CHAPTER 8

*

Secretary Shin shook his head again and pleaded for Taeheon’s forgiveness.

“I apologize, Sir. I will be more careful. There won’t be a situation like this again.”

“Prepare something for Han Yeonseo to wear in half an hour. Dinner will be at Ji Ye-yeon’s place, in the end room of the outbuilding.”

“Yes, Sir. I will prepare it right away.”

The secretary responded confidently, as if determined not to miss this potentially final opportunity. As he stepped back, silence filled the room.

“Mr. Taeheon, why do I need to…?”

Yeonseo had been so embarrassed by her outfit, feeling disheartened after hearing the need to bring clothes for her. Taeheon sat down at his desk and pulled out some papers as if nothing had happened.

“You heard me. We’re going to have dinner and then head to Yongin. It’s a place with a dress code, so you need to change.”

“I’m sorry, but I have to be on time for Mrs. Kang’s dinner. And I don’t want to change my clothes.”

“We need to discuss the matter regarding Director Woo’s work. We also need to talk about how you will handle things from now on.”

“If that’s the case, can’t we do it when we go home?”

“Han Yeonseo, do you think I’m suggesting that?”

Only after the sharp voice reached her did Yeonseo notice the tiredness that had settled in the corner of his eyes.

It had only been three days since he returned. Seeing him sitting at his desk already approving documents, it seemed like Taeheon had been immediately thrown into work without proper rest.

He drove all the way to Yongin when he arrived, so he must be exhausted like anyone else. Especially at times like this, it must be uncomfortable for him.

She felt that trying to reason with such a person would only lead to more harsh words. Yet, even amidst that, Taeheon’s profile, as he twirled his fountain pen, looked strangely impressive.

“Go sit down. You’re making me dizzy.”

Taeheon, holding the approval documents, spoke coldly, and the exhausted Yeonseo returned to the sofa and plopped down.

She had fallen asleep easily earlier, but now that she was in the same space as Taeheon, she felt uncomfortable, as if she were sitting on thorny cushion.

It wasn’t long before Secretary Shin knocked again and entered the office.

“The clothes are ready.”

“Leave them there.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Have the car waiting in ten minutes.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Secretary Shin left the shopping bags on the table in front of Yeonseo and exited the room.

“Change there and come out.”

Taeheon gestured towards the space behind the partition. He shifted into a slightly reclined position and closed his eyes, as if he didn’t want to hear Yeonseo’s opinion.

Yeonseo, who had been staring at his long fingers rubbing his nose, resigned herself and headed towards the partition.

She was greeted by a neatly arranged space with a small sink, a makeshift bed, a hair styler, and a wardrobe. Yeonseo placed the shopping bags on a stool and stood in front of the mirror.

She looked at herself in the mirror and was horrified. She appeared out of place in the space filled with seemingly expensive decorations. She felt truly old-fashioned, in a derogatory sense, being stuck there.

It probably didn’t meet Taeheon’s expectations. That must be why he asked for new clothes.

They were going to an expensive restaurant, and unless she wanted to stand out like a rough stone there, it would be better to comply with his wishes and change into the clothes he provided.

Yeonseo gave up and opened the shopping bags. There were three bags in total, and she unzipped the largest one first, which contained a clothing box.

They looked expensive enough that she didn’t feel confident to wear it. But if she hesitated, Taeheon would probably mock her more openly.

The dress was a navy and cream color, with a classic, unadorned design that emphasized the waistline. It bore the name of a brand that was both well-known and luxurious enough to make one’s jaw drop. Yeonseo hesitated for a moment, touching the fabric, contemplating.

She wasn’t sure if she should really wear it.

Only after hearing the sound of Taeheon’s shoes from outside did she snap out of her thoughts. Yeonseo quickly changed into the dress.

Being on the slimmer side, size wasn’t an issue for Yeonseo, but closing the zipper that connected from the back of the waist to the nape of her neck was quite a challenge.

She struggled to zip it up even with all her strength, but she could only manage to zip it up to her bra line. She cursed her stiff body.

“Are you still not done? It’s already time. How much longer do I have to wait?”

Taeheon’s voice sounded quite close, making Yeonseo panic.

“No, no. I’m done…”

“If you’re done, come out.”

“It’s just that…”

Taeheon’s footsteps were getting closer and closer. Yeonseo hastily gathered up the clothes she’d taken off and stuffed them into a shopping bag before turning around.

At that moment, Taeheon entered the space behind the partition. He stood still at the entrance, gesturing towards the rest of the shopping bags.

“There should be shoes and accessories too. You’ve got everything. What’s bothering you?”

Taeheon asked, looking at Yeonseo, who was clutching her front.

“…per.”

“What?”

“The zipper won’t close….”

Yeonseo spoke in a barely audible voice and lowered her head. The suffocating air wrapped around her dry back.

As she glanced down at the floor, Taeheon’s shoes appeared in her line of sight. Before she could react, he approached her back.

“M-Mr. Taeheon!”

“Hold your hair.”

Yeonseo quickly tried to turn around and cover her back, but he grabbed her shoulders faster.

“Ah…!”

“If you’re not going to go out like this, listen to me. I can’t stand wasting time.”

She tightly closed her eyes and gathered her scattered hair, pulling it to one side of her shoulder.

“…Yes.”

Zip. The sound of the zipper sliding up was unusually loud. When Taeheon’s fingers grazed her bare skin, she felt the urge to scream in surprise.

He’s just closing the zipper. That’s all.

Yeonseo pressed her lips together and swallowed hard to keep herself from overreacting.

“Sit down.”

“…”

“Sit there, Han Yeonseo.”

Taeheon ordered in a slightly harsh voice, and Yeonseo obediently sat on the stool as if being pushed. He took out the shoes from the shopping bag and muttered.

“The shoes might be a little big. If they’re really uncomfortable, you can buy another pair on the way out.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll manage. I can just wear them loosely.”

“Then so be it.”

As Yeonseo watched Taeheon slowly bend his knees to crouch down, she covered her mouth with both hands. He was holding onto her ankle.

“I-I can do it.”

“I suppose you can. Slowly, while wasting time.”

“I’ll do it quickly. I promise.”

“If that’s the case, why haven’t you finished already?”

Taeheon said in a reprimanding tone, glancing up at her. His sharp jawline and piercing eyes were closer than she’d expected, which made Yeonseo feel a little more intimidated.

“Foot.”

Yeonseo pulled her ankle back, which she had been instinctively pulling away, and Taeheon efficiently took off the sneakers in a dutiful manner.

Suddenly, as Yeonseo looked down at her socks, she was startled and instinctively pulled her foot back. It was chick-themed socks.

“What are you doing?”

“I’ll do it myself.”

Yeonseo desperately guarded her foot. After hesitating for a moment, she removed the socks, placing them aside. Taeheon nonchalantly took her ankle and put on the shoes as if it were nothing.

When she saw the print of the chick’s beak, she wanted to bite her tongue. Fortunately, Taeheon did not  seem to notice. He immediately stood up from kneeling.

Perhaps it was true that they didn’t have much time, Taeheon swiftly opened the small shopping bag and took out a necklace from a jewelry case.

“Get your hair out of the way.”

Yeonseo lifted her arms and gathered the hair that covered her neck to one side, and he slipped his arms around her from behind.

Every time his crisp suit sleeve brushed against her skin, Yeonseo’s breath caught.

Taeheon, on the other hand, tucked a necklace around her white neckline and pushed his cuffs to check the time.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Before leaving Taeheon’s office, Yeonseo looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror. Wearing strange clothes, Yeonseo looked pretty, but it made her feel awkward.

She was amazed once again at how Taeheon could change people in a matter of minutes.

Her whole body tickled. Seeing herself in a way that didn’t feel like her brought a sense of uneasiness and self-doubt.

*

Yeonseo was on edge the whole way out of the office. After getting into Taeheon’s chauffeur-driven car, she felt as if she had been drilled through the crown of her head.

She had never felt this uncomfortable, not even when she was alone with Director Woo. But in Taeheon’s presence, she couldn’t even breathe freely. She had never felt ashamed of her own shortcomings before. Sadness and pity were different things.

But strangely, in front of Taeheon, she felt embarrassed and shrinking. When she walked out of the company lobby with him earlier, she wished she’d turn into dust.

She felt like all eyes were on her, laughing at her. Despite the clothes Taeheon had bought her, it seemed like they could see through the facade and recognize her as a poor debtor.

Why was I so intimidated?

Yeonseo, who had been twitching her nose, slumped in the back seat of the car, feeling like a wilted plant trapped in a thorny bush.

She couldn’t wait to get to Yongin. That way, she could have some relief from him for a while.

Taeheon was a terrifying person of unknown depths. It felt like he had an intangible remote control that could easily manipulate people. That’s why she couldn’t defy him.

“Ha…”

Yeonseo’s small sigh reached Taeheon as well. His eyes narrowed and his gaze turned toward her.

She felt her stomach clench as she came face to face with his smug face.

“If you’re going to protest, I can’t listen to you anymore.”

“What?”

How foolish of her, those red lips asking in disbelief as she let out a sigh like it was the last day of the world. In Taeheon’s standards, she was a strange woman indeed.

“How many times have you sighed?”

“I sighed? I’m sorry. It’s just force of habit…”

“It’s obvious that you’re lying.”

“…Yes, I’m sorry.”

Taeheon silently stared at her. In an instant, Yeonseo’s expression, which had been looking at the window gloomily with a worried look, changed.

Her mouth dropped open as she saw the vibrant scenery that unfolded where the forest alley ended and the city began.

“Wow…”

Whether she didn’t want to or couldn’t, Yeonseo was like a transparent being. Unable to hide it, she lets her surprised expression show.

It was also very well projected that she did not want to look good for Taeheon. Yeonseo was the type of person that was rare to find near Taeheon. No, maybe there weren’t any.

There were only a few people who did not bother making flattering remarks to Taeheon. They were either those people in higher positions or his competitors.

On the subject of surviving by clinging to the bottom of the food chain, Yeonseo might be the only one who wasn’t trying to be nice to Taeheon.

“Do you have something to say?”

She asked, her face showing a mix of fear and attentiveness. It was as if she was keenly observing every move Taeheon made.

“If you don’t mind.”

“You can say it…”

Taeheon replied as Yeonseo wiggled her intertwined fingers.

“Your skirt is riding up.”