PAID

"Kim, check the schedule for Director Kang and make sure to remove all his appointments for the next week starting tomorrow."@@novelbin@@

As the time to leave work approached, Secretary Jo, who had received a call, put down the receiver and glanced toward the desk beside him.

"A week?"

Kim, who had been busy typing away on the keyboard, suddenly jerked his head up with a sharp motion and responded.

What could he have been doing to react like that? Secretary Jo's gaze naturally shifted toward Kim's desk, where his monitor was lit up but displayed nothing unusual except for an open office messenger window.

There was nothing special on the screen.

With both Director Kang and Secretary Gwak absent, the secretary's office was quiet and leisurely, and recently, Kim had been spending his time chatting on messenger, reading webtoons, or even shopping.

Secretary Jo, too, would often engage in other hobbies or pastimes when he had free time, so he hadn't given Kim any trouble for it, which is why Kim’s response seemed over the top.

"What's the matter? Why so surprised?"

"Oh, no, just... something..." Kim muttered as he lowered his gaze to his keyboard, trying to hide his unease. This only made him seem more suspicious.

"Did you bad-mouth someone on messenger? Director Kang? Secretary Gwak?"

Secretary Jo asked jokingly.

Oh! Haewon, you're calling first today?

Huh? Last time?

Ah! That. What about it?

Haha, right! Of course, I’ll help. I’ll find out right away. Wait for me.

Yes, Sunwoo?

Sunwoo?

What’s wrong? Are you sick? Was there a problem at the hospital?

Really? How many months along are you?

Wow, it's already that far along.

So, did you call because you're craving something?

Hmm...

Well, not exactly.

It’s because of the rut.

Yeah, I haven’t been feeling well since yesterday. The schedule’s been packed, and I thought it was just fatigue, but it turns out the timing for the rut is here.

It’s not that.

No, it’s just that I’ve always spent the rut somewhere else. It’s not because of you.

Don’t worry. I’ll be back in a week. Wait for me.