The next morning, the office was alive with chatter.
"Did you hear? The CEO assigned Miss Kang a solo project."
"No way. She's a rookie!"
"Maybe she's… close to him?"
Hye-rin kept her head down, cheeks hot. She'd been dreading this. Of course word would spread. LJ Group's offices thrived on gossip.
Se-hee, as usual, found it hilarious. "Look at you, breaking the internet of our office," she teased, plopping down at Hye-rin's desk. "One project and suddenly you're the star."
Hye-rin groaned. "I don't want to be the star. I just want to survive without getting crushed."
"Relax. You'll do fine," Se-hee said, though her grin said she was enjoying every second of this.
But not everyone was amused.
Han Dae-Shik, a manager known for his sharp tongue and sharper ambition, had been glaring at her all morning. Finally, he approached her desk during lunch break.
"You must be very lucky, Kang Hye-rin," he said smoothly, his voice carrying just enough for nearby coworkers to hear. "The CEO doesn't usually waste time on new hires."
Hye-rin forced a polite smile. "I'm just doing my job, Manager Han."
His eyes narrowed. "Careful. Around here, catching his attention is as dangerous as it is flattering. The higher he lifts you, the harder the fall."
With that, he walked away, leaving the warning hanging in the air.
Hye-rin sat frozen, her chest tight. She didn't need enemies. Not now. But from the look in Han Dae-Shik eyes, she had a feeling he wasn't going to let this go.