The Temporary Girl | JJK Short Story [COMPLETED]

EIGHT

This cannot be happening. Why on God's name did this happen to me?

Leaning against the back wall, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It wasn't enough that I could barely keep my eyes open, my stomach would start complaining soon and I felt more sticky and sweaty than I should.

Now I was trapped in a metal box, with my boss as company.

Opening my eyes back up, I saw him fish his phone out from his pocket, swiping his finger on the screen for a moment. Whatever he intended didn't seem to work out.

- I don't have signal and the internet connection is gone. – he mentioned, returning the device to where he took it. – I think we're stuck together for the moment.

- Doesn't anyone check the elevators or something? – I asked, praying the nocturnal guards would find us eventually.

- They do. But technically, there wasn't supposed to be anyone here at this time of night. And there is a power malfunction going on. – he explained, opening the button on his suit jacket and loosening the tie around his neck. – I assume we'll only be rescued in the morning or so.

- Morning? – I echoed him, not hiding my slight panic one bit. – We'll be here all night?

- It seems like it, Ms. Kim.

God, please no. I can't spend the whole night trapped in the elevator with this man. This is going to be torture.

Right then, he slid down to the ground and sat with his back against the wall, stretching his legs forward. I stared at the movement, absolutely not paying attention to how his pants seemed tight against his skin, or how his hair seemed more ruffled than when he had left this afternoon.

Why am I paying attention to that?

- I suggest you make yourself comfortable, Ms. Kim. – he muttered, tapping his hand against the floor beside him. – It seems like it will take some time.

Without much of a choice, I followed his movements and mimicked him, sitting down where he told me to, but not as closely as he indicated.

Placing my bag on the ground beside me, I removed the high shoes from my feet and stretched my legs too. The air was starting to get colder and I remembered I forgot my coat in the hidden closet beside my desk in my rush to leave.

So much for that.

As if on cue, a shiver ran down my spine, making me cross my arms in front of my chest. As if that simple gesture would keep the cold from reaching me. Obviously, it didn't go unseen by the man beside me.

- You don't have a coat? – he asked, turning his head to face me.

- I forgot it in the office's closet. – I stated, looking ahead of me.

I noticed movement from the man and then something was placed against my shoulders. My boss removed his jacket and was giving it to me.

- Mr. Jeon, there's no need to ...

- You're cold, Ms. Kim. – he said, arranging the fabric more firmly against me. – I don't make a habit of being a jerk to women on purpose. Plus, what good would it do me to have my temporary secretary on sick leave like my regular one?

Well, when he put it like that.

- So basically, I'm just looking out for myself. – he finished, a small smile on the corner of his lips.

Was he being friendly? To me?

- Thank you. – I whispered.

- You're most welcome, Ms. Kim.

I opened my mouth to speak and then closed it again. I wanted to know about him but was afraid to be too inquisitive. I had a bad memory from his words this afternoon, I didn't want to push my luck again.

- Ask away, Ms. Kim. I know you want to. – he said, rolling the sleeves of his shirt up and then placing his hands on top of his thighs.

- People say you're rude and that you don't care about others. – I murmured. It wasn't a question, but he understood what I was trying to say.

- You don't build the sort of empire I own by being kind and caring, Ms. Kim. – he explained, leaning his head back. – Especially when everyone dares and expects you to fail. I'm not rude, as you mentioned, on purpose. It's just that caring sometimes makes things more difficult to handle. People get the wrong impression about you, and I can't afford that.

- But being kind doesn't hurt. – I insisted, which somehow managed to get a chuckle out of him.

- No, it doesn't. But people don't have to know about it.

When I frowned, he turned sideways, facing me.

- My employees all make the same mistake. They assume that because I don't offer warm words of comfort, I don't know about their lives. But you have to understand, I'm the boss. I'm not supposed to be their friend. It doesn't mean I don't know about Mrs. Kang's husband's condition, Ms. Song's mother's sickness or even Lee Bora from floor twelve, who is going through a difficult divorce.

Looking at him and his clever eyes, I finally understood what he was trying to say.

- You want them to think those things of you. – I stated, the smile on his lips making another appearance.

- It's just easier to have them do their job that way. – he said, shrugging. – It doesn't mean I don't care.

Holding the borrowed jacket tighter against my body, I acknowledged the truth in those words. Here, away from everybody else, trapped in the chromed elevator, he wasn't the man he had been earlier. He was kind and easy to talk to.

Not Mr. Jeon, my boss.

But Jeon Jungkook, the man.

- While I seem to be in the mood to explain myself to you, let me apologize for the way I talked to you this afternoon. – he said, going back to his previous position, back against the wall. – I had some unpleasant things in my mind, and ended up taking them out on you. And yes, you were right, I asked for the wrong file before. I was wrong.

I knew it! I knew I wasn't crazy!

- Don't think this will become a habit because it won't, Ms. Kim. I'm still your boss and things will not change. – he assured me, his voice going harsher for a moment before dissolving back in its kinder version. – But for what it's worth, I'm sorry about today.

Unknowingly, I smiled. The man was not predictable at all. He was an enigma, a mystery to be uncovered. Protected behind so many layers. The boss, the man. The rude demeanor and the kind one.

The one who chastised me, and the one who apologized.

My boss, who had become all the more appealing and accessible in my sleep-clouded mind.

---