What's Wrong With Assistant Kang?

12. Endearment

And so, Jumin Han was forced to go talk with this strange woman his father was referring to. He rubbed his temples, clearly annoyed, before opening the door and stepping out of the room with long, resonant strides.

His assistant immediately came to mind as he walked down the office and he called her loudly enough that she would be able to hear. "Assistant Kang!"

Jaehee's head quickly popped out from behind desks and papers, Mi-Cha next to her. "Mr. Han? Is there something wrong?"

"Accompany me, please," he requested coolly, glancing at her from his side and waiting for her patiently.

"Of course!" Jaehee got up from her chair and went after Jumin, remembering the confused intern and reassuring her, "I'll be back soon, please stay here meanwhile."

Mi-Cha nodded with a forming smile. "Okay. Good luck."

..

"So, what's happening?" Jaehee asked while they walked down the hallway as fast but as composed as they could, side by side.

"Echo Girl." Jumin couldn't help but sigh stressfully. "Father wants me to deal with her."

"Echo Girl? Wait-" The petite woman's honey eyes widened in realization. "Wasn't she the delusional girl who got kicked out from the building?"

Jumin turned around with puzzlement. "What did she do?"

"I think she got really angry at the employee who works in the front desk and threatened to sue us..." Jaehee absentmindedly scratched her cheek, as she nervously informed him of the tantrum.

And for some reason, Jumin couldn't help but think her expression was cute. Just her expression. Still, it was somehow impossible for him to stop staring at her.

"Hm, Mr. Han... Are you okay?" Jaehee questioned with a raised eyebrow. That's when Jumin realised his cheeks were burning and his heartbeat had increased somehow.

But luckily for him, Echo Girl just happened to appear right in front of the two with a jumpscare.

"Jumin! You don't know how happy I am to finally see you!" said girl squealed with shiny eyes before going straight for Jumin's arm. "I knew you'd come to my rescue!"

Needless to say, Jumin felt extremely uncomfortable and efficiently shook her off. "Instead of me, thank my father. What is it that you wish from our company?" he asked, rather irritated.

Echo Girl managed to pretend she just hadn't been rejected and smiled smoothly at him. "The position as your personal assistant, Jumin!"

Jaehee flinched at the request, and quickly glanced at Jumin to see what his reaction would be. This girl was clearly a big celebrity that was pretty, confident and very, very rich... compared to her, she wasn't much.

But Jumin didn't care about any of that stuff, and Jaehee sighed in relief. "I apologize, but that position is taken," he told her deadpan.

"Hmph! I'm sure it can be arranged- Hey, who's that woman next to you?" she tilted her head until her eyes met with Jaehee's surprised ones.

"My assistant," Jumin said, getting in between the two and blocking her line of sight.

"Pft!" the long-haired brunette held back a laugh. "What? That girl is better than me?"

"Yes, amazingly better," the tall man quickly responded with no hesitation. Jaehee stared at him in awe, still unbelieving of what he had said with such confidence and affirmation.

Jumin's arms were crossed and his head was leaning forward, as if to tower Echo Girl even more. His raven black hair created an illusion of brown hues because of the sunshine coming out from one of the nearby crystal windows.

How... how was he so effortlessly handsome? And why was she thinking of that of all things?

"How strange..." Jaehee resolved to shaking her head to get rid of the thoughts, as she knew they were something that wouldn't be appreciated.

Suddenly, she felt a familiar hand on her shoulder. "Come on, Assistant Kang, let's guide her to the office," he said softly, making Jaehee even more confused.

"The office?"

"Weren't you listening to our conversation just now?" He blinked in sincere bemusement, tilting his head to the side a little (which looked quite endearing, Jaehee had to admit).

She had to shyly shake her head as a no, embarrassed she had gotten distracted.

"We came to an agreement that Ms. Choi would work here as a normal employee..." Jumin muttered sounding defeated and a bit resentful.

"Huh?!" Oh, great. More interns. And this one didn't seem to like her in the least...

..

Echo Girl, or Ms. Choi as both Jumin and Jaehee resorted to calling her, jumped up and down in excitement. Even though she didn't get the assistant position, this was still quite decent!

And to make it better she was sure Mr. Chairman, a.k.a Jumin's dad, would do anything to keep her happy, and that included matchmaking his son with her. She chuckled malevolently while rubbing her hands together.

Kyungju Choi just needed a good plan.

"I'll tour you around the office," Jaehee told her with a wavering smile, trying to sound as friendly as she could.

Seeing that Kyungju just stared at her without a response, she complied, nodding at her to follow. Then she heard Jumin sound really worried.

"Excuse me?" he uttered in a dangerously low voice as he spoke to the phone he was holding in his left hand. "Father... You can't be serious..."

Echo Girl immediately forgotten, Jaehee timidly approached Jumin, slowly reaching out her hand for him. "Hm, Mr. Han?"

"Huh?" Jumin's anxious silver eyes shifted from the floor to Jaehee; and his shoulders visibly relaxed.

He kept his gaze on hers for a second before going back to attempting to reason with his unreasonable father. "I... We can finish discussing these matters more privately. Goodbye." He hung up.

Then, he marched down the room seeming quite conflicted, passing by both women in a whoosh.

"Wait!" Jaehee couldn't help but cry out, her raised hand moved by itself and, before she could stop it, was holding tightly into Jumin's arm.

Both people were astonished at her bold move, but also speechless as they stared at their linked hands.

"M-mr. Han-" Jaehee stuttered, whole face brightening. She took a deep breath to compose herself from the blushing mess she had become. "I'll go with you," she stated firmly, not accepting a no for an answer.

Jumin was still staring, but he wasn't angry. Or disappointed. Or any other more likely response Jaehee had expected. Instead, he was thankful. He was looking at her with sincerely pleading eyes.

He was vulnerable, and that was something extremely rare for Jumin Han to show. After all, everyone thought he was an emotionless shell. But she knew he was more than that.

And she wanted to help him.

Jumin turned around, and kept walking forward, still taking a hold of Jaehee's tiny hand as he gently but steadily lead her out of the office.

If looks could kill, the one Kyungju threw at Jaehee would have been deadly.