Chapter 47
“W–wait! Assistant? But… isn’t that your job?”
Harin only tilted her head slightly, lips curving into a faint smile that revealed nothing. Before I could press further, the elevator chimed, and the doors slid open.
The air felt heavier the moment we stepped onto the floor. Unlike the bustling lower levels, this floor was hushed, dignified, as though even sound itself bowed to the authority that resided here. The carpet muffled our footsteps, and the walls were lined with polished wood and glass offices, each one pristine, every corner perfectly maintained.
At the far end of the corridor stood a pair of tall black double doors. Even without a nameplate, I knew who they belonged to. The Chairwoman’s private office.
My stomach tightened.
“Please, this way,” Harin said smoothly, gesturing for me to follow her.
She walked with her usual grace, posture straight, every step unhurried yet commanding. I forced myself to mirror that calm, keeping my expression neutral. Inside, though, my chest was in turmoil.
I could feel the eyes on us.
All the staff paused mid-task as we passed, bowing respectfully to Harin, their gazes inevitably sliding toward me afterward.
“Who is he?” I caught one whisper, barely hushed.
“So young…”
“Looks like a fresh grad.”
I kept my face calm, my steps steady. If I showed even a flicker of unease, I knew the whispers would spread like wildfire.
We finally stopped at a sleek glass door etched subtly with her name. Harin opened it and gestured for me to step in.
Her office was everything I expected from her—immaculate, minimalist, efficient. A wide desk, neatly arranged files, soft lighting that gave the room a quiet authority.
“Please, have a seat, Mr. Kim.”
I lowered myself into the chair across from her, my hands folded tightly on my lap.
“There’s no need to be so worried,” she began. “You’ll start here as the Chairwoman’s junior assistant under my guidance. You’ll answer to me directly. That will be the arrangement.”
I blinked. “Answer to you…?”
Her eyes met mine, calm but firm. “Of course, that’s only the cover. It’s what the Chairwoman wanted. In truth, when it comes to her… you will answer directly to her.”
My throat tightened. I nodded faintly, though my thoughts scrambled.
She continued, “Think of it this way: if I am ever not present to assist the Chairwoman, then it will be you. That is the responsibility she has chosen for you.”
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The weight of it sank heavily in my chest. Almost instinctively, guilt slipped past my lips.
“I… I’m sorry, Harin. It just feels like the Chairwoman has added another workload to you, because of me.”
For the first time, Harin looked startled. Her eyes widened slightly, then softened. She shook her head quickly.
“No. Please don’t think that way. This isn’t a burden. It’s an easy task, really.”
Her voice wavered, ever so slightly, as she added, “In fact… I’m the one who should apologize to you.”
I blinked. “…Apologize? Why?”
She hesitated, her gaze dropping briefly before returning to mine. For once, her calm exterior cracked just enough for something gentler to slip through.
“Because… you know. What the Chairwoman did to you. Last week.”
The words cut deep. My spine stiffened. I didn’t speak, but the silence was answer enough.
Her voice grew quieter, touched with regret. “If I hadn’t delivered that letter to you… if I hadn’t brought you to her in the first place, you wouldn’t have been dragged into this. You wouldn’t have had to marry at such a young age. Your life might have been completely different now.”
I froze. The honesty in her voice startled me more than the words themselves.
Quickly, I shook my head. “No. Please, don’t think like that. I’m… happy to be her husband. Truly. It’s just that sometimes she…” I exhaled carefully, choosing my words. “…sometimes she loses control. But she has her good sides too.”
The faintest smile curved Harin’s lips, but touched with sadness.
Just then, a soft chime sounded from her phone. She glanced at it, her smile fading back into composure.
“The security team just informed me. The Chairwoman is about to arrive.”
She rose smoothly to her feet, gesturing toward the door. “Let’s go. You should be with me to greet her.”
I stood, smoothing down my suit, and followed her out.
We walked back down the corridor together. By the time we reached the lobby, the atmosphere had shifted entirely. High-level executives were already gathered near the entrance, waiting in silence. Their suits were immaculate, their expressions respectful but tense, as if awaiting royalty.
The moment they spotted Harin, their heads dipped politely.
“Assistant Yoo.”
“Harin-ssi.”
They all bowed with deference, acknowledging her authority. Then their eyes shifted, to me.
Whispers rippled through the group, though none dared speak too loudly.
Before I could fumble for words, Harin addressed them with her usual composure. “This is the new assistant, personally chosen by the Chairwoman herself.”
I bowed politely, murmuring, “It’s an honor.”
Some executives exchanged startled glances. “Isn’t he… too young?” one muttered under his breath, though it wasn’t quite low enough to escape notice.
Without missing a beat, Harin’s voice cut through, calm yet commanding. “Age doesn’t matter. Capability does. And the Chairwoman trusts him.”
The room fell silent almost instantly, the air shifting in a way I couldn’t ignore. Some faces tightened with surprise, others with a quiet sort of resentment that they tried to hide behind polite expressions. And then there were the few who didn’t bother to hide it at all. Their eyes lingered on me with envy, sharp and restless, as though my very presence unsettled them.
Then a sleek black sedan came to a smooth stop at the entrance.
Every executive straightened immediately, and as the door opened, the entire lobby seemed to draw in a collective breath.
Yuna stepped out, elegance radiating from every line of her posture. Even in the simple act of walking, she commanded the space completely.
Instantly, everyone bowed deeply as she crossed the threshold. “Chairwoman.”
I followed their lead, lowering my head like the rest, my hands stiff at my sides. It’s really awkward, bowing to your own wife. I couldn’t help thinking.
The lobby seemed to part for her as Yuna strode forward, Harin falling seamlessly into place at her side. I kept close behind Harin, my expression calm, though every pair of eyes in the hall seemed to follow me with unrelenting curiosity. A handful of high-level executives trailed behind, their polished shoes clicking against the marble in unison.
Harin tilted her head toward Yuna, her voice low but steady.
“Chairwoman, your morning is light. There’s the strategy review later, but otherwise, nothing pressing until after lunch.”
Yuna gave a quiet hum, acknowledging without slowing. “Mm. That’s fine. Push any minor reports to the afternoon. I want the morning clear.”
“Yes, Chairwoman,” Harin replied smoothly, her hands steady on the tablet she carried, as if she’d already anticipated the adjustment.
I followed in silence, keeping my face composed while the whispers prickled at my back.
We reached the private elevator at the far end of the lobby, polished steel doors reflecting the scene back at us. Harin stepped ahead and pressed the button.
As we waited, Yuna finally turned, her gaze sweeping the line of executives who had followed. Her voice was cool and direct, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
“Be prepared. We’ll convene in one hour.”
The executives bowed in unison. “Understood, Chairwoman.”
At that moment, the elevator chimed softly, the doors sliding open with a hush. Without wasting any more time, Yuna stepped inside first, Harin following. I moved after them, keeping my head low in a polite bow as I passed the executives.
They returned the gesture, but I caught the flicker of their eyes. I could feel the questions they weren’t daring to voice.
Then the doors closed, sealing us away from their stares.
