10 rules of a Secretary chapter 18

Curled up from the stomach ache, I suddenly remembered the two pieces of yukjeon (pan-fried meat) I couldn’t touch during my last meal.

They say eating something delicious before you die reduces regrets in the afterlife; I should’ve eaten those.

The thought made me feel even more wronged.

“This is driving me crazy…”

“What’s driving you crazy?”

I saw Cha Chiyeon’s knees as she crouched in front of me.

When I weakly lifted my head, she looked at me with a genuinely puzzled expression.

“You created a separate model name to work a second job. And you’re a faceless model. The staff doesn’t know what you look like. You wear wigs and masks and don’t say a word. Honestly, they probably don’t even know if you’re a man or a woman. Oh, never mind. They know your gender. The last time you wore lace underwear, your dick…”

“Hey!”

There was no word she wouldn’t say.

I hurriedly grabbed Cha Chiyeon’s clothes and spat out words telling her to watch her language.

She smirked and lightly patted my shoulder.

“Still, as a model, you should take care of your body instead of just drinking.”

“I’d be lucky if my boss was that lenient… He’d strip me to the bone if he found out. If he discovers I’ve been lying for eight years, he might even bury me alive in the mountain behind the office. Or he could sue me, giving all authority to the legal team, and end it with just handing me the last document.”

“You could include that in the contract. No exposure of your face or personal information. And they said they’d match any amount you want. Tell them about your loan shark debt and the money you need for a house. Maybe they’ll pay it all because they’re in a hurry.”

Cha Chiyeon, who had been squatting, now sat down and began to analyze the situation seriously.

“Think about it. Your shitty boss brought you a photo from almost three years ago when you first started modeling and asked you to find the person in it.”

“…”

“That means he needs you that badly. Just take a chance. Who knows? It might be a lottery ticket. I’d seize the opportunity rather than be struck by lightning and die.”

Life is said to be about the C between B and D. Birth (B) and Death (D) with Choice (C) in between.

I engraved this saying in my heart.

Life is a series of choices.

But right now, it was hard to choose.

Choices are never easy, but this time, every option seemed the worst.

“Is it difficult to be the model or to sign the contract?”

If I had to choose, it was the latter.

I could manage to hide my identity by covering my face and not speaking as a model.

But I couldn’t hide it in a contract. I gloomily answered that it was the latter.

Cha Chiyeon then pressed her knee hard against mine.

“If you need someone to attend the contract signing, I can do it.”

The unexpected proposal made my eyes widen in surprise. I couldn’t believe how grateful I felt.

Seeing my eyes sparkle, Cha Chiyeon frowned, her mouth slightly curling as her gaze turned towards me.

I couldn’t quite grasp what she found so displeasing.

“Do you really hate it? Honestly, it’s a good opportunity. Why not switch to being a model? I really like your butt. And your waist and thighs too. Not just anyone can have that. You’re perfect for an underwear model.”

“I… just want to keep doing this job stably for a long time.”

“Do you like being a secretary who never has enough time, or do you enjoy being next to that awful boss?”

If I had to say, it was the money I liked.

But I didn’t want Cha Chiyeon to know I was that obsessed with money.

Although she probably already knew, there was no need to emphasize it.

“Money.”

Ah, that came out wrong. Cha Chiyeon’s face twisted into a strange expression.

“You crazy bastard.”

“Ah… sorry. I meant to say both.”

“Just be a crazy bastard then.”

Grumbling, she slipped her hand under my armpit and lifted me up with surprising strength for a woman.

Carrying heavy camera equipment and such meant her strength was no match for me, an Omega.

She was as strong as an Alpha.

One punch from her could knock out my teeth.

Standing next to me, she handed me a cup of water she had set down by the sink.

I gratefully took it, pressing it to my cheek with a sigh.

“Ha… it’s a bit hot…”

“Take your meds. You know it’s a big deal if you don’t take suppressants after drinking.”

She was like a mother. No, she was more precious than family—a landlord.

Ignoring her disapproving gaze, I staggered to the kitchen shelf.

I grabbed the medicine bottle from the familiar shelf and downed the suppressants immediately.

Four times a day, every day for three years, I was now sickeningly familiar with the white bottle.

“Taking cold medicine like that could kill you. Are you sure there are no side effects?”

“I told you, otherwise they wouldn’t sell it at the pharmacy.”

“Pharmacies sell boric acid that can kill you if you ingest it. Even patches can be deadly if you eat them.”

“That’s only if you don’t follow the instructions. I make sure to take breaks as required—five days a year, they say…”

I squinted at the tiny warning label on the bottle.

The alcohol blurred my vision, making it hard to read.

I caught a glimpse of the five-day break and pheromone detection warnings.

I waved the white bottle at Cha Chiyeon.

“It says five days here. I stick to the breaks religiously.”

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you really going to let me handle the contract? I mean, are you even willing to do it?”

“If I hide everything like you said… won’t it work out? I can just close my eyes and spend the money…”

I exhaled an alcohol-filled breath and slowly closed my eyes. Despite the drowsiness from the alcohol, my mind was clearer than ever.

I never imagined my worries would be half-resolved this easily.

If I’d known, I’d have sought Cha Chiyeon’s advice instead of drinking for four days straight.

A shallow regret washed over me.

So, Cha Chiyeon handles the contract, takes the photos… the contract fee… would be deposited into my account.

The boss would find out in no time… should we use Cha Chiyeon’s name for the contract?

Then what about taxes?

As my thoughts spiraled, I half-opened my eyes and looked at Cha Chiyeon still fiddling with her phone.

“Can you lend me your name for this?”

“Are you really saying you want to commit tax evasion?”

“My conscience won’t let me.”

“How did I end up with a roommate like this…?”

Her words were filled with lament, but I knew.

Despite appearances, Cha Chiyeon always helped me with whatever she could.

It was likely a fragment of sympathy.

Still, I gratefully laughed and jumped at her, hugging her tightly. As I hugged her, Cha Chiyeon flailed her arms, trying to push me away.

“Get off!”

“Lord, Lord. Our landlord. Thank you.”

“Get lost!”

Shouting, she bit my neck to make me let go.

The sharp pain cut through, but I didn’t loosen my grip and kept laughing.

Honestly, it didn’t hurt much.

Probably because of the alcohol. I kept laughing, like a madman wanting to forget reality.

Do you know why office workers avoid drinking on the last day of a holiday?

It’s because they dread going to work the next day.

To stay alert among the packed crowd and handle the morning workload, a clear head is necessary. So, I was in no condition to do anything right now.

My head kept spinning.

Even standing still, the ground seemed to shift slightly.

I sighed and downed another hangover remedy from the convenience store.

It was my fourth bottle. I checked the time—still 30 minutes until work. I was glad I had come out earlier than usual.

The rainy Tuesday morning was gloomy.

Standing under the convenience store’s parasol, listening to the rain, I extended my hand.

The cool touch of the rain felt refreshing.

“Oh? Seonbi!”

Turning my head at the sound of rain hitting an umbrella, I saw Jo Yeonjae, the official youngest member of the secretary office.

His face radiated the freshness of a new employee.

How was I at his age…?

By then, I was already crying while working under the boss, so I probably looked miserable.

“What are you doing at the convenience store?”

Yeonjae’s friendly question made me slowly blink my heavy eyelids and smile quietly.

“I’m tasting the bitterness of life. Why are you here so early, Yeonjae?”

Glancing at my watch, it was 6:30. Considering the usual start time was 8, it was way too early.

“Oh… I came early to clean my desk and prepare coffee for everyone…”

I squinted at Yeonjae, who still had such outdated habits, then downed the rest of my hangover remedy.

“Just come ten minutes before work.”

“But you always come two hours early, Seonbi.”

His words made me pause with the bottle cap.

What absurd nonsense was this?

I stared at Yeonjae, who fidgeted and smiled innocently.

It was the pure smile of a two-month-old employee.

He looked like a kitten with big eyes.

New workers all shared that hopeful, eager look.