Life had returned to its usual rhythm, the kind that didn't ask permission before moving forward. For Seol Ah, it meant juggling exhaustion, work, and survival, waking up every day with sore feet and clenched teeth, forcing herself to keep going because stopping was never an option. For Jae Hyun, it meant retreating deeper into his cold, carefully built empire, where power replaced warmth and silence was safer than emotion.
"Good morning, Chairman Lee," his secretary greeted as Jae Hyun stepped into the towering glass building, his polished shoes clicking softly against the marble floor.
"Morning," he replied curtly, not breaking his stride.
"Mr. Joo is waiting for you in your office," she added carefully, watching his expression.
"Alright."
He didn't ask questions. He rarely did. Jae Hyun walked straight into his office and froze when he saw a middle-aged man sitting comfortably in his chair, legs crossed, fingers drumming lazily against the armrest. The man turned slowly, wearing a smug smile that made Jae Hyun's jaw tighten instantly.
"What do you want?" Jae Hyun asked flatly, his voice calm but edged with warning.
The man stood up and smirked. "Lee Jae Hyun, Chairman of the Lee Group." He dropped an engraved tablet onto the desk with a loud thud, as if announcing his presence.
"Can you tell me why you're here?" Jae Hyun asked, unimpressed, his eyes cold and unreadable.
"I came to remind you not to meddle in my deals," the man replied sharply.
"My deals?" Jae Hyun raised an eyebrow slowly. "You clearly don't know your boundaries, Joo Dan Tae."
"What boundaries are you talking about?" Joo Dan Tae snapped back.
"You didn't think twice before betraying me," Jae Hyun said coldly, each word deliberate. "Selling me out to Tuerillico and leaking information behind my back. And now you expect me to maintain your stand?" His lips curved into a dangerous smile. "Listen carefully, Joo Dan Tae. Whatever business existed between us is over. Don't cross my path again, or your head will be next in line. Now leave."
"Wow," Joo Dan Tae scoffed, anger flashing across his face. "The almighty Jae Hyun is threatening me? This isn't the last you'll hear from me."
He stormed out, slamming the door hard enough to make the walls tremble.
"That old fool," Jae Hyun muttered, sinking into his chair. He rubbed his temples briefly, then forced his focus back to work, burying everything else beneath documents and numbers.
"Seol Ah!" one of the waitresses screamed from across the bar.
"Yes, I'm coming! Give me a minute!" Seol Ah yelled back, rushing out of the inner room, her apron half-tied.
"Take out the trash. It's your turn," the waitress said dismissively before walking away.
"'Take out the trash, it's your turn,'" Seol Ah mimicked under her breath, rolling her eyes. Grumbling, she grabbed the heavy bin bag and dragged it outside, the smell making her nose wrinkle.
"Man, aren't we going to order?" Johnson asked, dropping into a seat across from Jae Hyun in his office.
"You don't have any respect for your boss anymore," Jae Hyun replied in his usual icy tone, eyes glued to his laptop screen.
"Cut the crap, man. I'm starving," Johnson complained, rubbing his stomach dramatically.
"Fine. Order online, and add mine. I'm working late," Jae Hyun said without looking up.
"Alright, let's order," Johnson said excitedly, already scrolling through the app.
He placed an order for ramyeon, kimchi, gimbap, and cola drinks, grinning like a child.
"Done. When it arrives, let me know," Johnson said as he stood up.
"Got it."
"We have a delivery to make!" the chef announced loudly at the counter. "Which one of you will accompany Je Yi?" she asked, glancing at Seol Ah, Ro Na, and the other girls.
The others immediately turned away, suddenly very busy.
"Seol Ah will do it!" Ro Na blurted and ran off before Seol Ah could protest.
"Wait—what? No! I'm definitely not doing it," Seol Ah protested.
The chef's glare could have frozen fire.
Seol Ah sighed in defeat. "Fine. I'll come with you. I wonder how old you are that you can't make a simple delivery," she muttered.
Both the chef and Je Yi shot her sharp looks.
"What did you say?" Je Yi snapped.
"Can we just go?" Seol Ah said quickly, grabbing her jacket.
A soft knock echoed in Jae Hyun's office.
"Come in," his deep voice commanded.
"Sir, your food delivery is here," the secretary said.
"Have them bring it in."
"Yes, sir."
She stepped aside. "You can enter."
"Thank you," Seol Ah said politely as she and Je Yi walked in with the packages.
Jae Hyun looked up—and froze.
Their eyes met.
"You again," he said, amusement flickering briefly across his face.
Seol Ah stiffened, forcing professionalism, but her control slipped when he smirked.
"Seems like you haven't changed a bit," he said dryly.
Grinding her teeth, she snapped, "I didn't know we were delivering food to an ass."
Je Yi gasped and swatted her arm. "Do you… know him personally?"
"Yes," Seol Ah said flatly. "He's a dick."
"A dick?" Jae Hyun repeated, narrowing his eyes. "You're a bitch, you know that?"
"Same to you, psycho," she fired back.
The tension thickened just as Johnson walked in.
"I could hear vulgar language from the hallway," he joked. Then his eyes widened. "Oh! You're the waitress from that bar! Hello!"
"Hi," Je Yi replied awkwardly.
"Hello," Seol Ah said pointedly. "Can you shut your co-worker up and teach him some manners?"
"Co-worker?" Jae Hyun laughed.
Johnson nearly choked. "He's not my co-worker. He's my boss. The chairman."
The color drained from Seol Ah's face.
"I'm… I'm so sorry, sir," she stammered, bowing quickly and dragging Je Yi out.
Jae Hyun watched her go, his expression unreadable.
"That woman really gets on my nerves," he muttered.
Johnson grinned. "You sure that's all?"
Jae Hyun ignored him.
They ate in silence. But deep inside, something had already shifted, a quiet spark of curiosity he refused to acknowledge.