Impossible Romance - Chapter 51

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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51.

“It’s the Founding Anniversary Celebration—the staff should enjoy it too. I’ll handle the rest of Seok-ha’s schedule, so don’t worry. I should learn by observing his style up close.”
Lee Ha-eun spoke softly as she looked between the two of them. Having regained her composure, she behaved as though she and Kwon Seok-ha were engaged, despite having been directly rejected by him.
This was made possible because of Han Seon-young. Han Seon-young and Lee Ha-eun’s parents had recently been in contact regarding marriage matters and had discussed something between them.
“Yes, that sounds good. Secretary Ahn, please go ahead.”
Han Seon-young joined in, pushing Jun-hee toward the exit.
With this turn of events, I could no longer remain in this place. Yet I had no desire to leave with Seok-jun either. Fearing he would accompany me if I hesitated, I took a step back and bowed respectfully.
“Understood. I’ll head out first.”
I turned and quickly left the Banquet Hall.
“Jun-hee!”
I had barely walked a few steps from the entrance when Seok-jun followed after me.
I sighed quietly and turned around.
“It feels awkward switching from calling you by your childhood name to using formal speech.”
He stood before me, scratching his head. It was absurd how he carried himself as though we were old acquaintances, when he’d only visited the Villa for a few days during summer break.
“I’m planning to leave early and rest. I’ll be going now.”
Rather than tell him directly that we weren’t the kind of people to be familiar with each other, I simply expressed my intention to head home.
“Let me give you a ride. Or rather, let me give you a ride.”
Seok-jun spoke again, scratching his head once more.
“That’s not necessary.”
I refused bluntly.
“Is it because I teased you when we were kids? I didn’t know you belonged to Seok-ha back then—I was just messing around.”
Seok-jun loosened his necktie, creating space around his neck as he spoke. He too seemed uncomfortable with the formality of this occasion.
“The Executive Director and I have no relationship whatsoever. That was true when we were children as well. Your words are overstepping.”
I frowned, making my displeasure clear. He’d always had a way of needling people as a child, and that habit clearly persisted into adulthood.
“I know you two have no relationship now. That’s exactly why I’m doing this.”
Seok-jun carried on shamelessly, either unaware of his own fault or pretending to be.
“I heard you’re getting married. Does your fiancée know you’re doing this with other women?”
I wielded the words Han Seon-young had spoken to me days ago like a weapon.
“You know all about my business. So you were interested in me after all?”
Seok-jun’s lips curved into a smug grin. His handsome face was a family trait—even his cocky smile was attractive—but my standards had been elevated immeasurably by Seok-ha, and nothing about him registered with me.
“I’ll be leaving now.”
Seeing no point in continuing this conversation, I turned to go.
“I said I’d give you a ride!”
Seok-jun raised his voice and stepped closer.
“That’s not necessary.”
Before I could refuse, a heavy voice came from behind me.
It was Seok-ha. Upon hearing his voice, relief flooded through my chest. It was absurd—we would soon part ways, and he had another woman to marry—yet my heart responded with contradictory emotion.
“You should be assisting the Chairman. Why are you here?”
Kwon Seok-jun scowled, his lips twisting into a sneer.
“That’s none of your concern. And neither is the Jun-hee situation, for that matter.”
“What?”
Kwon Seok-jun’s expression darkened as he furrowed his brow in exasperation.
Kwon Seok-ha ignored him and walked past, approaching me.
“Ahn Joon-hee, where are you going?”
Kwon Seok-ha’s voice echoed through the long, quiet corridor before the Banquet Hall like a cavern.
“It seemed I had nothing left to do, so….”
The moment the words left my lips, I realized my mistake.
“I’m your direct superior as Secretary Ahn’s boss. Isn’t that a bit presumptuous of you?”
Kwon Seok-ha spoke to me in formal language, as he would at the Workplace, reminding me of my position.
“My apologies.”
I bowed my head. Surrounded by people pushing me around at the Banquet Hall, all I could think about was escaping. My judgment had clouded in that moment.
“Now that you understand, follow me. And you—go your own way.”
Kwon Seok-ha issued instructions to me while blocking Kwon Seok-jun’s path. His demeanor suggested he wouldn’t tolerate even a single word directed at me.
Kwon Seok-jun shrugged and retreated. Experience had taught him that stepping in carelessly could result in a harsh rebuke from Kwon Seok-ha.
I exhaled quietly and followed Kwon Seok-ha. Either way, my earlier behavior hadn’t befitted a direct secretary, so I had nothing to say in my defense.

***

In the end, I remained by Kwon Seok-ha’s side until the Founding Anniversary Celebration concluded. Hwang Manager was continuously occupied, so the pretext was that I was filling in for his duties.
The gazes of others weighed heavily on me, but there was nothing I could do. Having been caught trying to slip away without finishing my work moments earlier, no other excuse would hold.
Yet there was little for me to actually do at his side. Still, Kwon Seok-ha moved busily from one important guest to another, keeping me firmly attached to him as though I were a mischievous puppy that would cause trouble if let loose. On the surface, it was the perfect escort, but I felt as though I were on a leash.
Following the program, after a brief opening performance, Chairman Kwon took the Podium to deliver his commemorative address. The assembled guests found their seats at tables arranged throughout the vast Hall.
Champagne and meals were prepared atop large, round tables draped in white linens. Kwon Seok-ha sat at the table directly in front of the Podium, and this time too, I found myself seated beside him. I had demurred, noting it was an excessive position for a secretary, but he wouldn’t hear of it.
At least Kwon O-min and Han Seon-young were seated at a different table. After the humiliation Han Seon-young had inflicted on me days ago, I was grateful not to share a table with them.
Kwon Seok-jun had taken a seat somewhere as well. Lee Ha-eun was nowhere to be seen. The Hall was so expansive that she may have simply been beyond my line of sight.
When Chairman Kwon’s speech concluded, everyone rose from their seats and applauded. It was applause filled with admiration and respect, and not a soul objected.
Chairman Kwon descended from the Podium, offered a gesture of gratitude to the assembled crowd, and headed toward the exit. Catching sight of Kwon Seok-ha, he approached us. After offering a few words of encouragement, he looked at me.
“Seok-ha, do help her as much as you can.”
Chairman Kwon, whom I hadn’t seen in some time, had aged somewhat but still appeared robust. It was a natural request for a secretary, so I bowed my head and replied as I always did, acknowledging his words.
As Chairman Kwon departed, the executives rushed after him. Han Seon-young, Kwon O-min, and Kwon Seok-jun all hurried to see him off, eager to make their presence known.

While everyone’s attention was fixed on Chairman Kwon, Seok-ha seized the opportunity to lead me outside. We walked to the Parking Lot, and once there, he turned to look at me before getting into the Car.
“Let’s go get something to eat.”
I was hungry too, so I didn’t object and got in the Car. There had been food laid out on every table at the Banquet Hall, but as a secretary, I naturally hadn’t been able to eat.
I watched Seok-ha for a moment as he dismissed the Driver and took the wheel himself. He turned on soft music and slowly pulled out of the Parking Lot.
Those familiar gestures wrapped around me with a comforting warmth. We had spent a brief time together in childhood, and the years we shared in university had so easily dismantled the guarded wariness I’d built against him.
Such feelings granted me a reprieve from my resolve regarding Seok-ha. No—they made me compromise quietly within myself.
Just until he gets married, I thought. Just until then, I’ll stay by his side.
After all, this was what the noble Han Seon-young had asked of me, so there was no need to feel guilty.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
He extended his free hand toward me, wiggling four fingers as if asking me to take it.
I hesitated for a moment looking at his hand, then reached out. Seok-ha caught my hand as if he’d been waiting for it.
Seok-ha took me to a quiet Restaurant near the Royal Palace. It was a place we’d visited a few times before—a traditional Korean restaurant with excellent food and a calm atmosphere.
I’m not sure when he’d made the reservation, but we were shown directly to a Room. Though it had been a long time since we’d visited, the Restaurant Owner greeted Seok-ha warmly and looked at me with kind eyes. Seeing him unchanged stirred a strange nostalgia in me, and I offered a quiet greeting.
After the Restaurant Owner finished setting out the food and left, closing the door behind him, we were alone.
“Let’s eat. You didn’t have anything at the Founding Anniversary Celebration. Actually, I didn’t eat either.”
His voice sounded unusually tender and natural today.
Knowing that all of this would soon become a memory made it feel all the more precious.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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