Emily Carter‘s marriage

The Korean drama What's Wrong with Secretary Kim had been wildly popular for a time. Movies and TV shows often portrayed secretaries as decorative vases - beautiful women dressed provocatively with perfect curves, all orbiting around domineering CEOs, engaging in office romances and petty jealousies amidst a world of luxury and melodrama. Emily Carter told her best friend Sophia Martinez: "It's all lies." Emily was the secretary to Alexander Grant, CEO of Pinnacle Group. On this Sunday evening, she was enjoying street food with Sophia when her phone rang. Alexander's voice came through: "Emily, my flight arrives at 12:30 AM. Come pick me up at the airport." Emily mentally cursed her boss through every Chinese profanity she knew. For a paycheck double her father's salary, she forced a smile: "Of course, Mr. Grant. Please send me the arrival gate details." At 24, Emily had graduated from Urban Construction College with a degree in engineering budgeting. Through her father's connections, she joined Pinnacle Group as a budget analyst. The conglomerate's real estate empire included subsidiaries like Summit Properties (high-end residential), Prosperity Developments (commercial complexes), and Elite Estates (luxury resorts). Its Capital Projects Division oversaw over a dozen major infrastructure projects, while Luxe Hospitality Group managed several five-star hotels in the city. Emily's father Benjamin, a government chauffeur, had taught her to drive at 18. Her driving skills eventually caught the attention of Michael Sullivan - her father's friend and head of Pinnacle's Budget Department - who became her mentor. During a department gathering, a tipsy Michael once ordered: "Emily, drive Mr. Grant and me to the airport immediately." Alexander initially hesitated: "Is she capable?" Michael vouched: "Emily's an experienced driver." It was unsurprising Alexander didn't recognize her. At 5'5" and 154 pounds, Emily blended into crowds as an unremarkable presence - a stark contrast to the CEO's polished appearance. As Alexander buckled into the passenger seat, Emily professionally reminded: "Gentlemen, please fasten your seatbelts." The CEO unexpectedly fell asleep during the smooth ride. Days later, Emily became Alexander's executive secretary. The promotion brought exhausting responsibilities - managing his brutal schedule while remaining his chauffeur. "He's a machine!" Emily would collapse on her bed nightly, complaining to parents Benjamin and Margaret. "Mom, feed me!" The Carter family of three food enthusiasts would then embark on culinary adventures. "Try this roasted eggplant first," Margaret would insist. "My baby needs energy!" Oddly, Emily remained the only overweight staffer in Alexander's orbit. The CEO appreciated her discretion and work ethic - qualities more valuable than the flirtatious secretaries of TV dramas. "Corporate overlords are soul-sucking robots," Emily warned Sophia during rare outings. "Anyone dating those 'domineering CEOs' must be masochists!" Tonight, Emily brought Margaret's homemade chicken congee with braised beef to the airport pickup. "My mom says to mix the scallions in for better aroma," she instructed as Alexander devoured the meal. Following her father's advice - "Listen more, speak less with superiors" - Emily maintained professional distance. The CEO appreciated this exact quality, now dozing off to her quiet driving. In the rearview mirror, Emily watched the sleeping tycoon. Handsome but dull, she mused. All work and no play. Let the social butterflies chase him - she'd take her paycheck and beef congee any day.