Private Secretary - Chapter 18

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Private Secretary Episode 18

The praise that poured out was several times more than all the compliments she had received from Tae-san combined.

Lee Seol, elated by the shower of praise, bowed her head while trying to suppress the beaming smile that threatened to escape.

“That guy who never loses in arguments and rarely knows how to bend his stubbornness – how on earth did you persuade him? You’re better than me, his own father.”

“That’s not true.”

“From now on, whenever Kang Tae-san tries to go against my wishes, I’ll have to ask Secretary Han for help. Assigning you to Tae-san was truly a stroke of genius. Haha.”

“You’re too kind.”

“Then I’ll be counting on you to see our Tae-san through to marriage. Good work.”

“Yes, Chairman. I’ll do my best.”

Lee Seol, who had been frantically conversing with Chairman Kang, only realized when she looked up that Tae-san had been watching them for quite some time.

“What conversation were you having so enjoyably with my secretary?”

“It’s a secret.”

“Pardon?”

“There’s something called a story between Secretary Han and me – why are you butting in?”

Chairman Kang entered the Department Head’s Office alone without any further explanation.

Yang Secretary was curious about what intimate conversation she had with the Chairman, but Lee Seol avoided answering with a smile.

That’s how Lee Seol realized once again.

What makes her dance isn’t the incentive, but her superior’s sincere praise and trust.

* * *

“How was today’s meeting?”

Preparing for Tae-san’s second blind date was easier than the first.

Since there was no need to put on a show for Kim Se-na, it was perhaps natural.

Lee Seol positioned herself near the blind date table just like last time and watched their conversation.

The atmosphere seemed much softer than before, but his impression seemed quite different.

“I didn’t feel anything special.”

Lee Seol wasn’t greatly disappointed by Tae-san’s lukewarm reaction.

After all, her purpose wasn’t to get Tae-san married through blind dates, but to change Kim Se-na’s heart.

“Shall I take you straight to the hotel then?”

“When you say it like that, you sound like a chauffeur.”

“Today I’m both driver and secretary. I’ll take you there.”

“No. I’ll give you an address, so go there instead.”

Lee Seol sat in the driver’s seat and entered the address he gave her into the navigation system.

However, just from the address alone, she couldn’t tell where this place was.

“Was there any particular contact from Ms. Kim Se-na today?”

“No.”

That part was a bit disappointing. She had hoped for more attention.

“Tell me about your first love too.”

“Pardon? So suddenly?”

Flustered by the unexpected question, Lee Seol unconsciously gripped the steering wheel tightly while looking at Tae-san.

“You know who my first love is. Since it’s unfair that only you know, you should tell me yours too.”

“…I’ve never particularly liked someone that passionately.”

“But you must have liked someone at some point in your life.”

“I might have, but I can’t remember now. It wasn’t particularly memorable.”

She knew Tae-san was staring at her intently, but she kept avoiding his gaze, using driving as an excuse.

Tae-san, who had been quietly looking outside the window for a while, suddenly looked at Lee Seol.

“Are you like this when you’re dating too?”

“…”

“Surely you’ve dated before.”

“That’s my private life. I won’t answer.”

“But you know all about my private life.”

“That’s because I’m a secretary. A secretary who handles private matters, at that.”

“So you should share too.”

“There’s no such clause in my employment contract.”

“You’re bringing up the contract because it’s disadvantageous. Then you have friends, right?”

“…”

“Don’t tell me you don’t have friends either?”

Lee Seol flinched as if her weak spot had been hit, then looked at Tae-san with an indignant expression.

Who was he to say she had no friends?

He was the one who seemed to have none besides those he met through work.

But since she couldn’t respond too emotionally as a secretary, she suppressed her surging feelings and forced a smile.

“Of course I have many friends. Does it make sense that someone with this personality would have no friends?”

“That’s exactly why it seems like you wouldn’t have any.”

“Department Head.”

When Lee Seol finally got angry and glared at him, Tae-san couldn’t hold back and burst into loud laughter.

Since this was the first time she’d seen him laugh so heartily, Lee Seol was genuinely surprised.

“Fine. Let’s say you have many friends.”

“It’s not ‘let’s say’ – I really do have many.”

She deliberately emphasized each word clearly, but Tae-san didn’t seem to be paying attention.

For a moment, Lee Seol felt doubtful about why she was having such a childish argument and closed her mouth.

“Department Head, if Ms. Kim Se-na contacts you later…”

“Stop talking about Kim Se-na.”

Tae-san warned firmly and turned on his tablet PC. It seemed he intended to review report files even on the weekend.

Come to think of it, at some point it had become Lee Seol, not Tae-san, who was more concerned about Kim Se-na.

Tae-san acted indifferently as if he didn’t care what happened with Kim Se-na, and this had been a constant puzzle for Lee Seol.

Had he forgotten the purpose of these blind dates? If he was going to act so uninterested, what was the point?

She had many questions, but since she was driving and, more importantly, Tae-san was absorbed in work, she decided to save them for later.

Driving in silence, they arrived at their destination earlier than expected.

“We’re here.”

The location marked on the navigation wasn’t a busy district but a residential area. A quiet neighborhood lined with luxury homes, at that.

“Park when the garage door opens.”

When Tae-san pressed something on his phone, the door on the right side began to slowly rise.

What is this? Where are we?

Though curiosity welled up, Lee Seol quietly finished parking without asking.

“Well then, I’ll be going now. Please rest.”

“Where are you going?”

“I should get off work too.”

“Come inside first. This is where you’ll be commuting to starting Monday.”

Where is this place?

When Tae-san opened the entrance door, Lee Seol followed behind him without understanding.

Climbing the stone steps, she could see at a glance the spacious yard and the luxury home exterior that looked like something from a movie.

“Wow…”

She didn’t want to act unsophisticated, but an exclamation naturally escaped her lips.

Fortunately, her voice didn’t seem to be heard, as Tae-san walked alone to the front door and unlocked it.

“Come in.”

Then he turned to look at Lee Seol and held the door open for her.

Upon entering, everything in the house seemed to be sensor-operated – lights automatically turned on and the closed curtains opened by themselves.

It was a wonderful house that could have appeared in an interior design magazine.

Though not as grand as Chairman Kang’s mansion, it was more than spacious enough for one person to live in.

Moreover, the faint smell of paint suggested that construction had recently been completed.

“The furniture just started arriving today and will be finished tomorrow. Starting Monday, you’ll commute here.”

“Is this the Department Head’s home?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow….”

She knew that Tae-san was the third son of Hogan Group’s chairman and a member of a chaebol family, but seeing it directly with her own eyes felt completely different.

While working closely with Tae-san all this time, he had gradually felt less intimidating, but today brought back that sense of distance.

‘Even if I gathered all the money I’ve saved so far, I couldn’t even buy a single room here….’

Just as Lee Seol was feeling intimidated inside.

“Want some ramen?”

“Yes. What?”

“What we ate earlier was a bit greasy. But you’re probably not that hungry. I saw you having quite a feast earlier.”

Lee Seol’s face turned red at his words.

Actually, this morning she had overslept after missing her alarm and hadn’t eaten anything until now.

So she had ordered some food to eat in between, but when did he even see that?

“…It wasn’t quite a feast….”

She had eaten, but it certainly wasn’t that much.

It was just one salad and one pasta dish.

“Anyway, will you eat ramen?”

Even so, hearing about ramen made her mouth water again. Lee Seol carefully nodded and replied.

“I’ll cook it.”

“It’s my house, why would you cook?”

That was true. Even as a secretary, there were places to step forward and places not to.

Lee Seol wondered where she should be and sat down in front of the Island Bar where she could clearly see the kitchen.

When she turned her head, the panoramic view of the spacious yard came into view. It was a scenery that brought peace to her heart just by looking at it.

Though the days were long since it was summer, it was already past 7 PM in the evening and the sky in the distance was gradually darkening.

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