Chapter 28

Bo Bae picked out the most modest outfit among the clothes she had bought at the department store yesterday. It was a white blouse with blue star patterns and an H-line skirt, but even this felt incredibly awkward for someone like her, who usually only wore jeans. However, the bigger problem was the shoes.

"Wow. This is basically mountain climbing."

For someone who only wore sneakers or slip-ons at most, high heels were shoes of extreme difficulty. Narrow, high, and shaky.

"Will Baek Ho Rang get mad if I wear my own shoes?"

Bo Bae, who was peeking around to see if there were any plain shoes, shook her head as she recalled Ho Rang's angry expression from yesterday. Then, she squeezed her small feet into the high heels.

She had no idea why he was angry, but regardless, she didn't want to make him any angrier. The situation had escalated because she had made up the excuse of being a secretary, and this was all happening while trying to fix that mess.

"Ugh, really, why did I make up such a thing? Anyway, I wonder if Baek Ho Rang's anger has subsided a bit."

Meanwhile, Ho Rang muttered while looking at his wristwatch.

"Why isn't she coming out?"

Ho Rang, who had arrived a full 30 minutes before the appointed time, was stretching his neck toward the container, waiting for Bo Bae.

After returning home like that yesterday, Ho Rang hadn't been able to fall asleep easily. Bo Bae kept weighing on his mind.

'I didn't do anything wrong. It was clearly that woman who was in the wrong. But, did I act too coldly towards her? Maybe I hurt her feelings.'

He spent the whole night thinking about that and only managed to fall asleep in the early hours of the morning.

It was strange. Who was that weird "kiss maniac" to him? At some point, he had started chuckling to himself while thinking of her, and now he couldn't stop worrying about her.

Over a single trivial word or a fleeting glance, his heart would flutter, then he'd get annoyed, then he'd soften, then he'd get angry.

"What on earth is this emotion? Is it possible I'm already going through male menopause?"

Just as he was thinking he should visit a hospital for some psychological counseling soon...

"Ouch!"

He heard Bo Bae’s voice let out a small cry. The startled Ho Rang ran over and saw Bo Bae staggering slightly as she stepped out of the container.

"What’s wrong?"

"I tripped a little."

Her feet in heels had looked precarious yesterday, and it seemed today wouldn't be easy either.

"Are you hurt?"

"As you can see, I'm perfectly fine."

"If it's uncomfortable, why don't you wear something else?"

"I don't want to. I'm going to wear and carry everything Mr. Baek Ho Rang bought for me from head to toe."

A slight smile spread across Ho Rang's face at Bo Bae’s tone, which had a spoonful of aegyo in it.

"Mr. Baek Ho Rang. How do I look? Am I okay?"

A breezy blouse, a skirt that revealed her silhouette, hair with beautiful curls, and even light makeup. He had seen Bo Bae in a skirt yesterday, but today’s vibe was different.

If Bo Bae was pretty yesterday, today she was... well, even prettier.

How does her beauty improve every single day?

"I asked you how I look."

"Didn't I tell you yesterday?"

"Yesterday? What did you say?"

"That you're not eyesore level."

Contrary to his heart, Ho Rang replied bluntly and walked quickly towards the car. He must have truly gone crazy yesterday and today. Seeing how that woman kept looking beautiful to him. Seriously, he needed to make that counseling appointment quickly. Before he lost it completely.

"Are you really going to sit there?"

As Ho Rang went to open the back door, Bo Bae asked in a surprised voice.

"Then what? You want me to drive?"

He was worried about Bo Bae's feet in those heels, but that was that, and driving was driving. Employees might see them, and a president couldn't drive his secretary around.

"You have to drive, Mr. Baek Ho Rang. I can't drive."

"You seem to have forgotten, but our current relationship is president and secretary."

As he spat out the words and reached for the back door again, Bo Bae smiled and gently closed the door.

"What are you doing? What if the employees see me driving?"

"It’s better than me getting caught by the police while driving."

"The police? What does that mean?"

"I don't have a license."

"Then when you said you can't drive..."

"It’s not a closet license. I literally don't have one, so I shouldn't drive. Hurry up and get in. We'll be late."

Ho Rang couldn't stop her as she hopped into the passenger seat with a bright smile. As she said, he couldn't put someone without a license behind the wheel.

"Why don't you get a license?"

"I don't know. Even if I get one, I don't have a car to drive."

"I'll buy you a car, so get it."

"I don't know. I have no reason to receive a car as a gift from Mr. Baek Ho Rang."

"Then commute separately starting tomorrow."

"I don't know. Don't you think it's a luxury for two people living in the same house and going to the same company to commute separately in a country that doesn't produce a single drop of oil?"

"Then what about these stares?"

Ho Rang clenched his jaw and looked around.

Monday morning, the commute. And a young president arriving with an unfamiliar woman.

The employees watching them acted consistently. First, they bowed to greet Ho Rang, then their eyes fixed on Bo Bae, and once they passed, they started whispering among themselves.

"Who is that woman?"

"I don't know. Why is she commuting with the president since morning?"

"Is she part of the boss's family?"

"No. I know all the people in our president family, and there wasn't a young woman like that."

"Then who is she?"

From early morning, the employees' interest was focused on the woman commuting with Ho Rang, and the president's secretariat was in an absolute uproar.

"This is Ms. Na Bo Bae, who will be working with us from today."

The boss was someone who didn't care for school ties, regional ties, or even blood ties. They used to whisper that he was so cold that not a drop of blood would come out if you pricked him with a needle. But, for such a boss to drop an unexpected parachute hire into the secretariat... the entire office fell into a state of mental breakdown.

"She will be working with me for a while regarding my personal matters."

"Hello, my name is Na Bo Bae."

When Bo Bae bowed to the secretaries, they had no choice but to offer a greeting. However, their expressions were not good at all. Especially Secretary Yoon, who had served Ho Rang for a long time.

"Now, get back to work. Secretary Na, come in."

As Ho Rang entered the office with Bo Bae, the secretaries began to hurl complaints.

"Hah! What? I’ve never entered the office alone with the president before. And what kind of 'personal secretary'? Does he not trust us?"

"I know, right? We have more than enough people already, so what’s the deal with a personal secretary?"

"Furthermore, bringing someone in like this without a word is just ridiculous."

"Manager Yoon. Did you know about this?"

When Secretary Kim asked, everyone's eyes turned to Secretary Yoon.

Secretary Yoon was the one who had served Ho Rang for nearly 10 years, ever since he started working at Tae Seong Group. He was the closest of confidants, even knowing about Ho Rang's surgery, which his own family didn't know. Yet, to bring in a personal secretary without consulting him once?

Even the onlookers were getting angry on his behalf, but Secretary Yoon spoke with a smile.

"As you know, the president is very busy lately preparing for the shopping center opening. Please don't worry about trivial matters and focus on your respective duties."

After Secretary Yoon finished speaking and left, the remaining secretaries unanimously defended him.

"Sigh. How can a person be that kind?"

"Isn't Secretary Yoon being completely pushed aside?"

"Exactly. Such a kind person... the president is really being too much."

"This is why there’s no need to be loyal to a company. I heard Secretary Yoon got several scout offers from elsewhere but didn't move because he wanted to stay loyal to the president. But for the president to betray him like this... tsk tsk."

While all the secretaries were glaring at Ho Rang's office, Secretary Yoon, who had slipped out, took the elevator to the rooftop. After checking if anyone was around, he carefully made a phone call.

"Hello. This is Secretary Yoon."

Famous for being a "good man" at the company, Secretary Yoon had been struggling for several years with debts that a salaryman couldn't handle. It was because his gambling debts, which started out of curiosity, had spiraled out of control.

Having lost his apartment deposit provided by his family and facing the seizure of his wages, he had been about to attempt suicide at this very spot when someone reached out and held his hand.

"The CEO brought a strange woman with him today."

The person who saved his life proposed a deal.

"No. She’s someone I’ve never seen before, but he said she would be handling personal matters."

'Report everything about that bastard, Baek Ho Rang. Then I’ll pay off your debts and give you a suitable reward.'

"But, what’s strange is that they commuted together this morning. The president drove the car himself. Yes. I understand. I’ll keep an eye on them."

After hanging up, Secretary Yoon quickly pressed the home button so no one would see the name 'Choi Do Yoon' on the screen.

Do Yoon had saved Secretary Yoon's life, but he hadn't saved him from the swamp of gambling.

Or rather, perhaps there was no need to save him.