THAT SECRETARY

three

“a few companies from abroad had given us opportunities to expand our business in their landmark. today, i'm going to share the pros and cons of it, although i'm here to persuade that it's safe and beneficial for our company.”

i stay alert all throughout the meeting incase something—like a question—will be thrown in the meeting. i continue blabber about the debated topic whether to expand our business in specific states or not yet.

once i'm done, the stockholders applauded. i saw a glimpse of donghyuck from where i'm standing and i can tell he was quite impressed with me as well. my heart bursts in pride, knowing that.

“excuse me?”

fuck. my father's here again. and he's surely here to embarrass me despite him being the headmaster for this thought that our business should be globalized.

“yes...” i said in a bit of a sigh and a grit.

“what do you think about merging the ko's company and ours? in that way, we can successfully and we can make sure expanding our business would be safe.”

“it's not that easy to merge companies. there has to be some sort of connection—”

this old man must probably think i'd like to marry the ko's only daughter.

“no.”

“i'm not even saying anything yet!” he laughs, making the others laugh as well.

“anyway, if there are no more questions. meeting is adjourned.”

“good job.” jaehyun pats me from behind after cleaning up his desk. i just smile to him and mostly to everyone who came across me.

i'll have to wait for the votes of everyone and by then, if i truly persuaded them, i can finally and totally own this company.

“where's donghyuck?” my eyebrows furrow on it's own when i saw that no one is around me anymore. not a breath nor a shadow from donghyuck.

he just came back from work and he's leaving again?

i walk my way out of the meeting room and met him in the hallway. i sigh and walk towards him.

“yeah... is he okay? did he throw up or something?... the meeting just finished... i'm coming home as soon as i can... yeah, thank you jaemin...”

it was not my intention to eavesdrop but i heard it anyway.

“who threw up?”

he flinched as he turns his face to me.

“sir! you scared me! did they leave already?” he looks over my shoulders and sigh. “you did a good job!”

“i know, i did.” i snort. “you want to come home now?”

“i still have a lot of things to do. you know, because i was away for two weeks.”

“is he sick?” i ask hesitantly.

i don't know if it's the right thing to point it out though. i just know that it's probably haechan that he's referring to, earlier.

“i was not around for two weeks right?”

i nod. “that's right...”

“he got sick. very very sick. i had to take care of him.”

“well, is he okay now?”

“not totally, but good enough that i can leave him with others...”

that's sad. having to leave your son or daughter with other people just to work and provide their needs. it's even sadder to think that haechan is sick but donghyuck has no other choice but to work.