Weird.

Yoon-ah had just finished arranging her desk when a shadow fell over her. She looked up to see Daniel leaning casually against the edge of her workspace, arms crossed, observing her with quiet amusement.

"Getting comfortable?" he asked, his voice smooth.

"As much as I can," she replied, brushing a nonexistent speck of dust off her desk.

Mrs Oh had told her to watch out for an American guy in a suit who was supposedly her direct superior after the Ceo himself. She had said: "He looks like an Australian surfer dude, only that he's wearing a suit. Once you see him, you'll know what I'm talking about." Yoon-ah could see what Mrs.Oh was talking about, He was gorgeous. Daniel was still leaning casually against the desk, his arms crossed, exuding an effortless confidence that made it clear he belonged anywhere he stood. His blond hair, tousled and sun-kissed, had the kind of natural waves that hinted at hours spent by the ocean. Sharp blue eyes—lazy yet observant—studied Yoon-ah with mild amusement, as if he were perpetually in on a joke no one else had caught yet.

Dressed in a well-fitted dress shirt with the top button undone, he somehow made corporate wear look relaxed, like he could trade the office for a beach at any moment. His tan hinted at an outdoor lifestyle, and the way he leaned against the table, weight shifted onto one elbow, gave the impression that he was used to taking things at his own pace—unhurried, easygoing, but not to be underestimated. He could be serious when he wanted to considering he worked for the ceo for so long and Yoon-ah knew not to let her guard down.

"So, Seol Yoon ah-ssi, I heard you could speak English.." he said, his voice smooth with a touch of a laid-back drawl as he spoke in English, his voice velvety and soft sounding. "You can call me Daniel, no need for honorifics."

"ready to survive your first day?"

"I am ready Daniel, oh also, please call me Yoon-ah if you do not mind sir" she replied in Korean. Daniel smiled at her and nodded.

Daniel glanced around. "Mrs. Oh gave you the tour, I assume?"

"Yes."

"Good. That saves me some work." He straightened, motioning for her to follow. "Come on. Let's get you up to speed on the basics. You'll be handling scheduling, calls, meetings—basically making sure the CEO doesn't lose his mind."

"Sounds simple enough," she said lightly.

Daniel let out a small laugh. "You say that now."

They moved through the workspace efficiently, Daniel explaining the workflow, the system used for scheduling, the unspoken rules of dealing with higher-ups. Yoon-ah listened carefully, noting the little things—who was important, what to avoid, the delicate balance of being a secretary at this level.

Then, as they wrapped up, Daniel's phone buzzed. He checked the message, then smirked.

"Perfect timing," he said. "Boss just got back. Let's go introduce you. Our Boss's name is Kim Tan, of course you can't call him that" he laughed.

Yoon-ah inhaled slowly, steadying herself. No matter how composed she was, meeting the CEO in this official capacity was still a moment.

They reached the office, and Daniel knocked once before pushing the door open.

Kim Tan was standing by the window, suit jacket draped over his chair, one hand in his pocket. The late-morning light cast sharp angles across his face.

At the sound of the door opening, he turned.

He looked at her and when their eyes met– she inhaled.

she faltered.

She had thought Daniel was gorgeous, but this man's beauty was unearthly. It wasn't just striking—it was the kind that made the air feel thinner, the kind that made you question reality for a second.

Can such a person exist?

Kim Tan stood beside his desk, tall and imposing, a presence that demanded attention without a single word. His black suit was tailored to perfection, emphasizing his broad shoulders and lean waist. The crisp white of his shirt only sharpened the contrast of his sculpted features—high cheekbones, a razor-sharp jawline, and lips set in an unreadable line. His hair, jet-black and effortlessly styled, framed his forehead just enough to soften the sheer intensity of his gaze.

And those eyes—dark, deep, unwavering. The kind of gaze that could strip away pretenses and leave you bare.

Yoon-ah felt the weight of it settle on her, cold and assessing. But then, for the briefest flicker of a second—there. She has just taken a step in, and for a moment –– just a fleeting second–the world narrowed.

A glint of something.

Something unreadable.

Something she couldn't decipher, what do you expect they had just met.

A glint of something flickered in his gaze.

Familiarity?

Is that familiarity I see in his ey—

The thought barely formed before the moment shattered.

The door burst open behind them, and a group of men in sleek suits strode in without waiting for an invitation.

"President Kim, a moment of your time," one of them said briskly.

Kim Tan's expression didn't change, but something in the air shifted—cooler, sharper.

Yoon-ah, momentarily forgotten, took an instinctive step back.

Daniel glanced at her. "Looks like your introduction will have to wait."

She nodded, slipping into the background, but her mind remained on that moment.

That look in his eyes.

That fleeting familiarity.

Had she imagined it?

What am I doing? These thoughts are useless.

The office was too quiet.

Yoon-ah stood at the threshold, her posture straight, her fingers resting lightly on the strap of her bag. The air smelled of polished wood and expensive cologne, the kind that lingered subtly but never overwhelmed.

The meeting stretched on longer than expected. Yoon-ah stayed in the background, silent, watching as Kim Tan handled the visitors with sharp efficiency. His words were few, but each one carried weight, cutting through negotiations with a quiet dominance that made it clear who was in control.

Eventually, the men in suits stood, bowing slightly before exiting. Daniel trailed after them, checking his watch.

Yoon-ah saw her chance.

She turned to follow Daniel, slipping toward the door.

Only to be stopped by a voice—low, firm, and unquestionable.

"When did I say you could leave?"

Yoon-ah froze.

Daniel, already halfway out, paused.

He turned around and made a smooth introduction—"This is Seol Yoon-ah, the new secretary."—and then… nothing.

Silence.

No acknowledgment. No glance. No shift in his expression.

It was almost as if she hadn't spoken at all.

She stood, waiting, but he didn't look up. Not once.

Daniel, ever observant, didn't react, though the corner of his mouth quirked slightly before he checked his watch. "Well, I'll leave you both to get acquainted."

His lips twitched in what looked like mild amusement before he met her gaze with a silent, You're on your own. Then, without a word, he shut the door behind him.

Now, it was just her. And him.

He was gone. Just like that.

The door clicked shut.

She slowly turned around.

Only then did Kim Tan move.

He stood next to the table as he slowly closed the file, his fingers resting lightly on the cover. Then, finally, his gaze lifted to hers.

And Yoon-ah felt something strange. It was that glint again..

It was there for a second, flickering in his dark eyes before it vanished, like a trick of the light.

Kim Tan had moved to his chair, settling into the sleek leather chair behind his desk. His sharp gaze flicked over her again, unreadable.

Her expression remained smooth, betraying nothing. She bowed slightly, voice steady. "Seol Yoon-ah. It's an honor to be working under you, sir." she squared her shoulders. She said, her voice smooth, velvety and controlled. "Your new secretary."

He didn't respond. He just studied her.

A long beat of slience.

Then unexpectedly––

"Ah." and that was all he said.

Nothing more. Just that single syllable, like her introduction had been.. unnecessary.

Before she could dwell on it, he leaned back in his chair, tilting his head slightly. His gaze drifted over her—not in a way that felt intrusive, but assessing. Unhurried.

Then, in a tone so dry she almost missed the sarcasm, he mused, "You're shorter than I expected."

Yoon-ah blinked. "…Excuse me?"

"Your name. Seol Yoon-ah." He tapped the closed file. "I imagined someone taller."

She had no idea how to respond to that.

"…I'll make sure to grow taller for your convenience, sir."

His lips twitched, just barely.

Then, with an almost lazy movement, he loosened his tie, fingers working the knot free before leaning back slightly in his chair. The shift in his posture was subtle but distinct. The controlled, almost detached CEO from a moment ago had eased into something less rigid. Not relaxed, exactly, but… less guarded.

It was like watching a predator decide it no longer needed to be on high alert.

She noted the way he exhaled slowly, his hand running along the edge of his desk before he settled it against the armrest.

It was the smallest thing—yet it told her volumes.

But then, as quickly as it had come, the amusement faded, replaced by cool professionalism. He gestured toward the chair in front of his desk. "Sit."

The command was effortless. Automatic. Like he was used to being obeyed without question.

She hesitated but moved to sit, keeping her posture straight.

The shift in him was fascinating.

A moment ago, he had been almost approachable, his sarcasm teetering on the edge of amusement. Now? Now he was every bit the cold, distant CEO she had expected.

He wasn't looking at her anymore, already flipping open a different file.

As if she was no longer important.

Well at least she was sure he didn't know her from the weird question (?) he asked her...

Right?