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"What are you doing?" Secretary Kim asks when Jeongguk brings his hand in front of his face, "Trying to see if you are a hot dream husband if I hide that bright blue suit."

"I am," the elder immediately says, "I missed the interview with the Outro magazine last year or else I would have been the 'Most sought bachelor'."

"You are married," Jeongguk reasons.

"Doesn't matter," the other says and before Jeongguk can threaten him saying he would complain to his wife, he pushes a file to the younger man's chest, "These are the few interns who will be leaving next week. Bad performance, no interest in improvement and too narrow-minded about makeup."

Jeongguk opens the file and flips through the report of each intern, "Were you there during the monthly assessment meeting?"

"Yes, Sir. I accurately evaluated the pros and cons of having each of them in our team and decided on it."

"Ayye, Secretary Kim. Go easy on them a little." Jeongguk says, opening the file and reading the reasons for dismissal," 'Can't recognise the difference between lemonade pink and crepe pink'....Even I can't recognise the difference between them."

Secretary Kim raises his eyebrows before leaning his weight on one leg, something Jeongguk assumes he does when he thinks he has the sassiest reply ever, "I am afraid you'll have to leave with them next week as well."

Jeongguk sighs, "You just want me to sign on to them, right?"

The elder nods, regaining his original straight posture. Jeongguk pouts, flipping the pages and signing at the bottom, "You are still so mean. I am not an amateur in all of this anymore...." he mumbles.

"I have never been mean to you during your learning years, also knowledge has no limit. You still have a lot to learn."

"You still have a lot to learn," Jeongguk mumbles, mimicking the elder's tone, "Do you not remember how hard you went? You kicked me out the moment I used the wrong shade of foundation on my hand. You are nicer now. You give these interns...a week."

"Well, Mr Jeon always says that when you get to a higher position, you become nicer."

"Must be because you get old," Jeongguk mumbles, shoving the file to the other's chest with a shit-eating grin.

Secretary Kim widens his eyes in offence, "As if you are never gonna get old. But you know what you aren't going to become nicer ever. Stay as shitty as you are."

"Calm down bro, " Jeongguk says, "What's gotten you so..." he vaguely points at Kim's attire, "So...unsophisticated?"

"Just the interns," Kim straightens himself and bows, apologetically. Jeongguk doesn't press on the matter much, wants to say it's okay but keeps his mouth shut. He's surprised to see his mother sitting when they enter the cafeteria, Secretary Kim immediately taking his leave.

"You didn't tell me you were coming," Jeongguk says, hugging his mother. She wraps her arms around him but hits his back making Jeongguk whine.

'You won't visit your mother, won't let her see her daughter-in-law and then pull such public stunts to upset your father-in-law. You need a good beating from me."

"I am not a child, mom!" Jeongguk says, letting her go and sitting on the chair across from her. He pouts.

"Anyway, did Minhee settle in okay? Does she need anything? Did you even ask her? Is she comfortable?"

"She is fine. More than fine actually." Jeongguk scoffs, rolling his eyes.

"Don't show me that attitude, young man." Mrs Jeon hits his arm again. Jeongguk stands up. "Stop hitting me, I am the CEO here, you are embarrassing me."

Maybe Jeongguk forgets he gets his spontaneous burst of wildness from his mom but is reminded well of it when she stands up as well and looks over to the people in the cafeteria who can't help but steal glances from them.

"Your CEO here wears socks to sleep—" Jeongguk immediately hugs her from the front, trying to push her out of the cafeteria. "Mom you can't do that here!"

Jeongguk's mother has a habit of telling the most random things to strangers. The random things being Jeongguk's habits that bothers her. He finally lets go of her when they reach the elevator and he sighs, slightly breathless. "I am going to Minhee after this."

Jeongguk snaps his head towards her, "No, why?"

"She needs to come to the kitty once! Mrs Min brought her daughter-in-law last week, she can't stop boasting about it. But I have my own now, she's far prettier and more successful than her." Mrs Jeon rambles, Jeongguk smiles. "I am going to show them all."

"I don't think Minhee has time to go to your small gossip get-together mom."

That earns him another hit on his arm. As much as Jeongguk would like to ask her mom to not go to Minhee, he can't find himself stopping her. He never does, never tries saying no because he's the only child she has— he can understand the want to do everything. He would never deny her a thing.

"Don't you want to go to Honeymoon, my child?" she asks, once they step inside the elevator. Jeongguk looks back at Secretary Kim who is keeping a neutral expression but he damn well knows that he is trying hard to hold his laugh back.

"We'll see Mom. We both are busy right now."

"Work shouldn't be the priority after marriage, Jeongguk."

Minhee can't be my priority either, Mom.

He doesn't say anything, guides his mom to his car despite her protests of taking a cab and asks a driver to drive her to Wings. He wants to text Minhee informing her, asking her to say 'yes' to his mom's wishes but realises it is something he can't do. Even if he does, Minhee has made clear she's pissed from the whole moving in thing and now that Bam's at home too, she seems to be ready with a knife to stab him.

It's better for his mom to ask her, anyway. After all, he has never missed the gloss in Minhee's eyes everytime she hugged his mom.

...

Jeongguk's mother is the sweetest. She comes with an elegance, an aura unmatched that just makes Minhee's heart warm. She gives the warmest hugs, even if her arms are bony and weak; Minhee thinks how lucky is Jeongguk to be receiving such hugs for years.

Mrs Jeon is also pretty direct with her compliments which makes Minhee's heart flutter. The smallest things— whether it be her dress, the makeup, the office or anything— nothing goes past her without a compliment. She also has this habit of mentioning her plants, comparing it to some design in her office and Minhee finds it so endearing that she finds her eyes glossed with moisture again.

But when she is asked to attend the dinner at the kitty, Minhee finds her guards lifting up again. Who knows what kind of atmosphere there will be? Given Jeongguk and her relationship, what if she slips up something that makes all their efforts go in vain? Her mother will be there too, who she clearly doesn't want to face right now.

"I think...some other day Mrs Jeon..." Minhee says. "I am a bit busy right now."

Jeongguk's mom shakes her head, disappointment settling on her face and Minhee starts feeling bad. "I understand, Jeongguk did tell me...you are quite busy. Some other day, of course."

Minhee curses Jeongguk mentally for not informing her beforehand. She would have found better ways to handle the situation then. She looks around a little more before bidding Minhee goodbye.

"CEO Yoon..." Ha-min says. "Here's the report you requested."

Minhee sighs, looking back at Jeongguk's mother sitting in the car before looking at the tab being handed over to her. She takes it from him and starts reading it, the small letters making her dizzy. She really misses Dahyun, not only as a friend but also as a secretary here. She really took her for granted.

She thought Dahyun would never leave.

The funding needs to be sent to one of the charities they have listed in the email to compensate for the mismanagement of the profits. She has no idea what her mother has done with those profits and she can't fucking wait to find out.

...

"The Yangs are sponsoring the new cosmetic line from Miranda beauty." Secretary Kim informs Jeongguk as soon as he is walking towards the parking lot. "I just got a message from an insider, they named it 'Miss Right'..."

"The one which recently entered into the markets of Asia Pacific?"

Secretary Kim nods. "We have hardly managed to expand markets in America and Europe since the majority of the profits our products make there don't come back to us, that's why Asia Pacific is a good place to start. The CEO is quite insightful as well, she can infiltrate those markets in no time."

Jeongguk nods, "Did they go to them for money? Why did they withdraw their commitment from us?"

Secretary Kim shrugs. "I have no idea about that yet, but we have received an invitation...from the CEO..."

Jeongguk raises an eyebrow, curious.

"Invitation to Mr and Mrs Jeon, for the launch of 'Miss Right', regards...Ryu Iseul."

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<3