Secretary Yoo fastened the button of his blazer before bowing to greet his superior. It was a habit he developed when he first began his career as a secretary. Mr. Lee always does it and it looked so cool! Yoo Joong simply couldn't help but imitate the boss.
"Have you accomplished it?" Min Jae asked Secretary Yoo without even looking up from the contract he was reading.
"Yes, Mr. Lee." Secretary Yoo answered. "We have already offered Ms. Choi Na Rae the opportunity to work in one of our provincial branches with the benefits you arranged. As expected, she rejected the proposal so we proceeded with your instructions."
Because Na Rae had a good educational background and her works, although not consistent, still significantly contributed to the company, Min Jae decided not withold the benefits she would receive as an employee. He even added a few himself. After all, that was the kindest option he was offering.
Hearing Secretary Yoo's report that she rejected the offer, Min Jae couldn't care less. Perhaps fate itself wanted her gone too. The second option was a kind option too, at least to Min Jae. If Na Rae didn't want to work at their provincial branch, then what good would she be? The rightful thing to do would be to simply fire her.
"Since when?" Min Jae impassively questioned him.
"After we've received your instructions, President Lee. Her desk is now already clear." Secretary Yoo said.
Min Jae nodded. "Alright. You may leave."
Secretary Yoo bowed again before leaving the office. As he was on his way out, Director Kang Suk Ju entered so he bowed to greet him as well.
Suk Ju casually sat on the sofa in Min Jae's office as if it were his own home. On the other hand, Min Jae remained concentrated on his work. Suk Ju immediately noticed the dark aura surrounding his friend. Min Jae looked calm on the outside but Suk Ju definitely saw the black clouds above him.
"So... you fired your mistress?" Suk Ju asked whilst pouring himself a glass of water. "Is that why you're upset?"
Min Jae did not reply, but his hold on his pen tightened. Suk Ju scoffed upon seeing his friend's unfazed expression. "That's not it huh? Could it be..."
"Kang Suk Ju." Min Jae coldly said as he finally diverted his gaze to Suk Ju. His brown eyes were piercing through him like icicles. "I am paying you to work, not to nag me like a fu***** brat in my office."
Suk Ju was unaffected by Min Jae's words. Nevertheless, he nodded with amusement. He drank the water from the glass and sighed. "I knew it. It's the new lady right?"
Min Jae neither agreed nor denied.
"Oh come on. We work in the same company and we work in the same building. You think I wouldn't hear about the beautiful lady who just barged into your office?" Suk Ju said in a mocking tone.
"She's not just some lady." Min Jae retorted.
Unsatisfied with his response, Suk Ju persisted. "Then who is she?"
If she's not just 'some' lady, then she must be someone out Min Jae's typical women. Could she be a powerful woman in the business circle? Or could it really be true that this woman was a real beauty that even Min Jae would dismiss his mistress for her?
Suk Ju sympathized with Eun Young. Somehow, he feels responsible about not being able to effectively advise her husband. He was guilty and now that Min Jae was hooking up with another woman, all the more he felt disappointed with himself.
"You know what? Fine! Don't tell me!" Suk Ju frustratedly exclaimed. "If you really don't love your wife, don't you think you could at least do her the favor of divorcing her? You even had the guts to fool around with another woman!"
Min Jae sharply looked at him. As if suddenly realizing he said something wrong, Suk Ju frowned. "Oh right, I'm sorry. 'She's not just some lady.'" He quoted.
Suk Ju loosened his ties and scowled. "I don't even know why I give a fu** about the women you bring here! I mean who cares if she's beautiful? She might have aquired STD from the previous man she had sex with! Aren't you the least bit concerned about that? Oh sorry, I forgot that 'She's not just some lady!'"
"That lady is my wife."
"I knew you'd say that. You know what? I've actually predicted all possible excuses you might give me but--wait, what?" Suk Ju turned to glance at Min Jae. His eyes were wide in astonishment.
"What did you just say?" Suk Ju asked Min Jae. I just heard it wrong, didn't I?
Min Jae sighed, but he looked at his friend with dead serious eyes. "That lady is my wife."
Kang Suk Ju bursted out in laughter.
Pfft! Wife my foot! Just how gorgeous is this girl that she even made Min Jae claim her as his wife? He must've really lost his bolts!
When Kang Suk Ju realized that he was the only one laughing, he stopped abruptly. Min Jae still had a serious expression and at that moment, Suk Ju's soul left him.
"You're not kidding?" Suk Ju asked the cold man before him.
"No, I'm not." Min Jae confirmed. "But I already assumed that you were the one kidding when you said that 'she might have aquired STD from the previous man she had sex with.' Are you perhaps suggesting that I have STD?"
"Did I say that? Nah! Of course not! I didn't mean it that way..." Suk Ju denied, suddenly embarrassed with the turn out of events.
"Then are you implying that--"
"Hey Min Jae!" Suk Ju interrupted, cutting him off in mid-sentence. "I get it already, okay? Geez..."
The room was silent for a while. However, Suk Ju's mind was just really filled with questions. He thought about letting it slide but after realizing that this was the first time Eun Young went to visit him at work, he couldn't help but ask.
"But then... Why did Eun Young suddenly come?"
Suk Ju noticed that Min Jae suddenly glanced at the perfectly folded handkerchief atop his desk. Seeing it from afar, it seemed like the white handkerchief was a bit stained. Still staring at the piece of cloth, Min Jae replied.
"She came to give me my dessert."