Chapter Three : an unexpected encounter
Jeongin had never felt this lighthearted in a long time.
After two years of only seeing Chan through phone screens and hearing his voice through late-night calls, finally being able to sit across from him, talk like old times, and even hug him—it felt unreal. It was as if the missing piece of his life had returned.
When he arrived home that night, he was still smiling to himself when his phone buzzed.
chan hyung<3:
Innie, let’s hang out this weekend. I want to spend more time with you.
Jeongin felt warmth spread through his chest as he quickly typed a reply.
Me:
Of course, hyung! I can’t wait!
He flopped onto his bed, still clutching his phone, grinning like a fool.
For the first time in a while, Jeongin felt like everything was going right.
**─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───**
The next morning, Jeongin arrived at work on time, as always. He got to his desk, turned on his computer, and began sorting through his emails. He had nearly forgotten that they had a new employee until a voice interrupted his concentration.
"Morning!"
Jeongin blinked and looked up. oh right. hyunjin.
Hyunjin was standing beside his desk, a friendly smile on his face. He looked energetic despite having worked late the previous night.
Jeongin gave him a polite nod. "Morning."
Hyunjin leaned against the desk slightly. "How was your evening? You disappeared so fast yesterday, I didn’t even see you leave."
Jeongin, not wanting to get into details, simply replied, "It was fine."
Hyunjin waited, expecting more. But when Jeongin didn’t elaborate, he sighed internally. of course. short replies again.
Still, he tried once more. "You know, I’m still getting used to this place. It’s a bit overwhelming."
"You’ll adjust," Jeongin said flatly, typing away at his computer.
Hyunjin exhaled, leaning back. what's with this guy? I'm just trying to be friendly.
Just as Hyunjin was about to give up and return to his own desk, the office door swung open, and their manager rushed in.
"Everyone, meeting room. Now," the manager announced hurriedly.
The employees exchanged glances before quickly gathering their things and following the manager. Jeongin and Hyunjin walked side by side, neither saying a word.
"Why the sudden meeting?" one of their coworkers whispered.
"Apparently, we have a new CEO," another responded.
Hyunjin raised an eyebrow. "That fast?"
No one had an answer.
They entered the meeting room, taking their seats. A tense silence filled the space as they waited. Then, the door opened again, and their new CEO entered.
He wore a sleek black coat, his sharp features unreadable. His aura was cold, commanding. The air in the room shifted immediately. Everyone straightened in their seats.
Hyunjin studied him curiously, but beside him, Jeongin went rigid.
His breath caught in his throat.
no way
Jeongin felt his chest tighten as his eyes landed on the man standing before them. The man whose gaze had just locked onto him.
lee minho
His ex-boyfriend.
The one who had left him without a word.
Jeongin’s hands clenched under the table as he struggled to breathe normally. He immediately avoided Minho’s gaze, staring at the table instead.
Hyunjin, sitting beside him, noticed the sudden change in Jeongin’s demeanor. His normally composed coworker looked tense, almost… shaken.
Curious, Hyunjin glanced between Jeongin and the new CEO. Do they know each other?
But before Hyunjin could say anything, Minho’s deep voice cut through the silence.
"Let’s begin."
And just like that, Jeongin knew—his peaceful life had just gotten a lot more complicated.
Minho stood at the head of the table, his sharp gaze scanning the room before he finally spoke.
"I am Lee Minho, your new CEO." His tone was cold, firm, leaving no room for pleasantries.
The employees exchanged glances, sitting up straighter in their seats.
"I won’t waste time," Minho continued. "This company has been underperforming. The sales have stagnated, the progress is slow, and the overall efficiency is lacking. That will no longer be the case."
A heavy silence settled over the room. Some employees gulped nervously.
"From now on, I expect complete transparency," Minho said. "Every single detail, every report, every change—everything will go through me. There will be no room for errors. Those who lack the discipline to meet these expectations will be fired."
His words cut through the air like a knife. The employees fidgeted in their seats, tension thickening.
"You have one month." Minho’s voice was unwavering. "I want to see a significant improvement in sales by then. There will be no exceptions."
With that, he stood up, buttoned his coat, and gave them all one last cold glance before turning toward the door.
"Meeting dismissed."
And just like that, he left, heading straight to his office without another word.
The moment the door shut behind him, murmurs erupted around the room.
"That was intense," someone whispered.
"He’s terrifying," another added.
"I can’t believe this is our new boss…"
Hyunjin leaned back in his chair, exhaling sharply. "Wow," he muttered under his breath. "That was something."
But when he turned his head, he noticed that Jeongin was already gone.
**─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───**
Jeongin gripped the sink tightly as he stared at himself in the mirror. His breaths came out uneven, and his fingers trembled slightly.
why did it have to be him?
He turned on the faucet, splashing cold water onto his face, hoping it would steady him. But the moment he looked at his reflection again, the weight in his chest didn’t lift.
Minho had left him without a word, disappearing from his life like their relationship had meant nothing. Jeongin had spent so long trying to move on, building himself up again, creating a new routine, a new life.
And now, just like that, Minho was back. Not just back—but as his boss.
Jeongin clenched his jaw. No. i won't let him ruin this for me
Whatever happened in the past didn’t matter anymore. Minho was nothing more than his CEO now, and Jeongin refused to let him back into his life.
Taking a deep breath, he straightened his posture, wiped his face, and stepped out of the washroom.
He would not break. Not again.
