Min-Soo looked like he had stepped out of a magazine cover no one trusted.
Charcoal suit, tailored to precision. Black shirt, two buttons undone like rules didn't apply to him. A thin silver chain catching the light at his collarbone. Shoes polished enough to reflect regret.
Perfect.
Too perfect.
And his face—
Soft.
Almost pitiful.
Like he wanted sympathy served to him on a silver tray.
He walked toward Ji-Ah.
Slow.
Intentional.
The office quieted.
People pretended to work while absolutely not working.
Ji-Ah stepped back.
Once.
Twice.
Beside her, Soo-Min narrowed her eyes and stepped forward, planting herself firmly between them.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
Min-Soo didn't even give her a full glance.
He rolled his eyes.
Then nudged her aside.
Enough to make her stumble.
Soo-Min caught herself, eyes flashing.
"Oh—nope."
She spun and ran straight for Ha-Joon's office.
Now—
It was just them.
Min-Soo stopped in front of Ji-Ah.
"I want to talk to you," he said softly. "Come with me."
Ji-Ah crossed her arms immediately.
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
Flat.
Final.
He clicked his tongue and reached for her hand—
Grabbed it.
"We're friends, right? I need to talk to you. Let's just go out—"
She yanked her hand free sharply.
"No."
Her eyes locked onto his.
"We're not like that."
A step closer.
"Just because I let you stay as a friend doesn't mean I like you."
A beat.
"It means I was being generous."
Crack.
His expression shattered.
The softness? Gone.
Replaced with something sharp.
Ugly.
"Generous?" he scoffed, voice rising slightly. "You think you're above me now?"
He stepped in closer.
"You think you're better—"
"How dare you."
The voice cut through everything.
Clean.
Cold.
Ha-Joon stood there, Soo-Min just behind him, arms crossed like she'd personally delivered justice.
Beside him, Seo-Jun adjusted his sleeves calmly.
Ha-Joon's gaze locked onto Min-Soo.
"You walk into my company," he said evenly, "touch my employee…"
A pause.
"…and raise your voice?"
Min-Soo let out a bitter laugh.
"Ah… sheibal…" he muttered.
Then stepped forward again.
"What will you do?" he challenged. "You can't touch me. You know who my father is?"
Seo-Jun gave a small nod.
"Of course," he said smoothly. "Kang Dae-Hyun."
A ripple moved through the office.
Min-Soo smirked.
Ha-Joon didn't.
"Call him."
The smirk faltered.
"…What?"
"Call him."
Min-Soo scoffed, but dialed anyway.
The phone rang.
Connected.
He handed it over.
Ha-Joon took it.
Lifted it to his ear.
"Chairman Kang," he said calmly. "This is Ha-Joon."
A beat.
Then—
The volume from the other end was not calm.
"What did that useless boy do this time?" the voice barked loudly enough that even those nearby could hear faintly. "That bastard—did he cause trouble again?!"
Min-Soo's smirk died instantly.
Ha-Joon's expression didn't change.
"He entered my company," Ha-Joon continued, voice steady, "and laid hands on my employee."
A sharp inhale from the other side.
Then—
"You idiot!" Chairman Kang's voice exploded through the phone. "You brainless child! Who told you to go there?! Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
Min-Soo's jaw tightened.
People were definitely listening now.
"You—apologize immediately!" the chairman continued, furious. "If anything happens to that company because of you, I will personally make sure you regret being born, do you hear me?!"
A pause.
Heavy breathing.
Then, lower—
"Mr. Ha-Joon," he said, tone shifting instantly, "I sincerely apologize. I will handle him right away. Please—do not take this further."
Ha-Joon listened.
Then spoke, voice quiet but lethal.
"If your son is not out of my company within one minute…"
A slight pause.
"I will make sure your name disappears from every contract that matters."
Silence.
Then—
"Yes, understood!" the chairman rushed. "He'll leave immediately!"
Ha-Joon ended his call with Mr. Kang.
Handed the phone back.
Min-Soo took it slowly.
Put it to his ear.
"…Hello?"
A pause.
His face tightened.
"Yes, Father—"
The voice on the other end roared again, faint but clear enough—
"GET OUT. NOW."
Click.
The call ended.
Min-Soo lowered the phone.
Clicked his tongue.
Then looked at Ji-Ah.
Eyes dark.
"I'll definitely see you again."
A promise wrapped in warning.
Then he glanced at Ha-Joon.
Tension.
Clash.
Ha-Joon didn't move.
Just pointed at the door.
Min-Soo scoffed—
Turned—
And walked out.
The room exhaled.
Slowly.
Like it had been holding its breath the entire time.
Ha-Joon stood still for a moment after the door shut behind Min-Soo.
The silence lingered.
Then—
He glanced around the office.
Sharp.
Composed.
"Everyone," he said calmly, "back to work."
Like a switch flipping—
Keyboards resumed.
Chairs moved.
Whispers vanished.
Soo-Min gave a quick bow and hurried back to her desk, already pretending she hadn't just witnessed premium-level drama.
Ha-Joon's gaze shifted.
Landed on Ji-Ah.
She hadn't moved.
Still standing there.
Like her thoughts were buffering.
"…Why are you still here?" he asked.
Ji-Ah blinked, snapping back.
"Oh."
She straightened slightly and gave a small bow.
"…Thank you."
Simple.
Genuine.
Ha-Joon didn't respond with words.
Just a small nod.
Then turned.
Walking away with Seo-Jun, who gave Ji-Ah a quick knowing look before following.
And just like that—
The storm walked off.
Ji-Ah exhaled.
Then turned and made her way back to her desk.
Soo-Min leaned over immediately.
"Are you okay?" she asked in a hushed voice.
Ji-Ah dropped into her chair.
"Yeah."
A beat.
Then she looked at her.
"…Thanks. For calling him."
Soo-Min waved it off, but her brows stayed slightly furrowed.
"I just felt something was off," she said. "Like… the air changed."
She leaned in a bit.
"But what did he want?"
Ji-Ah shrugged, spinning her pen lightly between her fingers.
"Probably to ask me to get back together."
A short, humorless huff escaped her. "Which will never happen."
Her tone hardened slightly.
"He's… not a good person."
A pause.
Then, more quietly—
"Very abusive."
Soo-Min's expression shifted.
The playful curiosity faded.
Replaced with something firmer.
Protective.
"…Good thing I called Sir," she muttered under her breath.
Ji-Ah gave a small nod.
Yeah.
Good thing.
Ji-Ah leaned back in her chair, the tension from earlier finally loosening its grip.
Then—
She picked up her phone.
Typing.
Fast.
Soo-Min peeked over instantly.
"Who are you texting?" she whispered, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Ji-Ah didn't look up.
"Someone."
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
Her thumbs moved again.
Grumpy Sir: Thanks… for earlier.
A pause.
Three dots appeared almost immediately.
Then—
Ha-Joon: Do your work.
Ji-Ah's lips twitched.
Of course.
She typed again.
Ji-Ah: I am. I can multitask, unlike some people.
A few seconds.
Then—
Ha-Joon:If he ever comes near you again, tell me.
Ji-Ah blinked at the screen.
Her fingers hovered.
Then she typed—
Ji-Ah: Since when do you care?
The reply came faster this time.
Like he didn't even think about it.
Ha-Joon: You're my staff. It's my responsibility to protect you.
Ji-Ah stared at that message.
Then physically winced.
"Wow."
She muttered under her breath.
"Okay… genius."
Her thumbs moved again.
Ji-Ah: So noble. Should I clap?
She added a sticker—
A ridiculous grimacing face with its tongue sticking out.
Sent.
Almost instantly—
A reply.
A sticker.
A perfectly timed, bambastic side-eye.
Ji-Ah froze.
Then—
"…Did he just—"
She let out a small laugh, quickly covering her mouth.
Soo-Min leaned in even closer.
"What? WHAT?"
Ji-Ah shook her head, locking her phone and placing it face down like it had just committed a crime.
"Nothing."
But the smile?
Back again.
Uninvited.
And very much staying.