First day.

The Bentley rolled smoothly down the street, drawing more attention than she wanted. Yoon-ah gripped the steering wheel, eyes flicking between the GPS and the buildings passing by.

She was not parking this car at Galaxy Corporation.

The thought of pulling into the company lot, stepping out, and immediately becoming that new employee—the one who drives a car worth more than most people's apartments—was enough to make her cringe.

So she found a private parking lot two blocks away, paid for a full-day spot, and walked the rest of the way.

Her brother had found it a bit odd how she easily hopped into the car, that morning without no hesitation whatsoever. This was the reason for it.

It wasn't that she was ashamed of the car. It was just… too much, too soon. She wasn't ready for it.

By the time she reached the Galaxy Corporation building, she had already adjusted her expression—calm, composed, unreadable. But as she stepped into the lobby, the weight of the moment hit her.

Her first job. Her first day.

And if she wasn't careful—her first disaster. She wouldn't let it become a disaster though.

She exhaled.

She stepped into the grand lobby, and the cool air-conditioning hit her instantly. She shivered. The place was as sleek and modern-looking as she remembered– high ceilings, minimalist design and employees moving with a sharp purpose, minding their business. Without paying her any mind. She liked that.

The thought of coming to work with the car parked in the parking lot in front of this building made her shiver and cringe. She couldn't imagine the rumors that would be flying around already the moment she'd step out from the car.

Crisis successfully averted.

At the receptionist desk, a polished looking lady most probably in her 30's glanced up and gave her a once over, her eyes flickered to her expensive looking bag. Her eyebrows raised as she stared at Yoon-ah, she looked like a model for a high end brand that made corporate wears. She wasn't the same receptionist that she'd met on the day of her interview.

"Name?"

"Seol Yoon-ah" she said smoothly. She cheered internally.

The receptionist's expression didn't change, but there was the slightest arch of her brow, like she knew that name. "Take the elevator to the 37th floor. Hr will meet you there."

Yoon-ah nodded and turned towards the elevators. She felt the lingering stare of the receptionist following her but she ignored her.

As the elevator doors slid shut, she let out a slow breath. The elevator ride felt longer than it should have. Yoon-ah stood still as she watched the floor numbers climb, her fingers resting lightly on her bag strap.

She spent a few minutes in the elevator pep talking herself. I'm ready for anything.

Or so she thought.

Her thoughts came to a halt quickly when the elevator doors opened after a soft chime. she came face to face with her interviewer. The same woman that interviewed her.

The last person she wanted to see.

The HR manager.

The one who had witnessed her train wreck of an interview and at the time looked thoroughly unimpressed.

Now the same woman stood just outside the elevator, arms crossed, expression unreasonable. Almost like she had been expecting her.

"You"

"Good morning ma'am!" Yoon-ah felt trembled, barely keeping her expression neutral. It's her!

The woman stared at her for a few seconds, accessing her, her face never betraying a single emotion, thing or thought that she might have been thinking or feeling, her gaze sharp and unreasonable.

Yoon-ah stood frozen.

"Won't you come out?" She reminded Yoon-ah and Yoon-ah realized that she had indeed reached the 37th floor. She shuffled outside and stood next to her. Her fingers tightened around her bag strap, posture straight. "Good morning ma'am" she tried again, she wanted this woman to not hate her at least. Yoon-ah took a slow measured breath. First impressions mattered.

Well second impressions in this case.

"Good morning." She said simply. "The receptionist desk called me. Let's go" she turned around.

Yoon-ah's stomach dipped.

The interview had been a disaster– a fire on a mountain– no way around that, but now that she has been officially hired, she needed to moved forward with dignity.

Yoon-ah adjusted the strap on her bag, posture straight and her steps ready.

"You can call me Mrs. Oh. I'll be helping you get settled today" she briefed as she walked, briskly. Yoon-ah fell into step beside her, guiding her through the space with practiced efficiency.

The 37th floor of Galaxy Corporation was sleek, modern, and dangerously quiet.

They moved through the hallways, passing sleek conference rooms and bustling work spaces. Employees looked up as they walked by, some subtly nudging their colleagues.

Yoon-ah followed the HR manager down the hallway, her heels clicking against the polished floor. The space around her buzzed with whispered conversations—employees sneaking glances, some subtle, others not so much.

The whispers started.

She could feel it already.

People were watching.

And not just because she was new.

The HR manager didn't slow her pace, but there was something in the way she glanced at Yoon-ah—like she knew something Yoon-ah didn't.

They passed through key areas quickly:

"Here is the break room. The coffee's free, but let's just say caffeine addiction isn't worth it." The coffee tastes terrible? Noted!

"This is the lounge area. You'll see a mix of hard workers and professional slackers. You'll figure out who's who soon enough."

"This is the boardroom. You'll either dread these or thrive in them. No in-between."

"Take note for the executive rooms. If you ever need to meet a higher up, don't just barge in. Well, unless you want to get fired."

Yoon-ah nodded along, taking it all in.

But the real moment of interest came when they reached her workspace.

Yoon-ah stopped.

Her desk wasn't in some tucked-away assistant's corner.

It wasn't even in the standard executive secretary section.

It was placed deliberately close to the CEO's office.

And not just close—directly in his line of sight.

If he left his office, he'd see her. If he glanced up from his desk, he'd see her. If he so much as turned his head, she'd be right there.

Yoon-ah kept her face blank.

The HR manager? She smirked.

"Interesting setup, isn't it?" she mused.

Yoon-ah met her gaze. "You tell me."

The woman chuckled, but didn't elaborate. Instead, she handed Yoon-ah a folder.

Before Yoon-ah could take it, the HR manager held on to it for a moment longer.

Then, in a quieter voice, she said:

"You're the CEO's secretary now. That means you'll be under a microscope. Every mistake? Noticed. Every interaction? Remembered."

"People will underestimate you. Some will test you and some will wait for you to fail"

A pause.

"Don't you ever give them the satisfaction"

"And most importantly—you're placed here for a reason. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing? Well… you'll figure it out soon enough."

Yoon-ah didn't react.

Instead, she simply took the folder from the woman's grip and smiled.

"Good thing I learn fast, then."

The HR manager tilted her head, intrigued.

"We'll see."

She could hear the whispers.

"That's her?"

"Why is she placed there? That's too close to the CEO's office."

"I heard She failed her interview. Someone told me"

"She is very pretty, too pretty."

Yoon-ah didn't react. Let them talk.

Mrs.Oh turned to the surrounding employees.

"Alright, everyone, this is Seol Yoon-ah, the CEO's new secretary."

That got their attention.

Some nodded politely. "Welcome." Professional. Neutral. Nothing more.

Some looked amused. "Oh, you're her." Their expressions unreadable—curiosity? Judgment? A little of both?

And some didn't even bother hiding their skepticism. A raised brow. A knowing smirk. Yoon-ah knew what they were thinking, that she wouldn't last long on the job. She would show them who's boss.

Yoon-ah met every reaction with calm, unreadable professionalism.

Let them wonder.

And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving Yoon-ah standing there—settled in, but already at the center of attention.

I will show you all who's boss!