vermilion. || nct taeil [COMPLETE]

chapter 4.

TAEIL'S OFFICE – MOON PUBLISHINGS, 8:27 AM.

"Thank you for the shirt, sir." Rin places a paper bag on Taeil's desk that morning, making him wince in embarrassment.

Taeil fixates his gaze on his laptop, refusing to meet his secretary's eyes. He clears his throat. "N-No problem," he responds awkwardly.

Rin actually wants to laugh at her boss' current state. It was her first time seeing him flustered and awkward around her. Most of the time he's always held himself high and mighty around her. But now... if he were a dog... his tail would've been in between his legs.

Rin was about to exit his office when Taeil calls her.

"Lee Chaerin." Rin pauses by the door as Taeil gathers the courage to look at her. He looks at something under his desk and pulls out a paper bag as well.

He stands up and walks over to her to hand it. "I'm sorry about your dress," he apologizes sincerely.

It was her first time to see him so... apologetic and soft?

Rin takes the bag from him and bows. "Thank you. You didn't have to have it cleaned," she says.

"Oh, no. That's new," Taeil says, blinking at her. "I had my sister buy it—I just based your size on your, uh, ruined dress."

"Oh."

Taeil scratches the back of his neck. "It's still in dry-cleaning by the way. I'll—I'll have it sent it to you once it's done," he informs.

"Thank—Thank you. You didn't have to buy me a new one, sir."

"Just—" Taeil raises a hand, his forehead scrunched up. He pins the bridge of his nose. "Just—Just let me regain my dignity. Or whatever's left of it."

"Okay..." Rin agrees but she doubts he has any dignity left. I mean, he cried about his ex the whole night...

"Okay. Okay, good. Get back to work." Taeil nods towards the door, dismissing her. He goes back to this chair to resume working as well.

"...Right." Rin then exits his office, going back to her own desk. She peeks at him, watching how concentrated he is at work. "Well, he still might have some dignity on him. As my employer, at least."

Rin smiles down at her paper bag as she opens it. She sees a piece of paper in it, and her jaw almost disconnects from her face. She stares at the receipt in horror then back at her boss.

"OH MY GOD?!"

MOON PUBLISHINGS – LUNCH TIME

Rin was having a mental breakdown over at Lucas' table while the latter was over at Jungwoo chatting about... dogs.

"I can't believe he spent so much on a dress!? What the hell?! Who does that?!"

Jungwoo blinks down at her then at Lucas. "What did Mr. Moon make her do now? Is she going to proxy for him at a convention again?" he asks.

"No. It's what Mr. Moon did," Lucas replies. "Gave her a really expensive dress or something. I don't know."

"Whoa—what?! What for?! He your sugar daddy now or something?!" Jungwoo's jaw drops as he stares at Rin, wide-eyed.

"No. He's—It's for the dress her ruined! He puked on me last Friday—"

"HE PUKED ON YOU!?" Jungwoo guffaws, losing himself into hysterical laughter as he topples over his desk.

Lucas stares at Rin in disgust. "He did what now?!" he hollers.

"SHHH! Shut up! Don't say it too loud!" Rin shushes them angrily. He tugs their collars down so they all squatted down, below Lucas' desk.