She hadn't even had time to check her reflection after running out of the building. The summer heat hadn't helped either—she was flushed, slightly sweaty, and definitely not as composed as usual.
Still trying to think of another way to make an impression, she noticed a café staff carrying trays of drinks and pastries.
"Excuse me," she asked, her voice softening. "Are those for the group upstairs?"
The staff member looked at her badge and nodded. "Yes, they are."
"Then let me help," she offered quickly, taking one of the trays before the staff could even respond.
---
Yeri carefully balanced the tray with one hand as she made her way toward the second floor, a smug sense of satisfaction in her step.
She didn't know if Shin Keir would enjoy the coffee, but she was certain he'd remember it. Her "Long Black Special" had an extra shot of pettiness brewed into it.
Upstairs, Shin glanced at the staircase every few seconds, his impatience poorly hidden behind a cold expression. It wasn't like him to wait for something so eagerly—especially not a cup of coffee. But the thought of seeing her again, handing him a drink with that little scowl she wore when annoyed, was somehow... entertaining.
However, just as Yeri reached the top of the stairs, her path was blocked.
Lucia Hera stood there, arms folded neatly, eyes narrowing like a snake sizing up its prey. She looked Yeri over, from her fresh face to her café apron and all Lucia saw was a threat.
Young, pretty, and conveniently working at the same café the CEO just happened to visit? She definitely knows who Shin Keir is.
You know a vixen when you're one yourself.
Smiling with forced politeness, Lucia stepped forward. "Let me help with that. It looks heavy."
Yeri blinked, then instinctively pulled the tray closer to her chest. "Thank you, but I've got it."
Lucia's smile tightened.
So she wants to serve it herself? What for—so she can bat her lashes at him? She must think she's clever.
But from Yeri's point of view, she simply didn't want the coffee she'd personally brewed to end up in someone else's hands. It had to go to Shin Keir. No one else. Especially not someone who looked at her with intense hostility.
Moreover, how could she personally witness his expression after drinking the coffee?
The two women stood in tense silence, neither budging.
From the table, Shin finally noticed. His gaze flicked to the scene just in time to see the stand-off intensify. He stood, walking toward them with a furrowed brow.
But Lucia saw him first.
And she made her move.
With a sudden tug, she yanked the tray from Yeri's hands.
Caught off guard, Yeri stumbled forward.
Crash!
The tray clattered to the ground. Porcelain cups shattered. Hot coffee splashed violently across the floor—and Yeri's legs. She gasped sharply as the scalding liquid seared her skin.
Her fair skin quickly turned an angry red.
But before she could even react—
"Aaaaahhhhhh!"
Lucia screamed.
A dramatic, high-pitched shriek that echoed through the entire café.
"Oh no! my hand! I—I burned my hand!" she cried out, voice trembling, eyes already welling with crocodile tears. She dropped to the floor, cradling her hand and sobbing as if her life depended on it.
The employees and executives turned in shock, some rushing over.
Yeri stood frozen, blinking at the ridiculous display as pain pulsed through her legs.
Shin's eyes, however, were locked not on Lucia—but on Yeri.
And his face darkened.
Shin strode forward without hesitation, ignoring the broken cups, the spreading pool of coffee, and especially the woman wailing on the floor.
"Ye- you," he said, voice low but laced with urgency. "Are you alright?"
Yeri blinked up at him, pulled from her daze. The heat still pulsed on her skin, but her expression quickly composed itself. She gave a stiff shake of her head, waving a hand subtly between them, silently pleading 'We don't know each other.'
"I'm fine," she muttered quickly. "Really."
But Shin's gaze had already dropped to her reddened legs, his jaw tightening. Without a word, he pulled out a handkerchief and was about to crouch to tend to her burn.
Yeri instinctively stepped back, the pain finally registering.
Shin's brows knit in frustration. She was clearly in pain. Why pretend otherwise?
Meanwhile, Secretary Yun, ever the efficient crisis control, stepped in and addressed the real source of the drama.
"Miss Lucia Hera," he said sharply, "you've already submitted the report. What are you still doing here creating a scene?"
Lucia looked up from the floor, her eyes glossy with tears, her voice trembling. "I—I only wanted to make up for the delay on behalf of the IT department. I thought it was the least I could do."
Then, quick as a viper, she spun toward Yeri and added in a pitiful tone laced with accusation, "I only tried to help her with the tray, but she refused. She insisted on serving CEO Keir herself… I didn't want to say anything, but...she said she's familiar with the CEO."
A mere cafe worker claiming to know Shin Keir? How shameless!
Murmurs broke out among the employees.
"What's going on…?"
"She insisted on bringing the coffee herself?"
"Wait, is she trying to get close to the CEO?"
"Yes, she's very beautiful but how could she possibly know CEO Keir? Who doesn't know that he's- ahem!"
Some of the employees, considering Lucia was a colleague, quickly rushed to take her side.
As murmurs spread around the room, a few of them began casting judgmental, scrutinizing glances at Yeri.
Had Shin Keir not been present, they likely would have already begun criticizing her openly.
Shin remained expressionless but the anger and frustration in his eyes couldn't be hidden.
First, he didn't get to taste the coffee Yeri had proudly prepared. Second, Yeri injured still refused his help. And now this incompetent of an employee dared to humiliate her in front of everyone?
His patience snapped.
"Enough," he said flatly. "You don't need to report to work tomorrow."
Lucia blinked, looked around and realised he was talking to her. "C-CEO Keir?"
"You're fired."
The room fell into stunned silence. Even Lucia's fake sobbing stopped. The only sound was the hum of the espresso machine downstairs and the rapid thumping of everyone's collective heartbeat.
Nobody dared breathe too loud. Shin Keir was angry—and when the boss was angry, it was best to turn invisible.
Lucia slowly got to her feet, still clutching her hand dramatically. Her face twisted with disbelief. "B-but… why?" she gasped she gasped, switching tactics with a sudden sob. "I know I'm to blame for the delayed report. I'm so sorry, it's my fault. I just genuinely wanted to help serve the drinks and leave, but I wasn't quick-witted enough and didn't hold the tray properly when she shoved it at me."
One of them, feeling a surge of self-righteousness, spoke up in defense of Lucia.
"CEO Keir, pardon me, but isn't it too harsh to fire her when she's the victim?"
Shin turned his gaze to the speaker, regarding him as if he were a complete fool.
Secretary Yun stepped forward quickly, feeling a headache.
If his boss were the type to be swayed by a woman's tears and delicate features, he wouldn't have earned the reputation of being an infamous misogynist.
"Miss Hera, I suggest you stop before you make things worse."
But Lucia was too far gone in her own delusion. "I want to report her to the manager." she snapped, trembling with indignation. "This is clear negligence and incompetence. She did it in purpose with that tray and I demand disciplinary action!"
As if summoned by fate, the café manager finally arrived, drawn by the ruckus. "What's going on here—?"
Lucia immediately latched onto him, launching into a retelling of her tragic tale. "Manager, your staff member just burned me with a tray, look at this hand. Was it wrong of me to help her? She could've just said no, but instead, she shoved it at me! What did I do to offend her?"
The manager's gaze drifted to the "staff member" in question—
—and froze.
Yeri stood beside the broken tray, her apron slightly askew, one leg visibly red. But the moment the manager recognized her face, he nearly choked on air.
Yeri Zhi.
Zhi Corporation's heiress.
Daughter of his direct boss.
He turned ghostly pale.
And then… his eyes flicked to the man standing not far from her.
Shin Keir.
CEO of KGG. The epitome of wealth and power. A name no one dared ignore.
The manager's heart dropped. What kind of deadly combination is this?
And yet Lucia continued to babble beside him, completely unaware.
"Did you even evaluate her properly before hiring her? Who knows what kind of trouble she'll cause in the future. I'll be the bad guy here and say it—please fire her. And if you don't, I'll escalate this to corporate."
But the manager's mouth opened… and no words came out.
Who was he supposed to scold? The heiress of Zhi Corporation? Or the employee of Shin Keir? Or both?!
He looked between them and chose the safest route: absolute silence.
Whispers stirred among them.
"Wasn't she the one slacking earlier? That's why the CEO slammed the menu at her, right? What if she did this on purpose?"
"On purpose? But how could she have known the CEO was coming especially today?"
"Don't get fooled by appearances. Some women know how to play innocent."
At that moment, one of the café employees hurried over with a burn relief patch from the first-aid kit. Given the nature of the business, they kept immediate treatments for minor accidents like this on hand.
Lucia sighed in relief, assuming it was for her, and held out her hand. But the employee bypassed her and gave it to Yeri instead, visibly agitated.
"Are you okay? Do you need help applying this?"
Yeri shook her head calmly. "It's fine. I'll do it myself. Thank you."
Lucia's face flushed with humiliation. She was the customer. What kind of establishment prioritized staff over clientele?
She made a mental note: One-star review. Immediately.