Epilogue 2 – Junhee (Part 1)

Never fall for Executive Director Choi Dowook.

This was the first unspoken rule that Kim Junhee was informed of when she was assigned as a secretary to the Executive Director’s office. When she heard it, Kim Junhee nodded in confusion. At that time, she was in her third year as a secretary, and having romantic feelings for her superior was something she had never dared to imagine.

She was the lowest-ranking secretary in the Executive Director’s office. Unlike the secretaries seen on TV or in movies who follow the executive around, share important conversations, and assist them, she rarely had such tasks.

Kim Junhee simply guarded the front of the Executive Director’s office, answered and connected phone calls, and followed the orders given by her direct superior, Yoon Ki-hong. In the morning, she opened the office windows, organized the morning newspapers for the Executive Director, prepared his coffee and snacks, adjusted and confirmed his various schedules, and other such tasks.

The moments she spoke with the Executive Director were the few seconds when she received an internal call and transferred it to his office. The moments they faced each other were also brief, as he passed by her desk to enter his office.

Now, a year has passed since she started serving Choi Dowook, and Kim Junhee deeply realizes how difficult it is to adhere to that unwritten rule.

It didn’t take long for Kim Junhee to fall in love with her superior.

Praise for Choi Dowook’s appearance had been heard to the point of exhaustion since she joined the company, no, even before she joined. Despite being mentally prepared, when she faced Choi Dowook, she was captivated by a dizzying sensation. More precisely, her heart ached sharply.

He was a man who instinctively made her want to possess him, yet simultaneously filled her with a sense of inferiority, knowing she could never have him. It was a very strange feeling she had never experienced before.

“Executive Director, this is Deputy Kim Junhee from the Secretary’s Office, who will be serving you from now on.”

Yoon Ki-hong introduced her, and Kim Junhee bowed politely.

Junhee? 

She heard the Executive Director’s voice above her bowed head. One second, two seconds, three seconds. For some reason, the Executive Director paused.

“Nice to meet you.”

It was a sensuous voice that did not match his cold and dry face. At that moment, without her will, a strange fantasy arose within her, which even she could not understand, leaving her flustered.

It was the first time she realized that a voice alone could captivate a person. She tried hard not to show it. She straightened up with a composed face.

Their eyes met briefly. His eyes were pitch black, with the boundaries between the iris and pupil blurred. That was all. The Executive Director soon turned and entered his office.

Kim Junhee has not forgotten that brief encounter to this day. Although his outstanding appearance was well-known, facing him in person left a very cold and dry impression. The thought of harboring melancholic feelings for that face was enough to incite fear.

Nevertheless, perhaps because of his overwhelming height and sensual physique, or perhaps because of his captivating voice that wrapped around her ears, Kim Junhee helplessly fell for him. She clearly recognized this feeling last summer when she saw Choi Dowook returning from the usual regular executive meeting.

That day, the Executive Director had an unusually angry face. His hand gestures when opening the office door were sharp. He usually did not easily show his emotions and maintained a composed face. But that day, he irritably pulled at his tie and cursed.

“Just because you have a mouth doesn’t mean you should speak.”

His muttered words sent chills down her spine. He roughly opened the office door and went inside.

It was the first time she had heard such coarse words from him. It was also the first time she had seen his furrowed brows.

His work ability was generally flawless. He knew how to place and utilize people appropriately, his decision-making process was rational, and his ability to respond to unexpected variables that disrupted projects was excellent. His smooth appearance and dry but clean manners made many employees enjoy working with him.

Even when drafting documents, there were no minor errors in the format. He had received strict successor training under the first Chairman of Taesan for a long time. She thought this must be what makes royalty different.

But to hear such coarse language. Kim Junhee’s heart pounded strangely.

Following Yoon Ki-hong’s instructions, she prepared the Earl Grey tea that the Executive Director usually enjoyed and brought it into his office.

The Executive Director was leaning against his desk, listening to Yoon Ki-hong’s report. His tie, usually neatly tied, was loosely hanging, and his sleeves, usually buttoned up to the wrists, were rolled up as he crossed his arms and smoked a cigarette.

She carefully placed the teacup beside him, with a sharp freshness and a heavy woody scent wafting around. It was the scent she always associated with him.

As she was about to quietly bow and turn away while he was still focused on Yoon Ki-hong’s report.

“Thank you, Kim Junhee.”

When had he uttered such vulgar words? Those few words dropped Kim Junhee into a sweet abyss.

***

“Oh my. The Executive Director doesn’t usually remember the names of his secretaries. But he remembers your name?”

She was having a meal with a colleague who had resigned a long time ago. Kim Junhee looked as bewildered as when she first heard the unwritten rule of the Executive Director’s office.

“Really? I can’t believe he doesn’t remember. He’s a smart person. He often calls me by my name.”

“He’s a flawless superior in terms of work, but he’s famously known for having a certain barrier. He might be different with Yoon Ki-hong, but with other employees, he rarely has personal conversations or makes jokes.”

“That’s true, but….”

“Do you know Choi Ji-eun from the second secretary’s office? Your predecessor. She used to complain so much about how he would call her by different names like Choi Ji-yeon, Choi Ji-yoon, Choi Ji-young, and sometimes even Kim Jin-young, changing all three syllables.”

“He’s never gotten my name wrong.”

“That’s why it’s strange. What is it? Do you have something going on with the Executive Director? Are you secretly flirting with him?”

Her colleague giggled teasingly. It was just a joke, but Kim Junhee’s heart pounded again.

That night, she couldn’t sleep for a long time. She tossed and turned all night, unable to fall asleep, and finally fell asleep in the deep dawn as the day was breaking.

That night, Kim Junhee dreamt of having s*x with the Executive Director. In his office, under his sensual body, hearing his low and deep groans, she dreamt of her chest shaking wildly.

***

A rumor spread. It was said that Choi Dowook, the Executive Director of Taesan, was actually married. Although they hadn’t held a ceremony, he had registered the marriage. It was said that due to strong family opposition, they hadn’t gone public or held a ceremony.

She thought it was nonsense. Because of his appearance that incited all sorts of fantasies, there were all kinds of stories about him.

Nevertheless, it bothered her. She started to listen more closely to the conversations inside the office. She often found herself staring blankly at the closed office door while working.

Was the Executive Director really married? Did he have a woman?

Whenever the Executive Director left the office for something not on the schedule she had arranged, she suspected he was going to see a woman. When he arrived at the office later than usual due to an unplanned schedule in the morning, she wondered if he had spent the morning with that woman. At night, she wondered which house he returned to and with whom he spent the night.

Various imaginations unfolded in her mind. To Kim Junhee, the Executive Director was always the Executive Director of this office. Immersed in work, always calm and upright, but occasionally uttering coarse curses.

She couldn’t imagine him as someone else’s, another woman’s Executive Director.

Thinking about it, whether he was married or not, it wasn’t strange for him to have a woman. He was handsome, had a good body, was wealthy, and highly capable. Even if he didn’t have a woman now, there could always be one by his side.

Her heart grew anxious. She wondered if she would have to end her love without ever expressing her feelings. She felt afraid. But she was just a secretary. The Executive Director was not just any executive but a direct descendant of the founder of Taesan. She felt sad about her situation, unable to express her feelings.

Still, the Executive Director called her name with his cold and dry face but with a sensuous voice. Her heart pounded every time she heard it.

‘Oh my. The Executive Director doesn’t usually remember the names of his secretaries. But he remembers your name?’

‘That’s why it’s strange. What is it? Do you have something going on with the Executive Director? Are you secretly flirting with him?’

Her colleague’s words and laughter echoed in her mind. The Executive Director’s voice calling her, Kim Junhee, also echoed. Occasionally, the dreams she had at night too.

Perhaps the Executive Director also had feelings for her. He was a man who didn’t easily show his emotions. But still, the fact that he remembered and called her name might be his true feelings unknowingly revealed.

No, it’s a dreamlike story. It can’t be true. But what if one day the Executive Director really has a woman? While I hesitate to express my feelings, the Executive Director might find a woman, date her, have s*x with her, and marry her….

She felt a strange jealousy towards an unclear subject.

It was a feeling she had to suppress.

But she couldn’t suppress it.

She spent most of her days thinking about Choi Dowook. Every morning, preparing the newspapers he would read, coordinating and organizing his schedule. Managing his office meticulously, preparing his favorite drinks and snacks. Kim Junhee felt like she was truly sharing time and space with Choi Dowook.

She wanted to share more of his life.

Those impulsive words came out because of all those thoughts.

“I like you, Executive Director.”

The Executive Director, who was about to leave the office, turned to look at Kim Junhee.

It was not a planned confession. Around that time, she often felt suffocated, depressed, and sad, gripped by an unknown fear. The back of the Executive Director, leaving after working late, suddenly seemed overwhelmingly desolate. Watching his back, the words came out impulsively. It was something she couldn’t control.

She thought maybe she would feel relieved if she got rejected. Or, if a miracle she didn’t even dare to hope for happened, and he felt the same way.

Ah, ah… what then? What would I do then….

Since it had already happened, she waited for him to say something, anything. She thought he might have smiled faintly. Perhaps it was just an illusion that there was a trace of boredom in that smile?

“Thank you.”

That was it. He turned away, and the office door closed. Kim Junhee stared at the door, a bit bewildered. 

Thank you. For what? 

Did it mean he accepted my confession or not? Not saying he liked or disliked it, just ‘Thank you’.

If he didn’t like it, he would have said so. He didn’t say he didn’t like it; he said ‘Thank you.’ Maybe he was really waiting for her words and was thankful. Maybe he was really happy and pleased with her words.

She clung to the ambiguity of his words, dragging it out alone. Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, that thought didn’t last long.

The next day, Kim Junhee’s irregular personnel transfer was announced.

From the A building in Yeouido to the B building. To serve another executive, not Choi Dowook.

That day, the Executive Director did not come to the office. He was busy with external schedules, including a factory tour in Cheongju, a meal with executives from a partner company in the U.S., and a meeting with lawyers from LK Law Firm.

Kim Junhee was devastated. She wasn’t foolish enough not to realize that was his answer.

There were many things to handle due to the sudden transfer. She handed over her duties to her successor. She organized the tasks she had been handling.

She cried for a long time at her desk in the empty office. She cried while packing, cried while organizing computer files, and cried while just sitting still.

She hated the Executive Director. He could have at least properly rejected her. Instead, he said ‘Thank you.’ 

Was he too lazy to give a long rejection? Did he even hate talking to me? How could he trample on someone’s feelings like this? 

She cried and resented the Executive Director until she fell asleep.