Chapter 26

Lisa’s success in matchmaking had turned the office into her own personal rom-com, and she was absolutely thriving. Chaeyoung was finally moving things forward with Jisoo, and Jennie had practically admitted (in her own Jennie-esque way) that she found Lisa’s antics entertaining. As far as Lisa was concerned, she was running the show and loving every minute of it.

Today, however, she felt like she needed to crank the fun up a notch. After all, a bored Lisa was a dangerous Lisa. And when Lisa was on fire? The whole office would know about it.

---

The day started off as usual—Lisa bouncing into the office, coffee in hand, with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. She spotted Chaeyoung at her desk, looking both focused and a little flustered, which only fueled Lisa’s desire to stir the pot.

“Chaeyoung!” Lisa called out, striding over with her signature grin. “How’s the office’s hottest new couple doing?”

Chaeyoung’s head snapped up, and she immediately blushed, glancing around nervously. “Lisa, please.”

Lisa plopped down in the chair next to her, crossing her arms and leaning back as if she owned the place. “Come on, spill. How’d the coffee date go? Did you guys hold hands? Did you exchange flirty glances over the cappuccino foam?”

Chaeyoung buried her face in her hands. “You’re the worst.”

Lisa laughed, clearly enjoying Chaeyoung’s embarrassment. “Oh, come on! Don’t leave me hanging. Was it romantic? Did you sweep her off her feet?”

Chaeyoung peeked at Lisa from behind her hands, her cheeks still bright red. “It was fine. We talked. She was... nice.”

“Nice?” Lisa gasped in mock horror. “Please tell me it was more than just ‘nice.’ I didn’t spend all that time matchmaking for you to give me a boring adjective.”

Chaeyoung groaned, looking like she was two seconds away from kicking Lisa out of her chair. “Okay, fine! It was... good. We’re seeing each other again this weekend.”

Lisa’s grin widened. “Ah-ha! Now we’re talking. See? I told you it would work out.”

Chaeyoung sighed, but there was a small smile on her face. “Yeah, yeah. You’re a genius. Can you go now?”

Lisa stood up, giving Chaeyoung a playful pat on the back. “Don’t worry, I’ll leave you alone—for now. But if you need any more advice on how to woo Jisoo, you know where to find me.”

Chaeyoung shook her head, though she was clearly relieved as Lisa walked away, still grinning like a proud parent.

---

Next up: Jennie. Lisa knew she couldn’t let her favorite CEO off the hook without some teasing of her own. After all, Jennie had been looking way too composed lately, and Lisa loved to knock that calm exterior down a few notches.

She found Jennie in her office, buried in paperwork as usual. Knocking on the door lightly, Lisa stepped inside with a smirk already on her face.

“Ms. Kim,” Lisa greeted in her most exaggeratedly formal tone. “I’m here to report on the state of love in the office. Things are heating up, in case you were wondering.”

Jennie glanced up from her papers, her eyes immediately narrowing in suspicion. “What did you do this time?”

Lisa plopped down in the chair across from Jennie, looking entirely too pleased with herself. “Oh, nothing. Just gave Chaeyoung a little nudge in the right direction. You know, towards your sister.”

Jennie sighed, setting her pen down and giving Lisa a half-amused, half-exasperated look. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

Lisa grinned, leaning forward with a twinkle in her eyes. “But you’d miss me too much if I stopped causing trouble.”

Jennie’s lips twitched, and Lisa knew she was getting to her. “I’m not so sure about that.”

“Oh, please,” Lisa teased, resting her chin in her hand. “You love it. Admit it.”

Jennie stood up, walking around the desk to stand in front of Lisa, arms crossed over her chest. “I think you’re a menace.”

Lisa’s grin widened as she tilted her head up to meet Jennie’s gaze. “But a charming menace, right?”

Jennie raised an eyebrow, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “That’s debatable.”

Lisa leaned back in the chair, crossing her arms behind her head. “Debatable? I’m the most charming person in this office, and you know it.”

Jennie rolled her eyes, though the smile on her face was unmistakable. “Whatever you say, Lisa.”

Lisa stood up, walking around Jennie and casually leaning on the desk, her grin never faltering. “Admit it. You’d be bored without me.”

Jennie’s eyes followed her, and there was that familiar spark of fondness in her gaze. “You think very highly of yourself.”

Lisa winked. “I have to. Confidence is key when you’re running around matchmaking and keeping this office on its toes.”

Jennie smirked, taking a step closer until they were just inches apart. “And what would I do without my matchmaker extraordinaire?”

Lisa’s heart skipped a beat at the playful tone in Jennie’s voice. “Probably live a much quieter, less interesting life.”

Jennie’s smile softened, and before Lisa could make another joke, Jennie leaned in, pressing a quick, teasing kiss to Lisa’s lips. It was brief, but it left Lisa’s pulse racing.

“You’re trouble,” Jennie whispered, her voice low but warm.

Lisa grinned, her voice equally soft. “You love it.”

Jennie didn’t respond, but the way her eyes lingered on Lisa’s face told her everything she needed to know.

---

As the afternoon wore on, Lisa found herself wandering back into the break room, where she spotted none other than Jisoo, sipping her coffee and looking as calm and composed as ever. Lisa, never one to resist an opportunity to stir things up, immediately made her way over.

“Jisoo!” Lisa greeted, sliding into the seat across from her. “I hear you’ve got a second date with Chaeyoung lined up. Things are moving fast, huh?”

Jisoo raised an eyebrow, clearly not in the mood for Lisa’s teasing. “It’s just coffee.”

Lisa grinned, unfazed. “That’s how it starts. Coffee today, wedding bells tomorrow.”

Jisoo gave her a deadpan look. “I’m not planning a wedding with someone I just had coffee with.”

Lisa chuckled, leaning back in her chair. “Sure, sure. But admit it, you like her.”

Jisoo didn’t respond immediately, but there was a small, almost imperceptible smile on her lips. “She’s... interesting.”

Lisa’s grin widened. “Interesting? That’s practically a love confession coming from you.”

Jisoo rolled her eyes, though there was a hint of amusement in her expression. “You’re even more annoying than Jennie says you are.”

Lisa laughed, taking that as a compliment. “I’ll take that as a win. So, tell me—what’s the plan for your next coffee date? Are you going to make it romantic? You know, surprise her with a bouquet or something?”

Jisoo gave Lisa a look that clearly said “no,” but Lisa wasn’t about to back down.

“I’m just saying,” Lisa continued, grinning, “you’ve got a chance to impress. Make it count.”

Jisoo sighed, though there was a small smile tugging at her lips. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Lisa stood up, giving Jisoo a playful salute. “Good luck, Ice Queen. You’re going to need it.”

Jisoo shook her head as Lisa walked away, but Lisa could tell she had planted a seed of mischief. Jisoo might have been cool and collected on the outside, but Lisa knew there was more going on underneath.

---

The day was coming to a close, and Lisa was feeling more victorious than ever. She had successfully teased Chaeyoung, gotten a kiss from Jennie, and even managed to chip away at Jisoo’s icy exterior. Not bad for a day’s work.

As she packed up her things to leave the office, Jennie appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame with a knowing smile on her face.

“You look entirely too pleased with yourself,” Jennie remarked.

Lisa grinned, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “What can I say? I’ve had a good day.”

Jennie stepped into the room, her arms crossed but her eyes soft. “You’ve caused a lot of chaos today.”

Lisa shrugged, walking over to Jennie with a playful glint in her eyes. “Chaos is my middle name.”

Jennie smirked, leaning in just enough that their faces were only inches apart. “You know, you’re not as subtle as you think you are.”

Lisa chuckled, feeling the warmth of Jennie’s breath against her skin. “I’m not trying to be.”

Jennie’s smile softened, and for a moment, they stood there in comfortable silence, the tension between them thick but warm.

“Goodnight, Lisa,” Jennie said softly, her voice low and teasing.

Lisa winked, stepping back. “Goodnight, Ms. Kim. See you tomorrow for more trouble.”

As Lisa walked out of the office, her heart still racing from the proximity to Jennie, she couldn’t help but smile to herself. Another successful day of teasing, laughing, and keeping everyone on their toes.

....

"Morning, Lisa," Chaeyoung greeted cautiously, raising an eyebrow when she noticed the lack of Lisa's usual grin. "You good?"

Lisa forced a small smile but didn’t crack a joke like she usually would. “Yeah, just... thinking.”

Chaeyoung blinked, clearly concerned. “You’re thinking? Wow, that’s a first.”

Lisa chuckled softly but it lacked her usual spark. “Ha ha. Very funny.”

Chaeyoung studied her for a moment, her brows knitting together in concern. “You sure everything’s okay? You seem a little... off.”

Lisa waved her off. “Yeah, just got a lot on my mind. Don’t worry about it.”

Chaeyoung opened her mouth to press further, but Lisa was already walking away, heading towards her office with a determined look in her eyes. Something was definitely up.

---

As Lisa settled into her office, she couldn’t shake the heavy feeling in her chest. Lately, everything had been fun, lighthearted, filled with jokes and teasing—but there was a growing sense of pressure weighing on her. The expansion project was nearing a critical phase, and the stakes were higher than ever. She wasn’t just a carefree employee messing around with her coworkers; she was a key player in one of the most important ventures Jennie’s company had ever undertaken.

The thought of failure, of letting Jennie down, gnawed at the back of her mind. It was rare for Lisa to feel like this—serious, introspective—but the weight of the responsibility was getting to her.

Just then, Jennie’s voice interrupted her thoughts. She knocked lightly before stepping into the office, her expression a little softer than usual.

"Lisa," Jennie said, her tone calm but curious. "You’ve been quiet today. That’s not like you."

Lisa looked up, her eyes meeting Jennie’s, and for a moment, she debated whether or not to open up about what was bothering her. Normally, Lisa would crack a joke, brush off any concern, and lighten the mood. But today, she couldn’t muster the energy for it.

“Yeah, I’ve just... got a lot on my mind,” Lisa admitted, her voice quieter than usual.

Jennie’s expression softened slightly as she stepped further into the room, closing the door behind her. She walked over to Lisa’s desk, leaning against it as she crossed her arms. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Lisa hesitated, staring down at her hands. She wasn’t used to feeling vulnerable, especially not in front of Jennie. But the pressure had been building for days, and now that Jennie was standing in front of her, offering an opening, Lisa realized she couldn’t keep it bottled up any longer.

“I’ve been thinking about the expansion,” Lisa finally said, her voice steady but serious. “It’s... a lot. More than I thought it would be.”

Jennie tilted her head slightly, her eyes softening. “You’ve been doing great, Lisa. You’ve kept the team motivated, kept things on track. I haven’t seen any signs that you’re struggling.”

Lisa let out a soft sigh, running a hand through her hair. “I know it looks like I’ve got everything under control, but... sometimes, it feels like I’m in over my head. Like if I screw this up, it’ll all come crashing down.”

Jennie was quiet for a moment, watching Lisa carefully. Then, she reached out, placing a hand on Lisa’s shoulder. The gesture was simple, but the warmth in Jennie’s touch made Lisa’s heart ache a little.

“You’re not going to screw it up,” Jennie said softly, her voice steady. “And even if something doesn’t go according to plan, we’ll figure it out. Together.”

Lisa looked up, meeting Jennie’s gaze, and for the first time all day, she felt a little of the weight lift from her shoulders. Jennie’s confidence in her was unwavering, and that meant more than any joke or distraction could.

“I just... don’t want to let you down,” Lisa admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jennie’s eyes softened even more, and she crouched down slightly so that she was at eye level with Lisa. “Lisa, you could never let me down. You’ve been doing more than anyone expected. You’ve been a leader, and you’ve kept everyone’s spirits up. You’re the reason this team is as strong as it is.”

Lisa felt her throat tighten at Jennie’s words. She had always been confident, but hearing Jennie say those things made her realize just how much she valued Jennie’s opinion of her. It wasn’t just about the project—it was about Jennie, about not wanting to disappoint someone she had come to care about so deeply.

“Thanks,” Lisa said softly, her voice thick with emotion. “I needed to hear that.”

Jennie smiled, her hand still resting on Lisa’s shoulder. “Anytime.”

For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, the tension between them shifting from professional to something more personal, more intimate. Jennie’s hand lingered on Lisa’s shoulder, and the warmth of the touch made Lisa’s heart flutter.

Finally, Jennie stood up, her smile still soft. “Take it easy on yourself, okay? You don’t have to carry all this on your own.”

Lisa nodded, the weight on her chest feeling a little lighter now. “I’ll try.”

Jennie gave her one last reassuring look before heading back to her office, and as the door closed behind her, Lisa let out a long, slow breath. She wasn’t used to being serious, to opening up about her worries, but it felt good—better than she expected.

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings and project updates, but Lisa was more grounded now, more focused. She had a renewed sense of purpose, and while the pressure was still there, it didn’t feel as overwhelming as before.

“Hey, are you sure you’re okay?” Chaeyoung asked, her eyes full of concern. “You’ve been really... serious today. It’s weird.”

Lisa chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just needed to get out of my own head for a bit.”

Chaeyoung studied her for a moment before nodding. “Alright, but if you need to talk, I’m here. And if you need a distraction, well, I’ve got plenty of drama to share about Jisoo.”

Lisa’s lips twitched into a small smile. “I might take you up on that.”

Chaeyoung grinned, her usual lightheartedness contagious. “Good. Because I’ve got some serious overanalyzing to do about this weekend.”

Lisa chuckled again, feeling a bit more like herself. “Can’t wait.”

---

By the time Lisa returned to her office, she felt more centered. Jennie’s words from earlier still echoed in her mind, and for the first time in days, she didn’t feel like she had to carry the weight of the world on her own.

As she sat down at her desk, ready to dive back into work, she heard a soft knock on the door. Looking up, she saw Jennie standing in the doorway, a faint smile on her face.

“I was thinking,” Jennie said, stepping inside. “Maybe we could grab dinner tonight. Get out of the office, clear our heads.”

Lisa blinked, caught off guard by the offer, but the warmth in Jennie’s voice made her heart skip a beat.

“Yeah,” Lisa said, a slow smile spreading across her face. “I’d like that.”

Jennie’s smile widened, and for a moment, the seriousness of the day melted away, replaced by the quiet connection between them.