“It’s not like it’s your first time going to my house anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”
Startled, her eyes that had been focused on the card key were pulled up. Her focus that had been shaking in confusion quickly regained its place. She knew exactly what he meant. Of course, he had no impure intentions, but he was still drawing enough attention from the staff, so she refused.
“My position now is very different from when I was a college student. Back then, I was with other seniors, but today, you’re telling me to use the house alone without the president.”
When she was in college, Nam Do-hyun’s house was sometimes used as a student council hideout. The student council members usually drank there or did their homework. Since Lee Joo was the first-year class president, she had no choice but to be dragged there.
“Your position, it’s not a situation where you can argue about that.”
He didn’t back down an inch. If she had refused to this extent, he could have just turned down the offer, but Nam Do-hyun held firm. The uniquely relaxed atmosphere flowing from Do-hyun was pressuring Lee Joo.
“I can’t accept it, president.”
It was the second rejection, but the card key was not taken away.
“It’s just courtesy as a college senior.”
“…”
“Because a junior in the same department seems a bit pitiful.”
That’s why she hated it even more. Her hair was drenched in water and hung limply, and her sky blue blouse clung to her upper body, making her look even more uncomfortable. Just standing in front of Nam Do-hyun like this was a bundle of humiliation. Swallowing a sour sigh, she earnestly made a request.
“Please treat me as a subordinate at the company. Please.”
Nam Do-hyun’s arm, which had been floating in the air, finally went down. Shin Lee-Joo’s house was located in an alley in Dal-dong, Seoul, an hour’s drive away. That’s why Nam Do-hyun thought that Lee Joo would not be stubborn and would head to his house. However, that was a huge mistake. He certainly looked unappealing, but his convictions were unwavering. He was so upright that he wanted to break him at all costs.
“The lobby was covered in water that no one knew what it was used for, and the employees who came to the lobby during business hours to check it out must have covered up the company bulletin board. It was really fun to watch.”
Do-hyun gave him an unusually cold look as he recited the list one by one. As if to express his annoyance, his tolerance for Lee Joo was quite sharp.
“If we’re not lucky, the reporters will put the company’s name on it and publish a few articles.”
“…”
“Do you think I’d take on an employee like that?”
He told her exactly how much of a mess she had made this company. Lee Joo, who had been at odds with Nam Do-hyun until just a moment ago, pursed her lips. Her cheeks were burning and stinging.
“I would have kicked you out covered in sewage without even letting you into the office.”
Nam Do-hyun’s legs, which had been sitting on the edge of the desk with his toes crossed, gave out. When Do-hyun straightened up, their half-sunk eye level rose.
“The fact that you are standing in front of me right now means that you are an exception.”
There was nothing wrong with what he said. She could have been standing here because she was Nam Do-hyun’s junior. She didn’t want to be treated this way. But she couldn’t quit this job either. She had recently taken out a company loan, so she had to work hard to earn money and pay it back.
“What do you want to do?”
Nam Do-hyun’s arms, which were below her, were raised once again. It was her last chance.
“Do you want to take it?”
“…”
“Or do you want to leave my company, Shin Lee-joo.”
Lee-joo realized that she couldn’t be stubborn any longer. Her determination to beat Nam Do-hyun gave up. She lifted her hands that were next to her skirt and grabbed the card key with the rounded end.
“I’ll buy the clothes and go in.”
It was obvious that there wouldn’t be any clothes that would fit anyway because of the difference in their physiques. Above all, she didn’t want to borrow Nam Do-hyun’s clothes and then return them.
“Do whatever you want.”
Lee-joo bowed briefly and then lifted her waist before leaving the CEO’s office. The two secretarial staff members sitting in front of the desk turned their eyes to Lee-joo. Even though they were talking amongst themselves, Lee Joo could clearly feel that he was concerned about her coming out of the CEO’s office. Lee Joo got on the elevator, holding the card key in her palm tightly to the hem of her skirt. Only after the eyes of the employees who had been following her around tirelessly disappeared did she let out her choked breath.
“It wasn’t this uncomfortable to begin with.”
Nam Do-hyun couldn’t even imagine it, but Lee Joo had been feeling uncomfortable with him for quite some time. Lee Joo knew exactly what had caused it. She just kept it a secret because she didn’t want to think about it. She became the class representative for her freshman year in the business administration department and joined the student council, where she first met Nam Do-hyun. Until then, Do-hyun was Lee Joo’s idol, just like everyone else. Until that incident… … That was it.
“God Lee Joo.” Every time she saw Nam Do-hyun, the past she had been trying her best to hide quietly reared its head. That’s why Lee Joo had been trying her best to avoid Do-hyun even after joining the company. I haven’t had any problems for almost a year, and I’ve been doing well, but I never thought it would suddenly become like this. Let’s forget it. I have to forget it. Nam Do-hyun doesn’t even remember it.
Across the street from the company building, walking two blocks, there was Do-hyun’s apartment. The asphalt was boiling under the blazing sun. When she thought she would collapse in the sweltering heat, she arrived in front of the apartment. Did Do-hyun contact me in advance, or was the card key a free pass? As Joo-hee entered the apartment, the security guard guided her to the elevator connected to the penthouse. As she got into the silver-enclosed elevator, the elevator reached the top floor in no time. she went out into the hallway and stood in front of the penthouse, which didn’t even have a room number. When she put the card key on the door lock, the closed door opened. As she entered the house without an owner, her feet wouldn’t leave the front door. Lee-Joo hesitated for a while and then cautiously stepped inside.
“It’s changed a lot.”
It had been about six years since she’d been to Nam Do-hyun’s house. In that long time, Nam Do-hyun’s house had changed a lot. Not only the space and furniture, but also the layout had completely changed. The interior, which had been accented with bright colors, was now a mixture of beige and gray.
“This is not the time for me.”
There was no time to look around the house peacefully. She didn’t want to create the unfortunate situation of running into Nam Do-hyun after washing up. Slowly Lee Joo went into the bathroom and took off the clothes she was wearing. After washing her sticky clothes in the sink, she went into the shower. When she turned on the shower lever, lukewarm water washed over her body. As she took care of the immediate needs, she was belatedly worried. When she got home, her hometown people would be waiting for her. She thought about going to a motel, but she couldn’t waste the money she had on motel fees.
“What should I do?”
The front and back were blocked off, and there was no way out. In the end, she couldn’t come to a conclusion and came out of the shower. When she put on the white T-shirt and jeans she had picked out at a nearby clothing store, she heard a noise outside. Nam Do-hyun had returned. Without even drying her hair properly, Lee Joo hurriedly ran her hair over with a white towel a couple of times. She put the damp blouse and skirt she was wearing into a paper bag from a duty-free shop and left the bathroom. Nam Do-hyun, who took off his jacket and placed it on the sofa, had not yet found Lee Joo. Lee Joo, who had come a step closer to Do-hyun, made her presence known.
“Are you home?”
Do-hyun turned his gaze to the neatly flowing voice. His expressionless mouth tilted to one side and he snickered.
“Something was a little strange just now.”
“Where are you going?”
Nam Do-hyun loosened his tie and stared at Lee Joo’s moist lips.
“That greeting, ‘Are you home?’”
“…”
“For a moment, I thought I had a wife hidden in this house.”
Dong. Lee Joo’s heart made a strange sound. What is it? She had to hold back the urge to brush away her stuffy chest. Since it was an ambiguous answer, Lee Joo hesitated and lowered her head.
“I used the bathroom well. Thank you.”
“If you use it well, that’s good.”
“I’ll go first.”
Nam Do-hyun nodded his head faintly without answering. Just the fact that this house ended without any special incident made Lee Joo happy. She would be able to keep her distance from Nam Do-hyun again. Lee Joo passed Do-hyun, trying hard to hide her slightly rising lips. She was about to put her feet into her black shoes that were still intact when she went to the front door.
Ding-dong. The doorbell rang loudly in the living room as if mocking Lee Joo for letting her guard down. Who was coming? Or was it a delivery? It was the moment when she turned around, pulling back her hand that had been reaching out to grab the doorknob.
Nam Do-hyun, who had clearly been in the living room, was standing behind Lee Joo. When she took a half step back, Do-hyun’s chest and her back bumped into each other. Lee Joo, who had absentmindedly raised her gaze, could not say anything before Do-hyun lowered his head. Askew, their lips almost touching. The scent of the shampoo she had just used came from Nam Do-hyun as well. It was a very mysterious feeling.
“Ah.”
It was when Lee Joo pulled away to call Do-hyun. Nam Do-hyun carefully covered Lee Joo’s mouth that was about to open with his palm. Her soft lips were crushed in Nam Do-hyun’s palm. Her pupils, which had grown round, were pulled up to Do-hyun. Without giving her the right to ask what he was doing, Do-hyun asked unilaterally.
“Have you ever played hide-and-seek when you were little?”
“…”
“You had to do well.”
Without even asking if she would participate.
“If you really don’t want to be a secret wife.”
Shouldn’t you be saying something like that all of a sudden? Lee Joo passed Do-hyun, trying to hide her slightly rising lips.
