"Your eyes. Your eyes hold everything my soul thirsts for."
— Perry Poetry

With a better understanding of the old man's reasons and wishes, Seo Ara escorted Baekhyun's grandfather out of her office and towards the main entrance of the Catering Department.

As they walked quietly side by side, she could feel all 50 set of probing eyes—including that of the lead senior catering director—observe their every step. Despite wanting to meet their ogling gazes head on, she knew their curiosity was justified. She did, after all, receive a personal visit from the evasive GM—an unexpected visit that was shortly followed by the even more surprising presence of the hospitality giant's chairman himself.

This wasn't exactly how she pictured—nor wanted—her first day to go, but she knew from multiple firsthand experiences that things don't always go as one hoped they would.

So as calmly as she could, she ignored her co-workers' gawking eyes and respectfully bid her in-law goodbye.

When he was finally out of sight, the department's head director approached Ara with visible nervousness. The scene just now solidified her initial instinct to treat the new hire with the utmost respect. She desperately wanted to inquire about the individual's relationship with their superiors, but Baekhyun's indirect warning earlier and the fear of potential tattling filled her with hesitation.

Instead, she gently placed a light hand on Ara's arm and flashed a friendly smile. "General Manager Byun asked to see you in his office," she informed her, leaving out the fact that Baekhyun's assistant had sent the request more than fifteen minutes ago. It was an intentional act to see if her new hire comes out unscathed from the lion's den.

|| …………… ||

Ara quickly made her way to the 20th floor and past the glass entrance to the GM's office. Upon turning the corner, she was immediately greeted by one of his two assistants, who sprang to her pointed heels upon laying eyes on her.

"Director Seo?" the petite young woman inquired coldly, her icy and judging glare pinned on the new employee.

A confused Ara simply nodded. She didn't understand her rather hostile demeanor, but instead of confronting her, she just associated the woman's bitterness with the never ending pressure that came with serving their autocratic boss.

The secretary released a frustrated sigh upon receiving her calm response. "You're late," she spat out, "You were summoned almost an hour ago." She then made her way around their long white counter and led the newbie to the main office's double doors.

Summoned. Ara repeated mentally as she followed behind the woman's footsteps. How interesting, my womanizing husband really is a tyrant executive after all. She commented in silence, preventing herself from chuckling. Despite knowing the stated time was exaggerated, she looked back at the secretary and apologized. "I'll be more attentive next time," she added with a friendly smile.

"If you want to keep your employment for more than a day, I suggest you get your act together," the woman replied, ignoring her apology. She then pulled one of door panels open and gestured Ara in, accompanied with an eye roll.

|| …………… ||

With the quiet sound of his office door opening, Baekhyun looked up from the financial forecasts in his hand and set the hard folder down upon laying eyes on his wife. He then gave his lead secretary a slight nod, signaling her to leave them alone.

"You're late," he greeted with an unamused tone and furrowed brows. He hated nothing more than an employee with no regards for punctuality.

"I asked for you almost—" he continued, but Ara cut him off.

"Yes, I know, almost an hour ago," she finished for him, and added under her breath, "or so your secretary claims."    

Baekhyun's expression softened at her words. He knew he had been preoccupied with analyzing graphs and pro