Until I fell for you

🌹Until I fell for you 🌹 Chapter 4: THE RULES

THE RULES

💥 MIN-JAE'S POV 💥

I didn't sleep at my villa last night.

I had a little issue with my grandfather.

He had been disturbing me about several things for a while now, and honestly, it was becoming stressful. I needed some peace and quiet, so I decided to spend the night at the private lounge on the executive floor.

It was already morning when I woke up.

I quickly headed to the bathroom to take a shower.

As I was bathing, I suddenly heard footsteps.

I paused.

Who could possibly be walking around here?

I didn't think anyone knew about this place.

The private lounge wasn't an area employees had access to, and I had never told anyone about it.

Besides, it was still very early.

No one should have arrived at the office yet.

I shrugged it off and continued with my shower.

After bathing, I quickly dried myself and wrapped a towel around my waist.

My phone was lying beside the mirror.

I picked it up and glanced at myself in the mirror.

I paused.

Not bad.

I smiled at my reflection.

I was obsessed with myself.

I knew I was good-looking.

"Min Jae, you're really something," I muttered to myself with a laugh.

Then I suddenly remembered the time.

I was running late.

"Damn it."

I quickly left the bathroom.

And then I stopped.

Who was that?

My eyes widened.

A woman was sitting on the sofa, completely comfortable, with her head bent over her phone.

I stared at her in disbelief.

Wait.

Wasn't that the stupid woman I had met yesterday?

My eyes widened even further.

Nancy.

What was she doing here?

I immediately became uncomfortable.

No one was supposed to be in this part of the building, especially not her.

And why was she here so early?

Then I remembered.

I was the one who had instructed her to resume work before everyone else.

But even so, how had she managed to discover this place?

I had always believed that this private lounge was completely hidden from the rest of the office.

It wasn't part of the actual workspace.

It was my private space.

And now she was sitting there as if she owned the place.

To make matters worse, I was standing there in nothing but a towel.

This was embarrassing.

I quickly adjusted the towel and stared at her.

She finally noticed me.

Her eyes widened.

She looked completely shocked.

"Good..."

She swallowed.

"Good morning, sir."

I stared at her.

"What's good about this morning?"

I was already irritated.

She was still sitting on my sofa, staring at me like she had just seen a ghost.

And she wasn't even getting up.

What a nuisance.

This was the first thing I had to deal with in the morning.

This woman irritated me more than I could explain.

If it wasn't for the pity I had felt for her yesterday, I wouldn't have hired her in the first place.

"What are you doing here?" I asked coldly.

"I... I was..."

She began stammering.

I frowned.

She couldn't even form a proper sentence.

What exactly had she been looking for when she came here?

How had she even discovered this place?

"Go back to the office."

I didn't know what else to say.

She was too frustrating.

Nancy immediately stood up and hurried away.

I watched her disappear through the passage.

I sighed.

She had already seen me like this.

Wonderful.

Just wonderful.

Of all the people who could have discovered this place, why did it have to be her?

I shook my head.

Whatever.

That wasn't important right now.

I quickly got dressed in my suit and headed to my office.

When I arrived, I found Nancy already standing there.

She immediately greeted me.

"Good morning, sir."

I stopped.

Was she seriously acting like nothing had happened?

Was this woman completely daft?

"Come here."

I sat down behind my desk.

Nancy walked toward me.

I stared at her coldly.

"You officially started working today, and you've already managed to cause trouble."

Her eyebrows furrowed.

"Trouble?"

"Yes. You went poking around where you had no business being."

"I wasn't poking around—"

"Don't interrupt me."

She immediately closed her mouth.

I leaned back in my chair.

"Do you even know where you went?"

She hesitated.

"I thought it was another office."

"That is not an office."

She looked confused.

"Then what is it?"

I stared at her.

"That's none of your concern."

She rolled her eyes slightly.

I noticed.

Of course I noticed.

This woman was going to be a problem.

I sighed.

"Since you clearly don't understand the boundaries of this place, I'm going to make them very clear."

She stared at me.

"Boundaries?"

"Yes."

I leaned forward.

"From today onward, there are rules you will follow if you want to continue working as my personal assistant."

Her eyes widened.

"Rules?"

"Yes. My rules."

She crossed her arms.

"And what happens if I don't follow them?"

I stared at her.

"Then you'll find out how quickly I can replace a personal assistant."

Her mouth fell open.

I almost smiled.

Almost.

"Now, listen carefully."

I picked up a pen from my desk.

"Rule number one."

I looked directly at her.

"That private lounge is completely off-limits to you."

Her eyes widened.

"The lounge?"

"Yes. You are not allowed to enter it without my permission."

"But I didn't know it was—"

"I don't care."

She immediately stopped talking.

"That place is private. It has nothing to do with your duties as my personal assistant."

I paused.

"Unless I specifically ask you to enter that area, you will stay out."

Nancy stared at me.

I could already see the frustration building on her face.

Good.

Maybe she would finally understand that I was serious.

"Rule number two," I continued. "You are not allowed to touch or take anything from that room."

She blinked.

"Anything?"

"Anything."

"Even if I need something?"

"You won't need anything from there."

"But what if—"

"Rule number three."

I cut her off.

"You are not allowed to take pictures inside that lounge."

Her eyes suddenly widened.

I noticed.

Interesting.

She looked away.

My eyes narrowed.

"Did you take pictures?"

"No."

The answer came too quickly.

I stared at her.

She looked everywhere except at me.

"Nancy."

She swallowed.

"Yes, Mr. Kang?"

"Did you take pictures?"

She hesitated.

"I... might have taken one or two."

My eyes closed briefly.

Unbelievable.

"You took pictures?"

"Just a few!"

"A few?"

She nodded.

"I was curious!"

I stared at her.

"Delete them."

Her jaw dropped.

"What?"

"Delete the pictures."

"But why?"

"Because I said so."

She glared at me.

I glared back.

She was really testing my patience.

"Fine," she muttered.

"Rule number four."

I ignored her expression.

"You will never discuss what you saw or heard in that lounge with anyone."

She immediately looked at me.

"I wasn't going to tell anyone."

"Good."

I leaned back.

"Then you shouldn't have a problem following the rule."

She crossed her arms again.

"Anything else?"

I stared at her.

There was something about her attitude that made me want to create more rules just to see how long it would take before she lost her patience.

I decided to add one more.

"Rule number five."

She sighed.

"What now?"

"You will knock before entering my office."

Her eyes widened.

"But I'm your personal assistant!"

"Exactly. Which means you should know better than to enter without knocking."

She opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

I nodded.

"Good. At least you know when to remain silent."

She glared at me.

I almost smiled again.

Almost.

There was no doubt about it.

Nancy Sinclair was going to be a problem.

A very big problem.

But she was my problem now.

And I had no intention of letting her forget the rules.

Especially the first one.

The private lounge was mine.

And I wouldn't tolerate her entering it again without my permission.

"Rule number six."

Nancy let out an exasperated sigh.

"There's more?"

"Yes."

I stared at her coldly.

"Never argue with me."

Her eyes widened.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"But what if you're wrong?"

My eyebrows immediately rose.

"Excuse me?"

"I mean..." She quickly corrected herself. "What if you make a mistake?"

"I don't make mistakes."

She stared at me in disbelief.

I stared back.

She shook her head.

"That's impossible. Everyone makes mistakes."

I leaned back in my chair.

"Are you arguing with me already?"

Her mouth fell open.

"No! I'm just—"

"You're doing it again."

She immediately stopped talking.

I nodded in satisfaction.

"Good. Then you understand the rule."

Nancy rolled her eyes.

I narrowed mine.

"And don't roll your eyes at me either."

Her eyes widened.

"You can't be serious."

"Rule number seven."

I picked up my pen.

"Don't roll your eyes at me."

"Mr. Kang!"

I looked up at her.

"That's another argument."

She immediately closed her mouth.

I leaned back in my chair, satisfied.

"Now you're learning."