By the next morning, the internet had exploded.
#LJEngagement, #CinderellaSecretary, #ContractorLove — the hashtags trended everywhere.
Her phone buzzed nonstop with messages from people she hadn't spoken to in years. Some congratulated her, others accused her of sleeping her way to power.
She stopped checking after the tenth one.
In the office, people stared. Some smiled too politely, others whispered behind their hands. Only Park Se-hee, her best friend, looked genuinely worried.
"Rin, you okay?" Se-hee whispered, pulling her aside.
"I'm fine," she lied.
"Fine doesn't look like that," Se-hee said, eyes narrowing. "He better not be—"
"I agreed to it," Hye-rin interrupted. "It's… complicated."
Before Se-hee could answer, Joon-hyuk appeared at the end of the hallway. Conversation froze instantly. His presence always did that.
"Miss Kang," he said. "My office."
As they walked, she felt every gaze on her back.
When the door closed behind them, she turned sharply. "Do you even care what this is doing to me?"
He looked at her — really looked — and for a moment his expression faltered. "If I did, it would only make this harder."
"Then maybe you should start," she whispered.
Something flickered in his eyes, but before she could understand it, his mask returned. "You'll attend the board dinner with me tomorrow. Wear something appropriate."
"Of course," she said coldly. "Wouldn't want to embarrass the CEO."