A few days slipped by, and it felt like the air inside the tenth floor had grown heavier. Soo-hyun's mood was sharper than ever. No matter how perfectly Kiyonari executed his tasks—whether it was scheduling, organizing documents, or arranging meetings—Soo-hyun always seemed displeased.
His scoldings became routine.
One day, he ordered Kiyonari to revise a 50-page business proposal within three days—a task that would normally take a whole team a week.
Another day, he demanded his lunches to be prepared on time. But once he had it, he would rather throw it on Kiyonari's face than to have a taste of the dish.
Then came the demand of organizing three overlapping meetings across different branches within the same afternoon, all while still handling his regular workload.
For anyone else, it was impossible. And yet, Kiyonari never faltered.
Each scolding only steeled his resolve. Every impossible order only fueled his determination. He worked through nights with little sleep, pouring every ounce of effort into finding solutions where none seemed to exist.
He double-checked, triple-checked, and anticipated mistakes before they could happen.
And though Soo-hyun refused to acknowledge the good in his work—only nitpicking the flaws, no matter how small—Kiyonari took it all in stride.
If he only sees the bad, then I'll keep on getting better, he thought. Until the day there's nothing left for him to criticize.
What might crush another man became Kiyonari's motivation.
His silent vow remained the same: I'll prove to him that I'm more than capable. I'll earn his trust... no matter how long it takes.
Meanwhile, down in the Marketing Department, Kang Yiseo overheard a pair of coworkers whispering by the water dispenser.
"Did you hear? The new secretary is still hanging in there."
"No way. Nobody lasts this long with Director Je. Most quit after a week—two weeks at most."
"I don't know how he's still standing. Director Je keeps piling impossible work on him. It's like he's trying to break him."
Yiseo's brows lifted slightly as he listened quietly. His gaze drifted toward the elevators that led to the executive floor.
Mr. Soo... he thought, a flicker of curiosity and admiration crossing his face. Just what kind of person are you, to endure all that and keep going?
After hours upon hours and nearly sleepless nights, Kiyonari finally set down the last page of the revised, and his shoulders sagged with exhaustion. He rubbed his temples, a sharp headache throbbing behind his eyes.
But he refused to give in.
No... not right now. I can't take a rest yet. Not when there are still tasks left waiting for me.
Gripping the thick file firmly in his hands, he straightened his posture and walked down the quiet corridor toward the executive director's office.
Inside, he bowed respectfully before placing the file neatly on the desk.
"I've finished the revision for the Local Infrastructure Expansion Proposal, sir."
Soo-hyun's pen froze mid-line. Slowly, he lifted his gaze from the papers before him, his dark eyes scrutinizing Kiyonari with that familiar weight of judgment.
"And what about the contract with Yongyeon Construction?" His voice sharp, testing. "I expect you've prepared something."
"Yes," Kiyonari replied without hesitation. "I've arranged a meeting with their President—Mr. Yoon."
Soo-hyun's expression remained unreadable. "And when will that be? I can't have that meeting colliding with other major appointments. Considering my tight schedule, I'm sure you know this better than I do, Mr. Soo."
Kiyonari felt his throat tighten. He curled his fist at his side, forcing himself to stay steady.
"Yes, of course. Nothing to worry about, Director Je. The meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday—clear of all your other agendas, including tomorrow's."
A long silence followed. Then, finally, Soo-hyun leaned back against his chair, exhaling softly as though measuring the weight of the words.
"I see. That's good to hear."
Kiyonari allowed himself the faintest grin—small, but genuine. A flicker of hope stirred inside him.
Soo-hyun's voice cut through again. "Make sure President Yoon is treated with the utmost care during his visit. I don't want rumors of him being treated unfairly... not like last time."
"Understood, sir."
"And—"
Kiyonari straightened. "Yes?"
"I want you to join me. I need my secretary at all times."
Kiyonari froze, his breath catching. For the first time since he started being cold, those words struck Kiyonari differently—less like a command and more like... acknowledgment. A recognition that he was needed.
Something bright sparked within him, almost fragile.
—Hope.
He bowed his head firmly. "I will, sir."
Inside, he swore again to himself—he would not disappoint his boss. He would certainly gain Je Soo-hyun's full trust, no matter how long it took.
*****
On the corridor, Kiyonari walked briskly, clutching the stack of files of his chest. He flipped them open once more, double-checking the contents. Everyone's heart nearly dropped—one of the employees had slipped the wrong document into the pile.
Kiyonari swallowed hard. If the man had handed that to Director Je, he would've exploded with rage.
Sure enough, Soo-hyun's voice from the meeting room door had already turned sharp, almost erupting at the sight. Kiyonari, however, stepped forward quickly and requested a short delay, offering to fetch the correct file himself. It was risky—but he would rather take the blame than let things spiral further.
He hurried down the hall when a familiar voice called out.
"Kihyun-sshi!"
Kiyonari whipped his head around. Jiwoo was there, bright as ever, almost untouched by the suffocating stress that seemed to drown everyone else in the company.
"Jiwoo, what's up?" Kiyonari asked, shifting the files in his arms. "It's rare to see you here on the fourth floor."
Jiwoo chuckled. "Yeah, well, I was on my way to the meeting. Then I saw you and thought I should tell you what's going on later."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Kiyonari blinked, still catching his breath.
Jiwoo exhaled softly. "There's going to be a welcome party for new employees tonight."
"Oh..."
"It was kind of delayed thanks to all the workload. The Executive Manager and the Chief Director felt bad for throwing the fresh graduates into a hellish week on their first days. So, they came up with a party to let everyone ease up a little... and relax."
He leaned closer, lowering his tone with a grin. "And also, to celebrate the new secretary of Director Je."
"What?" Kiyonari's eyes widened, slightly bewildered.
"C'mon," Jiwoo draped an arm across his shoulder with ease. "You deserve to be recognized by every department. They're really curious about the Director's new secretary."
Kiyonari only gave a playful, low scoff.
"And besides," Jiwoo continued, "people were so surprised with how you handled that incident before."
"Incident?"
"When they heard about you getting chewed out so badly. Honestly, a lot of us thought you'd be gone before everyone even get to know your name. But here you are—alive and well."
Kiyonari gave him a flat stare. "What's with that? You make it sound like you all buried me already."
Jiwoo burst into laughter. "Hahahaha—honestly, that's what we thought when we heard Director Je yelling inside his office."
Kiyonari narrowed his eyes. "Wow. And how'd you know about that?"
"A lot of eyes and ears in this place, Kihyun-sshi," Jiwoo snickered, tapping his temple knowingly.
Both of them smirked, amused by the truth they both knew well—that nothing ever stayed hidden in this company.
*****
That evening, the restaurant had been transformed into a lively space for the welcome party, tables were lined with food and drinks, and employees from different departments gathered in clusters, chatting and laughing away the stress of the week.
As soon as Kiyonari stepped in, trailing behind Jiwoo, heads turned. His neatly fitted suit accentuated his tall frame and clean features—an image that stood out even more in the relaxed atmosphere.
A few female employees whispered among themselves.
"Isn't that Director Je's secretary?"
"Soo Kihyun-sshi—that's his name!"
"He's even more handsome up close."
"Wow... his fingure's amazing too."
Kiyonari pretended not to hear, but the constant whispers and stare made him feel overwhelmed.
When he reached the table, a sudden wave of voices surrounded him. The girls from nearby had circled over, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Kihyun-sshi, how tall are you?"
"You must work out, right?"
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Where are you from originally?"
Kiyonari froze, blinking rapidly as the questions came from every direction, some casual, some personal. He gave a polite smile, fumbling for words.
"Uh—well, I..." He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
Jiwoo grinned like he'd been waiting for this moment, leaning back in his chair. "Looks like you're the star of tonight's party, Kihyun-sshi."
Kiyonari shot him a glare that only made Jiwoo chuckle louder.
The girls leaned closer, still eager. "C'mon, tell us, Kihyun-sshi!"
Kiyonari exhaled quietly, trying to hold his composure. He wasn't used to this kind of attention—at least not for something as simple as his looks. And while a part of him felt flustered, another part thought otherwise.
He wasn't the popular type back in high school. Perhaps, he was once recognized by everyone but he wasn't just aware of it.
So, with a small, genuine smile, he began to answer them one by one—careful, polite, and always humble. Though he was still shy to answer the personal ones.
Across the room, not everyone shared the same delight as the female employees. At one of the tables, a group of male coworkers quietly nursed their drinks, their gazes fixed on the growing circle around Kiyonari.
"Wow..." one muttered under his breath. "Would you look at that? He's barely been here for a month, and already the girls are swarming him."
Another grumbled in agreement. "Tch. Must be nice having a pretty face."
But one man in particular wasn't just grumbling. His eyes had been locked on Kiyonari's table for a while, sharp and burning. Each sweet laugh and squeal from the female staff only seemed to stoke the fire inside him. With a loud slam, he set his cup down and rose abruptly, startling the coworkers at his table.
He strode forward, steps deliberate, masking his irritation with a thin veil of casual confidence. As he neared Kiyonari's group, he let out a low snicker.
"If I remember correctly," his voice rang across the chatter, "this is a welcome party, not a group date."
The playful atmosphere died down at once. Conversations halted. Heads turned. Even the women who had been circling Kiyonari stiffened.
Kiyonari lifted his gaze at the man, his expression unreadable.
Jiwoo blinked in recognition, then quickly stood, trying to smooth things over.
"Oh, Mr. Kim!" He said brightly. "Why don't you join us? We wouldn't mind. After all, I heard you're good with parties."
The words carried a sly undertone—Jiwoo knew exactly who he was dealing with."
Mr. Kim's lips curled into a smirk. "That's right, Jiwoo-sshi."
He pulled out a chair with exaggerated ease and settled down beside Jiwoo, but his gaze never once left Kiyonari.
"People used to call me the party King back in my early year," Mr. Kim boasted, leaning back with arms spread comfortably. "Because I know exactly how to turn the mood on."
"That's true!" One of the male employee chimed in. "Mr. Kim is always good at keeping the energy up."
"Of course," Jiwoo added with a polite smile. "We've all heard."
But Mr. Kim didn't acknowledge them. His attention was pinned on one person only.
"So," he said slowly, almost like testing the weight of his words, "you're the new secretary I keep hearing about."
Kiyonari straightened slightly. Despite the heavy stare on him, he maintained a polite composure. "Yes. Nice to meet you, Mr. Kim." He even offered a faint smile.
But beneath the cordial exchange, the hostility was clear. The way Mr. Kim's eyes narrowed, sharp and brimming with disdain, left no doubt—he already didn't like Kiyonari.
The moment Mr. Kim settled into his seat, the light mood that had filled the table seemed to vanish. The female employees who had been squealing and laughing a moment ago now sat straighter, their smiles turning cautious. Their eyes darted between Kiyonari and Mr. Kim, as if bracing for a clash.
Jiwoo, sensing the sudden heaviness, forced a bright laugh. "Haha... well, it's good that you joined us, Mr. Kim. The more, the merrier, right?" He poured a drink into Mr. Kim's glass, trying to steer the mood back.
But Mr. Kim only swirled the glass lazily, his gaze never leaving Kiyonari. "So, Secretary Soo," he said, the words rolling off his tongue almost mockingly. "How's it been? Adjusting well? Or is Director Je already making your life miserable?"
A couple of women exchanged uneasy glances. One quickly tried to interject with a lighter tone. "Oh, Mr. Kim, don't tease him! It's not easy being Director Je's secretary, you know."
"Tease?" Mr. Kim chuckled, though there was no humor in his tone. "I'm just curious. Everyone's been talking about him. Besides, not just anyone lasts in that position. They tend to quit after just a week or so." His smirk sharpened. "Isn't that right, Kihyun-sshi?"
Kiyonari kept his expression calm, though he felt every pair of eyes at the table shift onto him. "It's challenging," he admitted quietly, "but I'm managing just fine."
The women quickly chimed in, as though rushing to defend him.
"Yes! We've all seen how hard he works!"
"And he's so composed despite everything—"
Their words only deepened the crease in Mr. Kim's brow. His jaw ticked as he set his glass down with a dull thud. The tension in the air grew thicker, so much so that the chatter from nearby tables felt distant.
A female employee jumped in again, his voice deliberately light. "Mr. Kim, you're scaring everyone. We're here to celebrate, not interrogate."
Then Jiwoo shot Kiyonrai a quick glance, silently urging him to not to react.
Kiyonari simply offered a small smile, bowing his head slightly, showing no sign of being rattled.
But beneath the table, he tightened his fists on his lap. He knew very well—Mr. Kim's hostility was only the beginning.
Mr. Kim leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as his sharp gaze never wavered. "Managing, huh?" His lips curled slightly. "Funny... most of us here know that 'managing' isn't enough when it comes to Director Je."
The girls shifted uncomfortably. One of them forced a laugh. "Ah... Mr. Kim, don't be so harsh. Kihyun-sshi is still new—"
"Exactly." Mr. Kim cut her off, his tone cool but edged. "He's new. Yet somehow, he's already at the center of attention." His eyes flicked to the women around the table, who quickly fell silent under his stare.
Jiwoo cleared his throat. "Well, that's what happened when someone does their job well. People notice." He shot Kiyonari a quick supportive smile.
Kiyonari, feeling the weight of the moment, straightened his posture slightly. His voice was calm, careful. "I'm still learning a lot. It's not easy, but... I'll do my best."
Mr. Kim tilted his head, studying him. "Your best, huh?" He let out a low chuckle and leaned forward, resting his elbow on the table. "Tell me then, how long do you think you'll last?"
The air grew still. The women looked down at their drinks, clearly wishing to escape the tension.
Ah, I think I know what he's doing now. Kiyonari calmly thought. Keeping a smile plastered on his face still.
One employee frowned. "Mr. Kim..."
Kiyonari met his eyes steadily, refusing to look away. His voice stayed even, though inside, his pulse quickened. "As long as Director Je allows me to."
Mr. Kim's smirk faltered for a split second at the unexpected answer. Then, with a short laugh, he sat back again, raising his glass as if brushing it off. "Bold words. Let's see if you can keep them."
The atmosphere loosened slightly as he took a sip of his drink. The girls exchanged glances of relief and started chatting again, though more carefully this time.
Jiwoo leaned toward Kiyinari and muttered quietly, "Don't mind him. He likes to test people."
But Kiyonari knew—it wasn't just a test. Mr. Kim had already marked him as someone to keep an eye on.