Chapter 5 First Impressions and Awkward Moments

The silence inside the elevator was unbearable.

Lee Hana stood rigidly near the corner, her eyes fixed on the glowing floor numbers as they climbed higher-sixteen... seventeen... eighteen.

Beside her, Kang Jae-Hyun stood like a carved statue. Arms crossed. Expression unreadable. Not a single word since they stepped in.

"So..." Hana cleared her throat, desperate to break the tension. "This elevator is really fast."

No response.

She tried again. "I think it's racing my heartbeat."

Still nothing.

She glanced sideways.

He was staring straight ahead, jaw tight, as if conversation itself offended him.

Awkward.

Ding.

The doors slid open onto the executive floor.

"Follow me," he said curtly, stepping out.

"Yes, sir."

The hallway was sleek and intimidatingly quiet, lined with glass walls and abstract art. Hana's heels echoed as they stopped in front of a large office.

"This is your desk," Jae-Hyun said, gesturing to a minimalist workstation just outside his office. "You don't touch my personal files. You don't change my schedule without approval. And you speak only when necessary."

"...Understood."

"And don't spill coffee on me again."

She blinked. "You're still holding onto that?"

His eyes flicked to her. "Just don't."

She muttered, "Copy that, Ice-"

"Excuse me?"

"-nice office," she said quickly. "Very... icy. I mean elegant."

He stared at her for a moment, then turned and shut his office door.

Hana slumped into her chair.

"This is going to be a long month."

Her desk was spotless. Expensive monitor. No personal items. It felt more like a test station than a workspace.

Her phone buzzed.

Minji: You're alive?? What's he like?

Hana: Cold. Rich. Terrifying.

Minji: You okay??

Hana: I think so. Pray for me.

Before she could type more-

"Miss Lee."

She jumped to her feet. "Yes, sir!"

Jae-Hyun handed her a file. "Scan, organize, and forward these to the board secretary. Thirty minutes."

"Yes, sir."

Her fingers brushed his briefly.

Both froze.

He pulled back first. "And don't stare."

"I wasn't!"

One eyebrow lifted. Then he disappeared back into his office.

She exhaled. "Focus. Survive."

At noon, a call came through.

"CEO's office. Lee Hana speaking."

"Is Jae-Hyun available?"

The voice was female. Cool. Sharp.

"May I ask who's calling?"

"Yoo Mi-Ran."

Hana stiffened. The ex-fiancée.

She knocked lightly on Jae-Hyun's door.

"Come in."

"Miss Yoo Mi-Ran is on the line."

His expression darkened. "Tell her I'm unavailable."

The call ended seconds later-with an icy warning.

Hana stared at the phone.

"...Noted."

Later, during lunch, a man dropped into the seat across from her.

"You look traumatized," he said cheerfully. "First day?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"I'm Soo-Jin. HR."

"Hana. Professional coffee spiller."

He laughed. "You'll fit in just fine."

The afternoon meeting was brutal.

Executives. Numbers. Pressure.

At one point-

"Miss Lee," Jae-Hyun said calmly, "what's the projected budget difference on the SeoMin deal?"

Her heart stopped.

"...I'm not sure."

He nodded. "Correct. You're not expected to be."

A ripple of laughter passed the table.

Afterward, he spoke quietly as they walked back.

"You held your composure."

"Barely."

"Still counts."

Her heart skipped. Praise?

Near closing time, Mi-Ran appeared outside the office, her gaze sharp.

"So you're the new secretary," she said sweetly. "Be careful. Jae-Hyun doesn't like distractions."

Hana met her eyes calmly. "I'm just doing my job."

Mi-Ran smiled thinly. "We'll see."

That evening, Hana returned to her desk exhausted but upright.

Jae-Hyun passed by, pausing briefly.

"You did better than expected."

She looked up. "Thank you."

"Don't get comfortable."

She smiled faintly. "Wouldn't dream of it."

As he walked away, Hana whispered to herself-

"This world is terrifying... but I'm not backing down."