Chapter 06
“The Vice President’s Hand…”
Lunchtime.
Lee Yeon slipped into the pantry next to the office, downed a cup of instant ramen in one go, and tried to get some sleep.
The hangover still clung to her, and she desperately needed proper rest.
“Ugh, why is it so itchy today?”
It was because she had rushed out that morning.
Still half-drunk and oversleeping, she must not have secured her wig properly.
Maybe a hairpin was stuck in the wrong somewhere, her scalp kept itching.
In the end, Lee Yeon got up from the sofa and straightened herself in front of the wall mirror.
With CCTV cameras around and the uncertainty of who might walk in, she couldn’t just take the wig off to check.
She merely smoothed out her messy bangs and left the pantry.
Yaaawn.
As she sat down, still heavy with drowsiness, she heard Do-hyun’s footsteps approaching.
“So, what do you say?
Dinner tomorrow night?”
She hadn’t expected him to suggest it so quickly, just like that.
She’d been afraid he might say something like, “Why do we need to get to know each other?”
Or “I’m not really interested,” but it seemed he’d found some reason to agree.
Do-hyun was the type to strike while the iron was hot just like how his decisiveness had made their marriage happen so fast.
Standing in front of the office, Do-hyun gestured to her.
“Secretary Lee, make a reservation for 7 p.m. tomorrow at the J Hotel restaurant.”
“Yes, sir.
As usual, I’ll book a private room.
How many people?”
“Ah, no skip the private room.
It feels too formal.
Get us a window seat.
Two people.”
“Yes, two people.”
“Is someone else coming?”
“…Sorry?”
Her pen froze mid-note.
Idiot, Lee Yeon.
He’d clearly meant for her to book dinner for just the two of them, but her professional reflex had kicked in, and she’d asked her standard question.
Flustered, she darted her eyes around before finally lifting her head from the tablet to look at him.
Do-hyun stared at his desk for a moment, then let out a small sigh.
“Secretary Lee.”
“Yes?”
“…Never mind.”
How anticlimactic.
Lee Yeon mouthed the words silently toward him as he raked his hand roughly through his hair.
What’s bothering you now?
She knew that habit he always pushed his hair back when something was on his mind or irritating him.
She thought about asking but decided to let it go and instead voiced the question that puzzled her.
“I thought it was just going to be a simple meal.
Isn’t a hotel restaurant a bit much?”
J Restaurant was a high-end hotel dining place where each dish cost hundreds of thousands of won.
It was the complete opposite of “simple.”
“It’s the first time, so we should go somewhere fancy.”
So he had put thought into it?
Surprising.
She hadn’t expected him to be capable of such a considerate gesture.
“It’s your first time there, right?
It might also be your last, so eat and enjoy as much as you want.”
…Of course.
I almost let myself believe he had a romantic side.
While Lee Yeon pouted, Do-hyun disappeared into his office.
“Yes, is there a table available for 7 p.m. tonight?
No, not a private room… Ah, never mind.
Do you have a window seat?
Yes, please reserve that.”
As she made the reservation out of habit, a realisation struck her.
So I’m the one he thought might feel uncomfortable.
.
.
.
“What name should I put the reservation under?”
“Yoo Lee Yeon.”
Usually, for a dinner like this, the booking would be under the man’s name.
This just felt like an extension of work.
When they arrived at the restaurant, the host led them through the softly lit space.
Their table was at the far end, right by the window.
The place was every bit the luxury hotel restaurant from the ceiling to the floor, the atmosphere glowed subtly with elegance.
White, Scandinavian-style tiles spread across the floor, bathed in the warm orange glow of overhead lights.
White lace curtains were neatly tied back, adding a touch of refinement.
Do-hyun looked like he belonged here, a sculpture perfectly placed in its setting.
In fact, it felt as if his presence made the entire place look even more elegant.
From all around, patrons stole glances at their table.
The match was striking Do-hyun, perfectly at home in this refined atmosphere, and across from him, Lee Yeon, whose looks didn’t quite fit the setting but who sat there with unshaken confidence.
Some guests found the pair curious, even amusing.
They whispered, peeked again, and shared quiet laughs.
This wasn’t new.
She’d experienced it often enough just walking beside him.
The stares he drew were familiar, as were the looks of surprise at seeing her with him.
But tonight, the glances lingered longer probably because she was sitting across from him so naturally, as if she belonged there.
“Order whatever you want.
You like eating, Secretary Lee.”
Ever since catching sight of her desk drawer stuffed full of snacks, Do-hyun had pegged her as a shameless foodie.
She did enjoy eating… but reading this menu was another story.
I’ll just go with the safest choice a steak.
Having made her decision, she glanced at him.
Do-hyun’s head was bent over his menu, his broad shoulders making his already small face seem even smaller, his sharp jawline standing out.
They’d ordered, but neither spoke first.
Do-hyun stared absently out the window, and she… simply stared at him.
What could he be thinking so deeply about?
Alright, enough looking cool say something already!
“You seem like the type who enjoys Western food, Vice President.”
In the end, unable to bear the awkward silence any longer, Lee Yeon spoke first.
Do-hyun’s gaze drifted from the window to her, smooth and unhurried.
“I don’t like Western food.”
“Oh… I thought you did.
Then, is there something you do like?”
It seemed safe to start sharing information with something light like food preferences.
“Budae-jjigae.”
“…Sorry?
Budae-jjigae?”
It was a dish that didn’t suit him at all.
The kind of man who looked like he only ever carved into steak was saying his favourite food was army stew?
Her eyes went wide at the unexpected answer.
“I’m just surprised, Vice President, that you like budae-jjigae.”
“And I’m surprised your eyes are bigger than I thought.”
She froze, snapping her gaze to him.
But contrary to his words, his face was expressionless, his eyes fixed squarely on hers.
Flustered, she quickly dropped her head.
She should have kept her eyes half-lidded, as usual.
But she’d let her guard down without thinking, caught off-guard by the unexpected revelation.
She cleared her throat and forced herself back into the conversation.
“I love budae-jjigae stuffed with Spam.
It’s the one dish I can actually cook well.
When I make it at home, I can add as much Spam as I want so it’s the best.”
Her smile was bright and guileless.
There was nothing that made her happier than eating.
Just talking about food made her stomach growl.
Thanks to Do-hyun’s casual comment, she felt a tiny sliver of kinship with him.
Given the setting, maybe she didn’t need to feel so intimidated after all.
“Always about the food with you.”
He let out a small chuckle at her chatter.
That faint smile from him strangely made her feel good.
What she’d thought would be nothing but an uncomfortable dinner was turning out to be… surprisingly enjoyable.
“We’ll bring out the wine you ordered,” the server said.
Wine?
We ordered wine?
“You like wine, don’t you, Secretary Lee?”
She vaguely remembered mentioning it once, during a company dinner.
So… he remembered and ordered it?
“I do like it, but I don’t really know the different kinds.
I just drink whatever tastes good.”
She gave an awkward laugh.
From the design of the bottle on the table, it definitely wasn’t cheap wine.
Between the food and the wine, she wondered if Do-hyun was overdoing it tonight.
‘It might be your first and last time to eat and enjoy all you want.’
Maybe… he hadn’t been talking about the restaurant being her last.
Maybe he’d meant this might be their first and last dinner together.
“Um… Vice President…”
He was studying the wine when he looked up at the sound of her voice.
“You’re ordering as if this really is the last time.”
“So you can eat until you burst.”
The steak and wine paired together so perfectly that it made each sip go down smoother.
By the time their plates and the wine bottle were half-empty, the first real question came.
“So… how’s married life after four months?”
Four months of marriage.
Was tonight supposed to be about sharing thoughts on that?
“Hmm… nothing much comes to mind.
Just that I sometimes met with the Chairman and lived on the second floor.
That’s pretty much it.”
They barely even knew when the other was home only the sound of movement told Lee Yeon if Do-hyun was around.
There was nothing worth remembering from that kind of life.
“That’s the problem.
We’re supposed to be newlyweds, but we don’t have a single memory together.
You’re right, Secretary Lee.
With such half-hearted acting, we won’t be able to keep fooling Grandfather for long.”
“So that’s why you agreed so readily when I suggested we get to know each other?”
“I’d been thinking we needed some proper conversation, too.
You just happened to suggest it first.
“I’d been thinking we needed some real conversation, too.
Since you brought it up first, I think it’d be good for us to have dinners like this two or three times a week.”
Lee-Yeon nodded.
It seemed Doyhyun had been thinking along the same lines at about the same time she had.
Somehow, knowing this wasn’t their “last meal” left her oddly relieved.
“Alright. I’m in.”
With her answer, they rose from their seats.
“Have a good evening,” the staff said, seeing them off.
She hadn’t even noticed when he’d paid.
How many people in the world could settle such an expensive bill so casually?
Lee Yeon felt a twinge of guilt that she hadn’t paid a single won, yet she’d been the one to enjoy the meal the most.
Perhaps because the atmosphere had been more comfortable than expected, she’d eaten far more than she’d intended.
She’d cleaned her plate, and Do-hyun had even slid other dishes toward her, urging her to eat more.
I wonder if the Vice President is even full.
Stepping out of the restaurant, she walked toward where he was standing.
“Thank you for the meal, Vice President.”
“Mm.
You certainly ate well.”
He had a knack for saying things that hit you right in the conscience.
She shot a secret glare at the back of his head.
When the chauffeur arrived, they both settled into the backseat side by side.
The stuffy air inside the car seemed to heat her blood, making the buzz of alcohol rise again.
As the car sped down the road, she cracked the window, letting the cool breeze wash over her face.
Too quiet.
After a long stretch of silence, she found herself sneaking a sideways glance.
Do-hyun sat perfectly still, gaze fixed out the window.
And then
Screech
“Ah!”
A cat darted into the lane, forcing the driver to slam the brakes.
Startled, her focus still half on Do-hyun, Lee-Yeon let out a sharp scream.
Thankfully, the seatbelt kept her from slamming into the seat in front of her.
But… even apart from the seatbelt, something else was holding her in place.
Slowly, she lowered her gaze.
“Vice President… your hand…”
