Private Secretary – Chapter 7
The rest on Saturday, which she had not enjoyed in a long time, felt sweeter than anything.
Lee Seol slept in late, stretching lazily in bed, and ordered food she had been craving for several days, eating until she was completely full.
Not long after, drowsiness crept back over her.
Lying on the bed in a pleasantly fatigued state, Lee Seol sank into her thoughts. With such poor stamina, it seemed like it would be difficult for her to keep working for long.
“Maybe I should start going to the gym… but would I even have the time?”
Unlike Taesan, who lived a structured and disciplined life, Lee Seol was in a position where she had to rush to her boss whenever he called.
While the morning schedule was usually fixed, the afternoons were always flexible, and there was no clear time for leaving work.
Because of that, she had never even dared to start exercising before, but she couldn’t keep living like this forever.
“Maybe at least on the weekends?”
Of course, even on weekends she had to come running whenever Taesan called.
Still, the number of times he summoned her was significantly fewer compared to weekdays.
Having finally made up her mind with some difficulty, Lee Seol slowly sat up. Since she had already decided, she picked up her phone right away to sign up.
She planned to select a few well-reviewed gyms near her home and consult with them.
Bzzz— Bzzz—
Just then, her phone vibrated and the name Kang Taesan appeared on the screen.
What could it be? Feeling tense, Lee Seol quickly sat upright and answered the call.
“Yes, Director.”
“I’d like you to come pick me up.”
His voice carried a hint of intoxication. Lee Seol immediately got out of bed.
“Where are you right now?”
“I’m at the bar on the basement level of the hotel where I’m staying. You’ll find it easily, so come right away.”
The call ended abruptly.
Lee Seol stood there for a moment, puzzled.
“Hm?”
Thinking she might have misheard, she checked the recorded call.
He had clearly said the bar on the basement floor of the hotel he was staying at.
Then couldn’t he just go up to his room?
He didn’t sound so drunk that he couldn’t even manage that. Had he perhaps gotten hurt while drinking?
Ensuring her superior’s safety was also part of a secretary’s duties, so Lee Seol quickly changed her clothes first.
She assumed there must be an important reason why he had suddenly gone back on his earlier instruction not to remain on standby.
Besides, when she had first accepted this job, she had been told she might be called out at any hour of the day, so she didn’t feel particularly displeased.
Just as Lee Seol threw on her coat and grabbed her car keys, a message arrived as if urging her on.
“Now.”
Lee Seol hurried out the door.
Even though it was Saturday night, the roads weren’t very crowded, so she arrived sooner than expected.
When she went down to the basement floor, the bar he was likely in immediately caught her eye.
“Do you have a reservation?”
Just as an employee approached her, Lee Seol spotted a familiar back inside the bar.
“There’s someone I’m meeting,” she replied before walking straight toward the man.
But when she noticed the young woman sitting with Taesan, she hesitated.
What kind of situation was this?
“…You’re here. I should get going now. Something urgent came up.”
“Oh, are you the new secretary?”
“Yes.”
The woman sitting with Taesan stood up with a bright smile.
“Hello. I’m a friend who has known Taesan for a long time. My name is Kim Sena.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Director Kang Taesan’s secre—”
“There’s no need for a long introduction.”
Taesan grabbed Lee Seol’s arm just as she was about to shake Kim Sena’s hand and gently pulled her a step back.
His blatant attempt to draw a line left Lee Seol quite flustered.
What kind of relationship did they have that he wouldn’t even allow a handshake?
Moreover, her boss—who rarely revealed personal emotions—was openly showing discomfort in front of this woman.
Just what kind of relationship did the two of them have? Her personal curiosity began to stir.
“Taesan, you should take this.”
What Kim Sena handed over was an elegant paper envelope that looked unmistakably like a wedding invitation.
He accepted it calmly and left the place first.
After politely greeting her, Lee Seol followed him.
His pace was so fast that by the time she caught up, he had already reached the elevator and was pressing the button repeatedly with somewhat irritated movements.
The moment Lee Seol hurried up beside him, the doors opened with a ding.
He stepped inside without a word, and Lee Seol followed.
In the silence that filled the elevator, he suddenly held out the paper envelope to her.
“Tear it to shreds and burn it in front of me.”
“….”
Lee Seol hesitated before reaching out her hand.
She accepted it without complaint since it was something her boss had handed her, but she couldn’t help feeling quite startled by the sudden and violent instruction to tear it apart and burn it.
Just what was this that had stirred his emotions so much?
“Yes. I’ll do it right away once we get down.”
She answered obediently, but curiosity about the contents made her glance downward.
However, the envelope was so thick and luxurious that nothing inside could be seen.
It was most likely a wedding invitation.
But why would he tell her to tear it apart? If that was the case, why accept it in the first place?
The questions in Lee Seol’s mind kept growing.
Just then, the elevator arrived at the 35th floor.
Following Taesan, she entered the hotel room.
He brought a bottle of whiskey and a glass from the display cabinet and sat down on the sofa.
Was he planning to drink more after already drinking so much earlier?
Watching him silently, Lee Seol spoke to confirm.
“I’m really going to tear it up and burn it.”
Instead of answering, he drank the whiskey he had poured into the glass.
Straight—without even adding ice.
Seeing that, Lee Seol stopped asking questions and immediately brought the empty stainless-steel trash can closer to the sofa.
Then she tried to tear the envelope apart as instructed, but the paper was so thick that it didn’t tear easily.
Using all her strength, she ripped it in half, then adjusted her grip to tear it again.
At that moment, she happened to see the words written inside:
“Bride: Kim Sena.”
“…!”
She had expected it…
Even though she hadn’t looked on purpose, she instinctively glanced toward Taesan, worried he might say something.
But he seemed completely uninterested and simply continued drinking.
Seeing that only deepened her curiosity.
Why had Kang Taesan looked so dissatisfied since earlier?
His longtime friend was getting married, yet he couldn’t even offer sincere congratulations.
It was almost as if…
as if he didn’t approve of his friend’s wedding.
“Ah…!”
Startled by the thought that had unconsciously surfaced, Lee Seol quickly held her breath.
Trying hard to suppress her curiosity, she took a lighter out of her bag.
She set the torn pieces of the invitation on fire and tossed them into the stainless-steel trash can.
The papers quickly burst into flames.
When they were mostly burned, she poured water over them to extinguish the fire.
“Why do you carry a lighter? Do you smoke?”
“Since I serve you, Director, I never know what might happen, so I tend to carry most things that could be useful.”
“……”
“Is there anything else you’d like me to do?”
The meaning behind her question was simple: If there isn’t anything else, I’ll take my leave.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to stay.
She simply felt that perhaps she should give him some space to be alone.
He stared at her standing in front of the trash can with an emotionless gaze before pouring another drink into his empty glass.
Then he held it out to her.
Caught off guard, Lee Seol bent slightly and accepted the glass.
“Drink.”
“I drove here.”
“I’ll call a driver for you.”
Lee Seol, who didn’t particularly enjoy alcohol, hesitated while holding the glass.
“It’s not fair if I’m the only one getting drunk.”
“…Then I’ll excuse myself and step outside.”
Just as she tried to place the glass back on the table, he lightly grabbed her wrist.
There was no force in his touch at all.
Still, since it was the first time their skin had touched so directly, Lee Seol was slightly startled.
“I called you because I didn’t want to be alone. But I also don’t want to be the only one drunk, so play along with me a bit.”
Hearing him say it so honestly made Lee Seol waver slightly.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t drink—she simply didn’t enjoy it.
Gently pulling her wrist free from his grasp, Lee Seol lifted the whiskey he had given her and drank it in one go.
Taesan let out a light laugh as he watched her empty the glass without even blinking.
“…You drink well.”
