A Madman in Love

“It’s not a difficult condition. Though Jaehee will probably protest.”

Woo Ilhwa’s gaze shimmered like a lake wrapped in starlight as she looked up at Suin.

Her expression was full of intrigue, making Suin tense up.

“Chief Lee needs to return to her original position. In other words, you’re to come back to my office as my secretary.”

“Ah……”

The tension in her shoulders eased—it wasn’t an unreasonable condition.

If anything, it was a decision made with Suin’s well-being in mind.

“No boss encourages office romance within the same department. I can’t allow the Executive Director’s secretary to be romantically involved with the Executive Director inside the Vice President’s office.”

“Yes, I understand. I’m sorry.”

Suin lowered her head, looking somewhat embarrassed. There was no real reason for her to apologize, but she felt a tinge of shyness all the same.

Not missing the pink dusting her cheeks, Woo Ilhwa squinted mischievously and teased,

“There’s no reason for you to be sorry. Why, did you do something you should be sorry for?”

“No!”

“Hahaha.”

Humans always give themselves away when they’ve done something.

The way Suin instinctively shouted in denial only made Ilhwa throw her head back and laugh, her throat bobbing with amusement.

She had practically admitted it herself.

A strong denial only proves a stronger truth.

“Hmm……”

Ilhwa clicked her tongue as she studied Suin, who was now looking down, flustered.

As if to say, What sin could you have possibly committed? she furrowed her brows and sighed.

“So, you’re agreeing to my condition?”

“Of course.”

Suin’s answer was firm, even if she still felt a little awkward about it.

To her, it was a win-win situation.

She loved Seo Jaehee, but the closer their proximity, the more dangerous he became. She needed some social distancing.

“You’ll start today. Jaehee won’t like it, though.”

***

“No way!”

As expected, Jaehee rejected it outright.

His face was red with anger, his eyes flashing dangerously.

Suin merely looked at him as if he were a petulant child throwing a tantrum.

“Who gave you the right to take her away?”

“The Chairwoman did.”

“I’m going up there right now to protest. You can’t just give something and then take it back.”

“Executive Director, don’t go.”

Jaehee had already started marching around his desk, fully intent on storming out, but Suin quickly stepped in front of him with one firm stride.

He tried to sidestep her.

She blocked him again.

His eyes, blazing with frustration, bore down on her.

“Move.”

“Are you planning to negotiate with the Chairwoman over this?”

“I have to. I can’t let them take you from me.”

“I’m not an object.”

“But you’re mine.”

“Who decided that?”

“I did.”

The way he smirked shamelessly was downright devilish.

Suin scoffed in disbelief.

Jaehee, seeing her reaction, pouted slightly.

“So I belong to Lee Suin, but you don’t belong to me?”

Cute.

What was she going to do with him?

“Listen carefully.”

Suin took a step closer.

Tilting her chin up confidently, she reached out and neatly straightened his tie as she spoke in a soothing tone.

“Seo Jaehee is mine because I said so. And I am mine because I belong to myself. Got it?”

“…….”

She lightly tapped his chest twice, finalizing her statement on ownership.

Jaehee squinted at her, eyes narrowing to slits.

“Not even a little share for me?”

“That depends on your behavior.”

“Fine. I’ll do well.”

Satisfied with her response, he flashed a seductive smile—though the slight tilt of his head still carried lingering discontent.

“So you’re really going?”

“Yes.”

“This feels like a huge loss for me.”

“It’s not a loss.”

Suin cupped his sulking face gently with both hands.

Lifting onto her toes ever so slightly, she whispered sweetly,

“We’ll only burn hotter.”

Then she kissed him softly.

The moment their lips met, his displeasure melted away like snow under the morning sun, replaced by a quiet, pleased chuckle.

“How hot are we talking?”

“How much would satisfy you?”

“A lot. A whole lot.”

“We’ll see.”

The kiss was sweet, but given their setting, she pulled away quickly.

“Any complaints?”

“Nope.”

But Seo Jaehee was never one for limitations.

Before she could step back, he wrapped an arm around her waist and yanked her flush against him.

“This is still the office.”

“You’re the one who started it.”

Suin had poked the nose of a sleeping lion, and though she weakly resisted, her movements were quickly restrained when Jaehee grabbed the back of her head.

His eyes flashed with a solemn intensity.

“Chief Lee Suin. You’re going to have to put in a lot of effort.”

His lips immediately descended upon hers.

“So that you can meet my expectations.”

His fingers slipped into her neatly combed hair, threading through the soft strands as he pressed their lips together without hesitation.

His tongue pushed in, claiming the tender flesh of her mouth before even that wasn’t enough, devouring her entirely. She was caught, bound, and sucked into him.

Suin’s fingers, initially resisting, pushed against his chest.

It didn’t last long.

She was utterly captivated by the overwhelmingly sweet and sinful kiss.

“Did you do something to be sorry for?”

“No!”

Despite her denial.

Her arms wrapped around his neck, her lips parting wide to receive him fully.

She found herself silently paying respect to the Chairwoman’s wisdom for enforcing her department transfer.

I’m sorry.

Chairwoman.

***

“The absence of Chief Lee will be too great.”

Despite Suin’s attempts to stop him, Kwon Jongin insisted on personally moving her belongings to the Chairwoman’s office, his expression filled with disappointment.

Meanwhile—

“Ahhh! Chief! I’m so happy you’re back!”

Hyun Jiye let out a scream of delight, paying no mind to Jongin’s misty-eyed sorrow.

“It’s reassuring to have you here, Chief.”

Oh Daehwi also grasped her hands, expressing his joy.

The announcement that Suin’s resignation had been revoked was delivered to the secretarial team directly by Woo Ilhwa, leaving no room for objections. There were some murmured pleasantries, but no real opposition.

“There won’t be any issues with Executive Director Seo’s remaining schedule, right?”

“No, Chairwoman. Intern Kwon will accompany him to his scheduled external meeting this afternoon, and the newly appointed Park Myungjoo will begin work in the Vice President’s office tomorrow morning.”

“That worked out well.”

Woo Ilhwa nodded approvingly, clearly satisfied with Suin’s efficiency.

“I expected Seo Jaehee to make a huge fuss. I thought he’d storm in here the moment he heard… What did you give him?”

“I calmed him down.”

The Chairwoman still looked a little suspicious, but Suin handled the moment smoothly.

“Well, I suppose Chief Lee took care of it.”

“Don’t worry.”

“Alright, let’s keep pushing forward.”

“Yes, Chairwoman.”

As Suin took the hand Woo Ilhwa offered her, she felt a deep sense of returning to where she belonged.

She had made the right choice in escaping.

Just today alone, Jaehee had kissed her so hard that her lips still tingled.

Finally, the freedom she had longed for. Independence at last!

***

With Chief Lee Suin back in the Chairwoman’s office, peace had finally returned.

Although there was one disgruntled executive over on the 39th floor, everything else was running smoothly.

And so, the vibrant days of summer arrived.

On this particular afternoon, Woo Ilhwa had deliberately cleared her schedule and was the first to leave the office.

“I’m leaving work early today.”

“Shall I accompany you?”

Suin, who had been busy preparing for Woo Ilhwa’s upcoming European business trip, paused.

“It’s personal business. Just finish up your tasks.”

“I understand. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I’ll be with my driver, so just meet me directly at Incheon Airport. You have a tight schedule as well.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, by the way, where’s Jaehee?”

“The Executive Director is currently en route and will be landing around 10 p.m. tonight. You should be able to see him when he returns home.”

Seo Jaehee had been in New York for the past two weeks, working on a collaboration project with the overseas branch.

The project had successfully concluded the day before, and he was expected to arrive back in Korea in just a few hours.

Unfortunately, Suin had to leave for Incheon Airport at 4 a.m. the next morning.

“I wonder if I’ll even get to see my son tonight?”

Woo Ilhwa’s skeptical glance at Suin was filled with doubt.

For the past two weeks, they hadn’t seen each other. And now, they were about to be separated for another ten days. Would Seo Jaehee really go home tonight?

Suin met her gaze confidently.

“Of course.”

She was sure of it.

***

As Woo Ilhwa exited the building, she smirked to herself, picturing her son in distress.

A part of her found it amusing.

She had allowed their relationship, and yet they had been so blatantly indulging in their romance that it was nearly unbearable to watch.

She had been contemplating ways to separate them, but after much thought, she had reached a conclusion.

To finalize that decision, she headed straight to Café Lime.

“Chairwoman, welcome.”

Jin Sukyung, startled by her sudden appearance, fidgeted nervously.

Now that Suin and Jaehee were officially dating, facing Woo Ilhwa had become increasingly difficult. She could barely meet her gaze.

To ease her discomfort, Woo Ilhwa gently took her hands.

“Madam Jin.”

Then, she smiled brightly.

“Let’s arrange a marriage between our families.”