Private Secretary - Chapter 3

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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 3

What was certain was that regardless of which case it was, that man was rude.

“I’d like a cup of coffee brewed with Yemeni Haraz beans, please.”

“….”

“I don’t have much time. I’d like you to bring it within 10 minutes.”

What kind of nonsense is this? Suddenly asking me to buy coffee?

It was when Lee Seol was standing there dumbfounded.

He pressed a button on the desk clock and turned the clock toward Lee Seol.

The 10:00 timer was counting down from 09:59 to 58 seconds.

Only then did Lee Seol realize that his work capability test had begun.

If she couldn’t pass here, she would never have the chance to serve him as her boss. That was certain.

Her heart was already racing, but somehow she felt she shouldn’t show any signs of urgency in front of him.

Lee Seol bowed as politely as possible, then ran at full speed as soon as she stepped outside.

Meanwhile, she repeatedly went over what the man had said in her head.

“I’d like a cup of coffee brewed with Yemeni Haraz beans, please.”

Since he had specified the beans, it seemed he wouldn’t want machine-brewed coffee from a franchise coffee shop.

‘Then he must want me to bring drip coffee from a barista, right?’

Lee Seol opened her map app and searched for nearby cafes.

Excluding franchise cafes and focusing on cafes run by experienced baristas, she found five places.

Two of them were too far to go and return within 10 minutes.

Lee Seol ran to the closest cafe and immediately asked for Yemeni Haraz beans upon entering, but received the answer that they had just run out of those beans.

Without delay, she headed straight to the next cafe, but there was a notice posted saying they were closed due to personal circumstances.

“Put notices like this online too.”

Momentarily frustrated, Lee Seol voiced her complaint before heading to the last cafe.

This was her only hope. If they didn’t have it either, this mission would be a failure.

To be eliminated before even trying anything. What greater humiliation could there be?

Rather than wanting to please him, she wanted to succeed for the sake of her 5 years of secretarial experience and the honor of the Chairman who had recommended her.

This was also a fight where her own pride was at stake, separate from his approval.

“Do you happen to have Yemeni Haraz beans?”

Lee Seol, panting from running, burst into the last cafe and shouted immediately.

The owner, who appeared to be a barista, nodded lukewarmly.

What’s that supposed to mean? Do they have it or not?

“We do have them, but the condition of the beans isn’t very good. How about trying a different bean instead? Since you’re looking for Yemeni Haraz beans….”

“One drip coffee with Yemeni Haraz beans, and another cup with different beans that have a similar aroma. Two cups like that, please. I’m sorry, but I’m really in a hurry. Could you make them a bit faster?”

The owner said he understood and immediately started brewing the coffee.

Of all things, drip coffee takes a long time, so why did he only give me 10 minutes? To make me suffer? On purpose?

“Ha, it’s really just like I heard.”

Lee Seol, who had barely caught her breath, let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.

This isn’t some movie. Meeting someone and immediately asking them to buy coffee within 10 minutes, even setting a timer.

‘This is the first time I’ve received such an absurd order while working.’

The more she thought about it, the more outrageous it seemed. But….

“The secretary who worked the longest stayed for about 2 years, and received 500,000 dollars in incentives alone during that time. That’s over 700 million won at the current exchange rate. Excluding salary, just in incentives.”

The Team Manager’s words kept floating around in her head.

700 million won.

If that was true, how much would she receive for running an errand like this once she was safely hired?

Tens of thousands? No, hundreds of thousands?

Suddenly, countless golden bills fluttered through her mind.

Then the unpleasant feelings she had felt moments ago evaporated instantly.

Lee Seol had lived a life where every penny mattered since becoming the head of her household.

But was a little hurt pride really such a big deal?

If she endured and suffered for just 2 years, she might earn 700 million won like that secretary, or maybe even more.

“But what did that New York secretary do to earn 700 million won? I want to earn that too.”

If she performed her work better, wouldn’t even more be possible?

With that thought, her motivation quickly returned.

Suddenly her fighting spirit surged, and she wanted to pass this test no matter what.

Lee Seol anxiously checked the current time. Only 4 minutes remained.

‘The coffee isn’t even half done brewing yet.’

Lee Seol kept shaking her leg and checking the time. Please hurry, hurry.

After waiting a few more minutes, the coffee was finally ready. As soon as she saw it being poured into disposable cups, she rushed over eagerly.

“This one is the Yemeni Haraz beans, and this one is Ethiopian Sidamo beans with a similar aroma.”

“Yes, thank you so much.”

There was no time to listen to the explanation.

Only about 2 minutes and 30 seconds remained. She absolutely had to run.

She couldn’t let the coffee spill and dirty the cups, so she decided to keep her upper body as steady as possible while moving only her lower body vigorously.

Lee Seol didn’t even notice her legs hurting as she walked desperately, almost running.

She carefully entered the hotel, making sure not to spill the coffee. As expected, the Team Manager was waiting in the 1st floor lobby again.

“It’s a test, right?”

“Yes. It seems so.”

Lee Seol breathed heavily and just hoped the elevator would reach the 35th floor quickly.

Please, hurry. Hurry.

As soon as the door opened with a ding, the Team Manager ran ahead first and opened the door with the card key, and Lee Seol went straight into the room without time to greet anyone.

The first thing that caught her eye was the desk clock.

The moment Lee Seol stopped in place, the numbers changed to 00:00 and made a ringing sound.

He looked at Lee Seol with interest, as if surprised.

Lee Seol carefully placed the two cups of coffee on the desk, trying her best not to let her heavy breathing be heard.

“I asked you to bring only one cup?”

“The Yemeni… The condition of the Yemeni beans wasn’t very good, so I also prepared coffee with different beans that have a similar aroma. The left one is Yemeni Haraz beans, and the right one is Ethiopian Sidamo beans. I apologize for not being able to prepare the finest quality.”

At first she couldn’t speak properly because she was out of breath, but after that it was easier.

The man briefly watched Lee Seol, who was sweating profusely but pretending to be calm as she returned to her original position.

Then he first drank the coffee brewed with Yemeni beans. There was no change in expression, so she couldn’t tell at all whether he liked it or not.

He soon drank the Ethiopian bean coffee. Again, his expression was unreadable.

This isn’t some survival audition. If they end up working together, will she have to be this anxious every time?

Just when she was thinking she might not live to her natural lifespan trying to make big money, he picked up the Ethiopian coffee again, not the Yemeni one.

“I’ve always drunk Yemeni coffee, but Ethiopian is quite good too.”

“…!”

Her heart raced upon hearing those words, but Lee Seol responded with a light bow instead of words.

Indeed, the joy of succeeding at something difficult to achieve was incomparable to anything else.

Just moments ago she had been furious at the person who gave unreasonable instructions, but now she just felt proud.

This was why Lee Seol loved working as a secretary.

The praise that came back when she excellently carried out her employer’s instructions was as sweet as monetary compensation.

“From now on, you don’t need to dress up in such formal attire. Dress comfortably. But not sloppily, of course.”

She blankly pondered the phrase ‘from now on.’

From now on? Does that mean he’ll work with me from now on?

Then he stood up and approached Lee Seol. Lee Seol tensed up momentarily and straightened her back.

She hadn’t noticed because they had been far apart, but the scent of his cologne was quite strong.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a scent that matched Lee Seol’s taste.

“I thought you’d be as inflexible as your attire, but you’re surprisingly good at improvising.”

“….”

“Start coming to work for now. I need to observe you a bit more.”

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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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