An Unexpected Encounter on the Streets of Seoul
The streets of Seoul were bustling—traffic signals beeping, people rushing in every direction. Riya was walking briskly, dressed in an elegant black formal outfit. In one hand, she carried several important office files; in the other, her phone, deeply engaged in a serious conversation.
Riya:
"Yes, I'll be there within ten minutes. I have all the files with me—please don't worry…"
As she turned a corner while talking, suddenly—thud! She crashed straight into a solid chest. The files scattered across the sidewalk, though she barely managed to keep her phone from falling. Regaining her balance, Riya rubbed her forehead and snapped irritably,
Riya:
"Hey! Can't you watch where you're going?!"
She looked up—and froze.
Standing in front of her was a tall man in an expensive black suit. He looked at her calmly, his gaze steady. For a moment, the noise of the city seemed to fade away. Seeing Riya's irritation, he didn't look apologetic at all. Instead, he frowned slightly, his voice deep and edged with arrogance.
Man:
"Excuse me? I should watch where I'm going? You were walking like a blind person while talking on the phone. Don't you know how to pay attention to where you're going?"
Riya was stunned. Not only was he refusing to admit his mistake—he was blaming her? Fuming, she bent down to gather her scattered files.
Riya:
"What did you just say? Blind? Is this road yours that you're standing in the middle like a statue? People like you make it impossible for normal pedestrians to walk properly!"
The man slipped his hands into his pockets and gave a crooked smile.
Man:
"How strange. You can't even handle your own files, yet your voice is quite loud. Ever thought that your 'odd behavior' could have ruined my expensive suit?"
Riya:
"My files are worth far more than your suit! Ugh, I don't know why I even stepped out today. You've completely ruined my day!"
People around them had stopped to watch the argument between the two "black beauties." Someone whispered,
"He looks like a prince, but what a sharp temper!"
Riya, now at her boiling point, gathered her files, scanned him from head to toe, and curled her lips into a mocking smile.
Riya:
"I don't have the luxury of wasting time talking to someone as 'perfect' as you. Instead of pretending to be a prince on the street, you should learn some manners. Goodbye!"
With a sarcastic smile, she flipped her hair back and stormed off, disappearing into the crowd before he could respond.
Office Scene
Even after reaching the office, Riya was still fuming. She slammed the files onto her desk and vented to her colleague.
Riya:
"Mina, you won't believe it. I ran into a total nuisance on the street today. Looks like a hero, but his behavior was disgusting! Thinks he owns the entire city."
Mina:
"Calm down, Riya! Our new CEO is joining today. Get ready—the meeting is about to start."
Riya quickly fixed her outfit and hair. As she entered the conference room, her heartbeat stopped for a split second.
At the head of the table stood the man in the same black suit, flipping through a file.
Riya whispered,
"…You?!"
He looked up, his eyes holding that same calm yet mysterious gaze. Walking toward her, he leaned slightly over the table and said in a low voice,
Man:
"So, welcome to the office of the 'nuisance,' Miss Riya. Shall we talk about manners now?"
Riya never imagined things would turn out like this. Her ego and self-respect took a massive hit; her face flushed with humiliation.
Conference Room: The Beginning of Conflict
The room was dead silent. Everyone stared at Riya—they had never seen her lose her temper like this.
Riya: (clenching her teeth)
"Oh, so you're our new CEO? I'm amazed someone who lacks the courtesy to admit his mistake on the street can run a company like this!"
Mina was trembling, tugging at Riya's sleeve and whispering,
"Riya, are you crazy? Stop it! You'll lose your job!"
But Riya was unstoppable. She slammed her file on the table.
Riya:
"Before this meeting starts, let me make something clear, Mr. CEO. I work here because of my skills and hard work—not to tolerate your royal ego. You may be my boss, but what you did on the street was extremely rude!"
The CEO slowly stood up. There was something intriguing in his eyes—as if he was enjoying her defiance. He stepped closer, stopping just inches away from her.
CEO:
"Are you always this rebellious, or is this attitude reserved for special people?"
Riya didn't back down.
Riya:
"This isn't rebellion—it's called self-respect. Something that might not exist in your dictionary."
The entire room seemed to freeze. The calm in the CEO's eyes vanished, replaced by a cold seriousness. His voice dropped, sharp and controlled.
CEO:
"Miss Riya, you're crossing the line. It's getting too much."
He leaned on the table, locking eyes with her.
CEO:
"You're bringing a street argument into the office—that's unprofessional. I'm not here to fight with you; I'm here to run this company. And if you don't know how to respect your boss, then I seriously question whether you belong here."
Riya tried to speak, but he raised his hand to stop her.
CEO:
"That's enough. Sit down quietly—or leave the office right now. The choice is yours."
Riya trembled with humiliation. She hadn't expected to be publicly cornered like this. Tears welled up, but she held them back. She knew one wrong move could end her career. She sat down, silent—but inside, she swore she would teach this arrogant man a lesson.
A Cold War Begins
Riya decided not to fight with words anymore—she would defeat him with her work.
The next day, the CEO was presenting a major project to foreign clients. As he confidently displayed the data, Riya sat at the back, studying the slides carefully. Suddenly, she noticed a critical mistake.
Just before the presentation ended, she raised her hand.
Riya:
"Excuse me, sir. On slide 15, there's a small error in the budget calculation. You've used last year's VAT rate, but under this year's new government regulation, it has increased by 2%. Because of this, the projected profit margin is incorrect."
The room went silent. The clients exchanged glances. The CEO's face paled. He quickly checked the file—and realized she was right. That single mistake could have caused millions in losses.
CEO: (through clenched teeth)
"Thank you, Miss Riya. We'll correct it."
After the clients left, he called her into his cabin. As she entered, he turned his chair and stared at her sharply.
CEO:
"You're quite intelligent. Did you enjoy embarrassing me in front of everyone?"
Riya: (with a sweet smile)
"I wouldn't call it embarrassment, sir. I'd call it perfection. You were the one who emphasized professionalism. I simply did my duty."
As Riya walked out of the cabin, a victorious smile played on her lips. What she didn't notice was that behind her, the CEO wasn't angry anymore.
Instead, there was a strange glimmer of admiration in his eyes.
He thought to himself,
"She's not just fiery… she's brilliant."Impressed by Her Intelligence
The CEO was genuinely surprised by Riya's sharp mind. He understood one thing very clearly—pushing this woman away would be a loss for the company. So, he made a calculated move.
A Turning Point: A New Responsibility
Just as Riya was leaving his cabin with the confidence of a victor, the CEO's deep voice stopped her.
CEO:
"Miss Riya, wait. I have a new offer for you."
Riya frowned and turned back.
"What kind of offer?"
CEO:
"For our upcoming Blueprint Project, I need someone who can detect flaws with absolute precision. Starting today, you'll leave your current desk and work directly as my Personal Assistant. Your new desk will be right next to my cabin."
Riya's eyes widened in shock.
She had wanted to outsmart him—but now she'd be under this arrogant man's watch all day long?
Riya:
"But sir, I don't want to work with you."
CEO: (smiling faintly)
"This is professional life, Miss Riya. And I've doubled your salary. Now tell me—will you manage your ego, or your career?"
Riya hesitated. She knew this assignment was a huge opportunity. But working with him meant constant clashes. In the end, she agreed—thinking bitterly,
"Fine. I'll be your PA—and drive you crazy."
Working Together
From the next day, they started working side by side. The CEO deliberately assigned her exhausting tasks—strong coffee, late-night file reviews, endless revisions. And Riya, whenever she got the chance, pointed out his smallest mistakes.
Yet between work, she noticed something unexpected. Beneath his cold exterior, the man was incredibly hardworking—and deeply lonely.
Late Night at the Office
It was almost ten at night. Most office lights were off. Only a desk lamp near the CEO's cabin glowed softly.
Riya was exhausted. The heat and fatigue had made her loosen a few buttons of her white shirt—something she hadn't even noticed.
She bent down to gather important project files scattered on the floor.
At that moment, the CEO stepped out of his cabin. Walking down the corridor, he noticed Riya working alone. Quietly, he approached her desk.
As she leaned forward, her shirt collar slipped slightly.
Just then, Riya sensed someone behind her. Startled, she tried to stand up—but lost her balance and began to fall backward.
CEO:
"Careful!"
He reached out instantly and caught her to stop her from falling. But in the suddenness and dim light, his hand accidentally pressed against her chest.
For a moment, the world froze.
Riya's breath caught. The CEO's gaze deepened.
Through the gap between the buttons of her shirt, he could feel her heart racing beneath his palm. Neither of them blinked. Outside, rain tapped softly against the windows. The hum of the air conditioner was the only sound.
A few seconds later, realization struck him.
He pulled his hand away at once and turned his face aside, clearly uncomfortable.
Riya's face burned with embarrassment. She quickly adjusted her shirt, her hands trembling.
CEO: (clearing his throat, voice low)
"I… I was only trying to stop you from falling. I'm sorry."
Riya couldn't speak. Her heart was still pounding wildly. She clutched the files to her chest and lowered her head.
For the first time, she saw something unfamiliar in his eyes—not authority, not arrogance—but guilt… and concern.
Escape
The shock, the accidental touch, her own unprepared state it all overwhelmed her.
The CEO's "sorry" reached her ears, but her mind wasn't functioning.
She pressed her collar tightly with one hand, her face burning with humiliation.
Riya: (barely audible)
"I… I need to go."
She didn't bother collecting her bag or files properly. With unsteady steps, she rushed toward the elevator.
The CEO tried to stop her.
CEO:
"Miss Riya wait! It's raining outside!"
But she was already gone.
She rode the elevator straight to the ground floor. As she stepped outside, Seoul's cold night air and light rain brushed against her face. Yet the heat inside her refused to fade.
She hailed a taxi in the rain.
Sitting inside, staring out the window, only one thought echoed in her mind:
How will I face him tomorrow?
Meanwhile
Back in the office, the CEO sat alone at his desk.
The sensation still lingered in his palm.
Annoyed with himself, he exhaled slowly.
He finally admitted what he had been denying
The more he pretended to dislike Riya,
the more deep down he was beginning to feel drawn to her.