Thin Line Between You & Me

Chapter one: A woman worth more than diamonds

Minji

My eyes shot up to look at the person who entered my office, my eyes catching sight of my secretary.

"You're late Ms. Pham, again." I said my voice bland as my eyes went back to read over some stupid document I had to get signed. "I...I'm sorry Ms. Kim, I won't do it again." I gave her a quick glance as I noticed her shaking a little, do I scare her?

"Ms. Pham, you've been my secretary for five years now, you do your job in pure excellence and you've always been punctual. If you need a couple of days for yourself you're more than welcome to take them, and the days off will be paid. You know I care about my workers well being." I said and she let out a shaky breath of relief.

"I know Ms. Kim, I promise that it won't happen again. Just a couple of rough mornings that all." She said as she gave me a bow. I looked at her with examining eyes. Something felt off about her.

Five years with Ms. Pham and never had she been like this. If anything she's been the one on my ass to get my shit together. She sort of in a way saved my ass from coming down with my company. Thank you, Hanni Pham!

And in these years, we felt more like friends. She was my secretary after all, she's usually where I'm at. When it comes to business trips or even some formal dinner down in the city, she's always there.

She's my second hand that I solely trust.

And it's only right for me to look after her every now and then. Or if I don't she will be my number one hater that she used to be. Sometimes I can't believe we used to go back and forth with each other like that, the non-stop bickering that would have us slamming doors, drawers, and even our phones!

She used to call me a heartless prick who was also a dickhead and a complete asshole that she wanted to grab and choke to death because I got on her nerves with my egoistical behavior that had her wanting to rip her hair off along with the fact that I was so self-centered and could never see my own mistakes and blah blah blah.

"Hanni, I've known you for a good couple of years now, this isn't like you. You know I'm more of your friend than your boss when we're alone." I said and she could only look down.

It feels as if I still don't know anything about her despite how close our friendship is. She's closed her personal life with me since the beginning, not like I minded. I respected her wants. And her privacy.

But in these few days, all I've been wanting is to get to see the Hanni Pham I know. The one that would be here at o'clock sharp ready to get started with her day and get on my ass for being lazy, and not the soulless woman in front of me who looked right about ready to break down.

And Hanni was right back then, I was an unsympathetic asshole with women, before Hanni, I was the worst person alive and I hate to admit it, but I was. I was truly the prick she used to call me. I deserved every insult she threw at me.

Within the time I've known her, she taught me well and fixed my flaws. And now I truly realize it's not about how many women I have, it about the value that only one can hold. And I've learned to care properly too, even though I'm really starting to think that it's only with her.

"Minji, you don't have to worry. I'm perfectly fine and I'll be on time from now on." Now, I have ears, I know when something's off with her, just from listening to her. I guess you could say that my ears picked up on her emotions. And right now, it's clear that's something is off.

And then the way she worded it...yeah I'm not convinced.

But she doesn't want to tell me, I understand that we're falling under the boss and secretary dynamic, but I can't help but worry about the only person in my company that has managed to deal with my ruthlessness. "Hanni, please. Don't hesitate on asking me for days off, you know I have Hyein who can do the whole secretary thing too." I said and she shook her head at me.