Chapter One
The elevator crooned as it rose, a steady rhythm that mirrored the ticking of the delicate golden watch on Hye-Jin's wrist: 7:53 a.m.
Assistant Cha's sharp instruction echoed in her mind — »Our workdays start at 8 a.m. Be on time — there's a lot that needs handling here.«
Those words had become almost
Her eyes flicked to the glowing display—19th floor. A glance at the nearby floor overview plate followed, its glossy surface catching the fluorescent lights above.
Each floor of the forty-story building — owned by
Hye-Jin couldn't help but marvel at how unnecessarily tall it was, the kind of
Her lips curved into a pleasant smile, the kind you could frame for a workplace etiquette poster. Cheerful, approachable—the human embodiment of a spring day.
But beneath that practiced facade,
As the 23rd floor loomed closer, Hye-Jin straightened out her posture, smoothing over her trench coat with a
Appearances mattered, even in the
To survive here, you didn't just work hard; you worked smart.
And maybe flashed a little of that 'helpful, happy Hye-Jin' smile whenever deemed necessary.
The doors slid open, revealing the dimly lit foyer ahead. Hye-Jin's heels echoed confidently as she stepped onto the marble floor, her polished
Another day, another strategic move in the endless chess match between Chung Holdings and
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Hye-Jin stepped out of the lobby and into the office space; where only the female staff were present, either settling in or already immersed in their tasks.
She had learned that this is how "Sung Law Group" works- the male staff wouldn't come to work before 10 a.m., and the boss himself wouldn't grace the office until noon.
The women, however, kept the wheels turning, ensuring everything was in perfect order before the day truly began.
The room mirrored the excessive luxury of the rest of the building — high ceilings, polished marble floors, and a grand reception desk that radiated opulence. Behind it stood Assistant Cha, tall and
Cha's sharp gaze flicked to Hye-Jin, acknowledging her arrival with a subtle nod.
To the left of the reception was an imposing wooden door, its grandeur emphasized by a broad golden nameplate that read, "Sung Jin-Hun." Of course, her name wasn't even put anywhere near the door; she was just his little assistant, after all.
Without hesitation, Hye-Jin returned the nod, adjusted her trench coat, and pushed the heavy door open. Behind it started her domain. A smaller reception area, modest in comparison but no less polished, sat at the heart of the room.
This was Hye-Jin's workspace, the nerve center of the firm's operations.
As the personal assistant to Sung Jin-Hun, the boss of the company, she managed the administrative, legal, and commercial matters that kept everything running smoothly.
Scheduling, file management, drafting documents, client support, correspondence — every detail passed through her hands.
Settling into her desk, her coat neatly hung on the coat hook next to the front door; Hye-Jin started her morning routine with practiced efficiency. Calls to arrange appointments, requests, and complaints to process, meetings to oversee, documents to organize, and prepare for client discussions — it was a symphony of tasks, and Hye-Jin was the conductor.
By the time her boss would arrive — likely with another mistress in tow — everything would be in perfect order.
That was her role, after all: to ensure the chaos of the day never reached his door.
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At precisely 12:30 p.m., Sung Jin-Hun strode into the office, his arrival marked by the faint scent of expensive cologne and the soft echo of polished leather shoes on marble. Tall, handsome, and impeccably groomed, he was the kind of man who turned heads without even trying. Every detail of his appearance was deliberate — his tailored suit, the subtle sheen of his cufflinks, and the perfectly styled hair that never dared to fall out of place.
But today, just like many other days, he didn't appear alone. Clinging to his arm was a blonde model, breathtakingly beautiful and dressed to perfection. Her cascading waves of golden hair framed a face that seemed almost too flawless to be real.
She moved with the grace of someone accustomed to the looks of admiration by others. But her eyes sparkled foolishly as she gazed up at Sung Jin-Hun, obviously entirely swept away by his charm.
The faint indentation on his ring finger was the only sign of his quiet betrayal, a reminder of the golden wedding band tucked away in his desk's drawer.
Hidden from the women he brought into his orbit — mistresses, clients, and anyone else who fell for his allure.
Sung Jin-Hun was a master of the game. His sly smile and smooth words could disarm even the most guarded individuals. Divorce cases were not without reason one of his specialties, particularly those involving wealthy husbands and their disillusioned wives.
He knew how to play both sides, how to make himself
And yet, beneath the polished exterior lay a dangerous arrogance. Sung Jin-Hun carried himself as though the world revolved around him, as though no one could challenge his authority or resist his advances.
His gaze lingered on Hye-Jin as he entered, a calculated look that spoke volumes. She was his next conquest — or so he believed.
Hye-Jin, however, was no ordinary assistant. She met his gaze with the same practiced smile she reserved for clients and colleagues alike. Polite, professional, and utterly unreadable.
If Sung Jin-Hun thought he could outsmart her, he was in for a surprise.
He sauntered into the office, the blonde goddess still clinging to his arm as if he were the only man in the world. Her laughter, light and melodic, echoed in the quiet workspace, though it fell on deaf ears for Hye-Jin, who kept her focus firmly on the documents spread across her desk. Cases that were his to overlook but put onto her desk to handle.
But Sung Jin-Hun wasn't one to be ignored. With a deliberate air, he pulled the blonde closer, his hand resting possessively on her waist, and made sure to position them both in Hye-Jin's line of sight.
His gaze locked onto Hye-Jin's, sharp and unwavering, the corner of his mouth twitching into that infuriatingly smug smile. The one that always seemed to say, "You can't resist me."
»Good morning, Hye-Jin,« he called, his tone dripping with mock warmth. »I trust you're ready for the day?«
Without waiting for an answer, he turned his attention to the model, his voice dropping into a soft murmur that made her giggle and blush. He didn't intend this display for the model — it was for Hye-Jin.
And the worst part? He knew it was working.
That flicker of annoyance in her icy-blue eyes, no matter how brief, was exactly what he craved.
Hye-Jin's practiced smile didn't falter as she stood, clipboard in hand. »Good morning, Chief Sung. I have cleared your morning appointments, as you requested.«
»Excellent,« he acknowledged, making the word sound more like a command than a praise. And then, as if proving a point, he casually grabbed the model's hand, pulling her even closer, almost possessively. »I'll need you to take a call from a new client soon — someone very important. Make sure they're handled… delicately. And, oh, I am not to be disturbed until I say otherwise.«
»Of course,« Hye-Jin responded, her voice calm and professional. Not a trace of the irritation he was so determined to draw out of her.
But as he brushed past her, still holding onto his newest accessory, Hye-Jin's gaze followed him, if only for a second.
Well, at least that meant she could plan her day how she'd like.