Before the story starts, the author has something to say!

I don't support scheming or pretending to be somebody you're not just to make the person you like like you back. I am just using it as a plot-driver of this story. It's always better to show your true self in relationships, don't you think? This way, the relationship would be genuine!

***

Valentines day at S Company.

"This is so stupid. I should've been on a date with my boyfriend right about now, but instead I'm rotting here,"

Hana turned to look at the woman complaining beside her. Her name was Sue, a woman in her mid-20s. Within the three months of working with her, Hana could only describe her as a person with beautiful curly hair and a loud mouth.

"You're not the only one who's been stolen precious time from. Even Edith over there had plans with her fiancé."

"Ugh,"

Hana almost rolled her eyes at Sue's groaning. If you wanted to go on tons of dates so much why don't you just go ahead and resign, but of course they weren't that close for her to say out loud.

Hana gathered the printed-out files that had been sent to her to the next room to get it punched with holes and put it into folders. After doing so, she went to knock at Hubert's door.

"It's Hana."

"Come in," A muffled voice from the inside came, and she took it as cue to come inside.

Hubert's office was messy as usual. It hasn't been even a day since she last cleaned the place, and now another pile of documents were sat on a corner, and the chair for guests was even occupied by binders stacked on each other.

"Here are the reports that you requested to be printed out."

"Good, good, put it right there."

Hana frowned. "Where?"

There wasn't even a place on his office table.

"There, on top of the binders,"

Hana could only sigh as she worried whether the printed-out reports would get lost somehow.

Even though it was supposed to be a holiday, the company still made them work their usual shifts. It wasn't a problem for Hana since she was a single dog, but for those who aren't and initially had plans for today, they spent the day feeling bad. She had to endure their whining until it was ten o'clock pm.

"What did you say? General manager Rossmann would take us out for dinner?"

"No, company dinner." Jake, from floor five who just arrived to tell them the news, nodded. "Valentines company dinner."

"Are you kidding me? And now I have to cancel my valentines dinner with my boyfriend,"Sue almost cried.

Just when they were about to be let off, here came this. Hana could sympathize with her coworkers who just wanted to go home. She wanted to just sink in her white mattress and sleep, doesn't matter if she'd change clothes. She was that tired.

And so, after cleaning up, they all headed towards the nearby restaurant just as instructed.

The restaurant was a 4-star buffet. When they've arrived, surely everyone inside was an employee of S Company.

"They really went all out and rented the whole place, huh,"

Hana took the lead and went to find an empty table for their team, but after going around, there were only empty chairs in different tables. Since they were a tad bit later than the rest, they had no choice but to go scatter ahead and sit with another team.

"Hana, sit here!"

She searched for the source of Hubert's voice and found that he was sitting on a table at the farthest back of the restaurant. While she was reluctant sitting with him and his friends, she still went. It was Hubert who called her, afterall.

Hubert had pulled the chair beside him for her, and she gave him a smile as thanks.

"Do you want me to introduce you to them?" Hubert asked. But before she could answer he already turned to his company.

It was a pretty long table. Hana's eyes raked through the people she could see, and the ones who had their eyes on her gave her a smile, to which she returned.

"Everyone, this is Hana, my assistant."

"Hello, Hana,"

"Hi,"

"Nice to meet you,"

"Likewise,"she could only smile wide, crinkling her eyes into crescent moons.

"Hana? Like, Hannah Bailey, the actress?"A guy had joked. At the mention of the film empress, the people at the table laughed at this, including Hana.

"Hana, Hana Lin," She 'corrected', leaning forward to show herself chuckling along.

Because he was seated two seats away from Hubert(who was at Hana's left side), she didn't have the opportunity to look at his face, and realize that this guy had beyond average looks.

Very beyond average, in fact, she had thought she deluded herself into seeing an angel. Wavy strands of hair shadowed his creamy white-skin that reddened at the area of his cheeks and the tip of his nose due to alcohol. His long lashes trembled slightly when they met eyes.

If she were to pick a word to describe him most... it wasn't 'handsome', but beautiful. It was indeed like that of an angel; pure and soft.

This was ridiculous. How can there be a human being who looked this celestial?

It seemed like she had stared so much to the point Hubert, who was beside her, had to cough like he had swallowed in the wrong pipe.

"Looks like another one has turned into Kris' victim."He chuckled, and the others followed suit in his teasing.

"As expected of Kris,"

"This rascal's face always causes trouble,"

"Now we know miss Hana's type,"

Heat crawled upward her face as she laughed her embarassment off. "He's just too good-looking. As a woman, I got ashamed for a moment,"

Hearing her humorous self-deprication, she was automatically regarded as a fun person by the people at the table and they became more relaxed and welcoming towards her.

They spent the night away laughing and chatting under the influence of alcohol. Hana eventually became distracted from Kris as she listened to the woman before her talk about her kids at home, but little did she know, a pair of eyes discreetly observed her every action.

-

Holy shit. My head hurts so fucking bad.

Hana cradled her 'pulsing' forehead with her hands. It hurt so much to the point where she couldn't even join conversations anymore as she concentrated on making the pain ache less.

She'd thought that she'd be pretty okay when it comes to alcohol tolerance, but she seemed to have overestimated herself. Only five cups in and she was already a mess. Or was it the alcohol? She had no idea what brand it was, how strong it is.

"Hey, are you okay?" After a solid 30 minutes, Hubert had just noticed his little assistant being ridiculously quiet.

"...I think I have to go home."

Hubert understood that she was clearly feeling sick, and announced to everyone that she'd be leaving first.

"How will you get home?"

"Are you sure you don't need a ride?"

"It's alright. I'll just call for a taxi." she dismissed the polite offers and stood up. She can no longer endure the stench of mixed liquors and fried food, she had to get out of the restaurant before she barfs.

Once she went out, she breathed in the cold night air and immediately her mood became slightly better. She leaned at the near lamppost as she brought out her phone to get a taxi, but a voice spooked her out of her wits first.

"I'll drive you home."

She turned around abruptly and sighed in relief after seeing a familiar face. "Sir Kris."

Examining his face once again, her heart shook. Under the orange-ish light of the lamppost, his face glowed like it was illuminated by the sunset. Again, brilliant. Beautiful.

"Stay here while I get my car."

Before he could even leave, she immediately shook her head.

"Oh no! I dare not to. I'll just call for a taxi."

"Are you sure?" He frowned.

"I'm not drunk. My head's just hurting." She gave him a small smile in assurance."I could take care of myself, so you can go right ahead."

She could not just take up the offer of being driven home by a person—a superior, that she had just met that day. First reason was that she was really embarassed about the state her house was in. It was undergoing construction so everywhere was dirty, with cement blocks everywhere. Second reason was that, even though a person was attractive, you wouldn't know their intentions. The only people she'd trust to give her address to would be online stores, definitely.

He still had his pretty face crumpled in concern, and at that moment Hana almost offered him a ride instead.

"If it makes you feel at ease, you wouldn't be accountable of my death."Hana joked, and at this, his expression finally laxed.

"If you really insist... but know that you're not allowed to refuse next time."He gave her a small smile, before walking away to the parking lot.

As his figure slowly vanished from her sight, she couldn't help but chuckle.

"Next time...as if."

-

hanamari uploaded a new post!

hanamari

Today I met an angel at our company dinner. I have been humbled to the extent of wondering whether I had the right to breathe the same air as him.

A smile graced the man's lips as he read the post.

Hanamari...

She was a user who has 10k followers on Instagram. An influencer who posts pictures of herself with the most whimsical lens and editing. Ever since Kris saw a picture of her at an ad, he scrambled to find her social media handle and even went as a far as to even make an instagram and twitter account just to follow her.

Today was Valentines. He had no plans for himself, so just like last year, he let himself be dragged to the usual restaurant the company always arranged in whenever there's any event.

When he downed his first shot, he had thought that the night was set off to be a long one.

Until she came over.

"Everyone, this is Hana, my assistant."

He blinked, as he stared at the newcomer at their table.

Long black hair that draped over her face like a veil. She wore huge thin-rimmed square glasses, but the mole underneath the corner of her right eye was still visible. She gave all of them a small smile that seemed coquettish, but lovely all the same.

It was her. There's no mistaking that the woman before him was the flesh and blood of hanamari, the woman who he has been following online for the past year.

She greeted everyone with a smile and a small nod, and he couldn't help but want to catch her attention.

"Hana? Like, Hannah Bailey, the actress?"

Finally, she turned to look at him. "Hana, Hana Lin."

But what's this?

"Looks like another one has turned into Kris' victim."

"As expected of Kris,"

"This rascal's face always causes trouble,"

She looked like she was in a trance for a second, and once she snapped out of it, she laughed. "He's just too good-looking. As a woman, I got ashamed for a moment,"

Too good looking? His lips curled into a smirk. It really was a wonder for him to hear the voice of the woman who he had just saw posing behind the screen compliment him.

Throughout the night, she interacted with the others warmly but at the same time, politely. She seemed to know that the table she was in at the moment was all occupied by her superiors, so even though she exchanged playful banter with them, she dare not cross the boundaries of a lackey.

He didn't expect her to be this kind of a cautious person, but that doesn't mean that it was a bad thing. Kris actually found this amusing.

Before he knew it, she went outside after bidding farewell, and he caught himself catching up to her.

"I'll drive you home."

The act of her jumping a bit in shock was such a funny thing for him, his eyes had a hint of laughter, which she failed to notice.

"Sir Kris."

By now she was red all over, from her cheeks up to the tips of her ears. Even her lips was red and plump after eating a lot of the spicy chicken wing.

He frowned. Such a tempting appearance, wouldn't someone take this chance of weakness to pounce on her?

"Stay here while I get my car."

Before he could even leave however, she immediately shook her head.

"Oh no! I dare not to. I'd just call for a taxi."

"Are you sure?" It was more of a question to himself than to her, to be honest. Was he really going to leave her alone to her own devices?

"I'm not drunk. My head's just hurting." She gave him a small smile in assurance."I could take care of myself, so you can go right ahead."

Isn't it still the same? A woman as frail and thinly as her infected with a headache, would she be able to fight off a huge burly man with nasty intentions?

"If it makes you feel at ease, you wouldn't be accountable of my death."Hana joked, and at this, he could only sigh at her stubborness.

She seemed to be a person who treasured privacy, personal space, and pride more than anything else. Such a person, he'd rather not force. Besides, it was their first time meeting, so it was understandable for her to be uncomfortable with him.

Someone who's on their guard always... wasn't that a good thing?

Like a cat who's always wary, even if it was at its own home.

Unbeknownst to him, a small smile slowly formed at his lips.

"If you really insist... but know that you're not allowed to refuse next time."

-

hanamari uploaded a new post!

hanamari

random q&a because i have nothing to do. i'll answer as many as i can :D

Kris thought for a moment, before his fingers start to type a question he had initially wanted to ask her in person.

skribo

what do you look for in a partner?

Surprisingly, the reply came fast. Not a minute had passed and he could already see the reply to his comment.

hanamari

you mean, ideal type?

i don't require much, i simply prefer someone who's dog-pure*.

(*Dog-Pure = level of naivety/innocence is like that of a dog's)

The eagerness in Kris dissapitated in the air like water vapor.

What do you mean 'don't require much', a dog-pure person does not even exist in this world! If there ever was, Kris would cut his arm off.

He shut off his phone in disappointment. By now he could only see black, but eventually, he stared at the reflection of his face from the phone's glass screen.

She did say that he had a face like an angel.

And angels do seem like nice people. The type of person who wouldn't hurt a fly even if someone put a gun beside their ear.

Because of his face, did her first impression of him meant like this?

The crinkle between his brows finally smoothened, and he comfortably leaned back on his couch with a dazed expression.

-

Hana widened her eyes at the news brought upon her by Hubert.

Earlier this morning, she received a call from him. He vaguely told her to come to work earlier than usual, and she did precisely that in hopes for a raise. But if she only had known that she'd lose her job instead, she would've went with less enthusiasm!

"You've resigned? For real?"

Where was she to go if he leaves? She was hired independently by him, naturally her fate would be in his hands. Now that he's going, wouldn't that mean that she'd have to go as well?

"Yes. So I want you to clear out the office for me."

She was still restless. Yes, she was a social media influencer at the side, but she still had huge debts to pay, and not to mention it was the start of March—her WiFi, electricity and water bills were about to come. She went closer to him and dared to exchange looks with him using watery eyes.

"Is it really final? Do you really have to go?"

Hubert's spine chilled as he heard her use a coquettish tone with such questionable words.

"...you don't want me to leave?"

"I don't!" She really doesn't.

His pupils shook before he loudly sighed at her.

"Look, I don't want to say this but,"he paused to give her a look that somehow stems from pity."I am already a married man."

What?

Suddenly bragging about his marriage? Here she was about to lose her mind because of the fact of her being unemployed soon, was he treating her like a joke?

"Is that important?"she said in aggravation.

"I love my wife very much."

Hana thought that she had finally got what he meant. Does he love his wife that much to the point he had to resign in order to spend more time with her? To make another lose their job? Wow, not only was she fed dog food*, she was also forced to see how people with lots of money live their lives smoothly!

(*comes from the expression 喂狗粮 (wèi gǒu liáng) ‘To feed dog food’ – A couple show love in front of single people)

Meanwhile, Hubert on the other hand also misunderstood. Her eyes seeming to beg for him not to go, her looking offended when he brought up his wife. He didn't know that the young-woman-from-work-seduces-married-man trope from dramas would actually happen to him, and precisely because it was from dramas he would not let Hana be lead on.

He could only give her a look of pity as she seem to give him a heated look.

A good woman, what made her mental to fall in love with a guy like him?

"This would be the last time we meet each other. If you have anything else to say, you could just call me." He walked away from her but then paused at the doorway to look at her over his shoulder. "But after I finally leave, I want you to delete my number."

When he finally left, Hana could barely stop herself from spitting on the ground. Instead, she managed to just fan herself with her hand to cool down her blood pressure.

Did he really have to make his exit that dramatic? Naturally, she'd erase the numbers of people she wouldn't get in contact with. He wanted her out of his life that badly?

With a heavy heart, she then started cleaning.

-

The next day, Hana thought for a long time if she'd go to work.

Hubert was gone for good. Did she have a reason to stay? Maybe if she applied for another job in S Company. So she finally dressed herself up and went with the reasons of re-employment...and also for cleaning up the last few things she put off yesterday in Hubert's office.

Arriving at the company late was a first for her, but at the moment she didn't give it much thought. Pressing the button for the fourth floor in the elevator, she waited for the doors to close.

Until a hand suddenly spooked her and came in between the closing doors.

She immediately pressed the open doors button, and as the elevator doors did, the person she saw was someone she didn't expect.

The man's facial features was soft and graceful, even more so when he gave her a smile.

"Sir Kris." She greeted, almost breathlessly.

"Good morning." he finally stepped in.

Being alone with him at the small enclosed space pressured her, she started praying to every God she knew to make people enter and get in between the two of them. However, work hours already started not too long ago, so very few would even do so.

"Where to?" She finally spoke once the elevator passed the first floor. She noticed that he handn't pressed any buttons since entering.

"I'm also headed to the fourth." he answered lightly.

Fourth? What was he going to do on our floor? She frowns, but decide to not think about it too much since it's none of her business.

With no more words exchanged between the two of them, she entertained herself by glancing at Kris who was at her front from time to time.

Maybe because it wasn't dark and she was finally clear-headed, but she had just noticed how built he was. Broad shouldered with a muscular back. Even his lower half was equally pleasing, sporting thick legs and round buttocks. She'd just seen and remembered his pretty face, she thought he'd be scrawny— so seeing him in this body-hugging business suit was a surprise.

After gawking at him for awhile, Hana secretly cursed in her heart. How come she only had two encounters with him? Now that she's leaving, she not only feels down for losing her job, she also feels down at the probability of not seeing another Kris in her lifetime.

A man with a pure and delicate face but with a body that says otherwise. A beautiful art of contradiction, was this really the last time we meet?

They went out of the elevator at the same time.

It was perfectly normal, but what's not normal was him taking the same path as hers. They both headed to Hubert's office.

"Excuse me, but what are you doing here?" Not that she needed to know.

He walked around the room for a moment as if he was inspecting a house for lease, making her frown. This attitude, where was it coming from?

Kris then turned to her and answered,

"I got promoted to replace Hubert."

Re...place...?

"You're the new marketing director?"

He seemed to find her being in a state of shock funny, the laughter in his eyes and lips showed. "My assistant doesn't seem to have trust in my abilities."

"That's not it," she says almost immediately. "I honestly think you're good at your job, I—"

She had just now procesed what he had just said previously. Say what?

"...'my assistant'?" she repeated what he had said, doubting her ears.

"I'm the new marketing director, aren't I?"

"I'm not fired?" If the assurance went on, her excitement and relief would reach its peak. She begged him in her mind to take her in.

"Since when were you fired?"

"I was hired independently by Hubert, not the company, so when he left, I thought I'd leave as well."

"Haven't you heard? The independently-hired employees were eventually turned to actual company employees last month. Because technically, that's how it's supposed to be.

"Independently-hired employees was only allowed initially because the company was new and out of sorts."

Hearing his explanation, she felt enlightened, but at the same time she felt stupid. How come she doesn't know this? How come she's only knowing about this now? All those worrying for nothing!

"Thank you," She then said, full of emotions.

"What are you thanking me for? I did nothing."He chuckles at how she thanked him out of the blue.

But she firmly shook her head. "I still want to thank you—because of your news I no longer worry about unemployment. Sir, I believe an angel like you would do well in the marketing department."

That wasn't enough ass-kissing. If she could, she'd also dare call him a saint, but it was his first day, no need to rush. Developing good boss-and-lackey relationship should start early, however, so she already laid down the tracks.

"An angel, huh..."

She froze as she saw Kris smile bashfully, and his ears and neck that was previously creamy white in color was soon dyed bright red.

He's shy...?

Oh no.

He was a grown man—even taller than her, and was now even her boss, but why...

Why does she find him so cute!?