CHAPTER 14 – New Year’s Gathering (Part 3)

As the tension eased, her headache returned. Seo-yeon rubbed her throbbing head and exhaled heavily.

Dealing with Sehyun’s insistence that they take his car together, her departure was delayed. Upon entering, they had to greet Chairman Hwang without any preparation, and in that situation, Dojun appeared – it was too much.

Under Hwang Dojun’s gaze, which seemed to penetrate even the depths of one’s soul, every nerve in her body seemed to tense up, and amidst it all, she had to act as if everything was fine, even playing as a couple. After a moment of tension that made her forget about her headache, her temples tingled again.

“Arrogant bastard.”

Sehyun muttered in a low voice as Dojun disappeared from sight. Seo-yeon sighed softly as she pulled her arm out of Sehyun’s grasp.

“Seo-yeon, let’s go together.”

Seo-yeon didn’t answer and walked ahead. She just wanted to sit down somewhere for a moment. As they descended the two steps from the courtyard to the banquet hall below, Sehyun followed behind and said,

“Luckily, the chairman seems to think really well of us, right? I’ve been feeling heavy-hearted already. Afraid he might be greatly disappointed.”

Sehyun kept talking as he followed. It was enough to just exchange greetings lightly, but he continued unnecessarily, holding hands to maintain the appearance of a harmonious couple.

Sehyun seemed pitifully insincere, whether there was intent behind his actions or not, but Seo-yeon pretended not to notice, smiling back at him, and went along with it. When she looked at Dojun’s stern expression, she thought it might be better this way. Not quite resorting to drastic measures like using Sehyun against Dojun.

“It’s over there.”

She turned her head at Sehyun’s words, and as she feared, her name was right next to Sehyun’s, and unfortunately, her parents’ names and Sehyun’s parents’ names were also arranged on the same table.

Ha.

Sighing inwardly, Seo-yeon swallowed the involuntary groan and approached the table, pulling out a chair and taking her seat. Sehyun, sitting beside her, continued to talk.

“Now it’s just our parents left. What should we say then? Shall we say we’re planning something around September? At least for now, we should say that, right?”

“Can you give me a glass of warm water first?”

Ignoring Sehyun’s chatter, Seo-yeon called out to a passing waiter. It was evening, but it was a balmy spring day, and even though the tweed dress she was wearing wasn’t made of thin material, she couldn’t help but feel shivers of nervousness.

“I think it’s best not to mention that we came separately. Let’s just say you came in my car.”

Trying to avoid Sehyun’s voice, Seo-yeon turned her gaze away. She glanced around the garden, watching people mingling and exchanging greetings, and when she turned back, she saw Dojun standing at the entrance to the reception hall.

“I hope you explain things well to Haewon. She’s still young and inexperienced with social life, so she seems to have trouble understanding. Well, she has to understand and accept everything, but still.”

191 centimeters and 83 kilos.

The simple numbers written in the notebook were no longer simple. Length and width. Temperatures and scent. Movement and touch. The moment of being trapped inside a large, solid body is suddenly vivid.

How long can I ignore the tension that hovers between us, and with two months to go before Dojun’s transition, can I continue as his personal shopper?

“Uh, the vice president is coming.”

Sehyun’s voice snapped Seo-yeon out of her thoughts. She set down the glass she was holding and stood up from her seat. Among the people entering one by one, she saw the familiar faces of her stepmother and father.

“Seo-yeon.”

Mi-seo walked over to Seo-yeon, happy to see her. She smiled lightly at her father, who followed behind, but her expression hardened. The tie around her father’s neck was pink. With a large crown embroidered on it.

“Vice President, hello.”

Sehyun greeted Sangcheol and Miseon with a bow, placing his hand on his abdomen.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from the Vice Chairman. Back when Lee Jang-soo and I used to have meals together, I never imagined such a connection, but here we are.”

“I was curious about the person Seo-yeon is considering marrying, and now I see why. You are Handsome.”

Sangcheol and Miseon said to Sehyun, who responded with a broad smile.

“Thank you for the compliment. I’m sorry for the late introduction.”

“No need for formalities. Just relax and sit comfortably.”

Sangcheol said as he sat down next to them, addressing Seo-yeon.

“You’re early. Did you say hello to the chairman?”

“Yes.”

Seo-yeon mechanically replied, tightly clutching the napkin on her lap. A large crown pattern on a pink background. Her head began to throb, and a ringing sound started to echo in her ears.

‘Actually, the recipient of the gift is my boss, an executive.’

‘He often wears Heritage ties and belts.’

‘Actually, I came here because the vice president gave me a voucher for the hotel.’

‘He’s a very caring and kind person.’

The woman’s voice overlapped with the tinnitus that sounded like a warning ring.

No, it couldn’t be. It might not be. Although it wasn’t a common tie, it didn’t have to be the same tie.

Seo-yeon looked at her father, trying to calm her mind. With the same face as usual, with the same voice as usual, she asked her father.

“It’s Heritage.”

“Huh?”

“The tie. We have it in our store.”

“Oh, this?”

Sangcheol glanced at the tie briefly. Miseon was talking with Sehyun. Seo-yeon continued to ask Sangcheol.

Sangchul glanced at the tie. Mi-sun was talking to Sehyun. Seo-yeon turned to Sang-chul.

“It’s not easy to choose, did you receive it as a gift?”

“The secretarial staff gave it to me at the end of the year.”

Since when did the secretaries save money and give gifts?

“They have good taste.”

Seo-yeon smiled lightly and said to Sangcheol. Sangcheol smiled awkwardly.

“Oh, by the way. Mother.”

Seo-yeon called Miseon in a gentle voice.

“The hotel voucher I gave you last time.”

“Yeah. What about it?”

“You haven’t made a reservation yet, have you? Please let me know the date you prefer, and I’ll make the reservation for you.”

When someone got hotel vouchers, Seo-yeon used to make reservations for them. Being a contact person for business partners and frequently appearing in front of them, she tended to take care of the convenience of the room location and light services.

“That? Seo-yeon, I haven’t even touched it.”

“Why?”

“Your father took it to give it to a grateful business partner.”

Miseon glanced playfully at Sangcheol. Sangcheol coughed awkwardly. 

What are the odds of such a coincidence, that it was you, my father, who was the kind boss who gave the hotel voucher to a girl younger than his daughter? How could you wear that tie in front of my stepmother and me?

You are indeed human.

“You seem to get along very well. There’s a nice resort in Namhae….”

Sehyun, who had no sense of the situation, intervened.

Please, just stop. 

Seo-yeon raised her eyes and looked at Sehyun. Despite the warning look, Sehyun didn’t stop.

“If there’s a chance later, I could…”

“Haewon would have liked to be in this kind of gathering too.”

Seo-yeon smiled, interrupting Sehyun. Momentarily shaken by Seo-yeon’s gaze, Sehyun stammered and changed the subject, while her father affectionately held her stepmother’s hand.

Seeing that, Seo-yeon felt her stomach churn and a sharp pain in her head as if it would split open. She stood up from her seat and said.

“I’m going to the bathroom for a minute.”

If she wanted to endure a little longer, she probably needed to take some medication.