Ch#43
43. Need a New Man?
"Two things?"
Kang-woo asked back, wondering what she meant by that. Na-eun smiled and said quietly.
"Yes. A trusted employee betrayed you, which is a betrayal of the company. So that must hurt. And it must hurt to demote someone after using them."
He had no idea how this woman could see right through his heart like this.
"A company operates through people, right? But when work becomes the center, sometimes people feel like accessories. Especially during personnel changes."
Na-eun buried her face in his chest at his words and said.
"That's why I like that you're aware of it. Everyone says things that happen at the company are just natural for profit. But recognizing that makes you a good manager."
"That's really comforting."
Kang-woo pulled Na-eun into his arms with gratitude and affection.
"Get some sleep. I don't even know what time it is."
"Can I sleep here?"
"Go up before the kids wake up."
Kang-woo laughed at that.
"Yes, got it."
Both of them drifted off to sleep easily. The intense lovemaking they'd just shared made it even easier. Even in sleep, Kang-woo held Na-eun's hand tightly.
The next day, Na-eun woke up earlier than Kang-woo. It was her usual wake-up time. As soon as she got up, Kang-woo woke up too.
"Is it time for me to go up?"
"Isn't this around your usual wake-up time?"
"It's about 30 minutes early, but yeah, around now."
Kang-woo kissed Na-eun's cheek as she sat up.
"You look even prettier in the morning light."
"No way. My hair's all messy right now."
"Not to my eyes."
Kang-woo grinned as he said it. Mornings were like a battlefield. Dressing two kids, feeding them breakfast, dropping them at kindergarten, and heading to work—it was chaos.
By the time Na-eun arrived at the kindergarten, there was an unfamiliar car parked there. The teachers' cars were few and mostly modest, but this one was a vivid red.
"Haven't seen that car before. Did a parent come this early?"
As Na-eun took Ji-ho's hand to head to the entrance, Ha-young got out of the car. Stepping out of the shiny new car, Ha-young looked glamorous, like she was about to face a camera. She smiled slightly at Na-eun and waved.
"Na-eun."
Na-eun glanced at Ha-young and pointed at the car.
"Sis, new car?"
Ha-young nodded with a relaxed smile.
"You know I change cars often. Celebrities can't drive the same one forever."
At that moment, Ji-ho greeted Ha-young politely.
"Hello, Aunt."
Ha-young looked at Ji-ho fondly and nodded.
"Our Ji-ho's grown so much. We saw each other last time, right? At the amusement park."
Ji-ho nodded and replied.
"Yes."
Na-eun looked down at Ji-ho gently and said softly.
"Ji-ho, go inside first, hang up your jumper, and play with the blocks."
Ji-ho nodded, greeted Ha-young once more, and went into the kindergarten. As soon as Ji-ho's figure disappeared, Na-eun looked at Ha-young suspiciously.
"You stopped by to talk about Ji-ho? What, going to take him and raise him?"
Ha-young grimaced and waved her hands quickly at Na-eun's words.
"I told you not to say that. From the day we put him on your household registry, Ji-ho's your kid."
Na-eun frowned slightly and stared at Ha-young. Her expression was full of wariness, unable to open up easily to Ha-young's purposeful demeanor. Ha-young ignored Na-eun's gaze, a smile on her lips.
In truth, Na-eun was relieved by those words. As the child grew, she feared Ha-young might one day claim to be his biological mother and take him away. But knowing Ha-young had no such intentions put her at ease.
"So why'd you come? This early."
Na-eun glanced at Ha-young with puzzled eyes.
Ha-young sighed and tilted her chin up slightly.
"You don't pick up my calls. Or Mom's. Figured you'd come to work."
Na-eun crossed her arms and looked away.
"Nothing much to say, so I didn't pick up. And I won't give money even if you ask."
Ha-young snorted at Na-eun's words, then suddenly pulled her wallet from her bag.
"I'll give you money."
Ha-young opened her wallet as if to take out cash.
Na-eun stared at her, quietly probing the hidden intent.
"What's this? Offering me money. What do you want to talk about?"
Ha-young paused, then slowly closed her wallet with a faint smile.
"About your CEO."
Na-eun laughed in disbelief and shook her head at Ha-young's words.
Ha-young shook her head as if she hadn't heard.
"My CEO? My CEO's the director."
"Not that one. You know our company CEO well, right?"
Ha-young stated it without hiding her intent. Her eyes seemed to pierce Na-eun sharply.
Na-eun froze for a moment, narrowing her eyes in a flustered expression as she looked at Ha-young.
"What?"
Na-eun immediately realized who Ha-young meant by 'CEO.' It was the man she'd been holding in bed just hours ago—Kang-woo. Her heart pounded, tension gripping her throat as she swallowed hard.
"I'm not the parent of the kid I teach, so how well would I know his uncle?"
Na-eun tried to sound calm, but her voice wavered slightly.
Ha-young smiled leisurely at her words and tilted her head.
"Close enough to go to an amusement park together?"
Na-eun shook her head and forced a smile.
Na-eun tried to speak confidently, but Ha-young's suspicious gaze made her breath shorten bit by bit.
Ha-young didn't drop her suspicion. She leaned in, smiling faintly as if seeing through Na-eun.
"Is that so? From what I saw, you seemed close."
Na-eun felt exposed and avoided Ha-young's eyes. Ha-young's sharp gaze felt aimed right at her.
Na-eun stared piercingly at Ha-young and demanded.
Ha-young's voice carried suspicion, as if testing Na-eun.
"No. Do you only work with close people, Sis? You work with clients too. He's the parent of the kid I teach. He came as a guardian that day since no one else could. How could we be close?"
Ha-young thought as she looked at Na-eun. That day, from afar, the four of them looked so close no one would doubt they were family.
"You here to check how close I am to the company CEO?"
Ha-young laughed arrogantly and replied leisurely.
"Yeah. And to ask for your help."
Na-eun frowned and replied coldly.
"Help? How am I supposed to help you anymore, Sis? I'm just a poor kindergarten teacher."
Ha-young hesitated briefly, then shrugged coolly.
"I was in a relationship with one of our company directors."
Na-eun's eyes widened, her mouth clamping shut before she cautiously asked back.
"'Was'? Past tense. So you broke up. What, were you going to marry him? Did he hurt you?"
Ha-young just shook her head expressionlessly.
"He's married. We couldn't marry anyway."
For a moment, Na-eun was so shocked her mouth dropped open. She couldn't believe Ha-young's words or know what to say. She sighed and barely opened her mouth.
"You can't have a relationship with a married man. Isn't that a morality issue?"
But Ha-young shrugged nonchalantly. Her expression said it was no big deal, filling Na-eun with deep disappointment and bewilderment. Ha-young then glared at Na-eun irritably.
"What era do you live in with that mindset?"
Na-eun sighed in disbelief.
"No matter the era, you have to respect each other's promises. A married man should devote his life to his family."
Ha-young waved her hand dismissively and turned away.
"Whatever. I didn't come to hear that outdated nonsense."
