Secretary Kool

Chapter Five

A Different Kind of Morning

The next morning, I arrived at the office earlier than usual.

I told myself it was because I wanted to catch up on the work I had neglected the previous day, but deep down, I knew the real reason. I wanted to avoid an awkward encounter with my boss.

After what happened at the club, I wasn't sure how I was supposed to look at Kang Tae-hyun and behave as though nothing had happened.

For four years, I had worked beside that man without crossing any professional boundaries. I knew how he liked his documents arranged, the exact time he preferred his meetings scheduled, the coffee he drank, and even the expression he wore when someone annoyed him.

Yet somehow, one terrible night had managed to turn all those years of professionalism into something I was suddenly afraid of losing.

I sat at my desk and opened my laptop.

"Work, Kool," I whispered to myself. "Just work."

For the next hour, I concentrated on preparing his schedule and organizing the documents for the afternoon meeting. I was beginning to relax when the doors of the elevator opened.

I didn't need to look up to know who it was.

His footsteps were familiar.

Kang Tae-hyun walked past my desk without saying a word and entered his office.

I released the breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

A few minutes later, the phone on my desk rang.

"Secretary Kool."

My stomach tightened.

"Yes, sir?"

"Bring me the schedule for today."

"Right away."

I picked up the file and walked toward his office, trying to look calm. I knocked twice before entering.

He was standing beside the window, reading something on his tablet.

I placed the file on his desk.

"Your schedule, sir."

He looked at me.

"Thank you."

That was it.

No mention of the club.

No angry expression.

No lecture.

Nothing.

I turned to leave.

"Secretary Kool."

I stopped.

"Yes?"

He looked at me for a moment before speaking.

"Are you feeling better?"

I stared at him.

Of all the things I expected him to say, that wasn't one of them.

"Yes, sir."

"Good."

He returned his attention to the tablet.

I stood there for another second, confused by his calmness.

Then I left.

Back at my desk, I couldn't stop thinking about the question.

Are you feeling better?

It was such a simple question, but coming from Tae-hyun, it felt strangely different.

He wasn't the kind of person who asked people how they felt. At least, not me.

Before I could think too deeply about it, my phone vibrated.

It was my friend.

Are you alive?

I smiled despite myself.

Unfortunately.

Her reply came almost immediately.

Don't joke. I still can't believe you confronted your boss like that.

I covered my face with my hand.

"Please don't remind me."

Another message appeared.

You were shouting at him like he was the reason your whole life fell apart.

I stared at the screen.

Maybe she was right.

But somehow, part of me still felt that Tae-hyun had been the easiest person to blame that night.

He was always demanding.

Always pushing.

Always telling me what needed to be done.

And somehow, whenever my life became difficult, he seemed to be standing right there in the middle of it.

I locked my phone and returned to work.

Around noon, Tae-hyun called me again.

This time, he handed me a document.

"I need these prepared before the meeting tomorrow."

I looked through the pages.

"All of them?"

"Yes."

I sighed quietly.

He raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You sighed."

"I didn't."

"You did."

I looked at him.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then, unexpectedly, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Still think I'm too harsh?"

My eyes widened.

He remembered.

I lowered my head, embarrassed.

"I was drunk."

"That wasn't my question."

I looked back at him.

"No, sir."

"No?"

"I don't think you're too harsh."

He nodded slowly.

"Good."

I took the documents and walked away before he could say anything else.

But as I returned to my desk, I caught myself smiling.

And that was the part that bothered me.

Because for the first time in four years, I wasn't looking at Kang Tae-hyun only as my boss.

I was beginning to wonder who he really was behind that cold expression.

And I wasn't sure whether I wanted to find out.