The aroma of the delicacies spread in front of my eyes made me salivate. This was heaven.

I inhaled the mouthwatering smell and a voice called me from distance.

"What do you want, Miss?"

"I want to have Tteokbokki, Ramyun, Bibimbap.....", I continued, my eyes drinking the sight of the delicious food set up in the street food shop.

"What else, Miss?", The voice asked.

"I want to go on a long vacation nearby a beach.....Everything....will be so peaceful."

Ring Ring Ring

My food! No! Don't take my food!

Ring Ring Ring

Shit! No! I haven't even had a bite yet!

Ring Ring Ring

I am coming! I won't leave until I have you!

Ring Ring Ring

Thump!

Fuck! Ouch.

I woke up from a deep slumber by the sound of my ringing phone. I groaned in pain because of landing on the floor on my butt. Ouch. That shit hurt.

It was nearly midnight and I  was tired as hell but work is more important.

My food...This call could have waited until I finished eating.

"Yes Mr. Park?", I said hurriedly without even looking at the caller ID.

"Now, that's quite a greeting, isn't it Y/N? I am not your boss! Ugh, that bastard is always overworking you! Seriously at midnight?!", I heard the angry voice of my sister and I groaned internally, cursing myself for not checking the name first.

"Sis, oh, it's you... What's the matter?", I said, my eyes still half-closed.

"What's the matter? What are you asking Kim Y/N? How long are you going to work for that man? I don't think you have slept a wink the last 6 years."

I  was not ready for this conversation again.

"Don't talk about him like that. He is a good person."

"Good person, my ass."

"I don't have the energy to fight with you right now. I am hanging up."

"You aren't going to hand in that resignation letter, are you? I called you to ask about that. "

My throat went dry and I couldn't speak. I looked at the resignation letter tossed at one corner. It's been there for months. But I can't muster up the courage to hand that resignation letter, I don't know why.

It's been six long years I have been working for him. It's been six years since I haven't been able to enjoy holidays. It's been six long years I have been stuck by his side. It's been six long years I have been learning so much from that cold man who I know by heart. It's been six long years waking up till midnight to finish the work and to be always ready at his service.

But I can't bring myself to hand in that resignation letter, no matter how much the work was nerve-wracking. I just am not ready to leave his side...to see someone else as his secretary.

"I will hand it in soon. I promise.", I tried to assure her.

"I am just worried about you. When are you going to live your life for yourself?", My sister asked.

"Don't worry a lot. I'm good. I will hang up now. Bye.", I said and hung up before she could fire some more questions which I didn't want to answer right now.

Before I could collect myself from my conversation with my sister, my phone again rang loudly.

Hurriedly, I picked up the phone this time checking the caller ID. As expected, it was

"Mr. Park"

Who would even call me at midnight except him? My sister, only sometimes but his calls are on a usual basis.

I got up from my bed massaging my tired shoulders and picked up the phone. "Yes, Mr. Park?"

"Miss Kim, Come to my house now. Buy........", He was speaking but I quickly cut him off as I hurried towards the door.

I was always ready in case the workaholic called me at midnight to work.

"Two cups of Americano from Starbucks.", I finished his sentence.

"Good.", He said and hung up.

Before heading outside, I picked up the letter and tossed it inside my bag.

Now or never.

After getting outside, I hopped into the car that was bought by him since he saw how I always struggled with the buses to be on time. And most of the time, I had to use this car to be his personal chauffeur to drive him to places.

After that, I drove off, and getting the coffee to keep me and him up all night for work, I hurried to his house.

The gate of the mansion opened after the security guard saw me. I passed him a friendly smile before I headed inside the mansion.

Everything is too familiar. I know literally everything. I parked the car in the usual area and headed inside the huge mansion.

My eyes met the paintings on the way, whose description I knew by heart. Every furniture, every light, chandelier, I knew their brand, price, everything.

Working with him turned me to be more observant.

I got outside the room of Mr. Park. No matter how well I know him, his personality, the girlfriends he has had, his pets, his staff, he is firstly my boss.

And that boss-worker line will always be there no matter what. And I respect that line a lot.

I lightly tapped on the door. "Come in.", A reply came from inside and I slowly opened the door and got inside.

As usual, he was seated on the sofa typing furiously on his laptop. I took a place opposite to him, placing the coffee I had bought on the way, and took out my own laptop from the bag I always carried.

Silence engulfed the atmosphere but it was not an awkward one. I have grown used to it all these six years. It has turned out to be comforting and it feels like we can talk to each other without any words.

"Is this for the meeting with the investor from Russia?", I asked him.

"Yes, it is. Mr. Ivanov is paying a visit to the company soon and he is known for investing large sums of money in business projects. I want a deal with him and I can't let any other company snatch it from us. We can't let this golden opportunity slip away.", The ambition in his voice is loud and clear. He is so passionate about it. As expected from the workaholic.

People are addicted to alcohol. But Park Jimin is addicted to work. He lives and breathes in business. Ask him the share history of the Park Industries over the last decade and he can recite you everything in one go.

But ask him anything else other than business, he won't know shit. And that's where I come, his secretary. The one who balances his work and private life because sometimes, I think he even forgets if he has eaten lunch if there's not me.

I can see the facade underneath this cold demeanor. Beneath it is just an ordinary man who is vulnerable. I know all the sides of him and that makes me respect him even more.

Every staff in The Park Industries is afraid by one name. "Park Jimin"

Who wouldn't be?

He is a perfectionist who doesn't like any mistakes and if you make a mistake and he is somewhere near, you are fired.

He doesn't like people who waste time talking too much and working less. And due to this, you won't see a single person in "The Park Industries" slacking off.

He has to get his work done in his way and doesn't like people interfering in his business. If someone does it, they will have to pay a high price.

"Park Jimin" is that name that makes everyone shiver in the company. Everyone tries their best to be in his good books. Everyone knows how ruthless he can be.

And being his secretary for six long years?

Everyone asks me how I have never quit because before I was hired, he had already fired 23 secretaries. They ask how I can keep up with him. They tell me that I am perfect.

I remember that I wasn't that "perfect secretary" when I was hired. I wasn't and the beginning was harsh.

On my first day of work, I remembered how enthusiastic I was until he came. He came with stacks of papers and I had to study them.

It had everything about his likes and dislikes, from what he wants me to prepare for his girlfriends to how he wants me to make excuses about not arriving at the family gatherings.

I spent nights reading it, making notes. I was just 21 at that time, I had to pay my father's loan along with my sister who was still studying. My mom died when I was very small and our dad brought us up. He was a good father to us. But due to bad luck, the businesses he invested in always failed and the loans piled up. In the end, he also passed away because of his heart problems.

I had to sacrifice my own studies to earn.

I remember how many mistakes I made but surprisingly he had tolerated it. He knew about my financial condition.

So, I was even more motivated to prove that I didn't need his sympathy, that I could accomplish every work perfectly.

The language books I studied, Japanese, Korean, Spanish. How frustrating it would be when I couldn't remember.

I went to bed at midnight and didn't even get enough sleep when he called me to work. I was scared of myself because of how I didn't quit.

It was nerve-wracking. It was slavery.

But I had stomachs to fill and a loan to pay.

I couldn't let my guard down even once. But I learned many things in the way and I was thankful to him.

And now when my life was on track, when I had paid all the loans and when everything was going fine, why couldn't I hand that resignation letter?

But I had to do it. When would I enjoy life if I keep on doing this? Yes, the salary was great but I had forgotten the essence of life.

With a shaky breath, I finally said,

"I have something important to tell."

"What is it?", He said not looking up from his laptop.

"I want to resign.", I said pushing the letter to his side.

But nothing except a blank face met my eyes.

***

---Everybody has to leave, everybody has to leave their home and come back so they can love it again for all new reasons.---

I hope you liked the first chapter. Please vote and comment. Don't be a silent reader.💜💜💜