Chapter Text
The moment she finally gets off the train, Jang Hayoung runs with all her might to the company she’s submitted CVs for months to get. It’s just her luck that she slept in on the first working day.
Five minutes… Two minutes… One minute. Finally, at the last ten seconds before it’s officially ‘late,’ she manages to get her attendance on the fingerprint machine, saving what would’ve been a bad first impression. Sighing in relief, Hayoung then hears a loud grumbling from her stomach. Well, her own fault for not waking up earlier…
“For you. It’s best not to go to work hungry.” A red bean bun is suddenly put on her hands, accompanied by a soothing-sounding young male voice.
Hayoung’s cheeks heat up just from hearing that amazing voice, even already imagining all kinds of office romance that may arise from this. Shaking her head to dismiss those ridiculous thoughts, she looks up, ready to thank the man… and sees nothing but a tall stack of documents.
“...”
“Oh, so you don’t like the red bean flavor?”
“Ah, it’s not like that, thank you very much…” Her mind is still occupied with how weird it looks for a stack of documents to have such a nice voice. “I do prefer cheesecakes, though.”
“Noted, Jang Hayoung-ssi prefers cheesecakes… I’ll tell Jiwon-ssi to prepare this type as well from now on.” The man behind that big document stack turns to holding it with just one hand - how is he so strong? - while typing a message on his phone with the other hand. “Please go to the first floor and meet Jung Heewon-ssi, the Marketing Department’s head. She will instruct you on the job.”
“A-Ah, yes. Thank you very much, uhm… What’s your n-”
“Hello, Joonghyuk-ssi?” Without Hayoung being able to finish her question, the man has already turned away while speaking to someone on the phone. “Yes, I already took care of the payment to the Bacchus Group. Dionysus said he will arrange so those graphic cards can arrive within next week. As for repairing the IT department’s computers, we already received quotations from five companies, I’m bringing them to you right away…”
She can barely keep up with what the man is saying, nor his sheer speed in walking to the elevator despite still holding such heavy documents. Hayoung has no choice but to go to the first floor and find her department head per his instructions, but out of curiosity, she still tries looking behind her one more time. There’s a simple black office suit, messy short black hair, and a thin stature. Not too remarkable at first glance.
Yet, when Hayoung stares further, his back gives such a… reliable feeling?
= = =
Hayoung brings her lunch box to the canteen in a much better mood than earlier, accompanied by her department head Jung Heewon, her direct supervisor Lee Hyunsung, along with some people from other departments - Lee Jihye and Kim Namwoon from the QA team, and Han Donghoon from the IT team. Despite being a bit late, Heewon-unnie didn’t get mad at her and taught her so properly, even introducing her to all the people above as if making sure she has friends.
She remembers the strange man carrying all those documents earlier and can’t help but feel thankful to him - if not for his help, it would’ve taken her much more time to find where she’s supposed to go, not to mention feeling grumpy from hunger for the whole morning.
“Excuse me, Heewon-unnie, Hyunsung-oppa? Do you know a man who has short black hair, wears a black suit, carrying with him a lot of documents? And also, erm, has a really nice voice.” Hayoung stutters a bit, embarrassed from how she’d imagined a whole rom-com office series just from hearing the man speak earlier.
“Oh, that was Kim Dokja-ssi.” She doesn’t know whether to be surprised that Lee Hyunsung recognizes the man immediately with a happy smile. “Did you meet him earlier?”
“Yes, he gave me a bun and told me where to go. I want to thank him properly because it seemed he was busy earlier.”
“Ahh, when is Dokja-ssi ever not busy?” Jung Heewon sighs in a weirdly exaggerated way. “Still, hopefully he will come here in about ten or fifteen more minutes. Chairman-nim has been eating here instead of in his room for the past few weeks.”
“The Chairman…” Hayoung’s eyes widen in realization. “Kim Dokja-ssi is the Chairman’s secretary?!”
“Yes, he is.”
An unfamiliar male voice, sounding just as nice as Kim Dokja’s albeit deeper and colder, speaks up behind her. Startled, Hayoung turns back to see an extremely handsome man with wavy hair, sharp eyes, and an overall cold demeanor. But the most important thing is how Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung immediately straighten up, bow at him, and call him ‘Chairman-nim.’
“C-Chairman-nim!! It-It is a pleasure to meet you!! My name is Jang Hayoung, I just joined today!!” She hurriedly bows to him as well, heart racing in nervousness.
The Chairman nods at Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung, then suddenly places something into Hayoung’s hand. Blinking, she looks down to find three expensive-looking cheesecakes. … Why does this feel so deja vu…
“Kim Dokja told me to give them to you.” Before Hayoung can ask, the Chairman has already explained in a matter-of-fact manner.
“T-Thank you very much, Chairman-nim… Uhm, if I may ask, where is Kim Dokja-ssi? I would like to thank him as well…”
“Hm? Joonghyuk-ssi, you’re not sitting down yet?”
Perking up at the voice she’s been waiting for, Hayoung sees an equally good-looking man, if in a more approachable way, walking up next to the Chairman. He’s still carrying a thick stack of documents in his arms, though. To the canteen, of all places…
“She was looking for you.” The Chairman inclines his head towards her, and Hayoung quickly stands up to express her gratitude for everything.
“Oh, it was nothing, Jang Hayoung-ssi. Also, I’ve asked Jiwon-ssi, the receptionist, to prepare more light snacks just in case someone comes late and didn’t have breakfast like you. Joonghyuk-ssi has allowed us to use the company budget for this, so you don’t have to worry.” Kim Dokja grins back at her, the smile making him look even more reliable and more handsome than earlier.
Fully blushing at this point, Hayoung is about to find another topic to extend the conversation, when a loud growling noise comes out of Kim Dokja’s stomach, turning everyone quiet.
“Look at you. Taking care of other people’s eating needs, but what about you?” The Chairman gives his secretary a judging glare then pulls him to a different table, although not before nodding goodbye to the rest of them. “Keep up the good work.” This part seems directed at her, the newbie.
Reluctantly, Hayoung sits down and continues eating. Still, she can’t help but curiously peeks at the table where Kim Dokja and the Chairman are sitting, and promptly drops her jaws. She has never seen such a sight before - the secretary is still doing paperwork with an inhuman speed, while his boss alternates between eating his own food… and feeding his secretary. What’s more, no one except her seems surprised.
“Uh, Heewon-unnie… Are they… always like that?”
“Yes. Dokja-ssi is obsessed with finishing everything before working hours end, so he brings documents everywhere. And he can’t eat like that, so of course Chairman-nim has to personally cook for him and feed him.” There’s a weird sarcastically affectionate tone in the way Jung Heewon replies.
“They’re very close to each other. Before Sooyoung-ssi entered, Dokja-ssi was the only person who called Chairman-nim by his name. And he’s the longest secretary by Chairman’s side, too.” Lee Hyunsung’s face shines with admiration.
Hayoung peeks at them again and promptly winces at how Chairman’s eyes are practically filled with love as he puts food in Kim Dokja’s mouth. They seem to be even closer than Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung said… Isn’t workplace romance supposed to be frowned upon? At least, that was the case in her previous company…
… Wait, now that she remembers it, isn’t this company called ‘Kim Dokja’s Company’?!
For the rest of lunch break, Hayoung’s eyes are completely fixed on the weird pair. Suspicious…
= = =
“Hayoung-ssi, could you please take these to Sooyoung-ssi? She’s the scripting department’s head, on the second floor. Afterwards, you can leave if you’d like. It’s our company policy to allow an hour early leave in the first week for new workers.” Lee Hyunsung hands her a document folder with a smile, while Jung Heewon waves goodbye at her next to him.
Hayoung practically skips to the second floor, feeling like she’s on cloud nine - this is the best company she’s ever worked in. Granted, as a young twenty-three years old, she’s only worked for two companies with this one being the second, but still. Everyone has been so supportive, and aside from almost being late, her first day was great.
“Ah, thank you. You said you just joined today, huh? Wait for me to sign these and return it to Yoo Joonghyuk’s room, and then I’ll treat you to a drink.” Han Sooyoung grins at her, making Hayoung feel even more touched. Ah, everyone is so nice!!
“... Eh, but, Sooyoung-unnie? Yoo Joonghyuk… Did you mean, the Chairman? Is it okay to call him like that?” Hayoung asks her in worry while they’re on the elevator. In her previous company, Syswitz would throw such a fit whenever someone didn’t call him Chairman properly.
“Ah… hahaha…” Han Sooyoung’s face turns dark for some reason. “After all the suffering those bastards gave me, letting me call him just by name is the least he can do.”
… Suffering? What suffering?? Is this company actually not as good as she thought?!
Before Hayoung can start imagining that this is actually some kind of sketchy MLM place, they’ve already arrived at the highest fifth floor where Chairman’s room is. Then, in front of her wide eyes and before she can stop her, Han Sooyoung’s already opened the door without knocking.
Hayoung doesn’t know what she expected behind that door, but seeing the Chairman sitting on Kim Dokja’s lap and kissing him senseless is certainly not it.
“Oh for fuck’s sake!! If I didn’t know better, I would’ve thought this is a hotel!! Don’t you feel ashamed of ruining this innocent newbie’s eyes?!” Han Sooyoung shouts at them while walking into the room without care, unlike the blushing Hayoung.
Most amazingly, neither Kim Dokja nor the Chairman look embarrassed. The Chairman just calmly gets up from his secretary’s lap while glaring at Han Sooyoung. “You were the one barging in without knocking.”
“You should’ve locked the door! We could’ve walked into you guys fucking each other, like usual!!”
Hayoung whips her head towards Han Sooyoung in disbelief. How can she say something like that about her own boss?
Kim Dokja raises an eyebrow. “Don’t be stupid. It’s difficult cleaning up stains on the carpet and washing them away on suits, why would we do that?”
… So you’ll still be fucking each other, just not in the office, huh?!
As if not concerned about what she thinks of them at all, Kim Dokja and the Chairman just nod at her in acknowledgement, before turning their attention back to Han Sooyoung. “What do you want?” There’s clear annoyance in Chairman’s voice.
“Sign these for me, bastard. I need your approval to invite Abyssal Black Flame Dragon and Peace Land over for discussion.” Han Sooyoung throws the papers on the Chairman’s desk, making Hayoung gulp. She would never dare to act like this in front of Syswitz.
Yet, Chairman doesn’t berate her, merely glaring at her once more before walking over to his desk… then suddenly falters, almost kissing the ground if not for Kim Dokja catching him by the waist.
Hayoung’s already heated up cheeks burn even more at Kim Dokja’s worried question. “Was I too rough last night? My apologies, Joonghyuk-ssi.”
“It’s okay, Kim Dokja. I asked for it.” Chairman’s eyes look even more filled with love than in the canteen earlier.
“Damn you shameless bastards!! Just sign the papers for me already!!” Han Sooyoung shouts what Hayoung doesn’t dare to say out loud while covering her face.
Eventually, the papers get signed while Kim Dokja gathers the stuff for his boss; and soon enough, all four of them are standing in the same elevator together. Kim Dokja and the Chairman look completely straight-faced, while she and Han Sooyoung’s cheeks are bright red.
At this point, after hearing them speaking about such… things with each other, there’s no way she can keep her mouth shut anymore. “Uhm, i-if I may ask… Chairman-nim, you and Kim Dokja-ssi are… lovers?”
To her surprise, the Chairman stays quiet, while Kim Dokja is the one to answer while raising an eyebrow. “Oh, no. We are just boss and secretary.”
… Huh?
“You cater to his every whims. You stick to each other like glue 24/7 even outside of work. You literally just asked him if you were ‘too rough’ yesterday.” The way Han Sooyoung emphasizes each of her word slowly like they’re idiots perfectly capture Hayoung’s mood, too.
“He’s the CEO, whose whims should be listened to if not his? As his secretary, of course I have to stay by his side all the time to make sure all his needs are attended to. Which includes the more private needs.” However, Kim Dokja look at her like she’s the one who’s stupid, while using nonsensical logic like it’s gospel.
As Han Sooyoung buries her face in her hands while sobbing, Hayoung quietly pats her back. She’s already crying inside at this level of obliviousness. How can Kim Dokja be like that when he’s so reliable otherwise…
She then discreetly peeks at the Chairman, expecting him to look sad from how the person he loves denied their relationship. However, Chairman doesn’t look affected whatsoever. This just makes her want to cry more, though - how many times has his secretary acted like this for him to be so calm?
“Kim Dokja, stay over at my house today.”
“Ah, for overtime? Understood, Joonghyuk-ssi.”
For some reason, that ‘overtime’ word sounds so suspicious. With the way Han Sooyoung is clicking her tongue, it seems she’s not alone in feeling this.
The secretary x boss duo, after exiting the elevator and nodding at her, leave without turning back while holding each other’s hands. Hayoung stares at the intimacy, then remembers how Kim Dokja insisted that they were not lovers, and feels her brain to be on the verge of exploding.
A hand clasps her shoulders, and she turns back to find Han Sooyoung staring at her solemnly, in a similar suffering expression.
In the end, they both agree that they need a freaking drink - although more Han Sooyoung than her, as Hayoung wisely decides that she shouldn’t make a bad impression during her first week by going to work hangover.
“Sooyoung-unnie, have they always been like… that?” Hayoung doesn’t know how else to refer to… all of it.
“Hiccup… They’ve always been stuffing PDA into our mouths for years… and started being their most sufferable around half a year ago… I’m sure you understand why?” Han Sooyoung raises an eyebrow suggestively and Hayoung nods with a grimace, remembering the whole ‘overtime’ stuff.
“Then, why does Kim Dokja-ssi keep saying that they’re not a couple, if their relationship has been so, erm, intimate for years? I don’t understand…”
“You don’t understand because that guy doesn’t operate under a normal human’s logic.” Han Sooyoung’s voice sounds strangely vengeful. “In my 26 years of life, Kim Dokja is the only damn ahjussi I know who would think screwing his boss and kissing him everyday is the definition of a ‘platonic’ relationship.”
“... Ahjussi?”
“Oh, you didn’t know? They look like that, but Yoo Joonghyuk is 30, and Kim Dokja is 33. Two damn stupid ahjussis and their stupid ‘more than friends, less than lovers’ bullshit.” Han Sooyoung chuckles sarcastically, as if she’s not 4 years away from being an ahjumma herself.
“... I see.” No, Hayoung doesn’t see anything. “It must’ve been difficult for you, Sooyoung-unnie.”
“Difficult for all of us. We will go insane if those guys spend another year without actually getting married. Welcome to the suffering, Jang Hayoung.” Han Sooyoung’s mad smile sends a shiver down her spine.
Afterwards, once she’s called for Han Sooyoung and herself a taxi each, Hayoung starts contemplating her life.
On the one hand, in a pure working perspective, this is a great company. Everyone was helpful, caring, supportive, and the salary is good.
On the other hand… It’s just one day and she already found herself at her limits, if she has to spend the next two months watching Kim Dokja and the Chairman being lovey-dovey with each other, only for Kim Dokja to say that they’re just ‘boss and secretary’...
Ah, Hayoung lets out a long, long sigh.
As expected, there’s no such thing as a company without its own problems.