Chapter 11

The document detailed the compensation for reporting Cha Heeyoung’s schedule.  

As expected, what Dokyeom was paying Leeyeon was money.  

However, the amount was so large that it surprised her.  

“Could there have been a mistake in entering the numbers……?”  

“There isn’t.”  

Ah, there wasn’t.  

It was such an enormous sum.  

One that Leeyeon couldn’t even imagine.  

“Why that expression?”

“The amount is much larger than I expected.”  

“It means the information you’ll provide me is that valuable.”  

“Still, this seems like too much.”  

“Thanks to you, Han Leeyeon, I don’t have to go through with an unnecessary engagement, so its value cannot be measured in monetary terms.”  

When Leeyeon remained silent, Dokyeom began reciting the terms of the contract.  

“Receiving reports about Director Cha Heeyoung will not leave any record other than this contract.”  

“Yes.”  

“I have no intention of recording our calls, and you, Han Leeyeon, should also avoid mentioning Director Cha Heeyoung as much as possible in messages, emails, or anything similar.”  

He was a truly meticulous man.  

And that was good for Leeyeon too.  

Even if she were to get caught by Director Cha Heeyoung later, there would be no evidence that she had leaked her information.  

And though she hadn’t expected it, the financial compensation turned out to be much greater than she anticipated.  

If she managed the money well, she could pay off her remaining debt and cover Soon-ok’s hospital bills.

Teaming up with Dokyeom had been an excellent decision.  

“Well then, let’s sign.”  

Leeyeon picked up the fountain pen Dokyeom handed her and neatly wrote her name.  

As he looked at her handwriting, Dokyeom thought to himself.  

It was such a fitting handwriting for her.  

How could her letters be so neat and leave no room for criticism?  

When Leeyeon put down the fountain pen, Dokyeom picked it up and signed his name in the designated space as well.

“Who was the woman Director Cha Heeyoung met at S Hotel earlier today?”  

“She met Artist Bae Yerin. It seemed like she was giving her the luxury bag I picked up earlier today.”  

Leeyeon briefly explained about the bag she had picked up.  

“It seems Director Cha Heeyoung cherishes her a lot.”  

“She often praised her, calling her a rising star.”  

For the two who knew the true face of that woman, this situation was simply amusing.  

A glance at the clock on the wall showed that it was already close to midnight.  

“Director Cha Heeyoung seems intent on proceeding with your engagement as planned.”

“That won’t happen.”

Dokyeom slowly rubbed his eyebrow with his index finger.  

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll be visiting the Jicheol Gallery frequently to see you.”  

“…….”  

“Then, everyone will take a keen interest in our relationship. Don’t you think so?”  

It meant that rumors about the two of them dating would naturally spread, and eventually, it would reach Director Cha Heeyoung’s ears.  

“I’ll visit the gallery tomorrow and find the right moment to talk about our relationship.”  

“Yes, I understand.”  

Just as Leeyeon was about to get up, she suddenly asked Dokyeom a question out of curiosity.  

“By the way, when did you find out that Artist Bae Yerin and Junho oppa were in that kind of relationship?”  

“I found out the same day I proposed this deal to you, Han Leeyeon.”  

“Ah……”  

“Why do you look like that?”  

“It’s nothing.”  

Seeing her expression, Dokyeom chuckled softly.  

“You know, it’s rare for you to ask me a question first.”

“Is that so?”  

Leeyeon smiled brightly and looked at Dokyeom.  

She was truly a strange woman.  

Leeyeon seemed like someone who didn’t hide her words and was straightforward, but strangely, she gave off the feeling of being someone who tightly concealed the truly important things she needed to reveal.

She acted innocent, but she wasn’t entirely naïve.

What is her true self?  

Will the day ever come when I see that side of her?  

Those thoughts briefly crossed Dokyeom’s mind as he looked at her graceful face.  

Leeyeon put the contract into her bag and stood up.  

Seeing her, Dokyeom also rose from his seat.  

“If you have any questions in the future, feel free to ask me anything.”  

“Yes, I will.”  

The contract was now signed, making it impossible to back out anymore.  

The two of them shared a common goal: to bring down Cha Heeyoung.  

***

Around 30 minutes before lunchtime, Dokyeom entered the Jicheol Gallery.

Even when he saw Leeyeon, he behaved no differently than usual and headed straight to the director’s office.  

Click-  

Leeyeon pulled the door shut firmly and walked down the hallway, keeping her footsteps quiet.  

Checking the time, she realized she might already be late for picking up the lunchbox if she didn’t hurry.  

If she was even slightly late, Cha Heeyoung would scream at the top of her lungs.  

Just as Leeyeon grabbed her car keys and was about to head outside, the tightly closed door of the Jicheol Gallery director’s office suddenly swung open, and Dokyeom reappeared.  

Following him was none other than Cha Heeyoung, the director of Jicheol Gallery and Dokyeom’s stepmother.  

“Dokyeom, the lunch box will arrive soon, so why don’t you stay and eat before you go?”

While Cha Heeyoung spoke, Dokyeom’s gaze was fixed elsewhere.  

To be precise, his eyes were locked on Leeyeon, who had frozen in place while holding her car keys, ready to leave.  

Cha Heeyoung noticed where Dokyeom’s gaze lingered and sharply yelled,  

“Secretary Han! Why are you still here instead of leaving?”  

“I apologize, Director. I’ll go right away.”  

After Leeyeon disappeared from sight, Dokyeom asked Cha Heeyoung a question.  

“Did your previous secretaries also pick up lunch from Baek Chan-jae every day?”

“Yes, of course. You need to have a hearty lunch, don’t you?”  

“What about on days when you have appointments?”  

“On those days, I eat out. You know I’m picky about food because I’m sensitive. The dishes made at Baek Chan-jae are the ones I trust the most, so I try to eat those whenever possible.”  

As if that was all he was curious about, Dokyeom didn’t ask any further questions.

“Why do you ask?”  

“It’s nothing. Let’s go inside and wait.”  

Even after entering the director’s office, Cha Heeyoung couldn’t shake off the unsettling feeling.  

Dokyeom had never shown any interest whenever her personal secretaries changed. So why was he asking so many questions about Leeyeon today?  

‘There shouldn’t be any connection between the two of them at all.’  

As she thought about it, Cha Heeyoung’s eyes narrowed slightly.  

‘Come to think of it, every time Secretary Han brought out tea, it seemed like Dokyeom was paying attention to her….’  

For no reason, she began to feel anxious.  

Hiding her unease, Heeyoung asked,  

“Dokyeom, how about having the engagement ceremony with Bae Yerin next month? The sooner, the better, I think.”  

“I don’t think I can get engaged to that woman.”  

“What? Son, what are you talking about?”  

Heeyoung’s eyes widened as she raised her voice.  

Right on cue, knock-knock—a sound came from the door, and Leeyeon entered the director’s office, slightly out of breath, holding heavy lunchboxes in both hands.  

“Ma’am, I’ve brought the meals.”  

“Okay, put them over there.”  

Leeyeon quickly and skillfully laid out the lunchboxes on the table and finished setting them up in no time. Then, she bowed politely and swiftly left the room.  

***  

Leeyeon stepped out of the director’s office, firmly closing the door behind her, and let out a long breath she had been holding.  

Thankfully, Dokyeom didn’t act like he knew her or pay her any special attention today.  

After lunch, she planned to clear away the lunchboxes, head to Dokyeom’s car, and briefly report Cha Heeyoung’s schedule.  

While sitting on a chair in the hallway where the director’s office was visible, Leeyeon kept an eye on the firmly closed door, wondering when it would open.  

She overheard the faint whispers of passing curators, one by one.  

“I heard the Director’s son visited again today. Did you see him?”

“Of course, I did. You mean Ji Dokyeom, the director of Jicheol Construction, right?”  

“Yeah. For a second, I thought a movie star had come to our gallery.”  

“He’s really handsome. But he doesn’t look anything like the director.”  

“Well, obviously. Director Cha Heeyoung isn’t his biological mother, so it’d be stranger if he did resemble her.”  

“That’s true. But he seems to visit our gallery quite often these days, doesn’t he?”  

“Right. Could it be that he has a secret lover hidden here? Haha.”  

The chatter about Dokyeom gradually faded into the distance as they found amusement in their conversation.  

Not long after, the door to the director’s office opened.  

Leeyeon also stood up from her seat.  

It seemed Dokyeom had stepped out to make a quick phone call.  

When he saw Leeyeon, they exchanged glances, and he mouthed the words softly.  

‘I’ll make this call quickly, so please wait a moment.’  

When Leeyeon gently nodded, Dokyeom gave a faint smile and disappeared around the corner.  

Meanwhile, Cha Heeyoung called out to Leeyeon in a sharp voice.  

“Secretary Han, come here for a moment.”  

As soon as Leeyeon stepped inside, Heeyoung snapped at her.  

“Are you trying to seduce my Dokyeom?”