10 rules of a Secretary chapter 23

I started organizing the mess of documents piled up on the desk. It wasn’t hard to separate the read ones from the unread ones because the difference was obvious.

The sound of papers rustling pleasantly tickled my ears.

While sorting the papers and gathering important information for CEO Han, I reported:

“Vice President Han is gathering department store shares. Currently, he holds 3.25%, which is insignificant compared to the chairman’s shares, but he’s persuading the CEOs of affiliated companies to cooperate, potentially increasing his share to 12.8%. If he wins the current bet, he will become the largest shareholder with 42.8%, effectively leading to Han Han Jiwan’s dominance.”

“He won’t become the largest shareholder even if he gets that.”

“If the chairman’s shares are transferred, the major affiliates of Daewon will also be included.”

“Don’t worry. That’s all they’ve got. Jin Gaye doesn’t have anything either, which is why she’s so desperate. Just ignore it.”

How can I ignore it? If you fail, I fail too, CEO.

I glanced at the CEO’s thick, straight fingers as he flipped through the documents with a relaxed expression. Noticing that my hand had paused, he asked without looking up.

“What did you have for lunch?”

“…Iced Americano.”

“And food?”

“I didn’t have time.”

“Why not?”

I was momentarily speechless. Why else? Because I was dealing with the mess you made. As I neatly placed the thick paper down, I looked up and met CEO Han’s eyes.

He had a faint trace of worry or something similar in his eyes. How unusual.

“I was dealing with unfinished business with Ha Eunjoo.”

“Why him?”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you curious about an ex-boyfriend. He said he has something to give you, but you wouldn’t answer his calls, so he contacted me. Did you block him?”

“No, I just don’t answer unknown numbers.”

So, he deleted the number. Narrowing my eyes, I looked at CEO Han and picked up the document envelope from the tea table.

“This.”

“Did you open it?”

“I did.”

Of course, I didn’t, but lying had become second nature to me. CEO Han, with a complex expression, leaned his elbows on the desk and rested his chin in his hands.

Warm sunlight enveloped his face completely. Watching his sparkling eyes, I suddenly thought he really lived up to his good looks.

“What did you think?”

“…”

“You said you opened it. You should have something to say to me then.”

“Ha Eunjoo said you’re pitiful.”

I relayed what I heard verbatim. CEO Han’s face twisted in an instant, clearly showing his displeasure.

Why should he have to hear that? I pointed at the document envelope in his hand with my fingertips.

“It was Ha Eunjoo who said that. I didn’t actually open it. It’s your property, so I couldn’t do it without your permission.”

“Damn it, those bastards.”

He cursed, unable to contain his temper. I silently hoped he would control himself at least during public appearances.

“Secretary Seonyul.”

Watching CEO Han’s thick fingers twitch, I instinctively approached him. He grabbed my waist and pulled me close.

Stopping just shy of our knees touching, he started rummaging through all my pockets.

“…CEO, this is sexual harassment.”

“It would be if you felt sexually harassed by me. Did you?”

“No.”

My firm answer made CEO Han pause.

He looked up at me with a complicated expression. It seemed he had a lot to say but decided not to… or perhaps he was disappointed.

After a while, he lowered his head and replied.

“Then it isn’t.”

Resuming his search, he finally pulled something out of my jacket’s outer pocket.

Then, as if his business was done, he pushed me away.

The item between his index and middle fingers was a business card. It was the one Ha Eunjoo had given me just minutes ago.

“I told you I don’t like anyone else touching my stuff.”

With evident annoyance, CEO Han tore the business card into pieces and threw them into the trash can with a sound like rocks hitting the ground.

Silently, I said a little prayer for the paper used in the business card.

“He was your twenty-second boyfriend.”

“Who…!”

He seemed ready to yell but then exhaled to calm himself and ran his hand through his hair.

The neatly styled hair, held by wax, fell over his clean forehead.

I reached out and slowly brushed the hair back.

“I don’t have the right to speak for your ex-boyfriends, but…”

“…”

“He’s not good. No matter how pretty he is, what good is that if he’s playing games with people.”

“Say that again.”

Grabbing my wrist, he murmured, eyes blazing. The chilling pressure made me gulp and respond.

“He’s playing games with people…”

“Before that.”

“He’s not good?”

“In between.”

“No matter how pretty…”

“Secretary Seonyul.”

The grip on my wrist tightened, and it felt like my wrist would break.

They say an alpha’s strength is like that of a beast, and this was exactly it.

My eyes squinted from the pain. Just as I was about to ask him to let go, he pulled me forward.

The hair I had just brushed back fell over his white forehead again.

His perfect face now marred, it hurt my heart separately from the pain in my wrist.

“You think he’s pretty?”

“Well, that is… from an objective perspective…”

“I thought you were a deep-rooted straight. Didn’t you say your heart doesn’t flutter unless it’s an XX chromosome? He’s an XY. A man with a dick.”

This guy remembered that, even with some distortion. I never said my heart didn’t flutter. He has a good memory but only recalls what he wants. I frowned and responded.

“Still, the most handsome and stylish person is you, CEO. So, please let go of my hand.”

My words, cut out almost syllable by syllable, carried no sincerity, but I knew very well that CEO Han felt better when hearing he was the best-looking.

His vile temper, unable to tolerate compliments to others, emerged again.

My fingertips turned white from the pressure, and the veins on the back of my hand stood out. The pain made my hand go numb.

“Let go. Handsome, beautiful, the most gorgeous in the world, CEO.”

I lightly massaged my wrist with the hand that hadn’t been held, contrasting with the hand that had just been gently released.

“Dear CEO, Ms. Ha Eunjoo asked me to send his regards.”

“And?”

“That’s all.”

I decided to ignore the talk about gifts and black hair. It was pointless to engage in distractions that would lead nowhere.

“Aren’t you curious?”

“…Should I be?”

I was curious, but I preferred not to get involved in matters unrelated to work. Therefore, I felt utterly miserable being caught between the CEO and his lovers.

My interest felt like wilted lettuce soaked with too much water.

I was just a patsy. I stepped back, massaging my aching wrist, and turned my gaze to the yellow document envelope under the CEO’s palm.

“I’m not curious about anything. Also, you have no special appointments this evening, but you have some meetings scheduled from tomorrow morning. I have a meeting with the HR manager in the afternoon regarding the TF team. The time is around 3 PM.”

“You’re really not curious about anything?”

“There’s one thing.”

The CEO’s eyes seemed to sparkle for a moment. I looked at his face and drew a soft curve on my lips.

“Can I use my annual leave this year?”

“Did you break a leg?”

“No.”

“Did someone break a finger for you?”

“…Not now, but it might be possible in about 10 minutes.”

After a moment of hesitation, the truth slipped out. I looked at my fingers, contemplating if breaking one might earn me a vacation.

“I could make that happen right now. If vacation is that important, cut off your ankle and go. Then I’ll let you go.”

“I misspoke. ‘The body and hair are received from the parents.'”

I didn’t want to be in pain. Moreover, he wasn’t joking about cutting off my ankle. The CEO was someone who could actually do it. A healthy body and intact limbs were necessary to make money. I valued my body greatly.

“Then stay by my side. Where do you think you’re going?”

The CEO clicked his tongue in annoyance and shoved the documents Ha Eunjoo had given him into a drawer. He then roughly flipped through the papers he was reading.

“If you’re going to ask such silly questions, get next week’s schedule organized.”

“Yes, understood.”

I bowed and left the CEO’s office, grinding my teeth. I couldn’t take a break unless I broke a finger or leg.

Damn, it’s my leave, why can’t I use it as I please? I had 18 days of legally guaranteed annual leave and an additional 5 days of summer vacation like gold, but I never once touched them in my life.

“Well, to be exact, I’ve only used the summer vacation…”

Even that was ruined this year. Seeing that flawless face throughout the summer vacation was worse than going to hell.