Secretary Kool

Chapter Three

The Night at the Club

By Friday evening, I had decided that I was done thinking about my breakup.

At least for one night.

“You're coming with us,” my friend said as she stood in front of me.

I shook my head.

“I don't feel like going anywhere.”

“That is exactly why you need to come.”

Another friend joined her.

“We're going to the club. Music, dancing, drinks. You need to forget everything for a few hours.”

I sighed.

Maybe they were right.

After all, staying at home and thinking about my ex wasn't going to change anything.

“Fine.”

My friends cheered.

“That's my girl!”

A few hours later, we arrived at the club.

The music was loud, the lights were flashing, and people were everywhere.

For the first time in days, I actually smiled.

We found a table and ordered drinks.

I took one.

Then another.

Then another.

I wasn't keeping count anymore.

My friends were laughing and dancing beside me.

“Ko, slow down!” one of them shouted.

“I am fine!”

“You said that ten minutes ago!”

I laughed.

“I said I'm fine!”

The alcohol was beginning to affect me, but I didn't care.

For once, I didn't want to think about work.

I didn't want to think about my boyfriend.

And I definitely didn't want to think about my boss.

Kang Tae-hyun.

The man who could make my entire day miserable with just one look.

My boss!” I suddenly shouted.

My friends burst out laughing.

“What about him?”

“He is too harsh!”

They laughed even harder.

“You've been working for him for four years. You should be used to him by now.”

“I hate him!”

“You don't hate him.”

“I do!”

I grabbed my drink.

“He is the reason everything went wrong!”

My friends exchanged looks.

“Ko, you're drunk.”

“I am not drunk.”

I stood up.

I nearly fell.

They quickly caught me.

“Okay,” one of them said. “You're definitely drunk.”

I laughed.

Then something unexpected happened.

One of my friends noticed a group of boys nearby.

Within minutes, the group had started talking.

My friends moved closer to them.

“Ko, stay here. We'll be back.”

“Where are you going?”

“We're just going over there.”

“Don't leave me!”

“We won't!”

But they did.

Minutes passed.

I sat alone at the table.

I looked around.

They were nowhere.

I tried calling one of them, but there was no answer.

I sighed and stood up.

“I'll find them myself.”

I walked through the crowded club, barely paying attention to where I was going.

Then I saw someone familiar.

A man sitting at one of the private tables.

A dark suit.

A familiar face.

Kang Tae-hyun.

My boss.

I stared at him.

“What is he doing here?”

Tae-hyun wasn't alone.

Several of his friends were sitting around him, talking and laughing.

He hadn't noticed me.

I smiled.

Then an idea entered my drunken mind.

I walked toward him.

One of his friends noticed me first.

“Isn't that your secretary?”

Tae-hyun turned.

His expression immediately changed.

“Kool?”

I pointed at him.

“You!”

Everyone at the table went silent.

Tae-hyun frowned.

“What are you doing here?”

“You!”

I walked closer.

“You are too harsh, Boss!”

His friends exchanged confused looks.

Tae-hyun stood up.

“Kool, you're drunk.”

“I am not drunk!”

I pointed at him again.

“You made my life miserable!”

“Kool—”

“You're the reason!”

“The reason for what?”

“My boyfriend!”

His eyebrows pulled together.

“What about your boyfriend?”

“He broke up with me because of you!”

Tae-hyun stared at me.

His friends were struggling not to laugh.

One of them covered his mouth.

Another looked away.

Tae-hyun noticed.

His expression became darker.

“Stop laughing.”

They immediately became quiet.

I continued talking.

“You're always giving me work. Morning, afternoon, evening! Do this! Do that! Go here! Go there!”

I imitated his voice badly.

His friends finally burst out laughing.

Tae-hyun looked furious.

I didn't notice.

I was too busy complaining.

“You don't even know how difficult you are!”

“Kool.”

“No! I'm talking!”

He stepped toward me.

“You're coming with me.”

“No!”

I tried to move away.

He caught my wrist before I could stumble into another table.

“Let go of me!”

“You can barely stand.”

“I can stand perfectly!”

I tried to prove it.

I almost fell.

Tae-hyun caught me again.

His jaw tightened.

“Enough.”

He looked at his friends.

“I'll deal with this.”

He took me outside.

The cool night air hit my face.

I blinked several times.

“Where are we going?”

“Home.”

“I don't want to go home.”

“You're going home.”

“You're too bossy!”

He didn't answer.

He guided me toward his car.

I crossed my arms.

“I don't like you.”

“I know.”

“You're mean.”

“I know.”

“You made my boyfriend leave me.”

He stopped for a moment.

“I did not.”

“You did!”

He sighed.

“You're drunk. We'll talk when you're sober.”

I frowned.

“I don't want to talk.”

“Good.”

He opened the car door.

“Get in.”

I stared at him.

Then I climbed inside.

A few minutes later, the car started moving.

I leaned against the window.

The city lights blurred in front of my eyes.

I couldn't remember where my friends were anymore.

I couldn't remember how many drinks I had.

And I definitely couldn't remember how embarrassing I had just been.

Tae-hyun drove silently.

After some time, the car stopped outside my house.

He turned toward me.

“Kool.”

I opened my eyes.

“Hmm?”

“We're here.”

I looked outside.

“Oh.”

He got out and opened my door.

I stepped out carefully.

“Thank you.”

He looked at me.

“Go inside.”

I walked toward my door.

Then I turned around.

“Boss?”

“What?”

“You're still too harsh.”

For the first time that night, his expression almost changed.

“Go to sleep, Kool.”

I smiled.

Then I walked inside.

Behind me, Tae-hyun stood for a moment before getting back into his car.

Neither of us knew that by morning, I would remember almost none of this.

But I would remember enough.

And I would regret every single thing I had said.