The Unexpected Promise
For the past three days, Yeong-a had endured grueling dreams every single night, clinging to Sa Hwigyeom for twenty-four hours. The pain had been so intense that last night he had even transformed into a horned demon.
“Oppa! I passed!”
She had immediately texted Suho, bouncing with joy, when her phone rang.
“Hah, really! You’re fast, oppa!”
But after glancing at the screen, Yeong-a’s face darkened in an instant.
“Sa Hwigyeom.”
“Yes……”
“Our baby’s body temperature jumps crazy high right before and after using the bathroom.”
Yeong-a wondered when “baby” had become “our.” Her lips curved.
Yet even so, her body—accustomed to endless catering tasks from fine dining to convenience stores—bowed at the waist on reflex.
“Good evening, CEO. I hope you’ve been well. I’ve been waiting for your call.”
Of course her tongue moved smoothly.
“I’ll let it pass since it’s your first time. Where do you live?”
Sa Hwigyeom said it took thirty minutes from the company and ordered her to the lobby at one in the afternoon.
After hanging up, she prepared to leave. A message came from Suho.
“Yeong-a, congratulations. Want to grab dinner together?”
She replied without hesitation.
“Sure! Where shall we meet?”
No matter how much of a demon, he wouldn’t hold her until nightfall. From what she’d read about Hwigyeom’s schedule, he was especially busy at night.
Suho suggested they meet at the Italian restaurant in the basement of the headquarters building by seven o’clock. Since Suho worked in the Sahan Hotel accounting team, he also came to headquarters.
“They always do mandu guk or cold samgyeop for dinner when you two meet, but today it’s pasta……”
Yeong-a covered her mouth.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to date?”
Overjoyed, she shoved her old sneakers aside and slipped into the new ones she’d bought for him.
Whether it was the new shoes or the swelling in her chest, her steps felt feather-light as she left home, as if her weight had halved.
Arriving at the Sahan Group headquarters café on the first floor, she entered with nervous glances.
Sa Hwigyeom sat in the farthest corner of the café, wearing a perfectly tailored three-piece suit. To anyone else it would be unnoticeable, but he stood out so arrogantly that Yeong-a spotted him at once.
“I’m here, CEO.”
As she greeted him, the middle-aged man seated across from Hwigyeom rose.
“Yu Yeong-a? Nice to meet you. I’m Gu Sunsang. Please call me Manager Gu.”
“Ah, hello.”
Yeong-a was bewildered but returned the greeting first. Manager Gu pulled out a chair for her and introduced himself.
“I’ve known Youngnim since he was a child. I’ve still been with him. You can think of me as his personal secretary.”
The man’s gentle expression and warm smile reminded Yeong-a of Uncle Bak from Mukwol Hermitage.
“I look forward to working together. Now, let’s talk. I’ll have the car ready when Youngnim finishes.”
After Manager Gu left, Hwigyeom slid a thin document toward Yeong-a.
“Here’s a simple list of what you’ll need to do. Read it and sign.”
Yeong-a flipped the first page and her eyes widened.
“* Morning and evening greetings to my lord
* Tidy the office before morning work (including preparations)
* Assist with work and household chores at night or on weekends
* Arrive within one hour if called ……”
Yeong-a’s brows furrowed.
“Is this really a slave contract?”
“I was insulting all the personal secretaries in the world.”
“Me?”
Hwigyeom smiled benevolently, as if bestowing great mercy, while Yeong-a blinked.
“Start work next week.”
How did he already know she’d passed? The question was still in her mind. Hwigyeom lifted his chin and looked down at her with narrowed eyes.
That was right. He was the Chairman’s grandson.
His features were elegant, radiating refinement, and his red lips on flawless white skin held a decadent beauty.
It was too noble to need words like “I greet the Crown Prince.”
His quirky personality and even more unusual tastes only made him seem further removed, like a noble extension of the upper class.
“Is that all?”
Yeong-a hurriedly lowered her gaze.
“Y-yes.”
He cleared his throat. Hwigyeom handed her a leather briefcase.
“Read this only today and leave.”
“What is this?”
The bag was so heavy her hand sank the moment she took it.
“Open it and see.”
Why couldn’t he just say it? High people always spoke this way. Yeong-a pouted and opened the buckle.
From thin notebooks to thick books, there were at least ten volumes. She skimmed the English titles.
Espresso machines, various audio equipment and speakers, video devices, air purifiers, water purifiers……
“These are all instruction manuals?”
“Memorize them well and set everything up perfectly every morning. Mess up and the slave contract gets longer.”
Staring at the mountain of books on the table, Yeong-a sighed deeply.
“Grandma said I’d have tougher luck if I sighed……”
She chuckled. Of course. She hadn’t been raised in the mountains long enough to be oily.
But what else could she do? She’d just have to work hard. Before she knew it, a year would pass.
Abandoned before a church orphanage, she had never been given up on by Sister Josefa, just as she would never be accepted by Grandma Rose, the quirky old lady.
“Don’t live like you’re owed something. Nothing in this world is free. Everything has its price.”
Yeong-a opened the English manual with determination.
Pay the price for the day you protected a thousand years of love!
She read page after page with care. At some point she entered a trance.
When she opened her phone notes and began scribbling confusing capacity or time details, a sudden thought made her look up.
The man in front of her was still sitting with arms crossed, staring at her without blinking.
“Whoa, you startled me.”
Yeong-a was easily distracted. But she had forgotten the intense presence of the man passing by right now.
“By the way, CEO, which subsidiary do you manage? If it’s too far from headquarters, daily commuting might be difficult.”
Not wanting him to notice her hope, she lowered her eyes.
“Keep reading. Your concentration is amazing.”
Hwigyeom even clapped lightly. His long, slender fingers had prominent knuckles that were flushed.
For some reason, her gaze kept drifting to every part of him. She had never paid attention to any part of Suho’s body, so the feeling was strange.
“That’s right! I have a promise!”
She had completely forgotten time. It was almost seven.
So he had been staring at her alone for hours? With his dedication, he should just do it himself.
“I should go now because of my promise.”
“A promise?”
Hwigyeom looked like he hadn’t heard a word.
“Yes. You said I’d start work next week. I’ll study at home. It’s a really important promise.”
Hwigyeom’s eyebrow arched.
“What promise?”
“I’m sorry, but it’s private.”
“I guess you met that guy who’s in love with you.”