Mikaela parts his thighs involuntarily from the grinding, giving Ji-hoon more access. He can't take this anymore.
Ugh this bastard! Watching me squirm like a whore on his lap with that smug grin, this is pathetic!
He grabs Ji-hoon by his necktie, wrapping it around his fist, tugging on it hard, making Ji-hoon groan a bit from the chokehold, "Don't you have any sense of decency? Pulling a stunt like this in the middle of the day in your office of all places?" Mikaela asks in a low tone voice.
Ji-hoon laughs slowly, "Mr. Miller, you can't be this slow. Why do you keep acting surprised? I'm sure Ola already made clear to you the nature of this role so why are you acting so dense? You were made aware of the requirements and you still stayed. Makes me wonder why…"
Mikaela tightens his jaw, Ji-hoon really got his there. Without the undercover mission context, Liam Miller staying makes no sense, given his made up credentials. Now he has to come up with a believable reason why he didn't leave.
"Look, I know what I signed up for alright? Obviously this…arrangement will take some time to get used to. Besides, the pay is good enough to look past this. Some experience here would look good on my resume."
A heavy silence lingers between them after Mikaela speaks before Ji-hoon shatters it with a loud guffaw, "Oh so you're willing to bear me treating you in any way I please for some experience? A check?" Ji-hoon places his hands on Mikaela's backside without warning, digging his fingers deep, "I wonder how much you can bear before I break you."
Mikaela gives out a sharp rasp as the office door swings open.
It was one of the bodyguards, letting just his head in, his eyes scanning the space as if they were trying to spot something, "My apologies for the sudden intrusion, boss. I thought I heard something."
Ji-hoon's desk chair is wheeled back, facing away from the guard, his broad shoulders wide enough to shield Mikaela from the guard's prying eyes, "I appreciate the concern Cliff, but the next time you barge in like this, I'll make sure you never hear again. Now leave."
Cliff closes the door as instructed, Ji-hoon wheels his chair back around, revealing a flustered Mikaela.
This asshole has some nerve warning his guard while he was busy groping my ass.
He bore his eyes into him, visibly undone by the groping and breathless from trying to keep quiet in the presence of the bodyguard.
Ji-hoon can't help but smirk "That's quite the death stare Mr. Miller. Give me some credit, if I wanted him to see you like this would I have turned around? My intentions aren't always malicious, you know."
He brings out a brown leather wallet from his suit pocket, pulling out an atn card, "I wasn't lying when I said I was thirsty earlier. Mr. Miller, be a darling and get me a cold iced coffee. Ask Ola for directions for the coffee shop I like. They know my usual." He pats Mikaela on the rear one last time, sending him off.
— • —
Mikaela is relieved to be finally out of that office. He tried being nice, and look at where it landed him. He can't let Ji-hoon's games distract him from his goal in this mission.
Last time I'm taking advice from Darcy.
Exiting the office he locks eyes with Cliff who has a puzzled look on his face, wondering why he didn't see Mikaela in the office when he barged in earlier.
Mikaela walks past him, he has to deal with him later because right now he's not a priority.
As he walks towards the elevator his mind goes back to the board meeting, particularly what Mr. Skin said: Ji-hoon's absences, unaccounted shipments— he needs to find out more on these.
Mikaela grumbles as he gets in the elevator, he's not just an undercover secretary but has to be a detective also. The faster he can get dirt on Ji-hoon and link him to the Guild so he can get out of here the better. He has no time to waste.
He emerges from the elevator as soon as it reaches the last floor, card in hand. He steps forward to the reception area.
He sees three people who are in the middle of a conversation, Ola Joshua, Mira and a stranger in a black and white suit.
Ola waves at Mikaela, "Mr. Miller! Mira told me there was an emergency board meeting. How was it? I could have attended but unfortunately I got the news late and I was occupied."
Mikaela forces a reassuring grunts, he can't wait to be done with this mission and be free from mediocre office life, "Don't worry about it you didn't miss much."
"Ahem!" The unknown man clears his throat rather dramatically, "Ola, won't you introduce me to this…fine young man?" he smirks.
Ola rolls his eyes at him, "What a nasty sound, your throat must be sore. Mr. Miller, this is Mr. Chet Garrison, head of the legal department here at Jang Industries. Mr. Garrison, meet our company's new secretary, Liam Miller. "
Chet extends his hand for a handshake, "Mr. Chet Garrison the Third, actually. So you're the hot new secretary everybody keeps talking about."
Mikaela takes his hand awkwardly, "It's a pleasure. "
"Likewise." Chet's thumb rubs Mikaela's palm slightly. Mikaela pulls his hand away, clearly weirded out. Ola notices it and quickly tries to diffuse the uncomfortable atmosphere, sighting the card in Mikaela's hand.
"Oh, off for a lunch break Mr. Miller? I didn't know the Ceo still gave those haha."
Mikaela raises the card up? "Are you referring to this thing right here? Ceo Ji-hoon sent me to get him an iced coffee, he told me you knew the place?"
Ola blinks twice, "You mean The Daily Bean? Ceo Ji-hoon is obsessed with that. He doesn't take coffee anywhere else, not even the coffee we brew here. The problem is that it's miles away from here, the ice will melt before you're back, all his past secretaries hated coffee runs."
Mikaela sighs. Of course Ji-hoon would give him such an errand, testing the waters of how much crap he can throw at him.
"Hey!" Chet chimes in, "We can use my car, it's the brand new model the company gave me, pretty fast." He faces Mikaela with a wide toothy grin, Mikaela can see his veneers, "And that way, Mr. Miller and I can become well acquainted."
No. Absolutely Not.
Mikaela doesn't want to go with this sleazy lawyer, heck he doesn't even mind this distance all that much if it means he gets some time away from this place, but he is curious about the company's financial records. This sucker looks like an easy pawn to use.
Mikaela returns the grin, "Sounds like a great idea Mr. Garrison. "
"Shall I escort you to my car then?"
They both walk out the company through the entrance door. Mira turns her head to Ola, whispering.
"You should have warned Mr. Miller about Mr. Garrison's shady history with the past secretaries."
— • —
A sleek, red coloured vehicle pulls up in front of The Jang Industries building. Inside the automobile are Chet and Mikaela, who have just returned from their coffee run.
The Daily Bean's Staff was familiar with Ji-hoon's usual coffee order so Mikaela didn't even have to explain much. What delayed them was that Chet kept on insisting to buy Mikaela a drink. Mikaela even suggested that he just get pastry but Chet said it had to be a drink. So in the end they both both espressos.
Mikaela gives Chet an appreciative smile "Thanks for the ride, I should go and give this to Ji-hoon now before the ice melts. "
He tries to open the door but it doesn't budge. He tries again, assuming it may be jammed. Nothing.
"Mr. Garrison, I think you still have the door locked."
He nods, "I'm aware." He rests his right palm on Mikaela's knee casually like it was second nature, "The AC is on so don't worry about the ice melting. Why don't we relax for a minute, get to know each other and drink these beverages."
Mikaela looks at the espressos, then at Chet, he turns to look at the espressos again.
Just look at the glee in his eyes. So excited like a kid who got a new toy. It's clearly obvious this bastard spiked one of these.