Chapter 21

The playful tension between Lisa and Jennie had been ramping up ever since their stolen moments in the office. Lisa loved the way Jennie, with all her intensity and seriousness, would let her guard down just long enough to share those quick, heated kisses. It kept Lisa on her toes—and, of course, it fueled her sense of humor.

The next morning, Lisa was ready to stir the pot again. She knew that Jennie had an important meeting with investors, and she couldn’t resist the opportunity to inject a little chaos into the situation. After all, Jennie might have been the picture of composure in front of the board, but Lisa knew how to throw her off balance.

As she walked into the office, Lisa made a beeline for Jennie’s door. The meeting was set to begin in fifteen minutes, but Lisa figured that was enough time to have a little fun before Jennie’s CEO mask went back on.

She knocked softly, pushing the door open without waiting for an answer. Jennie was at her desk, scanning over documents with a deep frown. Her usual intimidating, focused energy was on full display, and Lisa couldn’t help but smirk. Jennie didn’t even look up when Lisa walked in.

“Ms. Kim,” Lisa said, slipping into a chair across from Jennie, “I’m here to offer you some much-needed pre-meeting relaxation tips.”

Jennie glanced up, arching an eyebrow. “Lisa, I’m about to meet with investors.”

“Exactly,” Lisa said, leaning back casually. “Which is why you need my expert advice. You’re too tense. I can help with that.”

Jennie’s lips quirked into a small, almost reluctant smile. “And what, exactly, do you suggest?”

Lisa put on her most serious face, clasping her hands together as if she were about to deliver a life-changing piece of wisdom. “Well, first, we’re going to start with some deep breathing exercises. But instead of air, we’ll use sarcasm. Ready? Inhale deeply through the nose and say, ‘I love corporate bureaucracy.’”

Jennie’s smirk grew wider, though she tried to hide it. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I know,” Lisa said, unfazed. “But seriously, you look like you’re about to break out into a TED Talk on ‘the many joys of navigating investor relations,’ and we can’t have that.”

Jennie finally set her papers down, giving Lisa her full attention. “And what exactly is your solution?”

Lisa grinned, leaning forward conspiratorially. “Simple. We take a break. Five minutes, and I guarantee you’ll feel better.”

Jennie raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “A break?”

“Yep.” Lisa stood up and walked around to Jennie’s side of the desk, standing right behind her. “In fact, I can think of one way to really... help you unwind.”

Before Jennie could protest, Lisa placed her hands on Jennie’s shoulders, gently massaging them. “See? So much tension.”

Jennie’s eyes fluttered shut for a brief second before she caught herself, straightening up. “Lisa,” she warned, though there was no real edge to her voice. “The investors will be here any minute.”

Lisa leaned down, her voice low and teasing in Jennie’s ear. “I know. But you can spare two minutes for me, can’t you?”

Jennie tilted her head slightly, a soft sigh escaping her lips as Lisa’s hands moved down her arms. “You’re impossible,” Jennie murmured, though her body was clearly relaxing under Lisa’s touch.

“And yet, here you are,” Lisa whispered back, her lips grazing Jennie’s ear.

Before Jennie could respond, Lisa moved around to face her, bending down so that they were eye level. She was close enough now that Jennie’s breath hitched, her composure slipping just a little.

“If I kiss you right now,” Lisa said softly, “will that help with the pre-meeting nerves?”

Jennie’s eyes darkened, her gaze flicking to Lisa’s lips for just a moment before she regained control. “You’re playing with fire.”

Lisa grinned. “I like the heat.”

Without another word, Jennie reached up, grabbing the front of Lisa’s shirt and pulling her in for a quick, heated kiss. It was fast—almost too fast—but the intensity behind it left Lisa breathless.

When Jennie pulled away, she straightened her posture and gave Lisa a smirk. “That’s all you get. I have a meeting.”

Lisa stood up, still grinning. “You know, you’re a lot more fun when you let your guard down.”

Jennie raised an eyebrow, her usual calm demeanor slipping back into place. “I’ll remember that next time you’re asking for another ‘pre-meeting kiss.’”

Lisa laughed, heading for the door. “I’ll be back later to check on your stress levels.”

Jennie’s eyes followed her as she left the room, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

---

The rest of the day, Lisa couldn’t stop thinking about that brief kiss in Jennie’s office. She loved the thrill of their little moments, the way Jennie always tried to maintain control but couldn’t quite resist when Lisa pushed the boundaries. It was like a game, one that Lisa was more than happy to play.

That afternoon, Lisa had another team meeting, but her mind was still buzzing with ideas on how to get under Jennie’s skin in the most playful way possible. As she stood in front of her team, outlining the next steps for the expansion, she decided to lighten the mood once again.

“All right, everyone,” Lisa said, clapping her hands together. “I know the last few days have been intense, so I’m going to ask you all one very important question.”

Her team looked at her expectantly, curious as to what was coming.

“If our expansion project were a movie,” Lisa continued, “what would the title be?”

Chaeyoung blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Um... ‘Fast and Furious: Supply Chain Edition?’”

Lisa grinned. “Excellent choice. But I was thinking more along the lines of ‘Mission: Impossible—The Spreadsheet Chronicles.’ Thoughts?”

The room erupted in laughter, and Lisa could see the tension melting away. She loved moments like this, where she could take the edge off while still keeping everyone on track.

“Oh! How about ‘The Hunger Games: Vendor Negotiation Edition’?” another team member chimed in.

Lisa laughed, clapping her hands. “Now we’re talking. May the odds be ever in our favor.”

The room buzzed with energy as the team continued to throw out suggestions, and Lisa couldn’t help but feel proud. Her team was sharp, dedicated, and despite the pressures they were under, they knew how to keep things light. It was one of the things she loved most about leading them.

---

Later that evening, as Lisa was winding down from the day, she received a text from Jennie.

"Meeting went well. You were right—pre-meeting relaxation is effective."

Lisa smirked at her phone, quickly typing a response.

"Told you. I’m always available for stress relief"

Jennie’s reply came almost instantly.

"I’ll keep that in mind."

Lisa grinned, feeling a rush of excitement. As much as she loved their playful banter, it was moments like these that made her realize just how much Jennie had opened up to her. Beneath the cool, professional exterior was someone who enjoyed the thrill of their dynamic as much as Lisa did.

---

The next morning, Lisa was back in the office, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. The expansion project was still in full swing, but the atmosphere had shifted—thanks, in part, to the humor she’d injected into the team. And, of course, her ongoing game of playful flirtation with Jennie kept things interesting.

As Lisa walked past Jennie’s office, she paused for a moment, glancing inside. Jennie was, as usual, deep in thought, her fingers tapping against her laptop keyboard. Lisa smiled to herself, already plotting her next move.

She leaned against the doorframe, her tone playful. “Hey, Ms. Kim. I have a new proposal for you.”

Jennie looked up, a familiar smirk already forming. “Should I be worried?”

Lisa grinned. “Depends. How do you feel about mandatory coffee breaks? I’ve done some research, and they’re scientifically proven to reduce stress. I think we should implement them immediately.”

Jennie raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “And I assume you’ll be leading these ‘mandatory’ breaks?”

Lisa crossed her arms, her grin widening. “Of course. I’m very committed to the cause.”

Jennie chuckled softly, shaking her head. “You’re relentless.”

“And you love it,” Lisa shot back, her tone teasing but with a hint of truth underneath.

Jennie didn’t respond right away, but her eyes softened, and Lisa could see that familiar spark of warmth and amusement in her gaze.

Finally, Jennie stood up, walking over to Lisa and standing just a little too close for it to be purely professional. “One coffee break,” Jennie said softly, her voice low. “But you’re paying.”

Lisa smirked, leaning in ever so slightly. “Deal.”

And with that, Jennie brushed past Lisa, her hand grazing Lisa’s arm as she walked by.

Lisa grinned to herself as she followed Jennie out of the office, her heart racing with excitement. Their game was still going strong, and Lisa was more than ready for whatever came next.

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