"This is the editorial department where you'll be assigned."
Jiwoo's gaze lifted from the file she'd been reading. She hadn't even noticed that she and the person from Management who was showing her around had arrived at the department where she would be working from then on. Clutching the file close to her chest, she let her eyes wander around the room. She was a little nervous, it was her first job after all, but she tried not to let it show.
"I'll be leaving you here," the man, whose name was Woo-jin and who had also insisted she call him Woo-jin, carried on speaking. "The Editor-in-Chief of this department will teach you the ropes himself."
She quickly nodded. She couldn't wait to start her dream job. Woo-jin noticed and he grinned.
Then his gaze went over her shoulder and he suddenly yelled. "Hey, where are you going? I told you the new employee would come today, didn't I?"
Jiwoo turned to see who Woo-jin was shouting at and saw a man heading to the door.
"Show her to her desk, will you?" The man muttered with a yawn. "I'm taking a smoke break."
"Don't be rude," Woo-jin insisted as he passed by them. "Meet the new employee first."
With a groan, the man finally stopped walking and glanced over his shoulder. Jiwoo blinked. He didn't look like someone who could be the head of a department. He was a tall and lean man, wearing a ruffled suit and his black hair was so long and unkempt it covered his eyes and half of his face. His jaw was darkened by a day-old beard and he also looked like he hadn't slept in a week.
Jiwoo stepped forward and introduced herself with a bow. "Hello, I'm going to be working here from now on. My name's Jiwoo Jeon."
"Jiwoo Jeon?" The man repeated as he turned. He suddenly leaned forward and Jiwoo could almost swear he was squinting at her. "Why does that name sound so familiar?"
Woo-jin slapped him at the back of his head. "Because I gave you her resume last week?"
The man rubbed his head. "I didn't read it. I was busy."
"Whatever," Woo-jin sighed. Turning to her, he said, "Ms. Jeon, this is Tae-hyung Kim, your new superior. He might not look like it but he is a very efficient and hardworking superior. Well, most of the time."
While Woo-jin was introducing him, the man swept his hair from his eyes with his fingers. Black, piercing eyes stared back at her, narrowing until they were tiny slits.
"Have we met before?" he asked.
But Jiwoo could only stare.
***************
"I love you," Jiwoo blurted out, wringing her hands together.
A black haired boy stared down at her.
"I..." She swallowed and tried again, "I love you, Tae-hyung."
***************
"I-I don't think so, sir," Jiwoo murmured, trying to tamp down the urge to flee, hoping the horror she was feeling wasn't showing on her face.
Tae-hyung frowned. Then he turned to Woo-jin and patted his shoulder.
"I'm leaving first," he said. "Show her around while you're here, alright?"
"Damn it, Tae-hyung. I have a meeting in a few min - hey, I'm still talking!"
But Tae-hyung had already left the room.
Jiwoo stared at the door, her horror intensifying.
He was her boss.
Tae-hyung was her boss and she had to work with him and see him all the time.
Fortunately, he didn't recognize her. Unfortunately, she had to work with the man who was her first love and her first heartbreak.
"Come, Ms. Jeon," Woo-jin grumbled. "I'll introduce you to the rest of the editorial department."
Jiwoo stiffly nodded. Although she wanted so badly to quit right now, she couldn't exactly do that. She'll have to find a reason to quit. She'll definitely find a reason.
She couldn't stay here.