The CEO and his Appointed Secretary
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Chapter 6:
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"I'll show you to your office." The elevator dings to signal their arrival at the executive floor. Jaehyun gestures for Jihwan to lead. No, it's because Jimin has to show him the way. Really. Jaehyun's eyes do not, repeat, do not, go below the waist. Absolutely not. He looks around the office instead.
"This way, CEO Jeon." They walk along the corridor, people bow to Jaehyun and greet him as they pass by.
Jihwan points to an open door. "This is my office but you can also call me, my extension number is on a post-it on your desk." They come to a stop in front of a door with windows covered in blinds. He sees the nameplate. Jeon Jaehyun, CEO.
He has to admit it looks really good.
"I'll be in my office if you need anything." Park Jihwan tells him with another small smile, a smile that's nowhere near as bright as what Jaehyun saw the last time they met.
Jaehyun steps inside the office, his office.
The floor-to-ceiling windows cover an entire side of the room—a gorgeous view of the skyline. It feels like he has Seoul in the palm of his hand. He turns towards the large desk, another engraved plate with his name on it, clear glass with large black letters.
Jaehyun resists the urge to run his hands through it. He sits on the swivelling chair, turning himself on it like a little kid before he turns on the computer to check his emails. Is he even going to have emails on his first day?
Jaehyun wants to ask Jihwan for help, to give him some idea of what to expect in this dreaded meeting but his stupid pride is holding him back.
He wants to seem competent damn it. It's all illogical but he can't help himself. It's only natural to ask for help, especially when it's his first day but he just wants to...wants to...not seem like a total clueless kid to Jihwan. To everyone else.
All the employees here. Not just Jihwan.
Of course not. He amends in his head.
Jaehyun looks up from the game of Solitaire he ends up playing when Jihwan pokes his head through the door. "CEO Jeon, the meeting is in ten minutes."
Too soon, he's being led to the meeting room by Park Jihwan, turning his head to not stare at him. Park Jihwan looks fantastic, he must've lost his jacket somewhere along the way because instead his white dress shirt is tucked into the black slacks he's wearing, which highlight his assets perfectly.
This is not good. Stop it, Jaehyun. He scolds himself.
The meeting room is a gargantuan table that probably seats around twenty-five people, with a projection on the wall that reads 'SJ Group'. Most of the seats are taken already, his grandfather, excuse him, the Chairman, is at the head of the table, conversing with another man beside him. Jihwan turns to leave.
"Wait, are you leaving?" Jungkook asks, starting to panic.
"Yes, I have to."
"Oh, o-okay," Jaehyun says shakily.
"Don't worry. Here." Jihwan hands over the folder in his hands. "Take this. This is what is being discussed today." He whispers the next part to Jaehyun. "They'll probably go easy on you. This is only your first day." Jihwan smiles reassuringly.
Jaehyun immediately feels a sense of calmness wash over him. He takes the folder from Jihwan, returning the smile with a genuine one that almost surprises him.
"Thank you, Secretary Park," Jaehyun says, voice low, trying his best to communicate his gratitude.
Jaehyun zones out for most of the meeting until he hears the gruff voice of his grandfather, no, Chairman, call him out. "CEO Jeon, what do you think?".
Jaehyun feels beads of sweat roll down the back of his neck. "U-umm." The old man has absolutely zero mercy for Jaehyun even though it's only his first day.
He manages to mumble something resembling an answer thanks to the papers Jihwan has prepared. He tugs at his tie and tries to discreetly look down at his watch.
How long is this meeting again? Fuck.
Somehow he manages to make it back to his office after the meeting without embarrassing himself any more than he already has.
99.9% of the people in this goddamn building already think he's useless, a puppet made the CEO solely because he's the only heir to the Jeons, not because he has any outstanding skills or qualifications.
When he's feeling particularly down, those thoughts will enter Jaehyun's head to haunt him and bring his mood further down. Usually, he ends up drinking heavily and ends up going home with someone he doesn't even remember by the morning as a result. To forget and to stop thinking.
Once again, he's interrupted by several knocks on his door.
"Come in."
Jihwan pokes his head through the small gap in the door before revealing himself.
He's holding a cup of what looks like coffee and a small paper bag.
"Coffee with one milk, two sugars and a blueberry lemon scone," Jihwan says with a small smile, setting down the cup and the paper bag on the unoccupied part of his desk.
Jaehyun has never felt more grateful in his life. "H-how did you know?"
He's only given a mysterious smile in return. "Please don't hesitate to call if you need anything," Jihwan says with yet another small smile, it's nowhere near what Jaehyun saw at Friday's party, but it's still a smile.
The sides of Jaehyun's mouth turn up as he stares at the steaming coffee and the scone on his desk.
<<>>
Skip ahead to the Friday of Jaehyun's first official week as the CEO. Jihwan has already saved his ass more times than he could count.
Example 1:
"I rescheduled your appointment with Mark Tuan from DK Holdings."
"Why?"
"You seemed stressed so I pushed the meeting a little bit. He understands."
Once again, Jaehyun is washed over by immense gratitude.
Example 2:
Jaehyun is about to explode because of Kim Young-jin, CEO of whatever the fuck enterprises because the asshole won't take no for an answer. Jaehyun never considered himself an impatient or a particularly angry person, but this guy is really pushing his limits.
Just as he's about to punch the scowl off the guy's face, Park Jihwan walks in the room with a series of light knocks.
"Young-jin-hyung!" He greets with a bow.
"Jihwan-ah. How is my favourite secretary?" Young-jin says with a chuckle.
A chuckle. What the fuck?
He didn't even smile at all the whole time he was with Jaehyun.
Maybe the shock zones him out or something but Young-jin leaves with a smile, a firm and a seemingly satisfied handshake and they got themselves a deal.
"How did you do that?" He's only awarded another mysterious smile he has no idea how to decipher. Admiration for Park Jihwan growing impossibly more.
What Jaehyun is trying to get at is that he feels like he owes Jihwan or something.
Which is ridiculous considering the fact that Jihwan is his secretary and it's his job to assist him. But, but...he doesn't exactly know why.
On Friday, at 13:12 sharp, Jaehyun stands beside Jihwan's desk awkwardly, resisting the urge to tug at his hair like the middle-school version of himself. "Jihwan-ssi..."
"Yes?" Jihwan replies, looking up from the computer screen he is illuminated by.
Jaehyun raps his knuckles against Jimin's desk, hesitating. "U-uh, I, uh, have you had lunch yet?"
"No...not yet, why?"
"I-I, uh, I'm going to get some food. Maybe you would like to join?"
"Is that okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't want to be a bother," Jihwan says, looking down at his small hands resting on the keyboard.
"You're not a bother!" Jaehyun says, a little too loudly and maybe a little bit too enthusiastically, making Jihwan jump in his chair. "I mean, we work together, right? You've been great so..." Jaehyun trails off awkwardly, feeling the back of his neck reaching unbearable temperatures.
"Sure...if it's really all right with you."
"Of course, it's all right with me." Jaehyun cringes when he realizes how overly eager he sounds.
Jihwan stands up, putting on his jacket in one fluid motion and they start walking towards the elevators together.
For some reason, Jaehyun feels the strange urge to impress Jihwan, with everything.
It's not a date. It's not a date. Calm the fuck down, Jaehyun.
"How long have you worked here?" Jaehyun asks because he realizes he really doesn't know much about Jihwan outside of the work environment.
"It's been two years since I became the secretary."
"My gramps must've been really impressed. I can see why."
"Uh, I hope that's the case," Jihwan replies with a small quirk of his lips.
They are so full and so red. Jaehyun looks away and clears his throat.
"I'm sure it is. Anyway, so sushi? Is that okay?"
"Yes, more than okay, CEO Jeon."
"Don't call me that." Jaehyun blurts out before he can stop himself.
"Sorry, what?"
"I mean, outside of work. Just, just…my name is fine. I-I feel uncomfortable."
"I'm not sure if that's—"
"It's fine. Really. You told me to call you Jihwan, right? And I've…done that. So, just Jaehyun please."
"O-okay. But only outside of work, Jaehyun-ssi."
"Okay."
Jaehyun feels strangely giddy, fighting back the smile threatening to burst out.
It feels like some of the wall between them has disappeared and he really shouldn't be doing this but he just wants to see that genuine smile again for reasons he is not fully understanding.