How to Captivate Your Boss

imprisonment for five years or a fine not exceeding 15 million won…” Kwon-woo began.

“Excuse me?”

“You know more than anyone how noisy it will get when this sort of thing leaks.
I thought how troublesome it would be every time it happened.
Even if I met every woman in the world, I would never touch a hair of my subordinate.
I never see them as women.”

“Excellent.
As your aide I can unquestionably block one type of gossip.” Se-ha pretended not to see what she saw and calmly smiled.
“Are you going to fire me?”

“Why do you ask?”

“You said you never see your subordinates as women.
I can’t help but look at my boss as a man.
Are you still going to keep me by your side?” Se-ha asked.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t.
I would get rid of anything that has a chance of becoming a bomb.
Although it’s funny I’m the one telling you this.”

As if facing a nuisance, Kwon-woo pressed down on his temples.
It was a habit whenever he was anxious.
As a person who usually had no difficulty looking straight into other people’s eyes, he was bluntly avoiding her gaze.
He was agitated.

It has been five years.
Together, they arrived to work in the morning and left at night, working all day in an enclosed office.
They spent more time together than they had with their families.
It was impossible not to know each other at a much deeper level.

“No.
I’m not going to fire you.”

“Director,” Se-ha tried to interject. 

But Kwon-woo was adamant.
“It’s a simple problem that can be solved if you push aside your feelings for me.
I heard too many times that it’s because of the skillful Hong Se-ha that the scoundrel Jang Kwon-woo is able to provide salaries to the hotel staff and lead headquarters 2.
And I agree.”

“You overestimate me.”

“You’re a talent that I can’t afford to lose.
Insight, initiative, diligence, you have it all.
How many do you think wants you working under them? Only an idiot would let you go.”

“I don’t want to hear a job assessment right now.”

“Choose.
Cast aside your feelings and keep working as my secretary, or lie and tell me that you don’t like me anymore and keep working as my secretary.”

Se-ha smiled bitterly.

“What you’re saying is… You want to keep Secretary Hong Se-ha at your side but not Hong Se-ha, the woman.”

She slowly lowered her head, staring at the glass table so that Kwon-woo would not see her face.
She could see him slowly lean forward.
The distance between them was narrowing.
A little more.
She raised her head and looked at Kwon-woo, trying to hide the agony of anticipation.