Baek Ha Rim

after lunch was done, i stood up from the table and started to walk out of the cafeteria along with rowoon and his friends. during the last few minutes of our lunch together, the ceo left our table and took his time to roam around the place and check on the other employees instead.

he also gave us all permission to leave anytime we were done with our food.

as i was approaching the glass door out, i stopped by the long table that had clean drinking glasses and pitchers of water where we could grab a drink.

"rowoon-ssi, i'll go get some water first." i told him.

"oh, alright. we'll wait for you outside." he nodded.

i quickly took a glass out of the tray, filled it cold water, and drank. as soon as i was done, i took out my phone and was ready to message changkyun about seeing chae hyungwon at lunch.

"miss baek."

suddenly, i looked up upon hearing my name being called. eventually, i saw that it was the ceo himself who was right infront of me. out of surprise, i accidentally dropped my phone on the floor and didn't get to finish typing my message.

"ah, ceo chae." i spoke, quickly bending down to reach for my phone.

good thing, he just stood and didn't do anything when it dropped. it would have been the end of me if he saw what i was about to send changkyun.

as soon as i got my phone, i stood up, and lifted my head to look at his face.

"i hope you enjoyed your lunch." he spoke.

"thank you, sir. i surely did."

he nodded with a smile and finally walked away from me after i spoke. i turned my phone back on and started walking out of the cafeteria to meet rowoon and his friends.

"yah, ha rim-ssi!" one of rowoon's friends walked up to me as soon as i got out.

"do you know the ceo?" she asked.

i paused and shifted my eyes to rowoon. i thought that he might have told them about my father's relationship with hyungwon's father.

"no, what makes you say that?" i denied.

"nothing, it's just that.. he keeps looking at you when we were having lunch earlier." she pointed out.

my eyebrows raised upon realizing that the others have also caught on.

"sorry, i dont really know why he would do that." i shook my head and started walking.

"you've noticed that too, didn't you?" she asked the other girls.

"yeah! it was obvious! i wish the ceo would look at me the same, too." another spoke.

"maybe it's not that you both know each other but maybe only the ceo knows you?"

upon hearing that statement, i turned to look at the girls with widened eyes.

it definitely can't be. if he actually found out i'm baek myung joon's daughter, i'd be done for. worse if he actually knows how bad the rivalry between his father and mr. baek is.

"b-but how? i've never seen him before.." i asked again.

"not sure. i'm just saying." rowoon's friend shrugged.

now i really have to be very careful to avoid showing traces of suspiciousness. maybe that could be a possible reason why chae hyungwon was keeping an eye on me during lunch.

_________________________________

it was finally another day at work and as soon as i got out of my car, i suddenly noticed lee minhyuk taking a phone call nearby.

i remembered that i had red ginseng extract in my bag, and so i quickly took out the packet so i had something to give him as i walked closer.

"miss kwon, i'm not your driver. i can't fetch you once again unless ceo chae instructs me to do so."

i stood at a distance as i waited for him to finish his conversation.

"you want to surprise him? again? then please come here on your own, you know you have a driver."

"huh? if your driver is busy, then so am i, miss kwon." minhyuk scratched his head, desperately explaining his situation.

"finally! yes, just come here later when your driver comes back home, thank you."

minhyuk turned off his phone and got ready to walk away until he saw me.

"oh! baek ha rim-ssi!" he smiled.

"good morning, i saw you nearby so i just wanted to give you this." i handed him the packet of red ginseng extract.

"wah, how thoughtful of you! thank you, i needed this." he accepted it with his face lighting up.

"i didn't mean to listen but was that the ceo's fiancée you were talking to?" i asked.

"ahh, yes. she could be so stubborn sometimes." he nodded while scrunching his nose.

"alright, i'll head inside to work now. i'll see you whenever." i bowed to minhyuk which he returned and he waved goodbye as i left.

as soon as i reached my office floor, i got inside but was suddenly informed by my seniors that i had extra amount of work to do than usual.

"i hope you finish the things assigned to you by today. if you have to go overtime, please do so."

i mentally prepared myself as i accepted the tasks given to me. i then proceeded to my cubicle, and as soon as i had settled down, i started checking the tasks i had to fulfill today and began organizing them one by one.

"do you have a lot on your plate?" rowoon asked.

"seems like it." i spoke while remaining focused.

i finished organizing my tasks and time and so i got ready to start on the first task.

however, my phone suddenly started ringing which distracted me.

"changkyun-ah?" i asked upon picking up the call.

"ha rim-ah, i forgot to tell you this before you left but.. would you like to have dinner with me later?"

"ah.. sorry kyun-ah, i'm not sure if i might be able to come home by 6pm. i actually just finished checking what i had to do, and it looks like i'm gonna be extra busy today."

"is that so? alright, i'll eat dinner early but would you mind if i visit you later? let's have lunch together, i actually found a popular bibimbap place near your company." he offered once again.

"sure, i'd be happy to see you here. just wait for me right at the main entrance of the company." i answered with my lips forming into a smile.

"alright, i will.. see you later, ha rim-ah." he said while using a sweet tone on me that surprised me a bit.

before i could even point it out to changkyun, he quickly hung up on the call which made me release a chuckle.

"omo, why do you look so happy? was that your boyfriend?" rowoon noticed and began to tease me.

"it's not that. my friend called me and i will be eating lunch with him later."

"aw, alright then." rowoon nodded and we both got back to work.

Chae Hyungwon

"miss choi, did you assign the tasks to her already?" i leaned on my office chair while talking on the phone.

"yes, sir. from what i see, she's been working hard to fulfill them since this morning." she affirmed.

"great." a smirk formed on my lips.

"sir, what if she doesn't fulfill them all by today? i can always distribute the tasks you wanted done to other marketi--"

"no, leave it. i don't really mind if she can't." i rejected.

"alright, sir."

"seeing how it's lunch time, you should probably go now, miss choi." i smiled, casually swinging my office chair from side to side.

"thank you, sir. have a good lunch, too." she spoke.

i hung up on the call right after, and took out my phone to dial my driver's number.

"minhyuk-ssi, i'm undecided on where i should go eat today. i'll have you drive me around, and we can eat lunch together." i spoke.

i hung up on the call and proceeded right outside my office. i walked out alone after instructing my secretary to take her lunch on her own instead.

i got on the elevator, and as soon as i reached the ground floor, i eventually met minhyuk who was already waiting for me. i flashed a small smile at him as i confidently approached.

"you have any good places in mind?" i asked him.

"uhm.. how about going to a steak place, sir?" he suggested.

i thought about it well and finally nodded my head to agree.

"alright, let's go." i led the way for the both of us as we started walking out of the company.

looking straight ahead, i suddenly saw someone familiar standing still.

"oh! it's the new employee, sir!" minhyuk pointed out.

as i have guessed, it was truly her.

"why would she be standing alone?" i smirked to myself and crossed my arms as i quickened my pace to be able to greet her sooner.

"miss baek--"

i was prepared to greet her, but suddenly, she rushed away from her spot which took me aback.

i stopped on my tracks along with minhyuk from behind of me and watched her walking towards a man who looked about her age.

the guy was wearing a dark gray oversized t-shirt with ripped jeans. his hair was noticeably dyed a vibrant shade of brown and he also wore an eyebrow piercing.

i furrowed my brows as i watched them closely.

"who could that guy be?" i muttered under my breath.

"s-sir, aren't we going?" minhyuk asked.

"a moment." i lifted my hand up to silence him, and so he leaned backwards almost immediately.

i didn't bother taking my eyes off ha rim and the guy she was with. they engaged in a bit of conversation, and from what i was seeing, it was noticeable to me how much the guy was smiling while she was talking.

"his body language.. how interesting." i quietly spoke as i observed them both from afar.

"minhyuk-ssi?" i turned back to face my driver.

"let's wait until miss baek comes back after her conversation with that guy back there. i actually have something to say to her." i told him.

"uhhh... sir? but they left already..?" he hesitantly pointed out.

"what?" i frowned and quickly turned to face the spot where i last saw ha rim.

much to my disappointment, indeed she had already left. i opened my mouth slightly as i didn't expect her to leave with the guy i saw her with.

"sir, should we follow after them? you must probably have something important to say." minhyuk asked.

i collected myself and cleared my throat immediately.

"leave them. i'm not someone who'll go after a mere employee. i'll have her go see me later."

"ah.. oh.. okay, sir." minhyuk nodded.

i looked at him and raised an eyebrow impatiently.

"well? we'll proceed to the steak place, won't we?" i spoke.

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another double update!

it's may 1st!

the concept photo #2 for minhyuk and kihyun dropped! i love it when kihyun's hair is down, ugh.♡