Internal Affairs | Lee Haechan

Head office

"Sir if you could just let me expl-"

"Jiayi, do not interrupt me" Haechan's father said sternly and she bit her lip, her hands balling into tight fists as he cut off the voice recording Yuki had sent him of her conversation with Haechan on the mountain m, turns out they weren't alone after all.

"Do you know how embarrassing it is for me to hear from an intern- your intern that you've been in a romantic relationship with my son?" Let's even leave the connections out of it, you've abused two of the main company policies. Someone in a manager position having relationships with someone at an intern level, it can and clearly was seen as power abuse" he said, interlocking his hands as his muscles tensed up

"I've never been this disappointed with you, and you didn't even make an attempt to inform HR" he said and she sighed

"We weren't going to let it affect work sir, we made sure of that-"

"Cut the crap Jiayi, you moved him to your office, do you understand that, you should be grateful we're not taking legal action here" His grandfather said, butting into the conversation condescending and she pursed her lips together, attempting to stop her leg from shaking under the table.

"Jiayi...you were a valued member of this company. I even decided to keep the hiring for the CEO position as an unbiased standard out of respect for you, this is breaching our company policies on a great level. We're presenting two options for you here" the CEO said, leaning onto the desk with his elbows as she felt lasers being drilled into her back from the Owner standing behind her.

"You either will be transferred to another branch in Seoul as the head of sales and marketing, however you will not be able to keep your managing title. Or you can keep your manager title and be transferred to an overseas branch...our office in Palo Alto-"

"Is this really a fair offer?" She asked, her voice getting small as she realised how disrespectful they were of all her previous efforts for the company, her worst fears coming to bite her from behind.

"We wouldn't have had to go to this length if it wasn't for you-"

"Just me? In my understanding there were two consenting parties for this affair, I'm the only one in the room right now" she said with her teeth clenched as she glared into the man infront of her, a man she trusted, a man she thought had her back.

"You were in a position of power-"

"And him being the CEO's son doesn't scream 'position of power' to you?" She asked but was immediately met with silence. She sighed, standing up to her feet immediately before her eyes darkened

"I'm sorry if I disrespected you by acting against company policy, that I can take responsibility for...but choosing to see your son with rose tinted glasses just showed me how biased you actually were despite all your efforts-"

"Jiayi-"

"Don't interrupt me." She said, her nails marking crescent moons on her palms as she balled up her fists

"The two options you presented don't appeal to me, so let me propose a third" she said, taking her company card out of her jacket pocket, laying it on his desk

"I quit." She stated and he sighed

"Jiayi...don't be rash."

"I'm not. I'm following my gut, for once. It makes me sick to think I work for a company that allows nepotism on such a level" she said

"I'll pack up and leave the office by Monday. We'll get it done quietly, no formalities and no legal actions from both sides." she said

"We'll still have to leave you with the managing role until the board meeting, but I also think you leaving the office until then is for the best" he said and she nodded

"Okay then. From now on, our relationship is cut. I want nothing to do with your company when all this is over" she said, walking towards the door to let herself out

"Are you sure about this?" Haechan's father asked as she approached the door.

"I've never been so sure about anything as much as I am now" She said with a scoff, swinging the door open and slamming it shut behind her.

Jeno sat up from his seat at the slam, rushing up to her as she met him with hands in the pockets of her pants.

"What did they say?" Jeno asked but she sighed, shrugging slightly.

"Let's talk in the car" she said and he nodded

"I'll drive you home" he said but she bit the inside of her cheek, not knowing if she could face her family after making a decision she knew they would be upset about

"Or we can go to mine?" Jeno asked, catching on to her her silence and she blinked up at him, internally thanking him for suggesting it

"Yeah...as long as you don't get mad at me for what I'm about to tell you as well" she said with a chuckle, walking with him towards the elevator, taking it down to where the car was parked at the main entrance and he smiled

"Try me" he said with innocent eyes as they got into his car to drive home

"I quit." She said, eyeing his smile falter as the words registered into his head

"Wh-why would you do that?" Jeno asked and she bit her lip at the slight judgemental tone that came from him. She wanted to open up about Haechan, there was nothing stopping her now. And if her and Jeno were to ever get serious he'd have to find out at some stage.

"They found out...about me and Haechan..." she said, not finding it inside of her to look at his reaction.

"Oh...oh." Jeno said, his back slumping against the seat softly as he pieced the information together.

"Is it over?" He asked, looking at her hands that were nervously fidgeting against her thighs. She took a shaky breath into her lungs, the words she had said to him on the mountain flashing in her mind before she exhaled her worries, trying to calm her restricted heart that was beating rapidly in her chest.

"Yeah...it is."