The woman named Charlotte, who changed her attitude in an instant, pointed to the blueprints and scolded the work supervisor. She ignored Jeffrey beside her as if she could no longer see him.

“This wall connected to the stairway is too thin. Are you perhaps stealing construction materials from the department store?”

It seemed like misplaced anger. He felt sorry for the innocent work supervisor who became the target of Charlotte’s venting.

“Come on, how could that be? The workers must have made a mistake.”

“Fix it properly while I’m still asking nicely. Otherwise, I’ll put someone else in your position as work supervisor.”

“Oh my. Why would you say such frightening things? The construction site is dangerous, so please come back when it’s completed. I feel sorry seeing dust constantly settling on such an esteemed person’s clothes.”

The chubby work supervisor was bowing and scraping to a woman much younger than himself.

The political situation in the Ostonia Empire was rapidly changing day by day. The era when people were treated well because of high status had already passed, yet seeing the groveling work supervisor, that noble lady seemed like someone who possessed both status and money.

‘You can lean on me when things get tough. You deserve it.’

The disgusting voices of noble ladies echoed in his ears.

The noble women he had seen while living in the countryside had all shown interest in him. The capital was no different.

The resentment that had been neatly stacked in his heart blazed up.

Yes, let’s use the job as an excuse to seduce that woman. Anyway, women of the world easily fell for him if he just smiled at them. How would this naive young city woman be any different?

In a world full of change, the unchanging truth Cedric had realized was that money was supreme.

Jeffrey, who had been isolated in one spot for a moment, spoke up gravely as if he had made a big decision.

“Fine. I’ll invest big money for my woman. How about 100,000 flora?”

Charlotte glanced at him and finally showed a bright smile again.

“You should have said so from the start. I’ll visit you tomorrow with the contract.”

Charlotte made an appointment to see Jeffrey tomorrow. She spoke in a much gentler attitude than before.

The moment he saw her expression changing from time to time, Cedric stopped in his tracks.

He knew instinctively. That woman would be quite a difficult opponent. She was different from the women he had met so far. His concern about how to approach her ended quickly.

“Hello, I’m Cedric Whisker. I’d like to help with the department store business your boss is working on. Please hire me as an employee.”

Behind him, he heard the bricklayers’ criticism and mockery.

“That crazy guy really did what I said. Hahaha.”

“Oh my. He’ll get kicked out before he can even set foot on the construction site.”

Charlotte’s eyes first fell on his body covered in scars. Not his handsome face.

Her pupils trembled.

“Why the scars……”

“There’s a story behind them. I just came up from my hometown.”

Even though a considerable time had passed, the thick scabs remaining over his sad family history were still there, but if he could be hired, he was willing to squeeze out tears while talking about his past. That’s how confident Cedric was at that time about lying effortlessly in front of Charlotte.

But there was no need for that as Charlotte asked for some basic personal information and said she would hire him. Only then did she meet his eyes.

“Come to work starting tomorrow. For the time being, follow me around and supervise the construction site, and when it’s completed, I’ll get you a job as a salesperson.”

He could see compassion settling in her green eyes.

‘Is she pitying me?’

The compassionate gaze he received after so long deeply wounded Cedric’s pride and heart.

Afterward, he showed a diligent image to gain Charlotte’s favor. When the department store was completed and he became an ordinary salesperson, making it difficult to meet the boss, he used his handsome looks to achieve the best sales performance. Women enthralled by his seduction bought items they didn’t even need.

Cedric succeeded in rising to positions as assistant store manager, store manager, purchasing agent, second floor manager, and finally department store general manager and the boss’s secretary. He sincerely intended to follow the advice of the woman he had met at the bar back then.

He had only one goal. To occupy the position next to Charlotte, who must have had an easy life from birth, and make Liv Department Store his own.

But once he became her secretary, an unexpected variable arose for him.

Charlotte was neither a noble of high birth nor a wealthy woman from birth as he had thought.

She was just an ordinary businessperson trying hard to live day by day, just like him. A tender-hearted woman who sometimes secretly shed tears in loneliness, missing her deceased family. A diligent person who didn’t mind staying up for several nights in the boss’s office when work was heavy.

This kind of woman was a first in his life.

Strange, curious, and constantly on his mind.

At first, he had planned to capture Charlotte’s heart and secure a fortune for himself. But whenever he stood before her, that dark intention disappeared like dust scattered in the wind. It was truly troublesome.

For a while, he didn’t realize what these feelings were. He didn’t know where his behavior of constantly looking at one woman originated from.

Then one day,

The woman rumored to be the prettiest in the department store threw herself into his arms and confessed.

“Cedric. Don’t you remember me? I’m Elisha who lived next door to you.”

Was that so? So that’s why she looked somewhat familiar.

Now he remembered that the men in his hometown all hated him because of this woman.

“I heard you came up to the capital and worked here, so I followed you here too. The reason I endure the hard work at the department store and stay here is you. It was all to be by your side, Cedric.”

He found the woman who kept clinging to him annoying. No, to be honest, a feeling of disgust welled up. It seemed his hatred for women that had dominated him since childhood had not yet disappeared. He thought he had gotten better since serving closely by the boss’s side.

He put strength into his hands and pushed Elisha’s shoulders away.

“Please don’t do this. It’s not right for me, the department store general manager, to be in this position with you, a mere salesperson.”

“I love you, Cedric.”

“I have no interest in you.”

Goosebumps rose on his chest and hands that had momentarily touched her.

Cedric finally realized his feelings.

He still hated women. Only the boss was special. She’s someone who wasn’t disgusting to be around, no, rather, she’s someone lovable who warmed his heart. Yes, Charlotte was the only woman who made his heart race. If this was what people called love, then he had contracted an incurable disease.

Sadness crossed Elisha’s eyes.

“Why don’t you love me?”

“……”

When he didn’t answer, this woman started misunderstanding on her own.

“Could it be that you like men, as people say?”

Elisha sat on the floor, crying out loud.

He left her there, finding it bothersome to comfort her. Then the next day, strange rumors about him circulated in the department store. Those gossipy employees had already been wagging their loose tongues.

The rumor probably started with Elisha. Sure enough, the proud woman couldn’t accept the fact that she had been rejected and spread rumors that Cedric liked men.

“I heard Mr. Cedric actually prefers men over women.”

“Argh! Why are all the good-looking men in places we can’t have?”

“You know what makes me angrier? That pale-faced guy who just joined the furniture sales department. I caught him looking so happy when he heard the news.”

“What the X. Is he into that too?”

It was absurd, but actually, he didn’t care how they misunderstood. Thanks to that, the female employees who subtly pressed their plump br*asts against his arms decreased, and the annoying situations where they asked him to dine together also reduced.

But there was one thing he couldn’t understand. The noble ladies who heard the rumor instead patted him encouragingly or clung to him pretending to be friendly, saying to contact them if he needed someone to talk to. Moreover……

“Cedric. I can understand everything. If you’re troubled, you can confide in me anytime.”

Even Charlotte saying such things while patting his shoulder clearly irritated him. But the heat rising from the arm that touched her wasn’t so unpleasant.

No, having physical contact with Charlotte always made his mood soar.

And now……

Cedric couldn’t dissuade the boss’s stubborn insistence on finishing the remaining work even while drunk, so he guided her to the boss’s office. But perhaps the alcohol had hit her harder on the way there, as Charlotte sat at the desk and immediately fell asleep with her head down.

‘After rejecting my offer to take you home.’

He knelt down and stared at her sleeping face. Through her flowing hair, he could see her fair skin. If his reason hadn’t held him back, he might have kissed her without realizing it. Fortunately, he hadn’t drunk that much. No, he should have drunk more. Was this feeling regret?

“Boss. Let’s go home so you can sleep comfortably.”

“Mmmmm.”

“If you sleep like this, your body will ache tomorrow.”

Furrowing her brow and whimpering, she was no longer the naive young city woman in his eyes. She was just the only person who made his heart flutter.

“Excuse me for touching you. I’m sorry.”

With a heart full of respect, he carefully picked her up and laid her on the sofa. Covering her with several blankets, he sighed.

‘No going home again today.’

How could he leave when Charlotte was sleeping here? What if someone came in during the night? He took light naps on the opposite sofa, staying by her side to ensure she could sleep comfortably. His affection was infused with respect for her.