MIS 8

Seo-hee hesitated at the entrance of Tae-jun’s house. She was not sure whether to enter or not.

“What are you doing? Come in.”

“Is there something you want to tell me at home?”

“No.”

“Then why…”

Tae-jun only called her to his house when they were about to have sex. She was nervous and wondered if it would be the same today.

“Follow me.”

They walked down a long, dimly lit hallway and entered a spacious living room. With black wallpaper and modern furniture, the atmosphere was so cold that it felt uninhabited.

Tae-jun led her into the dining room. A meal was laid on the table.

“Sit down.”

“Me?”

“Who else is here besides you?”

Seo-hee sat down hesitantly.

“Is this for me to eat?”

She wondered if she was really allowed to eat.  Was Tae-jun the kind of person who would take care of someone else’s food?

“I told you to eat.”

Suddenly being told to eat.

At his abrupt command, Seo-hee picked up her spoon. The freshly cooked food smelled delicious.

Her stomach ached with hunger after skipping meals all day. The food prepared by the housekeeper was more than enough to tempt her.

“Thank you for the food.”

After watching Seo-hee take a spoonful of soup, Tae-jun went to the wine cellar and took out a bottle of wine.

“Managing Director Kang, aren’t you…”

She was about to ask if he wasn’t going to eat, but she saw him leave with the bottle and glasses and continued her meal in silence.

She hadn’t even had breakfast. The warm soup and side dishes were particularly delicious.

As she hastily filled her stomach, she noticed a plate of dessert.

“Shine Muscat.”

It was Seo-hee’s favorite fruit. She first tasted it when a box of Shine Muscat was sent to the secretary’s office as a gift.

She remembered how sweet and juicy they were. She had eaten a whole bunch in one sitting.

“Did he know I liked it?”

She wondered if he had asked the housekeeper to prepare Shine Muscat for her and then laughed.

“That can’t be true.”

It was foolish to think that Tae-jun, who only cared about work and himself, would do such a thing. Seo-hee shook her head.

After finishing her meal, she popped a Shine Muscat grape into her mouth.

The refreshing sweetness of the green grapes melted in her mouth and lifted her spirits.

She heard someone enter. Seo-hee, who was clearing the table, went into the living room.

“Good evening, Managing Director Kang.”

The woman greeting Tae-jun, who was sitting on the wide sofa, was Director Jo, his personal shopper.

Once a month, she sent him new suits, shoes and even accessories for parties, all perfectly tailored to his taste, since he didn’t have time to shop himself. Seo-hee greeted Director Jo.

“What brings you here, Director Jo?”

“Managing Director Kang called for me.”

Director Jo exchanged glances with Seo-hee and moved the racks of clothes into the center of the living room. Several more racks and boxes followed.

Seo-hee stood aside and watched.

She wondered why he was shopping in the middle of the night.

Then Director Jo said something unexpected.

“I’ve prepared some office looks that would suit Secretary Han.”

“Me?”

Director Jo winked at Seo-hee and lifted the cover from the rack.

The rack contained shirts and skirts suitable for work, as well as dresses. Below them were boxes of shoes and bags.

“After receiving the managing director’s call and thinking about Secretary Han, a neat and clean image came to my mind.  I’ve also included some designs that could add a touch of flair to your usual style. Would you like to take a look?”

Seo-hee’s eyes darted around, trying to grasp the situation.

Then Tae-jun’s voice, more businesslike than ever, stopped her thoughts.

“Secretary Han, choose whatever you like. It is compensation for what happened today.”

Ah, compensation.

It meant that he apologized on behalf of his fiancée.

By giving her luxury items that would cost several months of her salary.

‘I never said I wanted compensation.’

Seo-hee felt ridiculous. 

The reason he brought her to his house instead of a private room in the department store was simply to avoid the public eye. And yet she had foolishly thought that he had brought her home and prepared a meal just for her.

She didn’t realize that it was all for Cha Ye-rin.

Confidentiality was of the utmost importance to a secretary. The fact that she was even suspected of violating it made her feel defeated.

“Are you having trouble choosing because there are too many options? Try this bag. It’s perfect for commuting and this color is actually quite rare in Korea.”

Seo-hee stared blankly at the bag offered by Director Jo and opened her mouth.

“Well, I…”

“Then how about this one?”

Director Jo asked with a slightly frustrated tone, this woman probably had no idea that this bag cost tens of millions of won.

“No, I don’t need it.”

“You seemed to need it quite badly.”

Tae-jun, who had been watching quietly, let out a chuckle. Embarrassed by his laughter, Seo-hee lowered her eyes.

“Don’t be stubborn and just accept it. Don’t complain later.”

Seo-hee’s heart ached.

He seemed to think she was some kind of gold digger trying to take advantage of the situation.

“Then give her everything. Send everything you brought to Secretary Han’s house.”

“Managing Director Kang!”

“I know her size.”

Seo-hee’s face burned at his suggestive words.

Tae-jun gestured to Director Jo, and she had her staff clear the racks.

Only after Director Jo and the staff had left did Seo-hee speak up

“I don’t want any compensation. As your secretary, I’ll keep quiet about today, so you don’t have to worry…”

At that moment Seo-hee’s eyes widened.

Tae-jun poured the wine from his glass onto her bag on the table. The blood red wine seeped into the leather and stained it.

“Now you can accept it, right?”

His sharp voice contained a warning not to test his patience.

Seo-hee’s mind went blank. Her pride was not only hurt, it was crushed.

Even if it was just a cheap bag for a chaebol like Kang Tae-jun or Cha Ye-rin, it had sentimental value for Seo-hee as it had been with her since she joined the company.

“Either accept something or carry this around and embarrass me.”

“Managing director…”

Seo-hee clenched her trembling hands.

When she had hugged him for the first time, she had sworn not to fall in love with him.

The fact that his actions could make her so unhappy meant that she had crossed that line.

There had never been a hint of warmth in his eyes when he looked at her. What had she expected?

“I have something to tell you.”

She wanted to end it here and now.

Maybe, knowing that he would be engaged, Tae-jun wanted her to leave on her own. 

“What is it?”

Tae-jun rubbed his eyes, as if he was tired of this bickering.

Seo-hee wiped the wine from her bag and took out the bankbook and the resignation letter, putting them on the table.

“I quit.”

“What?”

“Being your secretary, being with you…”

Seo-hee trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.

The air between them grew cold. Seo-hee lowered her eyes, afraid to see his expression. A long silence followed, then Tae-jun looked down at the bankbook and leered.

“So you want me to take the money and then you can leave?”

Seo-hee shuddered at his sharp tone.

“It’s 200 million won. I’m finally paying back the money I borrowed from the Managing Director when I was twenty. Thank you.”

Seo-hee fought back tears.

“Secretary Han.”

“Yes.”

“You want me to take this measly sum?”

Tae-jun picked up the resignation letter with an amused expression. He read through it leisurely and then spoke in a cold voice.

“How sweet. You thought I would let you go if I took the money.”

Rip. The resignation letter was torn in half in his large hand. His gaze, more intimidating than before, enveloped her.

“You will never leave me.”

Tae-jun got up from the sofa and walked towards her. Seo-hee took a step back and he took a bigger step forward. 

Trapped against his broad chest, a cold aura seemed to suffocate her.

“…I can’t live with this debt. Please accept it.”

“That kind of money won’t change a single digit in my bank account.”

His eyes were like the dark night sky. Seo-hee couldn’t decipher the meaning behind his look.

“Whether I spend money on you or not is my decision.”

“… .”

“If you insist, consider it a bonus.”

What kind of secretary gets a bonus of 200 million won? In the end, it was just another way of calling her price.

Seo-hee’s voice trembled slightly.

“Why are you doing this? You’re getting engaged soon.”

“It doesn’t matter. Even if I get married, even if I have a child, I will keep you by my side.”

“Why…”

Your taste is simply irresistible.

Tae-jun whispered, then traced her earlobe sensually with his tongue.

The hot, wet warmth made her body stiffen.

Looking into Seo-hee’s frightened eyes, Tae-jun grinned.

“Han Seo-hee, you should be proud of yourself.”

It felt like the fog that had covered the dark night was finally lifting. His eyes, now exposed, were filled with a lustful thirst. Tae-jun looked down at Seo-hee with a blatant look.

“Because you’re paying your debts with your body.”

His cruel words pierced her heart like daggers.

She had tried desperately to deny that their relationship was based on money. But to hear him confirm it made her feel like she was falling apart.

“Why on earth…”

Tae-jun’s hand slipped into her shirt.

His rough touch clearly conveyed his desire to pin her down.