Chapter 24

Under normal circumstances, Leeyeon might not have provoked Yerin like she did today.

However, facing Yerin, who was spewing abusive words with a smug expression and not even a hint of remorse, she didn’t want to just endure and let it slide.  

In the past, she would have tolerated such verbal abuse out of fear of possibly being fired while standing next to Cha Heeyoung. But now, she had something to rely on, which made her feel a little more confident.  

She believed that even if she were unfairly dismissed because of this incident, Dokyeom wouldn’t just stand by and do nothing.  

After all, her holding her ground by Cha Heeyoung’s side would ultimately benefit Dokyeom as well.  

[Once I arrive in Korea, I’ll head to the gallery, so wait for me.]  

Leeyeon stared at Dokyeom’s message and sent a concise reply.  

Since Dokyeom had been away for about a week, there were quite a few things to report when they met this time.  

If the commotion at the gallery today didn’t escalate further, she wouldn’t bother reporting it.  

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t directly related to Cha Heeyoung’s embezzlement activities.  

***  

As soon as Director Cha Heeyoung entered her office, she hastily pulled down the blinds.  

After making sure the door was securely closed, she spun around abruptly.  

“What on earth happened?”

Since there was no one watching, her tone toward Yerin was shorter and more direct than usual.  

“Director, please listen to me.”  

Yerin, looking as if she’d been wronged, quickly continued speaking.  

“How do you even manage your secretary?”  

“What?”  

“Did you know who Han Leeyeon has been meeting?”  

At Yerin’s sharp words, Cha Heeyoung closed the distance between them.  

“She’s meeting Ji Dokyeom! That woman!”  

“Where did you hear that?”  

“Does that matter right now?”  

“Yerin, men all go through a phase of wandering at least once.”  

Cha Heeyoung took Yerin’s hand and began to console her.  

“It might even be better for him to indulge his curiosity and discard it before marriage.”  

“Do you think it’s just a temporary interest?”  

“Of course. Do you know how I raised Dokyeom? The difference in family background is enormous, and there’s no way he’d seriously consider marrying someone like Secretary Han, who is so beneath him.”  

At Cha Heeyoung’s reassuring words, as if such a thing would never happen, Yerin slowly began to calm down.  

Since Yerin had seen Cha Heeyoung from a young age, she leaned on her and relied on her like a mother or an aunt.  

Yerin was abandoned by her parents as soon as she was born and was adopted by President Bae, who had lost his wife early on.  

Although President Bae supported her without any material lack and gave her a lot of affection, he couldn’t fill the absence of a mother.  

It was only natural that Yerin came to look up to Cha Heeyoung, who had frequent interactions with their family, as a mother figure.  

So today, she naturally believed that Cha Heeyoung would take her side.  

Looking at Yerin with warm eyes, Cha Heeyoung began to speak.  

“Yerin, you have such a solid backing behind you. If you just wait, everything will fall into your hands, so why stain your hands with blood here?”  

Cha Heeyoung brought a wet tissue and started wiping Yerin’s nails one by one.  

The caring touch, as if handling someone precious, made Yerin burst into tears.  

“Huuhhh…”

Cha Heeyoung opened her arms wide, hugged Yerin tightly, and patted her back.  

“My poor Yerin must have been so startled. I should have told you in advance. I’m sorry.”  

“No, it’s just that Secretary Han was acting so irritatingly earlier. I just couldn’t stand by and watch.”  

“You did well, very well.”  

It was obvious to anyone that Yerin was at fault, but instead of blaming her, Cha Heeyoung embraced her.  

It was an excessive and over-the-top display of affection.  

“Director, what if the gallery staff start gossiping about what happened today?”  

Perhaps worried about that now, Yerin wiped her tear-filled eyes with the back of her hand and asked.  

“I’ll take care of that, so don’t worry about it and focus on preparing for the competition.”  

“Okay, I will.”  

“Even though the result is already decided, you know it has to be a piece that others can acknowledge, right?”  

“Yes, I know.”  

“If you achieve good results in this competition, President Bae will be very pleased as well.”  

“I want to do well. I also want to prove that your eye for talent isn’t wrong, Director Cha.”  

“Of course. You’ll do great.”  

Cha Heeyoung gently brushed Yerin’s hair back and showered her with compliments.  

After Yerin had calmed down somewhat, Cha Heeyoung smiled warmly at her.  

“You can’t even compare yourself to Secretary Han, so there’s no need to pay attention to what someone like her says.”  

Her voice was full of affection.  

To the point where anyone watching might mistake them for a loving family.  

Because of that, Yerin began to act even more spoiled.  

“But are you really going to keep Han Leeyeon as your secretary? I hate having to see her face every time I come to the gallery.”  

While she had indulged all of Yerin’s other complaints, this time, Cha Heeyoung’s expression turned firm, as if to say she couldn’t grant this request.  

“I can’t fire Secretary Han.”  

“Why not? It’s not like she’s exceptionally good at her job.”  

The fact that Leeyeon was the only one who could endure Yerin’s vicious temper and stick around for so long actually made her quite useful.  

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.  

“If I fire her, it’ll only benefit Han Leeyeon.”  

“Why is that?”  

“I need to keep her in front of me and watch her. I have to slowly drain her and separate her from Dokyeom.”  

“Oh, that makes sense.”  

“Exactly. I can’t just fire her in a fit of anger and then watch her freely meet with Dokyeom without a care in the world.”  

Only then did Yerin smile brightly, as if she finally understood.  

“You’re absolutely right.”  

After all, Ji Dokyeom would eventually be hers, and watching Han Leeyeon suffer through it might even be an entertaining game in its own way.  

***  

“Secretary Han, come in immediately.”  

The door to the director’s office opened slightly, and a thunderous voice echoed from inside.  

As Leeyeon entered the director’s office, Yerin smirked and sneered at her with a triumphant expression.  

Cha Heeyoung spoke in a cold tone, her eyes sharp.  

“Secretary Han, today you violated the most important principle.”  

“…….”  

“You got involved in an unpleasant incident with an artist we should be treating with the utmost respect, and now look at this mess you’ve created?”  

“……I’m sorry.”  

Of course, since Leeyeon wasn’t entirely without fault, she had to apologize.  

“Your apology isn’t for me. It’s for Artist Bae Yerin.”  

When she lifted her head, Yerin was wearing a smile so sly it was almost annoying.  

Sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed, she looked at Leeyeon with an expression that seemed to say, ‘Go ahead and apologize.’  

It wasn’t entirely Leeyeon’s fault, but it seemed she was the only one who would have to apologize here.  

“What are you doing, Secretary Han?”  

It wasn’t as if she hadn’t anticipated this.  

If she didn’t apologize now and held out, it was obvious how Cha Heeyoung would react, so there was no other way.  

“Artist Bae Yerin, I’m truly sorry for what happened today.”  

Even after hearing the apology, Yerin just let out a dismissive snort.  

“I’ll make sure to manage the staff more diligently from now on, so please, with your generous heart, forgive today’s incident, Artist Bae Yerin.”  

“Alright. I’m accepting this apology because you asked me to, Director Cha.”  

Leaving those annoying words behind, Yerin nudged Leeyeon with her shoulder and left the director’s office.  

“Secretary Han, why are you causing so many problems these days?”  

At the sharp voice, Leeyeon could only hang her head low.  

“If this happens one more time, you’ll be fired immediately! Got it?”  

“Yes, I’m sorry.”  

“Get out! I can’t stand to look at you.”  

***  

After a week-long business trip, Dokyeom exited the airport.  

It wasn’t a long trip, but the endless schedule left him too tired to sleep properly.  

He hadn’t been able to rest even on the plane, reviewing piled-up documents, so his eyes were dry.  

Only after getting into the car driven by Secretary Choi did he slowly loosen his tie.  

“Director, should we head to Jicheol Gallery?”  

Dokyeom nodded once.  

There was no real urgency.  

It wasn’t like Cha Heeyoung was going to run off with the gallery’s money in the meantime.  

So he could receive the reports delayed by a week tomorrow, but strangely, as soon as he returned to Korea, he wanted to call Leeyeon.  

What had she been doing during the week I was gone?  

Perhaps she thought it was nice not to have him persistently questioning and calling her.  

While thinking about Leeyeon, a gentle smile unknowingly appeared on Dokyeom’s lips.  

“Director, there was a message from the gallery during your business trip.”