Chapter 14
“If what happened with Im Seola can’t be treated as if it never happened…”
Su-hyeok slowly took a step toward her.
Seola swallowed dryly and stepped back a little.
“It’s just… I can’t seem to forget last night…”
Even last night, his gaze had been burning just like that.
From head to toe, his eyes seemed to say he wanted to devour her all at once, and Seola’s heart thumped wildly.
She had temporarily forgotten while being scolded all afternoon by her boss, Han Su-hyeok.
That he was a dangerously handsome man with an irresistibly alluring aura.
“I might not have noticed it if I hadn’t seen it, but now that I have… I can’t pretend it never happened.”
Seola reflexively clutched her blouse, alert.
“W-what do you mean…?”
Instead of answering, Su-hyeok handed her a key card.
“What’s this for?”
“This is the apartment the company provided me.”
Not Wall Street, yet apparently at his level, they even get a home provided—living in a completely different world.
“But why are you giving this to me…?”
“Stay there for the time being.”
Seola was speechless, caught off guard.
“Think of it as company housing. Since you’re also an employee, don’t feel burdened—just use it as needed.”
“Wait… you want me to… live here?”
“For now, just stay there temporarily. We’ll figure out the rest later.”
Seola stared at the white key card in her hand, eyes widening.
Upon closer inspection, the logo of a luxury apartment, famous for its expensive units, was emblazoned across the front.
“An executive at our company lives in company housing? I’ve never heard of such a thing… Company housing? Wait a second… this apartment is…?”
It was a signature project of TI Construction, run by the brothers of TI Electronics’ owner, the company Seola worked at.
And the penthouse residents of this luxury building were mostly…
“Uh… I have a bad feeling about this, so I have to ask…”
Seola hesitated, staring at the key card, then spoke again.
“Are you related to the chairman? Han Taek-il, our company chairman?”
Su-hyeok stared at her for a moment.
“I’m his son.”
“Oh.”
Seola blinked slowly and nodded.
“That’s all?”
“Yes. Well… it could be, I guess.”
Her cheeks lifted in a forced smile, poking out like some decorative ornament.
“Trying to surprise me…”
“No, no. Haha… it’s fine.”
‘I mean, our company isn’t some massive conglomerate; it’s not like he comes from an unbelievably wealthy family,’ she wanted to say.
But the truth was, it was astonishing enough to make her heart drop.
Compared to Seola’s family, just the total cash assets alone were multiples higher… Further calculations weren’t necessary.
‘I suggested a ridiculously high-level marriage, even if it was a fake contract marriage. Hahaha! Oh… how shameless. Stay composed, Seola. There’s nothing left to lose today anyway.’
Su-hyeok noticed Seola’s calm expression, which was unnervingly composed like the eye of a storm, and asked:
“Did you know?”
“No. I just had a hunch. Normal people don’t talk about arranged marriages…”
Su-hyeok silently listened as she smiled.
“It just seemed like only relatives could fill executive positions so quickly… I guessed, but I didn’t expect I’d be right… Congratulations! Uh, I mean, haha…”
Seola pinched her lips shut to stop herself from rambling.
She was too flustered to celebrate being born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
“This is my first time seeing someone who graduated top of the class and entered the company top of the class.”
He was saying she had discernment.
Su-hyeok put his hand in one pocket and spoke:
“That’s correct. It’s my home. But you know I’m currently living in the building across from yours, so this place is empty. You don’t have to stay here long-term—just follow my instructions.”
Seola held out the key card with both hands.
“I’ll accept it with gratitude, Director.”
“….”
“I understand why you’re so strict about work and personal boundaries. If I were in your position… but this seems a bit much, Director.”
Still, wanting not to make him embarrassed, Seola smiled as politely as possible.
But oddly, it seemed to irritate Su-hyeok.
“It’s just a temporary place. For my employee.”
“I understand—better to be careful than reckless.”
Su-hyeok’s expression hardened as he looked at Seola, who was doing her best to appear polite.
“This could easily cause misunderstandings. You don’t need to take on such risks for me.”
Warning! Warning!
A mental alarm blared in her head.
‘The chairman’s son… am I doomed? Last night with the chairman’s son…! What do I do? Will I get fired? Is the apartment key some preemptive strike before termination?’
The moment she realized Su-hyeok was from another world, Seola’s dormant instincts awoke.
The damage was done; irreversible mistakes had been made.
Now wasn’t the time to dwell on embarrassment.
‘I need to log into job sites and update my resume immediately. Ugh… I should have prepared a pipeline.’
Seola’s outward Mona Lisa smile hid the frenzy of a swan paddling under the water.
“Are you telling me to ignore a subordinate in danger?”
“The danger? Thanks to yesterday, my life is safe. I passed the dangerous moment and returned to normal. I can handle this. Ghosts don’t appear every day, so don’t worry, Director.”
Seola forced a cheerful smile, though her eyes twitched.
“How can you say it’s fine living in a haunted house?”
“Oh, I’ve lived there for three years. I’m a veteran. I even want to go back and rest properly. Haha…”
“Im Seola.”
“You don’t need to feel unnecessary guilt. I understand your concern. You must be worried…”
“I’ve never worried about you.”
“…!”
Seola froze, like a sculpture of ice.
“I don’t feel any sense of collective responsibility.”
“…Ah.”
Finally, her smile faded.
“Do you understand the situation of a teacher visiting a problem student’s home?”
Problem student…
“A subordinate got into a special situation affecting work, which decreases my team’s efficiency. A mark on my record? Unacceptable.”
Mark…
Emotions that had been restrained all day rose up, flushing her face red.
Since yesterday, she had been a troublesome, incompetent subordinate and potentially a mark on his record tomorrow.
But she was no rookie—she wouldn’t cry over her boss’s words.
“Can you live here without affecting work? If not, follow my instructions.”
“No, Director. You don’t have to go this far. It’s all unnecessary…”
Ignoring her protests, Su-hyeok put his phone back in his jacket pocket, looking down at her.
Soon, Seola received a text with the address of the apartment tied to the key card.
Seola, lost for words, finally managed to speak:
“Are you usually this… one-sided?”
At this unprecedented low voice, Su-hyeok raised his eyes.
“Watch for now. If I ever really affect your work, then you can scold me. But not before that…”
“Can’t you speak any other way?”
Her irritation was evident between the lines.
She knew she shouldn’t talk back to her superior, especially the chairman’s son, but her patience had run out.
Yes, she was angry.
Angry at herself.
Honestly, the moment he got out of the car and said, “Let’s talk,” she had felt excited all day, despite being ignored and tormented.
