Chapter 25

The next few days at the office were back to their usual hectic pace, but Lisa had her humor cranked up, and it seemed to be working its magic. She was keeping everyone in good spirits, even with the expansion moving at breakneck speed. However, amidst the jokes and banter, there was an undercurrent of something else—a tension that Lisa couldn’t help but notice, especially when Chaeyoung and Jennie’s sister, Jisoo, were in the same room.

It wasn’t obvious at first, but after a few meetings, Lisa started picking up on it. The glances between Jisoo and Chaeyoung weren’t just casual or professional. They were loaded with something else, something unspoken but palpable.

Lisa, ever the troublemaker, couldn’t resist the temptation to dig a little deeper into what was going on. After all, stirring the pot was her specialty.

---

It all came to a head one afternoon during a team meeting. Chaeyoung and Jisoo were both in the room, and the tension between them was thicker than usual. Jisoo was her usual composed self, but Lisa noticed the way her eyes flicked toward Chaeyoung every so often, and Chaeyoung, who was usually chatty, had grown uncharacteristically quiet.

Lisa leaned over to Chaeyoung during a lull in the meeting and whispered, “You okay? You look like you’re trying to send laser beams through Jisoo with your eyes.”

Chaeyoung blinked, startled, and shot Lisa a quick, flustered glance. “What? No, I’m fine.”

Lisa smirked, not buying it for a second. “Sure, because that’s exactly how ‘fine’ people act.”

Chaeyoung huffed, her cheeks turning slightly pink as she glanced away. “I’m just... focusing.”

“Focusing on pretending not to be tense around Jisoo?” Lisa teased. “Seriously, what’s going on between you two?”

Chaeyoung opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, Jisoo, who had been sitting across the room, spoke up.

“Is there something you’d like to share with the team, Ms. Manoban?”

Lisa grinned, caught but unbothered. “Oh, nothing serious. Just trying to keep the energy light in here. You know how I am—always the team morale booster.”

Jisoo raised an eyebrow, her gaze cool. “Yes, I’ve noticed. Although I’m not sure how whispering during a meeting fits into that.”

Lisa chuckled, leaning back in her chair. “It’s all part of the process. You should try it sometime, Jisoo. It’s called ‘fun.’ You’d be great at it.”

Jisoo gave her a look that could melt ice, but there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Chaeyoung, meanwhile, was doing her best to blend into the background, clearly uncomfortable with the attention being drawn toward her and Jisoo. Lisa glanced over at her, noting how Chaeyoung’s eyes were firmly fixed on the table, and how she hadn’t looked at Jisoo once since the exchange started.

Interesting.

The rest of the meeting continued without incident, though the tension between Chaeyoung and Jisoo was still there, simmering beneath the surface. Lisa was curious—she didn’t know what had gone down between them, but she was determined to find out.

---

After the meeting ended, Lisa cornered Chaeyoung in the hallway. “Alright, spill. What’s going on with you and Jisoo? Did something happen?”

Chaeyoung groaned, clearly not wanting to talk about it. “It’s nothing. Just... complicated.”

Lisa raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Complicated how? Did you two fight or something?”

Chaeyoung shook her head, looking exasperated. “No, it’s just... Ugh, it’s stupid. I’ve had a crush on her for a while, okay? But it’s weird because she’s Jennie’s sister, and Jisoo is, like, untouchable.”

Lisa let out a low whistle. “Wow, okay. That explains a lot. But why are you acting so weird around her? I mean, have you tried, you know, talking to her like a normal person?”

Chaeyoung gave Lisa a look. “It’s not that easy, Lisa. She’s intimidating, and every time I try to say something, I just freeze.”

Lisa grinned. “Well, that’s ironic. You’re freezing around The Queen.”

Chaeyoung groaned. “This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you.”

Lisa chuckled, wrapping an arm around Chaeyoung’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, I’ll help. If anyone can solve it , it’s me. Just leave it to the master.”

Chaeyoung gave her a doubtful look. “Please don’t make things worse.”

Lisa’s grin widened. “When have I ever made things worse?”

---

Lisa, being Lisa, decided that the best way to tackle this situation was to dive headfirst into it. After all, she loved a challenge—and getting Jisoo and Chaeyoung to deal with their obvious tension was definitely a challenge.

The next day, Lisa found herself in the break room once again, this time with both Jisoo and Chaeyoung present. Jisoo was pouring herself a coffee, while Chaeyoung hovered awkwardly by the door, clearly trying to avoid direct eye contact.

Lisa, ever the instigator, decided it was time to shake things up.

“Hey, Jisoo!” Lisa called out, walking over with her usual swagger. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

Jisoo glanced up, her expression unreadable. “Yes?”

Lisa leaned against the counter, making sure Chaeyoung was within earshot. “If someone wanted to impress you, what’s the best way to do it? Asking for a friend, of course.”

Jisoo raised an eyebrow, her gaze flicking to Chaeyoung for the briefest of moments before settling back on Lisa. “I don’t usually give out advice on that sort of thing.”

“Come on,” Lisa pressed, smirking. “Humor me. What’s the secret to breaking through the queen exterior?”

Jisoo’s lips twitched into a faint smile, though she kept her composure. “There’s no secret. If someone wants to impress me, they’ll have to figure it out for themselves.”

Chaeyoung, who had been pretending not to listen, suddenly looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her whole. Lisa, sensing that the tension was about to bubble over, decided to ease off—just a little.

“Fair enough,” Lisa said with a shrug, turning to Chaeyoung. “Hey, Chaeyoung, want to join us for coffee? Jisoo was just about to tell us her favorite hobbies. I bet she likes knitting or, you know, extreme rock climbing.”

Jisoo gave Lisa a deadpan look, while Chaeyoung looked like she was about to combust from embarrassment. “Lisa, please—”

Lisa grinned, clearly enjoying herself. “What? I’m just trying to help everyone get along.”

Jisoo, to Lisa’s surprise, actually smiled—a small, almost imperceptible curve of her lips. “I don’t think Chaeyoung needs any help from you.”

Chaeyoung’s eyes widened, her cheeks flushing pink as she fumbled for something to say. “I-I don’t? I mean... I guess?”

Jisoo’s smile grew a little, and she raised her coffee cup to her lips. “I’m sure she’ll figure it out.”

Lisa blinked, momentarily thrown off. Was that... a flirtatious tone in Jisoo’s voice? She glanced at Chaeyoung, who was frozen in place, clearly overwhelmed by whatever had just happened.

“Well,” Lisa said, clapping her hands together. “I think my work here is done. You two have fun with your... figuring things out.”

And with that, Lisa gave them both a wink and sauntered out of the break room, leaving Chaeyoung and Jisoo in awkward silence.

---

Later that day, Lisa found herself back in Jennie’s office, still buzzing from her successful meddling. Jennie, who was reviewing some documents, glanced up as Lisa walked in.

“You look way too pleased with yourself,” Jennie remarked, raising an eyebrow.

Lisa grinned, plopping down into a chair. “Oh, you know, just doing my part to bring people together.”

Jennie eyed her suspiciously. “What did you do?”

Lisa leaned back, folding her hands behind her head. “Just gave Chaeyoung and your sister a little nudge in the right direction.”

Jennie sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Please tell me you didn’t make things worse.”

Lisa chuckled. “Worse? I think I may have just sparked the next great office romance.”

Jennie gave her a look, though there was a faint smile tugging at her lips. “You’re unbelievable.”

Jennie rolled her eyes, but the warmth in her gaze was undeniable. “Just try not to cause any more chaos today.”

Lisa leaned forward, her voice teasing. “No promises.”

Jennie smirked, walking around her desk to stand in front of Lisa. “If you get into any more trouble, I might just have to deal with you personally.”

Lisa’s heart skipped a beat at Jennie’s words, and she shot Jennie a playful grin. “Is that a threat or a promise?”

Jennie leaned down, her lips brushing against Lisa’s ear as she whispered, “Maybe both.”

Lisa’s pulse quickened, and before she could respond, Jennie pressed a quick, heated kiss to her lips—just enough to leave her wanting more.

As Jennie pulled back, Lisa grinned, her voice breathless. “You know, you’re making it really hard for me to focus on work.”

Jennie smirked. “Good.”

Lisa laughed, standing up and giving Jennie one last teasing wink before heading for the door. “I’ll see you later, Ms. Kim.”

Jennie shook her head, watching as Lisa walked away, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

....

It had been a week since Lisa had meddled in the Chaeyoung-and-Jisoo situation, and while neither had made any obvious moves, the tension between them was still thick enough to cut with a knife. Lisa, naturally, couldn’t resist poking at it every chance she got, but in her usual charming, teasing way.

As Lisa entered the office that morning, she felt an extra pep in her step. She had spent most of the previous evening plotting new ways to break the tension, all while keeping Jennie on her toes, of course. The best part of her day? Managing to lighten the mood in the office while still getting under Jennie’s skin just enough to see that spark of possessiveness.

Today was going to be fun.

---

First on Lisa’s list: Chaeyoung. She found her in the break room, stirring her coffee and looking lost in thought. Lisa sidled up next to her, her mischievous grin already in place.

“Good morning, Romeo,” Lisa greeted with a wink.

Chaeyoung groaned, immediately knowing where this conversation was going. “Don’t start.”

Lisa feigned innocence, holding up her hands. “What? I’m just saying, you’re giving off serious ‘pining protagonist in a rom-com’ vibes today.”

Chaeyoung sighed, stirring her coffee with more force than necessary. “I am not.”

“Oh, you definitely are,” Lisa replied, leaning against the counter and taking a sip of her own coffee. “You’ve got the brooding look down and everything. Now, all you need is a dramatic confession of love.”

Chaeyoung shot her a look. “Lisa, stop.”

But Lisa wasn’t one to back down, especially when she knew she was getting under her friend’s skin in a harmless way. “I’m just saying, maybe you should take Jisoo out for a coffee or something. I hear she’s into long walks in the corporate hallways.”

Chaeyoung’s cheeks flushed pink as she buried her face in her cup. “You’re impossible.”

Chaeyoung sighed, clearly exasperated but too embarrassed to argue. “Okay, fine. Maybe I do... like her. But it’s complicated. She’s Jennie’s sister.”

Lisa shrugged. “So what? Jennie’s not going to care if you like Jisoo. Besides, it’s not like you’re planning to elope.”

Chaeyoung blinked, looking more stressed by the second. “Eloping? Who said anything about eloping?”

Lisa chuckled, loving how easy it was to get a rise out of her. “I’m just saying, maybe you’re overthinking it. I mean, sure, Jisoo’s a little... intense, but that’s part of her charm, right?”

Chaeyoung looked at Lisa like she was crazy. “Intense? She’s terrifying.”

Lisa grinned. “Yeah, but you like it.”

Chaeyoung’s blush deepened, and she quickly changed the subject, mumbling something about needing to get back to work before Lisa could tease her any further.

---

“Ms. Kim,” Lisa greeted in an exaggeratedly formal tone. “You look like someone who needs a good laugh.”

Jennie looked up from her papers, her lips twitching into a small smile. “And you look like someone who’s about to start trouble.”

Lisa grinned, plopping down into the chair across from Jennie. “Trouble? Me? Never.”

Jennie raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “What did you do?”

Lisa leaned back, folding her arms behind her head. “Oh, nothing. Just gave Chaeyoung some solid advice on how to woo your sister. No big deal.”

Jennie sighed, setting her papers aside. “Lisa, please tell me you didn’t make things complicated.”

“complicated?” Lisa gasped dramatically. “I’m making things better! I’m the Cupid of this office.”

Jennie shot her a skeptical look. “Somehow, I don’t trust your matchmaking skills.”

Lisa grinned, leaning forward. “Oh, come on. You can’t tell me you don’t think Chaeyoung and Jisoo would be cute together.”

Jennie sighed again, but her lips twitched into a reluctant smile. “Maybe. But if this backfires, I’m blaming you.”

Lisa laughed. “Hey, if it backfires, I’ll handle it. But don’t worry—I’ve got everything under control.”

Jennie gave her a look, half amused, half exasperated. “You always say that.”

Lisa winked. “That’s because it’s always true.”

Jennie rolled her eyes, but the fondness in her gaze was unmistakable. “Just try not to cause too much chaos.”

Lisa stood up, her grin widening. “Chaos? That’s my specialty.”

---

Later that afternoon, Lisa found herself back in the break room, this time with Jisoo, who was sipping her coffee in that composed, queen way of hers. Lisa, ever the opportunist, saw this as the perfect time to test the waters.

“Jisoo,” Lisa greeted, walking over with her usual swagger. “You’re looking very... chill today.”

Jisoo glanced at her, her expression unreadable. “I’m always chill.”

Lisa chuckled, leaning against the counter. “True. So, have you noticed Chaeyoung acting weird around you lately?”

Jisoo’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, nothing,” Lisa said casually, taking a sip of her coffee. “Just that every time you’re in the same room, she turns into a deer caught in headlights. It’s pretty adorable, actually.”

Jisoo raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a small, amused smile. “Is that so?”

Lisa nodded, her grin widening. “Definitely. In fact, I think she might have a little crush on you.”

Jisoo tilted her head, her gaze flicking to the doorway where Chaeyoung had just walked in, looking like she wanted to bolt right back out. Jisoo’s smile grew a little wider.

“Well,” Jisoo said, her tone calm but teasing, “that’s interesting.”

Chaeyoung, clearly flustered, quickly made her way to the coffee machine, avoiding eye contact with both Lisa and Jisoo. Lisa, sensing the golden opportunity, decided to step back and let things unfold.

“Oh, look who it is,” Lisa said, grinning as Chaeyoung fumbled with her coffee cup. “Speak of the devil.”

Chaeyoung shot Lisa a desperate look, her face turning an impressive shade of red. “I-I was just getting coffee.”

“Sure you were,” Lisa teased, giving Jisoo a playful wink. “Totally unrelated to the fact that Jisoo’s here, right?”

Jisoo smirked, her eyes still on Chaeyoung, who looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her whole.

“Lisa,” Chaeyoung hissed, her voice barely a whisper. “Please stop.”

Lisa chuckled, clearly enjoying herself. “Alright, alright. I’ll leave you two to... whatever this is.”

As Lisa sauntered out of the break room, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of victory. The tension between Jisoo and Chaeyoung was practically crackling now, and Lisa had no doubt that something was going to happen soon.

---

By the time Lisa made her way back to Jennie’s office later that day, she was practically buzzing with excitement. Jennie, who was once again buried in paperwork, looked up as Lisa entered the room.

“Let me guess,” Jennie said, her tone dry. “You’ve caused more chaos.”

Lisa grinned, sitting down across from Jennie. “Not chaos—progress. I just had the most interesting conversation with Jisoo and Chaeyoung.”

Jennie raised an eyebrow. “What did you do?”

Lisa leaned back, crossing her arms behind her head. “Nothing, really. Just pointed out that Chaeyoung’s been acting a little weird around Jisoo. And, you know, mentioned the crush.”

Jennie sighed, but there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. “You’re really determined to push them together, aren’t you?”

Lisa shrugged. “What can I say? I love a good office romance.”

Jennie gave her a look. “Just don’t make things too awkward.”

“Oh, come on,” Lisa said, grinning. “It’s all in good fun. Besides, you know you’re secretly rooting for them too.”

Jennie’s lips twitched into a reluctant smile. “Maybe. But if it goes wrong, you’re cleaning up the mess.”

Lisa winked. “Deal. But trust me, it’s not going to go wrong.”

Jennie shook her head, clearly amused by Lisa’s confidence. “You’re incorrigible.”

“And you love it,” Lisa replied, standing up and giving Jennie a playful salute before heading for the door.

Just as she reached the door, Jennie called out, her voice soft but teasing. “Lisa.”

Lisa turned, raising an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

Jennie’s smile widened just a little. “Try not to cause too much trouble tomorrow.”

Lisa grinned, her heart fluttering at Jennie’s words. “No promises, Ms. Kim.”

And with that, Lisa walked out of the of, her mind already spinning with new ways to keep things interesting.

....

Lisa was on a roll. The tension between Jisoo and Chaeyoung had finally started to simmer, Jennie had almost admitted that she found Lisa's antics entertaining, and the office had become her personal playground. As far as Lisa was concerned, things were going great.

Today, though, she had a new mission: keep the office fun, but up the ante a little. It was time to stir the pot just a bit more—because, well, why not?

---

As Lisa made her way into the office, her usual swagger in full force, she immediately spotted Chaeyoung by the copier. Perfect. She sauntered over, her mischievous grin already in place.

“Hey, Chaeyoung,” Lisa greeted in a sing-song voice.

Chaeyoung looked up from the copier, eyes narrowing in suspicion. “What now, Lisa?”

Lisa gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her heart. “What? Why do you always assume I’m up to something?”

Chaeyoung rolled her eyes. “Because you’re always up to something.”

Lisa grinned. “Fair point. But today, I come bearing advice.”

Chaeyoung sighed, already dreading whatever was coming next. “What kind of advice?”

Lisa leaned in closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “You should ask Jisoo out. Like, officially. None of this shy, quiet,‘I’m-just-hanging-around-you-for-coffee’ stuff.”

Chaeyoung’s face turned bright red. “W-What?! I can’t just—ask her out! What if she says no?”

Lisa shrugged casually. “Then you move on. But something tells me she’s not gonna say no.”

Chaeyoung groaned, burying her face in her hands. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet,” Lisa teased, “you still listen to me.”

Before Chaeyoung could respond, the sound of footsteps caught their attention. Lisa glanced up and saw Jisoo walking down the hall, looking as composed as ever. Lisa shot Chaeyoung a mischievous grin.

“Speak of the devil,” Lisa whispered.

Chaeyoung visibly tensed as Jisoo approached, and Lisa could practically feel the panic radiating off her. Jisoo, on the other hand, looked completely unbothered.

“Good morning,” Jisoo greeted, her tone cool but polite.

Chaeyoung mumbled something incoherent in response, her face still flushed, while Lisa leaned casually against the copier, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

“Morning, Jisoo,” Lisa replied smoothly, giving Chaeyoung a not-so-subtle nudge with her elbow. “Chaeyoung was just telling me how she wanted to ask you—”

Chaeyoung elbowed Lisa in the ribs, cutting her off mid-sentence. “Lisa!”

Jisoo raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Ask me what?”

Lisa, rubbing her ribs but still grinning, waved off Chaeyoung’s protest. “Oh, nothing serious. Just something about getting coffee together sometime. You know, the usual.”

Chaeyoung’s face was now so red it could rival a tomato. Jisoo, however, seemed unfazed. In fact, there was a small, amused smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

“I see,” Jisoo said, her tone cool but teasing. “Well, I’m sure we can arrange that.”

Chaeyoung blinked, clearly shocked. “Wait, really?”

Jisoo’s smile grew just a little, and she gave a small nod. “Yes. Really.”

Lisa could barely contain her laughter at the way Chaeyoung’s eyes widened in disbelief. Mission accomplished.

“See?” Lisa said, giving Chaeyoung a playful pat on the back. “I told you it wouldn’t be that hard.”

Chaeyoung, still flustered, shot Lisa a death glare, though there was a hint of gratitude in her eyes. “I’m going to kill you later.”

Lisa chuckled. “Sure, sure. But right now, you’ve got a coffee date to plan.”

Jisoo, looking entirely too pleased with herself, gave Chaeyoung a small nod before walking away, leaving Chaeyoung standing there, stunned.

“Did that just happen?” Chaeyoung asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lisa grinned, giving her a light nudge. “Yep. And now you have no excuse to keep acting weird around her.”

Chaeyoung groaned, running a hand through her hair. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

Lisa patted her on the shoulder. “You’ll be fine. Just... don’t embarrass yourself too much.”

Chaeyoung shot Lisa another glare, though there was a small smile on her lips. “You’re lucky I’m too relieved to be mad at you right now.”

Lisa laughed, flashing her a playful wink. “Glad I could help.”

---

Feeling victorious from her matchmaking success, Lisa made her way to Jennie’s office for their usual afternoon meeting. She knocked lightly before stepping inside, immediately greeted by Jennie’s usual calm, focused demeanor.

“Ms. Kim,” Lisa greeted, her tone playful. “Ready for our daily dose of chaos?”

Jennie looked up from her paperwork, her lips curving into a small smile. “I take it you’ve been stirring the pot again?”

Lisa grinned, plopping down in the chair across from Jennie. “You know it. And guess what? I think I just set up a coffee date between Chaeyoung and your sister.”

Jennie raised an eyebrow, looking both amused and slightly exasperated. “Of course, you did.”

Lisa leaned back, crossing her arms behind her head. “Hey, someone’s got to get things moving around here. Besides, I think it’s going to work out.”

Jennie sighed, shaking her head. “You’re lucky they haven’t both strangled you by now.”

Lisa grinned, leaning forward. “Come on, admit it—you’re impressed.”

Jennie’s lips twitched into a reluctant smile. “Maybe a little.”

Lisa laughed, clearly enjoying herself. “I knew it! You’re secretly rooting for them too.”

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

“Alright,” Jennie said, her tone a mix of fondness and warning. “But no more meddling. Let them figure things out on their own from here.”

Lisa smirked, leaning closer. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Jennie gave her a look, though there was a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Lisa.”

“Fine, fine,” Lisa relented, holding up her hands in surrender. “I’ll back off. But you’ve got to admit, I’ve done a pretty good job so far.”

Jennie’s gaze softened further, and she stood up, walking around her desk to stand in front of Lisa. “You always do.”

Lisa’s heart skipped a beat at Jennie’s words, and before she could respond, Jennie leaned down, her lips brushing against Lisa’s in a soft, lingering kiss. It was gentle, slow—completely different from their usual heated exchanges, but it left Lisa breathless all the same.

When Jennie pulled back, her eyes were warm, her usual composed exterior slipping just enough to show the tenderness beneath.

“You’re trouble,” Jennie whispered, her voice soft but teasing.

Lisa, still grinning like an idiot, leaned in to steal another quick kiss.

Jennie rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face told Lisa everything she needed to know.

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings and project updates, but Lisa couldn’t shake the good mood that had settled over her. Things were falling into place—Chaeyoung and Jisoo were finally moving past their awkwardness, and Jennie was still the perfect mix of exasperated and fond when it came to Lisa’s antics.

Later that evening, as Lisa was heading out of the office, she bumped into Jisoo near the elevators. Jisoo, ever the picture of calm, gave her a knowing look.

“You’re quite the matchmaker, aren’t you?” Jisoo said, her tone light but teasing.

Lisa grinned. “Just doing my part.”

Jisoo’s lips curved into a small smile. “Well, I suppose I should thank you.”

Lisa blinked, caught off guard. “Wait, really? You’re not mad?”

Jisoo chuckled softly. “No. In fact, I think things might be... interesting.”

Lisa smirked. “I knew it. You’ve been into Chaeyoung this whole time.”

Jisoo didn’t respond directly, but the glint in her eyes told Lisa everything she needed to know.

“Well,” Lisa said, giving Jisoo a playful nudge, “good luck with your coffee date.”

Jisoo smiled, a real smile this time. “Thanks, Lisa.”

As Jisoo walked away, Lisa couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Everything was coming together nicely, and she had successfully orchestrated yet another office romance—without causing too much chaos.

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