I gasped and jumped as my gaze landed on Mr. Lee. My heart pounded against my chest as I tried to compose myself.
Mr. Lee just stood in the doorway, eerily composed with his hands shoved into his tailored pants. He was cocking his head as his furrowed brows left a deep crease on his forehead. His piercing gaze felt like they were scrutinizing my every move.
I was so fixated on the report that I didn't hear his footsteps. His sharp eyes landed on the folder in my hands, and his face darkened.
Being in his office at this time, shuffling through his things probably made me look very suspicious. I cringed. First, he caught me eavesdropping on him, and now this. He had every right to be suspicious.
I lowered the file and looked down at my feet as I tried to get the words out.
"I was. Umm."
However, before I could get the words out, he started walking up to me with steady steps, catching me completely off guard. I simultaneously backed up until my thigh pressed on his desk, blocking my movement.
He stopped a foot away from me, and the smell of a rainy forest brushed my nose again. He stood tall, as if he were a lion cornering his prey, and all I could do was pray that he had mercy on me. His gaze was focused and full of displeasure.
Taking a deep breath, I finally spoke up, "Mr. Lee, I was just trying to read the report Mrs. Min told me about--"
"And you had to go into my office without permission to do so?"
His delivery was flat and unforgiving. He locked gaze with mine without blinking, and all I could do was gulp in return and look back down at my hands. Deep breaths, Juri.
That list was so generic that it gave me the courage to dare and ask, "That report. It's from the headquarters, isn't it?" I asked, and he arched his brows.
"And what does that have to do with you?"
I lifted my chin as I mustered up the courage to meet his gaze, "Well, that list is either going to make the campaign a hit or miss, sir. I took one look at it and saw that there was a problem with the guest list.”
I sighed, trying to compose my racing heart, “I know I've only been here for two days, but there are people who aren't on the list that--"
His brows furrowed even more. "Ms. Kim."
I gulped as I met his gaze. The way he said my name flatly and devoid of any warmth was worse than shouting.
"Your background in sales tells me one thing: you know how to close a deal. It does not tell me you know how to plan a campaign." He let the silence sit for a moment, sharp as a blade.
"Get out."
I didn't move right away. I couldn't. His voice had a quality I'd never heard from anyone before. It wasn't loud, not heated, but cold in a way that bypassed my ears entirely and hit somewhere behind my chest.
This time, I hadn't just pushed too far. I had stepped off the edge entirely, and the ground was still rushing up to meet me. We had only known each other for a few days, and yet I kept getting on his nerves.
Sunjae
My eyes glided down to her lips as they started quivering, prompting her to bite down on them as she bowed.
"My apologies, sir," she said and handed the folder to me. She then made her way to the door. As she did, my gaze fell on the heavy folder. The reason I came here was for this dataset. I already knew how atrocious the list was. It was handed to me a few days ago during a meeting, and I've been planning to change it since, which is why I decided to set a meeting with an actor.
The fact that she flagged the list's flaws after only studying our clientele for a short period was staggering.
A wave of curiosity hit me, overriding my initial irritation. Sighing, I finally called out to her before she could reach the door, "Wait."
I turned to look at her. She stopped and turned to me, her gaze fixated on the floor. She was still biting her lip so hard I calculated it might bleed. "Enlighten me, what exactly did you notice about the list?"
Her lips parted in confusion. After a few seconds of silence as she gathered her thoughts, the tension slightly melted from her shoulders.
"I noticed that the headquarters left off the brand's top three highest-spending local VVIPs. The list only contains influencers who are less likely to spend anything during the launch."
I shoved my left hand into my tailored suit, a cool, detached curiosity rippling through me. I didn't offer her a smile or a nod to ease her tension. I kept my posture rigid, my eyes dissecting her face for any sign of bluffing.
There were no signs of bluffing. She was sharp.
Too sharp to be a local branch manager, let alone have a simple background in sales. In that moment, she had proven her competence, but she would never know it from the mask I wore.
"Are you going home now?" I asked.
She nodded, “I just need to clean up my desk first, sir."
My hand stretched out with the folder as her eyes widened, "Make a copy. Read through it when you get home. I need a proper report on it by Friday."
A spark of light appeared in her eyes, and she started bowing repeatedly, "Thank you, sir. I promise I won't let you down," she said, and walked up to me to take the folder.
"I'll return it to you in a minute," she said. Her smile deepened, forming charming dimples in her cheeks.
As she reached for it, her hand climbed slightly too high, and her index finger caressed the back of my middle finger. I tightened my jaw, deliberately keeping my expression deadpan as I let the leather slip from my grip.
I forced my hand back into my pocket, trying to keep my face an unreadable mask while my palm still burned with her phantom touch.
She bowed again and left.
The breeze from her sudden exit brushed against my cheek like a parting touch. Along with it came the subtle scent of lavender lingering in my office. I forced my hands deep into my pockets, staring at the door she had closed seconds ago. For a man who prided myself on detachment, the sudden, desperate urge to call her back was beyond terrifying.
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