Chapter 90
Haemin’s POV
“This is so stressful.”
I stood in front of the building, but my chest felt heavy.
I really did not want to go inside right now. Things were definitely going to be awkward between us.
I pressed my lips together.
If I skipped work, would I get sued for breaching the contract? This is so frustrating. Forget one month. I’m not even sure if I can survive a single day in here starting from today.
Is Yuna in a good mood today? Will she hold a grudge against ? Now I’m starting to regret not negotiating the terms yesterday.
Forget it. It’s already in the past. Okay… one more month. Haemin, you can do this.
A quiet sigh slipped from as I finally stepped into the building.
.
The elevator doors opened at the private floor.
As soon as I walked out, every staff mber on that floor turned their eyes toward . I could hear quiet murmurs spreading across the room. The attention made my shoulders tense.
I lowered my head slightly and walked past them as quickly as I could, going straight to my desk.
Just when I sat down—
“Haemin.”
I nearly jumped out of my skin.
I turned so fast my chair bumped against the desk with a loud thud.
“Daejin sunbaenim, you startled .”
He burst out laughing, holding his stomach dramatically.
“Hahaha, sorry, sorry. I didn’t an to scare you.” He gave a light pat on the shoulder. “I’m just glad you ca in today.”
Before I could answer—
“Haemin!”
I flinched again.
Jiyoo noona was speed-walking toward with a bright smile on her face.
“You’re alive!” she said dramatically. “We seriously thought you quit!”
“Quit?”
“Yes!” she said, placing a hand on her chest. “After that collaboration eting, you suddenly took leave. Everyone thought you ran away because you couldn’t handle the diator role.”
I gave a dry laugh. “I’m not that irresponsible, you know?”
Daejin sunbae clicked his tongue. “Seriously, what was Ms. Hwang thinking, asking you to be the diator? Everyone was shocked when we heard about it. That’s way too much pressure to put on you. How could she do that?”
Jiyoo noona nodded quickly. “Exactly. That role is too heavy for you.”
I felt genuinely touched by their concern.
“It’s okay. Since the Chairwoman agreed to it, that ans she believes I’m capable of handling it.”
Both of them stared at .
“…You’re way too calm about this, aren’t you?” Daejin said.
Jiyoo noona squinted at . “Are you sure you’re not secretly panicking inside?”
I laughed softly. “Of course I was nervous. But if they trust , I should at least try to live up to it, right?”
Daejin sunbae shook his head in disbelief. “You’re really sothing else.”
Jiyoo noona crossed her arms. “Or maybe you’re just too brave for your own good.”
“Anyway,” she continued, nudging my arm lightly, “we’re glad you’re still here. I would’ve been really sad if I lost a cute junior like you.”
Daejin snorted. “He’s not your junior.”
Jiyoo frowned. “Excuse ?”
“He’s Harin’s junior, not yours. Get it right.”
Jiyoo crossed her arms. “He works on this floor. That makes him my junior too.”
“By that logic, you’re my junior as well since I started working here before you. Now call Sunbae too.”
“Yah! You only started two days earlier than !”
I stood there laughing awkwardly while they bickered like children.
Then Jiyoo noona turned back to , her expression softening.
“But seriously, why did you suddenly take leave after that eting? Did sothing happen?”
I forced a small laugh.
“It was nothing serious,” I said casually. “I just wasn’t feeling well. I had a heavy fever after that eting, so I decided to rest for a few days.”
It was a lie, of course.
Her eyes widened instantly.
“A fever?” She stepped closer and pressed her palm against my forehead without warning. “Haemin, why didn’t you say so earlier?”
“N-Noona… I’m okay now,” I mumbled, slightly embarrassed.
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, then moved her hand to my neck like she was a doctor. “You sure? You still look a bit pale.”
“I’m fine,” I said quickly. “Really.”
Daejin crossed his arms. “Then why did you co here two days ago to et the Chairwoman? Shouldn’t you have just rested at ho?”
I froze for a split second.
“W—Well about that…” I swallowed. “I… I ca because I needed to send her a report.”
“She told you to work even when you were sick?” His tone turned sympathetic. “You really had a hard ti, huh?”
“It’s not like that,” I said quickly.
Jiyoo noona clicked her tongue. “What was Harin doing though? Letting you do the work alone when you had a fever? I really need to talk so sense into her.”
“N—No, no. No need for that,” I said imdiately, waving my hands. “I’m okay with it. I really don’t mind. I already expected sothing like this when I accepted this job.”
She looked at for a long mont. Then her expression softened.
“You’re really too nice,” she muttered. “I’m proud of you. Not everyone can handle the pressure of working in this company. So stay strong, okay?”
Daejin sunbae nodded. “If things get overwhelming, don’t hesitate to talk to us, okay?”
“Yeah.”
I barely finished my sentence when the atmosphere on the floor shifted again. The low chatter that had slowly returned suddenly faded into silence.
“Good morning, Assistant Yoo.”
“Good morning, Ms. Yoo.”
It looked like Harin had arrived.
From the far end of the floor, everyone straightened their backs and bowed politely as she walked past them.
Daejin and Jiyoo imdiately stood up. I followed a second later.
“Good morning, Ms. Yoo.”
“Good morning, Harin-ssi.”
She gave a small nod, then her eyes landed on . Her expression was serious, and a faint sense of unease crept over .
“Haemin, follow to my office for a mont.”
“Understood.”
She turned without another word and walked down the hallway toward her office.
Daejin and Jiyoo both looked at with matching sympathetic expressions.
“Good luck,” they muttered.
I forced a weak smile.
Then I followed Harin down the hallway.
After we reached her office, Harin gestured for to sat down.
Once I did, she closed the door behind her and took the seat across from . She didn’t say anything. She just looked at . Her face was calm.
The silence stretched.
“Is… everything okay?” I asked carefully.
She leaned back slightly.
“Can I ask you sothing, Haemin?”
“…Yes.”
“Who was the lawyer who represented you yesterday?”
I went speechless, instinctively looking away to avoid her gaze.
“Was it Ms. Hwang? Was she the one who sent him?”
“No. She didn’t.”
Harin shook her head lightly, her eyes softening just a little, as if she found my attempt to lie more pitiful than convincing.
“The Chairwoman asked to investigate the lawyer. I looked into him, but there’s no connection between him and Ms. Hwang at all.”
I blinked in confusion. Just yesterday, Sera had told that Attorney Park worked with her overseas. Yet Harin couldn’t find anything.
“Or perhaps,” she continued slowly,“ Ms. Hwang simply knows how to cover her tracks.”
I let out a quiet sigh of relief. At least there’s no proof.
“Do you want to tell anything about the lawyer?”
I shook my head.
She studied for a few seconds longer. Then she sighed quietly. Clearly disappointed.
“I can’t force you to tell anything. But I will need to report everything back to the Chairwoman. She already has doubts of Ms. Hwang involvent but she just doesn’t have proof.”
Her eyes t mine directly.
“And when she sees my report… do you think the Chairwoman will just believe it?”
I could only smile after hearing that, already tired of all this. “Does it really matter whether Sera was involved or not? She’s not the one who tried to kill a few days ago.”
Then I looked up at her. “Harin… I don’t know why you seem so upset with . Did I perhaps say or do sothing that might have put you in a difficult spot? Please let know if there is.”
The words felt awkward coming out of my mouth, but I needed to ask.
Harin did not answer imdiately.
For a brief second, her eyes shifted away from , just slightly, before returning to their usual calm composure.
Then she glanced at the clock on the wall.
“The Chairwoman will be arriving soon,” she said, standing up from her seat. “Let’s go.”
And just like that, she avoided the question.
We stepped out of her office together.
Since Yuna was about to arrived, the atmosphere on the floor had already changed.
Even though we had signed the agreent yesterday, it did not feel like anything had ended. If anything, it felt like sothing more complicated had begun.
After we reached the main entrance, Harin and I stood a few steps behind the security line, waiting as the black sedan slowly pulled up to the front lobby. Staff mbers near the entrance straightened imdiately.
The driver stepped out first and opened the rear door.
Yuna walked out of the car with her usual calm composure.
“Chairwoman!”
Harin and I bowed politely along with the others.
Yuna gave a small nod.
Her eyes brushed past us briefly, then returned to Harin.
“Harin.”
“Yes, Chairwoman.”
“Go to the Incheon site imdiately. I want you to personally oversee the contract review with Mirae Construction. There are revisions I’m not satisfied with. You don’t have to return to the office today. Just email the report tonight.”
[Huh?]
Harin blinked slightly, clearly caught off guard.
Why would Yuna suddenly give her this task? Yuna once told that she rarely sent Harin out of the main office unless it was absolutely necessary. Most external matters were handled by other senior executives. Harin usually stayed close to her.
“Right now, Chairwoman?”
“Yes.”
Her tone was calm, but there was no room for negotiation.
Harin hesitated for a brief second. I saw her glance at from the corner of her eye. There was clear concern in her look.
My heartbeat thudded hard in my ears.
A quiet sense of dread settled heavily over , and no matter how hard I tried to steady myself, I could not shake it off.
[Harin… please give her an excuse.]
“I understand,” Harin finally said, bowing again.
[No.]
Without another word, she turned and quickly made arrangents with the driver to prepare another vehicle. Before leaving, she looked at , her eyes showing a hint of hesitation, then she stepped into the car and drove away.
I just stood there, unable to say anything.
Was Harin really not going to be here today?
Which ant—
Yuna’s gaze slowly shifted to .
“Why the sad face?” she coldly asked.
I quickly composed myself, forcing a soft smile for Yuna, hiding the knot of anxiety twisting in my chest.
She studied for a mont. Her eyes unreadable.
“I thought after being brave enough to do what you did to yesterday, you would at least stand a little more confidently in front of .”
Her voice remained composed, but the way her hand tightened around the strap of her handbag told otherwise. Her knuckles had already turned pale, the leather twisting slightly under her grip. I knew she was holding herself back.
It was clear she still hadn’t let go of everything that had happened yesterday. I just stayed silent. It was better not to say anything and risk making things worse.
Yuna looked at for another second before turning toward the entrance.
“Follow .”
I exhaled quietly and stepped behind her as we walked into the lobby together.
From the look of it, I already knew that today… it was going to be a long day for .
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