? You must be pretty free, huh?”
Even with the biting tone, Jae-ha remained unfazed and replied casually.
“External appointment.”
“Oh yeah? Does the chairman know you’re ‘working’ like this?”
“Oppa, what are you saying—”
Jae-ha interrupted Na-yoon before she could speak.
“He’d love it, actually.”
“What?”
“This is the kind of thing our chairman hopes for.”
He’s hoping his grandson skips work for romance?
Su-hyuk stared at him in disbelief. But Jae-ha, not interested in arguing further, turned to Na-yoon.
“Let’s go, Na-yoon.”
Not knowing what to say, Na-yoon simply nodded and stepped to his side.
Jae-ha extended his arm, and she naturally took it.
Watching the two of them like that, Su-hyuk let out a scoff of disbelief. Jae-ha stared straight at him and said,
“And… please refrain from barging into Na-yoon’s office like that.”
“What?”
“Even in a company where we treat each other like family, there are still boundaries.”
He emphasized the word “family” pointedly, though it might have been Na-yoon’s imagination.
“We’re not just like family. We are family. I’m her brother—!”
“And I’m her husband.”
The heavy voice and overbearing gaze silenced Su-hyuk instantly.
* * *
On the table were neatly arranged dishes, including tender braised short ribs and several side dishes.
Na-yoon hadn’t expected to be having such an unplanned lunch.
After the staff left, she glanced at Jae-ha and spoke.
“Sorry about earlier. My brother was rude.”
“I don’t really care about that.”
What really bothered him was the way she kept calling that guy “Oppa” like it meant something.
Jae-ha, resting his chin in one hand, stared calmly at her.
“It’s getting cold.”
Na-yoon picked up her chopsticks and looked at him.
“We should eat together.”
“I’m going to eat, so don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried.”
She muttered under her breath and started eating.
Jae-ha chuckled silently and took a sip of water, still watching her.
“You moved into their household when you were pretty young.”
Na-yoon paused mid-bite and lifted her head.
“I wasn’t trying to pry. I just needed to confirm something.”
There was no deceit in his eyes. She didn’t know the reason, but she felt like she could trust him.
“So, did you confirm it?”
Na-yoon tilted her head and asked. Jae-ha smiled lazily and nodded.
“I did.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Aren’t you curious what I was trying to confirm?”
Putting her chopsticks down, Na-yoon straightened her posture.
“More than that, I’m curious about something else.”
“Like what?”
“Why are you being so kind to me?”
It was more than just kindness.
There had to be a reason. He clearly didn’t like her at first.
“Do you… want something from me?”
“If I do, will you give it?”
So he did want something. That’s why he was acting like this.
With a resigned expression, Na-yoon answered calmly.
“Yes. Anything.”
“Anything?”
“You made me promise. That I’d give you anything.”
So all you had to do was help me fall—nothing more.
She smiled gently as she replayed the words she couldn’t say out loud.
Following her rising smile, Jae-ha smiled too.
“Then… play with me for a bit.”
Her soft smile faded, and she tilted her head. She was sure she’d misheard.
“What?”
“Let’s hang out. That’s all I want.”
This man… she still had no idea what he was really thinking.
