Chapter 24

A few days after her fever had finally broken, Lisa was back in the office, feeling like her old self again. She’d spent most of the week recuperating under Jennie’s watchful eye, which was a mix of soothing and mildly terrifying. Jennie had a way of keeping things calm and efficient, even in moments of tenderness, but Lisa couldn’t deny how much she appreciated it.

Now, fully recovered, Lisa was ready to bring her humor back in full force—especially since Jennie had been so serious about taking care of her. It was time to balance things out with some lightheartedness and... maybe a little mischief.

Lisa walked into the office, greeted by the usual buzz of people in various stages of busy. Her team was knee-deep in finalizing the expansion phase, and everything was moving quickly. She had a meeting scheduled with Jennie later that afternoon, but for now, she had something else in mind.

While passing through the break room to grab a coffee, Lisa bumped into one of their newest hires, a young marketing specialist named Daniel. He was charming, good at his job, and, most importantly, great at making small talk—something Lisa found herself enjoying whenever she needed a break from spreadsheets.

“Lisa!” Daniel greeted her with a bright smile. “You’re back! I heard you were down for the count. Feeling better?”

“Much better,” Lisa replied, giving him a playful wink. “I survived the plague, and now I’m here to wreak havoc once again.”

Daniel laughed. “Good to hear. The office has been a little too quiet without you.”

“Oh, trust me,” Lisa said, taking a sip of her coffee. “The fun’s just getting started.”

They spent the next few minutes chatting about the latest office gossip, and Daniel, ever the social butterfly, filled Lisa in on some of the recent happenings. Lisa cracked a few jokes, and Daniel’s laugh echoed through the break room. It was easy, light, and it made Lisa feel like she was really back to her usual self.

What Lisa didn’t notice was Jennie walking by, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly when she spotted Lisa and Daniel laughing together. Jennie paused for a moment, her expression unreadable as she observed them from a distance.

Jennie was always composed, always in control—but seeing Lisa laughing so easily with Daniel stirred something inside her, something sharp and unfamiliar. Jennie had never considered herself the jealous type, but the sight of Lisa, her Lisa, flirting and laughing with someone else... well, it wasn’t exactly pleasant.

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Later that afternoon, Lisa made her way to Jennie’s office for their scheduled meeting. She knocked on the door and stepped inside, her usual playful grin in place.

“Ms. Kim, are you ready to discuss our world domination plans?”

Jennie looked up from her desk, her expression cool ....

“Lisa.”

Lisa noticed the shift in Jennie’s tone immediately. It was subtle, but she could tell something was off.

“What’s up? You look... intense.”

Jennie set her pen down and leaned back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest.

“I saw you earlier. In the break room.”

Lisa blinked, caught off guard.

“Uh, yeah. I was just talking to Daniel.”

Jennie’s lips pressed into a thin line. “You seemed to be getting along quite well.”

Lisa paused, sensing the tension in Jennie’s voice. Then, it clicked—Jennie was jealous. A slow, mischievous smile crept across Lisa’s face.

“Wait... are you jealous?”

Jennie’s gaze didn’t waver, though her eyes narrowed slightly. “I’m not jealous.”

Lisa stepped closer to Jennie’s desk, her grin widening.

“Oh my god. You are jealous.”

Jennie gave her a look that could only be described as a mix of exasperation and warning. “Lisa—”

But Lisa, never one to miss an opportunity for playful teasing, leaned over Jennie’s desk, resting her palms on the surface as she locked eyes with her.

“I can’t believe it. Jennie Kim, CEO extraordinaire, is jealous because I was talking to someone in the break room. This is too good.”

Jennie’s expression softened, but the cool edge remained. “I’m not jealous,” she repeated, though her tone lacked its usual conviction.

Lisa raised an eyebrow, her voice lowering into something more teasing.

“Right. Not jealous at all. That’s why you’ve been giving me the death stare since I walked in.”

Jennie tilted her head slightly, her gaze sharp but intrigued.

“You’re pushing your luck.”

Lisa’s heart raced at the challenge in Jennie’s voice. She loved this side of Jennie—the one that was just a little possessive, just a little vulnerable underneath her cool exterior.

“What are you going to do about it?”

Jennie stood up, her chair sliding back as she moved around the desk, stopping directly in front of Lisa. The tension between them was thick now, the playful banter giving way to something more heated.

“You want to know what I’m going to do about it?” Jennie asked, her voice low and dangerous in that way that made Lisa’s pulse quicken.

Lisa grinned, leaning in ever so slightly. “I think you should show me.”

In an instant, Jennie closed the gap between them, her lips crashing against Lisa’s in a fierce, possessive kiss. Lisa let out a surprised gasp but quickly melted into the kiss, her hands reaching up to tangle in Jennie’s hair as Jennie backed her against the edge of the desk.

The kiss was rough, intense—Jennie wasn’t holding back, and Lisa could feel the jealousy and frustration in every movement. Jennie’s hands gripped Lisa’s waist, pulling her closer, and Lisa responded with equal fervor, her heart pounding in her chest.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing heavily, their foreheads pressed together as they tried to catch their breath.

Jennie’s voice was low, almost a growl. “Still think I’m jealous?”

Lisa, her lips tingling from the intensity of the kiss, chuckled softly.

“I don’t know... I think I need another kiss to be sure.”

Jennie’s eyes darkened, and before Lisa could say another word, Jennie kissed her again—this time slower, but no less intense. Lisa’s hands slid down Jennie’s arms, gripping her tightly as Jennie’s lips moved against hers, sending a wave of heat through her entire body.

They were so lost in the moment that neither of them noticed the faint sound of footsteps approaching the office.

Just as things were about to get even more heated, the door to Jennie’s office creaked open, and a voice called out, “Ms. Kim—”

Jennie and Lisa quickly pulled apart, both of them breathless and flushed as they turned to see Jennie’s assistant, Jihoo, standing in the doorway with a stack of files in her arms. Jihoo blinked, her eyes widening as she realized what she had just walked in on.

“Oh,” Jihoo said, clearly trying to suppress a smile. “I’ll, uh... come back later.”

Jennie cleared her throat, straightening her jacket as she shot Jihoo a warning look. “Yes, you will.”

Jihoo smirked, backing out of the room. “Got it. Take your time.”

As the door closed behind her, Lisa burst into laughter, leaning against the desk as she tried to catch her breath. “That was close.”

Jennie rolled her eyes, though her lips twitched into a reluctant smile. “You’re impossible.”

Lisa grinned, stepping closer to Jennie and pressing a quick, teasing kiss to her cheek. “And yet, you can’t resist me.”

Jennie sighed, though the fondness in her gaze was undeniable. “No, I can’t.”

They stood in the quiet of the office for a moment, the heat between them still lingering in the air. Finally, Jennie gave Lisa a playful shove. “Get back to work before we get caught again.”

Lisa winked. “You know where to find me if you get jealous again.”

Jennie shook her head, though she was smiling. “Go.”

As Lisa walked out of the office, still buzzing from their kiss, she couldn’t help but feel like she had won some kind of playful battle. Jennie might not have admitted to being jealous, but Lisa knew better—and she loved every second of it.

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