(Turn on the media for immersive reading.)

Hyein was walking towards Taehyung's apartment.

The sun was out and bright. It was a nice day with a warm breeze blowing through the trees. The neighborhood was pretty quiet, though it was probably past 8 by then.

It was then that she heard footsteps behind her.

At first, she didn't think too much about it, but after some time, it was still there. Taehyung's apartment was quite isolated; he didn't have any neighbors who would be living near him since he lived at the end of the residential area. So he was not a resident. Hyein gradually increased her pace, trying to put some distance between whoever was behind her. The footsteps were still behind her and it was now getting suspicious.

Perhaps, could it be...

Hyein walked even faster. Taehyung's house was right over there where she could clearly see it. She ran the last few steps and heaved a sigh of relief as she entered his property.

But then there it was again, the footsteps.

Hyein decided that she couldn't put off the inevitable again. Taking a deep breath, mentally bracing herself, she turned back.

"Why are you following me?"

Her pursuer was an elderly man, in his late 50s, wearing a blue uniform of sorts. He looked surprised at her sudden question but then he realized something as his eyes widened and he held up his hands in front of him.

"Oh no, I'm not a stalker. I-I am a cleaner at this apartment." The man awkwardly smiled as he gestured towards Taehyung's apartment. Oh...

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize it. I am so sorry." Hyein cried bowing down deeply to the elderly man, embarrassed as he smiled back knowingly.

"It's fine, I understand. I haven't seen you around before... Oh! You must be the new secretary?" He asked, smiling politely.

"Ah, yes. I am Lee Hyein. Nice to meet you." She introduced herself bowing down once again as the man nodded.

"I know, Taehyung told me about you." He replied smiling, " I am Oh Mansik, by the way. I come here often for housekeeping work." He replied, smiling as Hyein nodded politely.

The door of Taehyung's apartment suddenly swung open and there stood a fuming Taehyung, arms folded over his chest, glaring.

"Secretary Lee!" He called. He was in his angry mood today and she had somehow already angered him already.

"Yes, Mr.Kim?"

"You are twenty minutes late." He announced holding up his watch.

"You told me yesterday that you were going to take a half-day so I didn't have to drive you early today."

"Does that mean you can come late? Ms.Lee, are you looking down on me because I gave you a little bit of freedom?"

"Ah, Taehyung-ah, just let it go for this time. It was just a misunderstanding." The cleaner ahjussi defended but it did nothing to appease Taehyung's anger.

"Mr.Kim, I'm sorry. I won't repeat it again." Hyein replied, mentally cringing at herself. She didn't like bowing down to anyone and the jerk was getting angry at her over nothing. Calm down Hyein... If you act out right now, it will only get worse.

Taehyung stomped back into his apartment after giving her a final glare, expecting her to follow. Hyein gave a grateful smile towards the cleaner ahjussi who was nice enough to defend her against Taehyung. The ahjussi smiled back. "Don't worry child. He often has those little episodes. Just ignore them."

"I will. Thank you." Hyein replied, appreciatively. Taking a deep breath and preparing herself, she walked in after Taehyung.

His mood swings were no joke. So were his bouts of anger. Hyein was sitting as far from Taehyung as possible as he spewed out insults after examining the reports Hyein had submitted. Some papers went flying over his head, while others lay in torn shreds by his side and Taehyung had the scariest glare on his face. Hyein patiently took in all the insults, internally cursing at him as she sat there, eyes closed, keeping her temper at bay.

"Ms.Lee, are you even listening to me?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Then tell me why your quality of work is so insufferable?"

"I-I, that..." Hyein didn't know what to say. She had indeed done her best, and if Taehyung were in his right mood, he wouldn't even have bothered to look over them. Gulping down, she looked around, trying to see if there was anything that could help her out of this situation. She didn't find anything. She had to find one quickly or else she'll have to face his wrath.

"Taehyung-ah~" The cleaner ahjussi called. Hyein let out a sigh of relief. Her savior.

He came into the living room, holding a little well-packaged box addressed to Taehyung. "I found this by the doorstep." He said. Placing the box on the table in front of the couch.

"Ah, thank you," Taehyung replied.

"Well then. I am leaving, see you later Taehyung-ah, and Ms.Lee..." He said looking towards her, offering a kind smile, one that even looked sympathetic because she was stuck with Taehyung.

"Please, just call me Hyein." She replied, smiling back at the kind ahjussi as his eyes brightened up. "Alright. I will see you later then, Hyein-ah."

He waved her a little goodbye before he left.

Hyein looked back to Taehyung and found him trying to open the little box. It was hard considering how well packaged the box was. As Hyein observed the box, she found something strange. It didn't have a From address neither was it packaged by a company. That was a little odd.

Taehyung went up to the kitchen counter to retrieve his scissors as Hyein sat there wondering about the strangeness. And suddenly the realization dawned on her. The box was from someone who didn't want to know who had sent it. That must mean ... It was from the intruder.

Taehyung had almost opened the box and Hyein had to do something. Quickly she jumped up from her seat running up to him.

"No don't open it !"

Everything went by in a blur as she rushed up to him, quickly knocking the package out of his hands, and on the way, her leg got caught on the wire of a lamp light knocking her off her balance. The package flew out and hit a nearby wall, shattering its contents and something deep red that suspiciously looked like blood oozed out and the last thing she saw before she fell was crimson liquid splattering all over the wall before she closed her eyes bracing herself for the impact of hitting the cold hard floor.

Thud!

(Turn on the media for an immersive reading experience.)

Hyein had anticipated a hard impact, something strong enough to crush her nose as she fell face first and hurt her elbow but the pain never came. In fact, the floor almost felt soft, too soft for one made of hardwood and Hyein slowly opened her eyes.

It was then that she had realized it wasn't the floor she had fallen over. It was a human being. And that human being was now on the floor staring back at her half in surprise and the other half in misery as he grunted out in pain. And that human being just had to be a particular arrogant son of a chairman.

Kim Taehyung.

. . . .

Oh frick!