Lost in translation

Chapter 8: Brewing Chaos

The next day dawned with urgency. Evelyn’s phone buzzed, and Ms. Cha’s voice crackled through the line. “Why aren’t you at work yet? The CEO might arrive before you. Bad impression, Evelyn.”

Evelyn sprinted to the bathroom, water scalding her skin as she showered. She dressed in haste, heart pounding. Downstairs, Min-jun intercepted her, inviting her to breakfast. Her love for food overruled punctuality; she sat, mesmerized by Min-jun’s presence.

“Do you like what you see?” Min-jun’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.

“Yes,” she blurted, then corrected herself. “No, it’s a misunderstanding.”

He chuckled. “Did you even hear my question?”

“Somewhere in the clouds,” she admitted.

As they ate, Min-jun’s personal assistant—also his driver—appeared. Work loomed, and Evelyn thanked him, excusing herself. At the office, Ms. Joen pounced, warning her about lateness. One more mistake, and she’d lose her job.

Evelyn settled into her office, but the workload overwhelmed her. She sought refuge in the restroom, catching her breath.

Meanwhile, Park Min-jun arrived. Min-jun's attire often reflects a blend of modern elegance and cultural influences. His navy blue suit, impeccably tailored, exudes confidence and sophistication. The fabric drapes just right, emphasizing his broad shoulders and lean frame. Perhaps there's a subtle nod to his South Korean heritage, reminiscent of traditional attire that celebrates intricate patterns and rich textures.

The staff, led by Ms. Cha, welcomes him warmly and introduces him to the team. Min-jun exudes confidence and charm as he greets everyone with a smile. Among the staff is Evelyn, who is curious about the new CEO. Ms. Cha, noticing Evelyn's absence during the welcome, scolds her and tasks her with preparing black coffee for the CEO. Evelyn, eager to make a good impression, heads to the cafeteria to prepare the perfect cup of coffee. As Evelyn returns with the coffee, she is intercepted by Ms. Joen, who hands her a stack of files that need the CEO's signature. Evelyn, now juggling the hot coffee and files, makes her way to the CEO's office. She knocks and enters, only to find Min-jun seated by the window, his back turned to her.

Evelyn approaches Min-jun and introduces herself, explaining that she has brought his coffee and some files for his signature. As she speaks, Min-jun turns around, and in that moment, Evelyn accidentally spills the hot coffee all over him. She is mortified and immediately apologizes, realizing that this is her new boss. Min-jun maintains his composure, but Evelyn's embarrassment only grows as she tries to clean up the mess. In her flustered state, she accidentally pats Min-jun's private area while drying his lap, and to her surprise, she feels min-jun being aroused. Startled by this realization, Evelyn jumps back and, in a moment of panic, slaps Min-jun across the face.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I didn’t mean—”

Min-jun held his cheek, astonishment in his eyes. “Why?”

Before she could answer, the office door swung open. Ms. Joen stormed in, her rage palpable. “You slapped the CEO!” Her voice echoed.

Min-jun attempts to calm Ms. Joen down, but her anger only escalates, drawing the attention of other staff members who gather at the CEO's door. Ms. Joen paints Evelyn as the villain, insisting that she be punished for her disrespectful behavior.

Ms. Cha arrives and diffuses the situation, sending everyone back to their work. A disciplinary hearing is held for Evelyn, where she explains the sequence of events that led to the coffee spill and the slap. She expresses her deep regret and apologizes profusely. The hearing results in Evelyn being suspended from work for a month, a consequence that leaves her anxious and worried about her future at the company. Meanwhile, Min-jun, unaware of the severity of the punishment, signs the files and leaves the office, his thoughts consumed by the unusual turn of events.

Evelyn, feeling embarrassed and uncertain about her future, packs her belongings and leaves the office. As she walks down the hallway, she comes face-to-face with Min-jun. Their eyes meet, but Min-jun, still processing the day's events, walks past her without a word. Evelyn is left standing there, unsure of what to make of his silence. She returns home, her mind racing with questions and uncertainties. Should she call Min-jun and apologize again, or wait for him to reach out?

As evening settled, Evelyn huddled in her apartment, phone pressed to her ear. Nomsa and Daniel’s laughter filtered through the call, their romantic getaway a stark contrast to her chaotic day.

“I got suspended,” Evelyn confessed, her voice shaky. “Slapped the CEO.”

Nomsa’s disbelief crackled. “The wealthiest CEO? Why didn’t he react?”

Evelyn hesitated, then spilled her tangled tale—the drugged night, the one-night stand, the bag left in Min-jun’s car. “He’s my boss,” she admitted.

Nomsa gasped. “Park Min-jun? Thee Park Min-jun?”

Evelyn’s shameless nod confirmed it. “I want to apologize, but I’m too ashamed.”

Their conversation spiraled. Nomsa probed, “Are you in love with him?”

Evelyn’s quick denial was met with Nomsa’s wisdom. “Evelyn, it's perfectly normal to feel attached to your virgin breaker.”

As their conversation comes to an end, Evelyn notices missed calls and a text “I am outside” from none other than Park Min-jun himself. She is surprised and overwhelmed, unsure how to react.

Evelyn, filled with mixed emotions, rushes downstairs to find Park Min-jun leaning against his car. Overcome with relief and remorse, she runs towards him and gives him a tight hug, crying and apologizing for slapping him “I am sorry” she blurted. “It was a mistake.” Min-jun, concerned about Evelyn's well-being, comforts her and assures her that he's fine. Evelyn, still processing her suspension and the events leading up to it,

Evelyn, unable to hold back her emotions any longer, expresses her confusion and hurt at Min-jun's silence in the office. She punches his chest gently, conveying her mixed feelings of relief and anger. Min-jun, seeing Evelyn's swollen eyes and knowing the extent of her distress, feels a pang of guilt and regret. He acknowledges her pain and offers what comfort he can, hoping to ease her turmoil.

As the evening grows darker, Evelyn and Min-jun stand in the glow of the streetlights, their shadows stretching long behind them. They decide to continue their conversation in a more private setting and head upstairs to Evelyn's apartment. Once inside, the weight of their shared past and the unresolved tension between them hangs heavy in the air. Evelyn, still processing her suspension and the role Min-jun played in it, struggles to find the right words.