10 rules of a Secretary chapter 45

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“Your eyelashes are stuck.”

“…Thank you.”

I bowed my head slightly, and as CEO Han exited the office, I hurried to the secretary’s office to quickly pack my things into my bag.

Missing this chance to leave on time would mean I’m not just an employee, but a fool.

“Everyone, enjoy your Friday! See you on Monday!”

I rushed into the elevator just in time, sighing in relief. Standing behind CEO Han, I noticed his sharp gaze and looked up. He was staring at me intently.

“Why are you standing behind me?”

“That’s where I’m supposed to be.”

“Stand beside me.”

Confused, I took a step forward. Then CEO Han nudged my back to move me slightly ahead of him, positioning me precisely a half step in front of him.

“Stand there from now on.”

“Usually, secretaries stand behind their superiors…”

“If you stand behind, I can’t see your face.”

I wanted to ask why seeing my face mattered to him, but instead, I just nodded quietly. Still curious, I looked up at him and spoke.

“What if you get upset after looking at my face? You always say I’m ugly.”

“Secretary Seonyul, there’s something you’re mistaken about.”

The elevator doors opened with a ding. Since it wasn’t quite quitting time, the parking lot was quiet.

Now walking ahead of CEO Han, I carefully listened to his footsteps, making sure I didn’t bump into anything.

“Why do you think I keep you by my side?”

At least it’s not because you think I’m an omega. I kept silent, and then I heard a tsk behind me.

Suddenly, he grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me aside. A car passed by, narrowly missing us.

“What kind of jerk drives like that?”

CEO Han muttered as he looked at the receding car, his hand briefly resting on my shoulder before letting go.

His cold fingers brushed against the back of my neck, making me flinch. Did he just… touch me?

I stared at him dumbfoundedly before quickly catching up.

It was obvious where we were headed—his car.

I was supposed to drive, but the person who should be in the passenger seat was sitting in the driver’s seat, while the one who should be driving was holding the steering wheel.

I glanced at him, feeling uneasy. His side profile, illuminated by the windshield, was perfect, as if it had been drawn.

Despite his impeccable appearance, his personality was a mess. Who would bridge that gap?

“If you have a favorite song, play it. It’s too quiet, and I can’t concentrate on driving.”

“…Music, you mean.”

“I need something to distract me, or I might get into an accident.”

I was about to turn on the radio when CEO Han suggested music instead, so I quickly connected my phone via Bluetooth.

I scrolled through my playlist and chose a song. Chet Baker’s “I’ve Never Been in Love Before.”

A quiet jazz tune with an old-school vibe.

The road, now free from rush hour traffic, was peaceful. The sunlight scattered softly, making me speak without realizing it. The mellow jazz must have made me unusually sentimental.

“This song was my father’s favorite.”

“…”

“He said it became even more meaningful after he met my mother. He told me that one day, when I met someone I loved, I’d grow to love it too.”

CEO Han glanced at me briefly before focusing on the road again. Thanks to him, I could continue speaking at my own pace.

“But I don’t think I’ll ever like it.”

I listened to it occasionally, hoping I’d grow fond of it, but the lyrics never resonated with me.

The idea of someone who’s never been in love meeting someone and falling for them forever seemed like a foolish dream.

My parents, who claimed to love me most, had disappeared from this world.

“People eventually disappear. Why bother giving them your heart?”

Yoon Sanghye’s situation was similar. The love she thought would last forever had ended, leaving her with nothing but lingering emotions.

I recalled her words about how unpredictable the human heart was and smiled faintly. If something is bound to happen, let it happen. I hummed along as I murmured the translated lyrics.

“I thought my heart was safe.”

Love—such a trivial word—has a profound impact on the human heart. I didn’t think I’d ever come to like this song.

“But I’m here.”

“…CEO Han?”

“If I don’t disappear, that’s enough, isn’t it?”

But this is like wine—too unfamiliar, too intense.

If CEO Han suddenly disappeared, the company would go bankrupt, and my salary would vanish along with my contract bonus. I’d be in trouble.

I rolled my eyes and turned to look at him. By now, he had stopped the car at a red light and was staring at me.

“Stay by my side. Longer than you’ve been so far.”

So please forgive me for this overwhelming confusion inside me.

His words, delivered with the song’s lyrics, made me smile faintly.

“I’ve already told you my ideal type.”

“I know.”

“I like cute people. Their chromosomes have to be XX, too.”

I’ve truly never been in love.

“That’s going to be a bit difficult.”

“Then I’m afraid you’re disqualified as a candidate, CEO Han. But thank you for the compliment. It’s the first time I’ve heard something like that. It feels nice.”

“I never said I was giving up.”

I’m filled with foolish songs.

“That’s exciting. Well, give it a try. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll be standing next to you. But of course, your chromosomes will have to change by then.”

I’ve never been in love.

Fortunately, CEO Han didn’t say anything else, and I remained quiet, maintaining my composure.

As we neared my house, the car gently came to a stop. I thanked him repeatedly, unbuckling my seatbelt and preparing to leave.

Just as I was about to step out of the car, he called out to me.

“Secretary Seonyul.”

“Yes, I’m listening.”

“You should take care of your lips before you go. You need to water a plant you’re trying so hard to nurture.”

It wasn’t a plant I was nurturing, but rather a burden I had unwillingly taken on. But what difference does that make from the employer’s perspective?

I looked at his severely chapped lips, pulled out a lip balm from my pocket, and hurriedly got out of the car. I knocked on the driver’s side window with the back of my hand.

The window buzzed down, revealing his tired face. I warmed the tip of the lip balm with my fingertips and gently held his chin with one hand.

“Please tilt your head up a little.”

“Aren’t you curious why my lips get this bad?”

I hadn’t asked, and I wasn’t curious. But I was concerned. After all, I was responsible for taking care of this.

If he knew how much effort I put into it, he wouldn’t do this. As I applied the lip balm to his lips, I responded.

“I’m already worried enough for both of us, so please stop biting your lips. If there’s anything you’re not telling me, let me know. That’s what I’m here for.”

I repeated his words from before as I rubbed the lip balm onto his lips.

“I’m your person, after all.”

Satisfied with my work, I started to pull away, but CEO Han suddenly pressed a kiss to my fingertips.

The sound of it rang clearly in my ears.

My eyes trembled involuntarily. It was nothing out of the ordinary, something he often did, yet my fingers felt as if they were burning.

“That’s right. You’re mine.”

The memory of last night, when he had repeatedly kissed me, overlapped with the present. I gasped, barely managing to unclench my fist and pull away. If I didn’t, I felt like I’d run away any second.

“But it would be nice if you knew.”

CEO Han, muttering softly, lightly tapped my cheek and then waved his hand.

Not understanding his gesture, I extended both of my hands toward him, and he took the lip balm from my hands.

In a natural manner, he opened the cap and melted the balm with his finger before looking up at me.

When I moved a little closer, he grabbed my chin and slowly brushed his lips against mine.

“Don’t look away. Otherwise, I’ll really get angry.”

I had no place to go. The thought of working at Jeong Ga-yeon’s company crossed my mind, but I couldn’t just leave CEO Han who had asked me to work there for only a few months.

Even though it was a demanding job, it was a stable one in its own way. His hand, which had been lingering on my lips for a while, finally withdrew.

“Go inside. You’ve had a hard day. Rest well and take good care of yourself.”

Saying this, he wiped the remaining lip balm from his hand onto his own lips, then immediately closed the window and started the car.

Standing there absentmindedly, I watched as he drove away and touched my lips with my hand. The smooth sensation of the lip balm was still there.

Naturally, the events of that night quickly resurfaced in my mind.

‘You’re beautiful.’

‘Your arms and legs are pale with no pigment, but your fingertips and toes are red. It feels like you’d taste sweet if I ate you.’

The way his hands had intertwined with mine and his body heat seemed to linger inside me. I barely composed myself, clasping my hands together, and looked at my right ring finger—the spot where his lips had touched at the final moment—muttering.

“I’m going crazy……”

I tried hard to think of something else to cool the heat from my face by fanning my hands. Oh, right.

Tomorrow is the day I will be going on a wedding with Assistant Yoon, so I need to focus on that.

Just that, for now.

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