Chapter Three – The Worst First Day
The next morning, Han Seo-jin arrived at the J&K Group headquarters at exactly six o'clock sharp.
Well… technically, five fifty-eight. She had run from the subway station as though chased by a pack of wolves, determined not to give Seo Jun-ho the satisfaction of calling her late again.
By the time she reached the 42nd floor, her blouse clung to her back and she was out of breath. She smoothed her hair, checked her reflection in the gleaming elevator doors, and whispered to herself:
You can do this, Seo-jin. It's just a job. A terrifying, high-pressure, soul-crushing job… but still a job.
The office was already alive with movement — sleek employees in designer suits, assistants carrying stacks of documents, the smell of fresh coffee lingering in the air. Everyone looked like they had stepped out of a fashion magazine.
Seo-jin felt like she had stumbled into a different universe.
"Miss Han."
The low, familiar voice behind her nearly made her jump. She turned to find Seo Jun-ho, flawless as ever in a dark gray suit, his hair perfectly styled, not a single detail out of place.
He glanced at his watch. "Two minutes early. Impressive."
Seo-jin puffed out her chest. "I told you I'd be here."
His lips curved faintly. "Let's see if you can last until noon."
Her first task: bringing him coffee. Easy, right? Except when she returned, triumphantly holding the steaming cup, Jun-ho took a single sip, set it down, and said, "Too sweet."
Seo-jin's smile twitched. "You didn't say how you like it."
"Figure it out," he replied without looking up from his laptop.
What is he, some kind of coffee oracle?! she fumed silently.
Task two: organizing his schedule. She opened his digital calendar only to find it overflowing with back-to-back meetings, names she couldn't pronounce, and abbreviations she didn't understand.
When she asked, "Um… what does 'M&A strat w/ HK rep' mean?" Jun-ho raised an eyebrow.
"Did you not study basic corporate terminology before applying here?"
"I did!" Seo-jin blurted. "But all I remember right now is… Excel shortcuts."
A chuckle escaped him before he could stop it. "Excel shortcuts, hmm? That should save the company."
Her cheeks burned. Was he teasing her?
By lunchtime, Seo-jin was exhausted. She collapsed in the chair opposite his desk, muttering, "This is torture. Actual torture."
Jun-ho looked up, his expression amused. "If you can't handle one morning, Miss Han, perhaps this position isn't for you."
Seo-jin narrowed her eyes. "Oh, I can handle it. You'll see."
Something flickered in his gaze — curiosity, maybe even admiration.
And then, just as Seo-jin bent down to grab her fallen pen, she miscalculated the distance. With a loud thunk, her forehead collided directly with Jun-ho's hand, which had been resting on the edge of the desk.
"Ah—!" she yelped, clutching her head.
Jun-ho blinked, then laughed softly — actually laughed. The sound was warm, rich, and completely at odds with his usual icy demeanor.
Seo-jin froze, stunned. She had just made a fool of herself… but instead of scolding her, he was smiling.
Her heart skipped. Just once.
Oh no. This is dangerous.