Saturday morning. No office. No heels. No devil boss.
Just me in oversized hoodie, glasses, messy bun—real Hyemi—sitting in a tiny café near the company with the girlies.
Operation Confront Ajumma Lee was go.
We'd spent all Friday night planning.
Seoyeon (still riding her "intern superstar" high): "We go soft. No accusing. Just ask if she's okay."
Ara: "People steal for reasons. Money, revenge, desperation."
Jiwon: "Or someone's forcing her."
Nari: "I brought tissues. And snacks."
Me: "I'll lead. She knows me from daily chats."
We spotted her at 10 a.m.—Ajumma Lee pushing her cleaning cart into the back alley for break.
Same sweet smile. Same tired eyes.
My heart already hurt.
10:15 a.m. – The Confrontation
We cornered her gently—near the dumpsters, away from cameras.
"Ajumma," I started softly. "Can we talk?"
She jumped, then smiled. "Hyemi-ya! And friends? What are you doing here on weekend?"
We sat on plastic crates like a weird picnic.
Nari offered kimbap. Jiwon poured coffee from a thermos.
Seoyeon handed tissues—prophetic.
I pulled out my phone. Showed the blurry enhanced photo.
Her face crumpled instantly.
Eyes filled.
"Oh… you saw."
We nodded.
She covered her face. Shoulders shook.
Quiet crying.
Jiwon rubbed her back. "Tell us, ajumma. We're not mad. We just want to help."
Long silence.
Then the story poured out.
Her husband—dead two years. Left gambling debt. Huge.
Loan sharks took her house.
Only way to pay: monthly installments.
But her salary—too small.
Then three months ago: anonymous call.
"Steal bags from executive lounge. Specific times. We'll glitch cameras. You get 20 million won each time."
Refuse? They'd hurt her son—college student in Busan.
She cried harder.
"I didn't want to! Those rich ladies… they have so many bags. Insurance covers. No one really hurts."
But her voice broke.
"I'm so ashamed."
We sat stunned.
Ara spoke first. "You're being blackmailed."
Ajumma nodded.
Seoyeon: "Who's behind the calls?"
"Never met. Voice changer. Texts from burner phones."
Nari: "We need proof."
Me: "We'll fix this. Promise."
Ajumma looked up, tears streaming. "You girls… why help me?"
Because we're nosy. Because we care. Because this is our case.
I hugged her. "Because you're good person in bad situation."
She sobbed into my hoodie.
Girlie group hug followed.
Tissues everywhere.
Snacks forgotten.
Case cracked—but now bigger.
Someone's running luxury theft ring.
Using desperate people.
We had to stop it.
1:00 p.m. – Emergency Strategy Session
Back at my apartment.
Whiteboard out. Markers flying.
Suspects:
Mrs. Park – always leaves bag, always new ones. Insurance fraud? Disgruntled employee – revenge on rich execs? Outside gang – using ajumma as pawn?
Seoyeon: "I'm in sales meetings now. I'll snoop."
Nari: "I'll trace burner texts if I can get ajumma's phone."
Ara: "We protect her first. No more thefts."
Jiwon: "She needs lawyer. I know one pro bono."
Me: "I'll… handle upper management."
All eyes on me.
Nari: "You mean Mr. Tall Dark and Jealous?"
I groaned. "Don't start."
But yeah. I'd have to tell Dae-Hyun.
Eventually.
3:00 p.m. – The Weekend Trip Bomb
My phone buzzed.
CEO Kang: Pack for Jeju. Tomorrow morning. 7 a.m. flight. Two nights. Investor retreat.
I stared.
Me: WHAT Me: Weekend?? CEO Kang: Company business. You're coming. Me: I have plans CEO Kang: Cancel. CEO Kang: Or don't. Your choice.
Possessive bastard.
Group chat exploded when I told them.
Nari: JEJU TRIP WITH THE CEO??? ALONE??? Seoyeon: Pack lingerie Ara: Pack pepper spray Jiwon: Pack common sense Me: Packing denial and work clothes
But inside?
Butterflies.
Bad ones.
Sunday 6:00 a.m. – Airport Chaos
I arrived in jeans, oversized sweater, glasses—real me.
Dae-Hyun waited at check-in.
Suit. Sunglasses. Coffee.
Looked like a magazine.
He glanced over.
Paused.
"You look… different."
"Good different or bad different?"
He didn't answer.
Just took my suitcase.
Handed me coffee—iced Americano.
My favorite.
Not his usual black.
I stared.
He looked away. "Figured you'd need it."
Small gesture.
Huge impact.
We boarded first class—his doing.
Sat side by side.
Close.
Too close.
Flight attendant flirted with him.
He ignored.
I pretended not to notice.
But noticed.
Jeju Arrival – 9:00 a.m.
Luxury resort. Ocean view. Private villa area.
Investors everywhere.
Meetings all day.
I took notes. Handed files. Smiled professionally.
He introduced me as "my assistant, Han Hyemi."
Pride in voice?
Maybe.
Lunch: seafood buffet.
He piled shrimp on my plate without asking.
"Eat," he said.
Bossy.
Cute.
Annoying.
Evening: beach bonfire networking.
Champagne. Laughter. Business talk.
I stood beside him whole time.
Like a couple.
Felt like a couple.
Dangerous.
10:00 p.m. – Villa Showdown
Two separate rooms.
Thank God.
I changed into pajamas—shorts, tank top.
Knocked on his door for schedule tomorrow.
He opened shirtless.
Towel drying hair.
Abs.
Why.
I forgot how to speak.
"Schedule," I squeaked.
He smirked—actually smirked.
"Come in."
I stayed in doorway.
He walked closer.
Hair wet. Skin warm.
"You've been quiet all day."
"Working."
"Or avoiding."
I met his eyes. "What do you want from me, Dae-Hyun?"
Direct.
He stepped closer.
Thunder rumbled—far away.
He didn't flinch.
Just looked.
"I don't know."
Honest.
Rare.
I swallowed. "That's not fair."
"I know."
Silence.
Tension thick.
Then his phone rang.
Saved.
He answered—frowned.
"Security emergency. Seoul."
We both knew.
The thefts.
He hung up.
"We're flying back tomorrow morning. Early."
I nodded.
Relief.
Disappointment.
Mixed.
Monday 7:00 a.m. – Back in Seoul
Emergency flight.
No talking.
Just tension.
Landed 9 a.m.
Straight to office.
Security waiting.
New theft—over weekend.
Another bag.
Same pattern.
Dae-Hyun's face stone.
"Find who's behind this," he ordered.
I stayed quiet.
Guilt heavy.
2:00 p.m. – The Confession
His office.
Door closed.
I couldn't hold it anymore.
"I know who's stealing."
He looked up. Sharp.
"Tell me."
"Ajumma Lee. Cleaning staff."
His eyes narrowed. "How?"
I told him everything.
The debt.
The threats.
The blackmail.
The photo.
The girlies.
All of it.
He listened.
No interruption.
When I finished, silence.
Then: "You investigated behind my back."
"Yes."
"With your friends."
"Yes."
He stood.
Walked around desk.
I braced.
Angry?
Instead—he stopped in front of me.
"You protected her."
"Someone had to."
He looked at me.
Really looked.
"You're too good."
I laughed—shaky. "No. Just nosy."
He reached out.
Tucked hair behind my ear.
Gentle.
Thunder outside—closer now.
I didn't move.
"You should've told me sooner."
"I know."
His hand lingered.
Warm.
Then dropped.
"We'll help her. Lawyer. Debt settlement. Protection."
I blinked. "You will?"
"It's my company. My responsibility."
Soft.
Too soft.
I felt tears.
"Don't cry," he said quietly.
"Not crying."
"Liar."
He pulled tissue.
Handed it.
Our fingers brushed.
Spark.
We both felt.
He stepped back.
"Go home. Rest."
I nodded.
At door, paused.
"Dae-Hyun."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
He smiled—small, real.
First time.
My heart stopped.
Evening – Girlie Victory Debrief
My apartment.
Ajumma Lee joined—teary, grateful.
Dae-Hyun's team already contacted her.
Lawyer coming tomorrow.
Debt negotiation started.
She hugged us all.
Called us angels.
We cried.
Laughed.
Ate chicken.
Celebrated.
Case closed?
Not yet.
Who's behind the blackmail?
Still hunting.
But for tonight—win.
Midnight – Text
CEO Kang: You okay? Me: Yeah. You? CEO Kang: Thinking. Me: About? CEO Kang: You. Me: … CEO Kang: Goodnight, Hyemi.
I stared.
Heart racing.
No denial left.
Just truth.
Scary.
Exciting.