Seo Joo-won's first few days at Hanlim Corporation passed in a blur. The towering corporate building, the sleek offices, the glass walls—everything felt both alien and awe-inspiring. But it wasn't the office that kept Joo-won up at night. It was Kim Joon-ho. The CEO's cold, unwavering gaze lingered in his thoughts, both terrifying and magnetic in equal measure. Every encounter with him felt like walking on a razor's edge, where a single misstep could lead to disaster—or something far more thrilling.
After that initial meeting, Joo-won found himself constantly under the watchful eye of Kim Joon-ho. The CEO made it clear that he expected nothing less than perfection, and any mistake, no matter how small, was met with a silent disapproval that seemed to seep through the air itself. Joo-won couldn't escape the feeling that Kim was always evaluating him, measuring him up in ways he didn't fully understand.
The first week was an avalanche of tasks, deadlines, and expectations. His fellow intern, Park Min-seo, was friendly enough, but there was an undeniable tension between them. Min-seo's confidence was his sharpest weapon, and he had no problem wielding it against Joo-won. Every word from Min-seo seemed like a veiled challenge, each glance a test. Joo-won could feel the competition, even though he tried to ignore it.
But it wasn't the rivalry with Min-seo that truly unsettled Joo-won. No, it was the way Kim Joon-ho seemed to appear at the most unexpected moments, his presence as commanding as ever. Joo-won couldn't understand what it was—why Kim's mere presence stirred a fire in him, why his words seemed to cut deeper than they should. It was a constant tug-of-war between admiration and fear.
On the third day, Joo-won found himself working late at his desk. The office was empty, save for the hum of computers and the distant sound of traffic outside. He'd been assigned an urgent task by Lee Ji-hoon, one of the senior employees who seemed to take a particular interest in him. Ji-hoon was friendly but enigmatic—his presence in the office always carried an undercurrent of tension, as if there was something more to his mentorship than he let on.
The clicking of Joo-won's keyboard was the only sound in the room when the door to the office suddenly opened. Joo-won looked up, startled, and found himself staring directly into Kim Joon-ho's cold, unreadable eyes.
"Still here?" Kim's voice was low, a mixture of curiosity and mild disapproval. "You should be getting some rest, Seo."
"I... I wanted to finish the report you asked for," Joo-won stammered, his heart hammering in his chest.
"Are you trying to impress me?" Kim asked, his tone a blend of amusement and challenge.
Joo-won froze. The question was simple enough, but the way Kim asked it made Joo-won feel like he was being scrutinized under a microscope. Was this a test? Was it a trap? He couldn't tell.
"I... I just wanted to do a good job," Joo-won replied, his voice small in the vastness of the CEO's presence.
Kim stepped further into the room, his movements smooth and deliberate. There was something about the way he walked—each step exuding confidence, power, control. Joo-won couldn't help but watch as Kim circled the room, his eyes never leaving him.
"You think doing a good job will make me notice you?" Kim's voice was almost a whisper now, and Joo-won felt a shiver run down his spine.
"Not... not just that," Joo-won said, his voice barely audible. "I want to be someone you can rely on. I want to be a good intern."
Kim stopped in his tracks, his eyes locking with Joo-won's. There was a flicker of something unreadable in his gaze, and for a moment, Joo-won thought Kim might say something—but instead, the CEO simply turned away and walked back toward the door.
"You're still too naive," Kim said, his voice tinged with something Joo-won couldn't place. "We'll see how long that lasts."
With those words, Kim Joon-ho left the room, his footsteps echoing in the silence. Joo-won's heart continued to race as the door clicked shut behind him. The weight of Kim's gaze, the challenge in his voice, all of it stayed with him long after the CEO had gone. What did Kim mean by that? Was he testing Joo-won, pushing him? Or was there something more to his words?
As Joo-won sat back in his chair, he couldn't help but wonder if his path at Hanlim Corporation was going to be more complicated than he ever imagined.