Ye-rin didn't sleep.
Not properly.
She kept turning in bed, the blanket twisting around her legs, her mind replaying yesterday over and over.
His face. His voice.
"You're hired."
Of all the companies in Seoul…
Of all the buildings…
Of all the men in this city…
Why did fate push her straight back to him?
At 5:30 a.m., she finally gave up. If she couldn't sleep, she might as well get up.
The apartment was quiet. She moved carefully, preparing breakfast and packing Min-joon's lunchbox: egg rolls, sausage, and rice shaped into a tiny bear.
When Min-joon walked out rubbing his eyes, he blinked at the table.
"Wow… Mama, is it my birthday?"
She laughed softly. "It's your first day at the new school. That's important too."
He grinned and hugged her waist.
"Then I'll become number one in class!"
"That's too much pressure, baby."
"But I'll try!"
She watched him eat, talking nonstop, and for a moment her chest felt lighter. This… this was why she came back. Not for the past. Not for him.
For Min-joon. Only Min-joon.
She repeated it like a spell.
Thirty minutes later, she stood in front of Kang Group again. The building looked even taller today. More intimidating. Like it remembered her fear.
Her palms were sweaty.
Calm down. It's just work. He doesn't remember you. You're just an employee. Nothing more.
She inhaled deeply and walked inside.
The HR manager guided her upstairs.
"From today, you'll be assisting CEO Kang directly," the woman explained. "He dislikes mistakes. He dislikes noise. He dislikes delays. Basically… don't annoy him."
Ye-rin forced a smile. "…I'll try my best."
Try not to faint is more accurate.
The office door opened.
And there he was.
Kang Jae-hyun.
Already working. Only 8:10 a.m., yet sunlight streamed through the glass walls, outlining his tall figure. Sleeves rolled up slightly, exposing strong forearms as he flipped through documents. Serious. Focused. Untouchable.
Her heart started acting stupid again. Why does he look even better in daylight…?
"CEO Kang," HR called softly. "Your new secretary."
He didn't look up.
"Leave her."
The door shut. Now it was just the two of them.
The room suddenly felt too quiet. Too small. Her heartbeat echoed loudly in her ears.
Say something. Don't just stand there.
"…Good morning, sir," she said, bowing.
He hummed faintly. Still reading.
Then—
"Coffee."
"…Sorry?"
"Black. No sugar."
"Oh—yes!"
She nearly ran to the pantry, mentally screaming. Calm down, Ye-rin! It's just coffee!
But her hands shook while pouring the water. Why am I nervous like a criminal?! It's been five years! He doesn't even remember!
Still… being this close made her chest tight. Like her body remembered something her brain wanted to forget.
She carried the cup back carefully.
"Your coffee, sir."
Their fingers brushed. Just slightly. Barely a second. But—
Electric.
Her breath hitched.
She expected him to pull away instantly. Or react. Or frown.
But he didn't.
Instead—he froze. His eyes slowly lifted to hers. A strange look crossed his face. Not discomfort. Not irritation. Something else.
"…You," he muttered quietly.
Her heart dropped to her stomach. D–did he remember?!
But he only stared at his own hand like it confused him. There was no rash. No redness. Nothing. For years, even accidental contact with women made his skin break out. Doctors called it psychological. Stress-related. Untreatable.
Yet—he had just touched her. And felt… fine. Warm. Normal. Comfortable.
"…Strange," he murmured.
"Sir?" she asked nervously.
"Nothing."
But his gaze lingered longer than necessary. Studying. Again. That same feeling from yesterday. Familiar. Like déjà vu. Like a memory hiding behind fog. Who are you…?
The morning flew by in chaos. Emails, schedules, phone calls, printing documents—she ran nonstop.
"Miss Seo, meeting file!"
"Miss Seo, sign here!"
"Miss Seo—"
By noon, she was already exhausted. How does he handle this every day…?
But strangely—working distracted her. For a few hours, she almost forgot her fear.
Until—
"Seo Ye-rin."
His voice. Right behind her.
She nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Yes, sir!"
"Come here."
Her legs obeyed automatically. He stood beside her desk, tall enough that his shadow covered her completely. Too close. Way too close. She could smell his cologne. Clean. Subtle. Familiar. Her brain short-circuited.
He leaned over her shoulder to look at the monitor. Their distance vanished. If she moved even an inch, she'd bump into his chest.
Her heartbeat went crazy. Calm down calm down calm down—
"You typed this wrong," he said quietly, pointing at the screen.
His voice brushed her ear. She shivered.
"I—I'll fix it!"
He paused. Noticed.
"…Are you scared of me?" he asked suddenly.
"…What?"
"You keep trembling."
Because you're my child's father, that's why!!!
She forced a stiff smile. "N–no, sir. Just nervous. First day."
He stared at her. Long. Searching. Then unexpectedly—
"…Relax. I don't bite."
Her eyes widened. Was that… a joke? Did Kang Jae-hyun just joke? She almost laughed from shock.
He straightened and walked away like nothing happened. But her heart didn't calm down for the next ten minutes.
Evening came faster than expected. Employees packed up and left one by one. She grabbed her bag too—
"Seo Ye-rin."
She froze. Slowly turned.
He stood by his desk, loosening his tie. Still working. Still calm.
"Stay."
"…Sir?"
"Overtime. Help me organize these files."
Her brain screamed. Overtime?! Alone?! With him?!
But… extra pay. School fees. Rent. Min-joon.
"…Yes, sir."
The office grew quiet as the sun set outside the windows. Just the two of them. And the ticking clock. Too close. Too quiet. Too dangerous for her heart.
Jae-hyun watched her secretly while she worked. That strange comfort again. For the first time in years—having a woman this close didn't irritate him. Didn't suffocate him. It felt… natural.
His eyes softened unconsciously. Maybe… keeping her wasn't such a bad idea.
Neither of them noticed—
That fate had already begun tightening the thread between them. Slowly. Unavoidably.