Chapter 36
Laurel pov
Work was really stressful today.
I heard one of my staff say it without knowing I was standing by the door.
The glass door was slightly open, just enough for voices to slip through. I hadn't meant to stop. I hadn't meant to listen. But something in the tone tired, stretched thin held me there.
"This can't continue."
Another voice answered, sharper but just as exhausted.
"She expects us to live here."
Someone else sighed heavily, the kind of sigh that carried weeks of swallowed complaints.
"At least the overtime pay is real."
That got a few tired laughs. Dry. Hollow. Not amused just surviving.
Then another person said quietly,
"Money is nice. Sleep is nicer."
They all agreed.
No hesitation.
No argument.
Just agreement.
I stood there in silence, one hand still resting on the glass door handle.
Beyond them, the office lights burned bright against the darkening evening outside. Computer screens glowed in rows. Jackets hung over chairs like abandoned intentions. Coffee cups sat empty beside keyboards. Ties had been loosened hours ago. Shoes were kicked half under desks. Faces were tired in the kind of way expensive salaries did not fix.
Though I paid them extra, they were still people with lives.
People with homes.
People with families.
People with lovers waiting.
People with dinners already cold.
For a moment, guilt brushed past me.
Light.
Unwelcome.
Then I turned and walked back to my office.
My heels clicked softly against the polished floor, the sound echoing in the corridor like something deliberate, controlled. The noise of the office faded behind me, replaced by the quiet hum of central air and distant city movement.
The city skyline stretched beyond the floor to ceiling windows, Seoul glittering in silver and gold beneath the coming night. Cars moved below like veins of light. Towers stood proud and cold, their glass faces reflecting a world that never really stopped.
My office was quiet.
The kind of quiet only power could buy.
A knock came.
Sharp. Respectful.
"Come in."
Eun Woo entered immediately.
"You sent for me, ma," he said.
Always neat.
Always composed.
Always looking like he had already solved tomorrow before everyone else had finished today.
His presence filled the room in a reliable way not loud, not overwhelming, but steady.
"When are they transporting the oil?" I asked.
"Tomorrow, ma."
"Is the team ready?"
"Yes, ma."
"Security?"
"Handled."
"Documentation?"
"Complete."
"Insurance?"
"Confirmed."
I nodded once.
"Good."
He stepped forward slightly, tablet in hand, posture straight but not rigid.
"Then proceeding by judging the rate this is going, we will need partnership."
"I know, Eun Woo. I'm already working toward it."
He hesitated.
"Laurel, if you don't mind… there is a company in Busan apparently called GTS Global Technology Standard."
That got my full attention.
The name alone carried weight.
He continued.
"It is one of the best companies worldwide. And besides, they have the fund for the operation we are going for."
I leaned back in my chair, fingers resting lightly against the armrest.
"Are they good?"
"Very good."
"How good?"
"So good that they have a free record, and in a year they get at least 200 billions dollars, entering their firm which also makes their security insanely tight,ma"
Interesting.
"But fortunately," he continued, "I know a friend who does. He said the chairman just stepped down for his son who recently came back."
I folded my hands together slowly.
Inheritance transition.
New leadership.
Fresh ego.
Potential instability.
Potential opportunity.
Eun Woo kept going, voice steady.
"I think if we can get them to partner with us and lend us some fund with the rate of collecting at least twelve percent along with the main money they lend us I think we will never have any problem in this company."
He paused briefly.
"And it will be a way to shut those board members up."
That made me smile faintly.
The board.
A room full of men who mistook age for intelligence and titles for usefulness.
"Okay," I said. "I will do some findings about it."
He nodded.
"But try and get something more useful from your friend."
"Yes, ma."
"This remains between us for now."
"Okay, ma."
He turned to leave.
Then I called him back.
"Eun Woo."
He stopped immediately.
"Yes, ma?"
"Tell the staff there is break on Thursday and Friday."
He looked at me, stunned.
For a second, the perfect composure cracked just slightly.
Then slowly, he smiled.
A real one.
"Yes, ma."
"I can't keep forcing them to work by offering more money."
His expression softened.
"They'll appreciate it."
"That is not why I'm doing it."
"Of course not."
He left before I could insult him.
The door closed softly behind him.
I looked back at the city.
Sometimes leadership meant being hated.
Sometimes it meant knowing when to stop pushing before things cracked.
Tonight, I had seen cracks.
So I chose pause.
Later that evening, I went home.
The gates opened automatically. The driveway lights lined the stone path like a private runway. My house stood in stillness, elegant and expensive, glass and stone rising against the night like it had no reason to apologize for itself.
I stepped inside.
And found Eric sitting in the parlor waiting for me.
Though I was tired, it was his first day.
It mattered.
He stood immediately when he saw me.
"Laurel, welcome," he said.
I placed my keys down.
"I cooked," he added quickly.
That made me look at him properly.
He looked proud.
Hopeful.
Still in his home clothes, hair slightly messy, eyes bright in the way people's eyes become when they want approval but pretend not to.
"Thanks," I said.
He immediately came forward and took my bag from me.
I let him.
The dining table had already been set.
Simple meal.
Warm.
Homemade.
Nothing about it belonged to my usual life.
Which was perhaps why it felt valuable.
I sat.
He stayed standing for a second, staring like he was waiting for permission.
I picked up the fork.
Then finally asked
"How was your first day?"
His whole face changed.
"Oh, it was nice," he said, smiling.
"What?" I asked dryly. "Have you fallen in love?"
He almost choked.
"No."
Okay.
"It was just… different. Like everyone was nice."
He sat across from me now.
"And I even made friends, I guess."
I continued eating.
"They are twins," he said. "And you know… they are both interesting."
I raised an eyebrow.
"We even made plans to go out. But that will be tomorrow."
"Twins?" I asked.
"Yes."
"And both in your class?"
"Yes."
Then I knew.
"They must be Eun Woo's siblings."
He blinked.
Then laughed.
"See? I told introduction would be possible."
"Oh," he said slowly. "I thought you meant school, not same class."
"They are Eun Woo's siblings."
Interesting coincidence.
Or not coincidence.
"My regards to them," I said.
"Okay."
He looked ridiculously pleased that I cared enough to comment.
I finished eating.
The food was good.
I did not say that aloud.
Some things should not be rewarded too quickly.
I stood.
"Thank you."
He smiled immediately.
That was enough.
I took my bag and walked upstairs.
My room door shut behind me.
The silence hit at once.
I crossed the room, dropped onto the bed still in work clothes, and closed my eyes.
Everything ached.
My shoulders.
My head.
My patience.
Then my phone rang.
SEO Hee calling.
I opened one eye.
Of course.
I answered.
"What?"
"Laurel!" she whispered urgently. "Can you please tell Lee Joon I'm at your place and busy, please?"
I sat up slowly.
"What, i haven't even told him am in Korean already.".
"why? I think he is at my house. Laurel please do something."
I checked the time.
11:00 PM.
I sighed.
"Why is he at your house?"
"Because I may have ignored him all day."
"Why?"
"Because I was busy."
"With what?"
Silence.
Then
"Life, Kang dae."
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"Please," she begged. "Please. Just say I'm with you."
"You are not with me."
"Emotionally, I am."
"You are exhausting."
"I know. Please."
I ended the call.
Then immediately called Lee Joon.
I picked up on the first ring.
"Laurel."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Why are you calling?"
A pause.
Then
"do you know where SEO hee is, maybe she told you where she is cause her phone isn't going through?"
"she is with me, i said.
A lie delivered cleanly.
"She's busy."
"busy? How can she be with you in Canada."
"Because am in south Korea now"
He laughed once under his breath.
" What? How come am just finding out.
"Because you don't talk to me anymore".
"You could have called me. When do you come back".
"Three weeks ago".
"Laurel".
"I'm tired, Lee Joon. Don't make me choose violence tonight."
Another pause.
"Goodnight."
Are you mad at me. He asked
Good night lee Joon.
The call ended.
I stared at the phone for a second.
Then texted SEO Hee:
Handled.
You owe me.
She replied instantly:
I love you.
I muted the conversation.
Then I lay back down fully dressed, staring at the ceiling.
Below me, Eric was probably cleaning dishes.
Somewhere in the city, men were making deals, lying beautifully, falling in love badly, or both.
And tomorrow I had to wake up and do it all again.