Chapter 7
It was the day the new headquarters director was arriving.
But there was no room for excitement.
When Seung-ah arrived at the office, what greeted her was Mu-chil, looking like he was about to explode.
Fresh from the morning meeting, his nostrils flared with rage as he shouted.
“Who here knew that the new director was starting today?”
Not a single employee dared to answer, nor did anyone meet his eyes.
Who would dare admit they knew? Acting like they knew would be signing their own death warrant.
From their silence, Mu-chil realized—he was the only one left in the dark.
He slammed his work notebook down onto the desk with a sharp crack.
Bang!
“So everyone knew but me? How could this happen!”
Still fuming, he stormed into his office.
Only then did the others let out a sigh of relief.
“Phew.”
“The atmosphere today is insane.”
“No kidding.”
“That’s probably why the higher-ups didn’t tell him in advance. They knew he’d just make a scene.”
“Exactly. If he’d found out earlier, he’d have gone around stirring up trouble everywhere.”
Bang!
Mu-chil’s office door flew open again. Now dressed in his coat, he appeared once more.
“Put me on leave!”
Tossing those words, he stormed out of the office like a hurricane.
Han-gyeol stood up from his seat, looking worried.
“What do we do? Shouldn’t someone go bring him back?”
“Leave him. You know how desperately he’s been clawing for that promotion to director. He won’t listen to reason. He’ll cool down after a few days and come back.”
As Mi-yeon explained, Seung-ah suddenly jumped to her feet.
“But if the department head just left like that, what about the new director?”
“You’re right. We’ll have to receive him instead.”
In the General Affairs Division, besides Mu-chil, there was only one more senior manager above Seung-ah. But that person had recently resigned, and no replacement had been hired yet.
That meant, by rank, Seung-ah would have to act as Mu-chil’s deputy.
Anxiously, she checked the time.
“The appointment ceremony at the chairman’s office was scheduled for 10, wasn’t it? That means the director will be here any minute.”
As she hurried out, Mi-yeon and Han-gyeol followed.
The lobby was already in an uproar—the new director had arrived.
“Everyone’s out here gawking.”
Among the crowd stood Kim Tae-jun.
Working at the same company as her ex-boyfriend, especially one she’d broken up with so badly, was awful. Every time she ran into him, it felt like stepping in something foul.
Normally, Seung-ah would’ve been too on edge, too conscious of his presence.
But today, her eyes were glued to the new director.
The man was so handsome that anyone would admit it at first glance. Every time he moved, the crowd seemed to part like the Red Sea.
The female employees gushed with excitement.
“We get to see that face every day?”
“What charisma!”
It was no wonder—they could feel his presence, like he was shouting look at me! with every step.
His faint smile, combined with his naturally cold looks, gave him a sleek, urban aura.
“Wow, he looks exactly like he did in the magazine!”
So he’d even looked good in print. But Seung-ah didn’t know how accurate the photos were.
What she did know now, though, was that this man—Louis Han—was the same man she was living with.
As she stood frozen, Mi-yeon nudged her.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to greet him?”
Seung-ah couldn’t move, as though her feet were nailed to the ground. She’d made eye contact with Louis Han—or rather, Han Yoo-jin.
He walked straight toward her.
All eyes followed as Yoo-jin stopped in front of her. His gaze swept over her before landing on the employee ID hanging from her neck.
“Deputy Manager Choi Seung-ah of the General Affairs Division?”
She blinked twice, then quickly composed herself.
“…Hello, Director.”
“Nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you.”
At that moment, Jang Man-soo, the manager of the Design Division, stepped in.
“Director, since the head of General Affairs is on leave today, I’ll accompany you.”
With Man-soo escorting him, Yoo-jin headed to the director’s office, trailed by a swarm of Design Division employees.
Mi-yeon flushed with indignation.
“What’s that about? Escorting the director is supposed to be our division’s job—and Seung-ah’s responsibility!”
Seung-ah only let out a groan.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m ruined…”
Her legs buckled beneath her. She staggered away, not even noticing Tae-jun watching her intently.
The reality of having to work in the same company as Yoo-jin still didn’t feel real.
“Of all the places, why here!”
Why did fate keep throwing him in her path?
As Seung-ah paced like a pendulum, Mi-yeon sipped her coffee, amused.
“Mi-yeon, hit me. Just once.”
Smack!
Without hesitation, Mi-yeon slapped her on the back.
“Ow! That actually hurt!”
“So, it’s real then?”
“Want another slap?”
“He’s my landlord.”
“What? Wait… what?”
Mi-yeon froze mid-sip.
“You mean the guy who told you to move out?”
“Yeah, that’s him!”
“So… now you two are living together?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Wow… lucky you. Go for it.”
“Huh?”
Mi-yeon gazed dreamily into the distance, as if recalling Yoo-jin’s striking appearance.
“Sharing a house with a man that handsome? That’s exciting.”
Mi-yeon liked men, after all. If she’d met him under flashing club lights, she probably would’ve made a move herself.
But Yoo-jin wasn’t just a handsome man—he was also the sly fox who’d tried to kick her out of his house when they first met, and then had practically seduced her in a bathrobe just last night.
Now she had to serve that fox as her director.
By the time she’d accepted this grim reality, Han-gyeol approached her at the bench.
“Deputy Manager Choi! The director’s asking for you.”
“For me?”
“Seems he wants to address our division.”
Since Manager Mu-chil had stormed out, Seung-ah, as his acting deputy, had no choice but to go.
Heaven really had no mercy. Not even a moment to breathe.
Standing in front of Yoo-jin’s office felt like standing before a snake’s open jaws.
Normally, she never got nervous in front of her superiors. But today, her mouth was dry and her nerves taut.
Knock, knock.
Yoo-jin, sipping coffee by the window, turned his head.
Seung-ah gave a polite bow.
“You called for me, Director?”
“Care for a cup of coffee?”
“Yes, thank you.”
He looked nothing like the playful man from last night. His expression was cold, stripped of any trace of a smile—just like the first time they’d met.
Back then, she’d thought he was insufferable, heartlessly telling her to move out of his house with that frigid face.
But now, every small gesture radiated authority. He wasn’t her landlord, Han Yoo-jin, but Louis Han—the designer whose every product had sold out in record time.
He handed her a steaming mug.
“Fancy seeing you here again.”
“I know… I never imagined the new director would be you—oh, I mean, Director.”
“You don’t look happy to see me. You were stiff as a board in the lobby, too.”
“I’m just worried about us living together.”
If word got out that she was living with her boss, the gossip would spread like wildfire.
Rumors of her being dumped after a long relationship with Tae-jun still lingered in the company shadows. Mi-yeon wasn’t the only one who knew.
If whispers started linking her to her new director on top of that? The thought alone made her shiver.
“I’d prefer it if the staff didn’t find out.”
“Hmm.”
“Hmm”? What was that supposed to mean?
But Yoo-jin seemed indifferent, shifting instead to business.
“I want to inspect a few stores and the factory.”
“I’ll arrange a schedule right away.”
“And your hair.”
“…My hair?”
Suddenly, he reached out.
The woody scent of his cologne brushed past her nose.
He plucked a small leaf tangled in her hair.
It must’ve gotten stuck when she’d been sitting with Mi-yeon on the rooftop bench earlier.
Whether by bad luck or divine mischief, the result was the same—Yoo-jin’s broad frame was now far too close.
His perfectly knotted tie seemed to embody his meticulous nature. His tailored suit flowed elegantly.
A far cry from last night, when he’d worn nothing but a bathrobe, carelessly tied, threatening to fall open at any second.
Why is she staring like that?
At your body.
You really are shameless.
Stop! Quit thinking about that!
“What are you thinking about?”
She nearly yelped.
Yoo-jin studied her eyes, as if amused by whatever he saw there.
Before she could respond, he placed both hands on her shoulders.
Thud.
She flinched.
Without a word, he smoothly turned her around, pivoting her 180 degrees.
Her feet straightened on the floor as he gave a curt order.
“Let’s go.”
“…Go where?”
With a gentle push, she found herself moving forward like a robot obeying commands.
“I want to inspect the downstairs store.”
His tone was strictly professional. Yet Seung-ah knew she must not look back—because beneath that clipped delivery, there was the faintest trace of laughter.
The showroom manager was none other than Tae-jun.
Just seeing him there made her uncomfortable enough, and now she had to face him with Yoo-jin in tow.
But her unease melted away the moment they entered the showroom.
“This product! This one! And this one too!”
Yoo-jin pointed to the items on display one by one.
“Does this showroom actually sell B-grade products?”
The chill in his voice made Tae-jun falter. It was a sight worth savoring.
“Loss of gilding, decal defects, warped bases, glaze issues, lid misfits…”
As Yoo-jin listed every flaw, Tae-jun struggled to regain composure.
“But, Director, all these items still meet the company’s sales standards.”
“From now on, this showroom will not tolerate even minor defects.”
He raised his voice so every employee could hear.
“This place doubles as a promotional hall. Countless buyers visit here.”
And he was right—this showroom was the company’s face.
Tae-jun quickly agreed.
“I’ll be more thorough from now on.”
“Reinspect every product in this showroom, and raise the quality standards for what gets displayed.”
“Yes, Director.”
After finishing his inspection, Yoo-jin asked,
“Where’s the storage warehouse?”
“In the back, sir.”
He and the staff moved that way. Seung-ah was about to follow when Tae-jun suddenly grabbed her arm.
He whispered quickly.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were bringing the director down here?”
“There wasn’t time.”
Tae-jun glared toward Yoo-jin’s retreating figure. As the manager in charge, it should’ve been his role to accompany the director, so he couldn’t say much.
“Meet me later. We need to talk.”
