At Reese’s words, Ryan looked at the calendar on his desk.
There was only one spot circled on the plain white calendar.
“No.”
Ryan flatly rejected her, as if it were an absolute no.
“Okay. I’ll go.”
Instead of answering, Ryan nodded once.
Reese left with her shoulders drooping.
After a storm had passed, Ryan shook his head to relieve the stiffness in his neck.
Then he shifted his gaze back to the red circle.
His eyes, looking at the date, felt as cold as if frost had settled on them.
***
After Reese left, Alice blinked her pained eyes at the ceiling.
Ah, I think I’m going to lose my mind.
She felt like she might turn into a flatfish at this rate.
While Reese was there, all of Alice’s attention was focused on the two people in the office. She couldn’t concentrate on her work at all.
Alice was simply curious.
How did Ryan treat Reese?
She had never cared whether Reese or Assistant Genevieve was in the office, or any woman for that matter. So why was she suddenly conscious of it now?
“Secretary Alii, did Reese Div leave?”
Alice jumped at the sudden appearance of Genevieve, who popped her head in without a sound.
“You startled me, Assistant.”
“How could I not hear your heels? How many people are as noisy as you?”
Alice involuntarily frowned at Genevieve’s thin voice.
Ugh, I don’t want to hear this.
“So, did Reese Div leave?”
“Yes, she did.”
“Oh, what a pity! I thought I could finally see her today!”
Genevieve rolled her hands in disappointment.
Although Reese had visited Ryan several times, Genevieve had not been able to witness it for various reasons.
“I just wanted to see her face from a distance.”
Genevieve said she had been a fan of Reese since her unknown days.
Was it that people were drawn to their own kind? Now that she looked at it, the two of them seemed very similar.
“Next time she comes, make sure to let me know! Got it?”
Genevieve’s tone was sharp, as if she was annoyed and frustrated at missing Reese again.
“If you’re not busy.”
Alice shrugged in response.
Who is she telling to come or not? Nonsense, if she wants to see her, she should come on her own!
In conclusion, it meant she had no intention of telling her.
Understanding Alice’s words vaguely, Genevieve glared at her with wide eyes.
Then, as if she had discovered something, her eyes lit up.
“Secretary Alii, your hair is down, and your blouse is high-necked. It looks suffocating just to see it. Wouldn’t it be better to tie your hair up?”
Genevieve’s nagging had begun again.
Wondering how far it would go, Alice kept her mouth tightly shut and stared blankly at Genevieve.
“If Secretary Alii doesn’t dress properly, isn’t it a huge disrespect as the vice president’s secretary?”
Genevieve said, glaring at her with wide eyes.
“Right now, it’s Assistant Genevieve who’s being disrespectful.”
Alice raised her head, following the heavy voice that came from behind Genevieve.
“V… Vice President.”
Genevieve, who had been stiff and proud, automatically lowered her head.
“I’ve been hearing you criticize her clothes since last time.”
“……”
It seemed Ryan had also witnessed Genevieve frequently pointing out Alice’s clothing.
Alice, who had been suffocating in the air, swallowed hard.
“Even I, your direct superior, haven’t said anything, so who does Assistant Genevieve think she is to give advice to my secretary?”
As the cold words settled like fog on the floor, Alice’s heart raced.
Why was he stepping in to defend her?
Slowly or quickly, her heart raced irregularly, causing a tightness in her chest.
‘Why are you doing this, Vice President?’
He should have just ignored her like usual; why did he have to act in a way that stirred her feelings…
My secretary.
What was it about that one phrase that made her heart race?
“It seems like Assistant Genevieve’s attire is worse.”
Genevieve’s blouse, which had a deep neckline, seemed to be scolding her.
“Now, go downstairs and get back to work, Assistant Genevieve.”
The way her name was called at the end felt like a strong warning.
Genevieve bowed her head and only greeted him before quickly fleeing.
It seemed she had come to her senses after being properly embarrassed by Ryan.
Alice also needed to pull herself together, but her heart was still unsettled as she stared silently at Ryan with her mouth slightly agape.
The whole world turned white, and only Ryan filled Alice’s gaze.
Ryan cleared his throat, noticing Alice staring at him intently.
“What are you looking at?”
It’s you.
Somehow, it felt like her heart was going crazy.
Alice’s cheeks had long since turned red.
“I’ll be back.”
